The Elites will roll at 8:30 (2nd shift) from St. Elmo Food City and scoot our way over to Rossville, down though the Battlefield (no, not going by the visitors center), up Davis Ridge and then keep heading south past the Cowboy Church. We’ll detour down to the Catlett Grocery store at mile 30 before heading west on Reed Rd to Straight Gut. Back home the normal way which yes will include the Fish Hook in Flintstone and then up Burnt Mill. Almost a metric and 3,500 feet of climbing. At my pace I doubt TB will still be in the parking lot drinking Natties.
Sat. 7/24
Elites will roll from St. Elmo Food City at 8:30. Over the toe and south to Trenton on Creek Rd. and head down US 11to Byrds Chapel Rd. From there head back north, climb Sand and Cruise Brow Rd. down Hales Gap Rd. left on Dugan Loop to Slygo, 299, Wauhatchie. Your choice if you want to do the Scenic Hwy, Saunders Rd kicker at the end. 54 miles (with kicker) and 3,900 feet of climbing. See map for details.
Sat. 6/12
Elites will say hello to TB in the morning but then head south to Mountain Cove Farm. Roll at 8:30 from St Elmo Food City. Will go to the Cove via Marble Top and return via Hog Jowl, Kensington, and yes do the Fish Hook in Flintstone before cruising by Bub’s house. 65 miles and 3,500 feet of rolling. Hopefully that will still give King and me enough energy for some Saturday afternoon Pickleball.
Sat. 5/29 & Mon 5/31
Elites going gravel Saturday. Roll at 9:00 am from the Suck Creek Baptist Church at the base of Suck Creek Mtn. up the mtn to Prentice Cooper. Route includes the Davis Pond Loop. 40 miles and 3,800 ft of climbing.
Roll Monday @ 9:00 from the St Elmo Food City for the holiday ride up Missionary Ridge and to the Battlefield. Typical holiday route which is around 40 miles. Check posted map in Other Ride section below but remember WE ARE STARTING IN ST ELMO.
Sat. 5/8
The Elites will play a little cat and mouse with TB Saturday. Roll from St. Elmo Food City @ 8:30. When they turn left on Salem (mile 2.3) we’ll continue straight on Burnt Mill and make our way to Marble Top, climb 136, do part of the humping dog, take a store break, and then head down 136 towards Trenton and back on Creek Rd. It will be interesting to see when and if we cross paths with TB during the day. 52 miles and 3,700 feet of climbing.
Sat. 4/24 (Sun 4/25)
Saturday will be a washout. Feel free to chase Team Bubba Friday 4/23 if you choose.
Sunday we’ll do a makeup ride departing with TB at 1:30 from the St. Elmo Food City. Over the toe, out Browntown over to Rudy’s hood and then out Creek Rd. Back via Slygo. Roughly 42 miles without a major climb.
Sat. 4/3
Cold morning and a holiday weekend means a later start and a shorter ride. Roll from the downtown YMCA at 11am. We’ll head over the toe and out Browns Ferry Rd to Black Creek where we’ll climb Rudy’s Mtn. Not sure how far up we can go, but I have us turning around at mile 18.4. Head back towards town and climb some of Scenic Hwy to Sanders, down and out to Flintstone and back Burnt Mill Rd. 40 miles and 3,483 feet.
Elites Saturday 3/27/21
Weather update. Not much change so ride at your own risk. I’m sure some hard cores will show up at 8:30
Dark Sky’s not being helpful. Right now showing light rain on and off most of the morning.
For those willing to brave it, here’s a shortened version of TB’s ride rolling at 8:30 from St. Elmo Food City. Climbs Nick-a-Jack but descends into Trenton, New England, Slygo and back Wauhatchie Pike 50 miles. Map included.
Sat 9/11
Another nice day Saturday and you know what that means: TB goes long! Roll from the St Elmo Food City aka Steady’s Ant Farm @ 8:00, River Front Pky, up Suck, Valley View, Jasper/South Pitt, over Ladd, and 299 back. Hard to find a better route than the one last week but this one is up there on the Best of Bubba list. 70 miles, 4000 feet. Easy for the strongmen to add more by heading up Scenic at the end to Sanders and down Ochs.
TUESDAY NIGHT ETIQUETTE AND BEING GOOD CITIZENS
BUBBAS, some reminders to help us be good citizens during the Tuesday night ride:
- We’ll move the start time back as we gain daylight in an effort to avoid climbing Hotwater during rush hour. You’ll remember we switched the route to Hotwater a few years ago to give them more time and to avoid the more heavily traveled Mtn Rd.
- Let’s be extra sensitive about never riding more than 2 abreast and doing what we can to help cars pass the groups. When climbing or descending, let’s stay single file and as far to the right as possible. There have been complaints about folks holding up traffic while descending as well – I understand some of you can go as fast as the traffic but just keep in mind the motorist’s perspective and move over and even slow down at many of the places they may pass (such as just after the switchback to the left near the top) and let ’em by. If folks do get stuck behind you on the descent wave a thanks when you get to the bottom and they pass, it’s common curtesy. Along those lines, we should never pass cars going down or tailgate cars whether they are going slow on their own or because they are caught behind a cyclist – doing either of those is just bad form.
- Keep your hands on your bars even when you have more than good reason to show one finger. Shake your head if you need to and leave it at that even if you get buzzed, cursed, etc. I’ve seen hundreds of encounters between a cyclist and motorist yet not one when the motorist was convinced he/she was in the wrong so there’s really no need to engage them.