After Record-Setting Fundraising In 2026
Premier multi-day bike tour launches from Asheville as originally envisioned and surpasses its fundraising goal; third edition set for May 20-23, 2027
LOS ANGELES – The Arthritis Foundation Cycling Experience (AFCE) today announced the successful conclusion of its second Carolina Hills Classic Bike Tour, a four-day, 250-mile road cycling adventure through the Blue Ridge region of North and South Carolina with a goal of raising $225,000 for resources and research to find better treatments, and ultimately a cure, for arthritis — the #1 cause of disability in the U.S.
AFCE also opened registration for its third edition of the Carolina Hills Classic Bike Tour, to be held May 20-23, 2027. While the Carolina tour continues to grow, it is capped at 150 riders to maintain the event's VIP-style experience, and early registration is recommended.
The 2026 event, which began in Asheville, N.C., as it was always meant to, united riders and volunteers from 19 states in a shared mission to raise funds and awareness. The tour included rare opportunities to ride through the historic Biltmore Estate in Asheville and along the Blue Ridge Parkway, "America's Favorite Drive". Participants raised $253,194 to fuel the advocacy, scientific research, and life-changing programs of the Arthritis Foundation.
"We're elated not only for exceeding our fundraising goal, but also for realizing our original vision of holding a fully supported bike tour between Asheville, N.C., and Greenville, S.C.," said Shannon Marang Cox, National Senior Director of AFCE. "The hospitality of our hosts and partners, combined with the beauty and superior rideability of the Blue Ridge region, simply blew us away. We can't wait to return in May 2027!"
Realizing the Original Vision in Asheville
When Hurricane Helene struck Western North Carolina in September 2024, it forced the organizers of the Carolina Hills Classic to pivot their inaugural event from a point-to-point ride between Asheville and Greenville, to one that started and ended in Greenville.
This year, riders experienced the event as it was conceived: departing from Asheville, "the Paris of the South", pedaling through the impressive Biltmore Estate grounds, one of the region's most iconic and historic landscapes, and riding on the picturesque Blue Ridge Parkway. They overnighted in Brevard, the "Land of Waterfalls", and rode through Pisgah National Forest. The tour concluded with two days of riding in Greenville, S.C., "The Friendliest City in the South". Throughout the tour, riders enjoyed perfect weather, hotel accommodations, acclaimed dining, and bike-friendly roads that have made the region one of cycling's most sought-after destinations.
Asheville, N.C., and Greenville, S.C., have been recognized by Velo Powered by Outside as among the "Best Road Cycling Weekend Getaways in North America," making the corridor between them an ideal stage for a premier cycling fundraiser.
"I recently had the opportunity to ride 270 miles through Appalachia as a guest of the Arthritis Foundation's Carolina Hills Classic, and experienced it all: the undulating, never-ending rollers, the fearsome grades, and the hush-quiet farm roads that seem to stretch endlessly in the valleys between the mountains," wrote Michael Venutolo-Mantovani in a recent Cycling Weekly story about the area and the event. "... With seemingly endless roads, most of which are very lightly trafficked, picture-perfect mountaintop views, the kinds of long, sustained climbs that you might find in the Alps or the Dolomites, and plenty of Southern Hospitality along the way, the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North and South Carolina should be considered amongst our country's cycling meccas."
Save the Dates: 2027 Carolina Hills Classic — May 20–23
The third annual Carolina Hills Classic Bike Tour will take place May 20–23, 2027, and registration and route information are available at https://events.arthritis.org/carolinahillsclassic. Riders interested in joining the 2027 event are encouraged to register early. As in previous years, participants will commit to raising $4,000 and enjoy a fully appointed tour that includes nightly hotel accommodations, meals, full mechanical and SAG support, luggage transfers, nightly entertainment, and the robust AFCE community.
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About the Arthritis Foundation Cycling Experience
The Arthritis Foundation Cycling Experience (AFCE) believes that movement is medicine, bringing together passionate cyclists to make a difference for the 1 in 4 people in the U.S. who have arthritis. AFCE produces two premier destination fundraising bike tours that fuel the Arthritis Foundation's advocacy, scientific research and life-changing programs: the California Coast Classic Bike Tour and the Carolina Hills Classic Bike Tour. It also engages cyclists through Ride Your Way, a virtual option that helps people support the Foundation by enjoying any type of riding, in any location, at any time of year.
Its in-person tours are e-bike friendly and offer fully supported routes designed for cyclists of all experience levels, providing unforgettable riding experiences while making a lasting impact. The California Coast Classic, held Sept. 26–Oct. 3, 2026, is an award-winning 8-day, 525-mile journey from San Francisco to Los Angeles along the iconic Highway 1. The Carolina Hills Classic, held May 20–23, 2027, is a four-day road biking adventure across the Blue Ridge and Upstate regions of North and South Carolina that includes hotel lodging for all participants.
For more information and to register, please visit: arthritis.org/cycling.
