Bicyclists gathering in Alabama for Cheaha Challenge

WELL, HAPPENING NOW, CYCLISTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD GATHERING FOR THE 30TH CHICHA CHALLENGE IN JACKSONVILLE, WVTM 13. JARVIS ROBERTSON IS THERE. WHILE RIDERS ARE PICKING UP PACKETS AND NUMBERS FOR THE RACE, THIS GROUP OF FRIENDS HAS BEEN RACING AGAINST ONE ANOTHER FOR YEARS. TO COME OUT HERE FOR A TRAINING RIDE, YOU END UP MAKING THREE NEW FRIENDS AND YOU KNOW EVERYONE’S HERE TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER. RIDERS ARE COMING FROM NINE DIFFERENT COUNTRIES AND 40 DIFFERENT STATES. THIS YEAR, ORGANIZERS EXPECT UPWARDS OF 1200 CYCLISTS. I REGISTERED FOR THIS RACE A FEW MONTHS AGO. I WAS GOING TO REGISTER LAST YEAR AND FAMILY THINGS CAME UP. SO I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT THIS YEAR AND MANY OF THEM THRIVE IN SETTINGS LIKE THIS. I LIKE IT. I’M JUST GOING TO TRY TO WIN A RACE. SO WHEN I WIN A RACE, I COULD I COULD RETIRE. HERE’S A LOOK AT THE ROUTE MAP. IT TRAVELS THROUGH CALHOUN COUNTY. IF THERE’S A CAR COMING, LITTLE DOTS SHOW UP SOME OF THE COURSE INVOLVES OPEN ROADS. OUR EVENT TOMORROW IS 12 MILES, ALMOST ALL OF WHICH IS ON THE CHIEF LADOGA TRAIL. SO BASICALLY CLOSED EXCEPT A DOG WALKERS AND SQUIRRELS. ARE YOU SCARED OF THE DOG WALKER? I’M SCARED OF THE SQUIRRELS. I ALMOST TOOK ONE OFF JUST NOW ON THE TRAINING TRAINING RIDE, BUT THOSE ON THE OPEN ROADS WILL HAVE TO SHARE THE ROADS WITH CARS. SO THAT MEANS DRIVERS WILL NEED TO BE EXTRA CAREFUL. THE CALHOUN COUNTY EMA POSTED THIS WARNING TO FACEBOOK, LETTING EVERYONE KNOW THERE WILL BE SOME ROAD CLOSURES AND DELAYS. THIS WEEKEND FOR THE CYCLISTS. THEY MUST FOLLOW SAFETY GUIDELINES IF YOU’RE IN THE MAIN GROUP, YOU’RE FINE. YOU’RE WITH 100 OTHER PEOPLE, YOU’RE BIGGER THAN A CAR. YOU WERE VERY, VERY VISIBLE. ONCE YOU GET SPIT OUT THE BACK, AS HAPPENS OFTEN, YOU’RE KIND OF ON YOUR OWN AT THAT POINT. YOU’RE OUT OF THE RACE AND YOU CAN KEEP YOUR STAY OVER TO THE RIGHT AND KEEP YOUR EYE ON WHERE THE CARS ARE TO BE ABLE TO RACE AGAIN. MOST I’VE DONE IS LIKE 52 IN A YEAR. YEAH, ABOUT THAT. IT’S ALMOST EVERY WEEKEND. JARVIS ROBERTS