In less that 24 hours BFC 2026 is more than half full.
Don’t wait. Register Now
Registration is Open!
Registration for the North Country Subaru Black Fly Challenge is Now Open!
Register Now at BikeReg
Then, go to the BFC Store for BFC Jerseys, Tech Tees & Bike Raffle Tickets
BFC 2026 Registration is Open
Read about What’s New This Year then Register Now at BikeReg.
What’s NEW? READ Before You Register!
North Country Subaru ~ BFC 2026 registration opens at 12:01am on Monday February 2nd!
Before you register read about WHAT’S NEW THIS YEAR…
Category Changes – Cyclocross (CX) is now Gravel Bike. MTB is now MTB/Open. If you’re riding a cyclocross or gravel bike register in the Gravel Bike categories. All other bikes (except for Tandem and E-MTB) register in MTB/Open. This includes mountain bikes and hybrids.
New Tire Width – Gravel bike category max tire width is now 50mm. The MTB/Open minimum tire width of 1.95″ will no longer be enforced.
Junior Classes Expanded – Junior age classes are now 9-12, 13-15 & 16-18.
Not new but important for teams…
Teams – The BikeReg team setup requires the Captain register first, create the team, add the email addresses of all members so they can be invited and then pay for all members upon checkout. That’s just too cumbersome for most of our teams so we have not enabled that feature.
Instead, we allow registrants to Join a Group. With this option a team member can create a (team) group and then direct the other members to join it without having to pay for all members up front. The Team Information box, as shown here, appears directly below the racer profile info on the registration page. The team should coordinate who will create the group and be sure the name is correct.
BFC 2026 Registration Opens 2/2, NEW THIS YEAR…
North Country Subaru ~ Black Fly Challenge 2026 registration opens on BikeReg at 12:01am on Monday February 2nd!
Make sure to read about what’s NEW THIS YEAR…
Category Changes – Cyclocross (CX) is now Gravel Bike. MTB is now MTB/Open. If you’re riding a cyclocross or gravel bike register in the gravel bike categories. All other bikes (except for Tandem and E-MTB) register in MTB/Open. This includes mountain bikes and hybrids.
New Tire Width – Gravel bike category max tire width is now 50mm. The MTB/Open minimum tire width of 1.95″ will no longer be enforced.
Junior Classes Expanded – Junior age classes are now 9-12, 13-15 & 16-18.
Check out Pat’s Pics!
Thanks to All BFC Volunteers & Sponsors!
The 28th North Country Subaru Black Fly Challenge was a great success thanks to our volunteers and sponsors. From stuffing swag bags to sweeping the race course BFC is lucky to have well over 100 volunteers that make the race work.
Thanks also go to all the sponsors that contribute to the race, most notably our major sponsors – North Country Subaru, Pedals & Petals and Syracuse Bicycle.
Please visit all the sponsors listed on the BFC Sponsor page and let theses generous folks know you appreciate what they do for the race. BFC is truly a community event so let’s support the sponsors and communities that support us!
Jersey & Tech Tee Order Deadline is June 22nd!
Post Race Order Deadline is June 22!
The BFC 2025 Volare Elite Cycling Jersey features Italian fabric construction, advanced ventilation panels to keep you cool, a waterproof zippered pocket for protection of valuables and an invisible zipper so the graphics look great. It’s available in race, sport and relaxed club cuts.
Click Here to visit the order page and be sure to check out the Sizing Chart before ordering!
BFC 2025 Champions & Results
Full Results from SVE Timing @ Raceroster.com
Congratulations to BFC 2025 Champions!
Women: Lisa Holt (2:09:45)
Men: Dan Timmerman (1:47:48)
Special Prizes
Youngest – Rory Webber – age 10
Oldest – Roger Gocking (again!) – age 82
Farthest – Alex Parulis – Nederland, CO
Largest Team – AFI Adventure Team
Results Link
Results from SVE Timing @ Raceroster.com
Race Course Report
Thanks to the Indian Lake and Inlet highway departments the Cedar River-to-Limekiln Road in the Moose River Plains Wild Forest is in good shape and recent rains have made the surface more solid than usual 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. Hazards are marked with paint but there are very few, except for two bridges to beware of and the countless rocks in some areas.
From the Official’s Instructions:
For almost 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 10 miles – once the hills start it will thin out quickly.
• Race arrows are about every mile and as necessary for turns, hazards, etc.
• The first water station is about 9 miles out and then about every 5 miles after that.
• Pavement ends at about 10 miles.
• At about 12.5 miles the serious hills begin.
• Control your speed on these downhills or you may find your self wrapped around a tree!
• At about 14 miles the race route turns right through the Cedar River gate into the MRRA
• At the Otter Brook intersection (a.k.a. Big T) there will be a right turn and a water station.
• At 31.5 miles you’ll turn right again at Red River. This is the last water station before the finish line! < 7 miles
• You will then begin a gradual climb followed by some long fast downhills.
• At about 35.5 miles is a fast downhill that has a sharp S-turn at the bottom. This is marked by 2 road signs: a right arrow and a Slow sign. You need to keep right so you don’t get hit by oncoming traffic!
• You will exit the MRRA at the Limekiln gate at about 36 miles and turn right, going up & over Limekiln Hill. Again, remember to keep right!
• At the bottom of Limekiln Hill you will turn left into Murdock Trucking and continue straight back between the buildings. At this point you have about 3/4 mile on trails to the finish line.
• The race route goes uphill and into the woods. The trail is in good shape but there are roots and rocks.
• There is a quarter-mile downhill to Fern Park with two sharp right turns right before the finish line. If you’re on a CX bike or have smooth tires be careful on these turns.
Final Notes:
• The timing chips are on your bib number, don’t lose it.
• 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!!!
• 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!
BFC Inlet Finish Parking & Shuttle Info
Morning Shuttles will be in Arrowhead Park.
Morning Shuttle Parking will be at the grass lot in front of Woods Inn.
Afternoon Shuttles will be at Inlet Community Church. First shuttle will leave about 3pm or when full. Last shuttle leaves about 4pm.
Finish Line & Party are in Fern Park.
General Event Parking will be at Fern Park, Inlet Community Church, the grass lot in front of Woods Inn and downtown Inlet lots. See the parking map below.
Start Location Change – IMPORTANT!
Due to continuing repairs to the Adirondack Lake Dam we are unable to use Byron Park this year. Instead, BFC 2025 will start from the parking lot between Indian Lake Library and Town Hall. Packet pickup (Sat 7/14, 7:30-9:30am) will be in a tent next to Town Hall. Please see the attached Parking & Staging maps. And spread the word to your fellow racers!
Packet pickup at Pedals & Petals, 10am-8pm Friday 6/13 remains unchanged.
Black Fly Friend & Fan Sponsors
The North Country Subaru Black Fly Challenge would like to thank Screamen Eagle, Inlet Department Store and Pine’s Country Store for being long-time hometown sponsors. And new this year we welcome Inlet Marina and Dude Wipes.
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 Fan sponsors 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.
And new to the BFC this year are Inlet Marina and Dude Wipes. Both have graciously donated swag for the BFC race bags.
BFC Lodging Sponsors
Make it a Black Fly Weekend! Stay with one of our North Country Subaru ~ Black Fly Challenge Lodging Sponsors:
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- The Birches (Inlet)
- Deer Meadows (Inlet)
- Garnet Hill Resort (North River)
- Great Camp Sagamore (Raquette Lake)
- Kenmore Cottages (Eagle Bay)
- Marina Motel (Inlet)
- Rocky Point (Inlet)
- The Woods Inn (Inlet)
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