Blanket’s Creek Closed Sunday Blanket’s Creek MTB Trails will be closed Sunday for a private event.

News for 1-2-2022
WBL Ride # 8 THE PARKS LAW COLBERT CLASSIC
**[START DELAYED 1 HOUR // Ride shortened to 55 miles]
When: Saturday, 22 January [*RIDE SHORTENED]
Where: The Hub (5 Points / Athens) (https://hubbikes.com)
Time: ****11 a.m. (window open)******
Length: 55 miles / 3 hours (ride time)
Points: 3 (1 per hour-must sign in)
Exit Route: Lumpkin > over stadium > Arch > Olympic
Store Stop: None
Pee Break: approx. Mile 18 (Kincaid)
GPS MAP: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38388559
Intermediate Sprints: [None]
Final Attack Zone (YELLOW LINE RULE!): Mile 33: Hargrove Lake-Gene Dixon Attack Zone (9 miles): Attack Zone opens when group turns left on Hargrove Lake Road. Ride 6 miles and turn right on Beaverdamn, Ride half mile and turn left on Smithonia. Ride 1 mile and turn right on Melton. Ride 1.5 miles to finish line / line in road. [Regroup at stop sign after sprint.]

Hincapie Spring Series The Hincapie Spring Series in South Carolina will be 4 weekends this year:
March 26-27 Hincapie Spring Series, Rock Hill Criterium
#April 2-3 Hincapie Spring Series, Fork Shoals RR & Donaldson RR
#April 9-10 Hincapie Spring Series River Falls RR & Donaldson RR
#April 23-24 Hincapie Spring Series, Rock Hill Criterium

News for 1-12-2022
Pro Tour Comes to the Southeast I don’t remember the last time the Pro Cross Country Tour came to the Southeast. Maybe a decade? Yes, the World Cup was in WV last year, but that’s a bit more mid-Atlantic than Southeast. The Beech Mountain MTB Challenge will be held July 9 at Beech Mountain, NC. That is a tough course with a lot of climbing from what I remember from years ago.

WBL Ride #7 From the WBL WBL Ride # 7 THE FIRST AMERICAN BANK JACKSON COUNTY SPECTACULAR, When: Saturday, 15 January, Where: The Hub (5 Points / Athens) (https://hubbikes.com), Time: 10 a.m. (window open)
Length: 81 miles / 4 hours (ride time) // 74 miles w/o 7 mile Attack Zone loop, Points: 4 = 1 per hour (must sign in)
Exit Route: Milledge > Hill > MLK > Boley > Nowhere
Store Stop: Commerce (Mile 45), Pee Break: approx. Mile 20, GPS MAP: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/21829050

Final Attack Zone (YELLOW LINE RULE!): Mile 66: Pink Church Loop (8 miles): Attack Zone opens when group turns right at Alligator Pond. Ride 1 mile and cross finish line for the first time (intermediate sprint) and keep going. Turn right on Cane Creek and ride 2 miles to stop sign and turn right on Crooked Creek. Ride half mile and turn right on Jefferson River Road (JRR). Ride JRR for 3 miles and turn riaght again at Alligator Pond and sprint 1 mile to the line. [Regroup at church after sprint. You can elect not to ride the final loop and cut 7 miles by waiting at church]

News for 1-11-2022
USA Cycling Names CX Worlds Team USA Cycling has named the team for the cyclocross world championships Jan. 28-30 in Fayetteville, AR. Here are the athletes from the Southeast:
Elite Men
Kerry Werner (Vinton, Va.; Kona/ Maxxis/ Shimano)

Elite Women
Hannah Arensman (Brevard, N.C.; Sycamore Cycles)
Erica Zaveta (Brevard, N.C.; The Pony Shop p/b KPMG)

U23 Men
Jules Van Kempen (Chapel Hill, N.C.; Alpha Bicycles Co. – Groove Subaru)

News for 1-6-2022
Allatoona Work Party From MTB Atlanta Monthly Allatoona Work Party, Sat., Jan. 15 9 am-1 pm, 5690 Old Stilesboro Rd NW, Acworth, GA 30101. Join us for our monthly work party. We’ll be cleaning up all our trails after some rough winter weather. Bring some gloves and a smile. We’ll supply tools and lunch.

Sope Creek Trail Day From MTB Atlanta Sope Creek Trail Day, Sat., Jan. 15, 2021 9 am-Noon,150 Columns Drive, Marietta, GA Join us and the Chattahoochee River national Recreation Area for our monthly volunteer trail day at Sope Creek. We will be doing trail maintenance with a big crew of folks so come join the fun. Meet at the Columns Drive parking lot at 8:45. Have a mask, gloves, wear long pants and closed toed shoes and bring a pack, water, snacks, bug spray and your epi pen if you are allergic to bees. MTB Atlanta is resuming monthly work parties at Sope Creek and is using Federal regulations and CDC guidelines to conduct these events. We will adhere to the Federal mask requirement at the Park and will engage in social distancing at these events. Tools and stoke provided!
https://www.facebook.com/events/621175682481203/

Southern Cross Registration is Open! The 2022 Maxxis Tires Southern Cross Ultra Gravel Grind course is 50 miles with a bit over 6,000 ft of elevation gain (two major climbs), and consists of pavement, gravel roads and a short (but hard) grass section at the end of the race up to the finish line. The course is gravel bike or mountain bike friendly, so pick your poison! Riders will pass by an aid station twice during the ride, and be treated to Terrapin Beer and Moe’s Burritos for a hearty post-race meal. REGISTER ONLINE HERE! We have added a shorter 30 mile option for Junior riders with categories for 10-14 and 15-18 male and female riders. 30 mile Juniors will ride the infamous “Winding Stair Loop” and are allowed to have a non-participant adult accompany them for safety, but are not allowed to draft or have the adult carry any of their food or water.

2022 Race Highlights! ▪Killer course that features some of the toughest and most scenic forest roads in North Georgia that will give you bragging rights for finishing! We are only using the gravel loops for 2022 – no trail sections except the short run into the finish. ▪ Cash payout for Top 5 Open Men and Open Women’s classes. ▪Free Primitive Camping at Montaluce for Friday and Saturday night! ▪Super comfy cotton blend race shirt with race logo (register by Feb 19 shirt size deadline to guarantee your size) ▪Surprise race swag item (past items have been hats, stainless beer cups, pint glasses, and coffee mugs!) ▪ Post race burritos from Moes with Terrapin Beer! ▪Well stocked aid station with plenty of calories, fluids, mechanical support, first aid supplies and more. ▪Transport of up to 2 drop bags to aid station ▪Custom awards for all podium finishers

News for 1-5-2022
WBL Ride #6 From the WBL: WBL Ride # 6 THE CLASSIC CITY BAKERIES BOWMAN CLASSIC
When: Saturday, 8 January, Where: The Hub (5 Points / Athens) (https://hubbikes.com), Time: 10 a.m. (window open) Length: 88 miles / 4.5 hours (ride time) Points 5: 1 per hour (must sign in) Exit Route: Lumpkin > Over stadium > Arch > Olympic Drive Store Stop: Bowman (Mile 45), Pee Break: approx. Mile 14 GPS MAP: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/37989932
Intermediate Sprints: [Begin next week] Final Attack Zone (YELLOW LINE RULE!): Mile 72: Erastus-Seagraves-Nowhere (9 miles): Attack Zone opens when group turns onto Erastus Church Road. Ride 2 miles to stop sign and turn left on Seagraves. Ride 4 miles to stop sign and turn rigt on Nowhere. Ride 3 miles to finish line in road (Jackson County sign).
Pro Finish sonsored by Classic City Bakeries (https://www.classiccitybakeries.com), Ladies Finish sonsored by Team Type 1 (http://teamtype1.org/)

1-4-2022 It looks like charity/fun ride event registrations are opening. The Honey Bee in LaFayette, GA is on June 4. The Tour of Coweta is on April 23.

1-3-2022 Happy New Year! Happy New Year! I’m working on updating the calendars. Mountain/Gravel is done. I’ll work on the Road calendar later this week. If you don’t see a race listed, the date is wrong, or something else, please contact me with the correct information. If you have specific questions about a race like when pre-reg closes, what time category X races, directions to a venue, how much the late fee is, and so on, contact the promoter. How do I do that? Every race has a link to a website or social media site. You can contact the promoter from there.

WBL Update From the WBL: Remind everyone of Guidelines to keep everyone safe from Covid. We do believe cyclists can ride these rides safely because we are outside by taking these simple steps:
Only VACCINATED folks may ride. Avoid getting close to someone’s face when speaking. Keep space between yourself and others. We encourage wearing a mask in the parking lot.  Stay double file, don’t spit, hack or cough and go to rear if you do. If you’re on the front pulling you have minimal risk. Just sayin. Trish’s Note: Haven’t gotten your vaccine? Why? The science is behind it. We believe in the science of bicycling; believe in the science of medicine. I’m happy to say I’m fully vaxxed and boosted. If you don’t want to keep yourself safe, get the vaccine to keep other safe! While you are at it, get your flu shot, too.

12-23-2021 TOSH 2022 Cancelled From the promoter: ToSH 2022 Cancelled COVID has struck yet again and we are very disappointed to announce that the event has been cancelled for 2022. We were well into the planning stages and we had some awesome changes in store for you, but we will have look ahead to 2023. We’ll keep the wheels turning on our end and we hope you will have a successful race season in 2022.

12-22-2021 WBL Holiday Rides From the WBL WBL HOLIDAY SCHEDULE (UPDATED)
WBL Ride # 4: The Nabo Realty Ladies Day Classic When: Friday, 31 December Where: The Hub (5 Points / Athens) (https://hubbikes.com)
Time: 10 a.m. (window open) Length: 55 miles / 3 hours (ride time) Points 3: 1 per hour (must sign in) Exit Route: S Milldege > MLK > Boley > Nowhere Store Stop: None (Mile –) Pee Break: approx. Mile 20
GPS MAP: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/37989629
Intermediate Sprints: None Final Attack Zone (YELLOW LINE RULE!): Ladies Only (1 Mile / Pink Church) Attack Zone opens at Mile 45 when pack turns right at Alligator pond. Ride 1 mile uphill to Pink Church Line. Fame and Fortune await.
Ladies Finish sponsored by Nabo Realty (naborealty.com):
1st: 10 pts. / $200 plus da Box!
2nd: 8 pts / $100
3rd: 6 pt. / $75
4th: 4 pts./ $50
5th: 2 pts / $25
6th: 1 pt
****
WBL Ride # 5: Cappy’s Custom Cabinets New Year’s Day Classic When: Saturday, 1 January Where: The Hub (5 Points / Athens) (https://hubbikes.com) Time: 10 a.m. (window open) Length: 60 miles / 3 hours (ride time) Points 3: 1 per hour (must sign in) Exit Route: College Station Store Stop: None (Mile –) Pee Break: approx. Mile 20
GPS MAP: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/37989513
Intermediate Sprints: None Final Attack Zone (YELLOW LINE RULE!): Non Pro, 1, 2 Only (6 Miles / Flat Rock Final Attack Zone): Opens at Mile 43 when pack turns right at Wire Bridge. Ride 2 miles to stop sign and turn right on Oliver Bridge. Ride 2 miles and turn right on Flatrock Road. Ride 2 miles to sprint line. (Regroup at stop sign after sprint)
Non Pro Finish sonsored by Cappy’s Custom Cabinets (http://www.cappyscabinets.com)
1st: 10 pts. / $100 plus da box!
2nd: 8 pts / $75
3rd: 6 pt. / $50
4th: 4 pts./ $25
5th: 2 pts / $25
6th: 1 pt