News for 4-29-2024
Ride of Silence and Bike Law Georgia Party
From Bike Law Georgia
Join us on Wednesday May 15, 2024 for the worldwide Ride of Silence and our annual Bike Law lawn party!!
Ride of Silence: We will honor our fellow cyclists who have been injured or killed while cycling in GA. Co-hosted by BikeFriendly ATL and Bike Law GA.
6:30 pm – Meet at Decatur Square (at the gazebo)
7:00 pm – Before the ride starts we will read the Ride of Silence poem and share a few words and minute of silence
7:15 pm – Ride begins with police escort to Paul Taylor’s ghost bike
The Ride of Silence is approximately 6 miles long within City of Decatur limits at a casual pace. The ride will end at Bike Law’s headquarters at 119 N McDonough St, Decatur GA 30030.
Stay after the ride for pizza and beverages!! Let’s celebrate each other and the joy of riding bikes in ATL!
And did we mention that this is also part of the Atlanta Cycling Festival 2024???
We hope to see you on May 15th and don’t forget to check out all the other ACF events happening that week! Let’s ride!!

No Marietta Tuesday Night Crit April 30
From MTNC
Breaking News! Due to the @spinthedistrict #unioncitycrit, we’ve decided to close shop on Tuesday, April 30! Regular scheduled progamming will return May 7. Rest up, Ride safe!

News for 4-24-2024
2024 ROPE MILL FAST + FURIOUS 15 MILE MTB RACE – MAY 25th!
From Mountain Goat Adventures
Rope Mill Fast+Furious 15 Mile Mountain Bike Race presented by Northside Hospital – Cherokee – May 25, 2024 at Rope Mill Park in Woodstock, GA!
Make plans to join us for our newest event! This Fast+Furious 15 course features nearly all the trails at Rope Mill Park and will begin along the concrete path to allow riders to space out before entering the singletrack portion of the course. Riders will turn right at the bridge and complete Moore’s Pass, Power House, Raceway and Turbine all in a clockwise direction. These trails are farily wide and allow for passing. Riders will then return across the bridge and complete Explorer Loops 1, 2, and 3 counter-clockwise. The course returns to the start/finish via singletrack trail that links Explorer to the parking lot, crosses the parking lot, then heads onto the Avalanche Trail where riders will proceed counter-clockwise on the Avalance Trail Loops 1, 2, and 3 and then head back to the start/finish to complete the course. The categories for 2024 are age based and the same as we used for the Blankets Creek Dirty 15 Mile Race. All riders who register before May 8 will receive one of our super soft and comfy tri-blend event shirts and THE FIRST 100 TO REGISTER WILL RECEIVE A CAMPFIRE MUG! We also have certificates for a free full size Ka’Chava shake mix for all participants! Medals and sponsor prizes 3 deep in all categories, podium shirts for all first place finishers. CAMPFIRE MUGS TO THE FIRST 100 WHO REGISTER! HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO RUN? We are also offering a separate 10k or half marathon trail run on a similar course in the morning before the bike race!

Volunteer Opportunities and Trail Work Parties! We are partnering with SORBA Woodstock to bring you this event. SORBA Woodstock has built and maintains the trails at both Blankets Creek and Rope Mill Park. These events serve as major fundraisersfor the Chapter – please come out and show your support by either racing or volunteering! Want to volunteer at these events for SORBA Woodstock? We need you! Please send an email directly to lisa@mountaingoatadventures.com with your shirt size and availability. Volunteers are needed for registration, parking, course marshaling and bike patrol.

News for 4-22-2027
All for One Century
From the Van Purser Foundation
Registration for the 6th annual AFO 100 Ride is now OPEN. Get ready to ride on October 5th! What’s in Store for You: New Routes, New Adventures: Prepare to be awe-struck by our revamped 47-, 62-, and 100-mile routes, showcasing breathtaking vistas and North Fulton’s enchanting charm. Cheers to New Beginnings: Our 2024 event is proudly hosted by our newest sponsor, Jekyll Brewing, where your well-deserved celebratory beer awaits, making every mile you pedal worth it! Feast Fit for Champions: Recharge and refuel with a mouthwatering BBQ lunch, courtesy of our friends at DAS BBQ, as you swap stories with fellow riders. Exclusive Promotions Await: Be an Early Bird: Register before July 20th for a shot at snagging some sweet prizes from our sponsors – because who doesn’t love a raffle? First-Time Thrill-seekers: The first 25 newcomers to the AFO family will score a pair of top-of-the-line Tifosi sunglasses, ensuring you ride in style! Training Made Easy: Gain access to Wahoo’s 90-day free training program upon registration, giving you the edge to conquer any challenge! Support for First-Timers: If this marks your maiden century ride, fear not! Get ready for a fully supported ride, access to three pre-event training rides, and a commemorative t-shirt to mark your achievement! Make It an Epic Ride: Ride alongside Andrew Knight, U.S. Amateur National Road Race Champion, for an unforgettable, adrenaline-fueled adventure, and add another impressive feat to your cycling accomplishments.

Join Our Mission: This ride is not just about the miles; it’s a heartfelt tribute to the memory of Van Purser – a beacon of strength, a cycling enthusiast, and a cherished member of our community. Join us as we pedal with purpose and support the Van Purser Foundation’s mission to assist cyclists and their families during times of unexpected need. Seize the Moment: Don’t let this opportunity for adventure and camaraderie pass you by! Register now and be a part of something extraordinary. Let’s make some memories and celebrate the spirit of cycling together!
Register Now

Bearings News
From Bearings Bike Works
The life cycle of a bicycle 🌎 Recycling bikes and reducing waste This Earth Day, we’re reflecting on the life cycle of a bike and how Bearings’ programs and retail offerings can contribute to sustainability and a circular economy in the cycling industry. Did you know that every year, an estimated 15 million bikes end up in landfills around the world? In Atlanta, Bearings plays a small but important role in reducing bike waste by accepting bike donations, repairing and refurbishing those bikes, and either selling them in our retail shop or utilizing them in our youth programs where they are earned by kids. Essentially, we give old bikes new lives! We divert over 800 bikes annually from the landfill. Since our inception, we’ve repurposed or recycled over 12,000 bikes! With your help, we can save even more bikes and parts from landfills! There are many ways to contribute: donate your gently used bikes, parts & gear to Bearings; host a bike drive in your workplace or community; purchase a refurbished bike from our shop; spread the word about Bearings’ sales & service offerings to your friends & family; shop our online inventory of used parts & gear; and more! Through the small actions we all take, we can help foster sustainability in the world of cycling. Donate gear!

Shop our Sidewalk Sale May 18th
Come shop Bearings’ amazing inventory of bikes, parts, gear, clothing and more on May 18th! You’ll find all of your spring cycling needs at incredible prices and all purchases support Bearings’ skills development programs for kids in Atlanta – all centered around the bike! Stay tuned for more details, including hours, next month.

ATL Airport District Announces Return of Sixth Annual Spin the District 
Press Release
Georgia’s Second-Largest Cycling Event Will Take Place in Union City, Hapeville and College Park, Georgia 

ATLANTA – (April 22, 2024) – The ATL Airport District Convention & Visitors Bureau, the destination marketing organization for the cities of College Park, Hapeville and Union City, Ga., today announced the return of one of the community’s most anticipated events – the sixth annual cycling race series, Spin the District. The series is the second-largest cycling event in Georgia and attracts cyclists of all levels from around the world. Last year, 37 states and 17 countries were represented. 

The family-friendly event promises to be bigger than ever this year, providing an immersive experience for both cyclists and spectators as the area’s streets transform into a premier cycling destination. Tuesday, April 30 marks the official start of Spin the District with a twilight criterium (crit) and disco party in Union City. The series will continue Friday, May 3 with the Hapeville Crit, followed by the College Park Crit on Sunday, May 5, which is also the USA Crits Speed Week Finals. 

“We are thrilled to celebrate another year of Spin the District with friends, family and spectators as we cheer on the elite cyclists whipping by and enjoy lively festivities throughout the week,” said Cookie Smoak, president of the ATL Airport District. “Every year, Spin the District delivers an action-packed, family-friendly line-up of events and we are excited to welcome riders along with their cheering squads back to our incredible cities!” 

Union City Crit | Tuesday, April 30 Kicking off at 4 p.m., Spin the District launches during USA Crits Speed Week at the Union City Crit – the twilight criterium featuring a fast-paced course with a crazy tight corner. Races will take place under the streetlights alongside a family-friendly disco-themed street festival with music, food trucks, beverages and activities for all ages. Cyclist registration and details can be accessed online. 

Hapeville Crit | Friday, May 3 The Hapeville Crit will be an evening race with accompanying street party starting at 4 p.m. Guests can enjoy food trucks, beer, wine and cocktail vendors, a live old-school DJ and other festivities until 10 p.m. The evening will include racing for all ages and levels including the One-Lap Blast for children on two wheels and the Straightaway Sprint for children on trikes, training wheels and balance bikes. The kids’ race will begin at 5:50 p.m. and will be followed by the pro men’s and women’s races, which feature some of the best cyclists in the world taking on the fastest cycling adventure for participants with a 1.4-kilometer route, seven-corner, pancake-flat course through the heart of the city and a 150-meter straight finish. Rider registration and details are available online. 

College Park Crit | Sunday, May 5 USA Crits Speed Week Finals will take place at the College Park Crit, featuring a five-corner course with tight turns, a screaming fast back straight and an uphill finish. The competition will include some of the world’s fastest cyclists racing for the crown through the historic streets of downtown College Park, as well as two kid races, the Hill Sprint and the Straightaway Sprint. The Cinco de Mayo Block Party begins at noon where spectators can indulge in local food trucks alongside an artist market, family-friendly games, music and more. Cyclist registration and details can be accessed online. 

For this year’s series, the District has teamed up with Outback Bikes, a cycling retail shop located in Hapeville, to give away a Batch Fitness 21 Gear City Hybrid bike valued at $520. To enter, simply attend one (or all 3) of the epic, fun and free criteriums taking place during Spin the District. Once on-site, scan the QR code on display at the merch tent, food trucks, and beverage vendors and fill out the entry form. The winner will be randomly selected and announced on the ATL Airport District’s Instagram and Facebook channels, @ATLDistrict, on May 7. 

Spectator attendance is free for all three criteriums. For more information on how to be a part of this experience as a participant, volunteer or artist, visit SpinTheDistrict.com and follow @spinthedistrict on Instagram, Facebook and X.