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hey came. They saw. They cycled.

Tents were pitched. Tight shorts and jerseys were donned. Personal bests were pedaled.

Open road riding in the county. Routes ranged from 15 miles to the ‘century ride’ – 100 miles.

All part of the Cycle North Carolina Coastal Ride, which takes place every three years in Oriental. One thousand plus cyclists descend on the village, turning Lou Mac Park and South Ave into a campground complete with RV’s lining the sidewalk. Restaurants, bed and breakfasts, and hotels nearby were also booked to capacity.

Cyclists line up at Oriental United Methodist Church Fellowship hall to sign in for Cycle NC.

Hosted by Cycle NC, a subsidiary of non-profit organization North Carolina Amateur Sports, the coastal cycle tour took place over the weekend of April 24, 2026.

Pamlico and adjoining county roads were mapped and marked for the course, in addition to local waterfront businesses along the way volunteering to serve as rest stops. Refreshments and views rewarded long stretches of riding. Nearly 200 miles were part of the overall route, with detours and loops designed to accommodate riding distances from 15 to 100 miles per day.

Tent camping in Lou Mac Park.

The labyrinth grounds became a makeshift tent camping ground.

Of this years’ 1,100 attendees about 150 participants completed the 100-mile route “century ride” on Saturday, according to Chip Hofler, one of four full-time employees at the non-profit.

Some of the routes required a ride on the Minnesott Beach – Cherry Branch Ferry. (John Rahm photo)

Founded in 1983, NC Sports began its Cycle NC division and group riding tours in 1999. It features a spring coastal tour, late summer mountain ride, and a mountain to coast ride come autumn. The mountain to coast eastern terminus is Hatteras Island. The coastal ride alternates between host towns Edenton, Washington, and Oriental – each hosting the bicycle enthusiasts every three years.

Signs pointing to routes, registration, and (importantly) the showers showed cyclists where to go.

The amenities: trucked-in showers.

These amenities included a hand washing station outside the portable toilets.

Cyclists pay an entry fee which helps cover mapping, route planning, road marking, a 15-passenger support vehicle, rest stop refreshments, bicycle mechanics at each rest stop, portable toilets and showers. That also covers live music, one meal, and beer on tap Saturday night. Food trucks also offered support over the weekend, open for business throughout the village.

Volunteers, many Oriental locals, hand out drinks and sandwiches to passing cyclists.

Volunteers were found thanks to working with the Town of Oriental to advertise, Chip said. Their support was indispensable at rest areas handing out water, Gatorade, and making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for hungry and thirsty cyclists.

At least one couple brought cycles that looked more like a Formula 1 car. TownDock (and canine crew) talked with David Wall and Barbara Gaylord:

TownDock did check out the VeloMobiel web site. If you’re wondering, they list for about €10,000 (a bit more in $).

Routes included stops at Marine Craft Services and Marina in Whortonsville, River Dunes, Camp Seafarer, a ride aboard the Minnesott Ferry and rest at Cherry Point, and the commercial fishing docks at RE Mayo Seafood in Hobucken.

Riders head to the inflatable finish line.

Cyclists documenting their achievements at the finish line on South Avenue.

By 3p Saturday, nearly all but eight riders had cycled back to headquarters in Oriental.

Cyclists traveled across county and state lines for the event. Ken Thomas from Charlotte, an avid cyclist that has biked across Germany, said he liked the route. And that it mostly felt safe from traffic.

But some unsafe conditions were had.

Ken Thomas took a wrong turn, turning his 38 mile ride into 44 miles.

“Cycle NC, more like Psycho NC,” he says. “I took one wrong turn and had to do a six mile loop in addition to the 38 for that day,” he said, still managing to finish before noon, and bemoaning only one vehicle.

Pam Figard and her husband live in New Jersey, and enjoy riding gravel and dirt paths in nearby Pennsylvania. With their daughter and grandson in Raleigh, the coastal ride in Oriental was a perfect excuse to visit, and get more serious about road biking versus her usual terrain.

Pam Figard and her husband usually ride in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The NC Cycle in Oriental was a new experience.

“I did 51 miles Friday; the longest i’ve ever done on a road bike,” Pam says. “Then got back in the saddle today [Saturday] and did 48 more.”

Albeit on a smaller, less cushioned, and more narrow saddle than her gravel bike.

More organized groups also attended. Including Black Girls Do Bike, a nation-wide cycle club with a chapter in Raleigh. BGDB member Shantelle Britt, who is used to riding along paved trails shared with pedestrians in the Raleigh-Durham area, enjoyed the open road cycling. She achieved an overall personal best of 38 miles on Saturday.

Two members of cycle club BGDR, Black Girls Do Ride. Shantelle Britt, right, said she normally rides along paths shared with pedestrians. Riding the open road was a novel experience.

“That was my longest ride,” she says. “It was very relaxing. All the nature and along the water.”

Humid for the early season with a downpour deluge set to begin Saturday evening, riders, vendors, and organizers packed up early. By Sunday morning the event was nearly empty.

Many cyclists left Saturday afternoon, with storms forecast for late night and Sunday. Sunday mid-morning, just one tent remained. (Jennifer Smart photo)

Bicycles were strapped to the backs of cars. Tents were disassembled. RVs pulled out. The only thing left were the portable bathrooms at the temporary campsites.

Cycle NC is scheduled to return to Oriental in 2029.

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Story by Emily Greenberg.

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Posted Thursday April 30, 2026 by Allison DeWeese