Southeast - Centuries around Atlanta

I want to do my first century this year. What will be coming up around North GA? I know TarWheel in April, and Tour de Cure in May. Anything sooner? What's good to start with?

Brad, check the SBL calendar at www.bikesbl.org. You'll have to register but it's no big deal. Click on calendar to see the rides for the month.

You can also check their monthly mag at any bike shop. Local and regional rides are listed.

Well, the Tour de Cure is a metric century, at least it was last year. But that's not a bad start I wouldn't think. Right off the bat the only other organized century that I can name is the Six Gap Century out of Dahlonega, which will be the last Sunday in September. It is actually a little more than 100M, and includes over 10,000 feet of climbing.

Wheels of Fire is in March. Not too far from you in Harris co.

My favorite centuries:
Spinning Through Time
Covington
Wilson 100
Six Gap
MACC's One Love
Share The Road
Beautiful Backroads

Plus, there are always un-supported centuries. I'm sure we'll be running a few that we'll post here, and the folks on the sbl forum do some. Look for the Land Of Sunsets ride that they do - it's an easy route off the Silver Comet.

The way things are looking, a Silver Comet century is just a few weeks away from being possible.

Have you done Wheels of Fire? It looks good, a little intimidating. They bill the course as "Terrain: Rolling hills (Moderate-Strenuous)". :) I did a ride out at Callaway Gardens last summer. Going up the 85 where it meets the 190 - whew, I had to stop halfway up and catch my breath. Even in the granny gear I couldn't take that hill.

Thanks Pedal Wench, I got a nice list of rides now. I'll keep an eye on the sbl forum. I'm registered, but I don't hang out there too often.

My favorite centuries:
Spinning Through Time
Covington
Wilson 100
Six Gap
MACC's One Love
Share The Road
Beautiful Backroads

Plus, there are always un-supported centuries. I'm sure we'll be running a few that we'll post here, and the folks on the sbl forum do some. Look for the Land Of Sunsets ride that they do - it's an easy route off the Silver Comet.

The way things are looking, a Silver Comet century is just a few weeks away from being possible.

If a SCT century does get organized, will you please announce it here, as well. I too check SBL when I am heading into Atlanta, but I would try to schedule one of my trips possibly on that weekend. Would love to jump in on one while I am in town.

Have you done Wheels of Fire? It looks good, a little intimidating. They bill the course as "Terrain: Rolling hills (Moderate-Strenuous)". :) I did a ride out at Callaway Gardens last summer. Going up the 85 where it meets the 190 - whew, I had to stop halfway up and catch my breath. Even in the granny gear I couldn't take that hill.


If you want a fairly flat century and you don't mind a bit of a drive you might check out the Sweet Onion Century down in Vidalia.

Tour de Pike is in March also and is a pretty good ride.

Audax Atlanta will have a full brevet series starting in March. Those rides are 200K, 300K, 400K, and 600K -- significantly longer than a century but really fun if you get into long distance riding.

Audax Atlanta will have a full brevet series starting in March.

I just read The Complete Book of Long Distance Cycling (http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Book-Long-Distance-Cycling-Confidence/dp/1579541992/sr=8-1/qid=1167876617/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-8480559-9760709?ie=UTF8&s=books) over Christmas break. Googling for terms like Brevet and randonneuring lead me to Audax Atlanta's site. I've been reading all the ride stories, they're great!

BMB sounds like a blast, but who knows maybe I'll try longer rides and hate it. I still have some fit issues to work out too. All I'm committing to this year is a century. :)

BMB sounds like a blast, but who knows maybe I'll try longer rides and hate it. I still have some fit issues to work out too. All I'm committing to this year is a century. :)

I understand. I'm still trying to get the courage and legs to tackle more of these mega-distance routes.

If you want a fairly flat century and you don't mind a bit of a drive you might check out the Sweet Onion Century down in Vidalia.
+1

I did it in 2001 when I was 56. One of the locals was riding beside me for a few miles. Age came up during our conversation and he said he thought I was about 40 to 45 years old. Gotta love those folks in Vidalia. :beer:


There's also the St. Patrick's Century (http://www.dublinrotary.com/century06.html) in Dublin, GA (not N. GA) on March 18.

Here (http://www.byronumc.org/Acolyte_files/BikeRide/Bike%20Ride%20Application.htm) is another century (metric and not N. GA) I've planned on doing every year for the past 5 or so years but somehow never made it down there. Maybe this year. :o

Dang Ron, I had no idea you were so old! I'm right behind you. Less then a week left of my 20's. :(

Thanks for all the info guys, I think I'm going to start with the Tour de Pike on March 17th. It looks like a good beginners course. :)

http://www.kiwanispike.org/tourdepike.html

Dang Ron, I had no idea you were so old! I'm right behind you. Less then a week left of my 20's. :(
Old? Who you callin' old? ;)

If you’re looking for an early one – the Woodland-Calhoun Century out of Anniston, AL (just over the Alabama line off I-20 – not far from ATL) is on 3/24/07. I couldn’t find an official website for it but I believe that it’s run by the city of Anniston.

My candidate for the toughest century course anywhere: Brasstown Bald Buster Century – 4/28/07 out of Helen, GA. (http://www.brasstownbaldbustercentury.com/)

I'm right behind you. Less then a week left of my 20's.
You didn't provide any birthday info in your profile so no one on BF will be able to offer any birthday wishes (or condolances ;)).
Here's an early wish for an awesome day. :beer:

http://images.southparkstudios.com/media/images/113/113_boys_peering2.gif

My candidate for the toughest century course anywhere: Brasstown Bald Buster Century – 4/28/07 out of Helen, GA.

Is the Brasstown ride harder than Six Gap? Not that I'm going to ride either one, but I sure am impressed by people who do.

Is the Brasstown ride harder than Six Gap?

I've ridden Six Gap, but not the Brasstown Bald Buster. But I've driven up both of them, and I don't think I'd attempt the ride up Brasstown. I've attached elevation profiles for both rides. The first one is for Brasstown, the second for Six Gap.

I've ridden Six Gap, but not the Brasstown Bald Buster. But I've driven up both of them, and I don't think I'd attempt the ride up Brasstown. I've attached elevation profiles for both rides. The first one is for Brasstown, the second for Six Gap.


Are you sure that’s the profile for the Brasstown Baldbuster Century (as opposed to the old SBL ride called Brasstown Baldbuster)? I remember a lot more climbing on the former. The hardest climb of Six-Gap is Hogpen Gap – which, on the BBC, is only the warm-up before Jacks Gap with the extension up to the top of Brasstown Bald.

BBB is a butt ripper. I'm a flatlander and didn't make it on my first attempt last year. I've got some unresolved issues with Hogpen that I intend on getting straight this year.

I'll throw out a few more centuries worth the drive.

http://www.waynetourism.com/spar.htm

http://www.jimkrusecentury.com/

http://www.bicyclesavannahllc.com/

http://www.azaleacitycyclists.com/century/

Ride em all if you're feeling froggy. Just have fun......and ride a lot before BBB or 6-Gap if you attempt either one.

Michael

Also, take a look at the Bicycle Ride Across Georgia website for the dates of their rides. These are the best supported centuries (Saturday rides) I have done. In addition, you get extra days of well supported riding. Of course, if you want to ride with me, I tend to add even more days since I usually ride to and from each of the rides.

BTW In case anyone is wondering, I am looking at ways to make it the Bicycle Ride AROUND Georgia again. I don't know if the time will allow for it, but if it does, I am going for it-- two days to Columbus, seven on BRAG, and four from Savannah.

Tommy

this year I did 6 gap. great ride. but at the end of the day it was just a century. I felt the same regardless of the 10,000 feet. ...except for being wet and cold most of the day. due to my neglect.

check out the wilson in late sept. (sbl ride)

kb

“Up the Creek Without a Pedal” out of Rome, GA is another good one – 5/12/07

“Up the Creek Without a Pedal” out of Rome, GA is another good one – 5/12/07

That sounds like a great ride. There always seems to be other rides piled up on that same weekend. Too far for me considering I want to go up for a week to do the Brasstown Bald Buster Century end of April. One hilly century a year is more than enough for me.

Michael

I got the February Free Wheelin' in the mail yesterday. Lots of centuries and metrics listed.

Here is a good Metric on March 31st in Milledgeville in central GA. Good ride and great food.
http://www.geocities.com/bicyclingclubofmilledgeville/aprilfools.html

We use the proceeds to promote cycling awareness and advocacy.
http://www.13wmaz.com/news/local_story.aspx?storyid=34708

Benny

Check out http://www.atlbike.org for good info on rides. There are good rides posted on here..

Jason

The Tour de Abbeville is May 26th. Abbeville is just over the GA/SC border from Elberton, GA. They have a metric and a full century, but they usually run about 10-12 miles over.

http://www.abbevillecitysc.com/history/festival.aspx

“Up the Creek Without a Pedal” out of Rome, GA is another good one – 5/12/07

My wife and I will be driving down, from Canada, for that one...

If you’re looking for an early one – the Woodland-Calhoun Century out of Anniston, AL (just over the Alabama line off I-20 – not far from ATL) is on 3/24/07. I couldn’t find an official website for it but I believe that it’s run by the city of Anniston.

http://www.teamingenuity.com/anniston/Default.asp?ID=16&action=view&nid=26

Here's info I just received on a new metric century (first year) that's happening on April 14 and the money raised goes to a very good cause.



RIDE 4 BRODY

http://www.transplant4brody.org/P325078_FS.jpg

You are invited to join in on the Metric Century Ride and Metric Half Century to benefit Brody Cole’s transplant fund. Brody is a five year old boy from the metro Atlanta area with a serious disorder known as Mitochondrial Disease. He is in need of a multiple organ transplant. To learn more Mitochondrial Disease go to http://www.umdf.org/ or http://www.cota.org.

The proceeds of your entry fee will go directly to Brody’s transplant fund. With your donation of $40 pre-registration or $50 on day of event, you will receive a ride T-Shirt and you will also be entered in to win a Mavic wheel set valued at over $600. See the raffle flier or entry page at http://www.transplant4brody.org for details.

Please join us on Saturday, April 14th for our Ride 4 Brody. The ride will begin at Milam Park Soccer Complex near Cartersville, GA. Directions, sign-up sheet, and event route are available on the website: http://www.transplant4brody.org

Registration and check-in 7:00-7:40 a.m.
Raffle to be held at 7:45 a.m.
Ride to begin at 7:50 a.m.

Ok, I missed the Tour de Pike (yesterday) and the Dublin Century (today). :o
Anyone doing the Peach Blossom Bike Ride (http://www.byronumc.org/Acolyte_files/BikeRide/2004%20Peach%20Blossom.htm) (metric) next Saturday? Unless my work schedule changes I'll be off and am seriously considering doing it, if I can get up at 6:00 AM (or maybe earlier) on a Saturday to make the 100 mile drive to Byron, GA. :(

Ok, I missed the Tour de Pike (yesterday) and the Dublin Century (today). :o

There was SOOO much wind during the Tour de Pike. Of the 5 guys in our group, only 2 of us actually finished with 100 miles. The other 3 got sick of the wind and ended up with 71.

Peach Blossom sounds like fun, but I think I'll stay home and rest. :)

I noticed how windy it was and thought about everyone doing the Tour de Pike.

I did 40 "hard" miles yesterday (one of my days off from work) and found out just how out of shape I am. I guess I decided to drive on too many of those cold winter days. :( But hey, I'm 62 and I've "earned" a few days off the bike. :p

Still on the fence about the Peach Blossom metric. :rolleyes:


Has anyone done the Milledgeville April Fool's ride (http://www.geocities.com/bicyclingclubofmilledgeville/aprilfools.html) before? What's the terrain like?

Next one I'm planning on doing is the Wheels to Heal http://www.columbusregional.com/classic/wheels_to_heal.asp in Columbus April 15.

I saw that in the SBL e-news email I received today. Looks like a good ride.

Saul Raisin's "Raisin Hope" benefit ride is on March 31st in Dalton GA. It's benefiting the Shepard Center in ATL for brain injuries. It's actually a section of the tour de georgia, runs up over fort mtn. There's 100, 50 and 25 mile sections. check out his web page for info... saulraisin.com

<edit> Here is a link to the ride. </edit>
https://www.sportsbaseonline.com/Series.aspx?id=216

Has anyone done the Milledgeville April Fool's ride (http://www.geocities.com/bicyclingclubofmilledgeville/aprilfools.html) before? What's the terrain like?

I'm a little bit biased since I'm the ride director, but it is a great route (all new for this year).
You might say I've done the ride. It starts a couple of miles from my house and it is made up of my favorite roads. The 34 mile route has just a few fairly tough hills with lots of gently rolling and flat recovery sections between them. The metric century route includes all of that route plus some pretty big additional hills. Both routes travel through some beautiful countryside and the dogwoods and other flowering trees are just coming into their Spring glory.

You'll be rewarded for your efforts by a fantastic post-ride feast. Chicken barbecued on-site, Brunswick stew, roasted ears of corn, lots of veggies and desserts. Come on down, you're going to love it. And the t-shirt should win some kind of award. I saw one tonight and it was fantastic.

The proceeds go for "Share the Road" signage and other cycling awareness and advocacy projects.

If routeslip is working today you can see the routes here. The elevation profiles look worse than it really is:

34 mile- http://www.routeslip.com/routes/17061

metric- http://www.routeslip.com/routes/18551

Anyone doing the Peach Blossom Bike Ride (metric) next Saturday? Unless my work schedule changes I'll be off and am seriously considering doing it, if I can get up at 6:00 AM (or maybe earlier) on a Saturday to make the 100 mile drive to Byron, GA. :(
Well it's 9:00 (I slept in) and I'm sitting in front of the computer. The ride is starting now. :(
Can't do any rides next Saturday (Milledgeville or Dalton). I'm scheduled to work from 12:00 noon to 5:00 PM. I guess that's the one drawback to working in a bike shop. :o


So I'll do my ride to SM today. The temperature is supposed to hit 85F so it's time to get the Camelbak out of "winter storage".

I guess that's the one drawback to working in a bike shop. :o

You don't work for ABC full time?

You don't work for ABC full time?
I worked for ABC for 2-1/2 years. The director is a control freak. Almost every month for that 2-1/2 years we would disagree about something trivial. The last straw was about my upcoming vacation. On February 20 I told him that I was taking vacation from April 28 - May 6. (My wife works at Emory and told her manager that she wanted to take vacation sometime between mid-April and mid-May. They checked the schedule and picked the week mentioned.) Anyway, my ex-boss said that would not work because ABC was doing a 3 hour event on May 1 and I HAD to be there. I told him that he had 9-1/2 weeks to find a volunteer to cover the event. We went back and forth on this for 2 days. It was kind of like the E. Wesley thing. He just keeps going on and on and on and on.....
Anyway, Mike at Intown Bicycles (http://www.intownbicycles.com) called me and asked if I was interested in working part time. Naturally I said YES! :)
I submitted my resignation to ABC on Feb 26 and started at the bike shop on March 1.

Sorry to hear that Ron, but I hope you're liking your new job.

Intown looks nice. You don't happen to have a 58 cm Raleigh Rush Hour in stock do you? :) I've been driving out to Roswell Bikes for all my LBS needs, but they don't normally stock the Rush Hour.

Sorry to hear that Ron, but I hope you're liking your new job.
You bet. :) I've been talking to Mike about working for him for several months. :beer:



Intown looks nice. You don't happen to have a 58 cm Raleigh Rush Hour in stock do you? :)
Today was one of my days off but I'll check tomorrow when I get to work.



I've been driving out to Roswell Bikes for all my LBS needs, but they don't normally stock the Rush Hour.
Roswell Bikes?? Aren't there any other bike shops closer - like CycleWorks (http://cycleworksinc.com/index.cfm) in Duluth or The Bicycle Wheel (http://www.thebicyclewheel.net/) in Duluth?

Roswell Bikes?? Aren't there any other bike shops closer - like CycleWorks (http://cycleworksinc.com/index.cfm) in Duluth or The Bicycle Wheel (http://www.thebicyclewheel.net/) in Duluth?

CycleWorks is okay, they're real nice guys. But every time I call for something specific it's not in stock. I called about Speedplay Frogs when my knees were hurting and they had never heard of the company "Speedplay" or the model "Frogs". I call out to Roswell and they can tell me the price, if it's in stock, and even if they think it'll help my knees without putting me on hold to look it up.

I should try the Bicycle Wheel though. Someone told me there is a new shop on Buford Hwy by Sugarloaf and PIB, but I haven't rode by to check it out yet.

Directions to the Milledgeville April Fools Ride start from Atlanta and Macon have been added to the webpage.
http://www.geocities.com/bicyclingclubofmilledgeville/aprilfools.html

The weather forecast is good. Come down for a great day of riding (and eating).

Intown looks nice. You don't happen to have a 58 cm Raleigh Rush Hour in stock do you?
We have a 55 cm Rush Hour on display in the store and a 57 still in the box (unassembled). It comes in odd number increments (no 58 cm).
How tall are you?



I should try the Bicycle Wheel though.
Talk to Scott Jones, the owner. Super nice guy.

It comes in odd number increments (no 58 cm). How tall are you?

Ah, that's right, 57 not 58. I'm 6'0". I'm riding a 58 now and it seems to fit pretty well.