bike laurens county!

Flight of the Dove

Since 2006, members of Laurens County Cycling Club have partnered with Hospice of Laurens County to present Flight of the Dove, an annual Cycling Event benefitting Hospice of Laurens County, our local non-profit Hospice. All proceeds of the event benefit patient care at Hospice of Laurens County, serving the terminally ill in our area. In its first three years, Flight of the Dove raised $60,000 for Hospice of Laurens County.

Flight of the Dove 2009 will be held in Clinton, SC on Saturday, August 29, 2009. Start time is 8:00 a.m. at Bailey Memorial Stadium on the campus of Presbyterian College. As the event draws near, please check back for a registration form. You may also register the morning of the event.

Some scenes from Flight of the Dove 2008. . .

Our special thanks . . .

LCCC and Hospice of Laurens County send thanks to our many sponsors, riders, supporters, and volunteers who worked to make Flight of the Dove 2008 our best event yet. Special thanks go to our Presenting Sponsors, below, and to Presbyterian College for hosting our event and providing many wonderful student volunteers. Flight of the Dove 2008 drew close to 250 riders and raised over $23,000 for Hospice of Laurens County.

Please read one rider's review of Flight of the Dove 2008.

Photographs of Flight of the Dove 2008 courtesy of Linda Sharpton, photographer, GoLaurens.com. Thanks, Linda!

About Flight of the Dove Rides

Flight of the Dove features a metric century (62 miles), a 30 mile ride, and a 13 mile leisure ride. A 50 mile variation of the metric is also available. Cue sheets for all of the rides and directions to the Stadium are available through this link. All rides are SAG'ed and have frequent, well-stocked rest stops. Lunch and T-shirts are provided to all pre-registered riders and massages are available after the ride by a licensed massage therapist. All rides begin and end at Bailey Stadium on the campus of Presbyterian College.

The Metric Century

Our showcase route travels through Laurens, Union, and Newberry Counties over well-paved, lightly traveled roads. The terrain varies from rolling hills to flat terrain. Cyclists will enjoy pedaling through the scenic Sumter National Forest. A featured stop (with facilities) is Rose Hill Plantation State Historic Site, the historic home of South Carolina's "secession governor", William H. Gist.

The Metric Century Course

Terrain Profile
Flight of the Dove
Metric Century

The 30 Mile Ride

Our 30 mile ride remains in Laurens County and is a separate route from the metric century. It travels over rolling hills through the lightly populated southwest end of the county. These roads are also well-paved and lightly traveled by automobile traffic.

Clinton residents Dr. Scott Kellner and his wife Libba rode the Flight of the Dove II 30 mile ride. "We had a great time. We really liked the route and I can't think of a thing I would change about the ride," Dr. Kellner says.

Leisure Ride

Flight of the Dove also offers a 13 mile leisure ride for more casual riders. Our Leisure Ride travels through neighborhoods and surrounding scenic areas of Clinton. Whether you are a hard-core cyclist or just an occasional rider, Flight of the Dove offers rides to suit all.

About Hospice of Laurens County

Hospice of Laurens County is a not-for-profit agency providing not only end-of-life care for patients, but also anticipatory grief services, and bereavement support for the community at large. Hospice of Laurens County accepts all patients, regardless of their insured status or ability to pay for services.