Southeast - Stuck at ATL until the 20th of May

I find myself in Atlanta for almost the entire month of May. I am in town for some company training. I have my bike with me and it is set up on my trainer in my hotel room. Looks like I will have a chance to get out a little, but I know that the area right around Hartsfield would not be the safest place for riding. I have a vehicle with me as well, so I can travel to a ride if necessary. What's good in the Atlanta area? I was thinking of trying to get up to the silver comet if nothing else. Any good group rides in the area?

Thanks in advance.

This (http://www.ilrsc.com/default.asp) is where we will be on Saturday. Its about an hour or so north of Atlanta. You should come join us.

This (http://www.ilrsc.com/default.asp) is where we will be on Saturday. Its about an hour or so north of Atlanta. You should come join us.

Looks like fun. What time does it start? And where?

9AM. I'm riding a Tarmac (Saxo Bank color). It looks fast but is ridden slow. I will be riding with BikeWNC and we plan on riding 80 miles (cutting some miles off). My knees are still healing from the trauma of running (and aging). If you are going to be there let me know what you will be riding and I'll look for you.

Definitely do the Silver Comet while you are here. The beginning sections are pretty congested with pedestrians, but still nice rides if you don't mind being polite and braking a lot. Otherwise it is just frustrating. Out about the Seaboard Dr access it really opens up. The section beyond the Rambo(Rambo Nursery) access is delightful with high trestles and a tunnel. The rest is rural except for the Rockmart and Cedartown areas.

If you are up for back to back centuries a weekend round trip is fun. There is motel in Jacksonville near the AL end.

Look at this way, at least at the end of the month you get to leave this city.......anyway since you are near the airport the silk sheets/South Fulton Ramble isn't too far away. Its pretty scenic and rural with light traffic.

http://www.sadlebred.com/maps/soutfultonramble.pdf

The above website has a lot of useful information on local rides.

Thanks for the replies guys. As it turns out, an instructor that I have lives in a town home that backs up to the silver comet. I am going to go to his house to park and jump on it there. He had the same advice on the congestion. I have plenty of time, so looks like I will get to enjoy a pretty nice ride.

You might be able to find some locals groups on meetup.com and some good routes on mapmyride.com. It might give you some ideas and options.

Beltline tour is tomorrow .
http://beltlinebiketour.wordpress.com/about/

So, I ended up riding the SC both days this weekend. That is a great trail system y'all got there. It was a little congested around the trailhead, but it really thinned out nicely about 5 miles in. I did a hard 50 on Saturday, and an easy Sunday stroll of 30 today. What I found really interesting is the ability to completely lose track of time on it. Neither ride seemed nearly as long as it was. Initially I thought it was pretty flat, but in reality it seems that some of those long shallow climbs really start to beat you up after a while, especially if you are going hard the whole time. All in all a great ride both days. Thanks for the info on it. I will most likely get to ride it another time or two before I head home.

SC is nicer the farther out you go. If you did 50 sounds like you road up tho the Trestle. I highly recommend you drive up and drop in at the Paulding Chamber trail head and ride up to Rockmart for Lunch at Frankies (http://www.frankies-rockmart.com/). The Talpia Parmigiana is delicious. That also gets you through the Brushy Mt tunnel and the trestle. About a 38 mile round trip.

Glad you enjoyed the Silver Comet. I love that trail. I live 40 minutes south of the SC and ride 40 miles every two week up there.