MAY 2, 2009 3-STATE 3-MOUNTAIN
Come experience one of the southeast's most scenic and challenging centuries. The rigorous 100-mile option will take you through 3 states (Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia) and over 3 mountains (Suck Creek, Sand and Lookout). Climb and descend Lookout Mountain over the same course as the 2007 Tour de Georgia. The moderate 62-mile option spans 2 states and 1 mountain. The 25-mile option takes riders across the hilly terrain of 1 state. The ascent down Lookout Mountain and into downtown Chattanooga is WILD FUN. I like the second half of the 100 miler better than the first half. Great support, one of the best run events in the area.

MAY 16, 2009 TOUR DE BLOUNT
The Tour is a one-day event with a variety of rides through beautiful Blount County TN, including: 27 mile ride, 45 mile ride (half century), 62 mile ride (metric century), 70 mile ride (Over the Foothills Parkway). All of the rides follow scenic roads through the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. The 66 mile option includes a spectacular climb over the famous Foothills Parkway.

MAY 30, 2009 ENGLISH MOUNTAIN CHALLENGE
Join Southern Cycling Operations on a ride in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains through Sevier and Cocke Counties. There are 3 different ride options to choose from ( 26, 62 or 109). The full and metric century includes the ascent of English Mountain with grades up to 15-22%. Whether you choose to combat English Mountain or not, you will enjoy a beautiful ride through the scenic area. Final 20 miles are hell on wheels - usually hot with a head wind.

MAY 19, 2009 ASSAULT ON MT MITCHELL
Ride to the top of Mt Mitchell, need I say more. 11,000 feet elevation gain. To be eligible for the Assault, you must have previously ridden the Assault on Marion, which covers the first 72 miles of the Mt Mitchell route. Both rides are held on the same day. Don't really care to do this ride because they transport your bike back to Marion.

JUNE 7, 2009 FLETCHER FLYER
Offer full, metric and half century rides that wind through the valleys south of Asheville. It is the least Hilly ride in Western North Carolina, but it has plenty of rolling hills to keep all riders interested. There is terrific mountain scenery without the long mountain climbs. The century, metric, and half century have cumulative climbs of 4044, 3039, and 2216 feet, respectively.

JUNE 20, 2008 CHEROHALA CHALLENGE
115-mile Challenge and the 62-mile Metric Challenge, “Ride the Valley” 50-mile route. A 115-mile epic loop with 9,000+ feet of climbing. This route includes the Cherohala Skyway (a National Scenic Byway) and the infamous "Dragon” (318 curves in 11 miles). Throw in a couple of national forests, mountain lakes and rivers, and you have one of the most spectacular rides anywhere in the country. Home field advantage !!

JUNE 27, 2009 BLOOD, SWEAT AND GEARS
A demanding route, which showcases the mountain communities of Watauga County, North Carolina, requires over 13,000 feet of total climbing. Highlights of the route include a 21 mile section of the Blue Ridge Parkway, a strenuous climb over the 4,500 foot gap at Snake Mountain, and a 10 mile "flat" on old US 421.

JULY 11, 2009 HOT DOGGETT 100
100 mile and 100 kilometer closed loop courses cover some of the most scenic and lightly traveled roads anywhere in western North Carolina. The century goes over Doggett Mountain to Hot Springs and then North into Tennesee before returning over Sam's Gap. 100 miler includes 9600 feet of climbing, 6200 for the 100k. Ride starts/ends at Mars Hill College, just north of Asheville NC., following the path in a clockwise direction. This was one of my favorite rides of 2008. Quiet roads and great riding. Had so much fun that we took the motorcycles the next week.

JULY 18, 2009 JAIL BREAK 100
Gotta do this one in 2009!! This is the "Devils Triange" on a bicycle, with some route differences but it does get in all the majoy climbs and descents. Starts and ends in Farragut TN.

JULY 25, 2009 HURT, PAIN, AGONY
Get ready to suffer...the Hurt, Pain & Agony Metric Century is 66 miles of pure hill! The ride opens with a six-mile climb from Traphill in the North Carolina foothills to Roaring Gap atop the Blue Ridge. With 1,700 feet of elevation gain and several stretches of leg busting double-digit grades, it's the equivalent of a Category 2 climb in the Tour de France! Plenty of shorter hills follow as the ride winds through the highlands of Alleghany County, North Carolina and Grayson County, Virginia. Don't pop a wheelie as you tackle Mahogany Rock Road, the ride's steepest climb.

HILLY HELLACIOUS.... BUMMER...looks like this will not longer be an event. It is one of my favorite routes, both on a bicycle and motorcycle. This is a fantastic route starting in Fletcher and winding down thru Chimney Rock, Lake Lure and then climbing up thru Old Fort to the Eastern Continentel Divide. Make sure and do the 100 miler, the shorter routes are not as good. CLICK HERE FOR MAP

AUGUST 15, 2009 BLUE RIDGE BRUTAL
This is a great ride. Nice people, nice town, nice scenery.  The route is difficult with over 105 miles and over 10,000 feet of climbing. Start/Finish in West Jefferson NC (north east of Boone on 321)

SEPTEMBER 19, 2009 TOUR DE TUCK
The 105-mile ride has approximately 11,000 feet of elevation gain with a vertical mile between the high and low points on the route. Over 40 of these miles are on the Blue Ridge Parkway, giving us the distinction of having the most Parkway miles of any organized ride in the Appalachians. The 60-mile route has approximately 6,800 feet of elevation gain with over 25 miles of riding on the Blue Ridge Parkway, also 6 miles on US23/74. One of my favorite rides!!

SEPTEMBER 20, 2009 BRIDGE TO BRIDGE
Century ride around the Boone NC acrea. Famous for it's brutal climbs and finishes with the gruellingly steep 2 mile road up to Grandfather Mountain.

SEPTEMBER 26 - OCTOBER 3, 2009 CYCLE NORTH CAROLINA
The 2009 "Mountains to the Coast" event will begin in Blowing Rock and end in Surf City with additioanl overnight stops in Lenoir, Statesville, Thomasville, Sanford, Dunn and Kenansville.

OCTOBER 24, 2009 TOUR DE NANTAHALA
Nantahala Outdoor Center annual century and metric. 106 mile Nantahala Nightmare takes in Stecoah Gap, Hwy 28 down to Franklin NC, and then back to the NOC via Wayah Road. 68 mile Wayah Loop heads down Hwy 28 to Franklin and then back up Wayah Road to NOC. Beautiful fall ride, can be cold. Note: 106 mile ride has 11 miles of US129 from Topton to Robbinsville. The 68 mile loop is a beautiful, challenging ride - I prefer this over the 106 miler.

OCTOBER 31, 2009 TOUR DE FRANKLIN
Benefit ride for the American Heart Association & American Cancer Society. Beautiful rides through the mountains around Franklin NC. Choice of 66 mile with 5 mile climb and approximately 6500' of elevation change, or 103 mile with 5 mile climb and 10 mile climb and approximately 8500' of elevation change. Held the Sunday before Halloween. Note: Both routes have 16 miles of the ride are on US64, in addition the 103 mile ride follow US64 from Franklin to Highlands.

Smoky Mountain Wheelman VISIT WEBSITE: SMWBIKE.ORG
SMW organizes the annual Cherohala Challenge, Smoky Mountain Fall Century, and many informal rides throughout the smokies.