Travel nicely-paved and fairly low-traffic roads through the farmlands and cotton fields of several small cities in western Alabama. Start with breakfast at Cheeky’s Restaurant and end with a protein-filled steak lunch/dinner at Cattle on a Flame. Be sure and look for the Golden Eagle Syrup mural on the side of the factory in Fayette. This route will likely change a bit as we finalize the route for submission to RUSA for final approval. Chris Argo has ridden the route several times and thoroughly enjoys both breakfast and lunch at Cheeky's restaurant. Some of the nicest folks you will ever meet!
Travel nicely-paved and fairly low-traffic roads through the farmlands and cotton fields of several small cities in western Alabama. Start with breakfast at Cheeky’s Restaurant and end with a protein-filled steak lunch/dinner at Cattle on a Flame. Be sure and look for the Golden Eagle Syrup mural on the side of the factory in Fayette.
This will be a Saturday ride followed by a Sunday ride of 100K with the possibility of adding a RUSA Brevet option for 200K/300K on Sunday from the same location. We may offer this ride starting at 6 PM Saturday night followed by the 100K on Sunday morning at 8 AM. This will allow riders to do a total of 300K in one weekend A couple of hotels are within a 1/4 of the start. Ride a loop from Clanton to Alexander City and back. Alexander City is the home town of Terrell Owens — one of the greatest wide receivers in the history of the NFL and a Pro Football Hall of Famer. TO graduated from Benjamin Russell High School in 1992. The current location of BRHS is less than a 1/4 mile off the route
One thing that I am considering is turning this weekend into what I believe is a very unique event year. That is running this ride at 6 PM as a nighttime 200K on this full moon weekend followed by a populaire from the same location the next morning. What I like about this approach is it gives folks the option of riding one or the other or both. If they choose both, they can knock out qualifying events for a P12 and R12 in one weekend. Additionally, a full-moon ride during the summer months may be attractive because of the heat during the day. Chris Argo has ridden this route at nightime and found it to be ideal.
This populaire will begin at the Peach Park in Clanton and ride the rural roads in the area. The route is not yet decided but about three different routes are under consideration. This will be unique for Alabama in that the night before we will host a 200K out of the Peach Park at 6 PM followed by the 100K the next morning out of the Peach Park. What I like about this approach is it gives folks the option of riding one or the other or both. If they choose both, they can knock out qualifying events for a P12 and R12 in one weekend. Additionally, a full-moon ride during the summer months may be attractive because of the heat during the day. The route I selected for the nighttime ride, I have actually ridden at night. It was simply ideal for this type of event. There are a couple of hotels within a 1/4 mile of the start. You can arrive on Friday and get in some extra riding on Saturday.
Currently, this route is tentative depending on a couple more "scouting rides." Once the route is finalized and approved by RUSA, we will update the link above. This is a scenic loop through the quiet roads and rolling hills of Alabama Pecan Farm country. The route starts/ends at Ramer Methodist Church in downtown Ramer. Another option for a start is the control at Priester's Pecans Retail Store, a great place to pick up gifts or grab lunch at the restaurant. As you ride through the beautiful Alabama countryside. You'll pass historic churches and a country stores. Route is an amalgamation of parts of three regular routes used by Alabama Cycling Camp's based in Ramer, AL. The Pecan Farm Populaire will be offered simultaneously with this 200K version.
Starting in the quaint town of Ramer, we will ride through the scenic country roads to the southeast of Montgomery and Hope Hull. A stop by Priester's Pecans for lunch and/or ice cream is almost a certainty. We may alter the start to one of the other controls but Ramer Methodist Church has graciously offered their parking lot for our use at any time.
Hilly ride. Named for Gomer Pyle, the character made famous by actor Jim Nabors who was born in Sylacauga, AL. The route hits Sylacauga on the way back in.
This route is not yet approved. It will be an adaptation of the Black Belt 600K that we ran in 2021. It may or may not travel several of the same roads but will visit the Black Belt region of Alabama and will likely dip into Mississippi as well. The start will remain in Tuscaloosa and will return to Tuscaloosa through Greensboro.
Start and end at The John Hall Store / Bishop's BBQ (which is now closed). Nice route, has become our traditional end of year ride.