2018 Races I am making the transition on the Mountain/Gravel  page to 2018 races. Anything labeled with an asterisk * or “2018” is 2018. Anything unlabeled is 2017. All Cyclocross will remain 2017 until spring/summer of 2018 when series start announcing their dates. Plus, we are still in the middle of CX season. I do not expect to see any road racing calendars until the early part of 2018. Most of what I am updating now are mountain, road, and endurance mtb dates. There are a couple of series including Nuts and Gone Riding that have released their 2018 schedule. Most of the races and race series have NOT set 2018 dates yet. I’ll be checking early season races every other week or so.

PROMOTERS: SEND ME YOUR 2018 DATES! sttarlite at hotmail.com

10-26-2017 Allatoona Park Closure Don’t forget, as the sun sets on the majority of the Allatoona Creek Park for 2017, most of the land will only be open to hunters with permits from November 1 – December 31. The Turtle Back, Red Baron and Whipper Snapper trails will remain open but must be accessed from the Pitner Road Dog Park.

10-25-2017 Dick Lane Velodrome Workday #1 DLV’s first workday is scheduled for 9AM, November 4th. Start getting those 2018 Rider of the Year points EARLY. Come join us if you can, we appreciate your help! Workday Chores: Repair bathroom lock cover, Motion light above the bike room needs replacing, Repair apron, Ventilation fan in men’s room, Pressure wash turn 4, Any tree limbs need to come down, Video Crossing wire into turn one redone, Ice machine.

10-24-2017 Savannah Superprestige Weekend The Parks-Law.com Georgia Cyclocross Series presented by Terrapin makes its annual journey to the low country this weekend. Returning for another year at Oglethorpe Speedway Park, the Savannah Superprestige Cyclocross weekend is going to up the ante, hosting the 2017 Georgia State Championship on Sunday, October 29th.  “We’re excited to welcome the series back to the flyover,” said Savannah Wheelmen race director Justin Bristol. “It’s a real pleasure hosting the race this year, and I can’t wait to give out the stars and bars jerseys on Sunday. We know it’s a long drive for a lot of our racers, so we’re expanding the prize list to include cash payouts for additional categories. Plus, we’ve got some great prizes from local bike shops and restaurants.” The course promises to be as fast and exciting as always, but with a few new tricks up its sleeve. Of course, the flyover will be back, but what other course features can we expect? Savannah may be flat, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be some drops this year.

10-23-2017 Old Grey Barn Photos My photos from Old Grey Barn are up at http://sadlebred.smugmug.com. There are plenty from all races (Except Elite Women & CX 4 since I have yet to master the art of using my DSLR while racing 😉

Kenny Oladapo (Bike Law Georgia) bunny hops the first barrier in the Single Speed at Old Grey Barn CX.

Then Not a Hop over the second barrier. Kenny’s OK!!!. Kenny got up & finished with a a strong Top 10 placing after hopping the barriers every other lap!

10-22-2017 Silver Comet Head’s Up Saturday, 10/28/2017, will be the Silver Comet Half and full marathons. According to their web site http://silvercometraces.com the full marathon route will go all the way to just east of the Paulding County Waste Treatment Plant. There will be a water/aid station at the Florence Road trailhead. The race starts at Mable House Amphitheater which is just under 2 miles south of the Floyd road trailhead. The trail is not closed for this event, but using it east of the treatment plant (Silver Comet Cycles to the Treatment plant)could be quite dicey. The marathoners have a 5.5 hour time limit.

10-19-2017 Ride & Fly Trails Monthly Workday From SORBA Atlanta Ride & Fly Trails Monthly Workday Sat., Nov. 4 9 am-Noon, Address: 3224 Dodson Drive Connector East Point, GA 30344 From here on out, mark the first Saturday of the month as a great opportunity to come and build and maintain our trail system.  SORBA Atlanta and the City of East Point have partnered to develop what we hope will eventually become a series of connecting trails throughout the ATL Airport District by starting with beautiful Skyes Park in East Point. SORBA Atlanta is proud and excited to partner with the City of East Point to bring these trails to you next spring with the help of volunteers like you. SORBA will be providing some coffee and morning snacks (Donuts, bagels, biscuits or similar)
1. Long Sleeve Shirt, Pants, a Hat or Headcover (Don’t come in shorts please) 2. Work boots or shoes you don’t mind getting dirty 3. Gloves (we will have some to borrow, but yours are better) 4. At least one water bottle 5. Your friends and family here will be something to do for everyone, as we have a LOT to get done. On the agenda: 1. Continued Trash pickup 2. Privet and English Ivy Removal 3. New Trail Building 4. Cleanup and modification of existing walking trails. We will have a waiver for you to sign for you and any minors attending.

10-17-2017 Old Grey Barn CX Old Grey Barn returns to Parks-Law.com Georgia Cyclocross Series p/b Terrapin on Sunday, October 22. The pastures will be back! They have changed from years past, but the challenges are much more fun after a wet year and some bedding in of new trails. Practice your leaning off the back of the saddle because it goes downhill fast. Other portions of the course this year include a long gravel start/finish, some wooded sections of trail, a trip around the upper pond, a little zigzag of One Tree Hill, maybe getting your feet wet, a traditional trip through the Old Grey Barn, Heckler Hut, and possibly another surprise obstacle. We’ll have some more of that Seriously Great BBQ from Dalton, GA. There will be a $1 contribution for parking this year which goes directly back into Georgia NICA MTB. 100% of the proceeds go into supporting high school MTB in Northwest Georgia. If you want a partial preview of the course, then we’re running Old Grey Barn, the TBRA edition, on Saturday October 21st. Note there will be slight changes between the Saturday and Sunday courses. We’re looking forward to seeing everyone out on Sunday, October 22nd at 1565 Old Ringgold Road, Rocky Face, GA and Old Grey Barn 2017.

The true meaning of Single Speed. Enjoy your Terrapin on a bike during a race! Elks Aidmore CX Day 1.

10-16-2017 Elks Aidmore CX Photos My photos from Day 1 & Day 2 of Elks are up at http://sadlebred.smugmug.com.

Jim Bilotto of L5 Flyers soars over the barriers at Elks Aidmore CX Day 2.

Woody Gap Paving Closure If you are heading to the Gaps during the week, listen up! From GDOT What: Weather permitting, Georgia DOT maintenance crews will close a section of State Route 60 (aka Woody Gap) to preform routine and preventative maintenance tasks to the roadway. Where: State Route 60 between Stone Pile Gap and the Union County Line (approximately 5 miles). When: Work hours will be Mondays through Thursdays 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. beginning Monday October 16, 2017.

10-13-2017 Turkey Cross Press Release Southern Cycling Operations and KnoxVelo announce the 6th Annual Turkey CX race on Saturday November 25, 2017 at Loudon Municipal Park, 1470 Roberson Springs Rd, Loudon, TN 37774. Loudon Municipal Park offers an excellent venue with plenty of parking, covered pavilion, and 2 restroom buildings. The park is located less than 1 mile from Interstate 75. The park also provides many options to present a challenging but fair course to test the abilities of all riders. Food will be available for a minimal fee. SCO and KnoxVelo are proud to offer a purse of $2600 across all categories. Equal payout for the top 5 places in the Pro 1/2/3 men and women. Cash is paid in every category except youth and juniors. Race a second race for only $5. Youth races are FREE. All benefits from this event will be donated to the Loudon County Boys and Girls Club. This donation will assist the club to continue their work with the community youth. .

Blanket’s Creek Trail Party From SORBA Woodstock Love our trails? Join the trail party at Blanket’s Creek, 9:00am, October 14th. 9 am -1 pm. Projects include hand cutting a new approach to the South Loop, rock armoring, wooden structure maintenace, sign work but NO DRAIN CLEANING. Bring gloves, water, and wear closed toe shoes. We will provide the tools and lunch. See you at 9:00 am.

10-12-2017 Cochran Mill Work Party From SORBA Atlanta We have our monthly work party at Cochran Mill Park this Saturday. We will be doing tread work on “Tasty Grub,” off the Red trail. This is a ride in/ride out work party, so bring your bike, a helmet, wear long pants and shoes you can ride and work in. Also bring water, snacks, gloves and your Epi pen if you are allergic to bees. We’ll meet at the main parking lot at 9 am. See you there!

10-11-2017 Elks Aidmore CX This Weekend! Elks Aidmore Benefit CX is coming back for it’s 11th year in the Parks-Law.com Georgia Cyclocross Series p/b Terrapin on October 14th-15th. Come race a unique course full of varying terrain. Will the infamous ditch be making a comeback? Come race to find out!

Proceeds from the race go to benefit the Elks Aidmore Children’s home who graciously let us race on their property. Free camping in the main parking area by the race start (up the hill on the other side of the trees) will be available Friday and Saturday night as well as bathrooms and showers. Save yourself $10 and time in line by pre-registering at https://www.usacycling.org/register/2017-2903 pre-registration will close at midnight Thursday. Rumor has it that there might be podium cookies, but you better pre-register to insure you receive them. Remember to bring you’re bib number if you already raced at Boundary Waters or pay $5 for a replacement. Check out www.georgiacx.com for more information about the series.

Blankets and Rope Mill Trail Closures  From SORBA Woodstock Blankets Creek will be closed until Thursday 10-12. Rope Mill will be open Wednesday 10-11. Hollywood is coming to Blankets Creek to film on the trails and they are making a generous donation to the SORBA Woodstock trail fund.

10-10-2017 Beginner and Intermediate Women’s MTB Clinic Calling all beginner and intermediate mountain bike ladies (Sorella and non-Sorella)!!! Plan on joining Alexandra Martinez and Stefanie Wilmert both cat 1 MTB racers in xc and endurance racing with 15+ years of racing experience as they host a clinic for Sorellas and lady friends! November 12th 10 am at Allatoona Trails Beginner/Intermediate Clinic It will start at 10 am and last till approx 1pm including ride time. This is a beginner and intermediate clinic. We will go over basic mountain bike maintenance, how to change a flat..etc., bike fit, and nutrition tips. We will then go over bike handling techniques such as cornering, braking and riding over obstacles comfortably. After the instruction we will do a no drop ride around the trails at Allatoona. A mountain bike and helmet are required. Please RSVP on facebook or email Alexandra if you are not on Facebook at alexandramartinez1@hotmail.co

10-9-2017 Bookwalter Binge Gran Fondo Brent & Jamie Bookwalter invite you to ride in the Bookwalter Binge Gran Fondo on Saturday October 28, 2017. Join us for 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:
• 7,400 ft of climbing in 83 miles
• 5,500 ft in 62 miles
• 2,500 ft in 29 miles.

This is an unusual 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. Our accessible pros ride all three routes, and along with Brent Bookwalter, they are inspired by cyclists of all backgrounds and abilities. The ride begins and ends at Pisgah Brewing, one of the oldest craft breweries in the Asheville area. Bikes, beers, autumn colors, Asheville…you know you want to do it! Learn more about the ride! Registration is open! Volunteers are needed to help–click here to volunteer! Goodies for volunteers include a tshirt and meal at the Binge!

10-6-2017 GRANT PARK CX CANCELLED Due to forecasted thunderstorms and lightning Grant Park CX Cup is CANCELED this Sunday. We will be adding Ellenwood CX Ranch to the GACX schedule for Saturday November 4th. All pre-registered riders entries will be transferred. If you pre-registered and will be unable to attend please contact Clay Parks.

10-5-2017 Mostly Mutts Ride to Rescue Press Release – Ride to Rescue is a bike ride for charity with 100% of the proceeds being donated to Mostly Mutts Animal Rescue. The event began six years ago, created by a small group of avid, weekend and novice cyclists coming together once a year to raise money and awareness to help rescue animals from the area’s overcrowded shelters.The sixth annual Ride to Rescue, formerly called “Operation for the Love of Dog,” will be in a beautiful new location in White, Bartow County, near Sosebee Bike Park. There will be three different rides to choose from – a Full Metric Century (62 miles); a Half Metric Century (31 miles); and an 8-mile Fun Ride. There will be activities for the whole family including food, music, vendors, and a petting zoo. “We are very fortunate to be a part of this event which raised over $18,000 last year. This is becoming one of our biggest annual fundraisers and we are hoping for a great turnout”, said Tammy Turley, Executive Director. Registration is open.

10-4-2017 Grant Park CX This Sunday, October 8th is the second race of the Parks-Law Georgia Cyclocross Series p/b Terrapin – Grant Park CX! Join us for the only series race in the city of Atlanta. GPCX is brought to you by the Litespeed-BMW and L5Flyers Cycling teams and presented by Loose Nuts Cycles. This Nick Van Winkle-designed course will be fast, twisty, turny, technical, and will of course include the famous heckle hill. Racing starts at 9:20 am and will feature all ages from a kids race to 60+ masters.  For a detailed race schedule please visit the GACX website.  Registration is open at USA Cycling and pre-registration is highly recommended, as it will not only help us be better organized, but will save you money as well. If you already have a number from Boundary Waters make sure to bring it, otherwise you’ll be charged a $5 fee for a new one. Grant Park CX is located at 537 Park Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30312. Race parking is at the Zoo Atlanta Cherokee Ave lot (the Boulevard lot is currently closed). Please remember that we are guests at the park and all park rules apply. We look forward to seeing you on Sunday!

9-28-2017 Ride and Fly Trails Work Party Ride & Fly Trails – Kick-off clean up day! Saturday, October 14 9 am-Noon, 3224 Dodson Drive Connector East Point, GA 30344, It’s officially time to get started on the Ride & Fly Trails. SORBA Atlanta and the City of East Point have partnered to develop what we hope will eventually become a series of connecting trails throughout the ATL Airport District by starting with beautiful Skyes Park in East Point. SORBA Atlanta is proud and excited to partner with the City of East Point to bring these trails to you next spring with the help of volunteers like you and with the help of Keep East Point Beautiful. We have a lot of work to do to make that happen, starting off with a park clean-up day. So gets some rest, fill up on your spinach and bring you and your friends to Sykes Park Saturday, Oct. 14th for our first work day.

9-26-2017 Women’s Bike Maintenance Clinic Monday, October 16 at 6 PM – 7 PM. Come out to the FREE women’s bike maintenance clinic sponsored by Sorella and Atlanta Cycling (ANSLEY LOCATION–1860 Piedmont Ave, ATL, 30324) on Monday October 16 from 6 to 7p. Then join us afterward for a burger next door! It’s hands on, and whatever level you are is just fine. If you’re an old hand, come help out! 1) ON ROAD: Tire changing, CO2 cartridge, ‘boot’, other on road fixes we could do w/tire or shifting or chain or brakes rubbing 2) AT HOME MAINTENANCE: Good bike cleaning including derailleurs, how/where to lube afterwards. Avoiding squeaks. Knowing what to look for in shifters, cables, rings, derailleurs, tires, that signal something is wrong

9-25-2017 Sunday, October 1st the Parks Law Georgia Cyclocross Series p/b Terrapin kicks off at Boundary Waters park in Douglasville Ga. Smyrna Bicycles, Equipe Sports Productions and Grayson Tudor State Farm have teamed up to bring a great day of racing to Douglasville!  Boundary Waters Park has become a regular stop on the series and for good reason. The race course is fast and fairly flat-resulting in close racing that requires tactics as well as technical skills. For spectators, the entire course can be viewed from one vantage point allowing you to see all the action as it unfolds.  The park also has plenty of parking, indoor restrooms, hiking trails, and a paved cycling path.

New for this year Grayson Tudor State Farm presents the “Jekyll Heckle Pit”.  Located at the main junction in the center of the course, they’ll be serving up food, drinks, music and live play by play announcing.

Racing starts at 9:20 am and will feature all ages from a kids race to 60+ masters.  For a detailed race schedule please visit the GACX website.  Registration is openhttps://www.usacycling.org/register/2017-2827 at USA Cycling and pre-registration is highly recommended, as it will not only help us be better organized, but will save you money as well. Boundary Waters Park is located at 500 Ga-92, Douglasville Ga 30135.  Please remember that we are guests at the park and all park rules apply.  For further information contact Equipe Sports Productions at equipesportsproductions@gmail.com or 404-953-5251.  We look forward to seeing you on Sunday!

9-23-2017 GBRA Nominations for The 2018 Georgia Bicycle Racing Association (GBRA) Board of Directors Are Now Open Please Submit Nominations for: Rider’s Representative, Club Representative, Promoter’s Representative, Official’s & Coaches Representative, At-large Representative. Send nominations to: GBRA2018@gmail.com. Voting for the 2018 GBRA Board of Directors begins October 5th. Online Voting will close October 31st. Voting may also take place in-person at the GBRA Annual Meeting, November 5th. GBRA Annual Meeting is scheduled for November 5th. More details to follow. The 2018 Schedule Planning and Promoter’s Meeting will take place on Nov 5th, immediately following the Annual Meeting.

Big Creek Fall Family MTB Festival From RAMBO: October 7 at Big Creek Park – join RAMBO and local bike shops as we celebrate Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day with a festival full of Mountain Biking fun events and food. It’s RAMBO’s time to give back to the great biking community in Roswell, Alpharetta and Forsyth County. We hold a number of fun events during the festival like a Kid’s Skills Clinic, Pump Track time trials, kid’s MTB time trial and much more. We start the event at 9:00 AM and finish up by 3:00 PM. RAMBO provides lunch for all (supplied by RAMBO expert chefs using our party grill). The event takes place in the lower lot of Big Creek Park and starts at 10:00 AM.

9-26-2017 Women’s Bike Maintenance Clinic Monday, October 16 at 6 PM – 7 PM. Come out to the FREE women’s bike maintenance clinic sponsored by Sorella and Atlanta Cycling (ANSLEY LOCATION–1860 Piedmont Ave, ATL, 30324) on Monday October 16 from 6 to 7p. Then join us afterward for a burger next door! It’s hands on, and whatever level you are is just fine. If you’re an old hand, come help out! 1) ON ROAD: Tire changing, CO2 cartridge, ‘boot’, other on road fixes we could do w/tire or shifting or chain or brakes rubbing 2) AT HOME MAINTENANCE: Good bike cleaning including derailleurs, how/where to lube afterwards. Avoiding squeaks. Knowing what to look for in shifters, cables, rings, derailleurs, tires, that signal something is wrong

9-25-2017 Sunday, October 1st the Parks Law Georgia Cyclocross Series p/b Terrapin kicks off at Boundary Waters park in Douglasville Ga. Smyrna Bicycles, Equipe Sports Productions and Grayson Tudor State Farm have teamed up to bring a great day of racing to Douglasville!  Boundary Waters Park has become a regular stop on the series and for good reason. The race course is fast and fairly flat-resulting in close racing that requires tactics as well as technical skills. For spectators, the entire course can be viewed from one vantage point allowing you to see all the action as it unfolds.  The park also has plenty of parking, indoor restrooms, hiking trails, and a paved cycling path.

New for this year Grayson Tudor State Farm presents the “Jekyll Heckle Pit”.  Located at the main junction in the center of the course, they’ll be serving up food, drinks, music and live play by play announcing.

Racing starts at 9:20 am and will feature all ages from a kids race to 60+ masters.  For a detailed race schedule please visit the GACX website.  Registration is openhttps://www.usacycling.org/register/2017-2827 at USA Cycling and pre-registration is highly recommended, as it will not only help us be better organized, but will save you money as well. Boundary Waters Park is located at 500 Ga-92, Douglasville Ga 30135.  Please remember that we are guests at the park and all park rules apply.  For further information contact Equipe Sports Productions at equipesportsproductions@gmail.com or 404-953-5251.  We look forward to seeing you on Sunday!

9-23-2017 GBRA Nominations for The 2018 Georgia Bicycle Racing Association (GBRA) Board of Directors Are Now Open Please Submit Nominations for: Rider’s Representative, Club Representative, Promoter’s Representative, Official’s & Coaches Representative, At-large Representative. Send nominations to: GBRA2018@gmail.com. Voting for the 2018 GBRA Board of Directors begins October 5th. Online Voting will close October 31st. Voting may also take place in-person at the GBRA Annual Meeting, November 5th. GBRA Annual Meeting is scheduled for November 5th. More details to follow. The 2018 Schedule Planning and Promoter’s Meeting will take place on Nov 5th, immediately following the Annual Meeting.

Big Creek Fall Family MTB Festival From RAMBO: October 7 at Big Creek Park – join RAMBO and local bike shops as we celebrate Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day with a festival full of Mountain Biking fun events and food. It’s RAMBO’s time to give back to the great biking community in Roswell, Alpharetta and Forsyth County. We hold a number of fun events during the festival like a Kid’s Skills Clinic, Pump Track time trials, kid’s MTB time trial and much more. We start the event at 9:00 AM and finish up by 3:00 PM. RAMBO provides lunch for all (supplied by RAMBO expert chefs using our party grill). The event takes place in the lower lot of Big Creek Park and starts at 10:00 AM.

9-22-2017 Rides Ending The Thursday Night Bike Roswell ride has ended for the season. As a reminder, some rides end around the first of October. Check with the sponsoring shop, club, etc. about your favorite ride. A few rides on the Rides page have ending dates listed if provided to me by the sponsor.

Big Creek Closed This Weekend From the City of Roswell: Park Closure Notice: The mountain bike trails at Big Creek Park will be closed this Saturday and Sunday for Georgia Tech’s Mountain Bike Race. The Big Creek Greenway and walking trails will remain open.

Allatoona Hosting NICA Race Some of the trails at Allatoona will be closed Sunday for the NICA race. See the map here.

9-18-2017 Collegiate Track National Championships I can’t keep up with every USAC (and other) National Championship, but I try. The Collegiate National Track Championships were this past weekend at the Major Taylor Velodrome in Indianapolis, IN. Congratulations to these southeastern riders!
Erica Allar (Piedmont College), Demorest, GA -Womens Omnium Gold, -Women’s 4km Pursuit Gold, -Women’s Points Race Gold, -Women’s 500m TT Bronze, -Women’s Scratch Race Silver; Nick Oestrich (Belmont Abbey College), Powder Springs, GA (Trish’s Note: Nick is a fellow Performance Cycle Coaching Athlete…Go PCC!) -Men’s Sprint Gold; Belmont Abbey College -Men’s Team Pursuit Silver; Olivia Ray (SCAD), Savannah, GA -Women’s 500m TT Silver, -Women’s Scratch Race Gold; Piedmont College -CoEd Team Sprint Silver

9-15-2017 Sope Creek Work Party From SORBA Atlanta We will be working on cleaning up after Tropical Storm Irma at Sope Creek this Saturday, Sept. 16. Meet at the Columns Drive parking lot at 9 am and wear long pants, closed toed shoes, bring gloves, water, snacks and your epi pen if you are allergic to . We will see you there!

9-14-2017 Be Careful Out There! I did a road ride tonight in Buckhead. The roads were mostly clear of major things, but there was a ton of debris–pine needles, leaves, sticks. There are also reports of trees still down in parts of Atlanta. Be very careful if you road ride this week! The debris can be slick, and sticks can get caught in moving bike parts. I imagine this would apply to many places that were in Irma’s path this week. Many mountain bike trails are closed. Be sure to check your local trail’s status page before driving out to ride. For those gravel riders, SORBA Atlanta reports that Dirty Sheets in S. Fulton County/Chattahoochee Hills has been cleared of most trees. Keep an eye out for any that may have fallen since then. Eastsiders-Stone Mountain is NOW OPEN.

9-13-2017 Big Creek Clean Up Day From RAMBO: Hopefully everyone in RAMBO-land made it through the storm without damage or injury! Big Creek is surely a mess with debris and blowdowns. We’ll know more after some recon this week. If you have a minute on Saturday, Sept. 16, come out and help clean and clear the trails. 9:00-12:00 (or longer if you’re able) Lower lot RAMBO has got your lunch.

Blanket’s Creek Trail Party From SORBA Woodstock Blankets Creek Trail Party, Sat., Sept. 16 9 am-1 pm The September trail party will be at Blankets Creek this Saturday at 9:00. Wear closed toe shoes, gloves and bring water, we will provide tools and lunch. This is a great opportunity to be an active supporter of your trails.

Chicopee NewsChicopee is slammed From SORBA NEGA . The MTB trails will be closed until we can clear them. May be weeks. We were only able to assess 2 miles on Tortoise today. It is not passable. Several trees are down but the problem is all the debris on the trail. Branches, acorns, leaves. Now is the time for all of you with leaf blowers to show up in force. Bring your own fuel. We need yard rakes, leaf blowers and about 50 folks to show up this Saturday, September 16, 2017 at 9 a.m. Meet at the upper parking lot. The trails will be closed. Bring your own lunch, water, gloves, personal items, ear protection and a yard rake/leaf blower. Please bring a hard hat or bike helmet to wear. You must wear one. We will start on Tortoise and go from there. The trails will remain closed until we can get them cleared. The more help we have, the sooner we can open again. If you are a landscape company, we could use your help. We are a 501c3 non-profit so you may be able to claim a tax deduction. Check with your accountant. Now is the time to show your love for Chicopee! Don’t have time, please give us money to spend on the trails. You may donate on our website negasorba.org or in the donation box at the trailhead. Email any questions to negasorba@gmail.com. Thanks.

9-11-2017 Macon CX Clinic If you are looking for a CX Clinic, there will be one in Macon on Sat., Sept. 16 at LH Thomson. “Free Cyclocross clinic at the Thomson Factory Field. Lead by Ethan, put on by The Bike Store Warner Robins. Come learn/practice some of the basics in #Cyclocross Dismount Barrier hoppin run ups Thomson Bike Products #Crossiscoming All participants entered in Free Raffle for Great Prizes. Helmet Required as well as signed Waiver.”

Irondale CX (AL) Cancelled From Team Magic: Irondale CX cancelled! Sorry my friends, I have torn my shoulder and have a 7 to 8 hour surgery on Tuesday. They do not know the extent of damage beyond a detached bicep and torn labrum. Doctor said no activity for 10 days…which means no race set up for me. I really need to take care of myself and be ready for the Montevallo race on Oct 8. If you have registered, please contact me and I will get you transferred to Montevallo or Oak Mtn.”

9-10-2017 USA Men’s Team for Worlds USAC has announced the Men’s Road squad for the 2017 Road World Championships. Three pros from the Southeast will be racing! Congratulations Brent, Joey, and Nate!! Git er done!!

Brent Bookwalter (Asheville, NC/BMC Racing Team)
Nate Brown (Covington, Tenn./Cannondale-Drapac Pro Cycling)
Alex Howes (Boulder, Colo./Cannondale-Drapac Pro Cycling)
Keil Reijnen (Bainbridge Island, Wash./Trek-Segafredo)
Joey Rosskopf (Decatur, Ga./BMC Racing Team)
Tejay Van Garderen (Aspen, Colo./BMC Racing Team)

USAC previously announced other riders for Worlds. Decatur, GA resident Ian Garrison (Axeon-Hagens Barman) will do the U23 Men’s Road Race. Meghan Heath (Alpharetta, GA, Rally) will race in the Junior Women’s RR. Conor Schunk (Charlotte, NC, Masters Cycling Systems) will do the Junior Men’s RR.

Hurricane Irma I hope that everyone stays safe with Hurricane Irma coming onshore today. Of course, Florida will take most of the brunt of the storm. Atlanta is expected to get tropical storm strength winds and 2-6″ of rain. I will keep everyone updated on any cycling event cancellations or postponements as I find them. So far, there have not been many.

9-9-2017 Allatoona and Hunting Season From a Facebook Post Hunting season starts tomorrow (Saturday, September 9th) at Allatoona Creek Park! All B and E areas (see map) are only open to hunters with permits from sunrise to 10:00 am throughout September. This means Hocus Pocus and Driftwood are off limits to non-hunters before 10:00am.

Brownwood Bike Rally Press Release Celebrating 13 years of cycling, fitness and fun! Get your bikes in gear for the East Atlanta Kids Club’s 13th-annual Brownwood Bike Rally on Saturday, September 16, 2017 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.

9-8-2017 CMS TT Postponed From the promoter: Due to the high probability that we will get a visit from Hurricane Irma on Monday and/or Tuesday, we are moving the final Charlotte Motor Speedway Time Trial to Wednesday, September 13. We DO NOT like moving events based on the weather forecast but felt in this instance it was better to prepared for the potential storm than to challenge it. Due to the Auto Fair and upcoming NASCAR race, there are very few open dates at the track so moving it to Wednesday was our only option. Please spread the word to all of your two-wheel friends and stay safe in the storm. We hope to see you Wednesday night for the FINAL Time Trial Series race and awards ceremony! Trish’s Note: This is the only GA, TN, AL, SC, NC event postponement I have seen so far because of Hurricane Irma. I’ll post any others if I see them.

9-5-2017

The Masters racers come around Turn 1 at the Velodrome Cup.

Christina Panella (EPTC) attacks during the final sprint of the Women’s Miss & Out at the Dick Lane Veldrome Pro Race-The Velodrome Cup.

9-3-2017 Photos of the Velodrome Cup Photos from Saturday Night’s Velodrome Cup at the Dick Lane Velodrome are up at http://sadlebred.smugmug.com. There are plenty from the Youth Cycling League, A’s, B’s, Masters, and Women.

8-31-2017 Allatoona Work Party From SORBA West Georgia Allatoona Work Party, Saturday, Sept. 16 9 am-1 pm. The trails need your help! Join us for 4 hours of trail building fun! Its a GREAT way to give back to the trails you ride/run/hike and meet new friends. All tools and lunch provided. Just wear long pants, closed toed shoes and bug spray. Bring a friend too!

8-30-2017 Georgia Riders Head to UCI World Championships USA Cycling announced its team for 2017 UCI World Road Championships Monday. Several riders from Georgia will be wearing the Stars and Stripes for team USA. Ian Garrison (Axeon Hagens Berman) will ride in the U23 Men’s Road Race. Megan Heath (Rally Sport Cycling Team) will race in the Junior Women’s Road Race for the 2nd time. Good luck USA!

8-29-2017 Race to Embrace Century Press Release September 9, 2017. East Point Track Club, Reality Bikes and Embrace Grace are proud to sponsor this charity ride starting in Cumming, Georgia at scenic Suwanee, Mountain base with loops extending to and over Burnt Mountain outside Jasper. Join us for an amazing day of cycling on a variety of routes ranging from smooth to rolling hills or challenging mountain climb routes [>9700 vertical feet of climbing] perhaps second to only Six Gap. Route options include easy to moderate 25 and 50, mile courses, or 75 and 100 milers into the mountains all with full sag support. Follow easy, painted routes with minimal turns and limited traffic. The scenery on each route is stunning, so don’t miss this fully supported ride that will have something for everyone. Discounted rates on request or on August 30, 2017 use code #embrace.

8-28-2017 Dick Lane Velodrome News Are you ready for the Velodrome Cup p/b Ethic Inc? We are! Plan on finishing your action packed day off with some fast paced bike racing whether you have enjoying the Dragon Con Parade or riding the One Love Century. 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. this Saturday September 2nd! 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. Gates Open @ 2 p.m. Racing Starts @ 3 p.m. Main Events Start @ 6 p.m. $5 entry or $10 for family of 5 We’ll be serving up our world famous DLV Chicken Nachos as well as other standard concession fare like chips and hot dogs and desserts from Cake Hag. Don’t forget about the Need for Speed Sprints presented by Snyder Cycles Friday Night September 1st starting at 7 p.m. Friday night entry is free!

We Need Volunteers! It takes a village right? We need volunteers to help with making sure our PRS events go off without a hitch. We need 3 people to help with set-up Saturday Morning from 10 am until noon. Email info@dicklanevelodrome dot com if you can help. A free entry and concession meal will be offered to all volunteers.  For our out of town Fans! We will again be live-streaming our Friday and Saturday events on youtube.com/c/Dicklanevelodromelive

Beginner’s Classes include use of a bike! check off an item on your bucket list and learn to ride the velodrome For details on beginner class dates and now to sign up click me!

Eastside and DST Ride Info. Trish’s Note: All of the rides in this list can be considered Fast/Advanced rides averaging 20+ mph. They are NOT for the casual rider or beginner. You must have group riding experience and be able to hold your line at a very fast pace. They are “drop” rides. Put the route in your Garmin/Wahoo and be prepared; bring hydration, food, and your cell phone. These rides wait for no one. They are also not sponsored by any rider, shop, or group.

Daylight Saving Time (DST) will end Sunday November 5. The FIRST Tuesday of September: Start times for Northlake (Tuesday) and Pizza (Thursday) will be 6:15 PM. The Northlake ride will be normal summer- 2 loops- Belgium Finish. The Pizza loop will be will be normal summer- 2 loops. The First Tuesday of October until time change- Start times for Northlake (Tuesday) and Pizza (Thursday) will be 6:00 PM. The Northlake ride- we will do one counterclockwise intermediate loop- Belgium Finish. The Pizza loop will be one large clockwise 8.75 mile loop. 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/Popeyes 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). 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).

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.

Airport Ride– rolls out 10AM Sunday, (the day Daylight Saving Time Ends) – through the last Sunday in March. 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

“Big” Tucker Ride– rolls out 10AM Saturday, the first Saturday AFTER Daylight Saving Time has ended, until it goes back to 9AM- the first Saturday in April. Tucker Ride Start- meet at the intersection Lynburn Drive and Main St, Tucker, GA, Approximately 46 miles (shortcut options available).

“Baby” Tucker Ride– rolls out 9:30AM Saturday, the first Saturday AFTER Daylight Saving Time has ended, until it goes back to 8:30AM the first Saturday in April.

Sunday Ride Start- a roving ride- all details here.

8-27-2017 Call to Action! Kennesaw Mountain wants to keep cyclists off the mountain from 9-5 pm 7 days/week under a change in shuttle schedule. The proposed new schedule is to ban any private cars from driving and parking at the top. Walkers would still be able to hike up the road, but bicycles would not be allowed to ride up during hours the shuttle runs. Kennesaw Mountain staff will be collecting comments about the plan for 50 days, including holding public meetings. The first meeting will be Sept. 12 at Marietta High School Performing Arts Center, 1171 Whitlock Road, from 5 to 7 p.m. Comments can be submitted online here.

NCCX News & CX Ramblings NCCX has announced equal payout for the Elite Men and Women! NCCX is also of legal drinking age this year–21 years old! It is the original CX series in the Southeast–Congratulations NCCX and Happy Birthday!! GACX was founded in 1999(ish), so we are almost to 20 years. GACX has also had equal payout for the top 3 Elite Men and Women for as long as I’ve been involved and may be among the first CX series in the country to do so. Payout gets deeper with more racers (so the men’s payout usually goes deeper), but the amount of payout is always the same for each placing.

8-25-2017  Georgia CX Practices There are several cyclocross practices in Atlanta. Check out the long running Jim R Miller CX Practice in Marietta. Practices are on Wednesdays starting Aug. 9. The practice will take a 1 week break the week of Sept. 24 as the North Georgia State Fair takes over the CX course. Rider start rolling around 4:30 with hot laps around 5:30-6:00 and usually go til 7:30-7:45. Feel free to do the “hot laps” or organized workouts or your own. Jim R. Miller park is a county park, so you can ride out there as long as there are no events that have the park rented.

The Ellenwood CX Ranch is a great place with a purpose built CX course by long time CXers on private property in Ellenwood! They have built a new part to  in the woods including a really nice run up. Wednesday practices begin on Aug. 23. The Ranch is open for riding any time during daylight hours–there will be people out there on the weekends closer to CX season. Be sure to sign a waiver that is in a box at the start of the course. Donations are accepted to help defray the costs of building the course such as hiring someone to bushog (mow) the field. Please respect the privacy of the residents that live on the property. Both of these are “pick up” practices, so you ride at your own risk.

Cross Clinics I am not doing my annual CX Clinic in Atlanta. My corporate job is very busy right now, and I just need a break from it for a year. There will be a clinic in Macon on Sept. 16. I have heard rumblings of another, and I’ll post it when I get details.