6-29-2015 DLV Working Man’s Omnium From the DLV: Just a little reminder: Tomorrow and Wednesday is our Two Day “Working Man’s” Omnium. We look forward to seeing all categories A-D out tomorrow night and Wednesday Night!
Bike Alpharetta’s 4th Annual Tour de France Party Tuesday, July 14, 2015 at The Plaza at Avalon, 2200 Avalon Blvd, Alpharetta, GA, 7:00 pm-11:00 pm Watch the Tour de France on TVs, enjoy discounts and enjoy time with friends at participating restaurants and shops at Avalon. Proceeds benefit Bike Alpharetta, 501c3 non-profit. Check in at The Plaza for a free yellow wristband and “road map”. Then Eat, Drink, Shop and enjoy Bastille Day with the Tour de France – Whole Foods, L’Occitane, Goldberg’s Fine Foods, Marlow’s Tavern, Kona Grill, and Ted’s Montana Grill.
6-28-2015 Road Nats Sunday Results W. Harrison Nguy (Frazier Cycling) won 4th in the 13-14 year old Men’s Crit.
6-27-2015 Summer Soltice Race The Summer Soltice 3/6 Hour MTB race has been postponed until SUNDAY (TOMORROW). The time schedule is the same. Details are here.
Road Nats The podiums keep coming for GA riders! David Heath (Frazier Cycling) was 2nd in the Junior Men 13-14. Jane Tullis (Frazier Cycling) was 5th in the Women’s 13-14 TT. Another Frazier Rider, Eli Hoppenfeld, placed fifth in the Junior Men 11-12 National Time Trial. Eli (Trish’s Note. I don’t have full results. I’m pulling these off of Facebook & Twitter, so forgive me if I miss anyone!)
6-26-2015 Webb Bridge Ride Head’s up if you do the Webb Bridge Ride in Alpharetta! The Coyote Point Offices has said they will tow any cars parked there tomorrow.
More from Road Nats Thursday the younger Juniors race at Road Nats. Andrew (Eisenhauer) Menlo was 4th in the Junior Boys 9-10. (Rock on, my man!!) On Friday Megan continued her podium streak with a 3rd in the Women’s 15-16 TT. More to come….Andrew was 3rd in the TT on Saturday.
6-25-2015 Amateur Road National Championships The Amateur Road National Championships in Truckee, CA got off for a strong start Thursday for Georgia riders. Meghan Heath (Frazier Cycling) won the Junior Women’s 15-16 National Championship! This is Meghan’s first stars and stripes jersey. Willem Kaiser, son of State Rep. Margaret Kaiser, (706 Project/UHC) won the bronze in the Junior Men’s 17-18 race. Congratulations!
6-24-2015 IMBA SORBA Receives REI Grant Press Release: IMBA SORBA Atlanta has received a generous $25,000 grant from REI to begin construction on recreational trails at Southside Park in the City of Atlanta. This IMBA Trail Solutions designed project is the result of a partnership between the City of Atlanta, The Atlanta Bicycle Coalition, IMBA Trail Solutions, and IMBA SORBA Atlanta. The funding from this grant will be used for Phase One of the project, a beginner trail of almost two miles in length at Southside Park. For more info on the project, check out the President’s article in the latest Atlanta Velo City Magazine. We write “The Dirt” column in every issue to keep you up to date on the Chapter and Mountain Bike advocacy in the Metro Area. IMBA SORBA Atlanta thanks REI once again for being a great partner to our Outdoor Places and Outdoor Recreation in the Atlanta Metro Area and the State. Trish’s Note: There will be about 7 miles of trails when it is completed.
6-21-2015 Silk Sheets Parking From Don Duston (Atlanta Cycling): “If you ever ride at Silk Sheets, you’ll be interested in the Chattahoochee Hills Public Hearing scheduled for Tuesday, July 14th at 6:30 PM. The meeting topic we oppose is the installation of No Parking signs along the full length of Church St. in an attempt to effectively chase the cyclists away. Thank you to Mayor Reed for advising us of this public hearing. The hearing references the No Parking signs that the City of Chattahoochee Hills erected without a hearing, and later removed, around the newly annexed area which includes Campbellton United Methodist Church. Clearly, the intent here is to chase away the cyclists. It has been stated that a very small number of very vocal residents do not wish for others to “invade” their community by cycling on “their” roads. Wait, this is in Fulton County !
As you know, the Church encourages and welcomes cyclist parking. They appreciate the donations and the property security from having visitors on site. However, during Sunday church service hours many cyclists park in front of the church and across the highway on the north end of Church St which has almost zero use so why would the city wish to erect “No Parking” signs on that section of road? Since the signs have already been installed and when challenged, were removed, intent becomes pretty clear. It’s doubtful that these parking restrictions are designed to discourage church attendance. Clearly, this is an attempt by the City of Chattahoochee Hills (Fulton County) to discourage cycling in the community by limiting public parking options.
A city attorney advises that some number of persons attend the Public Hearing however an email campaign is equally effective. So, please take a moment to drop the Mayor and City Council members a short note regarding your enjoyment of visiting and cycling in the City of Chattahoochee Hills and your opposition to limiting public parking options for visitors specifically along Church St.
Please “cut and paste” this list of email addresses and the message to make it easy. One email sent with a copy to all will be fine. Or, draft your own response, as you wish. The important part is that persons respond – numbers.
Cut and Paste – Address List
tom.reed@chatthillsga.us
john.taylor@chatthillsga.us
richard.schmidt@chatthillsga.us
claire.williams@chatthillsga.us
faye.godwin@chatthillsga.us
don.hayes@chatthillsga.us
Cut and Paste – Message
Dear Mayor Reed and City Council Members,
Please accept this letter acknowledging my enjoyment of visiting and supporting the City of Chattahoochee Hills for cycling and other activities and my opposition to limiting visitor parking specifically along Church St.
Respectfully,
Name
__________________________
Chattahoochee Hills, GA
Mayor, Tom Reed
District 1/Mayor Pro Tem, John Taylor
District 2, Richard Schmidt
District 3, Claire Williams
District 4,Faye Godwin
District 5, Don Hayes
P.S. Please pass this message along to others who ride at Silk Sheets and would be impacted. They, too, may wish to respond.
6-20-2015 Powers Ferry Rd. Be careful riding on Powers Ferry Road near Chastain Park if you are in Atlanta! They are doing construction and have shifted the double yellow line.
6-19-2015 Atlanta Cycling Festival If you haven’t had a chance to make it to the Atlanta Cycling Festival yet, there are still events happening Friday and Saturday! Southeastern Cycling is proud to be a sponsor for the second year in a row! The Closing Bash and Bike-In Movie will be on Saturday at the Old 4th Ward Skate Park. Bring your bike and enjoy an evening under the stars! The movie will be the 80s classic The Goonies! There will also be food trucks and beer sales (for those 21+).
Sorella Cycling at the “Baggies” ride at the Atlanta Cycling Festival. The ride went along the Beltline and PATH to a local pub.
Southeast Regional Series Brings Elite Bicycle Races to Knoxville July 11-12 Press Release: The Leaderboard has taken shape for the biggest cycling series across the South. The Southeast Regional Series presented by BikeReg (SRS) returns to Knoxville, Tenn., July 11-12, as a state-points competition in partnership with the Tennessee Bicycle Racing Association. Male, female and masters (ages 35 and over) cyclists will compete for Best Area Rider (BAR) points during the two-day race weekend. SRS in Knoxville is an Omnium event with all three disciplines– an individual time trial, criterium and road race. The weekend’s events will be hosted by Visit Knoxville, the Knoxville Convention and Visitors Bureau. Racers and spectators can expect a full day of activities on Saturday, July 12. The Tour Stop Knoxville Time Trial begins at 8 a.m. along Martin Mill Pike, followed by the Tour Stop Knoxville Criterium at 11 a.m. The criterium features a one-mile circuit through downtown Knoxville. The start/finish is located on Howard Baker Jr. Avenue, adjacent to the Knoxville Civic Auditorium and Coliseum.
Sunday features The Tour Stop Knoxville Road Race at 8 a.m., with the start/finish in Corryton, Tenn.Racers will navigate an 11-mile loop starting at Corryton School Road near House Mountain State Natural Area. The route includes a climb on Hogskin Road for the King of the Mountain/Queen of the Mountain points competition, a prize for the best climbers. “We are really excited to partner with the Southeast Regional Series,” said Nathan Stone, who serves as the Road Director for the Tennessee Bicycle Racing Association. “The event draws some of the best cycling teams in the state. Adding the best area rider points to the competition allows us to really showcase some of these riders.”
6-18-2015 Blanket’s Creek Work Party From SORBA Woodstock: Trail Party this Saturday 6/20 9am-1pm at Blankets. Primary goal is Clip-N-Ride, so bring your bike and hand clippers. We have a few pairs to hand out. We will also be sending a small crew out to fix the trail on Kevorkian Pass that was impacted by the tree that fell away from the tread and another crew to do some chainsaw work.
6-17-2015 Ladies Ride at Cycle Therapy in Rome, GA Cycle Therapy in Rome, GA will begin their summer Ladies Only rides on Wednesdays. Meet at 6 and be ready to ride at 6:15. The ride will be 1-1.5 hours on the Heritage Trails. This ride is perfect for beginners, casual riders, or those who don’t want to ride on the roads. HEY SHOPS, CLUBS, and RIDE LEADERS–Have a ride you want me to give a shout out to? Contact me! If you are in Atlanta or Athens (GA), I maintain ride lists for those, send me the details! I need the start location, day, time, average speed (does it break up into groups), general ride description, is it drop/no drop, any other info. you want to include, and a cue sheet or link to a GPS file. If you are not in the Atlanta area, give me the same details, and I”ll post it here in the News section!
GBRA News From GBRA: The 2015 Junior Regional Championship, scheduled for June 7/8 was postponed, by the promoter on June 4th. The August date chosen, conflicted with another GCS event. For this reason, All of the 2015 Junior’s Road Cycling State Championship contests associated have been reassigned to scheduled State Championship &/or GCS events: Time Trial State Championship/ The Georgia State Individual & Team Time Trial Championships on August 1-2, Junior’s Road Race State Championships/HHC Rumble @ Roebling August 8-9, Jr’s Championship Road Race August 9, Criterium State Championship
Litespeed/BMW Twilight Criterium August 15.
Allatoona Work Party From SORBA West Georgia: We Really need a big turnout this Saturday at our ACP trail work party! We’ll start at 9:00 and wrap up around 1:00 with lunch. All tools provided. Just bring study shoes, long pants, gloves and bug spray. Top priority will be making sure the Summer Solstice race course is ready to go. Meet at the main parking lot.
6 Hour Race to Sunset From Mountain Goat Adventures: We hope you will join us for the 6 Hour Race to Sunset at Blankets Creek, presented by OutSpokin’ Bicycles on August 8th. located in Canton, GA, Blankets Creek is home to 15 miles of flowy, rolling singletrack. Take advantage of the early registration pricing by registering by July 18th. The shirt size deadline is July 25th, so you will need to register by then to guarantee your size or if you would like a women’s specific shirt. (Trish’s note: MGA is known for their awesome t-shirts!) This year’s event is limited to 325 riders to keep traffic to a reasonable level on the trails.
All riders receive a wicking tech tee, perfect for these hot summer days! First 250 to register will also receive a commemorative beverage glass, which will soon become your favorite! 100% cash payback to Solo Expert Classes! Sponsor prizes a minimum of 3 deep in all other categories, with large categories going up to 10 deep! Podium shirts for all 1st place finishers! Instant lap times and standings viewable on your smartphone – You don’t even need to leave your pit to check results! Special prizes for fastest laps, best pit, best crash, and best heckler costumes! Please help us help SORBA Woodstock by making plans to attend this event. Your participation ensures that we are able to keep attracting high level sponsors and enables us to support trail maintenance and construction at Blankets Creek and Rope Mill Park via funds raised at this event.
Fools Gold 50 and 100 Mile Mountain Bike Races (also from MGA)- September 19, 2015 Registration for the 2015 Fools Gold 50 and 100 Mile Mountain Bike Race is open and race preparations are underway! The Fools Gold is once again the NUE Series Finale, and is scheduled for September 19, 2015 at the beautiful Montaluce Winery and Estates, in Dahlonega, GA. 200 rider field limit for 100 mile, 300 rider field limit for 50 mile – please register early so you do not miss out. The 2014 race SOLD OUT in early September. Exciting improvements for 2015! More categories in our 50 mile race! We will still have the Open Men/Women’s classes, which will be the “money” classes, but we have added some additional divisions to give you all more options and smaller field sizes. Cash prizes added ($250, $200, $150) three deep in the 100 mile Open Singlespeed and Masters 50+ divisions.
And of Course, all the Good Stuff from 2014: Highly visible Course Markings and Course Marshals, Finisher awards for all 50 and 100 mile finishers, Custom awards for all podium finishers, Cash payout to 50 and 100 mile open Men/Women’s classes, Generous post race meal, Shirt size guaranteed if you register by the size deadline of September 1st., Bloody Early Saturday morning check-in for riders who are local and prefer not to stay in Dahlonega on Friday night., Well stocked aid stations with plenty of calories, fluids, mechanical support and first aid supplies, and possibly a few hecklers., Post race water, soda and of course Terrapin Beer!, Chip timing with instant results – no waiting around to see how you placed!, A mountain of sponsor prizes to find good homes for!, Hanging out post race with 300 of the coolest people you’ll ever meet!
6-16-2015 Welcome to New Advertisers! I’d like to give a huge welcome to a couple of new Southeastern Cycling advertisers. Free Flite Bicycles has been around for over 35 years. Locally owned, locally operated. Service is great! (Hint: Ask for Bryan or Alexis in the Marietta Canton Rd. location.) Free Flite is a huge supporter of cycling in Atlanta. They are very involved with SORBA Woodstock and supporting the trails at Blanket’s Creek and Rope Mill. Free Flite carries Trek, Santa Cruz, Surly, and more!
The Ledesma Sports Medicine Savannah Century features two days of pedaling the lovely and unique scenery of the Georgia Low Country Sept. 5-6. Saturday’s warm up ride begins and ends at Hendrix Park in Black Creek, Georgia, approximately 20 minutes from downtown Savannah. Sunday’s “main event’ rides depart from the popular and unique venue- The Distillery Alehouse. There are routes for all abilities! Each pre-registered rider who completes the century will receive a custom printed “100 Mile Club” pint glass upon return to The Distillery Alehouse! Join us on Facebook for jersey giveaways and other added benefits!
The Boone Gran Fondo is part of the Gran Fondo National Championship Series offers not only the hardest road racing series in the nation, but also the most fun!
3 Distances to choose from: Gran Route (105 mi), Medio Route (55 mi), Piccolo Route (20 mi), 4 Timed Sections in the Gran Route – Best Combined Time Wins
Custom “Race Winner” jerseys for all Gran Route age group winners, Cash Purse and Prizes for Gran Route winners, Awards and Prizes for Medio and Piccolo winners, No racing license required. The Boone GF will be Aug. 2nd.
Remember to support the advertisers as they allow me to keep Southeastern Cycling FREE for everyone!
The Omnium Pro Race Series Swap & Shop From the DLV: Back for our second big event of the year will be the Swap & Shop at the Omnium. The vendor area at The Keirin was a success and we want to make it bigger & better! If you wish to have a booth, spaces will be $50 for a 10×10 space. You will need to bring your own table/chair/blanket/salesperson/tent and methods for accepting payments. DLV cannot make change or accept credit cards for you. If you are interested please email rob@dicklanevelodrome.com for information on how to reserve. Spaces are limited and reserved on a first come first serve basis. Payment required upfront to reserve your spot.
6-15-2015 Trish’s Rant It’s been a while since I’ve had a good rant. Here you go…
How To Pass in a Mountain Bike Race I’ve been racing mountain bikes since 1997 and have been passed by a lot of fellow racers during that time. Thankfully in most of the XC races, The Cat. 2 Women race with the Cat. 1 and Cat 2 riders, who know how to pass politely and safely. In the 3/6 Hour races, everyone of every ability is thrown together. After some bad experiences at the last 2 races being passed, I thought I’d write a primer on how to do it well. USA Cycling’s rule book has a bunch of archaic rules about passing. The one I want to address is this one:
“It is the responsibility of passing riders to overtake safely. Riders should voice the command “Track” when overtaking another rider. Riders being passed must move over as quickly, efficiently, and as safely as possible.” In reality, no one yells “Track” anymore.
SAFELY. This does not involve yelling at the slower rider to “Get the FFFF Off The Trail!” This does not involve slamming the slower rider into a tree or hole or onto the ground. It is the responsibility of the faster rider to pass safely, and it is the responsibility of the slower rider to let them by as soon as it is SAFELY Possible. Here is how to pass properly.
Scenario 1, Passing in a narrow section with a small opening on the trail ahead.
Faster Racer: 2 Riders Back.
Slower Racer: Ok , you can pass on my left just after this tree. (Slower racer moves to the right, and let’s the faster racers pass.)
Scenario 2: Going down a fast, rocky hill. Note: It is DANGEROUS to pass someone going downhill. The Cat. 1 riders know this. LISTEN UP BEGINNERS! DO NOT PASS SOMEONE GOING DOWNHILL!
Faster Racer: I’d like to pass, please.
Slower Racer (looks ahead): Ok, as soon as we get to the bottom of the rocky hill, I’ll pull to the right, and you can pass on my left.
The pass is completed at the bottom of the hill.
Scenario 3: Going up a long hill.
Faster Racer: Pass please! Coming up fast.
Slower Racer: Ok, after this 20 foot rooty section, pass on my left. (Slower racer pulls to the right, so that the faster racer can pass. Slower racer may need to stop and pull off the trail if the hill is steep or narrow. As a courtesy, the slower racer should look back to make sure no one else needs to pass if they can safely do so.)
How NOT to pass. Scenario 1. Passing in a narrow section with a small opening in the trail.
Faster Racer: Passing Now!!! (With no verbal warning that they are behind the slower racer)
*Knocks slower racer off the trail into a tree.
Scenario 2:
NEVER PASS ON A DOWNHILL! EVER…just don’t go there.
Scenario 3:
Faster Racer: PASSING! Get the FFFF off the trail! (Faster racer comes right into the slower racer’s line and makes them have to slam on their brakes and get off their bike).
BEGINNERS-ALWAYS ANNOUNCE YOUR INTENT TO PASS! WAIT FOR THE SLOWER RACER TO ACKNOWLEGE IT AND GET OUT OF YOUR WAY. DO NOT SHOVE THEM INTO A TREE, THE POISON IVY, OR A HOLE! Waiting 3 seconds for them to get out of the way will not hold up your race. You may also prevent yourself and someone else from getting hurt.
Other stuff: No foul language. If you wouldn’t use the language in front of your Grandma, don’t use it on the trail when trying to pass. No elbows or other body parts should ever reach out to touch a fellow racer to push them off the trail. BE NICE!
6-12-2015 Jens Voigt I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Jens Voigt on several occasions now. He is a nice, outgoing, and funny in person as he comes across on social media and tv. He made an appearance at Atlanta Cycling in Vinings on Friday. I hung out and took pictures. It was nice seeing him again! The line to meet him was wrapped around the store! Thanks to AC for hosting the event!
Trish and Jens Voigt at Atlanta Cycling.
6-10-2015 Update on Greg Germani Decaturish has an update today on Greg Germani, the cyclist who was attacked by a driver last year in Atlanta. Greg suffered extensive injuries and continues to recover. The driver is awaiting trial.
6-9-2015 Atlanta Cycling Festival The Atlanta Cycling Festival begins this weekend! There are rides for all levels every day from June 13 to June 20. There are hipster rides, a photography ride, casual rides (ummmmm…..most end at a bar, which is nice if you are 21+), family rides, Beltine rides, rides to the park, a bike-in movie, discussion panels, and more! Southeastern Cycling is proudly a sponsor of the 2015 ACF!!
TN Women ‘s Project Clinics The Tennessee Women’s Project Team will have a beginner focused women’s race at the Music City Crits on June 24 and July 15. Race time is 4:30, and the race will be for Cat. 4 only women for 20 minutes. TCP team members will be there to help before the race and mentor new racers. (Trish’s Note: This is in Nashville, TN and there is a fee for the race and one day license.)
SORBA Woodstock VMT SORBA Woodstock will be hosting a TT on VMT on June 23, 2015 6:30 – 8:00 pm. Course: The course will run counter clockwise and start on Mosquito Flats just before the entrance to VMT and will consist of the entire VMT loop. Riders can do as many laps as they want. All you need is a current IMBA/SORBA membership. We can get you signed up on site, or you can sign up ahead of time, here. Your membership gets you into the remaining TT’s this season. If you are a current member, donations are welcome. On-site registration, number pick up, and membership sign-ups will be at the Blankets Creek kiosk starting at 6 pm. The 2nd and 3rd in the series will be held on Dwelling Loop and South Loop at Blankets Creek in the next month or so—dates announced at a later time.
Jackson County Brevet Review The Jackson County Brevet was Saturday in Braselton, GA. It raises money for the Emory Aplastic Anemia research fund. Ninety cents of every dollar raised by the fund goes directly to the researchers. There were nearly 500 cyclists this year. I was lucky enough to score a VIP parking site right in front of the doors to the church that served as the ride’s home base. There is a certain cool factor with having your name on a parking space. A few years ago when I did the ride, parking was in the lot around the corner in the business park; it has moved to the church’s parking lot, which is very convenient for the riders.
It took me a minute to find registration, but someone pointed me in the right way (I went in the wrong door of the church. Oops!..but I got to scope out where the after ride meal was going to be). Since I was pre-registered, it took less than one minute for me to pick up my number and goodie bag. The start is organized into waves-20+ mph average, 16-19 mph average, and 15 & below. I really like this approach as it prevents the faster riders from having to overtake the slower riders and keeps the start safer. A police car stayed with the A group, which was led by special guests George Hincapie and Christian Van deVelde, for the entire 100 miles to stop traffic for them. Sadly, I knew I would not be a part of that experience. Let’s just say that I have been feeling awful on the bike since being sick most of April and May. The metric was about survival for me. I stopped for about 1 minute at the second rest stop, so I can’t make any comment about it other than the portapotties were clean. I got back on the road and was caught by the B group doing the metric. I hung on with them for a bit before getting dropped and riding with a small group into rest stop 3. There was a volunteer with a huge smile welcoming everyone and directing them where to go. There was ample railing space to prop bikes up against. My stomach was rebelling a bit, so I opted to eat some of the Clif Blocks I had instead of real food. I saw Kind Bars, Honey Stinger Waffles, and several kinds of fruit. Then I spied it….A HUGE COOLER WITH ICE! The young volunteer happily scooped two cups of ice into my bottle. I was hot, and the cold water tasted so good! Ride directors take note, if it is above 75 degrees, a cooler with ice would be loved at every rest stop. I went back out and hooked up with a few others. After steering a couple of wayward triathletes back on the course, they pulled me in to the final rest stop. The last rest stop also serves as the first rest stop. I took advantage of it and stopped for a few minutes to get a cup of Gatorade and refill my bottles. This one had indoor bathrooms (Note to cyclists: If the sign on the door says “no cleats,” running into the bathroom in your socks will not kill you! Please honor the request). I came under the finish banner and saw a photographer on a ladder taking pictures of everyone’s finish. The after ride meal was catered by Chiles. The rice and beans were good; my stomach wouldn’t let me try anything else. I’d like to see a roll or tortilla wraps to go along with the meal of chicken with rice and beans. I crave ALL.THE.CARBS when I am done with a big ride, and they tend to be easy on my stomach. Dessert was cookies, sticky granola bar thingies, and….Mayfield ice cream sandwiches! While everyone was eating, a volunteer was circulating the room with a box of the frozen treats. Everyone I was eating with gladly took one, including myself. Yum! I love all things ice cream.
The route was good although a bit hillier than many expected. Having done the ride before, I was prepared for it. If you have ever ridden at Silk Sheets, the terrain is similar. There are some longer, shallower hills along with some short steep ones. There was nothing truly flat although there were a few false flats of 1-2%. Jackson County Police were at several intersections to stop traffic and let the riders through on the first part of the course, which was really appreciated! It’s nice not to have to stop when you have the opportunity to keep rolling. They were also at highway crossing between rest stops 3 and 4. I saw the police patrolling the course at a few points, too. Traffic coming back in the last 7-8 miles can be a bit heavy, but most cars gave cyclists 3 feet. On one road about 10 miles from the end, I saw big portable highway signs that said there was a bike event that day and to give 3 feet to pass. I think another one of those needs to be put on the road before the final right turn back to the church as that is where a couple of us got buzzed.
The JCB bills itself as the ride with the best marked routes. I have to agree that it was very well marked with multiple markings approaching each turn and a confirmation make within half a mile after intersections. As I tend to get lost, the confirmation marks were great! My only suggestion for next year is to put an extra sign for the first 64/100 split another 200 yards further from the turn. Two riders lost some skin when they went down after crossing wheels here after not seeing the sign for the split in a moment of inattention. At this early point in the ride, many that are doing the 100 and 64 milers are still together. Having one more sign may prevent another crash. A slightly more complicated solution would be to have a volunteer holding a sign for the 100 and another holding a sign for the metric. This shouldn’t be an issue at later course splits since the groups are smaller and further broken up. (Trish’s Note: The organizers know about the crash and are already discussing what can be done to make the first split more visible next year. The riders that went down had some road rash but were ok.)
Pros: Awesome volunteers (The volunteers were plentiful and really friendly!)
Convenient Parking
Well marked, confirmation marks after turns
Good, well stocked rest stops (ICE!!!)
Indoor bathrooms at the start
Plentiful, tasty post ride meal
Ice Cream sandwiches
Cons: $55 and no tshirt (I don’t need a tshirt, but some people like them.)
First 64/100 split needs another sign
Put up a couple of signs pointing to where registration is
6-6-2015 Bell Grant Update Knoxville, TN won the $100,000 grant from Bell to build the gravity trail! I can’t wait to ride it when it’s finished!
6-5-2015 Meet Jens Voigt! Jens Voigt will be at Atlanta Cycling in Vinings on Friday, June 12 from 3:00-6:00 pm for a meet and greet. The event is free. Trish’s Note: I’ve met Jens before, and he is very nice to talk to! Jens will also be in Greenville, SC June 11 from 3-6 pm at the Trek Store and in Charlotte, NC‘s Trek Store June 10 from 6-9 pm.
6-4-2015 Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day From SORBA West Georgia: Join SORBA West Georgia for Take A Kid Mountain Biking!
Saturday, June 06, 2015 9:00am – 10:30am Location : Mt Tabor Mountain Bike Park, 1550 E Paulding Dr, Dallas, GA 10157. They are partnering with Paulding Parks and Rec for a bike rodeo. Kid stuff starts at 9:30. There will be group rides at 10:30. Food will be available at 11:30 for chapter members, and there will be a membership meeting at noon.
6-3-2015 Junior Regionals Postponed The Junior Regionals race, which was supposed to take place this weekend. It may be held Aug. 8-9.
Marietta Crit Info Marietta Tuesday Night Crit–A word to the riders: This is our friend Mr. Cone that Officer Auld puts out to keep us safe. We stay to the right of Mr. Cone until we have passed him coming down the hill towards Turn 1. If you don’t you may become a pancake.
Marietta Crit’s Mr. Cone
2015 Georgia State Championship Road Race Saturday, June 20, 2015 Hambersham County, GA The 2015 Georgia State Road Race will provide thrills for spectators and an amazing championship-worthy race for competitors. The championship course will include an undulating loop with a summit finish. The race will use a challenging ~12 mile loop, with a summit finish on Belton Bridge Rd. Are you planning to preview the state road course? Please choose Belton Bridge Recreation area, at the bottom of the hill, to park for pre-riding. We do not have permission from the owners of the private subdivision near the start, until the day of the event. Dingo Race Productions is now using RaceResult ActivePro Chip timing. The ActivePro Chip is a patented state of the art timing chip, collecting a wealth of information inside the chip while you race. A chip rental fee of $5 is built into the race registration fee. You may receive a $5 refund at registration if you have your own personal ActivePro Chip. You can also receive a $5 refund on your race registration is you purchase your own ActivePro Chip for $65. The ActivePro chips are available at pre-registration online, and also at day-of registration.
Event Time: 8:00am, Event Pricing: $20-$40 pre-reg, $35-$60 day of registration Categories: All USAC Categories and classes from Juniors to Masters. Only the Category & Masters races will vie for state championship jersey at this event.
Grant Park Crit WHAT: The 11th annual Maxxis Grant Park Criterium presented by Carter cycling race takes place on Sunday, August 16 in historic Grant Park. Each year, the Grant Park Criterium features pro and elite riders– both male and female – from around the region and country. The event includes criterium races (short circuit races) through Grant Park. Other highlights include kids races for ages 10 and under celebrating cycling at the earliest of ages – and every child who participates wins a prize.
Racing begins at 10:00 am and culminates with the Pro Men’s race at 4:30pm.The races feature three 90-degree turns, running in a counter-clockwise fashion along the .9 mile course. With a long straightaway across the finish line speeds will increase from a brisk 25-plus mph upwards as they descend after turn one before going uphill on turn two and then ramping up again out of turn three onto Park Avenue. Strong racers and teams will stay up front to control the tempo and avoid accidents. The real spectacle comes near the end of the race, as the last turn onto Park Avenue leads to a short but wide straight to the finish. Both the Pro women’s and Pro men’s races will last about 60 minutes.
WHEN: Sunday – August 16, 2015 10:00 am – 5:30 pm
WHERE: Grant Park, Georgia (The Start/Finish Line will be located at the intersection of Park Avenue SE and Hansell Street SE)
COURSE DESCRIPTION: • The Start/Finish Line will be located at the intersection of Park Avenue SE and Hansell Street SE. The race will travel counter clockwise on the course.• The course is approximately .9 miles with 3 turns o Turn 1: Left, 90 degrees – into the park
o Turn 2: Left, 90 degrees on Swimming Pool Hill– inside the park o Turn 3: Left, 90 degrees – onto Park Avenue
6-2-2015 Savannah Century Press Release: Join us in one of the most celebrated cities in the U.S., Savannah, Georgia, Sept. 5-6 for a classic road cycling event that has been taking place for over 30 years. The Ledesma Sports Medicine Savannah Century features two days of pedaling the lovely and unique scenery of the Georgia Low Country. Saturday’s warm up ride begins and ends at Hendrix Park in Black Creek, Georgia, approximately 20 minutes from downtown Savannah. This 31 mile route differs from the Sunday routes and offer views of farmland and quiet rural Georgia. Sunday’s “main event’ rides depart from the popular and unique venue- The Distillery Alehouse. Choose the 25 mile route if you want a shorter spin over to the picturesque Isle of Hope with views of moss-draped oaks, marinas, and lovely old coastal homes. Choose one of the other three routes (37, 62 or 101 miles) if you want to traverse the majestic Talmadge Memorial Bridge which spans the Savannah River and offers views of River Street as you depart the downtown area for your ride. Rest stops are plentiful and well-stocked. Support vehicles patrol the route. Each pre-registered rider who completes the century will receive a custom printed “100 Mile Club” pint glass upon return to The Distillery Alehouse! Join us on Facebook for jersey giveaways and other added benefits!
Bell Built Grant-Knoxville The Appalachian Mountain Bike Club, a chapter of the Southern Off Road Bicycle Association, is a one of three finalists for a $100,000 grant from Bell to build a downtown bike park in Knoxville, TN, complete with a downhill run. To win the grant, AMBC SORBA needs your vote! Voting is only online, takes one minute and ends June 4th. Vote for Knoxville NOW!
5-30-2015 2015 Georgia Cross Series What you’ve been waiting for! The 2015 GA CX schedule! Keep in mind that it is preliminary and subject to change. The Sunday race at Savannah will be on the USA Cycling National Cyclocross Calendar! The biggest pros in the US will be coming to GACX that day! There are also some upcoming exciting announcements regarding other races, so stay tuned.
October 3-4 Dingo Cross, Gainesville
October 11 Jim Miller, Marietta
October 18 Boundary Waters-State Championship Douglasville
October 24-25 Athens
November 1 Serenbe (Haunted Trail), Chatt Hills
November 7-8 Oglethorpe Speedway, Savannah (Sunday is USAC CX NATL)
November 14-15 Elks Aidmore, Conyers
December 5 Grant Park CX, Atlanta
Six Gap Century & Three Gap Fifty From the promoter: Six Gap Century & Three Gap Fifty Event Cost: $60 through August 31, $70 through September 24, $80 September 26 & 27 in person Coming on September 27, 2015 the Six Gap Century & Three Gap Fifty boasts many of the same roads and mountain climbs as the elite Tour de Georgia. The Six Gap Century’s ultra challenging route takes you up and down six of the steepest climbs in the North Georgia Mountains. Test your stamina with more than 11,200 feet of vertical climbing over the 104 mile course. Elevations for the six gaps in this ride range from 1,400 feet to 3,460 feet. The toughest climb, Hogpen Gap, will test even the strongest riders, averaging a 7% grade for seven miles, with sections as steep as 15%. The Three Gap Fifty’s alternative route offers half the gaps and half the distance, but is nevertheless a demanding and challenging course at 58 miles. Elevations range from 1,400 feet to 3,364 feet. We are also pleased to announce the 7th Annual “Valley Route” Bike Ride. This 35-mile valley option is a great introduction to the infamous Six Gap Century and boasts some of the most scenic mountainside in the Southeast. This new route will cast a special spotlight onto Yahoola Valley, Turner’s Corner, and R-Ranch in the Mountains. 100 miles. 11,200 vertical feet. 3,000 friends.
5-29-2015 Winston-Salem Cycling Classic & 2016-2015 US Pro and Masters National Championships: From a Press Release:
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (MAY 28, 2015) – National champions, Grand Tour winners and the top men and women across the nation in professional cycling are confirmed to compete this weekend at the third annual Winston-Salem Cycling Classic in North Carolina. The professional criterium races will take place on Saturday, May 30, as part of the USA Cycling National Criterium Calendar. Sunday, May 31, features the UCI-sanctioned Winston-Salem Cycling Classic road race events. Both champions from the 2014 women’s and men’s road races will return to defend their titles, Shelley Olds (USA), now riding for Bigla Pro Cycling based in Switzerland, and Travis McCabe (USA), riding for N.C.-based Team SmartStop Pro Cycling. Belgian Brecht Dhaene, who won the men’s pro criterium last year, returns on the Astellas Cycling Team. With the 2014 women’s criterium winner staying in Europe to race, the competition will be wide open for all top seven women’s teams on the NCC standings, as well as eight of the top-ranked UCI Women’s Elite teams.
“Winston-Salem put on a fantastic race last year, and I’m excited to bring the team back this year. We’re looking to continue the momentum we’ve built through the Amgen Tour of California and U.S. Pro Championships to Winston-Salem, and then on to the Philly Cycling Classic,” said Rachel Heal, director sportif for the UnitedHealthCare Pro Cycling Team, which is bringing top talent for both the men’s and women’s races.
The Winston-Salem Cycling Classic is one of 19 NCC events, and one of nine National Racing Calendar (NRC) events, sanctioned by USA Cycling this year for men and women. The Women’s Professional Road Race in Winston-Salem is one of three internationally-sanctioned one-day races in the United States this year (Amgen Tour of California and Philadelphia International Cycling Classic).
Earlier today, USA Cycling announced that Winston-Salem would host the 2016 and 2017 Volkswagen USA Cycling Professional Road & Time Trial National Championships. The 2016 championships will be held May 22-30. The nine-day event will combine the Pro Road & Time Trial Championships, Masters Road National Championships and the Winston-Salem Cycling Classic, ending on Memorial Day with the Winston-Salem Cycling Classic UCI-sanctioned road race.
Please give cyclists 3 feet when passing. Pass them like you love them! #passthemlikeyoulovethem We are someone’s mother, father, sister, brother, wife, husband, friend, child employee. We are not “some person on a bike.” We have people at home that love us and want to see us returning home safely. Remember that in Georgia and all 50 states, bikes are considered vehicles and have all of he rights and responsibilities of a vehicle–just like a car. In Georgia, you must also pass a cyclist with AT LEAST 3 feet of clearance. IT’S THE LAW!
5-27-2015 Jackson Brevet is 2 Weeks Away Jackson Brevet June 6th, 2015, 7:30am Brasleton, GA 4-HR POLICE ESCORT, Unique ONLY to the Jackson Brevet, we are providing a 4-Hr police escort. You set the pace and the escort stays with you. Want a quick Rest Stop? No problem. Your police escort will wait. Whether you are shooting for a sub-4hr or not, you get your own private escort. (Trish’s Note: This is for the A group.) ONLINE REGISTRATION Our online registration never closes; even if you register at the event! Don’t forget to purchase your ‘virtual’ raffle tickets for incredible prizes, including a 2015 Trek road bike, provided by Atlanta Cycling, the OFFICIAL BICYCLE SPONSOR for the 2015 Jackson Brevet.
Help SORBA Woodstock! Mountain Goat Adventures is looking for volunteers to help with the Rope Mill Half Marathon on June 13 from 6 am to noon at Rope Mill Park in Woodstock, GA. They will make a $100 donation to SORBA Woodstock for each adult that volunteers at the Rope Mill Half Marathon on their behalf. Email Lisa at lisa at mountaingoatadventures.com if you want to volunteer; let her know your tshirt size.
DLV Women and Juniors Challenge The DLV Women’s & Juniors Velodrome Challenge is this Saturday. This will be a great day to get in some extra racing for our regular participants, and there will be a special Women’s D category for all of our newcomers. The Mission Source Juniors will have some light concessions & snacks available. The flyer is here.
Andrew Talansky (Cannondale-Garmin) climbs Kent Street with 2 to go.
The Twenty16 team at the front going through downtown Chattanooga while trying to bring back the break.
5-26-2015 US Pro Road Races Plenty of photos coming from the US Pro Road Races–after I get some sleep! Here is a preview.
Matthew Busche (Trek Factory Racing) was his second US Pro Road Race Title. Matthew closed his eyes for a few seconds and took in the feeling.
The winning break passes the Tennessee Aquarium over a bridge in the US Pro Women’s Road Race.
5-25-2015 15 USPro TT Photos Photos from the USPro TT are up at http://sadlebred.smugmug.com. Contact me if you are interested in any of the photos for commercial use.
US Pro Road Race! SOUTHEASTERN CYCLING IS AN OFFICIAL MEDIA PARTNER! The best place to check in with us is on Twitter for all the action! https://twitter.com/Sadlebred. The LIVE STREAM feed for Monday’s Road Races can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPS6CiWwUlg. If you loved the USA Crits Live Streaming, Swagger (out of Athens, GA) will be doing the coverage for Monday’s RRs!
Pan-Am Champion Carmen Small (Twenty16) rode to a strong 2nd place in the Women’s USPro TT.
Michael Olhieser (Team Lupus) finished strongly in the Men’s USPro TT.
5-24-2015 USPro TT I photographed the US Professional Time Trial Championships today. It was great seeing so many people out! Photos will be up by Sunday night at http://sadlebred.smugmug.com. Contact me if you are interested in any of the photos for commercial use.
Kristin Armstong (Twenty16) came out of retirement to win the US Pro Women’s Time Trial. Her teammate, Carmen Small, was second.
Andrew Talansky (Cannondale-Garmin) won the Men’s US Pro TT Championship
