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October 2018 News

Posted on September 30, 2018October 29, 2018 by Trish Albert

Happy Halloween!

10-29-2018 DLV New Rider Class There is a new rider class scheduled for the weekend of Nov. 3-4 at the Dick Lane Velodrome. Get certified, participate in our winter training program and you’ll be in fine form for the spring events. Curious about the track but not ready sign up for a certification class? Come out on Sat., Nov. 3 @ 11am for a short hour long test session to see what it’s like. (Trish’s Note: The Try the Track will NOT certify you to ride & race. You must take the New Rider Clinic). This is the last New Rider Clinic until 2019!

Big Creek Night Rides Challenge yourself to an evening ride at Big Creek. Sign up now for the 2018/2019 Night Ride Series. This year there are 18 weekly rides that begin November 7th. Rides begin at 7:00 p.m. sharp. Helmets, lights, and cell phones are mandatory. These group rides are for mountain bikers who possess extensive experience with all aspects of night riding, bike maintenance, and rules of the trail. Limited to the natural bike trails at Big Creek Park. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult. Register now for the entire series, select dates or single nights. Note: You must register by 12:00p.m. the day of the ride. This year there are 18, 10, 4 and single ride registration options available. These rides are a great way to show our continued support for Big Creek Park. Trish’s Note: To ride, you must register and pay a nominal fee (less than $5/ride) through the Roswell Parks Dept. You may not ride without registering. The is an official Roswell Parks Dept. activity. If you want to ride at night without a fee, Blanket’s Creek is open 24 hours unless it’s closed because of an event or trail conditions.

The Men’s Cat. 1/2 Leaders at Cole CX.

10-28-2018 Photos from Cole CX Photos from Cole (Savannah) CX are up! Please support your local photographers!

Georgia Cross Director Elizabeth Lee (706P-UHC) has an “oh crap” moment coming off a small hill at Cole Cross. Photo by Jim Behning.

10-27-2018 RSM Bike Ride ST. SIMONS ISLAND, GA – October 24, 2018 – As part of a weeklong schedule of events designed to raise funds for charity, the Davis Love Foundation will host an inaugural bike ride at Great Dunes Park on Jekyll Island. The ride, held on Saturday, November 17 in conjunction with The RSM Classic, an Official PGA TOUR FedEx Cup, offers an extra activity for locals and tournament patrons. The ride is presented by Chick-fil-A in partnership with Jekyll Island, The Westin – Jekyll Island, Coca-Cola, the Davis Love Foundation, Peak Racing and The RSM Classic. Riders can choose from a 14.5 or 29 mile journey around beautiful Jekyll Island.

“Almost 100 riders of all ages have already registered for the Ride,” said RSM Classic Tournament Director Todd Thompson. “We are excited to add this unique event to our tournament schedule and to showcase another area of our beautiful Golden Isles.” Registration on the website is $45 until November 1 and $50 through November 16. It is $60 onsite Friday and Saturday, November 16 and 17. The package includes breakfast options from Chick-fil-A, beverages from Coca-Cola, commemorative tee shirt and two Good Any Day Tickets to The RSM Classic. For more information, visit RSMClassic.com.

10-26-2018 DLV Work Day The Dick Lane Velodrome will have a workday on Sat., Nov. 10 from 9 am to 3 pm. Come for all or part of the day. DLV racers can earn hours towards a discount for purchasing a One-Pass (8 hours of volunteer day work required–does not have to be in one day). Tasks include: Fix Speaker wheels, fill cracks around track, water seal officials stand, install posts for scoreboard extension, paint bike racks, bike room light, and a ton more. The day will end with the task of pizza eating.

10-25-2018 Tucker-Airport-Winter Pizza Ride Info. I highly recommend reading this if you do Tucker, the Airport Ride, and Winter Pizza. Trish’s Note: These are training rides and are NOT beginner friendly. Expect to get dropped and be on your own if you can’t keep up. You are expected to have group riding and bike handling skills. If you are looking for a steadier yet slower paced ride, I recommend the AWBL. (Trish’s Note: I am not affiliated with the WBL & can provide no more information. Please contact the organizer via their website.)

Tucker “A” and “B” etiquette- for November and December

The “A” Tucker Ride- moves to 10AM on Saturday Nov 10th, and Tucker “B” moves to 9:30AM. In the past several years the “A” Tucker Ride has become very small during the winter months.

November and December Etiquette for Tucker “A”
- Steady Pace
- No attacks
- Sprint zone remains along Interstate 20 and Final Sprint before McDonalds’s
- Expected Average Speed 22 mph to 23 mph (this is a moving average speed from NTB Tires to Final Sprint). This is NOT a Strava average speed. Normal Summer Pace- FYI- 23 mph to 25 mph.
- If you are feeling strong- pull at the front longer / do more work in the paceline rotation / sit a little off to the side or back and in the wind, etc.
- You won’t be setting your Strava KOMs
- If you can’t abide by the above, enjoy another rider option
- Tucker “A” had about 30 riders a week and a half ago and pretty much rode following the above etiquette.
November and December Etiquette for Tucker “B”
- Too many Summer Tucker “A” migrate to Tucker “B” and lift the speed to their preferred pace- this is not acceptable.
- Tucker “A” riders need to respect the pace of Tucker “B” or choose a different ride.
- Steady Pace
- No attacks- if you are strong enough to attack, consider Tucker “A”.
- Sprint zones remain along Interstate 20 and Final Sprint into Stone Mountain, however, the group leaders should soft pedal after Interstate 20 sprint until the next traffic light, to make sure everyone is back on the group.
- Expected Average Speed 20 mph to under 21 mph (this is a moving average speed from NTB to Final Sprint). This is NOT a Strava average speed.
- If you can’t abide by the above, enjoy another rider option.

Airport Ride

First Ride Sunday Nov 4
Rolls out 10AM Sunday, (the day Daylight Saving Time Ends) – through the last Sunday in March.
Short and Long Options available
Pace- whatever you want to do

Winter Pizza

The First Thursday after Daylight Saving Time Ends- Every Thursday Winter Pizza until the time changes in the spring
Starts- 6:00PM– winter pace to the park, two small counterclockwise loops (approx 9.75 miles) at approximately 22-23.5 mph (winter pace to/from the park- in the park- no attacking, steady paceline, but final sprint allowed.) If you want to show how much power you can produce, please consider riding off the back of the group or choose a more suitable ride. Climbing segments, when leading the group, should be kept under 5.2 watts/Kg.

Tucker Ride Start– meet at the intersection Lynburn Drive and Main St, Tucker, GA- right by Snyder Cycles, Approximately 46 miles (shortcut options available). Airport Ride Start– meet at Trinity Ave SW, Atlanta, just west of Forsyth St SW. Approximate address- Trinity Lofts- 249 Trinity Ave SW, Atlanta, GA 30303 Pizza Ride Start– meet at 70 North Avondale Road, Avondale Estates, GA 30002

10-24-2018 Rope Mill Work Party From SORBA Woodstock Rope Mill Work Party, Sat., Oct. 27 9 am-Noon This month, we will be doing some dressing of Avalanche as part of the new entrance project. Please wear boots and bring gloves for this one. Thank you in advance and see you there.

10-22-2018 Photos from Old Grey Barn CX Photos from Old Grey Barn CX are up! Please support your local photographers!

Some riders prefer Pancake Hand-Ups at Old Grey Barn CX.

10-19-2018 Kennesaw Mountain Roads Closed Head’s up if you ride Kennesaw Mountain. The climb and some other roads will be closed for paving over the coming weeks.

Silver Comet News It looks like a portion of the Silver Comet extension through Cobb County towards Atlanta could begin as early as 2019 and take just a few months. Other parts of the project will take longer. See the Cobb County Courier article for further details.

Georgia Gravel Grinduro From Top View Sports The Georgia Gravel Grinduro will take the best climbs and scenery in North GA on Nov. 3 and challenge riders to go beyond what they think is reasonable and possible in human performance. The Grinduro is not for beginner cyclist. This event is a test against yourself as well as the other hundreds that will line up with you. You will be forced to leave the comfort zone behind and test your physical limits and equipment to the maximum. Our Scramble distance will be the event for the new gravel racer/rider. The Scramble will still have more than 60% gravel/dirt/clay roads and over 5.500 feet of climbing so even the shortest event is quite a test.

10-16-2018 Boundary Waters CX Photos Photos from Boundary Waters CX are up for your viewing pleasure! Please support your local photographer by purchasing a photo to share on social media!

Jonathan Page (yes, that JPage!) shows how it’s done in the Men’s 1/2 race. He was so smooth over the barriers and around the corners!

Free Bikes for Kidz Needs Volunteers Press Release Free Bikes for Kidz is a 501c3 non-profit group started a few years ago in Minneapolis. FB4K’s mission is collect gently used bikes, refurbish them, and give them to kids who otherwise don’t have the resources for a bike. The goal is to give the kids fun, exercise and transportation. FB4K has been in Atlanta for three years and we are partnering with the Atlanta Public Schools and the Atlanta Bike Coalition to create formalized riding programs. We need good mechanics to make the bikes functional and reliable. Our collection day is Oct 13 and the giveaway day is Dec 8 at our warehouse on Lee & White streets by the Beltline. We will be open usually 8 hours on Saturdays and 4 hours on Sundays through that period. This is when we try to recruit the volunteer and paid mechanics. We can also open the shop on weeknights if we have a big enough group come in. There is no need to bring tools; we have 12 Park work stands and twelve workstations: six of the workstations are set up with the Park toolkits. We have one truing stand, and an assortment of other oddball tools (French sizes, vice grips, proprietary nuts, etc). We also have cables, housing, brake pads, tires, tubes, and saddles. Please let Doug Walters know if you can help our efforts. doug at fb4katl.org

ATL Airport District Gears Up for Spin the District’s Gran Fondo Sunday, October 21 Press Release ATL Airport District – the official convention and visitors bureau for the cities of College Park, East Point, Hapeville and Union City, Ga. – will close out its inaugural Spin the District with a “Gran Fondo” cycling event on Sunday, October 21. After a successful three-day kickoff last month in College Park, East Point and Hapeville, the area’s first multi-faceted cycling experience will continue the fun in Union City. Italian for “big ride,” the Gran Fondo will feature a 10-mile family fun ride, plus a 30 and 60-mile road option, a 60-mile gravel option and a 100-mile mixed gravel and road option for those willing to accept the challenge.

The final event will start and end in Union City. Cyclists will travel the back-country roads and gravel paths of South Fulton, Fayette and Coweta counties. The scenic ride through South Fulton County will pay tribute to Gran Fondo’s Italian roots, celebrating the beginning of autumn with views of Georgia’s rolling hills. Rides will begin at 8 a.m. and vary in length and difficulty for cyclists of all ages and abilities. In addition, to the action-packed ride, attendees are invited to gather in downtown Union City for a family-friendly celebration from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. featuring live music courtesy of the Michel Jons Band, food trucks and an exciting BMX stunt show. T-shirts will be available for purchase at the event and special prizes will be offered throughout the day.

The Gran Fondo Memorial Ride will honor Karen Tinsley, a beloved University of Georgia professor and avid cyclist who passed away in a bicycle-vehicle accident last April. Dr. Tinsley served as Director of the Georgia Initiative for Community Housing and had recently been promoted to Senior Public Service Associate at the UGA College of Family and Consumer Studies. She worked with local communities, including Union City, to improve housing conditions throughout Georgia. As an avid cyclist, Dr. Tinsley logged more than 10,000 miles throughout central and northern Georgia, North and South Carolina mountains, the Finger Lakes region of New York and parts of the Tour de France routes in Europe.

10-12-2018 Trees Down on Silver Comet From Cycology Bike Shop on Facebook “Trees are down on the Silver Comet Trail about 1.5 miles east of the Polk County line. Paulding County will be bringing in help to clear the trail and hopes to have it open by Saturday.” Trish’s Note: The Cobb sections that I rode were fine. It looks like there were not many trees down and that Cobb Parks cleared the few there were. There is a lot of debris because of the high winds-pine needles, pine cones, small sticks, and leaves. Be careful out there for a few days.

Nats Schedule USA Cycling announced today the 2019 USA Cycling National Championships schedule. The first National Championship of 2019 – the USA Cycling Elite BMX Nationals – will be held in March at the Rock Hill BMX Supercross Track in Rock Hill, S.C. The Mountain Bike National Championships move out west and take over the Winter Park Resort in Colorado in July. Riders across multiple age groups will be racing in the home of USA Cycling, Colorado Springs, Colo., on parts of the 1986 UCI Road World Championships course in August. The junior, elite and masters level track National Championships return to the VELO Sports Center in Carson, Calif., and the US PRO Road Championships are back on the hills of Knoxville, Tenn., next summer. The year closes with the December’s USA Cycling Cyclocross Nationals in Tacoma, Wash.

2019 USA Cycling National Championships Schedule- Southeastern Dates
March 29-31 USA Cycling Elite BMX Nationals, Rock Hill, S.C.
May 10-12 USA Cycling Collegiate Road Championship, Augusta, Ga.
June 27-30 USA Cycling US PRO Road Championships, Knoxville, Tenn.
September 12-15 USA Cycling Collegiate Track Championships, Rock Hill, S.C.

10-10-2018 Grant Park Photos Photos from #GrantParkCX are ready for your viewing pleasure. Please support your local photographers!

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Brianna Goral (GRITS) shows off her amazing beverage hand up technique during the Women’s 3/4 race at #GrantParkCX.

New timed gravel segment for the Bookwalter Binge Gran Fondo Historically, the Bookwalter Binge ‘Gran Route’ has been the most challenging of the three routes at the event — offering 87 miles and 7,000’ of elevation gain and finishing with a timed segment along the paved greenway, Point Lookout Trail. “This trail, which is maintained by the US Forest Service, has received damage from multiple heavy rain events throughout the year and is currently undergoing lengthy repair work” said Jennifer Billstrom, Event Director. “Fortunately, we have the perfect alternative to keep the challenging stats, while adding a new element to the mix.” “Mill Creek Road is one of my favorite hidden gems when riding east of Asheville, and into Binge country” said Brent Bookwalter, Binge Founder and BMC Racing Team member. “I first experienced Mill Creek as part of one of my favorite mountain bike rides. After a couple miles of beautifully forested, twisting and undulating climbing that left me feeling like I was deep in the middle of the woods, I was amazed to realize how close I was to civilization when I popped out at the top of the climb.”

The event will be held on October 27, 2018. The Bookwalter Binge operates under a permit from the U.S. Forest Service. The Bookwalter Binge is a relaxed Gran Fondo ride, studded with racing on timed segments of tough climbs that provide an epic challenge to all. Three routes of varying length traverse some of the most beautiful roads in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Asheville, North Carolina: 7,000 ft of climbing in 87 miles, 5,800 ft in 72 miles, or 2,850 ft in 39 miles. This is a unique opportunity to ride alongside female and male pro cyclists as they celebrate the end of their season racing all over the world and the country. The accessible pros ride all three routes, and along with Brent, they are inspired by cyclists of all backgrounds and abilities.

10-7-2018 Douglasville Police Dept. Community Bike Ride The Douglasville, GA Police Dept. will host the first annual Community Bike Ride. This is a family friendly ride of 12.2 miles or go faster and be the first rider to finish & win a trophy! There will be a police motorcycle escort. A t-shirt is included in the $25 entry fee for the first 25 riders. All registration fees go to the annual Douglasville Police Department Toy Drive to benefit needy children throughout the Douglasville community. Stay afterwards for the annual Fall Festival with Touch-A-Truck, bounce house, K-9 Demos, food trucks, and more. (Trish’s note: My friend and fellow cyclist Officer Tyler is organizing this. Please support if it you can!) Contact Tammy Jewell at 678 293 1793 for more information.

10-4-2018 GATR Night Rides The Gwinnett Area Trail Riders have announced their night mountain bike rides for the rest of the year. Rides will rotate between Yellow River, Harbins, and Tribble Mill. See their Facebook page for details.

Allatoona Trail Work Party From SORBA West Georgia October Allatoona Trail Work Party, Saturday, October 20, 2018 9 am- 1 pm Hey Toona Riders and Hikers, we could use some help! Come out this Saturday for the next work party. This is a great way to get involved in the Biking/hiking community and meet the local SORBA folks.

Cochran Mill Work Party From MTB Atlanta Cochran Mill Work Party Saturday, October 13, 2018 9 am-Noon Join us for our monthly work party at Cochran Mill Park. Meet at the main parking lot at 9 AM. Please wear long pants, closed toed shoes, bring a helmet, gloves, water, snacks and your epi pen if you are allergic to bees. We will see you there!

Sope Creek Work Party From MTB Atlanta Sope Creek Work Party Saturday, October 20, 2018 at 9 am-Noon, Join us for our monthly Work Party at Sope Creek and give back to the trails that you love to ride. We meet at the Columns Drive parking lot at 9 AM at the gate by the Fitness loop. Wear long pants, closed toed shoes, bring gloves, water, snacks and your epi pen if you are allergic to bees. We will see you there.

10-2-2018 GA State CX Championship The Georgia State Championship Cyclocross race has been announced! It will be November 18 at the EPTC Classic p/b Twains. The venue will be Nash Farm south of Atlanta. The course will be different from 2017 and is promised to be epic The race schedule will be the standard GACX divisions and times! Keep an eye on the Georgia Cross website for more information.

USAC Officials Needed for GA! From Scott Patton: “I have taken over coordinating Georgia Officiating. I am eagerly recruiting new officials!! Racers, Friends, Spouses, parners, neighbors or co-workers… Doesn’t have to be a racer! … Just want to support the sport! Please get in touch! This includes experienced motorcyclists as well! Email Scott at scott at scottpatton.com.”

Big Creek Greenway Closure A portion of the Alpharetta Big Creek Greenway will be closed from Monday October 8th through Friday October 12th while emergency repairs are completed. The closure will be from 7am to 5pm daily with the trail reopening daily after 5pm until dark.

10-1-2018 Elks Aidmore CX Photos Photos from Elks Aidmore CX are up! Please support the photographers that stand out in all sorts of weather taking race photos all day!

Dawn Hill (L5 Flyers) on her way to winning the Women’s 3/4 at Elks Aidmore CX.

Hellhole Gravel Grind From the Promoter: The 2018 Hellhole Gravel Grind Stage Race will be held on November 10-11. Registration is re-opened. The format and course will be the same as pre-Florence, however, there will be no prologue this year. If you had previously registered and wish to keep your registration, no action is necessary on your part (otherwise, just let us know). If you have yet to sign up, then GET BUSY.

9-28-2018 GRITS CX Grants From GRITS (Trish’s Note: An awesome group of womxn!!) GRITS began in late 2017 as a lofty dream of creating a community of womxn across the Southeast who were stoked on building up this sport, building up themselves, building up the stoke, and building up each other. Here we are nearly a year later with a dedicated off road team of 8 amazing women, 7 rad companies on our back, and a countless number of supporters. We got here because of tireless hours spent building a place where everyone can feel welcome and included. Now it’s our time to give back what we can!

Introducing: GRITS Grants!
For the 2018-2019 cyclocross season, we’re covering the race fees for first time W/T/F racers in the southeast area. We want more women to have the opportunity to race their bikes, without worrying about the financial side of things. We’ve always loved the “run what ya brung” side of cyclocross. You don’t need any fancy equipment, bikes, or knowledge to show up to your first race!
Heck, we fondly remember one of our very dear now-elite racers who showed up to her first races in striped knee socks and flat pedals on a singlespeed.

To qualify for a GRITS Grant:
– Must be your first CX race
– Must be a W/T/F Cat 5 CX’r
– Must be located in the Southeastern US
– Must promise to have fun and high five us before/after/during your race

Our team and these grants are entirely grass roots supported through donations and merchandise sales (if ya bought a kit or a tshirt from us, you’ve made this possible!). We’re going to be doing this for as long as we can, but we can’t make any guarantees that these will always be available. If you would like to help support, you can donate to the team here. All funds donated will be going into the GRITS grants fund.

9-27-2018 North Carolina Cyclo-Cross kicks off 22nd Season Leading into USA Cycling Cyclo-Cross Nationals North Carolina Cyclo-Cross will kick off the 2018 race season with back-to-back races the weekend of October 13-14 in Sanford, North Carolina at O.T. Sloan Park and in Raleigh, North Carolina at Lions Park. 2018 marks the 22nd season of North Carolina Cyclo-Cross providing competitive and exciting cyclocross races across the state. North Carolina Cyclo-Cross (NCCX) remains the leader in southeast cyclocross with a 12 race season, culminating with the ProCX UCI C2 North Carolina Grand Prix (NCGP) on December 8-9, 2018 in Hendersonville, NC. The 14th Annual Hunter Subaru NCGP will be the final east coast stop for ProCX points before the 2018 USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships takes place in Louisville, KY, attracting professional domestic and international racers, as well as regional amateurs to the competitive course in Jackson Park. NCCX is excited to welcome back OrthoCarolina as a presenting sponsor of the 2018 series. OrthoCarolina is one of the nation’s leading independent academic orthopedics practices serving the Southeast since 1922. NCCX also welcomes BMW Southern Region Centers as a new presenting sponsor for the series.

The North Carolina Cyclo-Cross Series was founded in 1997 and consists of 12-15 races each season across North Carolina. The full schedule and racer information can be found on the NCCX website at www.nccyclocross.com. The Grand Prix, presented by Hunter Subaru, is a UCI category II race, making it a valuable points stop for elite racers in pursuit of ranking points. Registration is open on USACycling.org for all races, including the 14th Annual NCGP.

9-26-2018 World Road Championships Congratulations to Michael Garrison of Decatur, GA who was 10th in the World Junior Time Trial Championship! Joey Rosskopf helped his Team BMC to a bronze medal in the World Team Time Trial this week as well. Well done, guys!

September 2018 News

Posted on August 28, 2018September 27, 2018 by Trish Albert

9-24-2018 Ride to Rescue 2018 Come out and ride for Animal Welfare in GA. on Oct 13, 2018! Ride to Rescue 7th annual charity bike ride! The ride is located in White GA with SAG at Sosebee bike park. There are 3 routes. Metric Century ride (62 mile), Half Metric Century ride (31) mile and an 8 mile weekend warrior route. Pontoon Brewery will be pouring and a free brew is included with registration. Julian’s Kitchen food truck will be at the event and Tito’s for dog people will have great dog items for sale. Our three participating charities this year are Mostly Mutts Animal Rescue, Friends to the Forlorn Pitbull Rescue and Trinity Rescue Horse Rescue. 100 percent of all proceeds will go to the participating charities and all donations and sponsorships are tax deductable. Join us in championing Animal Welfare in GA. and ride with us on Oct 13!

9-23-2018 Jonathan Page CX Clinic The news is out! Jonathan Page himself is coming down to Georgia to lead a cyclocross clinic October 12-14th. Jonathan Page is arguably the most decorated cyclocross mail racer America has ever seen. He won two U.S. Junior Cyclocross Championships and a U-23 Cyclocross Championship. In 2002, Jonathan moved to Belgium, the birthplace of cyclocross, to compete with the best in the world. He then went on to win four U.S. National Cyclocross Championships (2003-2004, 2007,2013) and a silver medal in the 2007 UCI World Cyclocross Championships. From 2002-2015, he podiumed every year of the U.S. National Cyclocross Championships. After an injuryplagued 2014 season, Jonathan proved he still had plenty of fight left—winning a silver medal at the 2015 U.S. National Cyclocross Championships (a flat tire holding him back from gold), followed by a number of podiums the following season. Check out all the details on the clinic here. Register for the clinic here.

Big Creek Meeting Come Support Big Creek at the Roswell Town Hall Meeting October 4th at 7PM TOGETHER we stopped the destruction of our treasured
Big Creek Park. TOGETHER we can preserve it as a “Trees and Trails” park for future generations. Wear Green and attend the Town Hall Meeting
The meeting is Thursday, October 4, at 7:00 PM in the East Roswell Park Community Activity Building. Discussion will focus on how the City handled the project, establishing a tennis center in another Roswell location, and exploration of the community’s vision for East Roswell area parks. We’ve discovered that East Roswell is passionate about its parks and that Big Creek Park is a thriving location which brings great benefit to the entire Roswell community. It provides a wide-variety of outdoor recreation, needed green space for quality of life and economic value. Cyclists come from all over the Southeast region to enjoy the park’s professionally maintained trails and events which support several established cycling shops that bring economic value to Roswell. • Call and Email the Mayor and City Council members with your wishes for the park 770-641-3757 RoswellMayorandCouncil@roswellgov.com (Trish’s Note: Keep it professional and positive.)

The Big Creek Park Community Alliance is a group of community leaders coordinating efforts to ensure the preservation of Roswell’s Big Creek Park for “Trees and Trails” through communication, education and respectful collaboration with city officials. We are making recommendations for an updated master plan and asking the City of Roswell for park enhancements which may include a redesigned entrance, additional paved parking, and entrance bathroom. Members include: 1) HOA representatives 2) Roswell business Leaders 3) cycling and other non-profits 4) environmentalists 5) advisory group of former Roswell Councilmember, Big Creek Alliance Officers, and New Town Coalition. For additional information contact BigCreekParkCA@gmail.com .

9-19-2018 Six Gap Crit Six Gap Criterium September 29, 2018 starting at 10:30am The Six Gap Criterium is a longtime favorite of the Six Gap community. The Criterium provides a one-kilometer, closed circuit for bicycle racers in the heart of downtown Dahlonega. This spectator-friendly event will have you on your feet and cheering as cyclists speed by at top speeds of 40 miles per hour. The start/finish line will be located directly in front of the famous Historic Holly Theatre. Start 2 Finish is teaming up with the Chamber to produce this exciting two-wheel event. While waiting for a race to start, be sure to work your way to the Six Gap Century Expo where you can find a variety of cycling attire, equipment, and nutrition from leading industry companies. All Six Gap Century & Three Gap Fifty merchandise will be available for purchase throughout the day at the Expo.

Big Creek Fall Family Festival and Take a Kid MTB Day From RAMBO: Big Creek Fall Family Festival and Take a Kid MTB Day Sat., Oct. 6 10 am-2 pm. Join RAMBO as we host our annual Fall Family Festival at Big Creek Park in Roswell. We’ll have lots of cycling-themed games, rides, and a few timed races to make it a fantastic day in the park with kids and family. This year, we added a new hiking scavenger hunt and bouncy house, plus RAMBO will be serving lunch. All festivities will center around the lower parking lot by the Greenway. There is no cost to attend, so come meet your neighbors, learn a few new skills, and enjoy the day with us.

Silver Comet Expanding This article from the Marietta Daily Journal gives more information about the time frame for getting the Comet across the Chattahoochee and connecting it to the Beltline. ”The Silver Comet Trail could soon be getting a little longer, inching toward a connection with Atlanta and the Beltline there. The two trail systems are presently separated by about six miles, according to Eric Meyer, planning division manager for the Cobb Department of Transportation. There are several options under review about how best to bridge those miles, but part of the gap may soon close. On Sept. 4, rail company CSX agreed to convey to the state 2.3 miles of unused rail to be used to extend the 61.5-mile Silver Comet trail for $10. The portion of the unused rail line that will become part of the trail runs from the Silver Comet’s intersection with the East-West Connector to Plant Atkinson Road near Atlanta Road, is overgrown and unrecognizable as a rail in some spots. But once it is spruced up, it will be a step toward connecting Cobb with Atlanta for bikers and pedestrians. That’s big news, Meyer said. “Today, you’ve got thousands of folks who enjoy both the Silver Comet and the Beltline,” he said. “On any given weekend, you go to a trailhead at the Silver Comet and you’ll see Fulton County tags. We know folks from Fulton are going to Silver Comet. We know folks from Cobb are going to the Beltline. Connect the two and you’ll connect the two most popular trails in metro Atlanta.” “He said the goal at the moment is to have the trail go down to the Chattahoochee River by 2021. Atlanta and the Path foundation, a group that seeks to promote trails in metro Atlanta, will work on getting a path from the Chattahoochee to Centennial Olympic Park and the Beltline. The first step will be turning the newly acquired rail into a walkable trail, a project for which there is not yet a concrete timeline.”

9-18-2018 Blanket’s Creek 3 and 6 Hour Race Make plans to join us for the Blankets Creek 3 and 6 Hour Race presented by Van Michael Salons on October 6th. We have LOTS of good changes happening for this year’s event! First and foremost, we have a NEW COURSE! The race course will be approximately 6.5 miles and include a portion of the Dwelling Trail, including the new Flow Trail as well as a portion of the Van Michael Trail (VMT Race Cut, minus the 420 Climb). The course will run CLOCKWISE on both trails Solo, 2 and 3 person team categories are available in the 6 Hour Race and we have added additional categories for our Junior NICA racers!

Next we have moved the race to October to bring you all (hopefully) cooler temperatures as well as so we could join the Chainbuster Racing Southeastern Endurance Cup Series. The Blankets Creek Event is Race #6 of the SEC Series. Finally, we have a 3 Hour Option with a TON of categories, for those who would like to tackle a longer solo *All riders receive a super comfy and lightweight cotton/poly/rayon blend tee, perfect for those hot summer days! *First 200 to register will also receive a commemorative beverage glass! *Cash payout to 3/6 Hour Solo Expert Classes and 6 Hour 2 Person Expert Classes *Medals and Sponsor prizes 3 deep in all 6 Hour Categories, Medals 3 deep for all 3 Hour Categories. *Podium shirts for all 1st place finishers in 6 Hour event! *Instant lap times and standings viewable on your smartphone – You don’t even need to leave your pit to check results!

9-17-2018 I hope everyone stayed safe over the weekend in NC and SC! We didn’t see much from Hurricane Florence other than some breezes and light showers here in metro Atlanta. If I find out any information about trails, events, etc. in the Carolinas being affected I’ll post them as I can.

If you are in the path of Hurricane Florence please stay safe! I have only heard of the two event cancellations below, and there did not seem to be many this weekend. Events in GA and TN should be good to go for Sat. as Florence isn’t expected to make her appearance there until late Sunday and into Monday.

9-14-2018 The Tour De Cashiers is ON! From the Promoter: Join us for the annual Tour de Cashiers Mountain Cycling Experience across scenic mountain byways of western North Carolina. We continue to monitor the weather. After meeting with the local authorities and discussing the event, we plan to move forward with all rides and the 5k run at this time. We understand conditions can change and will keep you informed. The current weather forecast looks promising. Please check out Facebook page for the most up to date information.

Charlotte CX Cancelled From the Promoter Unfortunately, we have to cancel the 9/16 race due to the hurricane. USAC will be issuing refunds to all those who pre-registered online. We’re exploring a reschedule the weekend of 10/7 and I’ll share more information when we get it.

ATL Airport District Gears Up for First Round of “Spin the District” – ATL Airport District is counting down the days until welcoming cycling enthusiasts and spectators alike to Spin the District, the area’s first multi-faceted cycling experience that will transform the city streets into a premier cycling destination in Georgia and across the Southeast. Spin the District will offer entertainment for both spectators and cyclists during two separate events. Round one will take place over the course of a three-day weekend from Friday, September 21, to Sunday, September 23. ATL Airport District is also excited to announce its inaugural HandleBar Crawl, a celebration of the District’s culinary talent and community, throughout Spin the District.

East Point Velodrome Race | Friday, September 21, from 7 to 10 p.m.
Spin the District will kick off at the Dick Lane Velodrome – Georgia’s only concrete cycling track located in Sumner Park. From 7 to 10 p.m., attendees are invited to gather and cheer on cyclists as they conquer the fast-paced, no-brakes East Point Velodrome Race. Beyond the high-speed race, guests will enjoy exciting festivities, such as live entertainment courtesy of DJ Yvonne Monet, a variety of food options from the food truck court and plenty of local craft beer. For cyclists, four races in women’s and men’s pro fields with a 30-rider maximum. (Trish’s Note: USAC Cat. 1/2/3 track racers only. This is not an open category race. Contact Barman if you have questions.)

Hapeville Criterium | Saturday, September 22, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The following day, Spin the District will continue in downtown Hapeville with the Hapeville Criterium from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Conveniently situated alongside Jess Lucas Park, the Hapeville course will give attendees nearby access to the 18th Annual LocalMotion Arts Festival during the race. Throughout the day, spectators can pull up a chair or lay out a blanket along the shaded, six-corner course and enjoy views of the start/finish line, while enjoying live music all day, local art vendors, refreshments and food trucks. The event is free for spectators.

College Park Criterium | Sunday, September 23, from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Spin the District will roll onto the historic streets of downtown College Park on Sunday to close out the three-day weekend with the College Park Criterium. From 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., guests can enjoy family-friendly fun including live music, food trucks, mountain bike stunt show, wheelie seminar and a bike expo. Admission is free for spectators. Rider registration and details can be found here.

Union City Gran Fondo | Sunday, October 21, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The cycling fun doesn’t stop after the three-day weekend in September! Spin the District will continue with a bonus Gran Fondo on Sunday, October 21. Beginning at 9 a.m., the final event will start in Union City, traveling roads and optional gravel paths through scenic Chattahoochee Hills and Serenbe. Costs to ride the event range from $20 to $40, with the option to choose from 10, 30, 60 or 100-mile road options, or a 60 or 100-mile mixed gravel and road option for those up to the challenge. The race will conclude back in Union City, with a barbecue celebration featuring live music, food trucks and a bicycling stunt show. The music, food and activities will begin at 11 a.m. The Gran Fondo will honor Karen Tinsley, a beloved University of Georgia professor and avid cyclist who passed away in a bicycle-vehicle accident last April.

9-13-2018 Perry Rotary Ride to End Polio From the Promoter Ride to End Polio will start at the Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry, GA at 9am on November 3, 2018. Check in from 8am-8:45am. $35 Registration fee. All money raised goes to Rotary’s Polio Plus to eradicate Polio in the world and is matched dollar for dollar by the Bill and Malinda Gates Foundation.

Lake Normal 3 & 6 Hour Race Postponed From the promoter “Hey everyone. Well we knew it would happen and it did. We are postponing the race Sunday at Lake Norman because of old Florence. The park is actually completely shutting down on Friday. We have a make-up date set for Sunday, October 14. See everyone then.

9-11-2018 Tour De Cashiers Registration is still open!! There is still time to join the Tour de Cashiers Mountain Cycling Experience on September 15th. Join us for 25, 62 or 100 miles of fun and see what Western Carolina has to offer. Register here: https://tourdecashiers.com

US Elite Road World’s Team USA Cycling named the rosters for the women’s and men’s teams for the Road World Championship on Monday. From a press release: “In the men’s races, there are several stand-out names including Tejay Van Garderen (Aspen, Colo.; BMC Racing Team), who won the Time Trial at the 2018 Amgen Tour of California, back-to-back Time Trial National Champion Joey Rosskopf (Decatur, Ga.; BMC Racing Team), Sepp Kuss (Durango, Colo.; Team LottoNL – Jumbo) the 2018 Tour of Utah champion who has made waves in his inaugural World Tour season, and Ben King(Richmond Va.; Team Dimension Data) who has recently won two stages of La Vuelta a España.” Named to the roster for the road race were southeastern residents Brent Bookwalter (Asheville, N.C.; BMC Racing Team) and Reserve: Nate Brown (Nashville, Tenn.; EF Education First). Joey will ride the Time Trial. Junior Men Time Trial: Michael Garrison (Decatur, Ga.; Holowesko/Citadel pb Hincapie Racing), U23 Road Race: Jonathan Brown (Knoxville, Tenn; Hagens Berman Axeon)

2018 Hellhole Gravel Grind Stage Race – POSTPONED From the Promoter: After much consideration, the desire to host a quality race, and the need to keep our participants out of trouble resulting from Hurricane Florence, we are postponing 2018 Hellhole Gravel Grind. At 2:30 PM today, the entire South Carolina coast was placed under mandatory evacuation orders with highway lane reversals beginning tomorrow, forcing our decision to postpone the race. We will be working with the National Forest Service to reschedule the event and will communicate the new date and details once they are known (a lot of this will depend on the outcome of the storm, among other things). We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and we share in your disappointment, however, we hope that you will understand that this situation is beyond our control. In the meantime, you may (1) retain your registration pending for the rescheduled date -OR- (2) obtain a full redund -OR- (3) wait and see. Should you want a refund, simply shoot us a DM or e-mail (to racedirector at mtpleasantvelo.org). Thanks in advance for your understanding. Please stay tuned to social media and/or our registration page for updates on the updated race date.

9-10-2018 Silver Comet to be Completed! It’s official–Cobb County–We are going to the Beltline! The State of Georgia has reached an agreement with CSX to abandon 2 miles of rail that the Silver Comet needs to be complete! There is still a mile or so that the State hopes to get access to, but the Comet can be detoured across existing roads and bridges. More details as they become available.

9-8-2018 Dick Lane Veldrome Cup Photos Photos from the Dick Lane Velodrome Pro Race – The Velodrome Cup are up at http://sadlebred.smugmug.com. It was a really fun night of racing and one of the biggest Pro races of the last few years.

9-4-2018 Marietta Crit Time Change Time Change for the Marietta Crit: NOTICE THE NEW START TIME. 6:15 start for the remainder of the season. We’ll still do one hour plus 5 laps, but make adjustments as the days get shorter. $5 donation requested. Check in with Officer Dave at turn 1. (Trish’s Note: The $5 helps to pay for the police officer the business park require at the stop sign for safety reasons. Feel free to donate more!)

9-3-2018 2018 Brownwood Bike Rally Press Release Get your bikes in gear for the East Atlanta Kids Club’s 14th-annual Brownwood Bike Rally on Saturday, September 15, 2018 at Brownwood Park in East Atlanta. The event features bike races for kids and adults. Two adult Crit-CX races cover both street and grassy terrain, and are open to beginner and advanced cyclists. This year’s festival also includes a bike safety rodeo for kids, a health fair, a food court and a festival area featuring family-friendly activities. Cash prizes are awarded for all adult races, and kids vie for ribbons, medals and trophies. Proceeds benefit the East Atlanta Kids Club, a nonprofit after-school tutoring and mentoring program for promising youth. Register and learn more about the course and race details.

When: Saturday, September 15, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Where: Brownwood Park, 602 Brownwood Avenue SE, Atlanta, GA 30316 (and surrounding streets in East Atlanta)
Time: Registration begins at 8:00 am; bike races and bike rodeo begin at 9:30 am and end at 2:00 pm.
Cost: Event admission is free for all. Races are free for children, $10-$20 for adults.

9-2-2018 Dick Lane Veldrome Cup Photos Photos from the Dick Lane Velodrome Pro Race – The Velodrome Cup are up at http://sadlebred.smugmug.com. It was a really fun night of racing and one of the biggest Pro races of the last few years.

Willem Kaiser (SCAD) concentrates at the front of the Men’s DLV Cup A Race.

Heather Riniker (EPTC) moves up in the Women’s field at the DVL Velodrome Cup.

8-31-2018 It’s fall, and that means lots of trail work parties!

Six Gap News From the Promoter: Six Gap Century Don’t miss out on the most epic ride of the Southeast! Fun, friends, and food will be waiting for you on September 30th, 2018! Registration Includes: Food & Drink at Rest Stops, Custom Six Gap Century & Three Gap Fifty Bike Ride T-Shirt, Post-ride Spaghetti Dinner (11:00 am – 6:00 pm), SAG, Tech Support and On-Course Communication, Official Participant Numbers, Hot Showers after the Ride, The Criterium is back for 2018! Don’t miss this spectacular event on Saturday, September 29th (along with our annual Six Gap Expo)! The roads by Woody Gap have been repaved, and are now as smooth as butter! We’re celebrating our 30th anniversary this year!

Chicopee Work Party From SORBA Chicopee Work Party, 9 am-1 pm, Sat., Sept. 30. Join us September 30 as we welcome CST Tires to Chicopee! CST is sponsoring this workparty and our friends at Amici Pizza-Gainesville will provide lunch to those that RSVP before Sept 27. We will have a raffle for some CST tires. We will work from 9-1, then lunch. Tools are provided and everyone is welcome! Please RSVP to negasorba@gmail.com. We will meet at the tool shed in the upper parking lot at 9 a.m. for sign-in and a safety briefing. Please wear long pants and closed-toed shoes. Bring water, snacks, and gloves. Safety glasses and bike helmet are recommended. Volunteer hours count toward a free annual Chicopee parking pass (16 hrs earn a pass). Any changes to the workparty due to weather will be posted here. For more info email negasorba@gmail.com.

Cochran Mill Work Party From MTB Atlanta Cochran Mill Work Party, Sat., Sept. 8, 9 am-noon Join us for our monthly work party at Cochran Mill Park. Meet at the main parking lot at 9 AM. Please wear long pants, closed toed shoes, bring a helmet, gloves, water, snacks and your epi pen if you are allergic to bees. We will see you there!

Sope Creek Work Party From MTB Atlanta, Sunday, Sept. 16, 9 am-noon, Join us for our monthly Work Party at Sope Creek and give back to the trails that you love to ride. We meet at the Columns Drive parking lot at 9 AM at the gate by the Fitness loop. Wear long pants, closed toed shoes, bring gloves, water, snacks and your epi pen if you are allergic to bees. We will see you there.

8-29-2018 Big Creek Work Party From RAMBO Big Creek Trail Work Day Sat., Sept. 8 9 am-1 pm Big Creek is getting a little shaggy and could use some TLC. Come on out and help us trim back the summer growth, We will supply the tools, but if you have a pair of loppers or pruners bring em with. Bring gloves, closed toe shoes, water and a smile. RAMBO will provide lunch.

Allatoona Work Party From SORBA West Georgia Allatoona Work Party Sat., Sept. 15 9 am, Hey Toona Riders and Hikers, we could use some help! Come out this Saturday for the next work party. This is a great way to get involved in the Biking/hiking community and meet the local SORBA folks.

Clinton Work Party From SORBA West Georgia Clinton Work Party Sat., Sept. 8 at 8 am. It’s been awhile so let’s go show the trails some love. Let’s get the trails weed whacked and all the face slappers cut back. I know if we can get a good turn out we can make a huge impact in a short time. Please wear long pants and closed toe shoes. If you have a weed eater and some clippers that would help. Bring water, snacks and bug spray. We will provide lunch afterwards. Hope to see you there.

Charleston Park Work Day From RAMBO Charleston Park Work Day Sat., Sept. 8 9 am-1 pm, General trail maintenance day of trimming and clearing summer growth. RAMBO will supply tools but you can bring loppers or pruners if you have them. Bring gloves, closed toe shoes, water and a smile. RAMBO will provide lunch.

8-23-2018 Dick Lane Velodrome Velodrome Cup Races From the DLV: Are you ready for the Velodrome Cup? We are! Plan on finishing your action packed day off with some fast paced bike racing after you have enjoying the Dragon Con Parade or ridden the One Love Century. The Velodrome Cup will be closely related to the the “International Omnium” event held during the Olympic Games. The most consistent riders throughout the days racing will be rewarded with the overall victory. It’s a speed the whole family will enjoy, eat from our great concession stand and enjoy the home of track cycling in Atlanta and all of Georgia. It’s only time where cycling with NO BRAKES is considered fun! The DLV is a quick 10 miles from downtown Atlanta and is easy to get to via bike, car or MARTA. Racing begins at 3 p.m. Saturday September 1st! Gates open at 2 p.m. and racing kicks off at 3 p.m. with the main events starting at 6 p.m. We’ll again have riders from around the country, women’s races and Youth Cycling League races. $5 entry or $10 for family of 5 We’ll be grilling hamburgers as well as other standard concession fare like potato and macaroni salad, chips, hot dogs and desserts from CakeHag. Don’t forget about the Need for Speed Sprints p/b Oz Pizza on Friday Night August 31st starting at 7 p.m. Friday night entry is free!

We will again be live-streaming our Friday and Saturday events on youtube.com/c/Dicklanevelodromelive. As always our Youth Cycling League racers will be out at the Pro Races showing off their skills learned during the Monday and Thursday sessions.

Brownwood Bike Rally Press Release Get your bikes in gear for the East Atlanta Kids Club’s 13th-annual Brownwood Bike Rally on Saturday, September 15, 2018 at Brownwood Park in East Atlanta. The event features bike races for kids and adults. The two adult “crit-cross” races cover both street and dirt track terrain, and are open to beginner and advanced cyclists. This year’s festival also includes a bike safety rodeo for kids, a health fair, a food court and a festival area featuring family-friendly activities. Cash prizes are awarded for all adult races, and kids vie for ribbons, medals and trophies. Proceeds will benefit the East Atlanta Kids Club, a nonprofit after-school tutoring and mentoring program for promising youth. Register and learn more about the course and race details.