“RIDE THE PLAINS,” a road ride, beginning in Strawberry Plains, TN, travels the back roads of Jefferson County and is a benefit ride for Rush Strong School.  Rush Strong is a Kingergarten-8^th grade public school which provides a quality education for the children of the Strawberry Plains/New Market area of Jefferson County.  The ride is being conducted through RACE DAY EVENTS www.racedayevents.net , which does several rides in and around Knoxville, TN.  Visit their website for details of this and the other rides they provide.

         There are four rides to choose from:   30, 50, 62, and 75  mile rides, which have been planned to provide an enjoyable day on the bike.  The 30 mile ride is relatively flat except for one challenging hill.  The 50, 62, and 75 milers are more challenging, but still flatter than many East Tennessee rides.  The cue sheets are available online at the RACE DAY EVENTS website.  This being the third year, we anticipate 250 - 300 riders!

• Registration begins at 6:30 a.m. 
• All rides begin 8:30 am

• Rest stops will be provided on all rides approximately 20 miles apart.  Rush Strong Staff is providing the  food for rest stops (bananas, oranges, energy bars, fig newtons, pb&j sandwiches, etc.).  Race Day Events is furnishing the water and Gatorade. 

• SAG vehicles will be available to “sweep the routes” in case cyclists need help.  We may have a bicycle mechanic at the Talbott School rest stop, but we may have some riders who decide to “sag- in" in a vehicle. 

1.  Talbott Elementary:  This rest stop will be used by all of the

 rides except the 30 mile one.  Will be open from 10:00-2:00.  There will be 3-4 people working this rest stop at a time. 

2.  Rocky Valley Baptist Church:  This rest stop will be used by

all of the rides and will be open from 10:00 until  ???

3.  Chestnut Grove Methodist Church:  This rest stop will only

be used by the 75 mile riders and will not need to be open for as long.

4.  An additional rest stop for the 75 mile may be scheduled.

• POST-RIDE LUNCH:  We will be serving Buddy’s Barbecue again this year!  YUM!  RSS staff will help prepare the sandwiches, serve, etc.  We will probably start serving at 11:00 for the fast riders.  We will serve until everyone is back.  (Probably until 3:00.)  You may visit the school’s website at http://jc-schools.net/rss/

        Come enjoy “the Plains and beyond” and help Rush Strong School.  This has become an annual event, scheduled on the last Saturday each April . 

       For more information or if you would like to volunteer to help with the event, go to the RACE DAY EVENTS website or contact Chris Vineyard, the Assistant Principal Rush Strong School, at 865.933.5313.

       The Strawberry Plains community can help with this event by being aware that there will be 200+ bicycles on the roads of Jefferson County on Saturday, April 28th.  Please keep you dogs inside or tied up.   If you ride horses on Saturday morning, be aware that the bicycles may frighten them.  Be courteous to the cyclists and show them the Strawberry Plains hospitality for which we are known.