A BRIEF HISTORY OF OUR EVENT:

The tour route was laid out and organized by the Phantom Riders of Polk County, NC in 1983, with our first official ride in 1983. Since then has grown to become one of the most popular short tours in the Southeast. 

The course route has been changed a number of times for safety reasons. The first change was because of the traffic in and around Columbus, NC area since we started on the east side of Columbus, NC, with a 5k Race and fun run following.   The 4th of July celebrations committee requested at this time that we do a reroute of the event.  The second time for a change was to change the start / finish line location and moved out to the new Polk County High School.  This lasted 2 years and were forced to completely rework the route and to move to the Harmon Field Complex and the Tryon Middle School.  Now the last change was requested by Greenville County to eliminate the loop around Lake Lanier due to safety of both riders and vehicles since the roads are very narrow and they now have a festival at the lake on the 4th of July.

Who benefits from this event? 

After all expenses, what is left is donated by the Thermal Belt Rotary Club to among others:

The Scouting movement of Tryon, Columbus, and Landrum, with currently three  Boy Scout Troops being supported
Steps to Hope - a shelter for battered women and children - earmarked only to the kids.
The Thermal Belt Amateur Radio Club and the Polk County Rescue Squad for making your ride as safe as we can.
Plus other groups that need a helping hand with the financial aspects of helping kids.
Scholarships and other Rotary Sponsored Endeavors.
 
 
Don't Forget The Columbus, NC
Fabulous 4th Celebration

Please do not forget to go to the City of Columbus on the other side of I-26.  They have a full celebration in progress, complete with a number of live bands,  gospel music at the fire department ~ rock and country on the main stage ~ Rides for the Kids ~ Food ~ BBQ ~ and arts & crafts to name just a few of the activities.

A 30 minute plus Fireworks Show starts at 9:45 and following that is a Live Concert with a great band playing.  This proves to be loads of fun for all.  Oh yes, did I mention all kinds of food - the good kind - junk food - and who knows what else!

See you there!

THE ROUTE

 The Tour follows an especially beautiful route beginning and ending in Tryon, NC, at the Harmon Field Complex..

It is not only a very scenic, but also a very fasssst course to ride.

Leaving the starting line, the route makes a quick run around Warrior Mountain Road, then back into and through Tryon. We continue down US-176 to the NC / SC State Line. From here, we branch off for a easy roller coaster ride through the beautiful Hunting Country area.  Lots of horse farms and we will also pass FENCE where the annual Steeplechase Races are held each year.

We then pass by the well known Red Fox Country Club. From here we go down to the peach country near the Cherokee Foothills Parkway or SC-11 and then return to take a tour through the town of Landrum SC. Passing by the Fire Station on the exit from town, we then move back into the lower Hunting Country Area.  Then after short jog up "little grunt hill #1",  we have arrived at the Lake Lanier entrance.  With a jog to Lanier Street we head up to Butter Street and out to Oak Grove Road in the "Dark Corners Area" in route towards Route 11 once again.

OK!  
Now that you have ridden out to Route #11, and gone along the base of the mountains that you are going to climb - there is this famous little climb up and over Callahan Mountain by the Camp Old Indian Boy Scout Reservation. We call this little hill "Big Grunt Hill #2"!  This one really does separate the men from the boys very fast.  You will normally find "Birds Eye Photo" located here snapping your picture with a running clock.  So SMILE for the camera ~ <:) !

After a little breather while you coast down by Camp Old Indian, you will arrive at the base of the Greenville Watershed and the Water Shed Dam. Water stop #4 is located here and you need to stop to tank up before you start the 10 or so miles to Saluda.  Remember that it is all up hill from this point till you get to the crest of Saluda, the highest point on the route. 

Now comes the long and progressively steeper climb through the fantastic, very cool Greenville Watershed.  SAG's are not allowed to stop and wait in the watershed.  They will ticket you for doing so. When you exit the watershed, you have one more little ~ short  ~ steep climb to the crest of Saluda and then a fast trip down into the historic little town of Saluda. By this time if you are not with the lead pack then you have been left in the dust, because you aren't going to catch up! ! !

When you enter Saluda on a down hill - remember that there is a right turn across the tracks in Saluda.  Please be ready for this. Now hold your breath as you zip down a very fast, winding five mile run down the Saluda Grade on US-176 back to the finish line.  Please be very careful on this descent and ride with in your limits.

REMEMBER that you have a LEFT TURN after you cross the Pacolet River Bridge to get to the finish line.  Go straight and you ride the course all over again  <:)  Hehehe.

For you high speed riders - the tour route is such that if you are not in the front pack by the time everyone gets to the crest of Saluda, then you do not have a ghost of a chance of over taking the leaders by the finish line. You have to make your move before you hit the Greenville Water Shed or by the time you get to water stop #5.

So that is the tour and is loved by all who ride it.

It will truly be a
Fabulous
Fourth!