March 2016 News

How Can You Support Southeastern Cycling? Southeastern Cycling is currently accepting advertisers for 2016! By placing an ad on SE Cycling, you can reach cyclists from across the region interested in learning about YOUR business, race, or event! Advertisements do not have to be cycling related! Do you own a small business, a gym, own a service oriented business like a landscape company or doctor’s office? Reach thousands of cyclists every month! Email Trish at sttarlite at hotmail.com for more information. Advertisers allow me to keep Southeastern Cycling as a FREE service for the Southeastern cycling community. Please help to keep it going! Ad rates are very reasonable, and there are discounts for a multi-month ads!

3-29-2016 Alabama Cycling Classic Press Release: Thousands of spectators are heading to downtown Anniston on Saturday, April 2nd for the Sunny King Criterium and Noble Street Festival! With speakers positioned at all four turns of the downtown course, race fans can listen to Andreu and Sohner dish out the action of all Amateur, Elite and Professional bicycle races. The McClellan Road Race event and day two in the Professional Road Tour on Sunday will also feature live announcing and online broadcasting. Our 2015 event webcast in 78 countries and multiple national cycling media outlets.  Anniston, Alabama is ready to launch this year’s new USA Cycling Professional Road Tour! Our Live Stream begins Saturday at Noon for the Sunny King Criterium & Sunday at 10am for the McClellan Road Race. The Sunny King Criterium offers twenty-one categorized races for a variety of age groups and skill levels, from a one-lap children’s event to a 60-lap men’s professional race. The 2016 Sunny King Criterium is a part of the USA Cycling Junior Development Series and has been for half a decade.  It is a goal of the event to promote and grow junior bicycle racing.   All Amateur and Professional Race Registration fees are donated to Calhoun County Chapters of Relay for Life.  Since 2005, the Sunny King Criterium has donated over $80,000.00!  Great work cyclists!

3-26-2016 Ridgeway Trail Closure From EMBA: (Trish’s Note: These trails are in Ellijay, GA. Many remember Carter’s Lake from the old GAP series races and some Gone Riding races years ago. That hill coming back up from the lake was tough…but oh, the downhills!!) “The Ridgeway Trails at Ridgeway Recreation Area, Carters Lake will be closed to all users for land clearing and construction of the high voltage lines on March 1st and will continue for most of the year. Many of you know that planning for high voltage lines to cross Ridgeway has been on-going for several years. A decision has been made and they will be crossing Ridgeway on the Eastern route. EMBA has been part of the planning and working with Georgia Transmission in good faith to mitigate damage to our trails and more news will be forthcoming with the negotiations in the near future. We must keep in mind that the power lines are necessary for power supply for the Ellijay community and I firmly believe that we can help the community and have a great trail system too, at Ridgeway. Will it be different – yes. But plans are being developed now that will greatly improve the cross-country trail and preserve the downhill trails.”

For updates – please contact Carters Lake Headquarters – (706) 334-2248 ”

3-25-2016 DLV Pro Series From the DLV: ack for 2016 is Dick Lane Velodrome’s Pro Race Series (PRS). These events will continue the PRS tradition, bringing to the fore-front the best of the best riders that the US has to offer. They’ll be pushing the envelope of speed and danger in both hard charging sprint events and grueling endurance races. Experience the thrill of the two-man Madison, comparable to tag-team on bike, where teammates exchange positions into the action at 40 mph using the dangerous Madison hand sling. Catch the fast-paced Keirin, an Olympic event where riders are paced up to maximum speed with a Derny bicycle (a motorized bicycle) until the final lap and a half when they tear up the track to the finish. The Omnium will also be a featured event. Riders will compete throughout the evening in a series of different events to be claimed DLV’s best all rounder. Also back again in 2015 will be the Velodrome Cup, an event styled after the “International Omnium” event held at the 2012 Olympic Games.
Saturday April 30th 2016 Merial presents The Keirin
Saturday July 9th 2016 Loose Nuts Cycles presents The Omnium
Saturday August 27th 2016 Third Eye Software presents The Velodrome Cup

General Information: Main Events start at 6pm, Preview Races begin at 3pm. Main program typically finishes around 9pm. Rider introductions for the Main Events happens 6pm. But, get here early to catch all of the day’s action. Again in 2016 we will have food truck concessions serving up great food, drinks and desserts. The DLV will continue to serve it’s famous chicken nachos and other light foods with proceeds going to support DLV programs like the Youth Cycling League. Single spectator entry fee $5, Family entry $10, We accept Cash and Credit Cards ($1 card fee applies) at the Gate.

3-22-2016 Atlanta WBL Ride #10: From MyCycleCoach: Sat, March 26, Final Ride!  Join us at No Mas Catina Mexican restaurant for post-ride series celebration (2 blocks from U-Haul), Start Time: 9:20, rider meeting at 9:20, Place: 300 Peters St, Atlanta, GA 30317, Ride Time: 4 hours, 40 minutes. Group A:  19 mph avg and higher, Group B1: 17-18 mph avg, Group B2:  15-16 mph avg, Group C:  12.5-14 mph avg ,

Blankets Creek Dirty 15/30 Mountain Bike Race presented by Free-Flite Bicycles April 16, 2016 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 all of the trails at Blankets Creek in a counter-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. Each lap has just under 1400′ of elevation gain, so this will be a challenging course. 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. Prizes and medals awarded to the top 3 in each category! Podium shirts for all first place category winners! All entries include a shirt, event pint glass, chip timing, well-marked courses, and post race fluids and snacks!

We are partnering with SORBA Woodstock to bring you these events. SORBA Woodstock has built and maintains the trails at both Blankets Creek and Rope Mill Park. These events serve as major fundraisersfor the Chapter – please come out and show your support by either racing or volunteering! Want to volunteer at these events for SORBA Woodstock? Please send an email directly to lisa at mountaingoatadventures.com with your shirt size and availability. Volunteers are needed for both morning and afternoon shifts to help with parking, registration, course marshaling, and bike patrol on April 16th.

3-21-2016 Rides HEY WEEKLY ATL RIDE LEADERS! I need your updated information for the Rides page this year! Contact me as soon as possible! For SE Cycling readers, I’m updating the Rides page as quickly as I can. It’s a slow process that will take me another week or so. Thanks for your patience!

3-17-2016 Sorella & Women’s Cycling Association Clinic Sorella Cycling and the Women’s Cycling Association present the 2nd annual Join the Ride Tour Atlanta. Pro rider Robin Farina will put on a road riding and racing clinic from 4:30-6:00. All women are welcome! (Road bikes only, please. Helmets are required.) Robin will join the ladies on the Atlanta Women’s Cycling ride afterwards. There is a $25 fee for the clinic, and it includes dinner after the clinic and ride. As always, the ride is open to any and all women. Registration is open!

Rope Mill Trail Party From SORBA Woodstock: Rope Mill Trail Party  Sat., March 26th 9 am -1 pm,  Rope Mill Mountain Bike Trail,  690 Rope Mill Rd, Woodstock, Projects include: *Clear a couple of emergency accesses on Powerhouse. *Add a log ride feature on Explorer loop 3. *Complete installation of mile marker & emergency access signs on the mill. *Clear out some of the drians that make you say ugh every time you ride through and have mud spoil your freshly cleaned machine. After the trail party we will move to Blankets Creek for food provided by Sixes Pit and Butcher and Bottle.

Athens Group Rides I recently ran across this website, which lists a lot of the group rides in Athens, GA. There appear to be rides from the Nitty Gritty Bike Band, some local shops, and pick up rides. Athens GA Bicycling. Of course, if you are looking for rides in the great Metro Atlanta area, Southeastern Cycling has rides of all levels listed including everyone’s favorite hard, training rides!

Live Race Coverage Provided for  Sunny King Criterium and McClellan Road Race  Anniston, Ala. (Mar. 16, 2016) – – This year live commentary for two days of bicycle races with the Alabama Cycling Classic will be broadcast along the courses by former Tour de France veteran Frankie Andreu. An expanded live streaming broadcast of the races will feature the voice and insights of professional sports announcer Brad Sohner.  Thousands of spectators are expected in downtown Anniston on Saturday, April 2 for the Sunny King Criterium and Noble Street Festival. With speakers positioned at all five turns of the downtown course, race fans can listen to Andreu describe the progress of nine elite and professional bicycle races. The McClellan Road Race events on Sunday will also feature live announcing and online broadcasting. All races are sanctioned by USA Cycling and launch this year’s new Professional Road Tour.

Cycling fans across the United States will be able to experience the kaleidoscope of color and fierce competition in Anniston by viewing the live streaming show, hosted by Sohner. The elite and professional races for men and women will be broadcast from 12Noon to 9:30 p.m. CDT. Sohner will call the action for a second year, accessible from the web sites:  annistoncycling.com,      cyclingnews.com,  pezcyclingnews.com, and velonews.com.

3-15-2016 Allatoona Work Party From SORBA West Georgia:  Saturday, March 19, 9 AM – 1 PM, Allatoona Creek Work Party. Stilesboro Rd. Parking Lot Show your love for the Allatoona Creek Trail System by helping us build and maintain them! All tools provided. Just wear long pants, sturdy closed toe shoes and gloves. Free lunch and raffle afterwards!

3-11-2016 Peachtree Bikes Peachtree Bike has 2 events you are going to want to know about! Saturday is their spring PARTY! RSVP on Facebook. PTB knows how to throw a party! They also have a sale March 8-20 with anything from 2015 bikes to open box merchandise. Go. You know you want to.

s3-10-2016 Atlanta WBL RIDE #9…  (tentative) RAIN in forecast:  Check our Blog site Friday 10pm for ‘GO’ or ‘NO-GO’ ride decision
Date:  Saturday, March 12th, 2016, Start Time:  9:30AM   (Ride Mtg 9:20am), Place:  300 Peters St, Atlanta, GA 30317 (U-Haul location), Ride Time:  4hrs 20min

Crit Update Be sure to “Like” the Marietta Crit on Facebook for the latest updates! From Coach Gary: “Hello race training fans. We are only one week away from kicking off the 2016 season of training at West Oak Business Park, Marietta 30062. As our Marietta Police officer will arrive at 5:30 next Tuesday 3/15 we are covered to roll the stop sign in the first corner when he is present. Feel free to come anytime, they are public roads, but like other public roads let’s obey the law and be obligated to stop where we see the word STOP. Just sayin’ I say we start out the first few weeks 6:15pm and train for an hour plus 3, and then move to our regular time of 6:30pm start at the line for an hour plus 5. Other safety rules are: helmets mandatory, no aero bars please, and respect the safety of others and keep ear plugs out. I – coach Gary Daniels – will be there to get things kicked off, but am on the fence about working another full season gratis. This would be four in a row… Let’s all discuss some options please. For anyone who is new on the scene we have collected $5 per session in the past to cover the police officer, the mandatory squad car and a person to assist me with sign in (waiver) such that I can offer a free Criterium training clinic to anyone who wants to address those skills. I am a USA-Cycling certified Level-2 coach. In past years we have either broke even or come up short on top of my missing income elsewhere to be there on time. Any and all feedback, suggestions and so forth are more than welcome. I will say in the past we have the same few willing to step up to the plate and contribute as necessary; and the same few who choose to avoid signing in ($$) and suspiciously roll in late every week. Let’s keep it, fun, fair and fast! Thanks and look forward to seeing you all next Tuesday and spread the word!”

Cochran Mill Work Party From SORBA Atlanta: Saturday, March 12, 9 am-noon Our monthly work party at Cochran Mill Park for March. This is a RIDE IN/RIDE OUT work party. We will meet at the Parking lot at Cochran Mill Park at 9:00 A.M. We will be doing finishing work on the Red Trail. Please bring a bike, shoes you can work in, water and snacks. Bring an Epi Pen if you are allergic to bees. We will have tools waiting for you at the site. We look forward to seeing you!

Up the Creek T-Minus Two Months Until UTC! Have You Registered? Why You Should Ride in UTC 2016:  -Strawberry Ice Cream!  Once again, UTC is partnering with LCCL Strawberry Farms to offer you fresh homemade ice cream on the ride. –  Ride with para-athletes in town for the annual Clocktower Classic Handcycling Races and watch them in Friday night’s downtown crit! Registration is open!

3-9-2016 GROUP RIDE SEASON!! It is less than 1 week to group ride season! Be sure to check the Rides page for the latest information on group rides. I update them as I get info. or as the shops, clubs, and teams put it on their websites.  If you want to change a ride listing, have me put up a new ride, etc., please contact me.

Eastside Rides Time Change this weekend!
Airport– Sundays- 10:00AM through – end of March  (ride tradition goes through end of March).

The Sunday Ride– Starts- First Sunday in April, this is a 9:00AM roving Sunday Ride- approximately 65-75 miles, often at a steady 22-23.5 mph.  Want more details? Subscribe to sundayride@yahoogroups.com see details below for how to subscribe.

Saturday Tucker– goes back to 9:00AM the first Saturday in April (April 2) // B Tucker Group goes to 8:30AM April 2.

Tuesday Northlake Ride – Kicks off March 15 @ 6:15PM. 6:15PM for all March Rides (1 loop in park); 6:30PM for all April Rides (1 loop in park); 6:30PM for May – late summer rides (2 loops in park) Summer Solstice Trifecta- 3 loops in the park the week before, the week that includes June 21, and the week after. Northlake Ride Start- meet at the back of the parking lot of the Restaurants located at: 3900 Lavista Road, Tucker, GA.  If you look at a map- meeting location is between Montreal Rd and Harobi Drive, East of Wendy’s across the street from Chevron Gas Station / McDonald’s.Distance- Approximately 30 miles round trip in Summer- then moves to 23 miles as ride gets shorter (shorter options available in the park).
Thursday Pizza Ride – Daylight Schedule Kicks off March 17 @ 6:15PM 6:15PM for all March Rides (1 loop in park); 6:30PM for all April Rides (1 loop in park); 6:30PM for May – late summer rides (2 loops in park) Summer Solstice Trifecta- 3 loops in the park the week before, the week of (June 21), and the week after. Pizza Ride Start- meet in the old location (which is now closed and a deserted building) Avondale Pizza Cafe parking lot: 70 North Avondale Road, Avondale Estates, GA 30002 Distance- Approximately 33 miles round trip in Summer- then moves to 26 miles as ride gets shorter (shorter options available in the park).

3-7-2016 Atlanta Cycling Rides All of the Atlanta Cycling rides will start at 6:15 in March and 6:30 in April. Don’t forget that it will still be getting dark before a lot of rides are done. Make sure to have a white light on your handlebars and a red blinkie on the back of your bike–or even 2 blinkies!

3-2-2016 Airport Ride From the Airport Ride: Dear Animals, It is with deep melancholy I remind you that we have just four Airport rides left in the ’15-’16 season. The final Airport for the season will be Easter Sunday, March 27th. The ride will remain at 10am even after the time change. It’s been a relatively well executed season with minimal incidents and plenty of horrific suffering. Take a moment in this last month to behold the chaotic kaleidoscope that is the Atlanta Airport peloton. There aren’t many rides like this one. – The Management

Sunny King Criterium and McClellan Road Race Press Release: The popular spring weekend of bicycle races, music, food and family activities in Anniston returns for a 14th year on April 2-3. The two days of amateur and professional bicycle racing, called the Alabama Cycling Classic, will be the national kick-off event for USA Cycling’s Professional Road Tour. A lineup for Saturday activities in downtown Anniston for the Sunny King Criterium and Noble Street Festival have been announced and are listed at www.annistoncycling.com. The Alabama Cycling Classic combines Saturday’s Sunny King Criterium with Sunday’s McClellan Road Race for two full days of road racing. Saturday offers 21 categorized races for a variety of age groups and skill levels, from a one-lap children’s event to a 60-lap men’s professional race. The one-kilometer, four-turn course will begin and end at E. 11th Street near Noble Street. A prize purse of $30,000 will be shared by the two professional races for men and women at the Sunny King Criterium ($15,000 each category), with a combined total of $54,000 for the weekend. Main Street Anniston manages the Noble Street Festival, which is held in conjunction with the Sunny King Criterium. The festival provides food, music and festivities to complement the bicycle races on Saturday. Spectators will find activities for the entire family from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Entering its second year, the McClellan Road Race offers a 22-mile circuit through Anniston and Calhoun County with a mountain-top finish on Bains Gap. The 2016 edition offers two professional races, with a $24,000 prize purse to be split by the professional women and professional men ($12,000 for each category).

rideTAXIA Charity Ride rideTAXIA Atlanta Date: Sunday, May 15th For: Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA). A non-profit organization dedicated to funding research to cure Friedreich’s Ataxia, a debilitating, life-shortening, degenerative neuromuscular disorder with no treatment or cure. Ride Ataxia is currently the biggest fundraiser for FARA. Location: Forsyth Conference Center at Lanier Tech, Cumming, GA Website: rideATAXIA.org/Atlanta Brief Description: 8 mile trail, 25, and 50 mile road route options. Fully stocked rest stops, strong SAG support, and delicious post ride food prepared by Outback Steakhouse. Fundraising benefits the Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA).  Pre-Registration Fee: $45 Regular Priced Cyclist (No Fundraising Minimum) or $25 Reduced Price Cyclist (With $200 Fundraising Minimum), includes ride, Lunch, and event t-shirt.

3-1-2016 Jackson County Brevet 7th Annual Jackson County Brevet Saturday, June 4th, 2016 Online Registration opens Tuesday, March 1st.  We only have one registration choice:  FLAT FEE.  That means NO mandatory fundraising; register and you’re done!!  Just gotta wait till March 1st to register.  -Indoor restrooms at start/finish venue, – After-ride meal (smorgasbord of choices), – Park at the venue… not around the corner, – Rest stops (every 18 miles avg.), – SAG vehicles on all routes,- The BEST MARKED routes… period, Experience the rolling/flat terrain of Jackson County where traffic is NOT an issue and benefit from 35 years of century ride experiences that formed this premier event. Route options: 22, 44, 64, and 102 miles.  Trish’s note: This is always such a fun ride! It raises money for the Kelley Wilhite Aplastic Anemia Research Fund at Emory University.

TBRA Officials Clinic From TBRA: There will be a level C USAC officials clinic in Crossville TN on March 13th. Sun March 13 2016 @ 10:00am CT 472 Carson Road Crossville, TN 38571 Remember, with each USAC club renewal, one brand new official from your club will have their officials license fee waived for the first year!

2-29-2016 DLV Women’s Class From Lori Walker: I am so excited to announce that the Dick Lane Velodrome will be offering a Women’s Track Racing class.   This is such exciting news! For the last three years we have tried to offer a women’s track racing class and every 3 out of the 5 classes (5 weeks, once a week) it either rained or it froze (freezing is any temp below 40 degrees for the track) but this year the women’s class will be  – every Monday. If it rains this Monday, you know there will be class next Monday. I have been a coach for many years and have noticed the clients that are consistent with their training are the clients that will improve and succeed. We are offering women track racing class every Monday – consistency. The class is open to all experience and newly certified trackies.  If you want to learn more about track endurance races, sprint type races, improve your sprint or your cycling skills you are invited to join the class. If you are brand new to the track you will need to take the certification class first.  The class fee is $5.00 / session or no fee for One Pass holders (season pass) Track bikes are available.  Please bring your helmet, shoes and water bottle.  Class starts on Monday, March 14th at 6:30.

2-26-2016 Southern Cross The weather is looking good and there is still time to register for the Southern Cross Ultra Gravel Grind presented by Maxxis Tires! The course is 55 miles with a bit over 7,000 ft of elevation gain (two major climbs), and consists of pavement, gravel roads and some short sections of singletrack trail. The course is cross bike or mountain bike friendly, so pick your poison! We still have a good number of our cotton-blend event shirts available in most sizes!

DLV News From the DLV: We’re getting ready to have a great 2016! 2016 Pro Race Series Dates: Saturday April 30th 2016 Merial presents The Keirin,
Saturday July 9th 2016 Loose Nuts Cycles presents The Omnium, Saturday August 27th 2016 Third Eye Software presents The Velodrome Cup, Women’s Training Each Monday 6:30-8p.m. Starting March 14th. We always need volunteers! From workdays to keep the track looking great to ticket takers and bike valets at our Pro Race Series, volunteers help us keep things running. Please email rob@dicklanevelodrome.com if you can help! Beginner’s Class: Learn the fundamentals of riding the track in a fun, low stress group environment taught by experienced coaches. First Class March 19-20 1-4p.m. Both D
Season Passes are Now Available For Sale! All Riders who purchase a One-Pass by April 1st Receive a Free Spectator Season Pass Good for all PRS Events!