Sunday, Nov. 3 - 9:00 A.M. Central Standard Time! - Pancake Polar Bear Ride - Hunters Bend Elementary School, 2121 Fieldstone Pkwy., Franklin - The Club’s most classic event is the regular Sunday Pancake Ride from Fieldstone Farms over to Leipers Fork. Remember that Daylight Savings Time ends on Sunday morning, so turn your clock back an hour! During Polar Bear Season, we don't arrange for a formal sweep each week, but some of the regular riders will assist any visitors and we'll make sure our riding groups watch out for each other, as we should always do anyway. Because of the road construction that has closed Old Charlotte, the route has been changed to go from Del Rio to Carlisle and a bit farther on Hwy. 96 before getting on Boyd Mill Pike. Then we generally make the climb up Parker Branch. The direct route then descends to Leipers Fork for a rest stop and heads back for a total of 28 miles. Many riders add extra miles from Parker Branch or the rest stop, enjoying the scenic roads south and west of Leipers Fork; the full route for these long riders is usually about 50 miles. And fairly often we make some changes and some groups do something different!
This is not called the Pancake Ride because it is flat or easy, but because you can enjoy some tasty treats at Leipers Fork! While new riders are encouraged to participate, the route is moderately hilly and is inappropriate for rank beginners. Here is the cue sheet for the 28-mile route: