June 2021 News

6-24-2021 Cannongate Build Party From MTB Atlanta Build Party #3- Cannongate Nature Preserve Thursday, July 1 6-7:30 pm Join us to do trail work on our brand new trail build at the newly established Cannongate Nature Preserve in Coweta County with the Southeastern Trust for Parks and Land. MTB Atlanta is resuming work parties in limited capacity this season and is using local regulations and CDC guidelines to conduct these events. We will adhere to mask requirements and social distancing at these events. 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. We are excited to get after it and hope to see you there! Tools and stoke provided!

6-22-2021 Revised GA 3 Feet Law July 1 the new 3 Feet Law in Georgia goes into effect. All cyclists should read it and see how it clarifies how a car can pass safely. If you have any friends in Law Enforcement, let them know as well. You can read about the changes here:

House Bill 353 and Changes Effective July 1

6-20-2021 US Pro Breaking News!! Joey Rosskopf (Rally Cycling) has won the men’s road title at the US Professional Championships! He’ll take the Stars and Stripes to Europe with is Rally team. Brent Bookwalter (Bike Excyange) took 2nd. Ian Garrison (Deceunick-Quick Step Floors) was 37th. In the women’s race Atlanta based Unbound Gravel 200 winner Lauren De Crescenzo (Cinch Elite) was 8th. South Carolina stalwart Debbie Milne (Supra Functional Food Bars) was 14th. Tennesee racer Sinead Miller (Nashville Local Cycling) was 22nd. Liv Cyclings Ayesha McGowan was 28th before she heads to Europe later this summer to compete. Congratulations to all those that raced! (Trish’s note: I was supposed to be there photographing this year but had the last minute chance to get LASIK, something I’ve been wanting for years. You can’t rub your eyes for a few weeks, so no looking through the viewfinder of my camera til July. I hope to make it next year!)

6-18-2021 SE Cycling will not be at US Pro Hi everyone! I’d hoped to make it up to Knoxville this weekend to cover US Pro. Through some strange circumstances and turns of things I had the chance to finally get LASIK on Wednesday of this week after wanting it badly for several years. My vision is still recovering, and you aren’t supposed to rub your eyes for at least a week. There goes photographing anything with my cameras as I have to put my eye to the viewfinder! I’m looking forward to being at as many of the crits of Speedweek as I can (which will probably mean Hapeville and maybe College Park) and doing a full season of CX—without glasses!

Brent Bookwalter Retires From Facebook Brent Bookwalter announced, today in Knoxville, TN at the 2021 USA National Road Championships, that he will retire at the end of this 2021 season. More than most in the cycling community, Bingers know that this was an incredibly tough decision for him, as he has always been 110% focused on supporting the Team effort and doing whatever it takes for 16 seasons, regardless of the personal cost. From helping Cadel win the 2011 Tour de France to representing America at the 2016 Olympic Games, the Brent you know would just keep on going and going. But this is it: the closing of this chapter and the start of the next. Brent will continue pushing hard throughout the 2021 race season, then he’ll be pausing, taking a deep breath, and contemplating the next chapter in his storied career. We’re proud of our champion, neighbor, friend, activist, athlete, philanthropist, and new father. He’s churned out the effort, against many odds, over and over for 16 years to support the team… and also compete as an individual. Brent has raced the classics around the world, as well as achieving the podium in every major North American race. Always with a smile, and always ready to leave all he has out on the road. (Trish’s note: Brent and Jamie are based in NC.) Full press release

Atlanta Bicycle Coalition and PEDS Formalize Merger From an ABC Email The Atlanta Bicycle Coalition and PEDS — two of the Southeast’s leading organizations dedicated to sustainable transportation advocacy — are thrilled to announce they have formally merged as of June 17, 2021. This merger comes after the two groups first entered into talks in February of this year. By joining forces, the two organizations will gain efficiencies that will bolster advocacy to reclaim Atlanta’s streets as safe, inclusive, and thriving spaces for people to ride, walk, and roll. Over the years, the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition and PEDS have partnered often to achieve milestones that make the city a safer, more convenient place for people to walk, use wheelchairs, bike, scoot, skate, and ride transit throughout Atlanta. In 2019, the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition expanded its mission beyond bikes to include all forms of sustainable transportation, further aligning the two organization’s advocacy efforts. In 2020, PEDS served as a critical partner to the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition’s successful Vision Zero campaign, which propelled the City of Atlanta’s Vision Zero legislation adoption — the resolution that reduced the default speed on Atlanta’s local streets to 25 mph with the goal of zero roadway fatalities. Additionally, for twenty-five years, PEDS led the way to prioritize pedestrians by advocating for safe sidewalks, including a campaign that urged the city to take financial responsibility for sidewalk maintenance. PEDS has also focused on sidewalk closures in construction zones, which influenced the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition to advocate for solutions that keep multimodal lanes open for people to safely bike, scoot, and use wheelchairs in areas with ongoing construction.

In the next year, the merged organization will unveil a new name in alignment with the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition’s new strategic direction. “The Atlanta Bicycle Coalition and PEDS thank our supporters who have worked to pave the way for all of us to walk, bike, and roll in Atlanta throughout the years,” says Rebecca Serna, executive director of the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition. “The newly united organization remains committed to championing an Atlanta where everyone moves safely, easily, and sustainably throughout the city.”

6-16-2021 Fugly Gravel Bike Ride Press Release On July 10th Ride to Rescue will present the Fugly Gravel Bike Ride. The Fugly Challenge has up to 45 great mountain miles and 5,000 feet of combined climbing. Whether you’re a rookie or a seasoned rider, this one’s gonna be fun. The ride will leave from the Stamp Creek ranger station in White GA. Get more details at Ride to Rescue.

GA 400 Ride Press Release For the final year GA 400 will be closed on the south bound side from Holcomb Bridge Exit 7 to Northridge Exit 6 from 7AM to 7:40AM on Sunday June 27th. The closure is to allow 2000 cyclists to ride their bikes on GA 400 as a charity ride to help raise awareness and money for Emory Heart and Vascular Center. Route 9 will be the detour during that time. For more information or to register to your bike on GA 400 visit http://www.ga400century.com. Riders will ride either 9 mile, 26, 44, 60 and 100 miles options. The Cost to register is $70 for adults $80 day of and $45 for kids 12-18.

“Last year we had 1664 registered riders to ride on GA 400. It was bikes as far as you could see”, Broadwell states. “We start at 7:00AM from the Roswell SkyZone and take exit 7 south to exit 6 then ride the most beautiful roads to ride in Georgia through North Fulton, Forsyth and Cherokee Counties among horse farms and rolling hills.” A new addition added in 2019 was the option to skip the “three sisters,” ‘which are three challenging climb near the end of the ride. The riders will take anywhere from 40 minutes to complete the 9 mile course and up to 8+ hours to complete the 100 mile course. There are 8 rest stops and free music, food and beer at the finish. Trader Joes is helping with breakfast and food is coming from Whole Foods with beer being provided by From the Earth Brewery in Roswell. Over 100 volunteers will help to make this event possible.

6-13-2021 Beautiful Backroads Century Press Release On September 18th, the 21st Beautiful Backroads Century Bicycle Ride (BBC) will return back to the Anheuser-Busch Brewery. The BBC is one of the largest and longest running charity bike rides in the southeast. Proceeds from the ride supports Hickory Log – a personal care home for men. The ride starts and finishes at the Anheuser-Busch plant in Cartersville complete with a food & beverage after party.

6-8-2021 June Blanket’s Creek Trail Work Party From SORBA Woodstock June Blanket’s Creek Trail Party Saturday, June 12, 2021, 9 am -Noon Our June work party is at Blankets Creek. Please wear closed toe shoes and clothes that enable you to work safely in the woods. Bring your own water. SORBA Woodstock will provide lunch after the work party.

6-7-2021 De Crescenzo – an Atlanta based rider – wins Unbound 200 From Velonews.com: “Flat tires, wind, and punishing terrain couldn’t keep Lauren De Crescenzo from winning Saturday’s Unbound Gravel 200.

De Crescenzo, 30, won the 200-mile race after suffering a duo of flat tires in the opening hours of the race. At one point she trailed the women’s leader, her CINCH cycling teammate Flavia Oliveira, by 25 minutes.

But De Crescenzo steadily picked her way through the field, making steady headway through the winds and heat. She took the lead in the women’s race with 50 miles to go, powering to the line ahead of defending champion Amity Rockwell.

“Holy god, it was an emotional rollercoaster,” De Crescenzo told VeloNews. “But I felt so much better than I have ever felt in a gravel race. I’m being coached by Tom Danielson now, and I talk to him like 10 times a day, so I was very prepared today. My legs have never felt that good in a gravel race.”

Unbound Gravel champ Lauren De Crescenzo: ‘I’ve been through way harder stuff than that’

6-4-2021 Michael Garrison at the Baby Giro Michael Garrison (Hagens Berman Axeon) won the white jersey at the Baby Giro on Thursday’s first stage! Keep it going Michael!

Big Creek Freeride Area Work Party From RAMBO Freeride Area Work Party, Big Creek,  Saturday June 12 from 9 am-Noon

6-3-2021 Sope Creek Trail Day From MTB Atlanta 150 Columns Drive, Marietta, GA, Saturday, June 19 at 8:45 am-Noon Join us and the Chattahoochee River national Recreation Area for our monthly volunteer trail day at Sope Creek. We will be clearing drains on the lower loop and trimming back the Summer corridor. 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!

Cheatam Hill Road Closed From the MDJ “Cheatham Hill Road will be closed to through traffic between Ward Creek Drive and Cavan Drive from June 1 through Aug. 2 for water main relocation. (near Kennesaw Mountain) Thru traffic will be routed along John Ward Road and Macland Road/State Route 360.” Trish’s Notes: There are a lot of road closures in North Fulton County as well. Too numerous to list here. I recommend you follow the Cities of Milton and Alpharetta on Facebook for updates.

6-1-2021 ZWIFT RIDES A note about Zwift rides. This is not a resource for Zwift or virtual/e-rides, only in person rides. Please check with your favorite Zwift group on social media for rides and races. There are too many groups to list.

Blanket’s Creek 3 and 6 Hour From Mountain Goat Adventures BLANKETS CREEK 3 and 6 HOUR RACE presented by FREE-FLITE BICYCLES – JUNE 19th – Less than 50 SPOTS REMAINING! Make plans to join us for the Blankets Creek 3 and 6 Hour Race presented by Free-Flite Bicycles on June 19th. Register now as we are down to less than 50 spots remaining and they will likely go quickly. Registration will close once the race is full. Solo, 2 and 3 person team categories are available in the 6 Hour Race. The 3 Hour Option has a TON of categories for those who wish to ride 3 hours solo, as well as a one and two lap option for junior riders. June 5th: Guaranteed shirt size deadline ▪ Soft and comfortable shirt and event pint glass for all racers
▪ Medals and sponsor prizes 3 deep in all 6 Hour categories, podium shirts for all first place finishers in the 6 Hour Race ▪ Medals 3 deep in all 3 Hour categories ▪ Sweetwater Brewing Company on site with samples! ▪ Neutral mechanical support from our Title Sponsor, Free-Flite Bicycles! Total distance (with the loop around the parking lot) is approximately 8.3 miles with roughly 780′ of elevation gain per lap. This course configuration offers longer climbs but also longer descent sections and some fun jumps and flow on Dwelling and VMT. The clockwise direction will also allow for Friday pre-riding in the race direction. Compared to last year’s course, it is about 4/10ths of a mile longer with about 50′ more elevation gain, so expect lap times to be about two minutes slower than in 2020.

Fire Mountain Enduro Cancelled From 3rd Coast Productions: The Fire Mountain event this weekend will be cancelled/postponed. We will start refunding registrations today. Stay tuned on the reschedule of this event. If you have any questions please feel free to let us know. We have a killer fall schedule and that will be revealed next week.

Asheville Bicycle Film Festival Press Release Despite cinemas being shut, Bicycle Film Festival returns to Asheville, NC with a curated virtual screening of short films. Hosted by Asheville on Bikes. Available from June 4 – 14. Bicycle Film Festival celebrates the bicycle through a virtual festival program, specifically curated for Asheville. A portion of all ticket sales goes to support Asheville on Bikes. BFF Asheville #2 is presenting an international selection of the most important short films from the BFF collection. A diverse curation of filmmaking styles: narratives, documentaries, international award-winning filmmakers, and emerging directors all share equal billing. Bicycle Film Festival plays an important role in creating an eco-friendly society and bringing diverse communities together. BFF Founding Director Brendt Barbur added: “In a year of a global pandemic, economic strife, a contentious political period the bicycle boom worldwide is optimistic news to celebrate. We hope to offer a positive respite from all of this for people.” The program will be available online from at any time from June 4 – 14. Tickets are available now on www.bicyclefilmfestival.com with sliding scale prices at $10, $15, $20.

5-30-2021 Hammies Fall Series From the promoter This will be the 3rd year we are having the funnest races in the Southeast. The Hammies is a Birmingham based race series that hops around to different trail systems in the area. Oct 30th – Cahaba River Park Nov 7th – Tannehill Ironworks Nov 14th – Hoover Met Complex All are roughly 5 mile courses. Fast, flowy trails. After each race we have fun bike skills events that are cool to watch or participate in. From wheelie contest , foot down (track stand) to long jump contests we love to have some fun. This year we are adding more FUN to the mix. Races will be spread throughout the day. Trail traffic will be spread out too. At 11:30AM a 2 Lap race will start. Categories will start in waves. At 1:30PM if you want some more action in a 1 Lap race, then here is your chance for redemption or more laps. Categories will start in waves. You can race either race or both. Just racing one race is $40, Your second race of the day would only be $10 extra. Average lap is 5-8 miles. Awards will be after the 1 lap race is complete. Find more info www.thehammies.com.

5-28-2021 Georgia Bikes Seeks New Executive Director From Georgia Bikes Georgia Bikes is now accepting applications from qualified individuals who would like to serve as the full-time Executive Director. This is a salaried, FLSA-exempt position based in Georgia. About Georgia Bikes Georgia Bikes is the statewide bicycle advocacy organization in Georgia with a mission to unite people and organizations to improve bicycling conditions and promote equitable bicycling throughout the state.
Job Duties and Qualifications The Executive Director of Georgia Bikes is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the organization. Preferred candidates will be experienced with a wide range of leadership skills. A successful Executive Director will be able to effectively guide staff, stakeholders, and allies in the implementation of the organization’s goals and objectives. The incoming Executive Director will be charged with leading implementation of the current strategic action plan as well as plan for a new strategic plan in 2022. See the full job description, how to apply, and other information here.

5-21-2021 Willeo Road Closed Trish’s Note: This is a popular road to ride on down by the Chattahoochee River in Roswell and into Cobb County. From the City of Roswell Beginning on Tuesday, June 1, a portion of Willeo Road that runs over Willeo Creek will be closed for construction of a bridge replacement project. The project—located between Bywater Trail and Timber Road/Lower Roswell Road at the Cobb/Fulton County line—will be completely replaced through a partnership between the City of Roswell and Cobb County. It is anticipated that the bridge will remain closed for a minimum of four (4) months. The project is expected to be completed in Winter 2021/2022. The timeline is subject to change based on weather conditions and other project needs. Electronic signs will be put in place before the closure of the bridge to provide notification and reminders to the traveling public. Local Traffic will have access to the neighborhood of Riverview at Inverness (Bywater Trail) and also Willeo Park. Through traffic will be re-routed using Timber Ridge Road, SR 120/Roswell Road, and Willeo Road between SR 120/ Roswell Road and Riverside Road.
Visit www.roswellgov.com/willeocreek to learn more.

5-20-2021 MTB Atlanta Launches Three New Trail Projects in Metro Atlanta Press Release MTB Atlanta has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Southeastern Trust for Parks and Land (STPAL) to design, fund, build and maintain trails on STPAL lands in Metro Atlanta and the Southeast. MTB Atlanta and STPAL have kicked off 3 new trail projects in Metro Atlanta in 2021 at Canongate Nature Preserve in Coweta County, Pumpkinvine Creek Nature Preserve in Paulding County and Campbellton Creek Nature Preserve in the City of South Fulton. Zoning has been approved and construction has begun at the new Canongate Nature Preserve on Canongate Road in Coweta County. STPAL has hired MTB Atlanta Pro Trails, MTB Atlanta’s professional trail building crew, to build a one to two mile bike optimized trail that will serve the Canongate neighborhood and Northgate High School. Canongate will serve as a practice site for the SWAY Youth Mountain Bike Club and the Northgate High School Georgia Cycling League Mountain Bike Team. Planning and design has begun for Campbellton Creek Nature Preserve in the City of South Fulton and Pumpkinvine Creek Nature Preserve in Dallas, just off the Silver Comet Trail in Paulding County.