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Wells Fargo Advisors presents...
20th Annual
Cheaha Challenge Century
A Gran Fondo
Earth Day
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Piedmont Civic Center
Piedmont, Alabama
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Plan to join us in 2012!
Ride Price: $50.00 until March 18th, 11:59 PM Pacific time. $60.00 thereafter.
as selected by the Alabama Bureau of Tourism & Travel
in 2006, 2010, and 2012
- Arrive early on Friday and enjoy a FREE healthy dinner at Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers. Enjoy great food, music, and beer. Many of the pro teams racing in the Saturday criterium will be there too.
- Warm up your legs and ride the Chief Ladiga Rail Trail on Saturday morning. This famous paved trail has no hills and stretches from north Anniston, through Jacksonville and Piedmont all the way to the Georgia line (33 miles) where it connects to the Silver Commet Trail. Plan to be in downtown Anniston around lunch-time to enjoy the all-day Noble Street Festival (tons of good food, bike races, huge kid zone, live music, original bike sculpture, running race, and much more). The festival concludes with the Pro Men's race. This race features the nation's top pro teams, begins at twilight, includes over 100 pros racing at 40 mph, and concludes under the streetlights of downtown around 9 p.m.
- Get up Sunday morning and head to Piedmont early for the free breakfast and then ride Cheaha!
- Finish your ride and enjoy an incredible post-ride meal provide by Classic on Noble, one of the finest restaurants in our county. Also check out the vendors offering cycling-related stuff.
- Pop some Advil and either head back to your hotel to crash, or do rock, scissors, paper to see who has to drive home.
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as one of the 100 best climbs in the U.S.!
"Once again a great ride. Blasted out with a large group of about 60 and we were moving right along. That is until just after the 2nd stop when the road went up. Then things got a little more serious and riders started spreading out everywhere. I stopped at the 3rd rest stop and had great fun joking, taking pictures, and talking with everyone. To everyone on the ride a big thank you to another great day on the bike. Thank you to Mike Poe for the invitation, I always brag about what a great ride the Cheaha Challenge is."
Frankie Andreu
Motor City
"The Cheaha Challenge was the icing on the cake! We spent the whole weekend up in Anniston/Piedmont and had a blast. Spent all day Saturday at the festival and did the Challenge on Sunday. Everyone was extremely friendly from the hotels and restuarants. The Challenge itself was the best ride I've ever done. Everyone was so "into" it. People along the course and at the rest stops really cared, and that made all the difference. Thank you to all and can't wait till next year!"
Paul Logan
Shalimar, FL
"I'd like to thank ALL the volunteers who make the Cheaha Challenge possible. Their warmth and friendliness is what keeps me driving from Northeast Tennessee year after year to do the ride. Keep up the good work!"
Richard Carter
Kingsport, Tennessee
"Definitely one of the best rides in the south! The steady climb includes several rolling hills making this one of the most challenging courses I have ridden. The staff and volunteers did an excellent job organizing this ride. Best of all, there was very little traffic and several police and support vehicles thought the course. Thanks to everyone involved for putting together an excellent event. I will definitely be back next year!"
Jeff Pilato
Atlanta, GA
"This was my second year for me and my son-in-law ride the Cheaha Challenge. We come over early Saturday afternoon to enjoy the Noble Street Festival and bike racing. The Cheaha Challenge is the best organized ride I do each year. Great volunteers and a beautiful route which is difficult but very rewarding. We will be back next year."
Don Hall
Dunwoody, GA
Arrive Saturday with the whole family and enjoy the Noble Street Festival in Anniston. Downtown streets are closed for this annual event, featuring bike races, 12 restaurants serving from tents in the closed streets, live music, art, and lots for children in the Kids Zone. More than 5,000 attendees enjoy this event, selected a Top 10 Event in Alabama in 2006, 2010, and again in 2012.
Known for its tremendous community support, the Cheaha Challenge benefits the Chief Ladiga Trail-Alabama's longest rail trail. The Northeast Alabama Bicycle Club has donated more than $22,000 to this wonderful project.
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FREE High Speed Wireless internet access will be available at the Piedmont Civic Center, the Start/Finish of the ride. Bring your laptop and stay connected as you wait for friends to finish the ride. Available on the first floor of the building and under the shadetree next to the the Finish line.