When: Saturday, May 15, 2010—during May Family Camp
Where: leave from the IHOP Parking Lot in Tuscaloosa, AL
Time: 5:30 a.m., ride brief at 5:45 a.m., leave promptly at 6:00 a.m.
The 150 mile bike course travels through 6 counties: Tuscaloosa, Bibb, Chilton, Coosa, Tallapoosa, and Elmore and all the hills in between—it is very challenging to say the least. This is not a ride for a beginner but can be the ride for a novice/elite cyclist. Due to the length of the ride we maintain a 15-16 mph pace on a very hilly course. The ride will take approx. 10-12 hours to complete. Many cyclists do this ride that could ride much faster and some that can’t maintain this pace—15-16 mph is a comfortable in between experience level pace.
THIS IS A GROUP RIDE—we help support and encourage one another—that is what Camp SAM is all about to these kids and their families. Group riding experience is encouraged since riding in a group this large (ROL 2004 had 58 cyclists) is not like riding by yourself. You have to pay very close attention to what’s going on. We do have a lead rider who maintains group integrity and sets the pace—this rider is not to be passed! We also have a sweep rider who maintains group integrity by not allowing us to slow down or get too spread out due to cyclists unable to maintain the 15-16 mph pace. There is also a sag wagon in the motorcade for those riders who are not able to maintain the 15-16 mph pace. This is a very safe ride that is highly supported especially by the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s dept. and we even have a NorthStar Ambulance to take care of any medical needs who provide an escort the entire way. You must make a commitment to properly prepare for this ride. It is a challenging ride in many ways but we’re choosing our challenge, the kids at Camp SAM don’t get to pick their challenge—cancer.
You must have a ride to the ROL start and you must have a ride at the Camp SAM site to pick you up once the ride is over. Involve your friends and family—have them there to cheer you on…..and then after the ROL is over everyone is invited to have dinner with the children and their families. It is an experience that you will all treasure.
We will leave from the IHOP Parking Lot and travel down Highway 82 to Centreville then at:
Mile 31 Stop 1 Texaco
Mile 35 left CR 20
Mile 46 right Hwy 139S
Mile 46 left CR 36
Mile 52 right Hwy 191S
Mile 56 left CR 15
Mile 56 Stop 2 Mulberry Bapt. Church
Mile 57 left CR 29
Mile ~65 left CR 37 (NO SIGN)
Mile 65 right CR 53
Mile 67 left Hwy 22
Mile 69 rt. Hwy 145N (stay on 145N)
Mile ~73 Stop 3 BP/Subway
Mile 74 right CR 55
Mile ~78 right, stay on CR 55
Mile 93 right CR 56 (NO SIGN)
Mile ~97 straight, stay on CR 56
Mile ~98 left, stay on CR 56 (NO SIGN)
Mile 102 right, Hwy 231
Mile ~106 Stop 4 Toodlums Quick Stop
Mile ~111 straight, on CR 49 (cross Hwy 280)
Mile ~114 right Hwy 511
Mile 118 at Goodwater go straight through traffic light
Mile ~118.5 left at stop sign/cross rr tracks(Hackneyville St.)
Mile ~119.5 right CR 85 (sign off road)
Mile ~124.5 left onto CR 48
Mile 128 right Pearson Chapel Rd.
Mile ~131.5 left Washington Rd.
Mile 133 right Hwy 22 (NO SIGN)
Mile ~134 left Hwy 280
Mile ~134.5 Stop 5 Citgo Left out of Citgo onto Elkahatchee Rd.
Mile ~142.5 right Hwy 63/Our Children’s Hwy.
Mile ~152 Camp SAM
Each scheduled stop is short(~10 min.), the only exception is lunch and we will stop for ~30 minutes.
Lodging information
There are 3 hotel/motels near the IHOP:
Courtyard by Marriot(205) 750-8384
4115 Courtney Drive, Tuscaloosa, AL 35405
Fairfield Inn (205) 366-0900
4101 Courtney Drive, Tuscaloosa AL 35405
Directions to the Courtyard and Fairfield Inn:
travel I-59 S take Exit #71A (Hwy. 69 S), at the traffic light take a left, take left at IHOP and follow the road around.
Jameson Inn (205)345-5024
5021 Oscar Baxter Drive, Tuscaloosa, AL 35405
Same directions as above but take a right at the traffic light on Hwy 69S.
