2nd Annual Toast to Trails - Cycle & Sip

Ride the American Tobacco Trail and enjoy wine tasting and lunch on May 16, 2015 in support of NC Rail-Trails — at Cloer Family Vineyards.  

This bicycle ride boasts a 36-mile round trip ride on the American Tobacco Trail (ATT).  The half-way point features a stop at Cloer Family Vineyards for lunch, music, and wine tasting.  Sights along the way include the American Tobacco Campus, 17 miles along the ATT, and the new bike-ped bridge over I-40.  And if 18-miles is enough for you, there will be a shuttle available to return you and your bike to your car (see below).

This exclusive event is 95% off-road and is limited to 200 riders.  Proceeds will benefit North Carolina Rail-Trails, the statewide nonprofit land trust dedicated to preserving rail corridors and creating rail-trails for public use.

NC Rail-Trails thanks you for registering for the 2nd Annual Toast to Trails!  We're excited you're joining us for this festive event - we've waited a long time for all of the pieces to come together to make this event possible.  Trail + vineyard + bridge over I-40 = Toast to Trails!  

Here are a few tips to keep in mind to help your day go smoothly..

Safety - HELMETS REQUIRED!

• Please exercise caution at all times and follow bike traffic rules and regulations.       http://www.ncdot.gov/bikeped/download/bikeped_laws_guidebook-full.pdf

• The ride is 95% on the ATT and 5% on road.  We will be crossing at several intersections however.  Please plan to stop at intersections and proceed with caution.

• We will have an experienced lead bike as well as 2 experienced sweepers on bikes.  There will be directional signs along the route.  

• You will receive a Road ID bib at check-in.  Emergency contact information will be located on the bib in case you get lost or break-down.

• There will be limited supplies/equipment for repairs.  

 

Check-in and Walk-On Registration

• Saturday, May 16 @ the American Tobacco Trail (ATT) trailhead, corner of Blackwell St and Morehead Ave. in Durham, NC 8:30 am - 9:30 am.

• Walk-on registration $65.  Credit cards accepted.

 

Start/Finish Info and Route

• Start/Finish ATT trailhead.

• Ride starts at 9:30 am.

• Cloer Family Vineyard is located at 8624 Castleberry Rd, Apex, NC  27523

• All riders leave Cloer Family Vineyard no later than 1:00pm.  All riders should return to ATT trailhead no later than 2:30pm.

• We'll have your wine glass waiting for you at the finish area.  If you purchase wine, we'll have it waiting for you as well.

• Not up for the ride, but want to enjoy wine and lunch in a beautiful setting to support NC Rail-Trails?  This year we are offering a vineyard-only ticket just for you!

 

 

Parking

• Free parking available in the American Tobacco Campus South deck near Mellow Mushroom. 705 Willard Street in Durham, 27701.

• Free street parking available on Willard and Blackwell Streets.  If you rack your bike on top of your car please plan to use street parking.  

 

Lunch & Wine Tasting

• Enjoy a lovely lunch of salad, pasta, bread and tea on the beautiful grounds of Cloer Family Vineyards.

• Please bring your ID to enjoy the Cloer Family Vineyard wine tasting.

• Music and a special celebration of NC Rail-Trails 25th Anniversary will round out the festivities

Weather - we don't think this will be an issue...but just in case!

• Toast to Trails will go on rain or shine.  In case of rain, we'll still be serving lunch and hosting the wine tasting at Cloer Family Vineyard from 11 am - 1pm.  

• If the ride should be canceled, delayed or postponed for any reason outside the direct control of the Race Director (inclement weather; Local, State, or National emergency; or conditions on the route), refunds will not be given, but arrangements will be made for participants to pick up their wine glasses.

 

 Other good stuff to know

• Bring a water bottle!  We'll have water available at the start/finish area and at the vineyard. 

• Don't forget sunscreen 

• You can purchase wine at the vineyard.  Bring some extra cash or credit card, we'll haul it back for you in the "wine wagon"!

• We have partnered with Greenway Transit to provide a shuttle service for you and your bike back to Durham if needed.  The price is $20/person to shuttle. The Greenway Transit folks will be at the vineyard on call for anyone who wants a ride back - no need to preregister for the shuttle.   

 

 Questions? Please contact Emily Herbert at execdirector@ncrailtrails.org or 919-399-5214