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Dear
ABCS Rider
,
Thank you for your continued support of the ABCS! We hope you have enjoyed the first four rides of the series. We had 42 riders earn their patches at the Spring Krusher. They are well on their way to becoming Champions for 2017. We hope you will join us in making a goal of a patch or becoming a Series Champion, too!
Rider Brian Guerrero started the 2016 ride season with the goal of finishing all of the Alabama Backroads Century Series Rides. Brian became an ABCS Champion not missing a single ride. Tragically, we lost Brian after a tragic accident doing one of the things that he loved – riding his bike with his friends at an ABCS ride. To honor him we have implemented the Guerrero Safety pledge. Don't forget to look over the safety pledge and familiarize yourself with riding in groups before next Sunday.
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Are you ready to Fondo?
Cheaha Challenge Gran Fondo - May 21
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The 2017 Cheaha Challenge Gran Fondo Century & ULTRA ride upholds the tradition of excellence established 25 years ago. The 1992 ride organizers' vision, to create a challenging route over the highest point in Alabama - Mount Cheaha - and then back again, continues to fulfill the event's tagline promise to be "the toughest ride in the South." The rides start and finish on the sweeping campus of Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama, where both the University and City have proven to be gracious hosts for the events. Each rider receives a stuffed goody bag with all sorts of cycling and fitness-related items. All finishers receive finisher gifts, and those completing the ULTRA receive a unique Finisher Shirt, a bragging rights shirts only confirmed finishers are allowed to wear.
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Registration Fees
Sign up
here
until 5/19 for $70
!
May 20/21 - $85
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Century and Ultra Rider's Cutoff:
STRICT 12 noon cut-off at the right turn to Adam's Gap leaving Cheaha State Park (past Rest Stop 4), this is 42+ miles into the ride.
You will be required to turn left coming out of the park after 12 noon and head back towards Jacksonville on your bike, thus completing the 84 mile option.
Ultra Rider's Cutoff:
STRICT 3 p.m. cutoff at mile 87, where ULTRA riders turn left off of HWY 9 onto Choccolocco Road.
You will still be able to continue on the century route if you do not make the 3 p.m. cutoff, thus completing the 100 mile option.
These cutoffs are to ensure you don't miss the Post-Ride Party, and that you are off the course by dark! But more importantly these strict cutoffs are for your safety and the safety of our volunteers and emergency/law enforcement personnel.
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Friday, 5/19
Noon - 6 pm
Packet Pick-up/Registration
First 50 people win a free pint glass!
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Saturday, 5/20
Pete Mathews Coliseum
10am - 8pm
Packet Pick-up/Registration
(Inside)
Bike Expo
(Outside)
Vendors open all day!
5pm - 9pm
Pre-Ride Party w/Live Music
Buffet Provided by Classic by Noble. Riders eat FREE. (Non-riders are $10 per person.)
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5:30 - 7:00 am Registration/Packet Pick-up
Inside the Coliseum
Under the Main Tent
7:00 am - Brief Devotional
Inside the Coliseum by Dunaway Connor
7:
45 am
Cruise Registration Closes
7:30 am - Ultra Start
7:32 am - Century Age 0-49
7:34 am - Century Age 50-up
7:36 am - 24, 44, 62, & 84
8:00 am - Chief Ladiga Cruise
4:30 pm
Awards Ceremony
Band Stage
11:00 am - 7:00 pm
Post Ride Party w/Band
Buffet provided by Cooter's Rib Shack. Riders eat FREE. (Non-riders are $10 per person. Volunteers and vendors eat free at
volunteer tent.)
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- UCI Event: In case you haven't heard, the CENTURY ride is the only qualifier in the USA for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championship in France this August! Ooh-la-la!
- Awards: For the first time, there will be overall winners of the Century/ULTRA rides and the KOM/QOMs. Teams can win money, too. ($5,000 total)
- Two KOM/QOMs: Did you hear, there is a new KOM/QOM for the ULTRA - going up Chimney Peak! (They will still have the traditional one going up Mount Cheaha at 3+ Mile Climb.)
- Transport to the Top: Need your peeps to cheer you on? Sign them up to ride from the start to Rest Stop 4 at the Top of AL, then back to the finish. Thanks to Highland Health Systems for this added perk.
- Pre-Ride Dinner: Don't go to Harley Davidson in Oxford for the party, the party is at Pete Mathews Coliseum. Don't miss the fun (Sat., 5/19 from 5-9 p.m.)
- BIKEXPO: Plan to visit our vendors in the BIKEXPO, all day on Sat., 5/29 at Pete Mathews Coliseum.
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Don't get DISQUALIFIED!
You will receive a colored number bib to wear that identifies your respective start.
You MUST start with your age group or be disqualified from qualifying for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championship. The UCI uses gun time for the qualifying results; however, we will have timing mats at the start which will show if you start in the incorrect group. You will be disqualified if you start in the incorrect group.
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The ABCS ride directors are concerned about your safety. Having your rider bib on with the numbers visible helps us keep you safe on the road. It tells us you are our rider and communicates where you are on the course to rest stops and the finish line so we are prepared for you. If you have a serious accident and are separated from your bike, it will identify you and help us get your family notified quickly if you can't speak. ALL RIDER MUST WEAR THEIR BIB NUMBERS!
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Check out the variety of accommodation types available for Cheaha Challenge Gran Fondo here.
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Be sure to familiarize yourself with your route. While you are at it if you have a Garmin or smartphone take advantage of our free Ride with GPS service!
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Simply
RSVP below to the Cheaha Challenge Gran Fondo
with GPS
event to enable premium features such as spoken turn-by-turn directions and offline download capabilities on your Garmin or Smart phone. Rest areas are included in the maps and on our directions.
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As always, we ask you to send your business to our supporting sponsors.
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And, don't forget...pedal all 13 ABCS century routes and you'll be eligible in the end-of-year drawing for:
- a TREK Emonda ALR 5, valued at $1679.99
- Academy Sports gift cards totaling $1,000
- A 35-qt. YETI Tundra Cooler by Thomas Waters State Farm Insurance in Homewood, Al.
- And will be named a Champion and be awarded this specially-designed Primal Wear jersey!
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2017 ABCS ONLINE RIDE REGISTRATION QUICK LINKS:
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Alabama Backroads Century Ride Series | [email protected] |alabama-backroads-cycling.com/
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