We are planning several annual event type rides, so it’s probably appropriate to spend a little time on them here.
Summer Solstice Celebration Night Ride:
Way back in time, it was traditional for folks to get together and perform a semi-annual ceremony called Beat the Bounds. The townfolk would get together, along with the priest and the local headman. They would form a procession, and all would go out and visit each of the boundary markers of the locality. They would then “beat” each of these markers, marking them with plant dye, or (later in history) sprinkling them with Holy Water. This was a way to claim and reclaim the borders of the town or province. It was an occasion for celebration.
Usually this was done at a propitious time. The Summer Solstice was such a time. By this point the early heavy work of clearing away the Winter damage, plowing the fields, and getting the crops in was done. It was a good time to pause and survey the home area.
We are, in our own modest way, renewing and honoring that tradition with this ride. Besides, it’s a lot of fun to ride at night. It’s especially good on Summer Monday nights. By 8:00 P.M. most of the traffic vanishes. Good stuff.
Format: We will ride as a group. We’ll stick together for visibility and safety. The pace will be a bit strong for a beginner, but mostly fairly relaxed. We’ll start out in Peachtree City. We’ll head out to the west, and ride a large loop around the outskirts around of town the “Greater Pechtree City Area.
The following are pertinent factors:
Sunset 20:51
End Civil Twilight 21:20
Moonrise 12:13 AM (it will be a dark night)
Start/Finish: Fredrick Brown Amphitheater, PTC
Start Time: 7:30 P.M. (sharp!)
Distance: Approx 45 miles
Pace: Approx 15 mph overall average
Conditons: Ride goes rain or shine
Requirements: Helmets (of course), Reflective sash or vest, reflective ankle bands, good strong headlight and tail light, good cheer.
FUNNEST ROAD RIDE IN GEORGIA!:
We’re going up to Helen, GA for this one. It’s an out-and-back. There’s a bit of work to get to the fun part, but the fun part is worth the price of entry. And yes the 0800 start time requires leaving home at a stoop-pid early hour. Again, it will be well worth it!
We park in the municipal parking lot, on Chattahoochee Strasse. (Remember to bring some cash for parking fees. They are usually only a couple of dollars.)
We’ll ride north, right up the main drag in Helen, and on out of town. After a bit of “roller” riding, we turn and make the climb over Burton Dam Road. (This road name is sometimes altered for effect. Once we’ve made the double climb, we descend down to the shores of Seed Lake. This is where the fun part really gets going. The trip along the lake shores is delightful. The roads are extremely tight, loaded with curves that are technical even on a road bike. There’s another real plus. There is little traffic up there on weekdays, and the roads are so tight and windy that the few cars encountered can not keep up with cyclists!
After the run along the lakes, we climb up through Tiger Gap. This is not a true major gap climb, but rather a long series of ascents. We come out of the climbing, and arrive at Tiger, and at the Tiger Market. Here can be had one of the world’s best grilled cheese sandwiches! The chocolate cake is pretty good too! Add a bucket of sweet tea, and it’s an ideal cyclist’s lunch.
Bottles refilled, we’re ready to turn around and do it all again, in the other direction!
Details:
Where: Helen, GA. Municipal Parking lot, on Chattahoochee Strasse
Date: Thursday, 14 July
Time: 0800 A.M. (Sharp!)
Distance/Pace: approx 65 miles Pace will be fun, but we’ll stop to regroup
periodically. (This one is not for beginners!)
Requirements/Conditions: Helmets are required, road bikes strongly
recommended. We’ll go rain or shine.
TRIPLE GAP ROUTE RIDE:
Not to be confused with the big, organized event. This ride will small, disorganized, and simply a group of us out to enjoy the roads, the climbs, and sweet mountain air.
We’ll ride the traditional “south triple,” with a start/finish in Dahlonega. We’ll do this one with one bit of a difference. Find your parking where you will, but ride to the Dahlonega Courthouse Square. We’ll use the Gold Museum, on the south east corner of the square, as a Rally Point for the start and finish of this ride. (Please use courtesy and common sense in selecting your parking spot. Do it legally.)
We’ll do the traditional approach to Neels Gap, up Rockhouse Rd, and Porter Springs. There’s a possibility of a stop at the top of Neels Gap (mile 22), but I prefer to “roll” this summit. We have another possible store stop in Suches (mile 37).
After descending Woody Gap, we’ll take the old “back way” into Dahlnega. It’s a lot nicer, and less traffic.
Details:
Where: Gold Museum, Dahlonega, GA. Court Square.
Date: Thursday, 4 August
Time: 0900 A.M. (Sharp!)
Distance/Pace: Approx 53 miles, with re-group options
Requirements/Conditions: Helmets are required, road bikes strongly
recommended. We’ll go rain or shine.
Suggestion: Mount your climbing gears!
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