Back in the Saddle
Twenty years after the Natchez Bicycle Classic ended, the popular spring event returns to trace a new route.
During its heyday in the early 1990s the Natchez Bicycle Classic was attracting more than four hundred bike racers from all over the country. They came for the challenge and also the pleasure of racing through the historic streets of downtown Natchez. Now, twenty years since the last Bicycle Classic was run in 2000, the event is back with a new spirit, new routes, and a format sure to make the event both accessible and appealing to a new generation of cycling enthusiasts.
Resurrected by the Natchez-Adams Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals and Leadership Natchez, the 2020 Natchez Bicycle Classic will be held on Saturday, May 23—Memorial Day Weekend—as a touring ride rather than a race. From a start line on Broadway Street atop the Mississippi River bluffs, participating riders will roll through historic streets to the Natchez Trace Parkway—the 440-mile scenic byway that unfurls beautiful scenery and strictly controlled auto traffic all the way to Nashville, Tennessee. No need to go that far, though; Classic participants get to choose between 16-, 26-, 35-, or 57-mile road routes; with several gravel road options available for those who prefer their surfaces rougher. All routes will be fully supported with SAG (Support And Gear) stops providing drinks, snacks, and mechanical support. All riders will return to the Bluff for a post-ride party complete with meal and beverages.
So, now you know, and with almost three months’ lead time to dust off your bike and get in shape, now’s the time to make plans to see how good Southwest Mississippi looks from the vantage of a bicycle seat.