Preparations for the 2015 Johnny Ray Century are well underway. There's been a stream of folks looking for authoritative elevation profiles. Well we've got you covered. Profiles have been added to all route cue sheets. For the GPS-enabled rides routes are also up on Ride with GPS. Check them out on the Johnny Ray event page.
The Fort Morgan Ride
The below is from member Kirk Iversen published in Bicycling:
The Fort Morgan Ride
This 40+ mile, out-and-back ride leaves and ends in Gulf Shores, Alabama. The route is flattish with paved shoulders and is not very heavily travelled except during special coastal events. The western end of the ride is at Fort Morgan on the southeastern side of the entrance to Mobile Bay. If you like, a ferry ($5 round–trip for bike & rider) will take you across the bay to Fort Gaines on Dauphin Island, where one can ride several miles and enjoy the island before returning to Ft. Morgan and heading east back to Gulf Shores.
Along the way are convenience stores and restaurants. Bon Secure National Wildlife Refuge offers a small visitors center, hiking trails, and paved roads to the white-sand beaches, where sea turtles and their nests are protected. Alligators live here, too. Forts Morgan and Gaines, which defended the Bay (for awhile – Admiral Farragut made it famous with, "Damn the torpedoes – full speed ahead!"), can be toured. Dauphin Island offers an estuarium, Audubon refuges to walk through, restaurants, and a laid-back atmosphere.
If 40-ish miles is too short or long, Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores has about 10 miles of paved bike trails that go through different ecozones. The towns of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach offer miles of bike lanes along the beaches and intracoastal waterways and lots of restaurants. One is Lulu's, owned by Lucy Buffet. Good food & music. Sometimes her brother, Jimmy, drops in.
The Ft. Morgan ride is on AL Hwy. 180, beginning at the intersection with AL Hwy. 59. The Gulf State Park ride begins at the same intersection, going a west a half-mile to the park entrance. At the intersection is a shopping center with lots of parking. There are also several motels there, including a very bike-friendly Holiday Inn Express.
May Meeting
This month we will be joined by Kirk Iverson to fill us in on what is happening in cycling's political effort here and nationally. If you didn't already know, Kirk is a club member, AlaBike member, ex-Auburn Bike Committee chair, Auburn Bike Committee friend of the year (2015) and all around swell and informed guy. Bring that same desire to discuss and we will see you all on Monday May,11 at 7:00 pm. In the Cafe' at the Church of the Highlands!
Dave
Bike to Work Day
I know it says City of Auburn and Auburn University employees, but they're only eligible for the raffle. Everyone else is eligible to ride and celebrate at the AU sign in front of Samford Hall. Apparently they're stamping out cool chainring grease tattoos. I know Mike will be first in line for that!
Last call for Bo Bikes Volunteers
Eacc & Bo Jackson still need your help!
Folks, Bo needs you. Bo Bikes is this weekend. Maybe you've been in a coma and missed all the news but this is a huge event! And Bo needs eacc's help. Please consider stepping up and representing our club and the Auburn/Opelika cycling community. Eacc has been asked to help again this year run SAG for the event.
Dave Kerr is organizing and short a few volunteers. If you're not riding or already helping please volunteer your time. Dave will get you connected. All you have to do is say you're in. Send him an email at tjscottk@gmail.com.
-chris
volunteers
Greetings As the ride season enters full cycle mode, it is once again Bo Bike Bama! I am again leading the SAG team for the event and all I need is 4(four) people with vehicles that are able to carry 2(two) bikes. Either cars with bike racks or trucks or SUVs. There will be a meeting to pick up t-shrt, magnetic sign and wrist band for lunch, either the 29 or the 30 of April. You can contact me at: tjscottl@gmail.com Thanks for all your help in bringing this great event BACK to Auburn!