Dahlonega's Famous Road Biking

The following is a part of a series on "Everything You Ever Needed to Know about Dahlonega's Outdoor Sports."

2010 Six Gap Century.
Photo Credit: Lauren S.

Road biking is hugely popular in Dahlonega: way more so than mountain biking. According to many of my road biking acquaintances and articles and websites I've read, many professionals consider "The Gaps" north of Dahlonega to be the best and most challenging road biking in the nation. Here's what Dahlonega Wheelworks, our local bike shop, has to say about the local road riding:

The North Georgia Mountains surrounding Dahlonega are world famous for their beauty and difficulty. The epic climbs up Brasstown Bald, Hogpen Gap, Wolfpen Gap, and Woody's Gap have all been made famous by the Tour de Georgia, as well being the routes for the City of Dahlonega's famous Six Gap Century. Bike riding in Lumpkin County allows you to experience the roads, climbs, and conditions that face UCI Pro Tour riders all within riding distance of Dahlonega Wheelworks' front door. 

A description on Dahlonega.org of the Six Gap Century race held annually in Dahlonega breaks it down with more detailed statistics:

The Six Gap Century’s ultra challenging route takes you up and down six of the steepest climbs in the North Georgia Mountains. Test your stamina with more than 11,200 feet of vertical climbing over the 100 mile course. Elevations for the six gaps in this ride range from 2,949 feet to 3,490 feet. The toughest climb, Hogpen Gap, will test even the strongest riders, averaging a 7% grade for seven miles, with sections as steep as 15%. The Three Gap Fifty’s alternative route offers half the gaps and half the distance, but is nevertheless a demanding and challenging course. Elevations range from 3,109 feet to 3,280 feet.

In addition to all the statistics mentioned above, the Brasstown Bald road is located an hour or so away by car and climbs steeply up to the highest point in Georgia, topping out at 4,784 feet.

Along with the nationally-renowned routes in the area, there is an untold number of unsung highways and paved back roads spidering across the Lumpkin County countryside. People travel to Dahlonega from all over the country to ride road bikes, and as you can see from the testimonials and statistics above, the cycling here is really something else!