Sat., May 2nd, Bubbagrass!

It is time for Bub One’s spring Bubbagrass ride, and the weatherman has mostly taken the rain out of the forcast. The road route is 71 miles and features Little River Canyon in Alabama. This time, we will do the route in the counterclockwise direction, which we have not done before. I promise you will not regret the extra drive for this ride.

Start at the Manor House at Mountain Cove Farms (Manor House) at 9:00.

 

Free bluegrass festival entry for after ride fun. BYOB and some cash for food. There is a full concession stand with hamburgers, hot dogs, bbq, etc.

 

When: 9:00 a.m.
Where: Mountain Cove Farms (Manor House)
Stats: 71.4 miles / 5,245 ft
Store Stop Options @ Mile 25.5, 28.3, and/or 47.0

 

May 2026

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


May 2 -Start at 9 am at the (now closed) 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

May 9 – Ride from 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.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53153791

May 16 – It was rained out in April so it’s back on the calendar so that Boss can get some PRs for his new Strava subscription. 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.
55 miles and 2,800 feet of climbing.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/51058690

May 23 – Start at 9 am from the paved parking lot across from the Falling Water Baptist Church  for a loop north.  Store stop in Sale Creek at mile 33.  Those wanting more can climb Hotwater Road on the way home.
50 miles, 2,600 feet.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/50119282

May 30 – It’s been 3 months, so time for a favorite. Roll from the Food City parking lot in St. Elmo at 9 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


For those of you that were expecting to climb Nickajack on May 2, we’re going to get Nickajack on ride list for June — for sure.

Team Bubba Sat. 4/18

It’s time for another Bubba trip up and over Fort Mountain. I’m told there will be fried pies and refreshments at the top of the climb. We will do the Ellijay loop backwards this time.

When: 9:00 a.m.
Where: 79 GA-286, Eton, GA 30724 (shopping center with El Pueblito)
Stats: 61.6 miles and 6,729 ft
Store stop at New Hope Grocery, Mile 34.5

After party at  El Pueblito Mexican Restaurant.

Team Bubba Sat. 4/4

This week Bubba will say goodbye to St. Elmo Food City (closing April 6th) with a trip down to the cove and back via the road to hell on top of Lookout.

After party at Tap House.

When: 8:30 a.m.
Where: St. Elmo Food City
Stats: 67.9 miles and 4,892 ft
Water Stop @ Mountain Cove Store (Mile 31.5)
Store Stop @ Cornerstone Mkt. (Mile 55.4)

 

Upcoming Special Rides
April 11th: BEagle’s Philly friends come to town (W Road and Back of Suck Creek)
April 18th: Fort Mtn. (Eton to Ellijay and back)
May 2nd: Bubbagrass (Mtn. Cove to Little River Canyon and back)
June 13th: Sequatchie 24
July 18th: Bubba Lake Day

 

April 2026

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.

Update for April 25 – It looks like the bulk of the morning rain may be passing by to the south.  Those wanting to give it a try can make a last minute decision based on an individual assessment of the radar.   Route changed to our go-to rain course, the Hills of North Chat.  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 – Hills of North Chat.  Roll at 9 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


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

Team Bubba Sat. 3/28

This week we are going to do something a little different, The Alabama Slamma gravel bike ride. Roll from Haletown at 9 for a gravel bike adventure in Tennessee and Alabama. Most of the route is paved, but the climb is not and mile 7.5 to 22 is rough. Gravel bikes are highly recommended.

When: 9:00 a.m. EDT
Where: Haletown, TN (gravel lot at the intersection of TN 156 and US 41, old Anchor Inn site)
Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/48847708 (includes gravel and rough pavement)
Stats: 64.7 miles and 3,482 ft
Store stop at mile 47.9

Team Bubba Sat. 3/7

This week Bubba will head out from the Battlefield to explore some of Fly’s favorite roads. The segment that shows up as being unpaved on the RideWithGPS map is actually freshly paved. A road bike is fine for this route.

 

When: 8:30 a.m.
Where: Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center
Stats: 65.8 miles and 3,974 ft
Store stop at mile 47.5

 

Post ride lunch at El Matador Mexican Restaurant in Fort Oglethorpe.

March 2026

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.