Latest News & Events

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.

Special Weekday Event  April 23 – See details below.

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

Thursday, April 23 – It’s Spring, so it’s time to ride River Road at Tellico.  We’ll plan on rolling at 10 am from the Oosterneck Creek overlook (35°20’48.5″N 84°14’20.1″W) on the Cherohala Skyway near its intersection with River Road. This pull-off is exactly 5 miles from the Skyway Visitor Center in Tellico (which is a good place for a final rest-room break).  Due to school zones and the need for snacks, getting there always seems to take 15 minutes longer than computed by Google regardless of route.  Lunch in downtown Tellico Plains after the ride.

This is a 40 mile out-and-back-ride on River Road with the turn at the point the road changes to gravel.  This turn is one ridge-climb past the North Carolina line.   We always talk about extending the ride with a 8 mile loop at the end up to Turkey Creek Road on the Skyway — but rarely do it.  Maybe this will be the day.

May 2 – Are you ready to climb Nickajack?  Start from the Food City in St. Elmo. Time TBD.

Here are the Elite rides for Saturdays in  March.   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.

March 7 – Start at Red Bank Elementary on Mountain Creek Road at 9 am to climb Mountain Road and descend Hot Water Road.  Store stop at the top of Mowbray Mountain (for fast-climbers) at mile 23 followed by a short restroom and water break at the ball fields in Soddy.
50 miles and 3,200 feet of climbing.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/54124469

March 14 – Roll from the Patten Community Center off of Kelly’s Ferry Road at 9 am to ride up Lookout Valley to Trenton to climb Sand Mountain on GA 136.   Return via Morganville Ridge.   Those wanting a little more (~ 3 miles and a 300 ft climb over the toe of Lookout) can  start at the Food City in St. Elmo.
51 miles and 2,900 feet of climbing.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/54240528

March 21 – We’ll  start at the Food City in St. Elmo at 9 am to ride up  Chattanooga Valley to Mountain Cove Farms and return via Hog Jowl Road.  Water stop at the end of the valley at mile 30.
63 miles and 3,000 feet of climbing (with no mountain climbs).
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/50191382

March 28 – Given the weather, we’ll be riding the hills of North Chatt with an optional loop up to Falling Water.  Roll at 11 am from the back corner of the parking lot of Whole Foods off Manufacturer’s Road.  Ride split is at about mile 15.
Hills Loop:  ~20 miles.  (no map, but easy navigation from split to car)
Full Ride: 45.7 miles and 3,300 feet of climbing.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/49109366

April 4 – Start at 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.  Asphalt all the way and easily manageable on a road bike , but a gravel bike works best for the 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.  Time TBD.