Events: Spring 2022 Cycling Calendar

We do not own the rights to the cover photo.

(2022) As if overnight, our cycling calendar exploded with event possibilities. A sign of the times, we struggled to remember the log-in sequence for BikeReg, but later remembered there was an app. It has literally been years since the last gathering; the last being the first event on this year’s calendar, except it was in 2019. Then that joke used over the last couple of years, that rollover registrations would clog people’s weekends started happening here. So many “Don’t forget you’re registered for…” fired into the inbox. There are several events listed, many of which we have participated in before. With race directors trying to recoup lost earnings from the last two years, let’s all get to these events and support them. 

Sourland Semi-Classic - February 26

Kermesse Sport’s Sourland Semi-Classic is an ode to Het Nieuwsblad, a second-tier Spring Classic in Europe that is more of a warm-up for the upcoming single-day races. Approach it like a tune up for the flagship ride, Hell of Hunterdon, which visits some of the same roads. A metric century, this ride orbits the Sourland Preserve and features numerous roads many riders have never known about. While there are some unpaved miles, the standard road bike setup will do just fine, especially on some of the leggy climbs on the route. An event that arrives quickly, it’s a great way to knock the dust off the bike for the 2022 season.

Monkey Knife Fight - April 9

Perhaps the lack of cycling events led us to register for the Monkey Knife Fight, one of the three events in our career that has sent us walking up a hill. The event’s lead off celebrates eight categorized climbs, and that’s just the start of it. Celebrating three separate ride lengths, the Emmaus, PA, event plunges into Lehigh Valley hollows to locate brutal climbs. You’ll know when a knife fight is approaching when the sign says either Goat Hill Road or Buck Hill Road. The route is in a clover shape and each loop returns riders to a centralized rest stop where you can continue to question your choices. The event is full as of publication but the wait list remains available. The event supports three great charities, so it’s a part of something bigger. Just don’t blame us when the hills get steeper than you imagined.

Hell of Hunterdon - April 10

The flagship event of Kermesse Sport, the Hell of Hunterdon has shown immense growth right up until the start of the pandemic. Originally scheduled for late March, the event has had to make some scheduling changes. This year’s event is picking up where 2019 left off: three route lengths to choose and an opt-out in north Hopewell if the legs are doing a disservice. We have ten year’s worth of event writing on our site to help you prepare for the event. Each year we have successfully navigated the gravel roads on a road bike (with 23mm tires!), so a gravel bike isn’t exactly necessary. Expect this event to fill up quickly once registration is posted. Riders of the past have been missing this one heavily; it wouldn’t be surprising to learn that they have been hitting the refresh button since 2019’s cancellation.

Fleche Buffoon - April 23

Speaking of climbs, Kermesse Sport’s Flèche Buffoon, an ode to paved roads and Delaware River climbs is on the schedule for late April. Featuring some of the notorious uphill struggles, Kermesse went and sent the route past an historic Dutch-inspired windmill which is in a stage of dilapidation. The route sends riders north up the Pennsylvania side of the river before crossing the Delaware and turning south for noticeably different styles of climbs in New Jersey. With multiple coffee shops on the course, there are plenty of places to look pro after tongue wagging up another hill. With two distances, Kermesse Sport removes a climb or two for those doing the shorter metric century route. This is one for the angels on the teams who like going up while avoiding the unpaved throughways.

Pineland Gravel - May 15

A new event for the calendar from Kermesse Sport, Pineland Gravel is a true gravel ride through the remote interior of New Jersey. Here a standard road bike will not get the job done as the sandy floor of the New Jersey Pine Barrens will send you straight to the Jersey Devil’s front yard. This is an event in progress, so be on the lookout for updates as the route(s) are set and the vendors save the date.

Whiteface Mountain Uphill Bike Race - June 4

A bit outside our catchment area, the Whiteface Mountain Uphill Bike Race is certainly the shortest event, but it has the longest climb. It’s also the only ride we know of to start at dinner time - 5:30pm. At a brief eleven miles, the ride starts at the ski entrance, heads downhill into Wilmington, NY, before turning left to begin the eight-mile, eight percent average climb up to the summit weather station. Participants have two full hours to complete the event that features tandems and the occasional unicycle. Though we find sustained climbs ludicrous, this event has been a bucket list resident for numerous years. If one enjoys going up the mountain by bike, feel free to return a week later to compete in the runner’s version of the event.

Dirty Jersey - June 5

Returning for its second year, Dirty Jersey was piloted in 2021 and found to be held in high regard by those who completed it. This is a monster of an event, covering more than 120 miles, of which nearly fifty of them are unpaved. Given the vast expanse of the course, this is a self-supported ride. With two distances, even the ‘short’ route is longer than any other ride on this list. It also features the earliest departure time of 6:30am at the earliest. Given the desire to cover new roads, especially in the northern New Jersey area, this event certainly has us intrigued.

Black Fly Challenge - June 11

Here is an event we were supposed to ride in 2020 that got rolled into 2021 before rolling again into this year. In its 25th year, the Black Fly Challenge is a gravel event that races between Inlet to Indian Lake in the Adirondacks. And each year the route reverses itself. At nearly forty miles in length, the event features two classes: cyclocross and mountain bike. We have been notified that road bikes will not get the job done here. We can try, except we will simply join the supply chain issues by losing parts. With a new title sponsor - North Country Subaru - the Black Fly Challenge looks to be a go for 2022. I guess we should get serious about training for this. 

This calendar sends the season into the summer race schedule. Should someone out there try to do all these events, there are approximately 500 miles of riding featured here, not including the Pineland Gravel. With rolling start times and various safety protocols, expect events to do everything they can to pull things off for 2022. Make sure to support these events and their sponsors. They need us now more than ever.