The Shoals 3 State Ride is a premier cycling event held in "The Shoals" for the 4th year. It is the same as the Handy 100 bike ride of years past, but now it's much cooler weather and more ride options!  The ride begins and ends at scenic McFarland Park on the banks of the Tennessee River near downtown Florence, Alabama.  Distance options of  21, 39, 61, 70, 108, and 128 miles are available to suit riders of all ability levels.  The route goes North into Tennessee further than in previous years all the way to Collinwood. This puts the ride into the ULTRA category, and we hope that it encourages more folks to go the distance!

The Ride starts at 7 am from McFarland for the long-distance riders with a police-escorted mass start down Savannah Highway. Please be ready to leave at this time if you are doing the traditional route. If you are opting to park at a designated parking area and ride from there, you will still need your BIB NUMBER on your person to be part of this ride, and we ask that you don't start until after 8 AM to give our aid stations time to set up.  Bib numbers and pre-order shirts will be available as early as  6 AM on the day of the event. 

The 61, 70, 108, and 128-mile routes include a significant amount of mileage on the beautiful Natchez Trace Parkway, which is a Federal Park with a 50 mph speed limit and no commercial vehicles.  The roads are in excellent condition but do not have a wide shoulder.  Traffic is light.  No dogs to chase; you may see various wildlife including turkeys, foxes, deer, turtles, and a wide variety of birds.  

Visit Shoals3stateride.com for more information or to register.

Online registration deadline is Sept 29.