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Full results with Women’s & Men’s Champions and special prizes coming on Sunday
Race Course Report
Thanks to the Inlet and Indian Lake highway departments the Limekiln-to-Cedar River Road in the Moose River Plains Wild Forest is in good shape and recent rains have made the surface quite solid so it should be fast.
The surface varies from loose gravel to hard-packed sand and gravel. The shoulders are soft in some spots, as usual for this time of year. Some hazards are marked with paint but we can’t mark them all so watch out for the countless rocks and boulders throughout the Plains road.
From the Official’s Instructions:
For the entire length of the race there is two-way traffic so keep right!
• Don’t get stressed if it seems that you’re in a pack for the first few miles – once the big hills start it will thin out quickly.
• Race arrows are about every mile and as necessary for turns, etc.
• A few miles into the Plains there a two sharp curves with lots of loose gravel. Watch your speed on those.
• The first water station is about 7.5 miles out after you turn left at Red River and then about every 5 miles after that.
• At the Otter Brook intersection (a.k.a. Big T) there will be another left turn and a water station.
• At about mile 23 there’s a rocky downhill – skinny wheels beware!
• At mile 25 you’ll exit the Plains and turn left onto Cedar River Road.
• At about mile 26 begins a long, smooth and fast downhill. Beware on the curves.
• Just after mile 29 you’ll be back on pavement.
• At about mile 37 you’ll turn right onto the State highway and continue along the shoulder to the finish.
Final Notes:
• The timing chips are on your bib number, don’t lose it.
• Make sure you finish over the line, not in the road! If you pass the finish line on the road your time may not be recorded and you could be listed as DNF.
• Anyone crossing the finish line without a helmet will be disqualified.
• Throw all your water bottles & trash straight down on the road! DO NOT throw any bottles or trash off to the side!!! The sweeper can’t see it if you toss it into the woods.
• A Sweeper Crew follows the race with a truck & trailer for bikes & riders that can’t continue. This is not a Sag Wagon! If you’re picked up by the sweeper you are DNF!
• If you DNF and are not picked up by the Sweeper, please report to the scoring station with your bib number and tell them you did not finish. We must account for every single racer.
• Racing etiquette: If you have to walk your bike keep all the way right and single file! If you’re racing with a group do not spread across the whole road. Leave room on your left to pass!
• Have fun & be safe!
Jersey & Tech Tee Still Available
The North Country Subaru ~ BFC Team Store has re-opened and 2026 Jerseys & Tech Tees are available until June 21st. Production will start on June 22nd with delivery 7 weeks after that.
Go to the BFC Store and order yours today!
BFC 2026 Finish Line Parking & Shuttle Info
Morning & Afternoon Shuttles (sold out – for racers with reservations only) will line up on Crow Hill Road. AM Shuttles will leave at 7:30am – Don’t be late! PM Shuttles will start leaving about 3pm.
Shuttle Riders Parking will be in the West School lots off of Crow Hill Road. No parking allowed on the sides of Crow Hill Road. Once the West School lots are full, overflow should go to the Town Hall.
General Parking will be behind Indian Lake Restaurant, across from Stewart’s. Follow the signs and flags!
Town Hall & Library Lot – Please Note: Indian Lake Library is open until 1pm on race day. Do not park directly in front of the Library entrance while it is open. Those spaces are reserved for Library patrons.
See the parking map below.
#parking
Pre-Race Dinner & Breakfast
Inlet Volunteer Hose Company is hosting a Spaghetti Dinner beginning at 4pm on Friday June 12th at the Inlet Volunteer Emergency Services building. This is a fundraising event for a new fire truck so stop in and carb-up Friday evening!
Screamen Eagle, another huge race supporter, will be serving breakfast on race day morning beginning at 7am, offering breakfast pizzas, casseroles & French toast plus coffee for grab & go or sit & chill. Bar opens at 8am!
BFC 2026 Inlet Start Parking Info
BFC Inlet Start Parking: Parking areas include a lot in front of the Woods Inn, Inlet Community Church, Fern Park and the downtown public parking lot. See the parking map below. Staging & start will be at Arrowhead Park.
#parking
Rooms & Roads
Rooms – Two long-time BFC sponsors, The Woods Inn and Marina Motel, both still have rooms available for BFC weekend.
IMPORTANT! Roads – The Raquette Lake Route 28 bridge is still under construction and reduced to one lane. Additionally, Route 28/30 between Blue Mountain and Indian Lake has two areas under construction where the road is reduced to one lane. All three have timed lights. If your route to the Inlet start includes these areas make sure to Plan Accordingly!
BFC 2026 Event Schedule
North Country Subaru ~ BFC 2026 Inlet to Indian Lake Event Schedule
Packet Pickup: Friday June 12, 10am-8pm at Pedals & Petals
Saturday June 13th – RACE DAY!
- 7:30am – Shuttles Leaves Indian Lake School for Inlet
- 7:30-9:30am – Packet Pickup, at Inlet Town Hall, Rt. 28, Inlet
- 9:45am – Official’s Instructions – Be on the starting line!
- 10:00am – Race Begins
- 11:30am – Post Race Party begins at Indian Lake School
- 2:45pm – Awards Begin
- 3:00pm – Timing Ends
DON’T FORGET – This is a Destination Race!
Bring someone to drive your vehicle to the post race party in Indian Lake!!!
Shuttles (sold out):
Before the race: Shuttles leave Indian Lake School at 7:30am for packet pickup in Inlet.
After the race: First shuttle leaves Indian Lake School about 3:00pm for return to Inlet.
New Food Options for BFC 2026
New for BFC 2026… Food Trucks will be parked at the Finish Line Party!
The Indian Lake Volunteer Fire Department will be back, as always, serving up burgers & dogs under the big tent. Racers can get a free lunch at the tent with the use of their wristband and non-racers will be able to purchase meals using cash.
ADK Heart Catering and Bab-a-Dew’s Woodfired Pizza will be joining the party this year too. They will NOT be accepting wristbands as payment. See you at the finish!
Black Fly Friend & Fan Sponsors
Offering 50 beers on tap plus a wide selection of pizza, wings, subs, salads and desserts Screamen Eagle has been a favorite among BFC racers, friends and volunteers for decades. Screamen also hosts many community events – including most BFC meetings – and has been a true Black Fly Friend in numerous ways.
Black Fly Fans Inlet Department Store and Pine’s Country Store provide pallets of water every year for the BFC racers and volunteers and Tim Pine also coordinates the water & spotting stations for the Indian Lake half of the race. Both Tim and his son Noah have raced in the Black Fly multiple times.
BFC Friend Dude Wipes has again graciously offered to supply samples for the racers bags.
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BFC Supporting Sponsors 2026
The North Country Subaru Black Fly Challenge is pleased announce the addition of Salonpas as a Supporting Sponsor and welcomes back Mountain Ice pain relief and electrolyte innovator LMNT as well.
Mountain Ice works differently than other topical gels. It doesn’t just numb the pain, it treats the inflammation causing pain with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents that help treat pain at the source. Find out how Mountain Ice is reinventing the pain relief industry.
Locally created and produced, this non-greasy formula absorbs quickly with natural ingredients that include turmeric root, Arnica Montana flower extract, Tea tree oil, aloe vera, and Vitamin E, along with MSM, Chondroitin, and Camphor.
LMNT’s science-backed formula helps folks get more of the sodium, potassium, and magnesium they need, while omitting sugar, calcium, phosphorus, and trace minerals that may not work for everyone. It’s healthful hydration and an easy box to check on your path to health.
How LMNT used science and real-world experience to arrive at their formula is an interesting story. Check it out here.
March 1, 2024 marked the 90th anniversary of the Salonpas patch, the world’s No. 1 brand of Over-the-Counter (OTC) topical analgesics in the patch category, which was introduced in Japan in 1934.
Since its inception, the Salonpas brand has evolved into an array of OTC pain relief solutions including patches, creams, gels, sprays and liquids and is the #1 Doctor and Pharmacist recommended OTC Topical Pain Relief Patch.
Salonpas is more than a pain relief patch; it’s a symbol of time-tested, trusted medicine that transcends generations
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Registration Transfer & Edit Deadline May 31st
All registration transfers and edits must be completed through BikeReg before 11:59PM, Sunday May 31st. Have questions? Visit the BFC Questions, Answers & Rules page and/or this Transfers post.
There may still be transfers available: check out the BFC Strava posts page. Any transfers not completed through BikeReg must be completed at packet pickup. Proof of transfer, such as email(s) showing transfer agreement, may be required.
BFC Presenting Sponsors
BFC racers, friends and fans know that Pedals & Pedals has been the backbone of the North Country Subaru Black Fly Challenge for decades and we welcome back our newest Presenting Sponsor, Syracuse Bicycle, for a second year.
While the SB tagline may be “Love Bikes, Love Life” their slogan “Not everyone can ride their bike everywhere, but everyone can ride their bike somewhere” is the guiding principle in both the programs they offer and the community leadership they provide.
For over three decades Pedals & Petals has earned customer loyalty by offering honest expertise along with excellent service. Check out Pedals & Petals customer reviews that describe the store and staff as friendly, knowledgeable and professional along with quality products and service.
BFC is honored to have these Presenting Sponsors!
North Country Subaru’s 50th Year!
In mid-March BFC Title Sponsor North Country Subaru celebrated its 50th year as a Subaru retailer… Congratulations! (Check out their FB page for some cool old photos.) For a half-century North Country Subaru has been dedicated to helping the communities they serve, as evidenced by their receipt of the Subaru Love Promise Customer and Community Commitment Award. This award only goes to elite Subaru retailers who provide an exceptional customer experience and also demonstrate outstanding commitment to supporting their local communities.
North Country Subaru supports dozens of events and organizations annually and this past Winter they teamed up with Tri-County United Way, local schools and social service partners to help give 500+ brand-new winter coats to kids who need them. Last September North Country Subaru donated $7,500.00 plus various school supplies to Jackson Heights Elementary School allowing teachers to provide basic supplies to 15 classrooms for a whole year. And these are just two of their initiatives – there are plenty more.
North Country Subaru is also a big supporter of the cycling community, as evidenced by their BFC sponsorship and acquisition of Rick’s Bike Shop, also in Queensbury, where they feature bikes, trainers, joggers, parts, tools, clothing and accessories by all the top brands.
At Rick’s Bike Shop they promise “We have almost everything. If we don’t have it, we’ll get it.” At North Country Subaru their motto is “Cars you can count on. People you can trust.” But that’s more than just a motto, it’s their mission and philosophy. BFC is truly honored to have their support.
Visit their website or stop by the dealership at 616 Quaker Road in Queensbury. And please tell them the Black Fly sent you!
BFC 2026 Registration Transfer Info
The North Country Subaru ~ BFC 2026 is sold out. If you’re looking for a registration, remember:
- There is no wait list. Do not email us asking to be added.
- The BFC Strava posts page is the venue for registration transfers.
Every year dozens of registrations are transferred. For the few that have issues transferring a registration it’s often because of incorrect or incomplete information. Read the BikeReg transfer instructions here.
- ALL transfers must be completed through BikeReg by 11:59pm on May 31st.
- Anyone receiving a transferred registration after May 1st is not guaranteed a correct size race tee. Our race tee order goes to the printer in early May.
See ya in June!
