ITT SERIES | Tennessee Gravel

Three Rivers ITT Series

The Three Rivers Individual Time Trial Series is comprised of three incredibly scenic and challenging routes created by Kim Murrell - each in a different river region - that allow you to push your limits on your own clock!

Click on the logos below for downloadable route maps. (Please ignore the road surface designations provided by Ride With GPS, as they are significantly underestimated by Ride With GPS.)

PLEASE NOTE:

The road that climbs up from the Hiwassee River to the base of Buck Bald (roughly miles 78-81 on the DIRTY 130) has been impacted by a landslide and is considered "impassable" by the forest service. No estimated completion date has been given, but the road is expected to be blocked through at least April. This landslide effectively puts the DIRTY 130 out of business through the spring.
There are a number of aggressive dogs on Bailey Road (shortly after Buck Bald) on the DIRTY 130. If you have trouble with these dogs, please notify the Polk County Sheriff's Office. The more reports they receive, the better chances we have of pressuring the owners to fence the dogs.

Death March Revival

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE ROUTE MAP

93 Miles / 12,000 Feet

Dirty 130

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE ROUTE MAP

130 Miles / 14,000 Feet

Tellico Highlands

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE ROUTE MAP

85 Miles / 10,000 Feet

To get a feel for what these ITT challenges are like, check out the documentary shorts below. "Fastest Known Time" is a film about Pete Stetina and Heather Jackson's attempts at the FKT for the Dirty 130, and "A Couple of Screws Loose" follows Matt Schweiker and Luke Swab on their three-day adventure riding all three of our ITT challenges back-to-back-to-back, including the distances between ride starts!

DETAILS

Each ITT season ends on Dec 31st.

Registration

Riding the routes is free anytime and you do not have to register before you ride. However, you do need to have your ride verified after you've completed the ride in order to get on the leaderboard. (Use the verification form below.) After we have verified your ride, we'll post your time on the leaderboard.

Deadlines

The leaderboards for each time trial reset annually on January 1st.

Swag

ITT finishers can pick up a commemorative sticker, pint glass, t-shirt or hat with the route logos at Fireside Outpost, which also makes a great homebase for launching your rides. Please contact Kim Murrell at kim@veloviewbiketours.com to arrange for a time to pick up the swag. Supplies are limited, and when they're gone, they're gone!

Liability

We're offering these routes as a free service and in no way assume any liability for your experience in choosing to ride them.

Support & Wayfinding

All of the time trials are self-supported. It is imperative that you familiarize yourself with each route prior to attempting the rides and that you prepare a nutrition & hydration plan. Please note that there is almost no signage on the routes.

Ride Reports

To a get a sense of what it's like to ride these routes and to see what bikes & tires past riders have used, check out all of the firsthand accounts on our Ride Reports page.

Instagram

Stay up to date on time trial finishers, course conditions, and other news by following @TennesseeGravel on Instagram!

PARKING

Please note the location and conditions of each ITT start/finish.

Death March Revival

The route starts and ends at Thunder Rock Campground. Parking is free next to the campground (do not park in designated campsites), and pit toilets are available. Click here for more information about Thunder Rock Campground.

Tellico Highlands

The route starts and ends at Oosterneck Overlook. There is no fee to park there, but there are also no facilities. It is simply a pullout at the base of the Cherohala Skyway. If you're looking for a bathroom, stop at the Cherohala Skyway Visitors Center or the Cherohala Market in Tellico Plains.

Dirty 130

The route starts and finishes at the intersection of Hwy 30 & Kimsey Mountain Hwy. Parking is available just around the corner from the start at Mona's Antiques. Please park away from the front door off to the left. Click here for a location map. Please note:

1. There are no restrooms available.
2. Use caution when riding on Hwy 30 as traffic may be moving fast.
3. Mona's Antiques is not responsible for theft or damage to vehicles or content.
4. Mona's Antiques is owned by the same people who run Hall's Store which is right at the start of the route, so please thank them for their generosity in allowing us to park there by purchasing some snacks and drinks.

RULES

The ITTs are all about self-sufficiency and a level playing field.

To be eligible for a recorded time and placement on the Leaderboard, you must abide by the following rules:

1. You must take a picture of your bike computer right before you start and right after you finish. The pictures need to show the time of day and the mileage on the same screen. Please see the examples below.

2. Each ITT requires you to take a selfie at a certain location. DIRTY 130: Buck Bald. DMR: Bear Creek Overlook. TELLICO HIGHLANDS: Indian Boundary Lake.

3. DIRTY 130 RIDERS: Do not use the railroad bridge to cross the creek! Crossing on the railroad bridge will result in automatic disqualification. If you are concerned that it may not be safe to cross the creek, contact us for a bypass option.

4. The route must be ridden in one unbroken stage.

5. No drafting at any time.

6. No stashed caches along the route.

7. No sharing supplies between riders.

8. No outside assistance with navigation.

9. No motorized transport or hitch-hiking. You must complete the route under your own power.

10. No support crews. You can only receive support from local businesses on-site during their normal business hours.

11. You are allowed to leave the official route at any time as long as you return to the route within 100 feet of the point that you left the route.

12. You must have a contingency plan in place before you start the ride in case of emergency or if you need to quit. You are responsible for your own safety and well-being out there.

TRAIL MAGIC: Trail Magic is an unexpected occurrence that lifts a rider's spirits and inspires awe and gratitude. During an ITT, obtaining an item from another person can only be unsolicited and accidental. Otherwise, the receipt of assistance or supplies by individuals when it's not available to all riders reflects a lack of self sufficiency which renders an effort not self-supported. In short, you can't ask for Trail Magic. You can only pray for it!