December 2024

News for 12-10-2024
CraftPost Launch!

Press Release
2 College Freshman Launch Culturally Inspired Spices Company, September 2024.

CraftPost is a new line of all-natural seasonings and blends inspired by cultural flavors to enhance any cook’s kitchen. (Trish’s Note: Great for cyclists!)

With variety spanning across every continent, CraftPost’s line of spices provide easy access to eccentric and healthy food. Our spices are non-GMO, MSG-free, and gluten-free, ensuring that anyone can try it.
No matter what you are making, the CraftPost website even provides free access to recipes utilizing our seasonings, making for a fantastic meal to enjoy or share.

To celebrate our new launch, we are giving Southeastern Cycling users a discount code for 10% off anything item on the website. “CraftPost is not just a company, it is a culture”. Discount Code for 10% off: SOUTHEAST10

www.craftpost.co

News for 12-6-2024
Kisk the Silver Comet Cat Passed Away
I am sad to report that Kisk the Silver Comet Cat has had to be humanely put down because of a sudden medical problem. Kisk was a “trap and release” cat that was cared for by a local family. He hung out around mile 5.6 on the Silver Comet. Kisk owned this part of the trail and could often be seen laying down or sitting surveying his domain. He was almost always up for a head scratch. Details and memories can be see in the Silver Comet Facebook group.

News for 12-5-2024
MTB Trail for Adaptive Shredders (aMTB=adaptive MTB. I learned this, too!)
From Bham Now (note: Birmingham, AL)

“A Birmingham-area volunteer group is working to make Alabama’s natural beauty more accessible than ever. 

BUMP, a non-profit focused on building and maintaining mountain biking trails in the Birmingham area, is constructing one of the first hiking trails in the Southeast built specifically to accommodate adaptive bikes, bicycles that have been modified to meet the needs of riders with a disability or mobility issue.

“There’s been some developments in adaptive bikes, and now, since the equipment is available, the riders are becoming more plentiful.

We believe we can build an entire network of trails of varying difficulty that will serve both adaptive and traditional mountain bikers.”Chase Draper, President, BUMP” Read the full article.

News for 12-4-2024
Homegrown Gravel Registration Open

From Homegrown Gravel
It’s a new name but the same great adventure—February 22, 2025, an hour south of Atlanta. Homegrown is a 100% Grade A gravel event that’s always fresh and never frozen. (Hint to all you up in the north country) So, come on down, y’all, and get a giant helping of southern hospitality and ride in before all the Midwest and Northern routes thaw out. 100, 62, 40/30 mile race/rides with some of the best riding roads in the country.
PLUS: $10,000 Payout for the 100-mile event (See race details), Thursday Pre-reg Party at @ssfirepits, Friday Shake Out ride and hang at @delriomexican in Downtown Franklin, GA, Plenty of camping across the river from the start (plenty of hotels 20-minutes away), Fully stocked Aid Stations and Sag Support, Post Ride Festival with a plethora of Homemade Food, Art, Cycling Goods, Massages & more, Goed Beer from @halfwaycrooksbeer, Live Music from @thedaskaiser (one- maybe two – more bands in the works), Handmade Custom Trophies for all categories from @grouchyasspottery, Sunday Coffee Ride, Proceeds benefit the Heard County Food Pantry and MTB Atlanta
https://www.bikereg.com/homegrown

News for 12-3-2024
Allatoona Work Day
From MTB Atlanta
Allatoona Trails Work Day Sat., Dec. 7 9m-1pm Help us keep the park’s trail in great shape! Tools provided. Just wear bug spray, sturdy closed toed shoes, long pants and gloves. Lunch will be provided.

News for 11-28-2024
WBL News

From the WBL
WBL DECEMBER SCHEDULE
Ride # 1: Saturday 7 December 2023: The HUB Home Opener: The Ila Dog Lover’s Loop (4 hours / 80 miles)
Ride # 2: Saturday 14 December 2023: Choco Coffee Railroad to Rayle (4 hours / 80 miles)
Ride # 3: Saturday 21 December 2023: Flickr Nowhere Road Loop to Nowhere (4 hours / 80 miles)
Ride # 4: Saturday 28 Dec 2023: TT1 Classic Ladies Day Maxed Out in Maxeys: Ladies Sprint (4 hours / 80 miles)
http://www.winterbikeleague.com

News for 11-26-2024
It’s a slow week for news. Don’t forget to pre-order your Southeastern Cycling tshirt to be mailed out shortly after Dec. 9! I’m working on updating all of the calendars with 2025 dates I have. Mountain biking/Gravel is done. I’ll work on Road this week. I don’t anticipate too many road dates yet. They usually come together in late Feb./early March. MTB & Gravel put their dates out much earlier and have for about the last 2 decades. CX is still ongoing, so it’s still 2024 for us racing it!

News for 11-25-2024
Southeastern Cycling Tshirts

I am taking pre-orders for Southeastern Cycling tshirts through Nov. 30! Great design by Das Kaiser/Willem Kaiser. He’s designed all of the Georgia Cross event shirts this year–very edgy and fun! $20+$6 shipping. Sizes S-XL. DM me for payment information! Limited edition! Shirts are navy with a white design. Really nice quality that gets softer with each wash! Contact me for payment information.

News for 11-20-2024
SORBA Looking for Membership Director

From SORBA
We are excited to announce the job opening for our new full-time position of Membership Director! As we continue down the path of providing membership for our chapters, this position will be vital to our future success. Please see the details of the position below. If you are interested in applying, please submit your resume and cover letter to philip.darden@sorba.org. We will be accepting resumes until November 30th or when the position has been filled.

Job Summary:
The Membership Director is responsible for stewarding SORBA’s (“the organization”) membership, overseeing membership software, and membership growth initiatives. The position shall be responsible for certain fundraising initiatives, maintain and build relationships with donors, identify and cultivate relationships with prospective members/donors, and provide operational and development support to the organization and its chapters. Reporting to and in partnership with the Executive Director (ED), the Membership Director will spearhead membership management and assist with development efforts as SORBA continues to grow.

Greenville Winter Bike League
The Greenville, SC Winter Bike League returns for the season’s first ride on Dec. 7!

November 2024 News

News for 11-20-2024
SORBA Looking for Membership Director

From SORBA
We are excited to announce the job opening for our new full-time position of Membership Director! As we continue down the path of providing membership for our chapters, this position will be vital to our future success. Please see the details of the position below. If you are interested in applying, please submit your resume and cover letter to philip.darden@sorba.org. We will be accepting resumes until November 30th or when the position has been filled.

Job Summary:
The Membership Director is responsible for stewarding SORBA’s (“the organization”) membership, overseeing membership software, and membership growth initiatives. The position shall be responsible for certain fundraising initiatives, maintain and build relationships with donors, identify and cultivate relationships with prospective members/donors, and provide operational and development support to the organization and its chapters. Reporting to and in partnership with the Executive Director (ED), the Membership Director will spearhead membership management and assist with development efforts as SORBA continues to grow.

Greenville Winter Bike League
The Greenville, SC Winter Bike League returns for the season’s first ride on Dec. 7!

News for 11-19-2024
Southeastern Cycling Tshirts

I am taking pre-orders for Southeastern Cycling tshirts through Nov. 30! Great design by Das Kaiser/Willem Kaiser. He’s designed all of the Georgia Cross event shirts this year–very edgy and fun! $20+$6 shipping. Sizes S-XL. DM me for payment information! Limited edition! Shirts are navy with a white design. Really nice quality that gets softer with each wash! Contact me for payment information.

Photos from Nash Dash
My photos from both days of Nash Dash are up at http://sadlebred.smugmug.com. Please support your local photographers!

BLANKETS CREEK 3 AND 6 HOUR RACE – THIS SATURDAY NOVEMBER 23! REGISTER THIS WEEK!
REGISTRATION CLOSES AT 5 PM ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22!

From Mountain Goat Adventures
Solo, 2 and 3 person team categories are available in the 6 Hour Race. All 3 hour categories are solo categories. Get your teams together now! Discounted rate for 3 person Junior Teams! 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 who aren’t ready for a full 3 hour event. You can check out the available Categories and FULL EVENT DETAILS HERE

Medals and sponsor prizes 3 deep in all categories, podium shirts for all first place finishers in the 6 Hour Event. For those that register after we run out of the race logo shirts, you will receive one of our new Mountain Goat Logo shirts instead. Here’s a peek at the swag bags for the upcoming Blankets Creek 3 and 6 Hour Race!! Super comfy Tri-Blend T-Shirt, Code for free full size bag of Ka’Chava shake mix, Hammer Gel and Fizz, Squirt Lube and Barrier Balm sample, LMNT 8 flavor sample pack, Mountain Goat bottle opener carabiner

News for 11-14-2024
Nash Dash UCI CX This Weekend!

I’ve been interviewing all of the Pro CX racers this week including Kerry Werner, Caroline Mani, and GACX’s own Mackenzie Myatt. Head over to https://www.instagram.com/georgiacxseries/ for the interviews and racer highlights for this weekend. Full race details and technical manual are at http://www.nashdashcx.com. See you this weekend at Nash Farm!

News for 11-13-2024
Blankets Creek Closed for Deer Hunts

From SORBA Woodstock
Trish’s Note: It’s that time of year when all of your favorite trails close on the only dry day of the week for deer hunting….or keep the trails closed when they could have opened for the day.
It’s that time of year again folks!!!! Blankets Creek will be closed to the public for four separate days in November, December, and January. Cherokee Recreation and Parks, which acts as the official land manager for the Blankets Creek property, will host a wildlife management event at Blanket’s Creek Park for the third year in a row. Cherokee County leases the property from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). The land in the Blankets Creek area has seen a large increase in the deer population over the last few years, leading to scarce food sources and a safety issue for trail users. In an effort to control the deer population in that area, which is estimated to be hundreds on the 330-acre property, Cherokee Recreation and Parks will hold six deer management events on November 17th, December 1st, December 15th, and January 12th. The November 17th and December 1st will be split into a morning session and an afternoon session. The December 15th and January 12th dates will be morning sessions only. The morning sessions will be from first light to 11:00am and the afternoon sessions will be from 2:30pm to last light.

News for 11-11-2024
Allatoona Work Day

From MTB Atlanta
Allatoona Trails Work Day Sat., Dec. 7 9m-1pm Help us keep the park’s trail in great shape! Tools provided. Just wear bug spray, sturdy closed toed shoes, long pants and gloves. Lunch will be provided.

Bikes for Kids North Fulton
From Bikes for Kids
Calling all elves! Time to sign up as a volunteer for Domestique Day and help Bike Alpharetta move, clean, repair and make 350-400 bikes/trikes ‘Santa Ready’ for the annual Toyland program for North Fulton Community Charities. This is our 18th year!
Domestique Day
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2024
8:15am to 4:00pm
Milton Community Center at Milton City Park and Preserve
1785 Dinsmore Rd, Milton, GA
Shifts are available for cleaning bikes, building new bikes (no tools needed), repairing bikes, and rolling bikes to staging areas and to the final Santa Ready stash!
Check out all the positions and details here – https://signup.com/go/xStGeHv
We greatly appreciate all the individuals, families, bike clubs and service groups who have helped us before and can’t wait to have you back! It’s a great way for teens to earn service hours too!!
NITRO :: A Georgia Interscholastic Mountain Bike Team Roswell Alpharetta Mountain Bike Organization (RAMBO) BikeRoswell!, Olde Blind Dog Cycling Club, Atlanta Outdoor Club, Goat Riders, Webb Bridge Cycling Sorella Cycling
Have a bike to donate that needs a little repair (light on dust, no rust)? We can use 150 more bikes (as of Nov. 11). Please drop off at one of our bike partners:
REI Co-op Alpharetta, Roswell Bicycles Fresh Bikes Reality Bikes or Pedego Alpharetta, Atlanta Cycling (Alpharetta)
https://www.facebook.com/bikesforkidsalpharetta

News for 11-8-2024
Rope Mill Trails Closed

The Rope Mill Park trails in Woodstock, GA will be closed until noon on Sat. for the Rope Mill Dirty Duathlon.

News for 11-6-2024
Georgia Cross Elks Race Information

From the Promoter
Elks welcomes you to the 35th anniversary of Cyclocross at Elks Benefit Race. OK, not 35 years but sometimes it feels like we have been there that long. All proceeds go to Elks. (Trish’s Note: I have training journals back to the late 90s. The first reference I can find to Elks Aidmore CX is 2008, so 16 years give or take….but yes, it feels like 35!)

Very spectator and heckle friendly course. If you raced at Elks the past two years you know we will be in the back area by the cabins. Plenty of camping, a covered picnic area, and awards area. Playground up front if your wee ones get bored watching parents and siblings race.

Numbers on the … We will know when the officials say where they want to sit. In the past they sat on the right.

Same course and direction as 2023. A racer’s favorite with fast gentle descents, brutal 10-meter climbs over a 100 meters, gentle turns, sharp turns, sand, fast grass and hard pack. If we have less than 3 inches of rain, the course will look like last year but no dust. There may be natural barriers. Great tune ups for the next 4 local UCI races and the Nationals CX course. Not as much mud as Louisville but rolling terain. Juniors course is adjusted for more laps and fun. Adults get the full course.

Please note that we are also running collegiate races, so start times are adjusted.

Short order cook Barman will be grilling hamburgers and hot dogs. Modest prices for all. If you want vegi you do need to bring your own. You never know if any stew or chili is available.

Your favorite registrars will be present. Smiles and fun everterrain.

Thanks to Toyota Material Handling for sponsoring the race and all who help set up and take down the course. Course setup Friday so pre ride could happen on Saturday.

News for 11-5-2024
Nash Dash CX coming up on Nov. 16-17 in Hampton, GA is looking for a Few Things:
Nash Dash is looking for
-Volunteers
-Host Housing for 2 small teams
-Sponsorship for the UCI Juniors Races
Go to this site to contact Barman if you can help: https://www.facebook.com/events/1205680867201166/?active_tab=discussion

News for 11-1-2024
Move for Grady

Press Release
On Saturday, April 26, 2025, thousands of cyclists, runners, and walkers will come together to show their support and raise critical funds for one of our community’s most impactful institutions – Grady Health System. Make your plans to be on the starting line today! With three cycling distances – there is something for everyone, including a fantastic after party! The event will begin at 7am and end when all riders have crossed the finish line.

Our 20-mile cycling route starts and ends at Georgia State’s Center Parc Stadium and heads west and south towards East Point and College Park. This is an urban route. We recommend doing some in-town training and familiarity with the rules of the road for cyclists.

Our 45-mile cycling route starts and ends at Georgia State’s Center Park Stadium and heads west and south through East Point and College Park towards Union City. Portions of the ride are in urban areas. We recommend doing some in-town training and familiarity with the rules of the road for cyclists.

Our 62-mile cycling route starts and ends at Georgia State’s Center Park Stadium and heads west and south through East Point and Union City, taking you into Chattahoochee Hills. Portions of this ride are in urban areas. We recommend doing some in-town training and familiarity with the rules of the road for cyclists.

News for 10-30-2024
Georgia Cyclocross State Championships

The Georgia State Cyclocross Championships are SUNDAY, NOV. 3 in Macon at Middle Georgia State University. All proceeds benefit an incredible organization, U Create Macon! Kids from the program will be racing on Sunday! Please come out to cheer them on and ring some GACX cowbell for them! Lots of good info. below, so enjoy! Oh, and open for Pre-Ride! Registration is open NOW on bikereg.com! Save $10 by pre-registering for all of your divisions! The weather is looking great! 

  • Side numbers go on
    • LEFT side
  • Cool features about the course–new or favorites from last year
    • The DAM is back
    • The STAIRS are back
    • The WOODS are back (with FEWER ROOTS) (GACX’s note: racer rejoice!)
    • The BARRIERS are back and optimally located for spectators, heckling, and hands-ups
    • The SAND is out due to construction
    • The course will have more TWISTS & TURNS
    • The course has a little bit of something for EVERYONE
    • JUNIORS COURSE – the junior course will by-pass the technical damn sections and the woods to allow the younger juniors to have a more enjoyable race
  • Anything racers need to know about the venue
    • There is no food vendors on course, but several fast food places are close by
    • PARKING – There will be volunteers helping with parking, please be courteous and follow their directions
  • Will the course be open for pre-riding on Sat.? If so, what time?
    • Course should be fully set by 2pm on Saturday and will be open for pre-ride
  • Podium Prizes courtesy of GEORGIA based companies and a GACX racer who are excited to support cycling in Middle Georgia
  • Anything else?

–Put my social media post here!

Dirty Sheets Weekly Night Rides
From MTB Atlanta
Join us for another season of Longest Running Gravel Group Ride in Metro Atlanta every Tuesday Night until December 17th sponsored by S&S Firepits! We will have ride options and plenty of parking/lights/bathrooms at MTB Atlanta Headquarters, Goode’s Camp for the ride which is located on Atlanta Newnan Road at these GPS coordinates : 33.529617, -84.730463. Look for the MTB Atlanta flag at the end of the driveway on Atlanta Newnan.
We have an incredible S & S Firepit donated by our sponsor S&S we will keep fired up before and after the ride for bevies, snacks and socializing. SO bring a camp chair and hang out with all your gravel riding buddies!
You must sign a waiver to ride and a helmet, trail lite and a front light that will last the duration of your ride are required. you must one able to self navigate and be self sufficient and be able to handle a repair/flat in the dark.

News for 10-28-2024
Photos from Psychocross are ready!
My photos from Psychocross at the Dick Lane Velodrome are up at http://sadlebred.smugmug.com. Please support your local photographers!

Winter Rides 2024-2025
Rides information for the winter 2024-2025 ride season is starting to come out. Some rides are noted as “year round” or with a different start time. Most rides after work stop for DST. Olde Blind Dog rides go all year. See the Rides page for details on your favorite ride. Scroll to the bottom for some winter group riding opportunities–road, gravel, and mtb.

News for 10-23-2024
From Georgia Cross and the Dick Lane Velodrome

It’s not Track Racing. It’s Cyclocross Racing, and it’ll be at the velodrome this Sunday from 8:00 – 4:00 (Elite Women at 1:15 and Elite Men start at 2:15). Brought to you by the East Point Track Club and Georgia Cyclocross, it’s basically the same attitude, vibe and entertainment value as track racing, just different bikes and with riders jumping over obstacles and running their bikes up things. (yes, we agree, running with a bike seems silly, but who are we to judge? We only have one gear on our bikes) http://www.georgia-cx.com

It’s free to come and watch, and it’s a blast, and they’ll have hotdogs, so what else could you want? (Okay, burgers too, drinks, and other treats.) We encourage everyone to wear a costume but don’t feel like you have to.

NCGP a GO!
From North Carolina Cyclocross Instagram
Excited to hear the news form parks and recreation that Jackson Park is a go for the North Carolina Grand Prix (UCI Races) after Hurricane Helene. The races are Nov. 23-24. Registration is open. https://www.nccyclocross.com/