Southeast - Recommended Southeastern Organized Rides

What are some of your favorite centuries and/or organized rides? Events which you would recommend to someone who had never done them before? Rides which would be worth traveling from out-of-state to participate in?

What did you like about them? The route? The scenery? The organization? The riders?

Discuss.

personal favorite is Blood Sweat and Gears, in Boone NC. Rent a cabin for the week and take the family up.

I like the Hilly Hellacious in the Buncome/Henderson area.

The Fletcher Flyer is nice too.

I plan on doing the Hot Dogget 100 in Madison County this year. Last year was the 1st annual and missed it.

Many people like 3 State, 3 Mountain Challenge (http://www.chatbike.org) in Chattanooga and the Cheaha Challenge (http://neabc.org/cheaha) in Anniston.

Back to back this year- May 5 & 6

...and catch the Sunny King Criterium (http://www.sunnykingcriterium.com) after 3 State while resting for Cheaha.

I did the Hilly Hellacious Hundred in 2005 and had a pretty good time. The orchards are nice, there's no killer climbs, and Lake Lure is pretty. Only annoyance was that some of those roads were rough. Or is that a North Carolina thing?

Hmm, I wasn't aware of the Hot Doggett 100 (http://www.mhc.edu/hotdoggett/index.asp); it looks interesting. Has anyone done it?

I second the 3State - 3Mountain century. Great ride, though it has really gotten big. Almost too big. I have a graduation to go to this year or I'd be doing it again.

Tour de Cashiers (http://www.tourdecashiers.com/), this Sunday. I'm doing the metric which is tough but the century is really tough. Great scenery and challenging climbs, and close to home.

Tour de Tuck (http://www.tourdetuck.com/) starting in Sylva, NC. The century rides 45 miles on the BRP and other great roads. Lots of climbing too.

Burnsville metric (http://www.bicycleinn.com/BM_Info05.htm), April 28. A fast ride up in Yancey county along the Cane, Toe and Nolichucky Rivers. Some climbing too but not too much.

Fabulous Fourth metric (http://www.polkcounty.org/4th/4th.htm). Fast ride in Tryon, NC. Can be hot.

Note: if you have links for ride information, it's helpful to readers interested in checking them out.

Burnsville metric (http://www.bicycleinn.com/BM_Info05.htm), April 28. A fast ride up in Yancey county along the Cane, Toe and Nolichucky Rivers. Some climbing too but not too much.


I rode the burnsville metric course last September while staying at the Celo Inn. Great course, and Randy Raskins (one of the organizers of it) is a great guy and knows his cycling. I suspect it's a great ride.

Chattooga Century is fun, 6 Gap is probably the most famous.

BRAG is always a good time too.

Hellacious Hilly is really good, if you dont mind constant rolling stuff. I also really like Tour de Leaves. It is flatter, but with better actual climbs IMO. I have never done Blood Sweat & Gears or Bridge to Bridge, but knowing the area, I know that they would be beautiful scenery and some good, tough climbs.

Travelling the blue ridge parkway is always worthwhile. If vacationing is up your alley you can make it down to Charleston, SC and visit lowcountryvwracing.com for a lot of local road rides.