North Country Subaru ~ Black Fly Challenge 2023 is sold out.
There is no wait list so please do not email us asking to be added.
As in years past the BFC Strava posts page is the venue to look for a registration transfer.
Almost Sold Out!
BFC 2023 is almost sold out… 968 registrations as of this post.
Register now if you want in! Capped at 1,000 entries.
BFC 2023 Jersey and Tech Tee
Custom designed by BFC Presenting Sponsor Trampoline Advertising & Design Co.
All orders placed by April 25th will be available for pick up June 9th & 10th.
Go to the BFC Store and order yours today!
BFC ’23 Adds E-MTB Category
The North Country Subaru ~ Black Fly Challenge will add an ‘experimental’ E-MTB category for 2023. E-MTB will be an open category with no gender or age classes and limited to 50 entries with no prizes.
Only Class-1 OEM pedal assist bikes are allowed in the E-MTB category and no on-course support is allowed. All bikes must pass a pre-race inspection and the E-MTB Rules will be strictly followed. Racers are required to know the rules and know their bike. If a bike fails inspection the racer will be disqualified with no refund, no exceptions!
Read the rules before registering!
E-MTB Rules
These rules will be STRICTLY enforced!
A. E-MTB ELIGIBILITY: Class 1 only
- Class 1: Pedal Assist Bicycles with an electric motor Peak Power of <=750 watts that provides motor assistance only when the rider is pedaling and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour. Bicycles must remain locked, i.e., no modification of wheel sensor from factory circumference or any other modification to manipulate the factory set speed of the bike.
- Production Rule: OEM drive unit and matching frame combination model required (matching year NOT required). Electric conversion kits and after-market frames are prohibited. Once qualified for the race the bicycle may not be modified in any way.
B. GENERAL EQUIPMENT STANDARDS:
- Throttle mechanisms are prohibited.
- Studded tires are prohibited.
- All e-bikes must report to and pass a technical inspection no later than 30 minutes prior to the start of the race. Class 1 identification label on your bicycle is required, know where it is. Bicycles may be tested by officials any time prior to, during or after the event. A bicycle that passes a pre-race inspection is subject to further inspection or protest at any time during or after the race. A rider who refuses to turn over their bicycle for inspection or testing at the request of a Race Official is automatically disqualified.
C. ON-COURSE SUPPORT NOT ALLOWED:
- No on-course support supplying batteries or any other assistance is allowed. If you need an extra battery you must carry it with you.
BFC 2023 Registration Opens Feb 2nd!
Registration for the North Country Subaru ~ Black Fly Challenge opens at 12:01am on Thursday February 2nd… Groundhog Day!
BFC Instant Results
Race Course Report
Thanks to the Inlet and Indian Lake highway departments the Limekiln-to-Cedar River Road in the Moose River Plains is in very good shape. The shoulders are soft throughout, as usual for this time of year. If the weather forecast holds the road should be relatively fast.
- Between the Limekiln gate and Red River there is a sharp curve with loose gravel. This curve has a huge (road sign) right arrow. Don’t take it wide!
- Between Red River and Big T is another sharp curve on a fast downhill marked with a single down arrow. Again, don’t take it wide!
- The flats heading West from the Big T intersection seem to be rather well-packed for this time of year but of course this condition is completely weather dependent.
- At about mile 23 there is part of a culvert collar sticking up in the middle of the road.
It has been marked with paint. This could puncture a tire. - After exiting the Cedar River Gate there are some long, smooth downhill sections that should be exceptionally fast.
- From the Cedar River gate the road is smooth with soft shoulders all the way to the pavement at about 28 miles.
- As always, remember to keep right! The roads are open to two-way traffic.
Event Schedule – Race Starts 10am!
Don’t forget the race start time has been moved to 10am, therefore the entire morning schedule is now a half-hour earlier!
- 7:30am – Shuttles Leave 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
- 3:00pm – First Shuttle Leaves Indian Lake School for Inlet
Packet pickup will begin Friday at Pedals & Petals, 10am-8pm.
Also, check out these #parking posts!
BFC 2022 Start Line Parking Info
BFC Start Line 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.
#parking
BFC 2022 Finish Line Parking & Shuttle Info
Morning & Afternoon Shuttles (for racers with shuttle reservations only) will line up on Crow Hill Road. AM Shuttles will leave by 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 soccer field – enter through Community Bank.
General Parking will be on the Indian Lake School Soccer Field and can be accessed by turning into the Community Bank driveway and following the signs.
Town Hall 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 until 12noon.
See the parking map below.
#parking
Tee-Shirt Deadline is Monday May 23rd
If you already provided tee-shirt size at BikeReg ignore this post.
BUT… if you never gave us your size, or don’t remember,
Go to BikeReg NOW and add your tee size!
We Need Your Tee-Shirt Size!
Many registered racers have not given us their tee-shirt size. Please log into your BikeReg account NOW and add your tee-shirt size!
Click Here to Add Your Tee-Shirt Size, and remember, if you do not provide your size you will not get a race tee-shirt.
Do not respond via email with your size.
If you remember adding your size when you registered you are good, but many registrants have not provided a tee shirt size.
This is because, somehow, the tee-shirt size question failed to reappear when the 2020 race was cancelled and renewed for 2021 and subsequently 2022.
We apologize for any inconvenience but after two consecutive cancellations the size question appears to be the only registration glitch and we’re trying to correct the issue.
While you’re at it, double check your category & age class to be sure they’re correct and remember that for BFC your racing age is your age on race day.
See you in June!
BFC Jersey – Race Day Delivery Deadline April 25th
If you want to pick up your BFC 25th Anniversary Jersey or Tech Tee on race day go to Shift Cycle Wear and order now!
The deadline for race day pickup is April 25th. Orders placed between April 26 & June 20 will be shipped to your address by July 31st.
Wait List Closed – Transfers on Strava
Since BFC 2022 sold out we have received dozens of emails asking to be on a wait list for registrations… So many, in fact, that at this point we can no longer accept wait list requests. Please DO NOT email us asking to be on the wait list, it is closed.
The #BFCStrava group has become one avenue for registration transfers. If you are looking for a registration or if you’re one of the few people with duplicate registrations please post to the BFC Strava discussion page.
That the race sold out should come as no surprise as registrations have topped 900 for the last several years. We have been asked why we have a cap of 1,000 racers and why we are sticking to it. The answer is that the planning and production of a race as big as BFC are not easily changed on short notice.
Numerous Town, County and State agencies are involved. BFC is required to obtain permits from multiple State agencies. The Incident Action Plan (IAP), EMS and numerous other logistics are based on what we consider to be our maximum capacity. Blatantly ignoring safety and capacity to allow more racers is irresponsible and we will not jeopardize the race or our racers by doing so.
Those that don’t get to race BFC 2022 are welcome to show up and cheer for their racing family & friends. And remember to sign up early for BFC 2023!
