WHAT'S INCLUDED
PRICING
All Routes:
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$105 thru Sept 2nd (Labor Day)
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$115 thru Jan 1st
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$135 thru April 1st
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$155 thru April 20th
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Pricing is for both Saturday & Sunday. There are no one-day price options.
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Pricing does not include lodging. For camping info, please click here.
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The event is capped at 250 total riders.
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Please note that there is no on-site registration. Online registration only. Registration for the event closes at midnight Sunday April 20th.
FOOD
All registrants will receive tickets for both Saturday and Sunday that can be redeemed with our food vendor at the finish line.
AID STATIONS
Fully stocked aid stations will be available along each of the routes with hydration and nutrition.
LIVE MUSIC
The post-ride party on Saturday will include local bluegrass from the Monroe Troubadours!
TIMING
All routes will be timed with results for all finishers posted on TennesseeGravel.com.
THE RIDES
RELIANCE is a full weekend of riding with a shakeout ride Friday afternoon, plus multiple route options both Saturday and Sunday!
BEER
Beer from our friends at Hutton & Smith Brewing Company is included both Saturday & Sunday. (We'll also have non-alcoholic beverages thanks to the generosity of Chattanooga Coca-Cola Bottling Company United.)
SAG SUPPORT
Roving support vehicles will be available to cyclists on the routes for mechanical support thanks to SAG Stop Service and REI Chattanooga.
SWAG
Water bottles, pint glasses, bandanas, koozies and more!
AWARDS
Everyone who completes routes of any distance both Saturday and Sunday will receive a commemorative finisher medal. We will also present podium awards for the lowest overall cumulative time for both days (1st, 2nd & 3rd) for the following categories: Men's Open, Women's Open, Men's Masters (45+), Women's Masters (45+), Single Speed.
EVENT SCHEDULE
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: 3:00-7:00 p.m. at Hiwassee Outfitters.
Food: 5:00-8:00 p.m. (cash/credit)
SUNDAY @ Hiwassee Outfitters
Coffee: 6:00-8:00 a.m. (free)
Breakfast: 6:00-8:00 a.m. (cash/credit)
Race Start: 8:00 a.m. for 50-mile route
Ride Start: 8:30 a.m. for 25 & 35-mile routes
Lunch Buffet: 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (free)
Beer: 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (free)
Stage & Overall Awards: 1:00 p.m. (approx.)
SATURDAY @ Hiwassee Outfitters
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: 8:00 a.m. for 65-mile route
Ride Start: 8:30 a.m. for 25 & 45-mile routes
Lunch Buffet: 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (free)
Beer: 11:30 a.m. to dark (free)
Games & Contests: 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Coolest Bike Contest: 3:00 p.m.
Live Music: 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Dinner: 6:00-8:00 p.m. (cash/credit)
POST-RIDE
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
Thanks to the generosity of Village Volkswagen of Chattanoga, every rider who completes both days of riding will be given a finisher medal when they cross the finish line on Sunday! We'll also present podium awards Sunday afternoon for the lowest overall cumulative time for both days (1st, 2nd & 3rd) for the following categories: Men's Open, Women's Open, Men's Masters, Women's Masters, Single Speed.
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!
LIVE MUSIC
After we wind down the contests on Saturday, we'll turn the stage over to local bluegrass band The Monroe Troubadours!
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.
THE BASICS
LOCATION
All routes will start & finish at Hiwassee Outfitters (155 Ellis Creek Rd, Reliance, TN 37369).
PACKET PICKUP
Packet pick-up both Friday & Saturday is @ Hiwassee Outfitters.
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Friday 4/25: 3:00-7:00 p.m.
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Saturday 4/26: 6:00-8:00 a.m.
PARKING
Free parking will be available at Hiwassee Outfitters. Please do not park at the boat ramp next door.
CAMPING
Camping is available at the start/finish at Hiwassee Outfitters. While we will have a small 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.
RIDE INFO
START TIMES
Race routes: 8:00 a.m.
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All other routes: 8:30 a.m.
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 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 CHOICE
Wide, low-pressure tubeless tires (at least 40mm, preferably wider) are the way to go. For Saturday, a gravel bike works well for the 25-mile route, but you might consider a hardtail mountain bike for the 45 and 65-mile routes due to extended bumpy rocky/cobbly/rutted sections. For Sunday, a gravel bike works well for all three routes, although there is one bumpy descent on both the 35 and 50-mile routes that will be a challenging but manageable on a gravel bike if you go slow and pick your lines carefully. 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
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!
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
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 long route each day, please also download the medium distance routes in case you miss the cut-off time or need to bail out due to a mechanical. 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!
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 SUPPORT
Cell service is limited in the national forest, but roving support vehicles will be available to cyclists on the routes for mechanical support. Of course, support vehicles can't be everywhere all the time, so it's best to be as self-sufficient as possible.
CUT-OFF TIMES
Riders on Saturday's 65-mile route must reach mile 32 by 12:30 (7.5 mph avg) or they will be directed to finish using the 45-mile route. No exceptions.
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Riders on Sunday's 50-mile route must reach mile 16 by 10:00 (8 mph avg) or they will be redirected to finish using the 35-mile route. No exceptions.