The Dancing Bear Bike Bash has been renamed the Townsend Bike Bash and is scheduled for Saturday, April 25. The event starts and ends at the Apple Valley Country Stores and Café, located at 7140 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway in Townsend. A post-event party will include a deejay, hickory smoked bar-b-que and a beer garden on site.
Riders can register before Wednesday, April 22, at https://www.bikereg.com/townsend-bike-bash . The event includes 30-mile and 50-mile options.
Presenting the event this year are Dancing Bear, Apple Valley Stores and Cycology Bike Shop. Two new supporting sponsors include Dogwood Cabins and Big Meadow Campgrounds. Mark and Sharon Oldham, owners of Dancing Bear, said a portion of each registration will go to support more biking events in Townsend.
The event includes two rest stops and a lead and "sweep" rider. Each registrant will receive a free tee shirt and a complimentary catered lunch at the completion of the ride. Because the new Dancing Bear restaurant is still under construction, the lunch will be catered out of the Apple Valley Cafe and will be served on the lawn on the grounds along US 321.
Riders will enjoy a delicious lunch consisting of house smoked BBQ brisket with slaw, gourmet green salad with housemade pecan vinaigrette dressing, and “Appalachian Lunchable” platters featuring bacon, blue pimento cheese, pickled vegetables, and shrimp skewers, as well as Apple Valley’s house-made fudge served with tea or lemonade. There will also be a beer garden featuring Calf Killer premium craft beers on tap for an additional fee.
Former Dancing Bear Managing Partner Matt Alexander started the event in 2008 out of his enthusiasm for cycling. The tradition now continues with the Oldhams, who are also cycling enthusiasts.
“My wife Sharon and I spent a month in New Zealand in 2014 riding bikes,” Mr. Oldham said. “We rode about 450 miles over 10 days with a formal ‘tour’ and so we also like to be ‘in the saddle’. This is another reason we chose to resurrect the Bike Bash. It was a natural fit for us to try right off the bat.”
Dancing Bear held a groundbreaking in January to add a new restaurant, event center, an event lawn and additional cabins.
The Oldhams recently purchased Apple Valley and are eager to welcome riders and their friends to the Townsend community.
Accommodations are available at Dancing Bear the weekend of the event by calling 800 369-0111 or visiting http://bit.ly/smokymtncabin. RV parking is available at Big Meadows Campground by calling 865 448-0625 or visiting http://www.bigmeadowcampground.com and cabin rentals are also available for riders at Dogwood Cabins by calling 865 448-9054.
For more information on the Townsend Bike Bash, visit http://dancingbearlodge.com/ or http://applevalleycountrystore.com/.