Frequently Asked Questions
Fundraising
Donation Handling Procedures can be found on the fundraising page.
Do I have to join a team? Does it change my fundraising minimum if I join a team?
No, but teams have a lot of fun and often collaborate on training rides, fundraising events, and helping new riders with logistics. Ask us for referrals if you are interested in joining a team.
Are there resources provided by the organization to assist participants toward the fundraising goals?
You’ll receive a Fundraising Handbook brimming with advice, tips, and ideas. Once you register, you’ll receive a personal fundraising website link to include in your emails, letters, and social media posts. We are also fundraising experts who can help design a customized plan to reach the minimum fundraising goal. We have helped many who were nervous about reaching the minimum surpass it, so don’t be intimidated. It’s very attainable.
What are the Fundraising Minimums and Fees?
All on-tour cycling participants register by paying a $100 registration fee and agree to raise funds or self-fund the $4,000 fundraising minimum. Review fundraising minimums, support, and key dates. Once registered, participants reserve their spot-on tour, gain access to resources and the ability to personalize their fundraising page.
If I do not reach the fundraising benchmarks by the deadlines, am I disqualified from participating?
No, we just ask you to guarantee the difference on a credit card and you’ll have until July 15 to continue fundraising to your goal. Some riders do the bulk of their fundraising during and after the ride when they can post photos to social media and include a recap of the journey in post-ride emails and letters.
If you are unable to raise the $4,000 fundraising minimum, you commit to donate the difference. Unless you opt out of the in-person tour by May 1, 2025, your credit card will be charged in the event you do not reach the minimum fundraising amount by July 15, 2025.
If you are unable to join the in-person tour, please opt-out by emailing [email protected] and [email protected] as soon as you know. You are responsible for the required fundraising minimum if you opt-out after May 1, 2025.
What are the details to send funds via check, donor-advised fund, or a matching gift?
Please refer to our Fundraising page.
Training & Routes
How much training is required? Can I do this?!
Absolutely! The Carolina Hills Classic Bike Tour (CHC) is a fully supported ride open to novice to expert cyclists. If a rider is not feeling up to completing part of the ride or just wants a bump up a hill, our sag support is always at the ready to give a lift in our comfortable air-conditioned vans. We provide a Training Plan and Calendar written by our CHC experts with ideal daily and weekly targets which build incrementally as the tour approaches. We will help you get ready to breeze up and down the Carolina foothills in no time!
Where can I find the daily routes for the tour?
You will receive links to Daily Route Guides (aka DRGs/Cue Sheets) to download along with proper GPX files to save to your Garmin or similar a week or two prior to the tour. We wait to publish these files closer to tour to ensure they are as fresh and accurate as possible. We are constantly monitoring the CHC route for local event updates, construction and detours leading up to and during the tour (so always listen to daily safety briefings and follow the signs/chalk on the road versus DRGs or GPS files). Meanwhile, you can see an overview map, daily route recaps including mileage and elevation on our website’s Event Information page.
On-Tour
How many cyclists participate?
As a boutique tour, the ride is capped at 250 riders as we ride through charming towns and quiet, scenic roads.
Is there a minimum age requirement to participate?
Yes, participants must be 18-years or older to join the tour as a rider or volunteer per our insurance policies.
Can I bring my dog?
We love dogs, but some of our sites are not dog friendly and some participants prefer a pet-free environment. We advise participants to kindly leave pets at home for compliance with our permits and the safety and comfort of all participants.
Can my family/friends join me on the tour? And bring a vehicle/RV?
We love for others to join the party, but please let us know if you are planning to bring a guest along so we can share details and guidelines. We have very limited overnight parking and cannot always accommodate extra vehicles (especially oversized vehicles). We also ask that tour guests purchase a meal ticket for each meal they join to help offset our costs and ensure our catering teams make enough food for hungry riders. You can also review volunteer opportunities.
Is there a mass start time for each day? A cutoff time for completion each day?
CHC is a tour, not a race. There is no mass start, other than the Start Line on Day 1. Riders may ride out any time within a 30-minute window each morning (usually 7:00-7:30 am) and go at their own pace to the next base camp. We close the course as twilight approaches, so if anyone falls far behind due to a later start, an extra-leisurely pace, and/or a long lunch, our team will bump them up to the next rest stop or camp before dark, but most arrive in camp/hotel between 2-4 pm.
What do we eat? Are meals included?
Yes, meals are included in your rider package. Breakfast will be provided by our host hotel, a variety of hydration, bars, gels, chews, and PB&J sandwiches will be available at rest stops throughout the day (approx. every 25-30 miles), and in addition to enjoying local flavors for dinner, every evening social hour includes activities, snacks, and beverages. Our route offers a bounty of outstanding restaurants, scenic views, and social atmospheres in case you wish to treat yourself to a relaxing lunch as you ride through the many charming Carolina communities we will ride through. You will also receive our Must-See Guide for reference.
What is included in the Rider Package?
Please refer to our Event Information page.
I’m not registered, but can I just join in for one leg of the tour?
Carolina Hills Classic organizers strongly discourage bandit riding, even for those who are part of the CHC community, friends of registered riders or those who do not plan to use support, aid stations or other tour resources. Although it is probably not their intent, unofficial riders could adversely impact the event in a variety of ways. Despite being a 501(c)(3) charity, The Arthritis Foundation is required to secure a multitude of permits for nearly all the municipalities we travel through on the CHC route. There are mandates to rent signage, procure insurance, collect waivers, pay for CHP/local law enforcement monitors and put in traffic controls. All these requirements pose a significant cost to the Foundation. * Some entities even calculate permit fees on a per rider basis. There are caps for how many riders can be on route according to event permits.
Complaints about cyclists along the route will be directed towards the organizers whether or not the cyclists in question are officially part of the ride. If an unregistered rider has an issue on route, it will likely affect the event.
Official participants put forth considerable effort and personal expense to take part in the CHC Tour including training, fundraising/self-funding and getting themselves and their gear to and from the ride. They may react negatively to cyclists who would join in without registering and doing what is expected of all participants.
Cyclists are advised to register as official participants if they wish to ride in the CHC Tour. Volunteering is a great alternative for those who want to be involved with the CHC Tour and support the Arthritis Foundation’s mission.
*Note that because of our corporate partners whose generous contributions cover most of the operational costs of the ride, the funds that the riders raise go directly to our mission to help patients and their families.
Lodging
The Carolina Hills Classic rider package includes four (4) nights of hotel accommodation (double occupancy) June 11-15, 2025. A $750 surcharge will be charged by TBA date if participants prefer single occupancy. Additional information being added soon.
Is transportation of my gear provided during the tour?
Yes, luggage trucks will deliver your gear to your hotel each day. Registered riders receive our Travel Planner with additional details. On tour logistics are all coordinated to make it a seamless experience for our riders.
Travel
How do I get my bike to Asheville?
We work with professional bike shipping vendors that offer Pack and Ship service. Please consult the Bike Shipping Guide in the Rider Resource Hub for details. Transportation for riders, bikes, and gear, to and from the start and finish line is not included in the rider package and must be arranged and paid for by participants. Registered riders will receive our Travel Planner that will provide suggestions and preferred vendors.
Help, I Still Have Questions
Please reach out to Erin Starck at [email protected]