04/19/26 UPDATE – POSTPONED TBA. It looks like I will have both gravel bikes in the shop next weekend. I will post a new date soon.

Weather: to be updated the Monday and Wednesday prior.

Park at the gravel drive between Clanton Chevron and McKinnon Nissan in Clanton and take a picture with the big Peach. Sunrise is 5:46am and Sunset is 7:39pm. Roll any time, but hopefully we can call 6:am-ish mass rollout. This ride is self-supported; each person is responsible for themselves. There are no course markings. Follow laws.

Download The Route:  https://ridewithgps.com/routes/49288201

The route has queues for 15 water or store stops spaced abundantly. None are guaranteed. Review them carefully. A little research goes a long way. You can try to do it all in one day or camp overnight. The best place to camp would be anywhere in the Oakmulgee National Forest, which you will enter at mile 146.

Now let’s talk about this dirt. The first 100 miles, or the eastern side of the route, is some of the best hard packed red clay roads on earth. There is a perfect mixture of sand in the clay that drains incredibly well, giving it maximum grip on your tires when it is wet.

However, if it rains a lot, the second 100 miles is really gonna suck. Welcome to the Oakmulgee District of the Talladega National Forest. There is far less sand in the clay in the western half of the route, and it will turn into peanut butter when absolutely soaked. After a mild rain, I would not be concerned. After a downpour, you may have to walk a few miles and bring a paint stick to keep your cassette clear.

Pics and words from the last attempt: https://alabamacyclingcalendar.com/11-15-25-the-big-peach-round-2/

And from the one before that: https://alabamacyclingcalendar.com/05-24-25-peach-bike-packing-200/