Here are the Elite rides for Saturdays in April. The start time may change during the week of the ride for forecast colder or warmer conditions. Watch this site early on the Saturday of the ride for weather related cancelations and updates.
April 4 – Roll at 9 am from the grass parking area across from River Drifters on Suck Creek Road to ride out-and-back in the Tennessee River Gorge to “Goat’s Bridge” on Mullin’s Cove Road. It’s asphalt all the way and easily manageable on a road bike, but a gravel bike works best for the several patches of rough road. Seems short, but it’s harder than you think. Option to return via East Valley Road and Suck Creek Mountain.
40 miles and 2,300 feet of climbing.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/50284294
April 11 – Here’s an old favorite that we haven’t done in over a year. We’ll start at 9 am from the Food City in St. Elmo to ride up Lookout Valley to climb Lookout Mountain on 136. Store stop near Plumb Nelly at about mile 23. Return by descending Nickajack Road.
45 miles and 3,000 feet of climbing.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/54475101
April 18 – Tour de Mowbray. Start from the paved parking lot across from the Falling Water Baptist Church at 9 am to climb Retro Hughes Road and ride around the top of Mowbray Mountain. Store stop at the Dollar General in Lewis Chapel at mile 32.
49 miles and 3,250 feet of climbing.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/50474830
April 25 – Start from the old Chapel Hill Methodist Church at 9 am to ride to Pikeville and back. Store stop at the Co-op at mile 23 to converse with the natives. This is the traditional ‘long loop’ that goes South on old-TN-28 to cross the valley on Stone Cave Road. (Yes, it’s a long drive. But, it’s always a treat to ride through this farm country that time has forgot.)
55 miles and 2,800 feet of climbing.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/51058690
May 2 – Are you ready to climb Nickajack? Start from the Food City in St. Elmo. Time TBD.