If riding on dirt roads and hiking your bike up steep climbs is not your idea of fun, you can still get your country road cycling fix with a “Roubaix” style event that offers a combination of long flat sections and several steep unpaved climbs. While you won’t find any cobblestone roads (like in France’s famous Paris Roubaix) in the North Carolina mountains, you will find plenty of steep hills and gravel roads. Events like the Boone Roubaix feature incredible scenery, twisting roads, long climbs, gravel roads, and 7 miles of nearly flat pavement near the finish. A unique racing experience, your biggest competition will be the course itself.
While you’ll need a mountain or cyclocross bike for most UltraCross races, your stock equipment for the Boone Roubaix is fine. Race director Andrew Stackhouse recommends using 25c or larger tires with sidewall protection and run tire pressure high enough to prevent pinch flatting. Leave your deep section carbon rims and tubular tires at home.
For more information on bikes for UltraCross and Roubaix-style events, turn to Page 38 for our “It’s All About the Bike” feature.
