2-22-2019 Gran Fondo Florida Releases New Details Happy Hour, Finish Line Party, Team Competition, Lodging and more As Gran Fondo Florida swiftly approaches, the Gran Fondo National Series has released updated information on  a Saturday Happy Hour, Sunday’s Finish line Party, lodging, entry pricing, and new Team Competition details. The annual cycling event in San Antonio, FL will be held March 23-24, 2019.

Happy Hour, Hosted by Flint Creek Outfitters A great cycling event is more than a bike ride, and Gran Fondo Florida features a Saturday evening Happy Hour hosted by Flint Creek Outfitters in Dade City, FL. Cyclists can meet new and old friends over drinks and appetizers at Flint Creek Outfitters from 6:30-7:30 PM on Saturday, March 23. *Finish Line Party, Hosted by VO2 Max Cycles There’s nothing like a hot meal and cold beer after a great day on the bike. Hosted by VO2 Max Cycles, the Finish Line Party at Gran Fondo Florida will feature food from Boss Ross BBQ and live music by Rough Idle. Riders are encouraged to stick around for a chance to win valuable raffle prizes from GFNS sponsors. *Lodging Offer from Hampton Inn Dade City Cyclists traveling to Gran Fondo Florida can take advantage of special event room rates at the Hampton Inn Dade City – Zephyrhills. In addition to a $129 discounted room rate, the Hampton Inn will be serving breakfast starting at 5:30 AM to accommodate cyclists getting ready for Gran Fondo Florida. *Updated Team Competition with 15-Second Time Bonus Per Team Member The Gran Fondo National Series encourages clubs and teams to ride, compete, and have fun together. The 2019 update to the Team Competition ensures that everyone on a team plays a role in the final outcome by rewarding a time bonus for each team member. The winning team at each GFNS event will receive four complimentary entries to any GFNS event within the following 11 months.

Entry Fees Increase March 4 Registration prices for all three routes will increase by $20-$25 on March 4, 2019. Cyclists are urged to register early to take advantage of lower registration prices. The current fees are: Gran Route (100 miles), $120 Medio Route (55 miles), $95 Piccolo Route (35 miles), $65 Optional Saturday Time Trial: Free Services and amenities for all riders include pro-level support and fully stocked and staffed aid stations on course, timed segments, prize raffles, finish line party, and more. The optional Saturday Time Trial will remain free through event day.

2-21-2019 Speedway Spin to benefit Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta The Speedway Spin Benefiting Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is coming Saturday, June 15, 2019 to the Atlanta Motor Speedway! Start/End: Check in – 7am; Race Start time – 8am; Event end time – 12:30pm (subject to changed based on riders) Details: The inaugural Speedway Spin fundraising event will be held exclusively on the grounds of Atlanta’s NASCAR track, Atlanta Motor Speedway benefiting Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Children’s is one of the largest children’s hospitals in the country serving Atlanta, Georgia and the southeast with more than one million patient visits annually. This fun-filled event will feature a Metric Century, and festival atmosphere inside the oval race track.

Riders are highly encouraged to fund raise as they will have a chance to earn prizes, such as a Speedway Spin jersey, cycling kit, etc. The top 3 individual fundraisers will each earn 2 seats to attend Braves All-Star, Freddie Freeman’s Lunch for Children’s in September 2019, where they will meet Freddie and get their picture taken with him and one autographed baseball for each set of two. Registration types: individual metric century; relay team of four metric century
Cost: $75 registration fee for all riders regardless of completing the ride as a team or individual.

DLV Workday From the Dick Lane Velodrome: Workday #4 March 9th. Come help out even if you don’t race at the track! We need everyone! We have scheduled the next work day for March 9th 9am to 3ish. We hope to see you there. We’ll be working around the beginners class that’s also scheduled that day between 1 to 4. Just a reminder, you do get volunteer points towards Rider of the Year. Goals include: track: concrete patch culvert pipe outlet, track: fix video cabling, pickup leaves, maintenance to the officials stand, other items as identified, and of course, pizza eating.

2-20-2019 Good News about Lost Mountain Trails! From SORBA West Georgia’s Facebook Group “I (sic) received a call from Cobb Commissioner Mike Boyce and he told me that Mountain Biking will be allowed to stay at Lost Mountain. There will be signs put up to share the trail and that we may have to make it directional. He was going into a meeting with Commissioner Keli Gambrill to discuss. He stated that groups that put this much effort into the caring and improving of trails will not lose access. He appreciated all the kind and supportive emails of the trails and the county employees.”

2-19-2019 Cobb County MTB Trails Need Your Help! From IMBA SORBA West Georgia “Friends we need your help again. Many of you already know that there has been some discourse about mountain bike use at Cobb County trails recently, specifically at Allatoona Creek and Lost Mountain Parks. Our access may be threatened at these parks. Unfortunately, we bikers get a bad rap as a user group and the public is not aware of all the volunteer hours that go into maintaining our trails. Your chapter is working hard to raise awareness but we need your help. Please take a second to email your District 1 Commissioner’s office at Keli.gambrill@cobbcounty.org and let them know how important the trails are to you and how important we are to the trails. Keep it positive and and to the point. We also need to have another positive showing at the next parks planning meeting on March 4th. More details will follow.”

Trish’s Note: If you are in Cobb County, cc your elected official and Commissioner Mike Boyce mike.boyce@cobbcounty.org. Find them here.

Silver Comet Robbers Arrested From the AJC: “2 teens accused of robbing cyclist at gunpoint on Silver Comet Trail in Cobb By Zachary Hansen, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution An 18-year-old and a 16-year-old were arrested and accused of committing armed robberies in Cobb County, including one on the Silver Comet Trail last month, authorities said.

Tyrone Jerome Vincent, of Austell, and the underage teen were arrested last Monday after allegedly stealing a cellphone near the East-West Connector, Channel 2 Action News reported. The 16-year-old is not being charged as an adult, and it’s AJC.com’s policy to not identify minors who are being charged as juveniles.” Read the full article.

2-15-2019 Six Gap The rumor has been going around Facebook on Wednesday that the Six Gap Ride is dead. Nope. From a Facebook Post: “Rumors are swirling from this weeks article about the Chamber & Visitor’s Bureau in the Dahlonega Nugget. Direct comment from the Six Gap Ride Director, Rebecca Jackson: Six Gap is NOT, I repeat NOT ending for this year or even in 2020. We are re-evaluating how the Chamber as a whole is run and Six Gap is a massive part of our funding and it makes a huge economic impact on our community. There is a lot more to the story and a lot more to be determined. As a responsible organization we have to take a look all angles of our business and how it is being run. We will have some challenges with trying to run 6 Gap with just 3 staff members but that is something we will have to look at in the coming years. Again, this does not effect this year’s event. We are still fully staffed through 2019 and plan on hosting a top notch event this year as always.”

St. Paddy O Pedal From the Promoter: “We are excited to announce that Registration for the 2019 St Paddy O’Pedal Ride to Conquer Childhood Cancer is open. This years event builds upon our tradition of having a great course with four different distances and levels of difficulty, and a high quality Stand & Hammer t-shirt. Let’s not forget about the fun after ride party, where all cyclists will now be returning at approximately the same time to enjoy free beer and food with improved distribution, music and an awesome raffle. To top it off, the funds raised will target pediatric cancer research at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, a truly great cause!

A new and exciting Kids BikeFest, free of charge for children ages 5 and up. Led by certified coaches, kids will have a blast while learning bike safety and handling skills in a fun and festive atmosphere. We are teaming up with the city of Milton to also provide a touch-a-truck experience for the kids – fire trucks, police vehicles to name a few, and there will also be a skills exhibition by the nationally ranked Multisports Explosion Youth Team. The BikeFest is ongoing from 11 AM until 2 PM, so you can ride in St. Paddy O’Pedal and have your family meet you for the BikeFest!

2-12-2019 Silver Comet Arrest The person that was robbed on the Silver Comet a few weeks ago says the perpetrators were arrested and are thought to be linked to other crimes in the area. I’m posting this as “I heard this” but have not been able to confirm. I haven’t seen anything in the local news media. Still, it’s nice to know those guys are off the street–at least for a little while.

2-11-2019 2019 Cohutta 100/Big Frog 65/Old Copper 30 – From Mountain Goat Adventures: Early Registration pricing through 2/15! After 2/15, the price goes up by $25 in the 65 and 100 Mile Races, and $10 in the 30 Mile Race. Register soon – you save money and it helps us plan a better event for you all. These amazing events will continue to be hosted out of the beautiful Ocoee Whitewater Center and the 2019 event will be held on April 27, 2019! The 100 Mile and 65 Mile Races are part of the 2019 NUE Epic and Marathon Series!

2019 Race Highlights!▪More singletrack mileage added to all courses! ▪Pair of custom Handup Gloves included with all registrations! ▪Super comfy tri-blend shirt included with all registrations!▪ Finisher mug for all finishers! ▪Hearty post-race meal ▪Hefty cash payout to top finishers in Male Open and Female Open in the the 65 and 100 Mile Races▪ Handmade awards for all Podium Finishers ▪ Well stocked aid stations with plenty of calories, fluids, mechanical support, first aid supplies, and moral support from our rockstar volunteer crew ▪ Well marked course with highly visible signage and course marshals ▪ Old Copper course improved from 20 miles to 30 miles of killer singletrack – more bragging rights when you finish!

2-10-2019 MOFLO Workday From SORBA West Georgia MOFLO Workday at Allatoona Sat., Feb. 16, 2019, 9 am, “DO YOU EVEN JUMP?” Come out this Saturday and show MOFLO some love. If you ride flow-trails and jump-lines, then you can’t miss this one. We’ll be smoothing out and amping up some of the more worn out sections. Bring some water and be ready to get dirty. We’ll provide the tools and lunch.

2-8-2019 Joey Rosskopf Interview PEZCycling has an interview with Joey Rosskopf. Joey was raised in Decatur, GA and now calls Athens home when he is in the US. After several years with BMC, he’s racing for the new CCC team in 2019.

2-7-2019  St. Paddy O’Pedal Ride to Conquer Childhood Cancer Benefiting Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta St. Paddy O Pedal, Sunday, March March 24, 2019, 9 AM Start for 64 mile ride, 10 AM Start for 25 & 45 mile rides, Great routes, fellowship & after party with music, food and beverages provided by Olde Blind Dog, Dukes Bar & Grill, and From The Earth. Registration is open! There will also be a Kid’s Bike Fest from 11 am-2 pm with Bike skills, traffic and safety skills, obstacle course, and Touch A Truck! (Trish’s Note: This is a great ride put on by a great club benefiting a worthy charity. I did it last year and can’t wait to do it this year!)

2-6-2019 442D Tour de Gordon The JETstream Edition From the Promoter: 442D Tour de Gordon (just outside of Augusta, GA) Event: 10,30,60 Mile Cycling Event, Event Location: Fort Gordon Motor Cycle Safety Course Bldg. 2056, Date and Time: 16 March 2019 at 10 AM Weather: event will occur “rain or shine”; to exclude severe weather conditions. Food and Drinks are available per donation! DONTATIONS will be accepted at the EVENT Our Goals here at 442D Signal Battalion; are to strengthen ties with our local community, build a cohesive team, foster a positive environment, promote healthy activity, and raise funds for our Family Readiness Group (FRG). We will hold an Opportunity Draw for Prizes prior to the beginning of the cycling event. If you do not have a valid DoD ID you will have to use the right-hand lane of Gate 1 (7th Ave off Jimmie Dyess Pkwy); ensure you have driver’s license, registration, and proof of insurance available.

Dick Lane Velodrome Beginner’s Classes From the DLV: Beginner’s Class-2 Days. Attendance required at both days to be certified. Saturday and Sunday March 9-10, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Learn to ride and race on the Dick Lane Velodrome! This adult beginner program teaches the fundamentals of riding on the track, safely and progressing to more advanced handling. After the program, all riders are ready to race! Cost: $60.00 (includes loaner bike if you don’t have a track bike). Bring: shoes, pedals and helmet

2-5-2019 USA UCI CX Races 2019-2020 The UCI has released the 2019-2020 preliminary calendar of UCI CX races for North America. No surprise is that the only race in the Southeast is the NC Grand Prix in Hendersonville Nov. 23-24, which is several weeks earlier than its normal spot on the calendar. Somewhat close races include Blue Ridge GO Cross in Roanoke, VA (Sept. 1) and some races throughout MD and Dc. Fayetteville, AR will host OZ Cross Oct. 5-6 for anyone wanting to see a preview of the 2022 World’s venue.

Winter Bike League WBL 9 February (Saturday): # 12: The Finale: The Gruber Images Lula World Cup
Where: The Hub / Independent Baking Company (5 Points / Athens)
Time: 10 AM (window open)
Length: 100 miles / 5 hours (93 miles without final Pink Church Loop Attack Zone)
Points: 5 pts. (1 per hour)
Interactive map

Blankets Creek Dirty 15/30 Mile MTB Race Presented by Free-Flite Bicycles – From Mountain Goat Adventures: Coming April 20, 2019! Are you looking for something longer than an XC race but not quite ready for a 50 miler? Then check out the Blankets Creek Dirty Thirty Endurance MTB Race. The course includes most of the trails at Blankets Creek in a clockwise direction for a total distance of 15 miles per lap. Intermediate and advanced riders will complete two laps, for a total of 30 miles. A shorter one lap, 15 mile course will be offered for beginner categories as well as in two new open categories, for Sport/Expert Racers who prefer to only race 15 miles. Each lap has just under 1400′ of elevation gain, so this will be a challenging course. CLOCKWISE COURSE INCLUDES FAST AND FURIOUS DWELLING FLOW TRAIL! For 2019, we are riding clockwise on all trails! This means you will ride South Loop, Dwelling and then Van Michael Trail.

An aid station and access to drop bags will be available at the half way point for riders participating in the 30 mile race. This event is a major fundraiser for SORBA Woodstock, so please come out and support your local trails. *All riders receive a super comfy and lightweight tri-blend tee *First 150 to register will also receive a commemorative event swag item! *Medals and Sponsor prizes 3 deep in all Categories *Podium shirts for all 1st place finishers! *Stocked Aid Station with Torq Sports Nutrition as well as snacks.

2-4-2019 UCI CX World Championships Return to the US ALL.THE.YESSES!!!!!! Cyclingnews says it best: The UCI confirmed today that Fayetteville, Arkansas will host the 2022 Cyclo-cross World Championships, as reported earlier by Cyclingnews. The 2023 Worlds was awarded to Hoogerheide in the Netherlands, while previously announced hosts Dübendorf, Switzerland and Ostend, Belgium will host the next two upcoming World Championships, respectively. The UCI also confirmed the US would continue to host the first two events of the 2019-2020 Telenet UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup, with the series starting in Iowa City on September 14, 2019, followed by Waterloo on September 22. The series then goes to Bern, Tabor, Koksijde, Zolder, Nommay and Hoogerheide. Commenting on the decision to award the world championships to Fayetteville, UCI President David Lappartient said: “We are delighted to see the return of our Worlds to the USA in 2022, which comes as confirmation of the international expansion of cyclo-cross and points to the growing interest among organisers in a discipline that offers significant development opportunities.”

Sope Creek Work Party From MTB Atlanta Sope Creek Work Party Sat., Feb. 16, 9 an-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.

Cochran Mill Work Party From MTB Atlanta Cochran Mill Work Party Sat., Feb; 9, 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. We will see you there!

1-29-2019 DLV Olympic Devo Team There will be a meeting for those interested in the Olympic Development Team at the Dick Lane Velodrome Feb. 6 from 6-8 pm at the velodrome. The program will be focused on ages 15-21. See the event on Facebook for more information.

WBL WBL 26 January (Saturday): # 11: The Independent Baking Company Down South Juking Greensboro Classic
Where: The Hub / Independent Baking Company (5 Points / Athens)
Time: 10 AM (window open)
Length: 90 miles / 4.5 hours
Points: 5 pts. (1 per hour)
Interactive map

February Work Party From RAMBO February Work Party Sat., Feb. 9 9:30 am-12:30 pm at Big Creek. How do you improve your ride without spending a dime on new parts, clothing or accessories? Work on the trails you ride! You can do just that every second Saturday of each month with RAMBO. Join us as we tackle regular maintenance, trail re-routes, storm clean up, trail construction, or even special detail for upcoming events. Please bring hydration and wear closed toe shoes and gloves for your protection and comfort. RAMBO will provide the necessary tools and instruction. We’ll even pick up lunch. 🙂 9:30a – 12:30p lower parking lot.

1-27-2019 USAC Announces Track Development Centers From USAC: USA Cycling announced today the four velodromes which will be participating in the Olympic Development Program as Training Centers. The four Velodromes, located in Houston, Tex., Atlanta, Ga., Trexlertown, Pa., and Seattle, Wa., will be awarded annual grants and will play a key role in building towards future success in track cycling. The goals for each Development Center are to support to club and coach development, increase access to fun training experiences for juniors, create more opportunities to identify high potential athletes, and promote high levels of participation at Track National Championships.

The creation of the Olympic Development Track Program was made possible through the generous support of a private donor with a passion for track cycling. Additional resources will be needed to fully establish and expand the program, and USA Cycling is seeking further donations and sponsorships to help the program reach its full potential. Donors who are interested in supporting the Olympic Development Program, or other USA Cycling elite athlete development programs, are encouraged to visit the USA Cycling Foundation page HERE. Those wishing to get involved in the Olympic Development Program, grow the clubs or race programs can learn more at the USA Cycling Team USA – Track page HERE under ‘Development Pathway.’

1-23-2019 Cohutta 100/Big Frog 65 From MGA: Mountain Goat Adventures is excited to announce that Roost Racing has passed the torch to us and we will be producing the Cohutta 100, Big Frog 65, and Old Copper 30 MTB Races in 2019 and beyond. These amazing events will continue to be hosted out of the beautiful Ocoee Whitewater Center and the 2019 event will be held on April 27, 2019! The 100 Mile and 65 Mile Races are part of the 2019 NUE Epic and Marathon Series! Custom Handup Gloves for all participants! ▪More singletrack mileage added to all courses! ▪ Super comfy tri-blend shirt included with all registrations! ▪ Finisher mug for all finishers!▪ Hearty post-race meal ▪ Hefty cash payout to top finishers in Male Open and Female Open in the the 65 and 100 Mile Races▪ Handmade awards for all Podium Finishers ▪ Well stocked aid stations with plenty of calories, fluids, mechanical support, first aid supplies, and moral support from our rockstar volunteer crew ▪ Well marked course with highly visible signage and course marshals ▪ Old Copper course improved from 20 miles to 30 miles of killer singletrack – more bragging rights when you finish!

For the 65 and 100 mile races, riders will complete nearly all available singletrack before heading out on their respective gravel road loops. 65 mile riders will ride the usual “Big Frog” Loop, while 100 mile riders will complete a 65 mile gravel loop around the Cohutta and Big Frog Wilderness. Once riders return from their gravel loops, they will bomb down Chestnut Mtn (the short way) to Thunder Rock for a nearly all downhill or flat run into the finish. Old Copper 30 riders will complete the same trail loop as 65 and 100 mile riders, however they get the pleasure of just skipping the gravel loops and heading straight to the downhill finish.