Skill Level:

Intermediate/Advanced The length and hilliness of the ride requires some road riding experience and endurance. Stores are at frequent intervals along the route. 

Route Info:

• The ride departs from Leeds Memorial Park east on US 119.
• It follows US 78 for 7 miles out of town and turns onto Camp Winnataska Road. (Chevron Station at freeway exit.)
• Follow Camp Winnataska road for 7.8 miles where it ends at CR 27.
• Turn right onto CR 27 in Pleasant Grove.
• CR 27 turns into CR 55 at the St. Clair County line in 2 miles.
• Continue on CR 55 1.3 miles to the split with CR 43. (CR 43 is a shortcut to Vandiver.)
• Bear left on CR 55.
• Follow CR 55 3.5 miles into Sterrett.
• Sterrett One-Stop gas station is just after the merge on SR 25 on the left.
• Follow SR 25 for 6.4 miles until is Ts into US 231 near Vincent.
• Right on 231. Smith Grocery is on left before RR bridge.
• Pass under tracks. Right onto 83 at Vincent Middle School.
• Right onto 62 in 4.3 mi. Look for white house with red roof at turn.
• In 1.8 mi. turn right onto US 280
• First right in 0.6 mi. onto "Old" 280 (Westover Road)
• Right onto CR 55 in 4.3 miles. (Bob's Bait Barn gas station is .5 mi. left on 55 on the south side of US 280.)
• Left on SR 25 in Sterrett in 6.8 miles. (Sterrett One-Stop is on the right, again.)
• Left on SR 45.
• Follow CR 45 3.2 miles into Vandiver.
• Right onto CR 43. Gas station on the left at corner of CR 43 and SR 25.
• Left onto SR 25.
• Follow SR 25 for 7 miles over two big climbs.
• Sharp left at the bottom of the second descent onto Elliot Lane. (Look for old Lance Armstrong Foundation century markings.)
• Follow Elliot Lane 1.6 miles until it ends on US 119.
• Right on US 119. 1.5 miles back to Leeds Memorial Park.

 

Variations:

7-Mile Beginner Loop - Turn right onto SR 25 (Dunnavant Road) just past downtown and the railroad tracks from US 78. Follow Dunnavant for 1.7 miles. Turn right onto Elliot Lane before beginning of a long climb. Follow Elliot lane 1.6 miles until it ends on US 119. Right onto US 119 back to Leeds Memorial Park. 60-Mile Leeds Double Loop - Add on 25-mile Westover Junction Loop from Sterrett to make a 60-mile ride. (See Westover Junction Loop.)  

Features:

Continuously rolling terrain after turn onto Camp Winnataska Road. Two long climbs over Coosa and Oak Mountains (> 1.5 mi.) in the last 10 miles of ride. 

Route Legs:

• Geo-Coordinates: N33° 32.352', W86° 33.593'
• Leave park. Right onto SR 119.
• Follow SR 119 (Ashville Rd SE) to the left as it passes the school on the left before the intersection to US 78.
• Right onto the ‘Main’ drag through downtown Leeds.
  Note: US 78 can be busy with traffic during rush-hour times (Before 8 AM, 4-5:30 PM) Chevron Station at 5.8 miles from start at I-20 Exit 147.
• Note! This is a downhill right turn after a left-hand curve. It comes up fast! Be prepared.
• Follow Camp Winnataska Road for 7.8 miles to where it ends at CR 27.
• CR 27 turns into CR 55 at the St. Clair County line in 2 miles.
• Note: CR 43 is a shortcut to Vandiver. Follow CR 55 3.5 miles into Sterrett.
• Follow CR 55 through Sterrett. 55 jogs left-right-(crosses tracks)-left in Sterrett before merging into SR 25. (Or, continue straight on 55, cross SR 25 and continue on 45 back to Leeds for 34-mile loop.)
• Sterrett Quick Stop on Left after CR 55 and SR 25 merge together (Open Sundays).
• Follow SR 25 left at split with CR 55.
• SR 25 ends at US 231 near Vincent.
• Smith Grocery on left before RR bridge.
• Right onto 83 after tracks at Vincent Middle School.
• Look for white house with red roof at corner.
• Fast road. Stay on shoulder.
• First right onto ‘Old’ 280.
• Note: Bob’s Bait Barn gas station is 0.5 mi. south (left) on CR 55, on the south side of US 280. (Open Sundays).
• CR 55 Ts into 25. Sterrett One-Stop is on the right, again.
• Follow CR 45 3.2 miles into Vandiver. Right onto CR 43 where CR 45 ends.
• Cross tracks. Watson’s gas station on the left at corner of CR 43 and SR 25. (Open Sundays).
• Depart Store. Left onto SR 25 after RR tracks and store.
• Follow SR 25 for 7 miles over two big climbs. Sharp left at the bottom of the second descent onto Elliot Lane. Be prepared to turn!!! (Look for old Lance Armstrong Foundation century markings).
• Follow Elliot Lane 1.6 miles until it ends on US 119. Right on US 119. 1.5 miles back to Leeds Memorial Park.
• Finish at Leeds Memorial Park. (Note: SR 119 can be busy during rush hour.) Geo-Coordinates: N33° 32.352', W86° 33.593'.

Afterward:

Old Smokey Barbecue, US 78, west of downtown Leeds.

Dairy Kreme, US 78, west of downtown Leeds

Johnny Ray's BBQ, (Decent BBQ and excellent pies.) 1460 Montgomery Highway, Vestavia Hills, 205-823-7437

Barber Motorsports Park (www.barbermotorsports.com) – Vintage motorcycle museum and racetrack.

Directions to Rex Lake Road. Take exit 140 from I-20 and head east towards Leeds. Take the first right onto Rex Lake Road. Barber Motorsports Park is on the right.

 

Notes:

• US 78 leaving Leeds can be busy during rush-hour times.
• Stores located at:
• US 78 at I-20 Exit (5.8 miles)
• Sterrett at CR 25 & 55 (22.6 miles and 45 miles)
• Vincent on US 231 (27 miles)
• Westover Junction at CR 55 and US 280 (39 miles)
• Vandiver at CR 43 and 25 (50 miles)
• Route parallels the Coosa Rail Tunnel through Coosa Mountain and Oak Mountain, reputedly the actual site of John Henry's successful, yet fatal, race with a steam drill. (http://www.ibiblio.org/john_henry/alabama.html)

For more info:

None

Contact any of the following for additional information:

Barber Motorsports Park

Street Address:
N/A
Wetumpka, AL N/A
www.barbermotorsports.com

Bike Link of Inverness

Street Address:
5263 Hwy. 280 South, Suite 105
Birmingham, AL 35242
Phone#:(205) 985 - 0001
www.bikelinkbham.com

Birmingham Bicycle Club

Street Address:
N/A
Wetumpka, AL N/A
bhambikeclub.org

Birmingham Bicycle Company

Street Address:
1103 Dunston Avenue
Birmingham, AL 35213
Phone#:(205) 870 - 8339
www.bhambicycle.com

Bob's Bikes - Homewood

Street Address:
2815 Greystone Commercial Boulevard, Suite 400
Birmingham, AL 35242
Phone#:(205) 981 - 7177
bobs-bikes.com

Bob's Bikes - Vestavia Hills

Street Address:
1410 Montgomery Highway #D
Birmingham, AL 35216
Phone#:(205) 979 - 3460
bobs-bikes.com

Cahaba Cycles - Cahaba Heights

Street Address:
3120 Cahaba Heights Plaza
Birmingham, AL 35243
Phone#:(205) 967 - 2003
cahabacycles.com

Cahaba Cycles - Pelham/Oak Mountain

Street Address:
2271 Pelham Parkway
Pelham, AL 35124
Phone#:(205) 987-4043
cahabacycles.com

Dairy Kreme

Street Address:
U. S. 78, west of downtown Leeds
, N/A N/A

GC Cycling (Racing Club)

Street Address:
N/A
Wetumpka, AL N/A
www.gccycling.org

Homewood Cycle & Fitness (Owned by Cahaba Cycles)

Street Address:
2834 South 18th Street
Homewood, AL 35209
Phone#:(205) 879 - 3244
cahabacycles.com

Johnny Ray's BBQ

Street Address:
1410 Montgomery Highway
Vestavia Hills, AL N/A
Phone#:(205) 823 - 7437

Leeds General Information

Street Address:
N/A
Wetumpka, AL N/A
Phone#:(205) 699 - 2585
www.leedsalabama.com

Old Smokey Barbecue

Street Address:
U. S. 78, west of downtown Leeds
, N/A N/A

Tandems Limited

Street Address:
2220 Vanessa Drive
Birmingham, AL 35242
Phone#:(205) 991 - 5519
www.tandemsltd.com