2004 Cheaha Century Challenge Comments
"I had the misfortune of a flat on a steep downhill. The resulting crash left me with a concusion and a fractured clavicle. I wanted to comment on the first rate emergency response. The ambulance arrived quickly (at least I think so) and the hospital staff was terrific. I'm healing well and look forward to next year's ride. Thank you for your excellent preparation."
Kevin Dowling
Orlando, FL
"Five friends and I came from Atlanta on Sunday morning and had a great time. Thanks for all of your hard work in the rain."
Jim Metcalf
"Just wanted to compliment you guys on what a great event the CCC was in spite of the difficult weather. This was my first time by, definitely not my last. It was one of the best organized and supported events I've ever done. Thanks again. Looking forward to next year."
David Terry
Munford, TN
"I just want to thank all of the people that had a part in this event. Everyone was so friendly and nice, especially at the rest stops. It was my first time to ride in a organized event and my first time to ride a century. I was very much impressed with the itinerary and how well it was organized. I truly had a great experience and plan to return each year. Thank You so much for the hard work. It paid off. GREAT JOB!"
Mike Shaw
"Very challenging this year; weather, Incredible support and wonderful 'spirit' of all the great volunteers; hats off to all of them for a job well done! See you next year! "
Eric Schmidt
Villa Rica , GA
"Our friends didn't believe the stories we told about last year's event. We all left the Challenge grinning from ear to ear. Can't wait to see you again next year! Many thanks to the 300 plus volunteers who make your event one of a kind! "
David & Angela Murphy
Milton, FL
"It has got to be the only 102 mile ride in which I have actually gained weight! Great job Thanks to the volunteers!"
Wylie Ewing
Atlanta, GA
"Enjoyed my 8th Cheaha Challenge this year! A large group from the Druid City Bicycle Club of Tuscaloosa came up. Hope the NEABC members can join us for the NORTH HARBOR HOT HUNDRED on August 21. 'The HOTTEST ride in the South.' "
Larry Pierson
Northport, AL
"Super ride! Fantastic support throughout the course. Great breakfast and post-ride meal. Many thanks,keep up the good work. Coinciding with 3 state 3 mountain makes for a good road trip for all of us cyclists traveling some distance. See ya next year!"
Steven Conti
Covington, TN
"Thanks so much for everyone's fantastic efforts to put on an outstanding ride. The Saturday night crits during dinner were fantastic as was the lasagna and mudbugs! This was my first opportunity to see pro's race up close. I think I'll remain a recreational rider and continue to be amazed at their skills. The ride on Sunday was wonderful . My initial apprehension of a cold, rainy ride was replaced with clear skies, dry roads and just the right temperatures for an enjoyable ride. Thank goodness I didn't bale at 8:00 when the ride started! Again, thanks for the huge efforts by so many to give us all a wonderful experience. See you next year. "
Dennis Dugger
Pensacola, FL
"Everyone involved gets a big A+ for a job well done. The support personnel were fantastic. This was my first century and one I will never forget. The Gospel music on Saturday night and the prayer before the race were also appreciated. Thanks to everyone for being so nice."
Scott Strickland
Hamilton, AL
"Headwind?? Gosh, I thought I was just old, fat, out of shape and toasted from the climbs. Now, I find out there was a headwind! Feel better already! The friendlist bunch of folks anywhere put on this ride. Grab a few cycling friends and come on down or up next year. You'll be glad you did. See ya next year!"
Dennis
Pensacola, Florida
"You guys put on a great event - it's one of my favorites every year. "
Joe Domaleski
"As always this was a great ride. The people of the Anniston area come together and make this a wonderful weekend year after year...Rain or shine! Hats off to Mike, Bo and all the volunteers. "
Cayce Cherry
Mobile, AL
"This ride was very well organized and supported. The volunteers were great. They were very helpful, friendly, and full of encouragement. Can't wait until next year!"
E. Duke
Roanoke, AL
"Where to begin? This was the best organized, best supported ride we have ever been on. Even though we were holding down the very bottom of the bell curve, the support from the volunteers and staff was unflappable. Thanks for all the encouragement as we proved a couple of husbands wrong...and thanks for saving us some pizza at the end, it made the ride back to Atlanta less painful. "
Jenny Williams and Gail Walls
Atlanta, GA
"Great Event. Support was outstanding. Weather was... well it was tough (cold, rainy, head wind, etc.). Toughest ride in the south... indeed ! Please consider a few more direction signs when returning to town. It was difficult to know if we were on course. Thanks for a great event. "
RM
Gadsden, AL
"EXCELLENT! This was my first CCC (66mi)and will not be the last. Everyone did an outstanding job. Please express a sincere and big thank you to all the volunteers ( VFD, police,registration people, civic center folks,SAG, rest area) Without them a ride like this would be impossible. The Anniston street party and Crit was great (especially the craw fish pasta dish). Last, but not least, the weather; the rain, the fog, the cool air made the ride more memorable. Great weekend of cycling! "
Lee Percy
Pensacola, FL
"My first Century. I thought the race was terrific. The support was incredible, all the volunteers should be commended. The only thing I thought would help is to have a few support staff directing traffic at the end. As tired as I was, not thinking as clear, I was not sure if I was coming in on the course. Overall a great race. I will be back next year."
Tim Copeland
Gadsden, AL
"Although I have been aware of the CCC event for years, this was my first year to participate. I found all aspects of the event organized and efficient. All volunteers were friendly and helpful. I also took advantage of the Saturday events and found them well-planned and fun. I plan to become a "regular" participant. Thanks for all your hard work. You did a great job!!! "
Mary Coyle
Weaver, AL
"This was my first trip to the Cheaha Challenge and I thought the event was excellent, even with the weather. The ride was very organized and the SAGs were great. The volunteers were so helpful and upbeat even though they had to stand out in the cold all day. The post ride food was very good and I was glad there were warm showers available. I was very pleased and will be back next year. You may want to consider including a cue sheet with written instructions with the ride map only to alert riders to the locations of the steep climbs and descents. The write up on the internet was good and it would have been helpful to have that for guidance. "
Susan Williams
Memphis, TN
"Great job! The weather conditions were horrible and your volunteers at the rest stops did all they could to make us comfortable. Super variety of munchies and drinks - I must have eaten 20 of the chocolate peanut butter cookies. "
Rick Melanson
Birmingham, AL
"I had a great first experience with the Cheaha Challenge! I thought all the support was great, from support vechicles to volunteers. I also thought it was awesome that showers & food were provided--that is a BIG plus for events like this. I would like to see it turn into a bike RACE instead of a Ride though..., maybe a stage race weekend, with the Crit Saturday & Road Race Sunday..? It was Great! Thanks. "
Monica Emory
Biloxi, MS
"Great Ride! Pls order the same weather next year WITHOUT the rain and wind (unless it's a tailwind)! The cool temperature was WONDERFUL. "
SY
Birmingham, AL
"A great ride. The volunteers were the best of any I have ever seen. You had so many people who would hold your bike, get you water, etc., etc. Only suggestion would be for the persons handing out bananas, if they could cut the top to get it started would have been even more helpful. But certainly that is not a complaint because this was the best run ride of any I have ever been on. Thanks a bunch and I will give you a call the next time I am up to see if you are riding that weekend. Take care and thanks so much for a great weekend."
Vic McMurray
Baton Rouge, LA
"I rode Cheaha for the first time. It was wonderfrul!!! Fantastic support. Great rest stops. The route was scenic and extremely challenging. I needed to be better prepared for the steepness of the hills. I ride hills (like the 3-Gap ride in Georgia), but nothing as steep as those! The ride kicked my tail! But I plan to be back next year if you promise not to have 25 mph headwinds! Thanks for great ride! "
Bobby Rone
Atlanta, Georgia
"Thanks for everyone's hard work to put on the ride yesterday. Even though the weather didn't cooperate, the staff & volunteers were outstanding. At one SAG coming back the kids working ran out of bread and started splitting the bananas and putting peanut butter in the middle then sticking the banana back together. Now that's problem solving at it's best. My wife & I and 3 friends enjoyed the ride although it was rather tough after doing the century in Chattanooga the day before. Please thank everyone again who volunteered to come out and help in that weather! "
Gary Pickett
Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department
"Although the weather did not cooperate fully, it could have been worse. Thank you for putting on a very nice event and please thank the volunteers who were uniformly cheerful, helpful and encouraging. "
Robert Wason
Birmingham, AL
"Best organized ride I have ridden. Thanks a lot. "
JHW
"Just wanted you to know how much I enjoyed the Cheaha Challenge Sunday. It will be one I will never forget! Your group of volunteers did a great job in tough conditions. I never felt in need or concerned about anything. Each rest stop had an update on the weather and were just great. We, my wife and I, really appreciate all you do for us cyclist. You have a first class event. The best in the state for sure. Thanks again for this event and all you do for us. I wish you would do one in the fall with the same course. "
Kent Scroggins
"The 2004 Cheaha Challege should go down in the record books as a truly EPIC event...
- A great pasta party (the craydish dish was awesome)
- A well run and attended Downtown Crit
- Early morning rains that tested the dedication of even the most "dedicated"
- Assending into the clouds as we entered the Talladega Mountains
- Bone chilling decents and the never ending "break your heart and legs" climbs
- Head winds returning on State 9 that only a wind surfer would love
- Hot showers and nourishing food at day's end
Gary Falls
Northport, Alabama
"This was my first time doing the Challenge. Obviously, the weather conditions made it even more of a challenge than I thought it would be! You all did a fantastic job. I was very impressed with the attitude and helpfulness of the volunteers, for whom staying in bed would have been a much warmer, drier option. I was also impressed by the AL State Trooper presence throughout the course, particularly when returning on Highway 9. My wife and I also enjoyed the Saturday nite festivities, and were really happy to be around such enthusiastic fellow bicycling folks. Thanks for putting on a truly Top Notch production. "
John Hess
Marietta, Georgia
"Great ride! Excellent scenery. Wonderful volunteers. Outstanding support! Just cut out thta darn headwind! "
Bobby Rone
Atlanta, Georgia
"To all the participants in the Cheaha Challenge: Let me extend my personal appreciation to each of you for participating in the Cheaha Challenge. Whether you rode the entire route or one of the shorter distances, the weather made it tough for all. The NEABC works hard to ensure that your visit to our community is enjoyable and we are proud to be associated with them. We look forward to working with the members of our Public-Safety and the NEABC each year as they host this great event. Once again, thanks and we hope you had a great experience in Calhoun County. "
Jerry W. Jackson, Director-Calhoun County 9-1-1
Anniston, Alabama
"This was truly a challenge for me. Having come to this type of riding late, in March 2004 with my first metric, I had no idea of what to expect. I had heard stories but they didn't do the course justice, in my opinion. I wish I could say that the weather was the reason that I was only able to complete 66 miles, but it wasn't. I was not physically or psychologically up to the last two mountains. That is the definition of "challenge" and next year I hope to be up to it. Thanks for a wonderfully staffed and planned event. I cannot think of anything that could have been done to improve the experience. Even the weather will be a rich part of my memories of the CHEAHA! Thanks to all!! "
Paul Bullock
Pensacola, Florida
"You guys did an awesome job under unbelievably tough weather conditions. Kudos. Thanks to all the volunteers. As far as the course, this was my first year and all I can say is "AWESOME!!!!" As for the weather, what can you say? That was as bad a day in May as we've had in Alabama in a while, but it just gives us more colorful imagery to utilize in our descriptions of our "epic conquest" of the mountain and the elements! Take care and I plan to see you next year."
Todd Gerelds
"Great Job!! I don't think you could have done better. Every one was helpful and friendly and the rest stops were stocked as well as some grocery stores in Birmingham. The SAG teams appeared to reach broken down cyclist by the time they were off the road. Now, if you would do something about the weather for next year. Thanks for all your hard work. "
David Tosch
Birmingham, AL
"What a great day and at the same time what a challenge due to the weather. You guys are the bomb, to pull off the ride in those conditions was just amazing. What is more amazing were the rest stops and the folks there who kept food and water going for those riding. I do want to also mention the men and women who feed us lunch, they always had a smile and words of encouragement. I will see you again next year and hope to get my friends back to your ride, a few bailed this year. God Bless, "
Chris