top of page
Reliance Details 2.png

This page has NOT been finalized for the 2026 event.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Pricing.jpg

PRICING

FRIDAY Shakeout Ride:

  • Free!

SATURDAY Race & Recreation Routes:

  • $65 thru Dec 31st

  • $80 thru Mar 31st

  • $95 thru April 19th

SUNDAY Race & Recreation Routes:

  • $45 until April 19th

We're also offering a discounted rate if you sign up for the FULL WEEKEND:

  • $100 thru Dec 31st

  • $115 thru Mar 31st

  • $130 thru April 19th

Pricing does not include lodging. For camping info, please click here.

The event is capped at 250 total riders.

Please note that there is no on-site registration. Online registration only. Registration for the event closes at midnight Sunday April 19th.

Food.jpg

FOOD

Post-ride all-you-can-eat lunch buffets both Saturday and Sunday are included with registration. (We will also have some dinner and breakfast options for purchase through the weekend. Scroll to the bottom of this page for more info.)

Aid Stations.jpg

AID STATIONS

Fully stocked aid stations will be available along each of the routes with hydration and nutrition.

Music

LIVE MUSIC

We'll have live music Friday evening and the post-ride party on Saturday will include local bluegrass from the Monroe Troubadours!

Ride Start.jpg

TIMING

All routes will be timed with results for all finishers posted on TennesseeGravel.com.

Bike.jpg

THE RACES & RIDES

RELIANCE is a full weekend of racing & riding with a shakeout ride Friday afternoon, plus multiple route options both Saturday and Sunday!

Beer.jpg

BEER

Beer from our friends at Hutton & Smith Brewing Company and non-alcoholic beer from Athletic Brewing

(along with a variety of other non-alcoholic beverages) is included both Saturday & Sunday.  

SAG.jpg

SAG SUPPORT

Sweep support vehicles will be available to cyclists on the routes for mechanical support thanks to SAG Stop Service and REI Chattanooga.

Bottle.png

SWAG

Water bottles, pint glasses, bandanas, koozies and more!

Awards.png

AWARDS

Everyone who completes routes of any distance both Saturday and Sunday will receive a commemorative finisher medal. We will also present podium awards and over $2,000 in cash prizes for the 72 and 46-mile routes on Saturday and for the 28-mile route on Sunday. The first place winners in each category will also receive free entry to next year's event so that they can defend their titles!

EVENT SCHEDULE

25.png

FRIDAY

Shakeout ride: 4:00-5:30 p.m. This relaxed out & back ride on Spring Creek Road is roughly 13 miles and 95% gravel. Please note that the shakeout ride start/finish is NOT at Hiwassee Outfitters. The ride starts and ends at Fireside Outpost.

Packet pick-up: 3:00-8:00 p.m. at Hiwassee Outfitters.

Food: 5:00-8:00 p.m. (cash/credit)

Live Music: 6:00-8:00 p.m. 

27.png

Coffee: 6:00-8:00 a.m. (free)

Breakfast: 6:00-8:00 a.m. (cash/credit)

Race Start: 8:30 a.m. for 28-mile route

Ride Start: 8:30 a.m. for 26-mile route

Lunch Buffet: 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (free)

Beer: 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (free)

Podium Awards: Ongoing as racers finish

26.png

Coffee: 6:00-8:00 a.m. (free)

Breakfast: 6:00-8:00 a.m. (cash/credit)

Packet Pickup: 6:00-8:00 a.m.

Race Start: 7:30 a.m. for the 72-mile route

Race Start: 8:00 a.m. for the 46-mile route

Ride Start: 8:30 a.m. for 24-mile routes

Lunch Buffet: 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (free)

Beer: 11:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (free)

Games & Contests: 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Coolest Bike Contest: 3:00 p.m.

Podium Awards: Ongoing as racers finish

Live Music: 6:00-8:00 p.m. 

Dinner: 6:00-8:00 p.m. (cash/credit)

POST-RIDE

Bike.jpg

GAMES & CONTESTS

Plan to stick around after the ride Saturday afternoon for trackstand contests and other games led by our friends at White Oak Co-op! We'll also have a Coolest Bike contest that afternoon based on our completely subjective judgment. Special thanks to Handup for the contest prizes!

Awards.jpg

AWARDS

Everyone who completes both days of riding will be presented with a finisher award on Sunday regardless of distance or time thanks to the generosity of Village Volkswagen of Chattanooga. Village VW has also generously sponsored our podium awards and cash prizes, which will be awarded for the top 3 finishers for the following categories in Saturday's 46-mile and 72-mile routes and Sunday's 28-mile route

  • Men's Open

  • Women's Open

  • Men's Masters (45+)

  • Women's Masters (45+)

  • Single Speed

  • Juniors (18 & under)

The first place winners in each category will also receive free entry to next year's event so that they can defend their titles!

Water Drop.png

BIKE WASH

Want to clean your bike after the ride? Use the bike wash provided by our friends at East Ridge Bicycles!

Music

LIVE MUSIC

After we wind down the contests on Saturday, we'll turn the stage over to local bluegrass band The Monroe Troubadours!

Wrench.png

BIKE SERVICES

We strongly encourage you to have your bike tuned up before coming to the event, but in case it needs some extra love or has issues during the ride, SAG Stop Service will be available both Friday & Saturday afternoons/evenings. 

Massage.jpg

MASSAGE

Worried about riding two hard days in a row? Let our very talented massage therapist Carla Calitz help with your recovery after the ride both Saturday and Sunday

THE BASICS

Map.jpg

LOCATION

All routes will start & finish at Hiwassee Outfitters (155 Ellis Creek Rd, Reliance, TN 37369).

Packet.jpg

PACKET PICKUP

Packet pick-up both Friday & Saturday is @ Hiwassee Outfitters.

  • Friday 4/24: 3:00-8:00 p.m.

  • Saturday 4/25: 6:00-8:00 a.m.

Parking.jpg

PARKING

Free parking will be available at Hiwassee Outfitters. Please do not park at the boat ramp next door.

Camping.jpg

CAMPING

Camping is available at the start/finish at Hiwassee Outfitters. While we will have a small free camping area available on a first-come first-served basis, the primary campsites require a reservation, which you can make when you register for the ride. Click here for more information.

RELIANCE Event Layout_edited.jpg

RIDE INFO

Ride Start.jpg

START TIMES

  • FRIDAY 13-mile shakeout ride: 4:00 p.m. 

  • SATURDAY 72-mile route: 7:30 a.m.

  • SATURDAY 46-mile route: 8:00 a.m.

  • SATURDAY 24-mile route: 8:30 a.m.

  • SUNDAY 26 & 28-mile routes: 8:30 a.m.

Aid Stations.jpg

AID STATIONS

Aid stations will be available along each of the routes. The location of each station is shown on the route maps listed on the ROUTES page. The Buck Bald aid station at mile 26 on Saturday's race routes will have a portajohn. The other aid stations will not have portajohns, but there are pit toilets available at various places along the routes. Toilet locations are noted on the route maps. Please note that drop bags, support crews and spectators are not allowed on the course.

Bike.jpg

BIKE CHOICE

Wide, low-pressure tubeless tires (at least 40mm, preferably wider) are the way to go. While you will inevitably encounter chunky sections, all of the routes are rideable on a gravel bike. Hardtail mountain bikes are also appropriate and will be more comfortable on the downhills, but they will be slower on the asphalt sections. Please note that e-bikes are NOT allowed on the RACE routes. If you do ride an e-bike on the recreational routes, please let us know when you check in at the timing table at the finish line.

Roads.jpg

ROADS

Be advised that all roads will be open to traffic. Although the forest roads are very lightly trafficked, you may unexpectedly run into vehicles. So don't cheat on the blind curves!

2171932-200.png

RESPECT

Please respect your fellow riders, the local community, passing vehicles, and the national forest. Our playground in the woods is sacred space, and we are inviting others to share this beautiful place with the assumption that they will respect it and pick up after themselves. Leave no trace! 

Wayfinding.jpg

WAYFINDING

The course will NOT be marked, so it is important to know the route before you start. Downloadable route files are available on the ROUTES page. (If you're planning to ride the 72-mile route, please also download the 46-mile route in case you need to switch routes.) Also, be advised that the majority of the roads in the Reliance area do not have street signs, especially the forest service roads. You will also find very little cell service on the forest roads. Come prepared!

Volunteer.jpg

SPECTATORS

To limit the traffic on course, support crews, drop bags and spectators will NOT be allowed on the routes. However, noisy spectators are very welcome at the finish line!

SAG.jpg

SAG SUPPORT

Cell service is limited in the national forest so you should not rely on being able to call for assistance if you have issues. Come prepared to be as self-sufficient as possible. That being said, we will have sweep vehicles and a couple of motos to provide support on the routes. So if you have problems that you can't resolve on your own, a support vehicle will eventually come along as it sweeps the route.

Ride Start.jpg

SUPPORT CUT-OFF

There are no cutoff times this year, but there are closing times for the aid stations and for the sweep vehicles. So if you plan to ride all day on Saturday, make sure you are fully self-sufficient in case our volunteers have already packed up. Please note the following closing times for the Saturday aid stations. Also please note the distance between aid stations and plan accordingly.

SATURDAY

  • Lost Creek/McFarland (mile 11 of the rec route): 11:00

  • McFarland (mile 15 of the race route): 10:00

  • Buck Bald (mile 26 of the race route): 11:30

  • Starr Mtn (mile 48 of the race route): 1:00

SUNDAY

  • Lost Creek/McFarland (mile 15 both routes): 11:30

FOOD

Food.jpg

LUNCH

We will have an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet waiting for you when you finish your ride both Saturday & Sunday. The buffets are included with your registration, and you can just go dig in when you're done with your ride. No money or tickets needed!

Food.jpg

DINNER

Our food vendor will have dinner available for purchase both Friday and Saturday evenings (5:00-8:00 on Friday and 6:00-8:00 on Saturday). 

The menu may vary a little, but here's generally what you can expect for FRIDAY:

  • Italian sausage with sauteed peppers onion
    on a sub roll (topped with mozzarella cheese)

  • All beef quarter pound Nathan's Hot Dog (chili, cheese
    and chopped onions)

  • Marinated portobello mushrooms cut lengthwise topped with melted mozzarella cheese

  • Homemade savory baked bean (with or without bacon topping)

  • Syracuse salted potatoes (seasoned sour cream and
    butter)

  • Caprese tomato salad

  • Garden salad

  • Carrot cake with cream cheese icing

And here's generally what you can expect for SATURDAY:

  • Grilled cheese burgers

  • Chipotle Black Bean Burgers

  • Homemade savory baked bean (with or without bacon topping)

  • Garden salad & Fruit

Food.jpg

BREAKFAST

Our food vendor will have free coffee along with some breakfast items available for purchase both Saturday and Sunday mornings from 6:00-8:00.​​

The menu may vary a little, but here's generally what you can expect for breakfast both days:

  • Oatmeal (brown sugar and raisins)

  • Scrambled eggs

  • Sausage patties

  • Sliced cheese

  • English muffins (butter and grape jelly)

  • Danishes

  • Fresh fruit (pineapple, strawberries, peaches and mangos)

Connect & Stay in Touch!

Got it!

TENNESSEE GRAVEL is a partner project run by Shannon Burke and Kim Murrell dedicated to supporting gravel grinding adventures in the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains!

topo.jpg

Thanks to our Partners!

bottom of page