Challenge the Bear Bike Race
The Loop's Local Scene
Share
Tweet
Nick Smirnoff (NPPA)
The race begins just as the sun starts to rise over Cub Lake and the starting line.
Part of the traditional 4th of July festivities in Bear Valley Springs is the Challenge the Bear bike races. Three levels of challenge are offered to the bike riders.
Nick Smirnoff (NPPA)
The day's big race winner, Lou Smith. Lou won the Papa Bear Race with a time of 4:46.38.
The Mama Bear race is 35.12 miles in length. The Baby Bear, family style race is 10.51 miles. Then the hardiest of them all – the Papa Bear race is a grueling 58.44-mile race. This race takes riders through the mountain tops of Bear Valley Springs, out to the flats of Cummings Valley, into the hills of Stallion Springs, then back to Bear Valley Springs for more mountain climbing along Skyline Drive. The racers finally drop back down to the valley floor, returning to Cub Lake and the finish line.
