1000 x 90

Blood Sweat and Gears 2014 Took Place Saturday, Winner of 100-Mile Ride Comes in at 4:57

BSG TRAILER from WonderlandWoods.TV on Vimeo.

By Jesse Wood

June 30, 2014. More than 1,000 riders from Blood Sweat and Gears participated in the annual 50-mile and 100-mile charity rides on Saturday that start and end in Valle Crucis.

The 100-mile loop traverses multiple counties – and states – and takes riders along the Blue Ridge Parkway from Blowing Rock to near Ashe County. The ride goes through the communities of Todd, Meat Camp, Trade, Tenn., Bethel, Beaver Dam, Cove Creek. It also features the brutal climb of Snake Mountain.

The top three finishers of the century ride are as follows:

  1. Fredd Matute, 29, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. – 4:57:38.1
  2. Lang Reynolds, 31, of Seattle, Wash. – 4:58:21.7
  3. Joseph Carpisassi, 38, of Winston-Salem, N.C. – 4:58:24.1

The top three finishers of half-century ride are as follows:

  1. Patrick Beeson, 34, of Winston-Salem, N.C. – 2:21:39.4
  2. Keith Mrochek, 41, of Charlotte, N.C. – 2:23:05.0
  3. John Behme, 41, of Huntersville, N.C. – 2:23.15.0

See the entire results here.

The weather, which was forecasted to be iffy, surprised participants with a dry climate for the morning and early afternoon.

“Can’t believe we didn’t get rained on! My first BSG; great route, great riders, awesome volunteers! Big props to all involved!” BSG participant Mark Westray of Cary posted on the BSG Facebook page.

About the only low spot of the event was when a vehicle in the Bethel area driven by Jimmy Penley of Creston hit BSG participant Boyd Humphrey of Beckley, W.V. According to an accident report from State Highway Patrol Trooper R.A. Grogan “failed to yield” to the cyclist. The report didn’t list the extent of Humphrey’s injuries.

According to a Facebook post Monday morning, BSG staff visited Humphrey in the hospital: “He is being kept for observation for a couple of more days as a precautionary measure. I informed him of the outpouring of concern and well wishes from the BSG community and he was genuinely touched.”

See a video of the 2014 event above and/or photos below. Photos by Ken Ketchie and Lonnie Webster

Hundreds of riders are backed up at the starting line in Valle Crucis, eager to begin the ride.
Hundreds of riders are backed up at the starting line in Valle Crucis, eager to begin the ride.
FIXE_0359
The 50-milers begin their ride 15 minutes after the participants of the 100-mile ride began at 7:30 a.m.
FIXE_0282
BSG Ride Director Scott Nelson emcees the beginning of the ride.
FIXE_0265
Riders takeoff from Valle Crucis Elementary School on Saturday morning.
FIXE_0237
Waiting to begin.
FIXE_0131
Former BSG volunteer Brenda Bining and co-founder Sonny Sweet are a major reason BSG has become as successful as it has.

Photos below by Lonnie Webster

  • Blood Sweat and Gears
  • Blood Sweat and Gears
  • Blood Sweat and Gears
  • Blood Sweat and Gears
  • Blood Sweat and Gears
  • Blood Sweat and Gears
  • Blood Sweat and Gears
  • Blood Sweat and Gears
  • Blood Sweat and Gears
  • Blood Sweat and Gears
  • Blood Sweat and Gears
  • Blood Sweat and Gears
  • Blood Sweat and Gears
  • Blood Sweat and Gears
  • Blood Sweat and Gears
  • Blood Sweat and Gears
  • Blood Sweat and Gears
  • Blood Sweat and Gears
  • Blood Sweat and Gears