HANK DEWALD, HERALD STAFF WRITER

TODD WETHERINGTON | DAILY HERALD A lone rider in this year's Cycle North Carolina event makes his way through traffic on Highway 46 Thursday evening. Advertisement

ROANOKE RAPIDS - Bicyclists on their way from the mountains to the sea stopped for the night in Roanoke Rapids Thursday

About 1,200 riders are participating in a well-organized fall Cycle North Carolina tour called “Mountains to the Coast” that started in West Jefferson on Sept. 29 and will end at the Outer Banks Oct. 6. The organization also has an annual spring event.

People from all up and down the East Coast and Canada are participating in the ninth annual fall ride.

Mark and Ellen Reed of Saginaw, Mich., said this was their first trip with CNC. “A guy in our local bike club advertised this ride,” said Ellen Reed. “He didn't go, but we talked to him about it and looked on the Web site. We decided to try it.”

The Reeds left Louisburg Thursday morning, putting in 63 miles on the way to Roanoke Rapids. By 3 p.m., they were both comfortably settling into “Bubba Town,” a small tent city set up at each stop on the ride. The “town” was nicknamed for the type of tents rented by the cyclists.

In Roanoke Rapids, Bubba Town was set up in the rear parking lot of T.J. Davis Recreation Center, which was basically closed so the cyclists could camp inside and out, take a hot shower or even a swim if they wanted one.

Large rental trucks were unloading all of the riders' gear beside Bubba Town. The gear is trucked to each stop along the way to the coast. Hospitality tents were set up by the city and Halifax Tourism to welcome the overnight visitors and let them know what the city had planned for them, which was a very impressive amount of choices considering the riders will leave after breakfast Friday morning.

“This is the second time this group has been through. They all loved it last year and we've really got a lot planned for them this year,” Halifax County Tourism Director Lori Medlin said. She had scheduled events from noon on Thursday to breakfast before the riders left for their next stop Friday morning.

The hospitality tent was always full of bikers discussing where to go, what to see and where they planned to eat. There was music at the Roanoke Canal Museum, events at Roanoke Rapids Lake Park, sand volleyball and magician Pete Luter at Bubba Town, a special buffet by david's restaurant, a concert in Centennial Park, karaoke at Java Junction, a movie in Smith Park and special prices for the “Little Bit of Life” show at The Randy Parton Theatre.

Of course, the visitors could ride their bikes to any of the events, but there were shuttle buses to take those who wanted to relax.

Lisa Ripperton of Highpoint and Rod Edens of Greensboro were sampling food from the hospitality tent as they set up camp.

“This is the second ride I've taken with CNC,” said Ripperton as she explained the differences between the many different kinds of bicycles used by the group. “It is important to stay close to your brakes on a ride like this, so you won't see too many aero bikes on the road.”

Ripperton and Edens had done 63 miles the first day and 66 on Wednesday.

“I did 100 today because I felt kind of funky,” said Ripperton with a laugh.

The couple said there is technical support available during the entire trip and sweepers following the course in case of injuries or breakdowns. As they continued setting up camp, both said they would probably do this trip again next year.

After breakfast this morning, the group loaded up and headed out for Edenton, by way of Jackson, which also has plans to welcome the bikers.