The Dancing Bear Bicycle Bash returns to East Tennessee on Saturday, September 19. The event starts and ends at the entrance to Dancing Bear Lodge, located at 7140 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway in Townsend, adjacent to the Apple Valley Country Stores. Pre-registration ends Sept. 16.

Presenting the event this year is the Blount County Partnership, a cooperative effort between the Blount County Chamber of Commerce, Chamber Foundation, Economic Development Board and the Smoky Mountain Tourism Development Authority.

Each rider who pre-registers before 5 pm ET on Wednesday, Sept. 16, at https://www.bikereg.com/dancingbear-bike-bash will receive a free t-shirt and enjoy a complimentary lunch at the completion of the ride. There will be two rest stops, on bike ride ambassadors and a rolling SAG vehicle provided by Cycology Bicycles.

Executive Chef Shelley Cooper of Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro will be carrying on the traditional post-ride gourmet lunch that made this cycling event one of the best in the Southeast.

The event includes 30-mile and 50-mile options. Packet pickup for participants will open at 7:30 am on Sept. 19th, with all riders rolling out at 9 am. Lunch for those who registered before Sept. 16th will be served from 11 am-2 pm on Dancing Bear’s new event lawn. The event will have Calf Killer beer on tap available for purchase along with bar service in the restaurant.

The Blount County Partnership notes the economic impact of this event to the area. “Having strong cycling events like Dancing Bear Bicycle Bash really helps sell this area to cycling enthusiasts,” said Blount County Director of Tourism Kim Mitchell.

“This area, along with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, has really become more bicycle friendly over the last few years. The more public support we get for events like this, the more it can grow into a regional spectacle. Outdoor recreation is a growing economic tourist sector that we’d like to see become a vital cornerstone of our successful community. With Cades Cove loop and our expansive greenway system in our backyard, we boast a solid foundation to see an increase in recreational tourism,” she said.

Cycology Bicycles General Manager Tim Patterson said he co-founded the Dancing Bear Bicycle Bash in 2008 to promote cycling in the area. The event, held twice a year, was missed last year after the main Lodge caught fire in the fall of 2013.

Patterson added that the 2015 Bicycle Bash is also a great opportunity to see all the new facilities that have been built and remodeled on the Dancing Bear property over the last year. Dancing Bear’s new owners, Mark and Sharon Oldham, are cycling enthusiasts who offer a fleet of bicycles available for rent to guests and the general public from a bike barn at the Apple Valley Country Store.

Organizers are eager to welcome riders and their friends to the Townsend community. Accommodations are available at Dancing Bear the weekend of the event by calling (800) 369-0111 extension 1 or visiting http://bit.ly/smokymtncabin.

For more information, contact Tim Patterson at [email protected]