Skyway Beer Run: FAQs

WTF? Who's in charge of this?

no one
This is just a group event with a bunch of people that are into this sort of thing.
If you have a great idea to make the event better, go for it. If it's really good, it'll stick.

Why is there a date range *and* a single date for the Skyway Beer Run?

Skyway Beer Run is always the first full Wednesday through Sunday following Valentines Day, with the "big ride day" being on the Saturday of that date range. For any given year, find V-day on the calendar, then go forward until you come to the first Wednesday. That's when Skyway Beer Run officially starts.
The date range is for an entire Cheaha & Talladega National Forest experience. We set up camp, learn to appreciate having very little cell signal, ride bikes whenever and wherever we feel like it, grill out daily, collect firewood, mill about, drink beer and enjoy some of the best scenery Alabama has to offer. You won't regret taking off work and joining us early to unwind and experience the Skyway Beer Run to the fullest!
The single date is the Saturday of the big ride. *If* you absolutely cannot join us for the overall Cheaha TNF camping experience, just come when you can and at least do the big ride. It's an epic experience all by itself!

Is the big ride day a race?

only if you want it to be
no
The people bringing up the rear would appreciate if you don't drink all the beer before they get back.

What if I don't know anyone?

You will by the time it's over.
Bring several people from your local group. This event is growing and people are starting to come from all over.

What are the route options?

Check out the routes page.
Choose from a short but beautiful out and back of only 10 miles on smooth gravel to an epic 102 mile route with 11,000 ft of climbing

What is the weather typically like?

The average temperature in the Cheaha area during this time of year is 66 high/43 low.
It may be warmer or colder. There may be rain, snow, sleet or tornadoes. Or it may be perfect with clear, blue skies. Be prepared to face any kind of weather.
This is a loosely coordinated get-together/group ride, but no one is in charge. There are those who live for dangerous expeditions and those who have limited previous experience. If the weather threatens to turn severe or conditions are dangerous, you're expected to use common sense and only do what you know you're prepared for and have experience with. In some cases, the right decision would be to stay put and just enjoy Cheaha and the immediately surrounding area.

What is the terrain like?

What bike should I ride?

whatever bike you own that can handle the terrain
Mountain bikes with 2.0 tires or larger and front suspension are most common.
If you plan to ride a CX bike with a rigid front fork, you should probably already be familiar with these roads and have experience on this type of terrain. Know what you're getting into. There are some rough sections several miles in length.

What gear and supplies should I bring on the ride?

headlight and taillight (It may be dark the last few miles of your ride.)
GPS with your route loaded
spare battery or external battery with charging cable for your phone
spare tire or flat kit
mini-pump or CO2 kit
multi-tool
chain link
food (200-300 calories per hour)
Bring all the food you would need for 6-8 hours on the bike (or longer if you are doing one of the longest routes).
water (2-3 liters) and consider a water filter if you are a long-distance rider
gatorade or some source of electrolytes
In case of very cold or cold and wet weather, be sure you have all appropriate clothing and layers from head to toe.

Are there any water sources on the route?

There's a water spigot at the church on the corner of Horns Lake Rd and Skyline Drive.
Talladega Creek is a short distance from that church, near the southern end of 600-2.
Depending on the amount of recent rainfall, there may be standing pools of relatively clear filterable water on the rocky portions of 600-1 and 600-2.
There are a couple of creek crossings on the segments between Sylaward and Bull's Gap, and one on 637.
There are sinks in the restrooms at Cheaha Lake.

Where do I camp?

Cheaha State Park Upper Campground
Book your Upper Campground site by clicking the appropriate link on this page: https://www.alapark.com/parks/cheaha-state-park
There is always a campsite reserved and used as the group hangout site, but reserve your spot anywhere you like in campground.
There's also a hotel and a number of cabins/chalets at Cheaha if you prefer.

What gear and supplies should I bring to camp?

tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, pillow, etc. (Be sure your bag and pad are rated for the expected low temperatures.)
folding camp or tailgate-style chair
a variety of food for yourself and to share
Saturday evening is a particularly big pot-luck style dinner. Bring whatever you'd like to share.
Plates, utensils, cups, napkins, etc.
charcoal and lighter, or a camp stove and fuel, depending on what you plan to cook
There are water spigots and electrical outlets at the campsites. Most campsites (but not all) have charcoal grills.
firewood (We go though plenty at the main hangout campsite, so your firewood contributions are welcome.)
plenty of good Craft Beer for yourself and to share. No Bud/Miller/Coors.

Will there be aid stations?

What if I get hurt, sick or stranded?

If you get seriously injured or ill, like you have a compound fracture or are experiencing hypothermia, absolutely the best thing to do is call 911. Emergency calls from within the Talladega National Forest are routed to rescue teams that are experienced on these forest service roads and have the vehicles necessary to get to you and get you out.
If you bonk and just can't go much further, or have a mechanical breakdown, there are typically generous souls available at camp who will get in a car and come pick you up, but you should try to get to one of the "gaps" which have paved roads that cross our route (Bull's Gap, Porter Gap, Clairmont Gap, Adam's Gap - see the Google Map).

How well do cell phones work in the Talladega National Forest?

Smart-phone GPS applications like Strava, MapMyRide and Ride with GPS work well.
Run your phone on airplane mode to save the battery. GPS will still work well.
Cell reception is spotty. You can stand in one spot and not have any signal, but 5 minutes later there's a little signal.
In some places, cell reception is decent. But it won't be anything like what you're used to at home, and it'll be this way the whole weekend. Consider this a gift to be cherished.
Outgoing text messages tend to get queued and go out whenever the signal permits.
Likewise, you may get several emails or text messages all at once that were sent to you an hour ago.

What can I do to help?

This is a group event. No one is in charge. There are simply people who have felt the desire to contribute what they can toward making this a good time.
If you are really asking this question, the answer is do what you do best. Everyone pitches in to make it all happen.
If you have any special skills or would like to do any particular thing, just do it.
Want to offer some special dish or beverage? Please do.
Make a big pot of coffee any given morning? That'll be much appreciated!
Want to volunteer to pick someone up who has bonked or broken down? You're awesome!
Want to bring extra firewood? We go through alot, especially if it's really cold at night, so thank you!
Photos and video contributions are welcome!

Any other questions?