6-26-2009 Sope Creek Work Party From SORBA Atlanta: The next work party at Sope Creek is July 18 from 8-12noon. We will meet at COLUMNS DRIVE car park (NOTE THE LOCATION CHANGE). Bring gloves, plenty of water, snack, and wear appropriate clothing (no open toed shoes please). Lunch is not provided but I will try to have a few small Clif bars for those who forget to pack a snack.
If you have tools, please bring them but I will have pulaskis and mcleods. We will be doing finish work on the Kudzu Trail (reroute #1). Questions? Email me at clmyrickjr@gmail.com.

 6-30-2009 Bicycle Benefit Art Show From Pacesetter Steel: The Pacesetter steel cycling team is presenting an art show titled "Wheels In Motion" by Quenton Colby at the Grange in Decatur on July 11th benefiting The Atlanta Kids Club and Dicklane velodrone. These 7 pieces will portray the energy and emotion connected with a bicycle that brings us to this machine time and time again. www.artbyquentoncolby.com

Come Celebrate with Gina! Gina Voci's friends have asked me to get the word out that she is done with her medical residency! They would like to invite everyone to a party at the Grange this Sunday, July 6th from 5:30-8:00 pm. (BYOBM-Bring your own beer money. Lots of good brews will be on tap!)
 

Barley's TdF Schedule If you are in Greenville, SC, Barley's Tap Room will have the TdF on the Big Screen. Barley's Taproom Greenville is once again celebrating the Tour De France

Stage 4 - Team Time Trail - Montpellier > Montpellier
Tuesday, July 7th 8:00 PM (Victory Brewing Co.)
Stage 16 - Martigny > Bourg-Saint-Maurice
Tuesday, July 21st 8:00 PM (Oskar Blues Brewing)
Stage 20 - Montélimar > Mont Ventoux
Saturday, July 25th Noon (Brewery Ommegang/Duvel)

Bike Article The AJC has a good article on Ryan Barnett.

7-1-2009 DLV News
Outback Bikes presents ‘The Wheelrace’ Saturday July 11th 6pm

Come down and watch Steve Hill and the ‘A’ Train take on our best B’s and Women in ‘The Wheelrace’. The Wheelrace is a handicapped event
giving the B’s and Women a head-start on the A’s over a 1 mile race distance. The A’s will have to catch everyone on the track to have a shot at winning, and it will be up to the Women to hold everyone off, with the B group playing piggy in the middle. With everybody converging around the final bend it’s sure to be a close finish. Also on hand will be our most popular Bicycle Little League kids, and be sure not to miss out on the Dick Lane Velodrome’s famous Chicken Nacho’s and other excellent food-stuff’s. Big news for the event and the remainder of our events for this year is BEER. Yes that’s right folks we’ll be serving some frosty cold one’s at the Wheelrace. Not sure what flavor we’ll have but it will be sure to be cold and thirst quenching. Big thanks to the East Point Corner Tavern for their assistance with the permitting. Again we’ll also have a unique t-shirt
design up for sale so keep an eye on the website to get a look at that. Racing Begins at 3pm with the main events going off from 6pm. Spectators entry is still only $5 with families costing $10


We Need Some Volunteers!! As always we need some help for our Pro Race Series event, Outback Bikes presents ‘The Wheelrace’. We are looking for some extra hands on the day, as well some extra hands on Friday evening for the Need for Speed sprint tournament. We are also looking for some host housing for a few out of town riders that will be attending the event, so is you have space and a love of people, we and they would appreciate your hospitality. If you are interesting in any of these volunteering options, please email Jeff Hopkins, jeff@dicklanevelodrome.com.
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VELOCITY Tour Sunday, July 12th
The Atlanta stop of the nationwide VELOCITY will be coming on July 12th with the racing kicking off at 2pm. If you plan on competing in the VELOCITY Tour you must be a certified C or D class rider to race. If you aren’t already certified then it is too late! Riders should have competed at at least two previous D race nights (tuesday night racing), and will already have a race number, this will be your number at VELOCITY. All normal EPVA, and ATRA rules will apply to this event! Registration opens at noon, with a warm up pace-line starting at 1:30 racing starting at 2:00. Price 20$ (5$ more than standard Tuesday or Wednesday nights, but with a bunch of prizes at stake, and the points will be weighted heavier than normal racing within the respective C and D classes.) Early sponsor list. Will be updated as we add sponsors!
Highway 2/ Continental, VelocityRims, No Brakes Bikes.

Hospitality Hwy Century To get a $5 discount when registering for the Hospitality Highway Century (aka Shutdown GA 400!), put in the code 400rider. Good July 4-9 only. Trish's Note: I really regret that I can't do this event. Looks to be a great ride!

Outta Touch Just a head's up to everyone, I will be completely incommunicado July 7-9. I won't be checking email or taking calls. Those that need to get ahold of me know how to contact my husband.

Chicopee Work Party From SORBA Gainesville We'll be working on the Coyote Loop again to get it in race shape for the upcoming Thursday Night Time Trials! Meet at the MTB parking lot at 9:00 AM and wear closed toe shoes, hiking/work boots are recommended. Bring work gloves and enough water and snacks for 4 hours of work. Tools and lunch will be provided. Bring your bike - we'll ride afterwards. Thanks for your support! Steve Johnston

7-2-2009 Beer Served at the Wheelrace From the DLV:  Here is the latest DLV news for the upcoming Outback Bikes presents 'The Wheelrace'. Biggest news on the event front is that we now have beer!! We're not sure what flavor we'll be serving, but it will be frosty and cold!!

Free Flite Demo Demo at Blankets Creek Trails - Saturday, July 11, 2009 10am - 3pm
Demo at Big Creek Trails - Sunday, July 12, 2009 10am - 3pm

2010 Bike Models
Madone 5.2 Performance's
Madone 5.9 Performance's
Madone 6.5 Performance's

2009 Bike Models
Trek EX 9.9's
Top Fuel 9.8's
Trek Remedy 9's
Trek 69er SS's
Fisher Roscoe's
Fisher SuperFly's
Fisher HiFi Pro 29er's
Fisher HiFi Pro's 26in Wheel
 

Masters Nationals Atlantans won Bronze Wednesday in the Time Trials at Masters Nationals in Louisville, KY. Master Men 45-49: Brendan Sullivan (Iron Data Racing), Master Men 70-74 Ken Rosskopf (FFCC-Toyota Forklifts), Master Women 30-34 Nancy Jones (Team Medplan). Congratulations to everyone!!

Trish's note: Nancy----We on Team Medplan are all so proud of you!! Way to go!!!!!!

Junior Chosen for European Camp  Six riders were selected this week to take part in the Junior Boy's 15/16 European race camp program this summer. The camp, tentatively slated for August 3-25, will be based at the U.S. National Team House in Izegem, Belgium and will give participants valuable exposure to the European race scene. Decatur resident Matthew Lipscomb was chosen for the camp.

Gwinnett Bike Fest From Top View Sports GWINNETT BIKE FEST Ready to Roll….July 22-26, 2009

(Gwinnett County, GA) – The Gwinnett Sports Commission (GSC) and Top View Sports will bring you the 3rd Annual Gwinnett Bike Fest, July 22-26. This year’s event has been expanded to 6 races over 5 days, building off the success of last year’s event that drew over 500 participants from 11 states. With a prize purse of over $11,000 distributed daily and overall the Gwinnett Bike Fest will attract both amateur and professional cyclists of all ages from around the Southeast and will benefit the American Cancer Society and Foster Children’s Foundation.

In its 3rd year of existence, the Gwinnett Bike Fest has turned out to be one of the biggest bike races in the Southeast, and a race that cyclists everywhere circle on the calendars as a must to attend. aily and overall prizes will be presented in an effort to promote riders to participate in all events. This year’s schedule of events has a little bit of everything.

* Wednesday, July 22 – Road Atlanta Circuit Race (Braselton, GA)
* Thursday, July 23 – Gwinnett Center Criterium (Duluth, GA)
* Friday, July 24 – Subaru of Gwinnett Road Race (Dacula, GA)
* Saturday, July 25 – Addictive Cycles Time Trial (Buford, GA)
* Saturday, July 25 – Downtown Norcross Criterium (Norcross, GA)
* Sunday, July 26 – Events Response Circuit Race (Lawrenceville, GA)
In addition, the July 25th, Downtown Norcross Criterium will be a huge festival, with Radio Disney on site, a bike stunt team, music, and lots of great historic downtown bars, restaurants and shops to enjoy. The Gwinnett Bike Fest is also the tenth stop on the newly formed Georgia points series, the Georgia Cycling Gran Prix, a 12 event race series that includes well known, established races throughout Georgia. Find out more about the Gwinnett Bike Fest by visiting www.gcvb.org/bikefest. 

Sope Creek Work Party TFrom Charles Myrick/SORBA Atlanta: The next work party at Sope Creek is July 18 from 8-12noon. We will meet at COLUMNS DRIVE car park (NOTE THE LOCATION CHANGE). Bring gloves, plenty of water, snack, and wear appropriate clothing (no open toed shoes please). Lunch is not provided but I will try to have a few small Clif bars for those who forget to pack a snack. If you have tools, please bring them but I will have pulaskis and mcleods. We will be doing finish work on the Kudzu Trail (reroute #1). Questions? Email me at clmyrickjr at gmail.com. Thanks and see you there!

7-3-2009 Trail Traffic SORBA Woodstock has a neat counter of how  many laps were done on the trails at Blanket's Creek. http://www.sorbawoodstock.org/

Happy 4th of July! Celebrate this great country of ours!

7-6-2009 The Future of Cyclocross in Georgia  Trish's Note: This is an editorial piece from Bob Kuhn, who races for HUP United. Many know Bob as one of the top Masters cross racers in the state and from single speed mountain bike racing. This opinion piece was written with all respect due the current GA Cross Series promoters and Bob's thanks. Adam Jones and Shey Linder have done an AMAZING job with the series for the last several years, and that is something everyone recognizes. We all appreciate the hard work and sacrifices they and their families make to put on one of the region's most well run race series. Bob is commenting on the future of cross racing in Georgia. There is some stuff behind the scenes that those outside the cross community may not understand. This was originally published on Bob's Blog and is copied here with his permission.

 The Future Cyclocross in Georgia--Some Suggestions
I am tired as I write this and people keep asking me about the Georgia Cross Series this fall and what will become of it. As of now I think it is on for the fall and it is totally up in the air for next year.

Everyone agrees that the giants whose shoulders we stand on are James Tomko, Adam Jones and Shey Linder, their families and individual promoters like Daryl Sawyer, Dan Coy, the Macon gang, Ross Douglas, Jay Halgat, and so many others that have put on races for more than one year. But, we now need to come together to insure that cross keeps its rightful place in the fall and that we don't let the good work of these folks fall by the way-side.

That is why I think we need to work on establishing "Cyclocross Culture". What is this exactly? By my definition it starts out as a group of passionate cross racers and promoters and moves through families, kids and communities to really become part of the culture. With over 50 races in each region from New England, the northwest, Colorado and northern California each year (many, many UCI races) to ask many cyclists what they are going to do on a Saturday or Sunday in the fall is like asking where most folks go on Sunday mornings in Georgia. Like church, it part of the culture. To me, this is the goal.

Knowing that the GA Cyclocross Series will change after this fall, I have some suggestions on where to go from the great series James Tomko, Adam Jones and Shey Linder built.

* A two or one person management team must not happen again. For the long term success of the sport in Georgia, individual promoters must take on owner ship of their race and promote it year after year, not rely on 2 guys to do it all. It is too much strain on them and their families.
* The "series" should be a collection of different races that have their own flavors and ability to do what they want, not a 10 race series where the races all have to meet a certain template.
* We need people who love cyclocross to take ownership of a race for the long term. I think we need individuals to say "this is my race and I will do it every year for the next 10 years whether I am racing or not." We have a lot of promoters to put on races but most of them race as well which limits their time and burns them out. Why are there races across the US that are celebrating their 10 year anniversaries and not any here in Georgia? It is one weekend a year and a person who wants to see cross survive and thrive in Georgia would have to commit to making it work each year.
* We need a UCI race. This needs to be a goal of a big promoter. Maybe some entity like Gwinnett Fest, the City of Roswell, sandy Springs or a similar organization with connections and the ability to market and obtain the proper monies.
* We need double race weekends. I know, it is a lot of work. But if you promote one race a year can you not plan in advance and block that one weekend where you will focus on a double race event? Perhaps it is as simple as Gloucester where they change the course very little or run it backwards? Perhaps two promoters double up like Starcrossed and the MFG series this fall on one weekend? Perhaps you just don't race that weekend if you promote and normally race?
* Bike racers in Georgia needs to realize that we are behind most regions in the country on expanding and building a base of racers for the fastest growing aspect of the sport. We need to take advantage of the good weather, venue opportunities, quality of racing and racers that Georgia has to offer. It is shocking that our numbers have fallen while other regions have doubled or tripled. I am not blaming anyone, I just think our cross/cycling community needs to reflect on this and work towards growing cross in Georgia.
* Their must be in-town (Atlanta) races. This is where people live in the greatest density so we need to go after venues that are either inside the perimeter or in communities near by like Roswell, Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, and other directions as well.
* We need to have charity events both for the charity's sake and to help secure sponsors and venues. It is a quid pro quo. The charity benefits but monies raised and cross benefits by people being attracted to these events and the ability of charity events to attract sponsors and venue security.
* Why not cross country too? If I ever promote a cross race, I will hold a cross country running race along with it. It fits and there are tons of runners in Georgia who actually might make the leap to cross. From 9-10am you have a open cross country event on or including the cross course. This attracts spectators and potential cross racers. Do you know how many high school kids run cross-country in the fall that could do a cross race as a junior for free? High school cross teams? Think of it!
* We have to stop relying on bike shops. Including them or getting on to help promote--Yes, but use community resources like Boy Scouts, YMCA or Boys and Girls clubs for support, volunteers and to build your youthful base. Bike shops are under as lot of stress to survive. We must look culturally beyond them and into the community.
* Racers may need to race because they love the sport. Would you go to a race and compete if there were no prizes? We need racers to become more intrinsic and buy into the idea that cross is about culture as well as a place to be seen and win prizes. In the hotbed areas around the US cyclocross is about culture and the community is tied to it. Prizes and rewards are part of sport but the sport itself should be the focus, not what you get.
* Racers need to become non-reliant. How many races have we done where we gave no thought to who was promoting? How many times have we not asked to help or to get involved? This has to stop. To make cross ingrained into the community culture, each racer should participate in other ways besides racing.
* We have to embrace the idea of "Cyclocross Culture". Is it no wonder that two or three tiny areas of New England or the northwest boast the best racers in the US who many times grew up with each other or went to the same high school? It is not surprising that companies who make cross products are found in the areas where cross is hot? They grew with the sport. People stopped racing eventually and decided to make products or promote races to make the sport live on. Communities decide that this is an easy spectator friendly, fast paced fun event that is free that brings others to there area where they will spend money, eat at restaurants and participate in the local economy. It becomes expected that you just "do cross" in the fall regardless of results because it is part of the cycling culture.

I really love this sport and after this fall I intend on a goal of promoting a race for the next 10 years regardless of whether a Georgia Cross Series exists or not. We simply cannot expect 2 people and their families to do everything for us. We have to do this because we love it, or we risk it going away until we do. It will take a lot of work all year to get the word out and to embrace the community.

We need 10 shops, individuals, companies, race organizations, or other entities to see the value of cyclocross and its culture and say that they will hold races independently in the fall so that they become standards if needed.

Do the races below ring a bell? These are the standards, the tradition and annual events thousands look forward to each year. We should make it our goal to get on this list and if we love cross, to help it become part of the culture just like fall football, Halloween and Thanksgiving.