8-19-2019 Free CX Clinic Join me for my annual Cyclocross clinic on Monday, Aug. 26 at 6:15 pm Jim R Miller Park, 2245 Callaway Rd SW, Marietta, GA 30008! Everyone is welcome! Join Sorella Race Team member Trish Albert for a free cyclocross clinic. We will work on skills such as dismounts, remounts, barriers, carrying the bike, and cornering. We will also cover the basic divisions and rules for the Georgia Cyclocross Series. Everyone is welcome at this free clinic! Juniors age 10+ are welcome, but a parent/guardian must remain with them onsite; Juniors must know how to ride a 2 wheeled bike off road with no assistance.

Ride what ya brung—but we recommend a bike that is capable of going off road in the dirt & grass like a cyclocross bike, mountain bike, or hybrid. Be prepared to get dirty! Remove all bar ends, racks, and bottle cages for safety reasons. The bathrooms may be locked, so be prepared. Bring water and a snack. It will be hot! We recommend wearing lycra or close-fitting clothing since loose clothing like tshirts or mtb baggy shorts can get caught when doing cyclocross.

Please note that loaner bikes and equipment are not available. HELMETS ARE MANDATORY. We are limited on time and have a lot to cover and practice. This clinic will be safest for all and best enjoyed without interruptions, so please do not bring any children or pets. We will be starting promptly at 6:15. Please RSVP on Facebook.

8-17-2019 Hapeville Crit Photos Photos from the Hapeville Crit are up at http://sadlebred.smugmug.com. Please support your local photographers!

Sorella Cycling’s Saskia Hoppe and Anne Green sit in the field in the Women’s 3/4/5 race at the Hapeville Crit on Friday.

8-16-2019 Own the Woods From Swagger The Augusta MS Center at Augusta University, in collaboration with Sports Strategies, presents Own the Woods, a multi-sport trail fest & expo, scheduled to take place at Blanchard Woods Park in Evans, Georgia on September 14, 2019. Own the Woods features trail competitions, including cross country mountain biking, trail running and a mountain bike relay, along with an expo showcasing fitness and health themed vendors, food, beverages and activities for all ages. XC Mountain Bike Race A 3-hr circuit race on the Blanchard Woods Park cross country course that includes the addition of a new trail to lengthen the circuit. A $1,000 purse — $500 for Men and $500 Women — will be awarded to winners in overall male and female categories. awards for age group and corporate challenge categories. Mountain Bike Relay
Teams will compete for awards in a four-lap race — male, female, and co-ed.

8-15-2019 Looking for a CX Practice in Atlanta? You can find a park near you and ride! Want to ride with other people? The longest running CX practice in metro Atlanta is at Jim R. Miller Park on Wednesdays. Riders start arriving around 5:00 and ride til 7:30 or however long they like. You can do your own workout or join in the group hot laps. On August 21 there will be a short work party to clear the trails before workouts begin. It should only take about 30 minutes. Join the Facebook group to keep up on the latest news about practice. The Ellenwood CX Ranch is open for practice unless it’s not. Come out any time, and please sign a waiver that is in the mailbox. Group practices start August 21 and every Wednesday at 6:30. This is private property, so please do not park in the driveways–park in the grass–and be respectful of the residents.

Dick Lane Velodrome Certification Class Next Weekend! From the DLV August Weekend Class August 17th and 18th from 1:00-4:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday Learn to ride and race on the Dick Lane Velodrome! Between March and September, we offer track certification classes for all riders 17 years old and over to learn the fundamentals of track riding. Riders younger than 17 will begin in Youth Cycling League. Classes are scheduled intermittently according to demand and the instructor’s schedule. Once certified, you will be ready to race in the “D” category on Tuesday nights or, at least, join our Beginner Training sessions!

Signup: Send email to brian@dicklanevelodrome.com and include your bike size or height or sign up in our online store Cost: $60.00 (bike rental included)
Waiver: Bring a signed waiver with you on day 1 Equipment: Bring your track bike, cycling shoes and corresponding pedals, and helmet from home. If you don’t have these items, you can wear tennis shoes with laces tucked in and use one of our rental bikes and helmets for no extra cost. Requirements: you must attend all sessions of a class to receive your certificate, so plan ahead! I’ve Completed the Beginners Class, Now What?? OK, so you just finished the DLV Track Certification Class. Congrats! Now you are eligible to train and race at one of only 22 active velodromes in the country.

Track Certification

Jones Creek Bull Mountain Meeting From SORBA IMBA You are invited to attend a Kick-off of the construction of the Jones Creek Dam Trail Re-route at Jake/Bull Mtn Trail System, hosted by SORBA and Mike Riter, Trail Design Specialists. Many of you who ride/walk/run/bicycle the Jake/Bull Mtn Trail System may have noticed the blue flagging going down to Jones Creek Dam and on the other side. We are re-routing the trail to get it off of the FS access road and eliminating the steep singletrack on the other side. This project will create a more sustainable, safe and fun trail experience for all user groups.

We will meet at the Bull Mountain Parking Area at 10a this Saturday, August 17, 2019. We will go over the re-route, construction time frame and volunteer opportunities. Please bring your questions, wear appropriate footwear and clothing for the weather and be ready to walk the trail. It’s blazing hot this time of year with lots of biting insects. Hat, bug spray, and sunblock are recommended. Drinks and snacks will be provided. This project is made possible by a grant from the National Forest Foundation and supported by US Forest Service, SORBA, CTHA and BCHNGA.

8-14-2019 15th Annual Brownwood Bike Rally From the East Atlanta Kids Club 15th Annual Brownwood Bike Rally on Saturday, September 21, 2019 at Brownwood Park in East Atlanta. Where: Brownwood Park, 602 Brownwood Avenue SE, Atlanta, GA 30316 (and surrounding streets in East Atlanta) Time: Registration begins at 8:00 am; bike races and bike rodeo begin at 9:30 am and end at 3:00 pm. Cost: Event admission is free for all. All CHILDREN race for F R E E !!! Adult races are $10-$25

The event features bike races for kids and adults, a bike safety rodeo for kids, bike decorating, a health fair, food court and festival area featuring family-friendly activities. Three adult Crit-CX races (including a new women’s-only race) cover both street and grassy terrain, and are open to beginner and advanced cyclists. Cash prizes are awarded for all adult races, and kids vie for ribbons, medals and trophies. Proceeds benefit the East Atlanta Kids Club, a nonprofit after-school tutoring, mentoring and enrichment program for promising youth. Register to race, volunteer, sponsor and learn more about the event at www.brownwoodbikerally.com This event remains free for all youth participants each year with the help of more than 130 volunteers, the support of several local cycling and fitness clubs, and generous sponsors. Sign up to volunteer here: http://bit.ly/bikerallyvolunteer. For general information about the event or East Atlanta Kids Club, call 404-627-8050 or go to www.brownwoodbikerally.com.

Rope Mill Trail Party From SORBA Woodstock Work Party at Rope Mill on August 17 at 8:30 am. We will be fixing some and removing bridges along with some maintenance and rock work on The Mill. Lunch will be back at the parking lot at 12:30. Skip the day of sign in process by pre-registering and thanks in advance.

8-13-2019 Blankets Creek 3 and 6 Hour MTB Race presented by Van Michael Men From Mountain Goat Adventures Make plans to join us for the Blankets Creek 3 and 6 Hour Race presented by Van Michael Men on October 12th! NEW UPDATED COURSE! The race course will be 7.5+ miles and include the VMT “Half Loop” (no Kevorkian or 420 climb) Counter Clockwise. Then the course will run Dwelling Counter Clockwise up to the Rock and Roll Flow Trail, descend Rock and Roll, then climb back out on Chutes and Ladders to complete the Dwelling lap. This course layout gives riders a few extended climbs for passing as well as maximum downhill flow.

Solo, 2 and 3 person team categories are available in the 6 Hour Race and we have several categories for our Junior NICA racers! We also have a 3 Hour Option with a TON of categories, for those who would like to tackle a longer solo event. All riders receive a super comfy and lightweight tri-blend tee! First 200 to register will also receive an event pint glass! Cash payout to 6 Hour Solo Expert Classes and 6 Hour 2 Person Expert Classes! Medals and Sponsor prizes 3 deep in all 6 Hour Categories! Medals 3 deep for all 3 Hour Categories (LOTS OF CATEGORIES IN THE 3 HOUR!) Podium shirts for all 1st place finishers in 6 Hour event! Instant lap times and standings viewable on your smartphone – You don’t even need to leave your pit to check results!

The Masters during a race at the Dick Lane VeloCup on Saturday.

8-11-2019 Dick Lane Veldrome Photos Photos from the are up at http://www.sadlebred.smugmug.com from Saturday night’s Dick Lane Velodrome Pro Race Lots of photos from all of the divisions at the Velodrome Cup!

Annalise Oestreich (NCGA Devo) takes the sprint in the Women’s Split Scratch race over Erica Carney (Piedmont College).

8-6-2019 Big Creek Work Party From RAMBO Saturday, August 10, 2019, 9 am-Noon Join us in the lower lot @ 9 am as we continue our efforts to make Big Creek a park for all skill levels. Stumpy’s Loop will be our focus as we continue our efforts to make it a true beginner trail. Come prepared to swing a Pulaski. That means closed toe shoes, water/snacks for the day, a strong back and a great attitude. RAMBO will provide tools and lunch afterwards.

8-5-2019 Smyrna North Cooper Lake Mountain Bike Park Work Parties MTB Atlanta is hosting several work parties at the North Cooper Lake Mountain Bike Park this week as construction on the facilities and trails continues at a furious pace. From MTB Atlanta “Come help us do finishing work at the new Smyrna Bike Park build at North Cooper Lake Park. Wear long pants, closed toed shoes, bring gloves, water, snacks, bug spray, and your epee pen if you are allergic to bees. Tools provided. ” Aug. 6 Evening (after work),  Aug. 8 Evening (after work), Aug. 10 . I took a couple of photos on Sunday, and the bike park is coming along nicely! It’s not open yet, so please don’t go out there to ride. Some of the obstacles are not secure and can fall over, and the trails are not done. The City said in the final public meeting they hope to host a ribbon cutting in late Sept.

8-3-2019 Sope Creek Work Party From MTB Atlanta Sope Creek Work Party Sat., Aug. 17, 9 am-Noon. Join us for our monthly Work Party at Sope Creek and give back to the trails that you love to ride. We meet at the Columns Drive parking lot at 9 AM at the gate by the Fitness loop. Wear long pants, closed toed shoes, bring gloves, water, snacks.

8-2-2019 Joey & the Tour De France The AJC has a nice article on Joey Rosskopf riding in the Tour De France.

The Velodrome Cup p/b Ethic & The Need for Speed Sprints From the Dick Lane Velodrome Join us Aug. 9-10 for The Need for Speed Sprints (Friday at 7:00 pm) and The Velodrome Cup p/b Ethic August 10 @ 3:00 pm – 9:00 pm Enjoy a great night out with the family as you get up close and personal with cycling’s top athletes! Main Events start at 6pm, Preview Races begin at 3pm. Main program typically finishes around 9pm. Rider introductions for the Main Events happens 6pm. But, get here early to catch all of the day’s action. The DLV will continue to serve it’s famous chicken nachos and other light foods with proceeds going to support DLV programs like the Youth Cycling League. Single spectator entry fee $5 Family entry $10 We accept Cash and Credit Cards ($1 card fee applies) at the Gate. Spectator Information: *City ordinances do not allow pets during events* (Trish’s Note: This includes all pets, so please leave your dog, cat, fish, or sloth at home for the safety of the racers.) Racer Information PLEASE READ THE RACE FLIERS, they contain all of the info you should need to know. If something is not clear, please let us know, pete@dicklanevelodrome.com

7-31-2019 Silver Comet Trail Closures Coming in 2020 From the Cobb County Government Parts of the Silver Comet Trail will be closed to all traffic Jan. 6-Feb. 28 to repair and rehabilitate two of the trail’s bridges. The trail bridge over Nickajack Creek, located near the Concord Road trailhead will be closed for seven days during this time-frame. The trail bridge over Noses Creek, located near the Carter Road parking lot will be closed for 30 days during this time-frame. The Wildhorse Trail will remain open with the potential for temporary closures and flagging under the Silver Comet Trail bridge. More specific details will be available in November.

Cobb County’s primary objective is the safety of our residents, so there will be no access through the construction sites during the closures and no detours. Cobb has also installed additional trail markers along the Silver Comet Trail and other trails within the county.

7-30-2019 Several things today from Mountain Goat Adventures Conasauga Crusher 45 Mile Gravel Grind We are excited to announce our newest event, the Conasauga Crusher 45 Mile Gravel Grind, which will take place on November 23, 2019! The course features fast, rolling gravel with one major 3 mile climb up Big Frog Rd, followed by an equally long descent. The course boasts approximately 4000′ of elevation gain and seasonal views of Lake Ocoee. All participants receive a soft and comfy shirt, finisher award, and post race meal. Cash prizes for the top 3 open men and women! We hope you will join us for our newest gravel adventure! This event is Race #7 of the Terrapin Southeastern Gravel Series and Chainbuster Racing will present SGS awards at this event!

The event will start and end at Ocoee Retreat Center. Bunkhouse style lodging is available for $25 per night on a first-come/first-serve basis. You’ll need to call 423-338-9575 to reserve a spot, and specify if you wish to be placed in an all men, all women, or family bunkhouse. All lodging is booked directly through Ocoee Retreat Center. We highly recommend taking advantage of the bunkhouses, as there aren’t a lot of nearby lodging options.

Fools Gold The Maxxis Tires Fools Gold is scheduled for September 14, 2019 at the beautiful Montaluce Winery, in Dahlonega, GA. The 2019 Fool’s Gold Mountain Bike Race will again offer riders a 38 mile or 60 mile course! Both courses begin at Montaluce Winery and will have a neutral rollout for approximately 3 miles on pavement, then transition to gravel roads. The 60 mile course begins with a stout 3 mile gravel road climb. NEW for 2019, we are proposing to the USFS that our route head north off the ridgeline onto some of my favorite “secret” trails, then across to FS 69, and finally back up to Hightower Gap, merging with the usual route. This adds almost 8 miles to the long course. The 38 mile course heads directly to the Jones Creek Ridge Singletrack Trail along gravel roads, giving riders the opportunity to space out before hitting nearly 30 miles of fast singletrack.

7-29-2019 Smyrna North Cooper Lake Mountain Bike Park Work Parties MTB Atlanta is hosting several work parties at the North Cooper Lake Mountain Bike Park this week as construction on the facilities and trails continues at a furious pace. From MTB Atlanta “Come help us do finishing work at the new Smyrna Bike Park build at North Cooper Lake Park. Wear long pants, closed toed shoes, bring gloves, water, snacks, bug spray, and your epee pen if you are allergic to bees. Tools provided. ” July 30 Evening (after work),  Aug. 1 Evening (after work), Aug. 3 Morning, Aug. 4 Afternoon.

7-27-2019 GA and AL State TT Championships The Georgia and Alabama State Time Trial Championships will be August 10 in Anniston, AL at Fort McClellan. The course will be 10.2 miles per lap.

7-26-2019 Dahlonega Gold Criterium Returns Sept. 28 with 8 Races for Amateur and Elite Cyclists Beer Tent and Bike Expo Part of Saturday Festivities; A whirl of wheels will create a kaleidoscope of speed on the streets of downtown Dahlonega on Saturday, Sept. 28 for the Dahlonega Gold Criterium. Eight categorized bicycle races will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. for amateur and elite road athletes. Also wrapped around the historic public square will be the Bike Expo and a new Beer Tent. Sunday features the popular Six Gap Century & Three Gap Fifty, the 31st annual recreational bicycle ride which attracts close to 2,500 riders from across the country.

It marks the ninth year for the Dahlonega Gold Criterium. This spectator-friendly style of bicycle racing is considered to be the equivalent of short track stock car racing for sprint specialists on two wheels. Athletes can reach speeds in excess of 35 miles per hour on West Main Street, made easier with fresh pavement on the course this year. The start/finish line of the one-kilometer circuit will be located in front of the Holly Theatre. Each circuit will begin with a counter-clockwise loop around the Old Lumpkin County Courthouse, now the Dahlonega Gold Museum. Racers will follow West Main Street back past the Holly Theatre to turn on College Circle and Church Street and return to West Main Street for the uphill finish. “We expect more than 200 racers to take part in the Criterium events on Saturday. The Square will be filled with spectators who are in town for the Six Gap Century, so the races are a great way to kick off the weekend. With so many dining options downtown, and the races as a centerpiece, we hope spectators will take time to experience all that Dahlonega has to offer,” said Robb Nichols, President of the Dahlonega-Lumpkin Chamber & Visitors Bureau.

The 2019 Bike Expo will be held Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., adjacent to the race course on the Square. Vendor booths from leading industry companies and Six Gap Century sponsors will offer interactive displays, special merchandise, and product samples. Pre-registered Six Gap Century & Three Gap Fifty participants can check-in for Sunday’s ride on the Visitors Center plaza during the Expo. Same-day critierium registration will also be available. Admission to the Expo is free. A new Beer Tent will be part of the Bike Expo for the first time. Race viewing will be provided along the first turn of the Criterium for patrons 21 years and older. Food from local businesses will be permitted in the tent.

Summer registration is underway for the Six Gap Century & Three Gap Fifty, on one of the most popular recreational bicycle rides in the U.S. The “Summer Sign-Up” special of $76 is available online until Sept. 22, or when the 2,500 rider limit is reached, whichever occurs first. With advance registration participants qualify for a 15% discount with pre-orders of commemorative Six Gap jerseys, valid through Sept. 22. The jerseys are available for purchase online. Each registration includes a custom T-shirt, snacks and beverages at rest stops, showers, and a post-ride spaghetti dinner (from 11am-6pm).

The Six Gap Century’s challenging 104-mile route has become a bucket-list ride for cyclists from all across the U.S., which features 11,200 vertical feet of elevation gain across six of the steepest climbs in the North Georgia Mountains. The toughest climb on the century, Hogpen Gap, averages a gradient of seven percent for 7 miles, with sections as steep as 15 percent. Other ride options include the Three Gap Fifty, a 58-mile course with 6,385 vertical feet of climbing, and a 35-mile Valley Ride. There is one standard fee for all three ride options.

7-25-2019 Lots of news from SORBA West Georgia:

E.L.M. Festival and ENDURO Saturday, August 10th Join us Saturday, August 10th at Allatoona Creek Park for the Cobb County E.L.M. Festival – Cobb is one of the first municipalities in the country to implement the new E.L.M. (Emergency Location Markers) System and they can’t wait to share it with you. There will be emergency response teams from the Cobb Police and Fire Departments there with lots of fun for everyone. Dirty Spokes Racing will put on their annual trail running race. We’ll also have a poker ride, bike games and our first ever ENDURO EVENT. If you’ve never experienced an enduro race, then you can’t miss it. It’s certain to be quite the spectacle.

Voodoo Race – August 24th ALLatoona 35 HALFatoona 18 Presented by SORBA West Georgia and FreeFlite Bicycles, this one lap event will feature every trail that Allatoona Creek Park has to offer. There will also be a Halfatoona for those that may be scared of a little Hocus Pocus. The race will be held Saturday, August 24, 2019 and start at 8:00 am. 100% of proceeds will be used to build and maintain trails at the park.

Lost Mountain Trails Update It’s official. Lost Mountain trails are directional as requested by users. Signs are going up and the county is doing trail clean up this week. Remember that it may take a second for all users to get the hang of directional days, so always ride with caution and BE NICE. Go check it out and let us know what you think about all the new improvements and of course let us know if you want to help.

Queen City CX From the Promoter QCCX We’re finalizing details on this year’s pre-season training series, but wanted to give a quick update on where we stand so far. Race Dates: 9/15, 9/22, 9/28, 9/29 Location: Renaissance Park Race Times: 10 AM – Beginner/Juniors, 10:45 AM Intermediate, 11:30 Experts Online registration will open mid-August Fees: Adults $20 online ($25 on-site), Juniors $10 online ($15 on-site); One day licenses: USAC has changed pricing structure for one-day licenses. New costs are $10 for Cat 5 and Juniors; $25 for all other categories.

7-23-2019 Georgia Grinduro From TopView Sports The 2nd annual Georgia Gravel Grinduro is scheduled for Saturday, November 2nd. We have adjusted the routes for 2019 to include more riders. The Scramble will have less climbing and be friendlier for beginner riders. The Radical will be around 60 miles with approximately 6,000 ft of climbing. The Grinduro is the “MACK Daddy” that will feature almost 10,000 ft of climbing over 100 miles, with 3 mountain passes over 3,000 ft.