Chattanooga, TN
Stats: 65.7 miles and 3,592 ft
Store Stop at The Cove Store, mile 33.9
Here are the Elite rides for Saturdays in October. Watch this site early on the Saturday of the ride for weather related cancelations and updates.
October 3 – The Cycle Sequatchie fall ride. There are 50 and 80 mile road options and 40 and 64 mile gravel options.
See: https://www.cyclesequatchie.com/
October 10 – Some call it the “drain-pipe cannon” ride which you’ll see at the ride’s peak elevation. Start at 9 am from the paved parking lot across from the Falling Water Baptist Church for a loop north. Store stop at the Dollar General in Sale Creek at mile 33. Those wanting more can climb Hotwater Road on the way home.
50 miles and 2,600 feet of climbing.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/50119282
October 17 – While it seems like this favorite surfaces every few weeks, we haven’t done the Chattanooga Valley ride to Captain Wood road since May. Start at 9 am from the old Food City in St. Elmo. Store stop at mile 40. Map shows return via Burnt Mill — but we’ll stay on Old Chattanooga Valley to avoid the dogs.
53 miles and 2,700 feel of climbing.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/49895195
October 24 – It’s time for the Fall ride down the Tennessee River Gorge on Mullins Cove Road. Start at 9 am from the grass parking lot across from River Drifters on Suck Creek Road. We used to call this a gravel ride, but with all the road improvements it’s now more of a road bike ride — with a few rough spots. The map shows the turn at “goat’s bridge”. However, the last few time’s we’ve done it, the large majority of riders have gone the extra 3 miles to turn around at TN 27. Also, the option to return by riding up Sequatchie Valley and over Suck Creek Mountain. There are no stores in this neck of the woods.
40 miles and 2,330 feet of climbing. (Seems short, but your body will tell you otherwise.)
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/50284294
October 31 – Another October tradition is the Halloween season “Freddy” ride. Elites will start from Powell’s Cross Roads at 9 am. to ride to Dunlap and climb Fredonia mountain. Park in front of the Town Hall that’s right at the cross-roads. Store stop in Palmer at mile 39.
56 miles with 3,800 feet of climbing.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/52879798
November 7 – Start in St. Elmo to climb Sand Mountain via Murphy Hollow. Return Creek Road. Time TBD.
Here are the Elite rides for Saturdays in September. Watch this site early on the Saturday of the ride for weather related cancelations and updates.
September 5 – Start from Red Bank Elementary at 8:30 am to ride to Soddy. We make the turn to head back south at Highwater Road. Store stop at the Circle K at mile 25.
49 miles and 2,500 feet of climbing.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53153791
September 7 – HOLIDAY RIDE. We will be joining TB . See their post.
September 12 – Ride start changed to Red Bank Elementary at 9 am.
September 19 – We’ll start from Ridgeland High School at 9 am to ride to Lafayette. Park in the large parking lot on the south side of the school. Store stop at the Circle-K at about mile 31 in Lafayette. The map below has been updated since this route got good reviews when we last did it in June. The map now shows us starting by looping over to McFarland rather than tackling the climb up Turner Ridge Road.
58 miles and 2,800 feet of climbing.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/51519294
September 26 – We’ll start at 9 am from the old 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 Nick-a-Jack Road.
45 miles and 3,000 feet of climbing.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/54475101
October 3 – The Cycle Sequatchie fall ride. There are 50 and 80 mile road options and 40 and 64 mile gravel options. Registration closes September 28. See: https://www.cyclesequatchie.com/