|
|
Header Photos Courtesy of Milesphotos Natural Light Photography
|
|
|
|
|
BRAG 'N Writes
For Those Who Love To Ride
|
19th Annual Georgia BikeFest
Come and enjoy the warm days and cool evenings of Georgia in
October. Ride the flat, scenic
terrain of Tift, Ben Hill, Irwin, Berrien, and Cook counties. This will be the second year Georgia
BikeFest has been held in Tifton, GA, The Friendly City. The town is looking forward to our visit. Georgia BikeFest is an opportunity to rekindle BRAG
friendships and enjoy the fellowship of other cyclists.
This year's ride headquarters will be located at Tift County
Recreation Department, in this small town in South Georgia. Routes will have various mileage
options.
|
|
Friday's ride is The
Ty Ty Tour de Tift Ride, a 50-mile tour of beautiful, flat farm land in
Tift County. We will visit Ty Ty,
Omega, and Eldorado. Shorter
options of 20 miles, or less, will be available. Saturday's ride is The
Counting Chickens Ride to Fitzgerald, Georgia's Colony City. A small prize will be given to the
rider who counts the most chickens in Fitzgerald. Choose from flat mileage options of 100 or 72 (these go to
Fitzgerald), or 53, 50, or 15 miles. The 100, 72, and 53-mile options will also visit the Jefferson Davis
Memorial in Irwinville. Georgia BikeFest is not a race, but you can challenge
yourself to riding your fastest century ever on these flat to gently rolling
roads and receive the coveted Georgia BikeFest Century Ride Bandanna. We will also give out the 2010 BRAG
Centurion Club hats to those riders who ride three BRAG Century Rides this
year. Sunday's ride is the Peanut
City Ride (Population 2) to Nashville, GA. We will also visit Adel, Sparks, Lenox, and Eldorado. Sunday's options are a flat 62 miles,
or 33, or the 8-mile family option. The Elks Club across the street from the Recreation Center
has invited us over for Happy Hour each afternoon from 5pm to 7pm, featuring $2 draft beer and free snacks in a no
smoking atmosphere. They also
serve dinner there, including the "best steak in town." Enjoy the cool fall weather for outdoor
camping, or sleep in the gym, or go to one of the local motels as you rest up
for another exciting day of Georgia BikeFest! WHEN DOES IT START?Registration will open Thursday evening, October 14, from 5
p.m. to 6 p.m., and at 7 a.m. on Friday through Sunday. There will be a First Timers' Ride Meeting each morning at 8
a.m. at HQ. WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE FEE?· Indoor or outdoor camping
for three nights (Thursday - Saturday) · Showers in the gym · Maps, Route Descriptions,
Altitude Graphs · Fabulous BRAG Rest Stops · Porta potties at all rest
stops · Campfires with S'Mores
Friday & Saturday nights · Football/Baseball on
Big-Screen TV · Optional sagged and
supported Century Ride on Saturday · First Timers' Ride
Meetings · Routes will go through Ty
Ty, Omega, Irwinville, Fitzgerald, Nashville and Adel. REGISTRATION
INFORMATIONYou may download a registration form here and mail it in. To register by
credit card, log on to Active.com. There is a 7% fee for this
service.
|
BRAG 2011 Tentative Route
The BRAG 2011
tentative, unconfirmed route is to begin at Georgia Tech in Atlanta and March
to the Sea, with overnight stops in Oxford, Milledgeville, Dublin, Metter,
Hinesville, and ending in Savannah. Plans are already underway to make BRAG 2011 the best ever.
To register by mail,
download a registration form here.
To register by
credit card, log on to Active.com.
|
Natchez Trace
NATCHEZ TRACE AND ANGOLA PRISON
RODEO Monday, October 18, to Monday, October 25 Join TEAM BRAG as we bicycle 6
days on the Natchez Trace starting in Nashville, Tennessee on Monday, October
18, to Natchez, Mississippi. Then we attend the world-famous Angola
Prison Rodeo in Louisiana on Sunday before returning Monday, October 25. The Natchez Trace is a two-laned, paved 444-mile parkway operated by the
National Park Service. It is a premier recreational bicycle route in
the USA. Limited to 12 people. Contact Trace veteran and Ride
Leader Larry Pierson or Jerry Colley. Cost is $750 per
person, double occupancy. This includes transportation to/from Lilburn,
Georgia, 7 nights motel lodging - double occupancy, and Rodeo ticket. |
Cuba
BRAG's good friend in Mexico,
Kenneth Johnson, has arranged a custom bicycle tour of Cuba for
January 14 - January 23, 2011. This will be a tour of the western end of
the island, with a stopover in Havana. The cost is $1,850 USD, double
occupancy, including round trip airfare from Cancun to Havana and
back to Cancun. This fee includes bicycle rental on the island, 3-star
hotels, and most meals. It does not include your airfare from the
USA to Cancun and back to the USA from Cancun. All the details about
the tour can be found on Kenneth's EcoColors website.
There are proposals in Congress to
liberalize travel to Cuba by Americans. Our plan is to obtain a permit
for educational and sports purposes to allow us to go.
If you are interested in this
tour, please contact Jerry Colley.
|
BRAG WinterRide 2011
St. Marys WinterRide
(Ride/Hike/Boat Adventure)
February 22 - 27, 2011
BRAG's second WinterRide will start in beautiful St. Marys,
Georgia. The dates are Tuesday,
February 22, 2011, through Sunday, February 27, 2011. The average high temperature this week in St. Marys is
65ºF. St. Marys is 350 miles from
Atlanta and takes about 5 hours to drive.
This would make a great Valentine's Day present for the
sweetie cyclist in your life. Non-riders are welcomed also.
Tuesday, Feb. 22 -
Arrive early enough at St. Marys and bike 3 miles to the St. Marys
Submarine Museum and the Cumberland Island Museum in downtown St. Marys. Bring a bottle or two of your favorite
wines for our nightly wine tasting / happy hour. Optional dinner together at a local restaurant.
Wednesday, Feb. 23 - Ride the 33-mile St. Marys Loop Ride, led by local cyclists. Visit the oldest church in Georgia, a
War of 1812 site, the U.S. Navy Submarine Base, including the USS Bancroft
Memorial, the Sugar Mill tabby ruins, and Crooked River State Park.
Thursday, Feb. 24 -
We will take the ferry to Cumberland Island. Bike (you can rent one on the island) or just walk the
5-mile recommended leisurely hike on the island. Either way, Cumberland Island is one of the most beautiful
places on earth and is a photographer's paradise. February is the time to see it, without the heat and the
bugs.
Friday, Feb. 25 -
Ride your bike to downtown St. Marys. Then take the ferry to Fernandina, FL. We will have optional lunch at the
Gourmet Gourmet restaurant, then head out to visit Ft. Clinch. After Ft. Clinch, we will bike to the
Atlantic Ocean for a beachfront snack. Then make our way back to the ferry for our return trip to St.
Marys. 33 miles total.
Saturday, Feb. 26 -
Head by car to the Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge and Okefenokee
Adventures. We will arrive in time
for lunch and an overview of the swamp by Chip and Joy Campbell. Then we start paddling the swamp by
canoe or kayak on our guided tour of this third photographer's paradise of the
week. After our tour, we will
continue by car to Waycross, GA, where we will spend the night at the Jameson
Inn, one of BRAG's sponsors.
Sunday, February 27 -
After breakfast at the Jameson Inn, check out and head home to BRAG
about your week's winter adventure in Georgia.
For more information, including cost and
directions, email Jerry Colley.
|
Spring Tune-Up Ride 2011
The 18th
Annual Spring Tune-Up Ride will return to Madison, GA, April 15 - 17,
2011. Mark your calendars now
to attend. More details to follow.
|
Again in 2010 - The BRAG Centurion Club
In 2010, BRAG is
offering 4 fully-supported Century Rides. Each ride features an all-cotton bandanna to the
finishers. For 2010, we will again give away the BRAG Centurion Club Hat
to those riders who complete three of the four BRAG century rides in
2010. You will wear your BRAG Centurion Club Hat with pride all next
year. Plan to ride the next BRAG century in Tifton, Saturday, October 16,
2010, during the Georgia BikeFest.
|
BRAG in Turkey - April 21 - 30, 2011
 Join Team BRAG for 10 days on the Turkish South Coast! This custom BRAG program lets you relax
for two days at the five-star Hotel Resort Select Maris located in the middle of a nature reserve with sandy beaches and breathtaking
views of the Aegean and the nearby Greek islands.
We'll then board our charter yacht for a week of sailing and
cycling along the Turkish Coast. Each day, we'll explore natural wonders and millennia-old towns and
return to our stylish swimming hotel for dinner and relaxation.
Most days' cycling won't average more than 25
miles, and you can also spend all or part of the day swimming or relaxing on
board. Nearly all-inclusive except
airfare for just $2,257 (based on current exchange rates)! More information: www.braginturkey.com or gtcolley@aol.com.
|
Pedal for the Poor
Plan to
ride Pedal for the Poor, Saturday, October 2, 2010, to Lake Lanier and
back. Ride begins at Suwanee Town
Center Park and is a fully supported 30-mile bike ride with rest stops. Registration fee includes a t-shirt and
bandanna. After riding, you can
listen to free music in the park provided by 11 bands. For more information, visit www.amigosforchrist.org
|
Ride For Restoration
The
Butts County Ride for Restoration will be Saturday, October 2, 2010, in
Jackson, GA. The ride will begin
at the Butts County Parks & Recreation Department. 35-mile & 59-mile options. Register online at www.active.com. For more information, email Valerie Campbell at Valerie@buttscountyrecreation.com.
|
Georgia Bike Summit
The first Georgia Bike Summit, October
9, 2010, in Savannah, GA, will bring together advocates, business leaders,
on-road and off-road recreational cyclists and commuters, elected officials and
staff from across Georgia to meet in a state-wide forum, setting the stage for
bicycling gains. We will network,
collaborate, educate, and empower advocates and attendees; identify common
issues in our local communities; and set priorities for Georgia Bikes in 2011.
Andy Clarke, Keynote Speaker, is Executive
Director of the League of American Bicyclists.
For more
information, visit www.georgiabikesummit.org.
|
Camp Twin Lakes - Spin For Kids
Spin for Kids is an annual fundraising bike ride that
invites riders to raise money in support of Camp Twin Lakes. Camp Twin
Lakes is a nonprofit organization that offers year-round recreational,
therapeutic, and educational programs for children and young adults facing
serious illnesses and other life challenges. This year Spin for Kids will take place during the weekend
of October 23-24, 2010. Riders have the option of participating
in the Mountain Bike Ride, the Road Bike Ride, or both. On Saturday, the
Mountain Bike Ride will take place in beautiful Ft. Yargo State Park. On Sunday, the Road Bike Ride will
offer multiple routes for riders of all skill levels to ride through scenic
Morgan County and the historic town of Madison. After Sunday's ride,
participants and their families are invited to enjoy a community day at Camp
featuring lunch, camp activities, live music and fun for the entire
family! Please visit www.SpinforKids.org for more info or to
register!
|
SBL North Florida Tour
 The
Southern Bicycle League's North Florida Tour will be held November 5-7,
2010, at Camp Cherry Lake in Madison, FL. The North Florida Tour is a
3-day event of bicycling, boating, and just a whole lot of fun
in an area that is still called 'Ole Florida! Planned cycling routes are
to Thomasville's Rose Garden (60 miles roundtrip), Blue Springs in
Madison, FL (68-100 miles), and on Sunday, 30 miles via Pinetta,
with 2 optional miles down the biking trail to
the Suwannee River. For the non-cyclists, "free" kayaks
and canoes all weekend, swimming, and sightseeing. Our speaker,
Robert Wilhite, will give us a pep talk on Friday night and as
always, our dancing fun will be provided by Ned Mountain, the "SBL
volunteer & died in the wool DJ." Also, if there are shrimp to
buy, RC and Margaret will provide it! You will just have to
come for the weekend to see who RC is and experience a BIT OF HEAVEN!
For
Q & A's email marg@margaretbokros.com; application
in "Freewheelin' Magazine"; or two ways to pay, snail mail or www.active.com.
|
Connect With BRAG
BRAG has a Facebook page. Get in on the action now. Join other cycling enthusiasts and veteran BRAG riders as they discuss the upcoming BRAG events. See what you have been missing by not riding BRAG.
Click here to go to THE BRAG Page on Facebook.
|
|
|
|
| Questions? Please contact us at news@brag.org or 770-498-5153 |
|
|
|
|
|
