
WHAT'S INCLUDED

PRICING
FRIDAY Shakeout Ride:
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Free!
SATURDAY Race & Recreation Routes:
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$65 thru Dec 31st
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$80 thru Mar 31st
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$95 thru April 19th
SUNDAY Race & Recreation Routes:
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$45 until April 19th
We're also offering a discounted rate if you sign up for the FULL WEEKEND:
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$100 thru Dec 31st
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$115 thru Mar 31st
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$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
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
Fully stocked aid stations will be available along each of the routes with hydration and nutrition.

LIVE MUSIC
We'll have live music Friday evening and 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 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
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 SUPPORT
Sweep 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 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

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.

SUNDAY @ Hiwassee Outfitters
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

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: 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

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
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:
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Men's Open
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Women's Open
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Men's Masters (45+)
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Women's Masters (45+)
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Single Speed
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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!

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

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.

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

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 4/24: 3:00-8:00 p.m.
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Saturday 4/25: 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 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.

RIDE INFO

START TIMES
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FRIDAY 13-mile shakeout ride: 4:00 p.m.
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SATURDAY 72-mile route: 7:30 a.m.
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SATURDAY 46-mile route: 8:00 a.m.
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SATURDAY 24-mile route: 8:30 a.m.
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SUNDAY 26 & 28-mile 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 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 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
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 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!

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 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.

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
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Lost Creek/McFarland (mile 11 of the rec route): 11:00
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McFarland (mile 15 of the race route): 10:00
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Buck Bald (mile 26 of the race route): 11:30
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Starr Mtn (mile 48 of the race route): 1:00
SUNDAY
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Lost Creek/McFarland (mile 15 both routes): 11:30
FOOD

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!

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
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Homemade savory baked bean (with or without bacon topping)
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Syracuse salted potatoes (seasoned sour cream and
butter) -
Caprese tomato salad
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Garden salad
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Carrot cake with cream cheese icing
And here's generally what you can expect for SATURDAY:
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Grilled cheese burgers
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Chipotle Black Bean Burgers
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Homemade savory baked bean (with or without bacon topping)
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Garden salad & Fruit

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:
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Oatmeal (brown sugar and raisins)
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Scrambled eggs
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Sausage patties
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Sliced cheese
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English muffins (butter and grape jelly)
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Danishes
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Fresh fruit (pineapple, strawberries, peaches and mangos)