9-25-2020 The Comet is being Extended! From the Marietta Daily Journal The Georgia Board of Natural Resources signed off Tuesday on a plan to extend the popular Silver Comet Trail in Cobb County. Board members unanimously approved agreements with Cobb County, the state Department of Transportation and the Forest Park-based nonprofit PATH Foundation to add 2.3 miles onto the eastern end of the trail, taking it inside the Interstate 285 perimeter for the first time.

The Silver Comet Trail runs for 61.5 miles along an abandoned rail line from Smyrna west through Cobb, Paulding and Polk counties to the Georgia/Alabama line. The paved trail is used primarily for biking and hiking. The new extension ultimately will allow the trail to connect with the Atlanta Beltline. To accomplish that aim, another extension will be needed to cross the Chattahoochee River.

The PATH Foundation has agreed to build the extension at no cost to the state, Steve Friedman, chief of real estate for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, told board members Tuesday. Cobb County will operate and maintain the new section of the trail, he said. The project is expected to be completed by the end of next year, Friedman said.

9-19-2020 Love 100K Breast Cancer Challenge From the promoter The Love 100K Breast Cancer Challenge is the(Lake Oconee Velo Eatonton 2nd annual metric century ride in Eatonton, GA. This one is very special because it benefits and honors two great local women, Marie Rainey and Amy Johnston who are fighting breast cancer. There are options of 100K / 60k / 30k / 5k family ride. There will be a police escort out of town and multiple rest stops. Nelson Vails will be the special guest. There is a Time Trial on Sunday, Oct. 4 on a 10 mile course. It will be a USA Cycling sanctioned TT.

Virtual Brownwood Bike Rally From the promoter Trish’s Note: This is a benefit for the Brownwood Kids Club. I have been a supporter of the Brownwood Bike Rally for many years now. You are receiving this email because you have participated in Brownwood Bike Rally during the last few years as a rider or volunteer, and we wanted you to know that even in the midst of this ongoing pandemic, we will be holding an event this year from October 1-17. The format will be different as we will be riding solo or in teams, virtually. This means that you can choose your own route, and we will be challenging folks to log as many miles as possible over seventeen days. Hop on a bike, trike, trainer, bike-erg, stationary bike, penny farthing, or unicycle, and let’s ride together to create more educational opportunities for our deserving youth! Along the way, there will be challenges, opportunities to share and highlight your rides, and prizes aplenty! Plus, you get a sweet t-shirt along with your registration, and this year’s rider is masked up and ready to ride safely. Register here. If you would like to support via donating to the event or a specific team but are not interested in riding, you can do so here. We are grateful to you for your past participation and support, and we hope to see you on the virtual road and trails this October!

9-16-2020 USA Cycling Announces 2021 National Championships USA Cycling announced some of the Cycling National Championship dates and venues for 2021. It looks like a lot of the same venues from 2020 will be used since they didn’t happen. Lots in the Southeast! Nats in the Southeast include:
Collegiate Road Nats May 7-9 in Augusta GA
USA Pro Road National Championship June 17-20 Knoxville, TN
Amateur Road Nats June 24-27 Clay County, FL
Gran Fondo National Championship July 18 Asheville, NC

9-14-2020 Ride to Rescue There will be a charity ride for several dog rescues including Mostly Mutts and Friends to the Forlorn in White, GA on October 3. There will be routes of 8 miles (you can do multiple laps!), 31 miles, and 62 miles. SAG stops will be on course. There will also be 1 mile out and back walking route with leashed dogs welcome! There is no on-site registration, so be sure to pre-register!

Dirty Spokes 6/3 Hour Mountain Bike Race From Dirty Spokes The Dirty Spokes 6/3 Hour race will be at Fort Yargo State Park in Winder, GA on November 7th, Start / Finish at the Nature Center Pavillion (the park has finished construction and we are moving it back to the Main Mountain Bike Parking Lot). We are in our 15th year of putting on the Dirty Spokes Fort Yargo State Park Endurance Mountain Bike Race and as enthusiastic as when we started it (thanks to racers and riders like yourselves). We appreciate the support you all have given our events for the last 14 years and look forward to seeing you out there again this year! We will be giving away thousands of Dollars in Product for the Dirty Spokes Fort Yargo Mountain Bike Race thanks to Roswell Bicycles, Giant and MAXXIS! They will be providing all 1st Place, 2nd Place and 3rd Place 6 Hour Finishers with some sweet prizes! This race will race number 6 of the Chainbuster 6/3 Hour Series (for complete series rules and information please visit Chainbuster Racing)!