Online registration for the 5/26/12 Clarksville Annual Rotary Metric is open (online registration $30 prior to 5/25/12, $40 on day of event). I'm thinking of trying the 62-mile route. Anybody else plan on participating?

http://www.bikethecram.com/

Kelly,

The CRAM is a good ride to do your first metric century....it is flat, well supported, and has beautiful scenery thru southern KY!!! Several members always do this ride.

I've had multiple people in the club tell me to start in Clarksville. I'm hoping to do the metric in May and up my game and do the full century in September. I'm all about goals! I'm glad to hear others usually go out and participate in this...it's always nice to have company on the long rides!

I did my first full century in clarksville last fall. Assuming Spring is set up as well with same route, very flat, and rest stops about every 15 miles with food, drink, and porta potty. My goal is the HOT 100 this year, but if I wimp out (due to hills, my weakness), will definitely do the fall century again. planning on tour de boro metric in april, then either CRAM metric or century, or harpeth following weekend (I did 44 mile harpeth last year), and both of these are a week before tour de nash (did 29 last year) - busy May! . just my 2 cents worth, and possibly more... sorry if too much info

Never too much info! Clarksville has been recommended to me multiple times as a good place to start due to the relatively flat route as compared to starting with something more local which would be a double challenge - distance plus hills. I've read some reviews about the spring CRAM and it seems like a lot of people say it's less well-organized than the Sunshine Century in September, but they all would still go back anyway because they like the route. Thanks for your input!

Kelly, the toughest part of the CRAM (Memorial Day weekend) or Sunrise Century (Labor Day weekend) is the last 5-6 miles. The routes are the same for both ride weekends. The last 5-6 miles you're on a 5 lane road (with really wide shoulders and no shade) through an industrial area. You're going slightly uphill. The 3 times I've done the ride in Clarksville the wind blows pretty strongly in your face coming back in. Once you're off of that road it gets easier again but you're back on 2 lane Rossview road near the school where you started. Traffic will have picked up quite a bit by the time you reach this point and you're crossing over the interstate so extra care is required.

With all of that said it's a great ride. I enjoyed doing three times and I will do it again. I likely will not do the Cram as I will probably go ATV riding instead.

Bill