Ride with Chef Biju! Sign up NOW for the Carolina Hills Classic & Save 25%!
Join the inaugural Carolina Hills Classic June 12 - 15, 2025. Ride with Ambassador Biju Thomas, Celebrity Chef and Co-author of The Feed Zone Cookbook series. Make a difference to the 1 in 4 people in the U.S. who have arthritis
The Arthritis Foundation Cycling Experience proudly presents the Carolina Hills Classic Bike Tour, four days of unforgettable riding in the majestic foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. This destination fundraiser takes place in an area named one of America’s “5 Best Road Cycling Getaways” by Velo Magazine. This fully supported and self-paced bike tour is e-bike friendly, and designed for experienced riders as well as beginners. It includes meals, rest stops, hotel lodging, and bespoke experiences like riding with celebrity cycling chef Biju Thomas, author of the best-selling Feedzone cookbook series.
Chef Biju, who has been executive chef to scores of professional riders and race teams at top-level races, including Team USA Cycling at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, has gout, a form of inflammatory arthritis. He knows from his own experience the excruciating pain and limitations that come with having arthritis, and has joined Arthritis Foundation Cycling in riding for better treatments, scientific research, advocacy, and support programs.
For the last 25 years, Arthritis Foundation Cycling has produced the award-winning California Coast Classic Bike Tour, a cornerstone event for cyclists and arthritis advocates alike. In 2025, Arthritis Foundation Cycling builds on this legacy by launching the Carolina Hills Classic Bike Tour, a new cycling experience set in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Together, these events raise critical funds to support the nearly 60 million Americans with arthritis.
“This is an exciting time at the Arthritis Foundation. The Carolina Hills Classic builds on the success of the California Coast Classic Bike Tour, bringing the same unforgettable experience to the Southeast,” said Arthritis Foundation President and Chief Executive Officer, Steven Taylor, who has ridden in the California Coast Classic since 2022. “Whether your bucket list includes the California Coast or the rolling hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, these events provide an opportunity to support those living with arthritis while participating in a unique adventure.”
The Carolina Hills Classic debuts June 12-15, 2025 in Greenville, SC, with riders arriving on June 11 for registration and a welcome dinner at the host hotel. Greenville, Condé Nast Traveler’s #1 Friendliest City in the U.S., is a direct flight from 18 cities across the country, and this year’s tour is a loop so riders can also drive to Greenville conveniently.
Day 1 – Thursday, June 12: Greenville, SC to Clemson, SC
The inaugural Carolina Hills Classic starts with a hearty breakfast, Opening Ceremonies, and a group photo at the Start Line. On the Day 1 ride to Clemson, riders experience a combination of urban vibrancy, southern charm, and college-town energy. The route winds through lakeside landscapes, rolling hills, and farmland; quiet country roads provide a peaceful and serene riding environment. The moderate 4,518-foot elevation gain and 66 miles are an ideal warmup for the coming days. Upon arrival in the college town of Clemson, riders have time to relax and socialize before the group dinner, route briefing, and remarks from an Arthritis Foundation Mission Ambassador.
Day 2 – Friday, June 13: Clemson, SC to Brevard, NC
Day 2 presents a delightful mix of Southern scenery, physical challenge, and mountain-town charm as riders head north to the Land of Waterfalls: Brevard, North Carolina. The rolling foothills and peaceful rural roads of Upstate South Carolina give way to lush farmland, forests, and southern flanks of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Riders test their climbing legs with 5,591 feet in elevation gain over 65 miles and soak in stunning panoramic views as they cross into western North Carolina. After descending into Brevard on sweeping roads through the cool mountain air, riders can relax at social hour, a private dinner, and the evening’s Mission Ambassador presentation together.
Day 3 - Saturday, June 14: Brevard, NC to Brevard, NC
Riders settle into their second night’s lodging in Brevard, a vibrant Southern mountain town with art galleries, breweries, and cafes. The Day 3 bike route is a dynamic mix of terrain that includes rolling hills, sharp turns, and mountain climbs. Riders can add optional side trips to picturesque area landmarks like Looking Glass Falls, Sliding Rock, and Du Pont Recreational Forest. Whichever route they choose (65 miles/3,979ft elevation or a 32.4 mile/1,390ft elevation spur offshoot), riders are treated to scenic backroads, shady forested areas, and memorable views. In the evening, riders gather for a dinner highlighting the local cuisine and inspiration from a Mission Ambassador.
Day 4 – Sunday, June 15: Brevard, NC to Greenville, SC
On Day 4 riders cross into South Carolina and pedal through the training grounds of notable professional cyclists on the way back to Greenville. The key feature of the day’s route is a long descent through Pisgah National Forest surrounded by lush forests and scenic waterfalls. There’s time to stop at a fruit stand, take a waterfall selfie, and enjoy riding through several small towns as riders savor their final day of the tour’s dynamic terrain, scenic beauty, and small-town hospitality. Upon returning to Greenville, riders cross the Finish Line after riding 53 miles/3,032 feet of rolling elevation to a fanfare welcome, after which they have time to relax, have lunch, and attend Closing Ceremonies together.
Sign up today to be one of the first cyclists to experience this unique tour! Use code GRANFONDO25 before March 31 and save $25 on registration fees, or use code BUDDYPASS25 to sign up with a friend, save $25 on registration fees, and unlock a $1,000 fundraising credit per person! *
For more information, please visit: www.carolinahillsclassic.org
About The Arthritis Foundation Cycling Experience
The Arthritis Foundation Cycling Experience 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 Carolina Hills Classic Bike Tour and the California Coast Classic Bike Tour. Both events 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 Carolina Hills Classic, held in June, is a four-day road biking adventure in the foothills of the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains that includes hotel lodgings for all participants. The California Coast Classic, held in September, is an award-winning 8-day, 525-mile journey from San Francisco to Los Angeles. For more information, please visit: events.arthritis.org/cyclingexperience
* To use the BUDDYPASS25 promotional code, register and enter code BUDDYPASS25, name your "buddy" in the referral slot, and have your buddy register separately with the same promo code. We'll personally follow up with everyone who uses the promo code to assist in "matching" buddies for lodging, etc. With the code, both registrants receive the $25 registration discount and each person unlocks a $1,000 fundraising credit which will be awarded once the person reaches a $3,000 fundraising minimum.