8-14-2018 Atlanta Airport District Gears Up for “Spin the District” this Fall ATLANTA (Monday, August 13, 2018) – Atlanta Airport District – the official convention and visitors’ bureau for the cities of College Park, East Point, Hapeville and Union City, Ga. – is thrilled to welcome cycling enthusiasts and spectators alike to Spin the District, the area’s inaugural, multi-faceted experience that will transform the city streets into a premier cycling destination in Georgia and across the Southeast. Spin the District will offer cycling and entertainment for both spectators and cyclists during four separate events. Round one will take place over the course of a three-day weekend from Friday, September 21, to Sunday, September 23, with track cycling – one of the oldest and wildest forms of bike racing – and two criteriums in East Point, Hapeville and College Park, followed by a round two “Gran Fondo” in Union City on Sunday, October 21.

“We’re thrilled to introduce Spin the District to our community, visitors and cyclists this fall,” said Cookie Smoak, president of ATL Airport District. “This four-day cycling experience will not only celebrate the cities of College Park, East Point, Hapeville and Union City, but also shed light on the District as an emerging cycling destination and future home to one of the largest urban biking trails in the U.S.”

East Point Velodrome Race | Friday, September 21, from 7 to 10 p.m.
Spin the District will kick off at the Dick Lane Velodrome – Georgia’s only concrete cycling track located in Sumner Park. From 7 to 10 p.m., attendees are invited to gather and cheer on cyclists as they conquer the fast-paced, no-brakes East Point Velodrome Race. Beyond the high-speed race, guests can enjoy snacks from a variety of food trucks, local craft beer and wine and live entertainment courtesy of DJ Yvonne Monet. The grassy infield will play host to VIP guests, who can enjoy local beer, mingle with riders and enjoy a front show seat to the action. Various ticket options are available including $5 per person for spectator tickets, $15 per family pack, and $50 for a full VIP experience on the infield. For cyclists, four races in women’s and men’s fields with a 30-rider maximum are open for registration here.

Hapeville Criterium | Saturday, September 22, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The following day, Spin the District will continue in downtown Hapeville with the Hapeville Criterium from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Conveniently situated alongside Jess Lucas Park, the Hapeville course will give attendees nearby access to the 18th Annual LocalMotion Arts Festival during the race. Throughout the day, spectators can pull up a chair or lay out a blanket along the shaded, six-corner course and enjoy views of the start/finish line, in addition to live music, local art vendors, refreshments and food trucks. The event is free for spectators. Rider registration and details can be accessed here.

College Park Criterium | Sunday, September 23, from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Spin the District will roll onto the historic streets of downtown College Park on Sunday to close out the three-day weekend with the College Park Criterium. From 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., guests can enjoy family-friendly fun including live music, food trucks mountain bike trial demonstrations, wheelie seminar and a bike expo. Admission is free for spectators. Rider registration and details can be found here.

Union City Gran Fondo | Sunday, October 21, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The cycling fun doesn’t stop after the three-day weekend in September! Spin the District will continue with a bonus Gran Fondo (Italian for “big ride”) on Sunday, October 21. Beginning at 9 a.m., the final event will start in Union City, traveling roads and optional gravel paths through scenic Chattahoochee Hills and Serenbe. The scenic ride through South Fulton will be reminiscent of the Gran Fondo’s Italian roots, celebrating the beginning of autumn with views of Georgia’s rolling hills. Participants can choose from 30- or 60-mile road options, or a 100-mile mixed gravel and road option for those willing to accept the challenge. The race will conclude back in Union City, with a barbecue celebration featuring live music, food trucks and a BMX stunt show. The Gran Fondo will honor Karen Tinsley, a beloved University of Georgia professor and avid cyclist who passed away in a bicycle-vehicle accident last April.

Each Spin the District trail is centrally located within the Atlanta Airport District and will in time, intersect as a part of MTB Atlanta’s Ride and Fly initiative, beginning with East Point and College Park. The goal is to create an extensive network of urban trails that will be seamlessly integrated in the heart of three populated downtown centers and 19 different schools throughout the Metro Atlanta area. As these trails expand and intersect, MTB Atlanta hopes to promote ecotourism, entertainment and community bonding within the Perimeter.

About ATL Airport District:

ATL Airport District is the official convention & visitors’ bureau for the cities of College Park, East Point, Hapeville and Union City, Ga. The mission of ATL Airport District is to generate economic development for the cities of College Park, East Point, Hapeville, and Union City by effectively marketing the community as a preferred tourism, convention and meeting destination. For more information, please visit www.ATLdistrict.com.

8-13-2018 BIG CREEK PARK IS SAFE! The Krause family have withdrawn their proposal. Major Lori Henry has confirmed this. Thanks to the mtb community, RAMBO, the neighborhood HOAs, other neighbors, Roswell citizens, and everyone that expressed their opposition. There are many people still expected to attend the Roswell City Council meeting Monday night to stand in solidarity with keeping green space in the city, so please go and wear red! I believe many of us would like the Krause family to be able to honor their late daughter, but this was not the right project or place to do so. Please see the full discussion and give your feedback on the Southeastern Cycling Facebook group.

From a Facebook post by the Krause family: “After discussions with a council person and others involved with our prospective project, AKTP&FC, we are in agreement that this project should not move forward at this time. We are hopeful that the mayor and council will schedule town hall meetings so that everyone can have a say, and a decision can be had as to what is the best use of their land know as Big Creek Park. We were told that the land was purchased to be an active park, as opposed to its current use as a passive park. With that information in mind, we felt as though a world class tennis, pickleball and fitness center would be a nice amenity for the citizens of Roswell. If this facility is not wanted by the majority of its citizens, we will look for another venture which will be a memorial for our daughter, Angela. For all off you that have expressed support, we thank you and hope that a positive resolution can be found in the near future.”

Mayor Lori Henry’s Statement: A Message from Mayor Lori Henry Good evening. After speaking with Vernon Krause of the Krause Foundation this afternoon, we have jointly decided not to move forward with the Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Roswell and the Krause Foundation to locate the Angela Krause Tennis, Pickleball and Fitness Center in Big Creek Park. The item will be taken off the Monday, August 13, 2018 Mayor and Council agenda.

When Mr. Krause approached the Mayor’s office with the generous offer of investing upwards of $50 million in a world-class tennis facility for the east side of Roswell, we were very excited about the project. We believed it would have been an economic catalyst for the east side, drawing other investment into that area and being a driver for redevelopment along the Holcomb Bridge Road corridor east of GA-400. We thought the tennis center would have given the east side of Roswell a destination that would draw people from all over the region. We heard a clear message last year from east side residents during the Economic Development Forums that creating a destination place for the east side was a priority and key desire. However, the community has let us know over the past several days that they do not support this project for Big Creek Park. We want you to know we hear you again, so we will not be moving forward with it. In the coming months, we will hold a town hall meeting for further input from residents on the possibility and location of a tennis center in Roswell. I want to thank Mr. Krause and the Krause Foundation for wanting to invest millions of dollars into our community to honor his daughter. I hope our community will be able to assist him in the future with his dream to build a facility in memory of Angela.

Read all about #SaveBigCreek https://www.savebigcreekpark.org/at

8-11-2018 Roswell City Council Meeting Roswell City Council Meeting Wear RED to the if you can attend! (Sadly, I cannot as I have a conflict on Monday.)

HASHTAG #SaveBigCreek for your social media posts!

From Old Blind Dog Cycling Club New Info: “Write a cordial email ASAP to the Mayor and Council members. Be sure to put something in the Title like “Please Vote No for Tennis Courts.” and talk about “saving our greenspace” They will probably only read the titles in a lot of emails.

Here are their addresses: mzapata@roswellgov.com, mpalermo@roswellgov.com, sgroer@roswellgov.com, mwillsey@roswellgov.com, mtyser@roswellgov.com, mjudy@roswellgov.com, mayorhenry@roswellgov.com

8-10-2018 BIG CREEK TRAILS IN DANGER! From SORBA Atlanta

Help preserve the Big Creek MTB Trails and Support RAMBO !! Calling all Metro Atlanta Mountain Bikers, Cyclists, Hikers, Trail Runners, Passive Recreation, Forest Canopy, Green Space, Wildlife and Shared Use Trail Advocates! Join us Monday 8/13, 7pm at Roswell City Hall to hear the impact that a proposed MOU with the City of Roswell and the Krause Family Foundation will have on the existing hiking and biking trails at Big Creek Park. A council vote for the mayor to sign is on the docket. It’s time to have your voice heard. The current proposal calls for 65 of the 95 acres of park greenspace to be replaced with 135 tennis courts in a privately owned-facility. The impact could cause significant or total loss of hiking and biking trails at Big Creek Park. MTB Atlanta believes this would be a huge loss for mountain biking and recreational trails in Metro Atlanta.

Here’s what you can do:

1. Come to the City Council meeting, be seen and let your voice be heard respectfully if there is time for public comment.
When: Monday August 13th 7 PM, Where: Roswell City Hall 38 Hill St, Roswell, Georgia 30075 THE MEETING TIME IS NOW 5 PM!!!!!

2. Support RAMBO – Roswell Alpharetta Mountain Bike Organization
Facebook page and website http://www.rambo-mtb.org.

3. If you live in Roswell, contact your City Council member and let them know that you support the preservation of the shared use trails at Big Creek Park.

4. Sign the petition

Info on the proposed development We will continue to keep the ridership and membership of MTB Atlanta informed on this proposal at Big Creek Park as it develops. –The Board of MTB Atlanta

There will also be a support ride at the trails on Monday from 4-7 pm.

Action Alert !! Help preserve the Big Creek MTB Trails and Support RAMBO !!

8-9-2018 Cochran Mill Work Party From MTB Atlanta Cochran Mill Work Party This Saturday 9 am-Noon. Join us for our monthly work party at Cochran Mill Park. Meet at the main parking lot at 9 AM. Please wear long pants, closed toed shoes, bring a helmet, gloves, water, snacks and your epi pen if you are allergic to bees. We will see you there!

Wilson 100 Register now for the Wilson 100 at the beautiful Senoia City Park Marimac Park on September 8th! The Wilson100 is a most enjoyable day in the country, with some rolling hills and a lot of flat roads, passing through farmlands, quaint towns such as Luthersville, Greenville and Gay. Please make sure you thank all of our wonderful volunteers at the rest stops and doing SAG, as we could not provide a successful ride without them!! And, remember, any family or friends that would like to be a part of the ride without riding can join us, as there is always room for more volunteers. As you finish your ride you will be able to relax by the beautiful lake and enjoy a most delicious meal prepared by our local Katie Lou’s, with the best BBQ and brownies you’ll be sure to appreciate. Then have a cold one, compliments of Sweetwater Brewery.

8-8-2018 Crit State Championships So, there has been some confusion about the Georgia State Crit Championships coming up in a week and a half. Grant Park will have the CATEGORY (ie Cat. 2, Cat. 3, etc) State Championships. TopView will be hosting the AGE GROUP State Championships. The Hapeville Crit is just a good old fashioned twilight style crit! I hope this clears up any confusion.

GO CROSS  (Posting this as a promise to someone; VA is usually outside my coverage zone…but #UCICX #CrossisComing). Press release: UCI CX racing comes to the Virginia Cyclocross Series: September 1st & 2nd. Preregistration is open until August 29th for Deschutes Brewery’s GO Cross in Virginia’s Blue Ridge: www.bikereg.com/gocross Register now to save money! This year, we’re kicking off the UCI Cyclocross, USAC ProCX and VACX calendars! Come race and watch the fastest cyclocrossers in North America battle it out! We’re back at Roanoke’s Fallon Park cyclocross course featuring stairs, sand, barriers and the Avis Construction Flyover. Women can preregister for FREE courtesy of East Coasters Bike Shops and Trek Bicycle. The racing will be fast, fun and (probably) hot. We hope to see you this Labor Day weekend racing or spectating. It’ll be a big party with the Deschutes beer garden, fun activities for all, two food trucks and an ice cream truck!

8-6-2018 Georgia State Crit Age Group Championships  Topview Sports has announced that The Georgia State Crit Age Group Championships will be Sunday, Aug. 19 in Lawrenceville. See the full details on the event Facebook page. Don’t forget the Hapeville Crit on Friday, Aug. 17 and the Grant Park Crit on Saturday, Aug. 20! It’s Crit Madness Weekend!

SORBA Woodstock Trail Party From SORBA Woodstock “Join us for our monthly trail work party. Check the website and/or Facebook sites for the location. Wear long pants and closed-toe shoes, and bring your own water. We provide the rest. This is a chance to help give back to the trails. We could not maintain these trails without generous volunteers like you.” Rope Mill Park, Sat., Aug. 18 9 am-Noon

8-1-2018 Silver Comet Clarification It looks like Representative Anulewicz is hopeful that the lease for the Silver Comet Connector to the Beltline is coming soon. Both the Marietta Daily Journal and Cobb County Courier clarified her statement from Monday.

7-31-2018 NCCX Clinic Cancelled NCCX cancelled the women’s clinic this weekend that was to take place in Hendersonville. Contact them for more information.

Comet Extension Official ?? From the Cobb County Courier “Official word is expected in the next few days on the Silver Comet Trail extension toward Atlanta. The famous 61.5-mile bike trail has sat unfinished for years, halting in front of the Publix on South Cobb Drive. But after a series of negotiations at the state capitol, the trail could soon extend east to the Chattahoochee River and Atlanta city limits, possibly further. “It’s imminent,” said Teri Anulewicz (D – Smyrna), during a Connect the Comet stakeholder meeting Sunday evening at Vinings Bank. “The lease is signed and an announcement is coming.”

While nothing is official as of this writing, speculation has been mounting that an official announcement is on the way. Just 6.2 miles separate the Silver Comet from planned Atlanta Beltline routes, and CSX Corp., which owns rights to the trail, has been negotiating a new lease with the state of Georgia. Anulewicz said Governor Nathan Deal hopes to finish the process before the end of his term.”

Boone Gran Fondo This Weekend From the Promoter Beat the heat and ride 100, 55, or 20 miles on Sunday, August 5 in the cool mountain air around Boone, NC. The Boone Gran Fondo is this weekend, and it’s not too late to register! There’s also an optional time trial on Saturday, August 4! Race the timed sections and then sit up and swap stories with your friends! The standings at the end of the day are based only on your times through the timed sections. You can regroup and ride with friends, stop at aid stations, and enjoy the scenery between sections! Come for the ride, stay for the prizes (and beer!).

7-30-2018 The Cyclocross Race Page is updated with all of the CX Race Series that have released dates so far. I’ll add more as they are announced.

Cyclocross

7-29-2018 Tour De Cashiers The 26th annual Tour de Cashiers Mountain Cycling and 5K Run Experience rolls out on Saturday, September 15, 2018 at 8:00 A.M. from The Cashiers/Glenville Recreation Center on Frank Allen Road. Riders from across the Southeast, and as far away as South America, make the pilgrimage to Cashiers for this annual event which has earned a reputation as one of the premier events in the southeast. The fresh mountain air, incredible mountain scenery and rush of adrenaline afforded by the more than 10,000 feet of elevation change make this race a favorite. More than 300 cyclists dedicate their day to the challenge of one of several routes: Quarter-Century (25 miles), Metric (62 miles), Century (100 miles). There is a challenging course for every rider.

Peak Racing Events have partnered to direct this event and they will be providing operational support throughout. The Mountain Cycling and Running Event promises a weekend of enjoyable activities for riders, runners and their families. In addition to the weekend race and rides, everyone should plan on attending the Baldaroo concert scheduled for the evening of 9/15, which benefits the Boys and Girls Club of the Plateau. Joining them will be community volunteers and regional fire departments, rescue squads, and local law enforcement agencies who work tirelessly to ensure the safety and comfort of the riders.

-26-2018 Georgia CX Clinic Join Trish for a free CX clinic on Monday, Aug. 27 at 6:15 pm. The venue is the beautiful North Cooper Lake Park in Smyrna, GA–home of the future NCLP MTB Park. Everyone is welcome! Ride what ya brung! Juniors 10+ are welcome, but a parent/someone responsible will need to remain onsite with them. We’ll cover dismounting, mounting, carrying the bike, barriers, and cornering. We may go over handups if time allows.

Grant Park Crit From the Promoter The 13th Annual Grant Park Criterium is Saturday Aug 18th 2018, and it is the State Criterium Categories Championship. You can register on usacycling.com. Food trucks, beer stands, neutral race support, all day races, fun atmosphere and a big cash purse – with equal payouts for both Men and Women’s elite races. You don’t want to miss this year’s race!

Cohutta Wilderness Closed The Cohutta Wilderness experienced 4+ inches of rain in 2 hours and a straight-line wind (think like a straight tornado) on July 21. Much of the area is closed right now to all users-hikers, campers, mountain bikers, etc. See the Forest Service website for updates.

NCCX North Carolina Cyclocross has released their schedule. Oct. 13 Sanford NCCX, Oct. 14 Raleigh NCCX, Oct. 21 Davison NCCX, Oct. 27 Lenoir NCCX, Oct. 28 Boone NCCX, Nov. 10 Gibsonville NCCX, NC State CX Championships, Nov. 11 Winston-Salem NCCX, Nov. 12 Salisbury NCCX, Nov. 18 Charlotte NCCX, Dec. 2 Salisbury NCCX, Dec. 8-9 North Carolina Grand Prix UCI, Hendersonville, NC, Jan. 19 Adventure Cross NCCX, 4 Hour Team Race

Alabama Wheelman Race Weekend From the Promoter: On Sunday Morning we will be in beautiful Downtown Huntsville for the Banner Defense State Championship Criterium. We are excited to be hosting the Alabama State Crit Championship right here in Huntsville. The course has 4 right hand turns and one left hander mid way through. This course has one section that was recently repaved and like the other venues has great pavement for racing!

Bobby Labonte Charity Ride Press Release The Bobby Labonte Foundation Charity Bike Ride will be held on Saturday, September 8, with pre-ride events held on September 6 and 7 (in High Point, NC). The Charity Bike Ride began in 2011 to advance the Bobby Labonte Foundation’s mission to support children and families in the Triad area The Charity Bike Ride starts at 7:30 am Saturday, September 8 and includes 40 km, 60 km, and 100 km options. The High Point Hospital Heart & Sole 5k begins at 8 am, following a course through downtown High Point. New this year is Hi Fest, High Point’s fall festival in celebration of diversity. Runners, cyclists and their friends and family can enjoy Hi Fest’s live music, vendor booths, and celebration from 9 am to 4 pm on September 8. All of the proceeds from the charity bike ride, the brunch ride, and the silent auction and cocktail party will fund grants for local non-profit organizations who support children, parents, and families.

7-24-2018 Big Creek Greenway Closure From Facebook: The Big Creek Greenway (in Forsyth County) is closed from McFarland Parkway to Union Hill Rd. This part of the trail has damage from the recent storms and may be closed for one week or longer. The trail is open from Union Hill Rd. to Kelly Mill Rd.