Author: Russell Robertson

Here are the Elite rides for Saturdays in  February.   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.

Update for February 28 — Forecast temperature will support a 9:30 roll time with high 60s by the time we get back to our cars.

Have you set your training resolutions for 2026?
February 28 is the early registration deadline for The Sequatchie 24 on June 13/14.
https://www.cyclesequatchie.com/ultra

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February 7 – Ride canceled due to cool temps.

February 14 -Start at 10 am from the gravel parking lot at the sculpture gardens on Polk Street to ride from Montague Park.   Store stop in Rock Springs at mile 28.
48 miles and 2,300 feet. No climbs.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/49761679

February  21 – Roll from the Food City parking lot in St. Elmo at 9:30 am to ride down Chattanooga Valley to Captain Wood Road.  Store stop at mile 40.
53 miles, 2,700 feet with no climbs.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/49895195

February 28 -Roll from the parking lot across from the Falling Water Baptist Church at 9:30 am.  Store stop in Sale Creek at mile 33.  Those wanting more can climb Hotwater Road on the way home.
50 miles, 2,600 feet. No climbs
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/50119282

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March 7 – Start at Red Bank Elementary to climb Mountain Road.  50 miles. Time TBD.

 

Here are the Elite rides in January.   Start times could 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.

Elite Mid-week Specials (We’re old and unemployed!)
– Wednesday (1/28):  Hillz Makeup Ride from Whole Foods at 4:00.

–  Thursday (1/29):  Soddy Ballfields at 2:00.  35 miles +/-.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53833435

–  Friday (1/30):  St Elmo Food City at 1:00.   41 miles +/-.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53833916

Update for January 31 – Ride canceled.   The temps are forecast to be a bit too chilly for Elites.

Have you set your training resolutions for 2026? We’ve talked about it on rides and General says it’s now official.  See the link below for The Sequatchie 24.

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January 3 – Roll at 9:30 am from the Patten Community Center to ride down Lookout  Valley and climb at Trenton. For those wanting an additional 10 miles, the ride will split at the bridge over Lookout Creek and will go south of Trenton to cross over I-59 on Byrds Chapel Road.
40 miles and 2,300 feet.  Climb Sand Mountain.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53433349

January 10 – Ride canceled by rain.

January 17 – Start from Red Bank Elementary on Mountain Creek Road at 10 am to ride to Soddy and back.   Store stop at Mile 25.
46 miles, 2,300 feet. No mountain climb.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53729589

January 24 – Ride canceled by inclement weather.

January 31 – Ride canceled by cold weather.

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February 7 – Will the groundhog have seen his shadow?  St. Elmo to Mountain Cove Farms.  50 miles.  Time TBD.

February 28 is the early registration deadline for The Sequatchie 24 on June 13/14. The feature event is an ultra 24-hour race. There are 75 and 150 mile race & ride options . Check it out.
https://www.cyclesequatchie.com/ultra

Here are the Elite rides for Saturdays in December.   To honor Bubba winter training rules (among these are: layer until you can’t bend your arms), we’ll be starting close to home and the pace will be a little slower and the distances a little shorter.

End of the month changes: See below for an update to the December 27th ride as well as the plan for New Year’s Day.

Start times could 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.

December 6 – Roll from the Food City in St. Elmo at 10 am to ride south down Chattanooga Valley to Captain Wood Road and back.
53 miles and 2,700 feet.  No climbs.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/49895195

December 13 –  Roll from Red Bank Elementary on Mountain Creek Road at 10 am to ride up to Soddy Lake and back.  There will be a group spilt after a break at the Soddy Ball fields so that those wanting more can go a little further north and climb Hot Water Road on the way home.
43 miles and 2,300 feet. No climbs.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53433750

December 20 – We’ll start at 9:30 am with Team Bubba from the parking lot behind the Star Bucks that’s across from Rock City for the traditional Bubba Chimney Ride.   Don’t worry about it being cold on top of the mountain. We ascend 500 feet up to Point Park at the start to get our blood flowing.
36 miles and 2,400 feet of climbing.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53451026

December 27 – Start from the St. Elmo Food City at 10 am to take US-41 to Haletown.  Return via GA-299.  The ride will split where Slygo Road intersects 299 for those wanting more.  This longer option adds 11 miles and 700 feet of climbing and goes over Morganville Ridge to return via Creek Road.
36 miles and 2,200 feet of climbing.  Half-a-climb over the toe of Aetna Mountain.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53432856

January 1 – We’re going to do our part to keep  the W-Road beautiful and spend 30 minutes or so cleaning up around the lower switchbacks (the ones near the nursing home).  Meet at Redbank Elementary at 9:30  am to car-pool or cycle to the switchbacks. Immediately following will be two ride options: (1) cycle up the W and come immediately back down (with the option to repeat), or (2) Follow the climb with a loop on top of Signal.   The longer option is 30 miles with 2,800 feet of climbing.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53578294

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January 3 -Roll from the Patten Community Center to climb Sand Mountain.  40 miles.  Time TBD.

Here are the Elite rides for Saturdays in November.   Start times could change during the week of the ride for forecast cold conditions.  Watch this site early on the Saturday of the ride for other weather related updates.

It will be a cool morning on November 29.  Ride start time delayed until 10 am.

November 1 – There are two options.  Both start at Powell’s Crossroads City Hall at 9 am  EDT to rendezvous with the TB ‘Freddy’ ride after a climb up the west side of Sequatchie Valley.  You can climb Daus Mountain — or Freddy-traditionalists wanting to group up with TB sooner and get more miles in can climb Fredonia Mountain.  Routes split at Chapel Hill Methodist at mile 11.  Both routes include a store stop in Palmer at about mile 35.
(1) Old Men – 48 miles, 3,500 feet, climb Daus Mtn.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53153092
(2) Recent TB Graduates – 56 miles, 3,800 feet, climb Fredonia Mtn.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/52879798

November 8 – Start at Red Bank Elementary at 9 am for a clock-wise loop up to Soddy and back.  Store stop at the Circle K at mile 25.  The ride will split in Soddy so that those wanting more can climb Hot Water Road.
49 miles, 2,500 feet with no climbs
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53153791

November 15 – Roll from the Food City in St. Elmo at 9 am to ride to New England and back via Murphy Hollow.  No store stops planned.
43 Miles, 2,300 feet and no climbs.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53153955

November 22 – We’re headed back to Sequatchie Valley to start at 9 am EST from the old Chapel Hill Methodist church to ride south to Shell Mound and back.  Store stop at mile 42 in Whitwell.  This is a second attempt to do the ride that was washed out in September.
56 miles and 2,600 feet with no climbs
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/52517473

November 28 – Need to work off some Turkey?   Join us on Friday for a spin at  1 pm for an out and back on Cash Canyon Road finishing down US 41 on the other side of Raccoon Mountain.  Start at the John A. Patten Community Center in Tiftonia.
30 miles, 2,600 feet, Climb Elder Mtn Road.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53153473

November 29 – We’ll snake our way around some of our favorite roads in Soddy-Daisy and Sale Creek.  Start from the parking lot across from Falling Water Baptist Church at 10 am.  Store stop at the Country Mart at mile 27.
49 miles and 2,500 feet. No climbs.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/51962277

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December 6 –  It was an hot August day the last time we did this ride.  St. Elmo to Captain Wood Road.  53 miles. Time TBD.

Here are the Elite rides for Saturdays in October.  Watch this site early on the Saturday of the ride for any weather related updates.

October 4 – Cycle Sequatchie
While on-line registration has closed, you can register Saturday morning before the ride. Many good ride options are available. See the Cycle Sequatchie web site https://www.cyclesequatchie.com/ for information on rides and start times.  The Elites are going to ride the 40 mile mixed-surface ride that starts at 8 am CT in downtown Dunlap.  Gravel or mountain bike required.  This ride is not marked on the road — so be sure to download the route.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45185455

October 11 – Start from Red Bank Elementary on Mountain Creek Road at 9 am to ride to Soddy and back on familiar roads.  We’ll climb Mobray mountain on Mountain Road and descend Hot Water. Store stop at Mile 28.
50 miles, 3,100 feet with 1 mountain climb
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/50970073

October 18 – Yes, the shut-down is on-going — but the roads in Battlefield remain open.   So, we’ll still plan to start from the Battlefield Park HQ parking lot at 9 am (even though the HQ building is closed) to do a big loop around Chickamauga.  Store stop at Mile 24.
47 miles, 2500 feet with no climbs.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/52874573

October 25 – The Fall colors in the Tennessee River Gorge should be beautiful for this ride that takes us through Mullins Cove.  Start in the grass lot across from River Drifters at 9 am to ride to ‘Goat’s Bridge’ and back.  It’s some sort of tarmac all the way and is manageable on a road bike — but a gravel bike is preferred.
40 miles and 2,300 feet with no climbs.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/50284294

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November 1 – Halloween means it’s time for Freddy. Elites will start at the Powell’s Crossroads City Hall (time TBD) to rendezvous with TB after the Fredonia Mountain climb.  56 miles and 3,800 feet.

Later in November – We’re going to try again to do the 56 mile ride in Sequatchie Valley that was washed out on September 6.  The ride starts at  the Chapel Hill Methodist church and goes south to Shell Mound and back.

Here are the Elite rides for Saturdays in September.  Watch this site early on the Saturday of the ride for any weather related updates.

September 6 – We’re headed back to Sequatchie Valley to start at 9 am (EDT) from the old Chapel Hill Methodist church to ride south to Shell Mound and back.  Store stop at mile 42 in Whitwell.  Barry Allan will be providing commentary and pointing out interesting landmarks along the way.
56 miles and 2,600 feet. No climbs
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/52517473

September 13 – Start  at 9 am from the Food City in St. Elmo to climb Sand Mountain via Murphy Hollow.   This route includes the  rollers on McKaig Road.  Store stop in the heart of Trenton at the Mapco at mile 27.
47 miles and 2,800 feet. Climb Sand Mountain.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/51059172

September 20 – Roll from the parking lot across from the Falling Water Baptist Church at 9 am.  Store stop in Sale Creek at mile 33.  Those wanting more can climb Hotwater road at the end.
50.4 miles, 2,560 feet. No climbs
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/50119282

September 27 – Start at 9 am from the Food City in St. Elmo to ride the length of Chattanooga Valley to Mountain Cove Farms.   Water stop at mile 30 at the “Farm Store” with a second short store stop at mile 50.
63 miles and 3,020 feet. No climbs.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/50191382

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October 4 – Cycle Sequatchie Ride  There are multiple routes as part of this organized ride.  Elites are leaning toward the 40-mile mixed surface ride.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45185455
https://www.cyclesequatchie.com/

Here are the Elite rides planned for Saturdays in August.  Watch this site early on the Saturday of the ride for any weather related updates.

August 2 – We’ll ride almost 50 miles by snaking our way around some of our favorite roads in Soddy-Daisy and Sale Creek.  Start from the parking lot across from Falling Water Baptist Church at 8:30 am.  Store stop at the Country Mart at mile 27.
49 miles and 2,500 feet. No climbs.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/51962277

August 9 – Here’s one the Elites haven’t done in a while — the old 3-state, 3-mountain metric (shortened a bit).  Early start at 8 am from the St. Elmo Food City to get us through downtown and to the mountain before the traffic gets heavy. Store stops at the bottom of the mountain and at the bait store at US 41 at mile 36.
56 miles and 3,500 feet.  Climb Suck Creek.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/51962493

August 16 – We’ll roll at 8:30 am from the Patten Community Center  in Tiftonia (use the parking lot around the back off Tulip Ave. ) for this classic tour of Lookout Valley.  Store stop at about mile 28 when we hit GA 136 west of Trenton just before the climb.  Those wanting more can start at the St. Elmo Food City to come over the toe of Lookout — about 3 miles extra each way.
48 miles and 2,800 feet. Climb Sand Mountain.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/51958749

August 23 – It’s been 3 months since we last did this favorite.  Roll from the St. Elmo Food City at 8:30 am for the traditional loop south through Chattanooga Valley to Captain Wood Road.  Store stop at mile 40.
53 miles and 2,660 feet.  No climbs.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/49895195

August 30 – Roll from Red Bank Elementary at 8 am to climb Montlake Road.  We’ll make a pit stop at the store in Huckleberry at the top of Mowbray Mountain then go down Hot Water Road to head for home on the east side of US-27. (The early start is to accommodate the noon kick-off in Atlanta.)
51 miles, and 3,230 feet with 1 climb.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/50284609

p.s. We’re hoping for a big beautiful Bubba turnout for the last Riverfront Nights of the summer to see “The Brotherhood: A Doobie Brothers Tribute”.

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Holiday Ride (Labor Day, September 1) – Elites will start at 9 am from the Food City in St. Elmo.  This is the traditional route down the length of Missionary Ridge at the traditional holiday pace.  Water stop at the Park HQ.  For those wanting a little more, there is the option to climb one last hill by going through Dry Valley.
36 miles and 2,000 feet.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/51509852

 

July 4 Holiday Ride – We’ll start at 9 am from the Food City in St. Elmo to let Team Bubba overtake us.  This is the traditional route down the length of Missionary Ridge at the traditional holiday pace.  For those wanting a little more, there’s the option to climb one last hill  by going through Dry Valley.
36 miles and 2,000 feet of climbing.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/51509852

Here are the Elite rides planned for Saturdays in July.  Watch this site early on the Saturday of the ride for any weather related updates.

July 5 – Here’s a new route that combines two roads not often traveled by Bubba.  Start at 8:30 am from the Food City in St. Elmo to warm up on Virginia Avenue for a ride by the river on Cash Canyon Road punctuated by the steep climb up Aetna Mountain at Black Creek.  This climb is up and back, so those wanting to pause and enjoy the view can easily take a break.
40 miles and 3,500 feet.  1 mountain climb.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/51510130

July 12 – This is the Saturday for the advertised gravel ride at Ocoee.  Start from the Cookson Creek Baptist Church on Sand Mountain Road at 10 am.  It’s about an hour and 20 minute drive from downtown Chattanooga.  We’ll be doing the ‘short’ route that avoids the rougher forest service roads.  Don’t have a gravel bike.  No worries.  The grades and conditions are a good fit for either a gravel or mountain bike.
28 miles and 2,850 feet of climbing.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/51510208

July 19 –  Sam-I-Am is hosting a lake party for Bubba at his in-laws (3922 Windward Lane ) in Sale Creek.  Elites will roll with Team Bubba at 9 am and follow their route until we get to Retro-Hughes where we’ll head down the mountain.  We can park on the streets around the party house — but no parking in the cul-de-sac or near driveways so that we don’t block anybody in.  The Team Bubba post the week of the 19th will provide details on the planned festivities.
44 miles and 3,500 feet. 1 mountain climb.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/51523357

July 26 – To keep the distance to Elite standards,  we’ll roll at 8:30 am  from Ridgeland HS (park on the south side of the school) to ride to Lafayette.  Store stop at the Circle K in downtown Lafayette at mile 28.   For those wanting more, the start is 5 miles from the St. Elmo Food City via Salem Road.
54 miles and 2,700 feet of climbing.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/51519294

It’s summer cycling season!  Here are the Elite rides planned for Saturdays in June.  Watch this site early on the Saturday of the ride for weather related updates.

June 7 – Start  at 8:30 am from the Food City in St. Elmo to take on Sand Mountain via Murphy Hollow.   This route includes a second attempt to ride the rollers of McKaig Road into Trenton.  Store stop in the heart of Trenton at the Mapco at mile 27.
47 miles and 2,800 feet. Climb Sand Mountain.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/51059172

June 14 – Here’s a route much like the one we did back in March, but in the opposite direction so we can assess the difficultly of the hill on Old Graysville Road up to the ‘drainpipe cannon’ from the US-27 side. Start at 9 am from the parking lot across from the Falling Water Baptist Church.  Store stop at the Country Mart at mile 31.
50.5 miles and 2,560 feet.  No mountain climbs.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/51058867

June 21 –  Sure it’s a bit of a longer drive, but that’s where you find some of Tennessee’s best rural nap-of-the-earth roads with only light farm traffic. Start at 9 am (ET) from  the old Chapel Hill Methodist Church near US 127 for a ride to Pikeville.  Store stop at the Farmer’s Co-Op at mile 23 for a Coke and a conversation about the weather.
54.5 miles and 2,830 feet. No mountain climbs.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/51058690

June 28 – Start at 8:30 am from the Food City in St. Elmo to ride the length of Chattanooga Valley to Mountain Cove Farms.   Water stop at mile 30 at the “Farm Store” with a real store stop at mile 50.
63 miles and 3,020 feet. No mountain climbs.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/50191382

Do you have a favorite ride that you wish someone would post?  Let a ride leader know about it  in June, and we’ll get it on the list for July (which already has one Saturday reserved for a gravel ride starting at Camp Ocoee) or August.

 

If the rain finally stops as forecast, the ride is to a familiar destination by a different way. Start at Red Bank Elementary at 9 am to ride to Soddy.  Store stop at mile 28 at the Circle K.   Watch this site Saturday morning for any weather related updates.

May 31 @ 9:00 am from Red Bank Elementary
50 miles and 3,080 feet. Climb Mountain Road.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/50970073