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Here's my lengthy photo report of the 2008 3-State 3-Mountain Challenge, 3 May 2008. (Cross posted here, photo gallery here).
The day started dark and early at 4:45 a.m. As I munched down my breakfast plate of waffle fries, I flipped on the Weather Channel to see if the forecasted rain had materialized. Indeed it had, as a solid line of showers was moving into Middle Tennessee. The question was not if it was going to rain, but how much it would rain.
I don't particularly enjoy cycling in the rain, so I considered skipping the event. But I had already paid and prepared for it. So, buoyed by a sense of adventure, or stupidity, I loaded up the car and headed down I-75.
Other than a near-miss with a deer on the highway, the drive went well for the first hour or so. But as I crested a ridge south of Cleveland, I caught the ominous sign of dark clouds on the western horizon. And then as I came off the ridge descending to downtown Chattanooga, I was greeted by a couple flashes of lightning lighting up the valley.
Sure enough, rain started pelting my windshield just a few minutes before I exited the highway. It would have been difficult to coordinate the ironic timing any better.
I parked at Finely Stadium and went to pick up my registration packet. Based upon the number of empty spots in the parking lot, there were obviously many no-shows among the 2,400 riders who had registered. But there were still a good number of cyclists huddled under nearby shelters.
At the registration table, the volunteer informed me that due to weather, the start time had been delayed (half an hour) until 8:30 a.m. Organizers hoped that once the overhead line of thunderstorms passed, conditions would be better for riding. I was running a bit behind, so the delay actually worked out well for me.
By 8:30 a.m. the storm front had passed over and the rain had tapered down almost to a drizzle.
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At the start line. Cyclists, start your engines.
Just after the start, the rain picked up again. Because of the wet conditions, I didn't take any pictures the first 25 miles. This year organizers altered the route through Chattanooga. Instead of going directly through downtown, we followed the Riverfront Parkway to the Tennessee Aquarium, then made a couple turns and up onto the TN 27 bridge.
The rain held steady for about 10 miles. It wasn't heavy, but it was enough to slow me down. More importantly, since I wasn't wearing rain gear, I was wet and chilly (bordering on cold) the first three hours. That wasn't fun.
By and large the rain ceased by the time I reached Suck Creek Mountain. It remained cool and damp for a few more hours, but the showers were gone.
The climb up Suck Creek Mountain went well. I found a good rhythm and chugged five miles uphill. I was kind of glad for the climb, because I thought it would help me warm up.
I didn't feel to confident with my wet brakes, so I took it slow coming down Suck Creek Mountains. Several riders blew by me. They must have better brakes.
I did not look at the cue sheet prior to the ride, so I was surprised not to see the first rest stop at its former spot at Powell's Crossroads. Ride organizers changed a couple rest stop locations this year, which made me feel a bit disoriented.
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Ketner Mill Road
Finally, and unexpectedly, I arrived at the first rest stop.
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Rest stop at Ketner's Mill
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River at Ketner's Mill
I was shivering at the mill, but thereafter I gradually began to dry out and warm up. But gusting winds remained a factor for several hours.
![]()
Countryside along TN 27
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TVA Road
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Rest stop at Big Shot Bubba's Fireworks
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Food at Big Shot Bubba's Fireworks rest stop
![]()
Tennessee River (Nickajack Lake) at Marion County Park
Continued in next post . . .
The day started dark and early at 4:45 a.m. As I munched down my breakfast plate of waffle fries, I flipped on the Weather Channel to see if the forecasted rain had materialized. Indeed it had, as a solid line of showers was moving into Middle Tennessee. The question was not if it was going to rain, but how much it would rain.
I don't particularly enjoy cycling in the rain, so I considered skipping the event. But I had already paid and prepared for it. So, buoyed by a sense of adventure, or stupidity, I loaded up the car and headed down I-75.
Other than a near-miss with a deer on the highway, the drive went well for the first hour or so. But as I crested a ridge south of Cleveland, I caught the ominous sign of dark clouds on the western horizon. And then as I came off the ridge descending to downtown Chattanooga, I was greeted by a couple flashes of lightning lighting up the valley.
Sure enough, rain started pelting my windshield just a few minutes before I exited the highway. It would have been difficult to coordinate the ironic timing any better.
I parked at Finely Stadium and went to pick up my registration packet. Based upon the number of empty spots in the parking lot, there were obviously many no-shows among the 2,400 riders who had registered. But there were still a good number of cyclists huddled under nearby shelters.
At the registration table, the volunteer informed me that due to weather, the start time had been delayed (half an hour) until 8:30 a.m. Organizers hoped that once the overhead line of thunderstorms passed, conditions would be better for riding. I was running a bit behind, so the delay actually worked out well for me.
By 8:30 a.m. the storm front had passed over and the rain had tapered down almost to a drizzle.
At the start line. Cyclists, start your engines.
Just after the start, the rain picked up again. Because of the wet conditions, I didn't take any pictures the first 25 miles. This year organizers altered the route through Chattanooga. Instead of going directly through downtown, we followed the Riverfront Parkway to the Tennessee Aquarium, then made a couple turns and up onto the TN 27 bridge.
The rain held steady for about 10 miles. It wasn't heavy, but it was enough to slow me down. More importantly, since I wasn't wearing rain gear, I was wet and chilly (bordering on cold) the first three hours. That wasn't fun.
By and large the rain ceased by the time I reached Suck Creek Mountain. It remained cool and damp for a few more hours, but the showers were gone.
The climb up Suck Creek Mountain went well. I found a good rhythm and chugged five miles uphill. I was kind of glad for the climb, because I thought it would help me warm up.
I didn't feel to confident with my wet brakes, so I took it slow coming down Suck Creek Mountains. Several riders blew by me. They must have better brakes.
I did not look at the cue sheet prior to the ride, so I was surprised not to see the first rest stop at its former spot at Powell's Crossroads. Ride organizers changed a couple rest stop locations this year, which made me feel a bit disoriented.
Ketner Mill Road
Finally, and unexpectedly, I arrived at the first rest stop.
Rest stop at Ketner's Mill
River at Ketner's Mill
I was shivering at the mill, but thereafter I gradually began to dry out and warm up. But gusting winds remained a factor for several hours.
Countryside along TN 27
TVA Road
Rest stop at Big Shot Bubba's Fireworks
Food at Big Shot Bubba's Fireworks rest stop
Tennessee River (Nickajack Lake) at Marion County Park
Continued in next post . . .
