My name is Joshua Hodge, and I coordinate a cancer charity bike ride in Bay Minette, AL called RIDEYELLOW. This ride is held annually on the Saturday before Father's Day (June 19,2021). The ride begins at a park called Halliday Park in Bay Minette and starts off with a 6-mile tribute ride. Individuals can choose to participate in only the tribute ride or continue by pedaling the 10, 20, 37 or 62 mile route at their leisure through the beautiful Baldwin County countryside. Rest stops are available along the way and food, beverages and vendor booths are available when riders return to the park. The proceeds from RIDEYELLOW supports Rapahope, a non-profit organization that offers free, year-round recreational and support programs for those with childhood cancer and their families (https://www.rapahope.org/). Individuals can register for this ride at RIDEYELLOW.org.

Adventurous cyclists,

The June ride is at the Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge. This will be an evening ride. At 6:30 PM meet at the Refuge's Kennedy Unit. The ride will be led by Shawn, our Second Sunday Ride Naturalist.

We will be riding in the twilight and after sunset, so bring a good headlight mounted on your handlebars. Small flashlights in your pocket for emergencies, etc. are probably okay, too. (Laws prevent wearing headlamps (on your head) due to poaching problems.)

Plan to ride about 10–miles, two hours total. Sunset will be around 8:00 PM and the Refuge closes an hour later. In the twilight we will likely see birds, turtles, gators, and other creatures. After dark, we'll be looking and listening for gators, frogs, and more.

• Date: Sunday, June 13.

• Time: 6:30 PM at the Kennedy Unit of the Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge. The drive from Auburn/Opelika is about one hour.

• GPS: 31.967525, -85.114811

• Road Conditions: All gravel and flat. Wider tires will be better than narrower ones. For snacks and rest rooms, the Peddler Food Store/Gator Gas is on US 431, just past the Kennedy Unit turn.

• Bring: Water. Snacks. Insect repellent. Walkin' shoes. A good headlight on your handlebars. Binoculars. Camera. Long-sleeved shirts and long pants will repel insects and the occasional tall weeds.

More information is on the web site: https://www.secondsundayride.org

See you June 13,

Kirk

The Second Sunday Ride

          Not a Ride … an Adventure!

SecondSundayRide.org

Registration and Event Info

SolesforCole.com

Registration link:
https://www.active.com/senoia-ga/cycling/9th-annual-southside-cycling-club-charity-ride-benefitting-cystic-fibrosis-through-soles-for-cole-2020

Routes:

Charity Ride – 35 Miles – Loop 1

Charity Ride – 59 Miles – Loops 1& 2 

Charity Ride – 75 Miles - Loops 1, 2 & 3 

Charity Ride – 100 Miles – Loops 1, 2, 3, 4 

Route Description: The event starts and finishes in historic Senoia. Cyclists have distance options of 35, 59, 75, or 100 miles. All routes begin with a short “stem” ride out to the spacious covered pavilion in Haralson. This is the location of the fully-supported rest stop “party zone” at the center of the "cloverleaf" route design with no route overlaps! There are four unique loops of 17 – 25 miles. Each loop returns to the central rest stop. Soles for Cole volunteers are promising some surprises at the rest stop throughout the day! All cyclists finish in Senoia for a post-ride meal in the air-conditioned hall.

Adventurous cyclists,

Lions, tigers, and frogs, oh my! It's an evening ride.

Shawn will lead us on 12–mile ride on quiet, paved county roads to see and listen to frogs and other wildlife.

​Have lights on your bike. If you also have them on your head or helmet, that will make it easier to see stuff you're looking for.

Date: Sunday, June 14, 2020
Time: 7:30 p.m. at Auburn Jr. High School parking lot (Samford Ave. @ Dean Rd.). We'll car–caravan to the starting point just outside Auburn.
Road Conditions: All paved. Some smooth, some rough. About 12 miles of slow riding.
Bring: Lights. Water.

More info on the web site.

See you this Sunday,

Kirk

The Second Sunday Ride

          Not a Ride … an Adventure!

secondsundayride.org

The Friends of the Thread Trail, and event sponsor Center State Bank are proud to present  Tour de Troup benefit bicycle ride on May 11, 2019. This outdoor fundraiser hosts cyclists, adventurists, and families in exploring the beautiful countryside and local community. This serves as a means to raise funds for The Friends of the Thread, the nonprofit organization that advocates for the new linear trail system in Troup county, “The Thread.”  We cordially invite you to support The Friends of The Thread as a sponsor of this exciting day.

The ride will start in downtown LaGrange and have four separate routes, They will give every level of rider the opportunity to enjoy a route with ample stops supplied by local vendors. The route will include parts of “The Thread” that have been completed as well as local sites and businesses in LaGrange, West Point, and Hogansville. When riders return to the start/finish line the local vendors who refreshed them on the route will be available to fuel them at the end.

Details forthcoming

When: Saturday, April 25, 2020 —during Smile-A-Mile’s On Therapy Family Camp

Where: The Ride of Love will start at Smile-A-Mile Place in downtown Birmingham. 1600 2nd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35233

Smile-A-Mile Place is just three blocks from Children’s of Alabama. Children can see Smile-A-Mile Place from the hematology/oncology floor and know it’s a continued place of healing for them. Smile-A-Mile Place is our hub and the heart of our organization.
Route:

We will have a 75 mile and 153 mile option!

The Ride

Bo Bikes Bama is an annual charity bike ride led by two-sport legend and Alabama native Bo Jackson.

Every year, Bo Bikes Bama raises money for the Alabama Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund, which provides crucial disaster preparedness and emergency management resources for the state of Alabama.

Participating riders can choose either a 60-mile or 20-mile route. Both routes will take riders through the campus of Auburn University. The 60-mile route will pass through Tuskegee and neighboring Macon County.

All riders for the 2020 ride will receive the following:

Registration Perks Free 2020 Bo Bikes Bama T-shirtA jersey number to be worn during the rideA wristband to be worn the day of the ride (for entrance to rest stops)Light snacks and water at rest stopsA meal at the end of the rideMechanical support for simple repairs like flat fixes (available at the rest stops)

The Sunny King Criterium returns for an 18th year on Saturday, April 18, bringing a kaleidoscope of colors and whirl of action to Anniston with 21 exciting bicycle races. Nine hours of live web streaming showcase the sights and sounds to cycling fans across the U.S., and around the globe.

In 2020, the online broadcast will be provided again by sponsor Alabama Power from Noon to 9 p.m. CDT. Racing action will be called by professional sports commentators Brad Sohner and Frankie Andreu. It’s one of the best days of racing to watch in person, or online, providing valuable exposure for the hundreds of competitors and their teams as well as area tourism.

“There’s no better place to kick off the criterium racing season for USA Cycling’s Pro Road Tour than in Anniston. It’s a fast, smooth course in downtown with plenty of spectators. Being close to Talladega, speed is the name of the game for the Sunny King Criterium,” said Sohner.

Sunny King Automotive Group continues as a longtime supporter of the Sunny King Criterium, as well as the Noble Street Festival which takes place next to the race course. Admission for spectators is free for all bicycle races, making it one of the most unique professional sporting events in the country. A portion of proceeds from all bicycle race registration fees are donated to the American Cancer Society Relay for Life chapter of Calhoun County. Since 2002, more than $120,000 has been raised for cancer research and patient support.

After a brief rest, the 21st  annual Tour de Pike has recharged and planned an exciting return. In its usual rotation - the third Saturday of March - Tour de Pike will continue by celebrating the legacy begun by Mr. Don Collins. Due to the passing of the event founder in 2015, Tour de Pike took its perceived last ride in 2017. In honor of Mr. Collins and his hard work, Get Set Grow Race Productions obtained permission, in March of 2019, from the Pike County Kiwanis Club to re-launch this premier cycling event.

Here you'll enjoy the scenic beauty and smooth paved roads of historic Pike County with its turn of the century towns and communities. Local police and SAG vehicles will sweep the ride to provide safety and assistance. 
At each rest-stop eyebrow-raising food will be available. If that weren't enough, enjoy a fresh-food buffet after your ride at the world famous Concord Cafe 
(Buffet ends at 2:00)

Pike County is only 50 miles south of Atlanta, but a world away in hospitality and southern charm. The terrain includes gently rolling hills that pass horse and cattle farms as well as peach and pecan orchards. Riders are able to visit each community and have the opportunity to visit the historical sites located there.
We look forward to seeing you!

We offer a 20 mi, 35 mi, 65 mi, and 100 mi course.

Adventurous cyclists,

March's Second Sunday Ride is Providence Canyon and Florence Marina state parks in Georgia.

An easy, ten-mile downhill ride from Providence Canyon to Florence Marina state parks. Enjoy your picnic lunch at Florence Marina and explore the park. Then, return to Providence Canyon, either cycling uphill ten miles or catch a ride in our official Second Sunday Ride vehicle. Back at Providence Canyon, explore the canyon by walking along the top or hike through it. This ride will suit anyone, so bring yer family.

Meet at Providence Canyon at 11:30 AM Georgia time/10:30 AM Auburn time. Put yer lunches in the official car to retrieve them at Florence Marina.

Parking at the Parks is $5 per car. Buy passes at either place and hang the tag in yer car. The tag is good at both parks. This is enforced.

Date: March 8, 2020.
Time: 11:30 AM EDT at Providence Canyon State Park. The drive from Auburn/Opelika is about 1.5 hours, so leave around 9:00 AM Auburn time.
Road Conditions: All paved. Any bikes/tires will do. From Providence Canyon to Florence Marina it’s ten miles mostly downhill. Going back, it’s mostly uphill. Ride back up or hop in the car.
Bring: Water. Picnic Lunch. Walkin’ shoes. $5 per car for parking.

See you March 8,

Kirk

The Second Sunday Ride

          Not a Ride … an Adventure!

secondsundayride.org

Join us on November 9, 2019 for the 5th Annual Gears and Beers! We host a 8.1-mile Beignet Buster, a 30-mile Swamp Romp, a 63-mile Mystic Metric, and the Bayou 100 Century. The Bayou 100 is part of the Alabama Backroads Century Series. Registration links and information will be released in early February 2019.

Gears and Beers is a fundraiser that benefits the Delta Bike Project in Mobile, Alabama. The Delta Bike Project is a non-profit, volunteer run organization dedicated to promoting and improving access to bicycle transportation. We offer access to a free community workspace to learn repair skills, programs that allow people in need to earn a bicycle, and low cost used bicycle and part sales.

The 2019 Glassner Autumn Challenge presented by Max Credit Union will be held Saturday, October 12, 2019. The ride supports Montgomery Bike Club Cycling Safety Classes, Cycling Awareness Activities, and Bike Month.  Please watch for upcoming links to even better 2019 routes, including the Glassner Capital City 200K which will be part of the 2019 Triple Crown Challenge!

Do you want to experience RADICAL SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY and FUN?  Members of the Montgomery Bicycle Club understand that no one grasps the needs of cyclists better than fellow-cyclists and proudly serve as YOUR volunteers on Ride Day to ensure your needs are met!

The ride will begin and end at the New ASU Stadium  located on Alabama State University at Pineleaf Street, Montgomery, AL. 36106 with a delicious sit down breakfast buffet (pancakes, hard-boiled eggs, grits, oatmeal, bacon, fresh fruit, muffins, orange juice, coffee, tea, and all the fixings) served in the fellowship hall from 5:00 to 9:30 a.m. When you return be ready for some old fashioned southern hospitality – tomato sandwiches, bacon, red beans and rice, and ice cream! Cost of the breakfast and post-ride meal is included in your registration.

Hello from Chattanooga! We're excited to announce a new bike ride tradition in our neck of the woods - Cycle Sequatchie! With four routes (including a timed 3-mile King of the Mountain climb with prizes), a farm-to-table buffet, an outdoor expo, and plenty of non-cycling activities for friends and family, the event has something for everyone!

Cap off your cycling season in one of the most picturesque valleys in the South with hundreds of other cyclists on Saturday, October 5th! For all the details check out: https://cyclesequatchie.com

Please share with your members. Discounted early registration ends Memorial Day. Hope to see you there!

Shannon Burke
Velo View Bike Tours

P.S. The event will benefit the Land Trust for Tennessee and is being put on by Velo View Bike Tours and the Chattanooga Bicycle Club - the folks that brought you over three decades of 3 State 3 Mountain!

National Bike Yer Park Day
Horseshoe Bend National Military Park (A G.O.O.D. Ride)
Saturday, September 28, 2019

Horseshoe Bend National Military Park is the site of the 1814 battle between General Andrew Jackson and Indian allies against Chief Menawa and the Red Stick Creek Indians. The Park has a nice Visitors Center with a museum and short movie and a nice, 3-mile route through the battlefield.

We'll start at the Visitors Center, then ride through the Park, stopping at several points of interest. After the park loop, choose from two additional ride options on quiet county roads:
• An easy, 10–mile out-and-back ride.
• A not so easy, 20–mile loop.

After that, lunch at Niffer's Place Lake Martin.

Date: Saturday, September 28, 2019.
Time: 10:00 am at the Park Visitor Center.
Road Conditions: All paved. Any bikes/tires will be fine.
Bring: Water. Snacks. Treasure for lunch afterwards.

Come join the Birmingham Bicycle Club for our 46th Annual Century, one of the most beautiful centuries in the Southeast. We are very pleased the proceeds from the 2019 ride will benefit the Birmingham Bicycle Club’s very own UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center Melanoma and Skin Cancer Charity. It is our desire to bring awareness of the necessity to be diligent in protecting our exposed skin when out on our bicycles.

Our starting location is Ashville High School located on U.S. 231 just south of downtown Ashville, AL. Routes of 14, 25, 45, 64, 102, and 127 will be offered- all recreational friendly and scenic.

A portion of the event proceeds will go to Serving Hope Inc. to help the underserved of Huntsville obtain culinary skills training, certification and work experience to achieve employment in the restaurant trade.

Unique Rest Stop locations and special treats at each one! This is the ALL YOU CAN EAT CENTURY! Fair warning: You could gain weight on this ride.

• Rest Stop 2 – 26 Miles: Ham, Egg or Sausage Biscuits from Kirkland Grocery

• Rest Stop 3 – 51 Miles: Mennonite Handmade Fried Fruit Pies the rustic 1892 Old Delina Country Store 

• Rest Stop 3 – 62 Miles: More Fried Fruit Pies (Yes, you pass this stop twice, if you can handle it.)

• Rest Stop 4 – 77 Miles: Homemade Baked Goods courtesy of Coldwater United Methodist Church

• Rest Stop 5 – 89 Miles: Tomatoes and Basil sandwiches

The five AYCE stops are staffed by the local Alabama Interscholastic Cycling League. You won’t find more enthusiastic support groups than the parents, coaches and students involved in these programs. 3 local bike shops will provide SAG.

After all that, don’t forget the four-star post ride meal prepared by Cyn Shea’s Café & Catering a Division of Serving Hope, Inc., also, a beneficiary of the event.

Stone Mountain Trail
(A G.O.O.D. Ride)
Saturday, September 14, 2019

Stone Mountain Trail is a continuous, 19-mile stretch of car-free paths and on-street bike lanes connecting Midtown Atlanta to Stone Mountain Park. We will park cars at Your Dekalb Farmers Market, start riding the Trail near the mid-point and ride about 10 miles east to Stone Mountain Park, ride five miles around the base of the mountain, and then back to the start. About 24 miles in all.

Lunch at the Village Corner German Restaurant & Bakery, in Stone Mountain Village.

Dekalb Farmers Market is a great place to shop, but they don’t take no stinkin’ credit cards. Bring cash, checks, or debit cards.

Breweries? There are several in the Dekalb neighborhood. One of them, Wild Heaven Beer, is near the bike path near the Dekalb Farmers Market. I just so happen to know a bike–friendly route there.

Date: Saturday, September 14, 2019.
Time: Meet at Your Dekalb Farmers Market at 11:00 am Eastern Time (10:00 am Central Time).
Road Conditions: All paved. Any bikes/tires will do. The trail to Stone Mountain is mostly flat (rail trail); around Stone Mountain Park, not so much.
Bring: Water. Treasure for lunch, Your Dekalb Farmers Market, breweries, Atlanta! A cooler if you buy any perishables at the Market.

Chattahoochee Valley Railroad Trail
Sunday, September 8, 2019

Our September ride is the Chattahoochee Valley Railroad Trail in Valley, AL It's an easy, pleasant, mostly flat ride. The Trail passes through several mill towns and includes information signs telling the story of the area. About 12 miles total.

At the end of the ride, lunch at Sue's Chic Cafe.

Meet at the Historic Langdale Farmers Market at 9:30 AM CDT. About a half-hour drive from Auburn/Opelika.

Date: Sunday, September 8.
Time: Meet at the Historic Langdale Farmers Market at 9:30 AM CDT.
Road Conditions: All paved, any bikes/tires will do.
Bring: Water. Treasure for lunch at Sue's Chic Cafe.

Directions to Historic Langdale Farmers Market:
32.815570, -85.170667
Take I-85 North to Exit 77.
Right onto Fob James Dr. 2.5 miles to its end at U.S. 29.
Right onto U.S. 29 for 0.1 mile.
Left onto 59th St.
Right into the Historic Langdale Farmers Market parking lot. The Trail begins here.

All riders will tour the lightly trafficked rural roads of Lee, Chambers, and Randolph Counties of East Alabama. Riders on the Johnny Ray Metric and Roanoke Express will ride over a World War II-era steel Bailey Bridge and a rare wood truss bridge. Riders on the Roanoke Express have the option to race the historic Johnny Ray train; check out the time tables. Here's a brief history of the Johnny Ray Train by Winston Smith T.

Adventurous cyclists,

 Our August ride is the annual trek along the Chattahoochee Riverwalk in Columbus. It's a generally flat, out-and-back ride along the river. We’ll explore the northern section of the Riverwalk first, then head south. About 25 miles total, but you can shorten or extend it as you like. Afterwards, supper at Canon Brew Pub.

Meet in Columbus at 4:00 PM Eastern Time in front of the Canon Brew Pub. If you’re leaving from the Auburn/Opelika area, leave around 2:00 PM Central Time to get to Columbus by 4:00 EDT). 

Date: Sunday, August 11.
Time: Meet in Columbus at 4:00 PM Eastern Time in front of the Canon Brew Pub (leave Auburn/Opelika around 2:00 PM Central Time).

Road Conditions: All paved, any bikes/tires will do.
Bring: Water. Treasure for supper at Canon Brew Pub.

See you on August 11,

Kirk

 The Second Sunday Ride

          Not a Ride … an Adventure!

 secondsundayride.org

The second summer Shop 2 Shop ride is getting close. Ride great country roads, cross the West Point Dam and meet new people as the route links LaGrange GA and Auburn AL.
This year we will start from LaGrange and Auburn at about the same time. 6:00 central in Auburn and 6:30 in LaGrange. We will have one great rest stop at about the half way point between the shops and a sweep vehicle along to route to assist with any issue that may arise while you are on the ride.

When you arrive at the shop you there will be refreshments, smoothies, and a free bike wipe down and chain lube. If you want to experience the half century route, with 2150 feet elevation, you can relax and know you have a ride home, there will be shuttles at both ends (pre-registration required). Or go for the gusto and do the whole century from one shop and then back to the start point.
Registration opens on June 10 on www.bikereg.com/s-2-s

Route map is available on Strava https://www.strava.com/routes/13874026

The W. C. Handy Festival Three State Bike Ride is the premier cycling event held in “The Shoals” each year. The ride begins and ends at scenic McFarland Park on the banks of the Tennessee River near downtown Florence, Alabama. Distance options of 21, 39, 61, 70, 100 and 107 miles are available to suit riders of all ability levels. Riders who do all 107 miles will touch three states….. Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee!

 The Handy Ride will get underway with a staggered start at 7:00 am. Century Riders will leave first in waves based on the anticipated finishing time, followed by the shorter distance riders. Leaving the Park, all riders will travel two miles on Alabama Highway 20, turn left onto Lauderdale County Road 2, and continue some nine miles to the first rest stop. Those choosing the 21 mile option will turn around here and return to the start.

 All other riders will continue westbound on CR2 to the beautiful Natchez Trace Parkway. Once on the Parkway, the route turns south and crosses the Tennessee River. A series of rest stops along the Parkway serve as turnaround points for the various distance options. Because July can be quite hot in Northwest Alabama, a total of six rest stops are provided for participants to visit while riding either outbound, inbound or both. There will be several SAG vehicles manned by Shoals Cycling Club members patrolling the entire route.

 Post Ride Lunch: We’ll be having a catered BBQ lunch with smoked pulled pork, smoked pulled chicken, tossed salad, baked potato bar and desert. It’s catered by “Jill’s Sweet Memories” again this year!

 Showers will be available at the park campgrounds and at the local YMCA.

 The Handy Ride is held in conjunction with and financially supports the W. C. Handy Music Festival, an annual 10-day series of events designed to promote and present the music of northwest Alabama (The Shoals). The W. C. Handy Music Festival was named in honor of William Christopher Handy, the “Father of the Blues” who was born in 1873 in Florence, AL. The Festival has been held each year since 1982 and has been recognized with many honors, including Alabama Event of the Year. It is presented by the Music Preservation Society, Inc, a 501c3. We invite you to check out some of the many music venues offered!

  Ride Fast……..Ride Slow…….Just Ride!

Adventurous cyclists,

 July’s ride is picking’ blueberries and samplin' wine. We’ll meet at Hodge's Vineyards and Winery and park the cars there. Then, ride a nice, 18-mile loop including Blueberry Havens to pick berries and finishing at Hodge's, where we'll sample their wines and have a picnic lunch.

The ride is all paved (mostly). We'll bring a car along to carry back our harvest and any riders who want to ride back. Remember to pack a picnic lunch. Bring family and friends to join us by bike or cars if you like.

 Lots of berries are ripe and ready for picking NOW. Good chance to practice yer pickin’.

Date: Sunday, July 14.
Time: 8:30 AM. Meet at Hodges Vineyards and Winery.
Road Conditions: Mostly paved, any bikes/tires will do.
Bring: Hat. Water. Insect repellent. Water. Walkin' shoes. Water. Treasure to pay for your harvest ($10/gallon) and any wine you might buy. Bring a picnic lunch