Route: SheBoss to Bond 33

Starter Location: She Boss Trailhead in Hampshire, TN near mile marker 400 on the Natchez Trace Parkway

Club members Paul Aebischer, Aaron Briggs, and Steve Saxton have organized a gravel ride in Hickman County for those interested in getting their wheels off pavement and onto dirt.

This is a 33 mile gravel ride with 2000 feet of climbing. While this is intentionally not a day-long gravel grinder with multiple creek crossings, rutted-out trails, and near-mountain-bike descents, it’s also a step beyond riding on the road! If you’re interested in joining us, please be confident you have the appropriate skills and equipment:

• Your tires should be 38mm or above, lest you enjoy that feeling of your front wheel constantly looking for an opportunity to slip out from under you.

• You should be on wheels with tubeless tires at an appropriately lower tire pressure, lest you want to spend all day in the middle of nowhere changing flats and burning through tubes.

• You should be on a bike with cyclocross, gravel, or mountain geometry, lest you enjoy the constant sensation of feeling like you’re going to fly over the handlebars on a descent (and perhaps even doing so).

• You should be able to confidently ride 40 - 50 miles at a 16 to 18 mph pace on the road. While this route is “only” 30 miles and our pace will likely be closer to 12 to 14 mph, it will require the fitness of something just a bit longer and faster.

• You should be prepared to carry all the water and fuel you’d need for a 3 - 4 hour ride without a refuel point. We’re in the middle of nowhere; there’s no opportunity to stop for coffee and pancakes on this Sunday ride — much less a bottle of Gatorade. :)

The intent is to keep the group together (no drop) at a moderate pace, but there’s no “official sweeper” on this ride — please be sure you’re confident you can stick together!