Happy Holidays from Southeastern Cycling!
News for 12-23-2023
Tom Duncan Memorial Ride
As many know by now, Tom Duncan was helping to lead a beginner group on the Atlanta WBL when he was struck and killed by a distracted driver on Saturday, Dec. 16. Robert Wilhite describes Tom:” If I could sum up all my interactions with Tom, it’s that he was the epitome of joy walking in the flesh. He was always eager to help, he always had a smile on his face, and the sum of all these, made you want to be in Tom’s group.”
There will be a memorial ride on Sat., Dec. 30. A police escort will be provided. See details here.
Atlanta News First Coverage: https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2023/12/22/metro-atlanta-cyclists-urge-road-safety-after-rider-hit-killed/
Fox 5 News Story: https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/atlanta-winter-bike-league-cyclist-struck-and-killed-in-weekend-crash
GoFundMe for Tom’s family: https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-memory-of-tom-duncan
Authorities have said charges against the driver are pending.
News for 12-21-2023
Calendars Updated
All of the calendars have been updated with the races I have for 2024. There are still a few big holes. After the holidays I’ll go through them all again and will keep adding races as I find out the dates. The further out in the year the more likely we won’t see a date til the spring. Don’t even ask me about 2024 cyclocross yet. For those that don’t know I’m on the Board of Directors for the Georgia Cyclocross Series. I want to have a few months to breathe first.
WBL #3
WBL Ride # 3: The St. Nicholson Christmas Eve’s Eve Event When: Saturday, 23 December Where: The Hub / Jittery Joes (5 Points)
NOTE: No sag car. Be self sufficient. Time: 10 a.m. (window open) Length: 43 miles / 2 hours Points 2: 1 per hour (must sign in)
Sign in: https://forms.gle/HJLZHP4Z3nMxQkkL7 Exit Route: Milledge, Hill, Pulaski, Boley
Store Stop: None. Save room for Christmas Pee Break: approx. Mile 20
Map: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45196831
Sprints: None Parking: Ride your bike down, park on a side street nearby. PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE CAR IN HUB PARKING LOT DURING RIDE.
News for 12-18-2023
Dirty Sheets Bridge Out
The bridge on Garretts Ferry at Dirty Sheets is out for about the next 6 months. Confirmed. Please do not go through the construction site. The go around is easy. From Jones Ferry, go out of the gate. Right onto the shoulder of S. Fulton Pky. About 20 meters down, look across the street, and you’ll see a white fence. Cross the road (very, very carefully! High speeds!), and go to the right of the white fence. The end of Whiteside Road is there; you’ll see it. When it ends, merge right onto Garretts Ferry. You are back on the loop. Reverse if going counter clockwise.
Velosolutions pump track at Allatoona Creek Park
From MTB Atlanta
We are super excited to finally be able to announce that the Cobb County Board of Commissioners voted yesterday to approve the construction of the Velosolutions pumptrack at Pitner Bike Park. Thanks to all of our partners for making this dream come true for our community including. HUGE thanks to the Chestnut Family Foundation and MTB Atlanta for funding and leading the project. Thank you to Commisioner Keli Gambrill and the entire Cobb County PARKS staff for their guidance and oversight at Allatoona Creek. Also thank you to Free-Flite Bicycles and Jarrod’s Place for stepping up as community partners and helping to sponsor the stoke for this track.
If you or your business would like to contribute towards the progress, there are still lots of opportunities to become an official sponsor of the park.
Construction should begin soon and we ask that folks stay out of the fenced off site. There may be some necessary closures during the process and we’ll announce and sign them appropriately.
News for 12-13-2023
WBL #2
From the WBL
WBL # 2: Choco Pronto Roll to Pholomath
When: Saturday, 16 December
Where: The HUB (5 Points)
Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45139667
Length: 86 miles / 4 hours
Time: 10 AM (window open)
Points: 4 (1 per hour – must sign in)
Exit Route: Lumpkin > Stadium > Peter > Olympic
Store Stop: Rayle (Mile 40)
Pee break: @ Mile 20
Sprints: none
Registration online: https://forms.gle/HJLZHP4Z3nMxQkkL7
Garretts Ferry Bridge
According to multiple sources including myself, the bridge on Garretts Ferry in Chattahoochee Hills (Dirty Sheets) is out and not passable for “several months.” You’ll need to go around. Plenty of options to do so.
News for 12-8-2023
Allatoona Work Party
From MTB Atlanta
Allatoona Work Party Sat., Dec. 16 9 am, Join us for our monthly work party. We’ll be demoing the old bridge on the Bluff, sharpening tools, and other odd jobs.
News for 12-6-2023
Maysville Gravel Road Closures!
If you are riding Maysville any time this week, the bridge on Gowder Road is closed. It is sort of passable, but be careful! The beams are steel & narrow, and most cycling shoes are really slick on steel. The construction crew said that it would be closed the rest of this week and maybe into the first of part of next week. They are replacing all of the wooden boards. I rode over another bridge the county had already done on another road, and it was nice! So, head’s up. Also, some of the roads getting back towards Donahoo Road (specifically Bingham and the top part of Chandler Cemetary Rd) have been graded. The gravel is pretty thick and powdery right now. It should get better in the next few weeks with motor vehicle traffic.
Winter Bike League
From the WBL
What: The HUB HOME OPENER: ILA: THE DOG LOVER’S LOOP
When: Saturday, 9 December
Where: The HUB (5 Points)
Route:https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44870616
Length: 80 miles / 4 hours
Time: 10 AM (window open)
Points: 4 (1 per hour – must sign in)
Exit Route: Milldege > Hill > MLK > Nowhere Road
Store Stop: Ila (Mile 38)
Pee break: @ Mile 19
Sprints: none
News for 11-30-3023
Final Atlanta Streets Alive Sunday
From Atlanta Streets Alive
Let’s do this once more in 2023: Atlanta Streets Alive returns on Sunday, December 3, 2023 to Atlanta’s most iconic street — Peachtree — from 1 PM to 5 PM. Approximately three miles of Atlanta streets will close to cars and open to people! Everyone is welcome to walk, bike, roll, jog, scoot or dance down activated, car-free streets, in the heart of our city and connect with others.
Atlanta Streets Alive will take place from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. three Sundays during Fall 2023:
Sunday, September 24, 2023
Sunday, October 22, 2023
Sunday, December 3, 2023
Atlanta Streets Alive was run by Propel ATL, formerly the Atlanta Bike Coalition, for 10 years, producing 29 open streets programs with over 1.5 estimated total attendees. This robust open street program became an ATLDOT City of Atlanta initiative in 2023. Peachtree Street was selected as the inaugural street for an event series because of its central location, adjacency to seven MARTA rail stations, density of residents and businesses, and grid of streets that provides convenient options for car detour routing. Additional routes are being considered for future iterations, based on budget and ATLDOT capacity. Prior to the pandemic hiatus, Peachtree Street consistently attracted over 100,000 people to walk, bike, roll, skate, scoot, and run through Midtown, Downtown and South Downtown during each Atlanta Streets Alive.
Check out the many activities along the route for a wealth of interactive experiences hosted by community organizations and local businesses. You can explore the open street from end to end or enter and exit the route at any cross street at any time during the four-hour activation. Atlanta Streets Alive is FREE and fun for all ages. Bring your friends and family, and share in the experience of enjoying our city streets as public space!
We encourage everyone to bike, walk, or take MARTA to Atlanta Streets Alive. Use apps like Google Maps, Apple Maps, or Waze to find suggested biking, walking, and transit directions. Bring your bike, running shoes, roller blades, or favorite way to get around to Atlanta Streets Alive and explore the route.
News for 11-29-2023
Bridge Replacement at Dirty Sheets
From a Facebook post: “If you’re a fan of the Chatt Hills Dirty Sheets, just wanted you all to know that work has begun on the Garretts Ferry Road bridge project today. The crew said they would be clearing trees and brush for a about three days to “make ready” for the construction crew. I stopped by today and they definitely had the road closed. Once they start construction, it’s expected to take 6 months to completed.” Trish’s Note: There was a small item in a Chatt Hills newsletter about 2 years ago that said they were “replacing” the bridge.
News for 11-28-2023
Nash Dash CX is THIS WEEKEND!
It’s Nash Dash Week!!! The technical guide is up at https://nashdashcx.com/. It will answer all of your questions including that numbers go on the LEFT. A full slate of Georgia Cyclocross races will be run in addition to the UCI races. If you want to see the best cyclocross racers in the country come out! Spectators are FREE.
For GACX Racers one clarification about awards:
–Daily USAC awards will proceed as normal, 30-ish minutes after each race.
–GACX Overall Series awards will be Sunday AFTER all the racing is finished. Cat. 5? Plan to stay all day! There will be food and adult beverages for sale.
Michael Barman is looking for host housing for some of the UCI racers (especially people on the south side of town!) and those with mechanical skills to work the pits for the UCI Pro Men and Womens races Saturday and Sunday. Email barmancoach2013 at gmail.com if you can do either.
News for 11-26-2023
Nash Dash CX
Nash Dash CX brings UCI Cyclocross Racing to Georgia December 2-3! Held at Nash Farms in Hampton, GA (30 minutes south of Hartsfield Jackson International Airport) the courses will provide challenge to racers. Expect grass (lots of grass…lots of grass), some gravel, dirt, a long descent, climbing, and plenty of turns and off camber. The full Georgia Cyclocross Series schedule will be run in addition to the UCI Race for Men, Women, and Juniors. The GACX Series finale will be Sunday. Plan to stay after the races for the Overall Series Awards!
Happy Thanksgiving! I am grateful to everyone for supporting Southeastern Cycling. I expect news light over the next week. I have several dates to add to the 2024 calendars. Head’s up exclusive tidbit: Southern Cross registration opens Jan. 1!
News for 11-15-2023
Border Wars
Gran Fondo Guide has a great article on the local gravel ride/race Border Wars. I’ve done it the last 2 years and had a lot of fun! ” Border Wars Gravel Adventure returns to the Alabama / Georgia state line
Gear up, gravel cyclists! Saturday, February 24, 2024 will see Border Wars return for its 3rd annual AL/GA race, now starting in Franklin, Georgia. Gran Fondo Guide fans and followers SAVE 10% with our exclusive discount code!
Border Wars Gravel Adventure returns to the Alabama and Georgia state line
This event shows riders the best of both Southern gravel worlds: Georgia’s neat, meandering farmland roads and the shady, forested routes that dive across ‘Bama’s steep hollers. It’s an exhilarating day of friendly and competitive rides, a bike expo, and a festive after-party where riders will enjoy great food and drinks for all ages, plus live music from the Spring Street Bluegrass Band….”
