By PETE KLEIN

Express News Staff

INDIAN LAKE - Those pesky black flies just couldn’t keep up with the over 500 bicyclists who competed in the 17th Annual Black Fly Challenge Saturday, June 9, which started in Inlet this year and finished in front of Indian Lake Central School.

The event set several records this year. The 506 entries and 459 finishers were both BFC records and a new record for fastest finish was set - in a big way.

This year’s first-place winner, Cory Burns of Watertown, beat the old record by about six minutes, finishing the over 40-mile course in 1:47:38.

Hot on his heels and just a second behind were Dan Stafffo of Farmington in second and Dan Timmerman of Ithaca in third.

Eight racers equaled or beat the old record of 1:53:33.

The top finisher in the woman’s division was Ruth Sherman, who clocked in with a time of 2:01:58, setting a new standard for women’s fastest finish.

The BFC has exploded from a small regional cycling event to become the biggest bike race and one of the largest sporting events in the Adirondack Park, attracting thousands of people to the tiny hamlets of Inlet and Indian Lake for what is one of the most unique bike races in existence.

Although the BFC started as a mountain bike race, there is now a large and growing cyclocross category. The race also attracts single-speed bikes and tandem bike teams and, in recent years, even had a three-set bike and two unicyclists, which both finished in about four hours.

The Black Fly Challenge takes place every year on the second Saturday in June. Skiing magazine lists it as number one of “Five Bad-Ass Things to do in June.”

The race changes direction every year, with the start and finish alternating between the towns of Indian Lake and Inlet.

Timing for the race was by high tech computer provided by YellowJacket Racing, Rochester.

Local amateur radio operators coordinated by Speculator Amateur Radio Club were stationed at intervals along the course to keep organizers advised on the progress of the race through the Moose River Plains and call in volunteer ambulance corps from either Inlet or Indian Lake if needed.

Over half of the 40-mile course traverses the rugged Moose River Recreation Area on mountain roads composed of dirt, gravel, sand and exposed boulders with several steep elevation changes.