ROAD/GRAVEL 2025
July 14-19
A 6-day overnight camp for male and female junior riders looking to develop skills, confidence, and fitness. Each day introduces new skills culminating in an epic day climbing switchbacks and through tunnels to the top of Mt Pisgah and then descending back down! We'll get in plenty of mileage on Madison County's lightly traveled roads, with short/steep climbs, long steady ascents/descents, and flat roads along the river. Group riding experience is a prerequisite.
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What you can expect: skills and bike handling sessions; group riding etiquette and rotations; proper bike fit and position; aerodynamics, power-to-weight, and equipment selection; race strategy and tactics; fueling and recovery; bike maintenance and repair; training plans and goal setting; core and off-bike strength training; mock racing exercises including climbing, sprinting, cornering, time trialing, attacking, bridging. Plus, picnics, games, movie nights, and swimming holes!
What about Gravel?
We are again having a hybrid road/gravel camp in 2025! On paper this is our road camp but due to high interest in gravel, it's now our "groad" camp. For those coming for gravel, over 50% of the ride time we will split off and ride gravel while working on gravel specific skills and training. When not split off and riding road these riders can swap to a road bike, change wheels, or ride their gravel tires on pavement. There will be road days at gravel camp. We won't be on gravel for every ride; if you would like to swap wheels or bikes for road days that is allowed/encouraged. But there will be lots of gravel! For riding at gravel camp, you'll need to have a gravel bike with at least 40mm tires/clearance and disc brakes.
Mars Hill Cycling Camps and Athlete Development
Mars Hill Cycling Camps aim to provide not only a fun and enriching overnight summer cycling camp experience, but also to provide education and training to help campers reach the next level in their sport. For almost 15 years, we've helped athletes further their big dreams and goals. They've gone on to win and podium at national championships, get noticed by and join major teams, and race internationally and professionally. Campers who are looking to stand out and be referred to USA Cycling and other teams and development programs for their next step up will be able to use Mars Hill Cycling Camps as a stage to do that. Whatever path you choose in your cycling, we're here to support your continued advancement in an exciting and fun environment focused on advancing skills, fitness and character.
Drop Off: Mon, July 14, 1-2pm Pick Up: Sat, July 19, 11am
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Where: Camp is based at Mars Hill University, nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains and adjacent to the Blue Ridge Parkway, Mt. Mitchell State Park, the Appalachian Trail, and the French Broad River.
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Housing: Single (add-on) and double occupancy dormitory rooms, community bathrooms, separate wings for men and women.
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Address:
Mars Hill University
Dogwood Hall
155 Townhouse Dr
Mars Hill, NC 28754
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Typical Camp Schedule: Scroll down for more info
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Cost: $1675 (includes housing, 3 meals/day, snacks, fun!)
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Required: USA Cycling license in order to participate
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First, you need to fill out this form before you can register for
camp. If approved, we will email you a code that be used on BikeReg to register and complete payment. FORM HERE
Register with Code:
2024 ROAD & GRAVEL SCHEDULE
(TBD by weather and road/gravel conditions)
Monday: Arrival, Intros, Equipment Check, Ride
1:00-2:00pm Rider Registration and move-in
2:00pm Introductions, bike safety checks
4:00pm 1hr easy ride
5:30pm Dinner
7:00pm: Discussion: camp schedule, expectations, Q&A
8:00pm Prep bikes for tomorrow. Relax, games, bike TV
10:00pm Quiet time
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Tuesday: Skills & Drills, Uphill Time Trial, Descending
7:30am Wake up
8:00am Breakfast
9:30am Skills and Drills, bike handling, cornering, TT starts, turnarounds. Gravel skills split off.
12:00pm Lunch
1:30pm California Creek road uphill TT / Gravel uphill TT
6:00pm Dinner
7:00pm Evening Meeting
7:30pm Relax, games, bike TV
10:00pm Quiet time
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Wednesday: Mellowdrome Track, Gravel Morning Ride, Industry Nine
7:30am Wake up
8:00am Breakfast
10:00am Road @ Mellowdrome: pacelines, attacking, bridging. Gravel camp on Pisgah gravel!
12:00pm Picnic Lunch
1:00pm: Guest Speaker: pro Andrew Giniat (2023)
1:00-3pm Mellowdrome: mock racing / tactics for road and gravel.
3:30pm: Factory Tour of Industry Nine Componentry
6:00pm Dinner
7:00pm Evening Meeting
7:30pm Relax, games, bike TV
10:00pm Quiet time
Thursday: Flat TT, Afternoon Ride (with guest pro?)
7:300am Wake Up.
8:00am Breakfast
9:00am Road Ride to flat 10k TT course, pre-ride, mock TT race
Gravel campers: ride in Hot Springs
12:00pm Lunch
1:00pm Ride road and gravel
6:00pm Dinner
7:00pm Evening Discussion & Meeting
7:30pm Relax, games, bike TV
10:00pm Quiet time
Friday: Mt Pisgah, Bike Cleaning & Maintenance with ProGold
7:30am Wake up
8:00am Breakfast
10:30 pm Hwy 151, Mt Pisgah climb and descend / road & gravel
1:00pm Lunch
4:00pm Bike Cleaning and Maintenance clinic sponsored by ProGold
6:00pm Dinner
7:00pm Evening Meeting, Individual Conferences
7:30pm Relax, games, bike TV
10:00pm Quiet time
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Saturday: Individual Conferences and Camper Pickup
8:00am Wake up.
8:15am Waffle Breakfast Party
9:00am Individual camp reviews with coaches
11:00am Campers picked up by parents.
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