BFC 2023 is almost sold out… 968 registrations as of this post.
Register now if you want in! Capped at 1,000 entries.
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!
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 2022 Almost Sold Out
BFC 2022 numbers as of Sunday afternoon:
- Registrations – 989 out of 1,000
- AM Shuttle – 97 out of 100
- PM Shuttle – 84 out of 100
Please let us know if you’re NOT racing and/or not using your shuttle registration. Remember, BikeReg allows you to Edit or Transfer Your Registration.
Also, as stated in the BikeReg email that went out this weekend, you do not need to contact us to confirm that your 2020 or 2021 registration has rolled over to 2022, however…
We have refunded several duplicate registrations because some of you have created multiple BikeReg accounts and registered twice. If you have duplicate registrations please cancel one of them.
See you in June!
UPDATE: Registration has reached the 1,000 entry limit. If there are cancellations we will let you know.
Online Registration Ends Tonight 11:59pm
The forecast looks great for BFC weekend… Go to BikeReg.com and register now!
BFC 2019 Registration Opens Saturday
BFC 2019 will race from Indian Lake to Inlet on Saturday June 8, and once again BFC registration opens on Groundhog Day! 12:01am Saturday February 2nd… Who’s gonna be the first to get registered?
Check out the BFC Questions, Answers & Rules and BFC Registration Guidelines if you have questions and remember tire width matters: CX tire width must not exceed 40mm. MTB tire width must be at least 1.95″.
Online Registration Ends Wednesday June 6, 11:59PM
Online registration at BikeReg.com ends Wednesday June 6, at 11:59PM. BikeReg is predicting BFC 2018 will be at or near the cap of 1,000 racers when online registration ends.
If that’s the case then Friday and Saturday may be packet pickup only, with no in-person registration. So don’t wait, register now!
Check out the posts & pages below to answer all your BFC questions:
- New to the Black Fly? Start with: FAQs & BFC Rules.
- Should you be in Cat1 or Cat2? Read the Registration Guidelines.
- Check out the Prizes page to see the payouts.
- Interested in the Screamen Eagle Fatbike Challenge?
- Edit Your Own Registration or Contact Bike Reg for help.
- Check out the Start Line Parking Info post.
- Check out the Finish Line Parking & Shuttle Info post.
- Visit the BFC Store for Jerseys, Tech Tees, Bike Raffle Tickets & more.
BFC 2018 Tee-Shirt Deadline is May 21
If you want a BFC 2018 race tee go to BikeReg and register NOW!
The cutoff for race tees is Monday May 21. If you register after May 21 you will not get a race tee.
Is my bike CX or MTB? Here’s some clarification:
Check out the UPDATE to this post.
Bicycle manufacturers have recently released some models that look like a cyclocross bike but in reality are not. With the exception of tire width, Black Fly Challenge follows the UCI specifications for cyclocross bikes, the main distinctions being:
- A bicycle shall not measure more that 185 cm in length and 50 cm in width overall.
- Wheel diameter may vary between 70 cm maximum and 55 cm minimum, including the tire.
- Wheels shall have at least 12 spokes.
- Weight of the bicycle shall not be less than 6.8 kilograms (15 lbs).
- Disc brakes are allowed.
- UCI’s max tire width is 33 mm (1.3 in) but BFC allows fatter tires, up to 40mm.
If your bike does not fall within these parameters register in the MTB category. Don’t be fooled by drop-bar, rigid frame bikes that look like a cyclocross but have bigger, fatter tires. These bikes don’t meet the UCI specs for cyclocross. Download the full UCI specs here.
Some other Cyclocross commonalities:
- They all have dropbars
- They don’t have any front suspension
Mountain Bikes
- Generally have a tire size of 1.9” or wider
- Have flat handlebars
- Have front and/or rear suspension
BFC Registration Guidelines
When registering for the Black Fly Challenge follow these guidelines…
- What Skill Level do I enter? It’s up to you to decide your skill level:
Gravel Bike Cat1 and MTB/Open Cat1 categories are for very competitive racers.
Gravel Bike Cat2 and MTB/Open Cat2 categories are for competitive & recreational racers. - Women’s Gravel Bike:
If you have previously finished or expect to finish in under 2:45, register Gravel Bike Cat1.
If you have previously finished or expect to finish over 2:45, register in Gravel Bike Cat2. - Men’s Gravel Bike:
If you have previously finished or expect to finish in under 2:30, register Gravel Bike Cat1.
If you have previously finished or expect to finish in over 2:30, register Gravel Bike Cat2. - Women’s MTB/Open:
If you have previously finished or expect to finish in under 3:15, register MTB/Open Cat1.
If you have previously finished or expect to finish in over 3:15, register MTB/Open Cat2. - Men’s MTB/Open:
If you have previously finished or expect to finish in under 3:00, register MTB/Open Cat1.
If you have previously finished or expect to finish in over 3:00, register MTB/Open Cat2. - Juniors:
Junior racers register in the Junior Gravel Bike or Junior MTB/Open category. - Tandems:
Tandem competitors register in the Tandem category. - Tire Width: Gravel Bike tire width must not exceed 50mm.
- All other bikes: Other bikes may be allowed at the discretion of the Race Director. Send your inquiries to info@blackflychallenge.com
If you need further info visit the FAQs & BFC Rules page.
BFC 2018 Registration Opens Tomorrow
Tomorrow is Groundhog Day – BFC 2018 opens at 12:01am Friday! Who’s gonna be the first to get registered?
BFC 2017 Online Registration Ends Thursday 6/8
Online registration at BikeReg.com ends at midnight Thursday June 8. BikeReg is predicting BFC 2017 will be at or near the cap of 1,000 racers when online registration ends. If that’s the case then Friday and Saturday may be packet pickup only, with no in-person registration. So don’t wait, register now!
As of this writing there were less than 30 spots left on the afternoon shuttle. The morning shuttle is sold out. Check out the posts linked below to answer all your BFC questions:
- New to the Black Fly? Start with: FAQs & BFC Rules
- Read about the BIG changes this year: New for BFC 2017
- Should you enter Cat1 or Cat2? Registration Guidelines
- Check out the Prizes page to see the payouts.
- Interested in the Screamen Eagle Fatbike Challenge?
- Edit Your Own Registration or Contact Bike Reg for help.
- View the Event and Shuttle schedule for times and details.
- Visit the BFC Store for Jerseys, Bike Raffle Tickets and more.
Morning Shuttle Will Sell Out Soon
As of today there are only 17 spots left on the Morning Shuttle. The Afternoon Shuttle has 67 spots left. If you’re already registered and want to add a shuttle to your registration go to BikeReg, scroll down to the Shuttle Revision Payment and purchase the shuttle by using the same name you used to register for the race.
BFC 2017 Registration Opens Tomorrow
Registration for BFC 2017 opens tomorrow, Thursday February 2 (Groundhog Day) with some big changes that include expanded categories & age classes and a 44% bigger purse! Stay tuned for details.
Registration Guidelines
When registering for the Black Fly Challenge follow these guidelines…
- What Skill Level do I enter? It’s up to you to decide your skill level:
Gravel Cat 1 and MTB/Open 1 categories are for competitive racers.
Gravel Cat 2 and MTB/Open 2 categories are for recreational racers. - Women’s Gravel:
If you have previously finished or expect to finish in under 2:45, register Gravel Cat 1.
If you have previously finished or expect to finish over 2:45, register in Gravel Cat 2. - Men’s Gravel:
If you have previously finished or expect to finish in under 2:30, register Gravel Cat 1.
If you have previously finished or expect to finish in over 2:30, register Gravel Cat 2. - Women’s MTB/Open:
If you have previously finished or expect to finish in under 3:15, register MTB/Open 1.
If you have previously finished or expect to finish in over 3:15, register MTB/Open 2. - Men’s MTB/Open:
If you have previously finished or expect to finish in under 3:00, register MTB/Open 1.
If you have previously finished or expect to finish in over 3:00, register MTB/Open 2. - Juniors:
Junior racers register in the Junior Gravel Bike or Junior MTB/Open category. - Tandems:
Two-seat Tandem competitors register in the Tandem category. - All other bikes: Other bikes may be allowed at the discretion of the Race Director. Send your inquiries to info@blackflychallenge.com
If you need further info visit the FAQs & BFC Rules page.
