Red goes to Atlanta

Hello all!

After seeing the offers of help for Dogmama and her brief (and scary) trip to San Francisco it seemed to be an idea to ask for help for me! After all, I've been accussed of needing help (usually professional....) on more than one occassion.

Anyway, I'll be in Atlanta this weekend (staying near Peachtree Street and 14th). Any suggestions on where to ride (or how to avoid the Atlanta traffic?)?

CC has suggested going to and riding up Brasstown Bald...which sounds good to me. Now, are there any other suggested places?

Thanks!
Lara The Red

Hey, Red--I don't live in or near Atlanta (about a 5-hour drive to the southwest), but isn't the Jenny Ewing Memorial Ride scheduled for this Saturday? I had planned on attending, but something came up and I have to stay home, but you could go, since you'll be in Atlanta anyway.

Here's where you can get the 411:
Jenny Ewing Memorial Ride

If you go, let us know afterwards how it was. I'm so bummed I can't go.:(

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Originally Posted by Red Haired Girl

CC has suggested going to and riding up Brasstown Bald...which sounds good to me. Now, are there any other suggested places?

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Bring your granny gears if you're going to attempt Brasstown Bald. It's only about a 3-mile climb but it's steep. I don't remember the average grade but there's a section called "The Wall" that is 27%. I ride in the N. Ga. mountains all the time but have never ridden up Brasstown -- with a double in the front and a 12-27 cassette on the back, I just don't have the gearing for it.

If you go up to the mountains on Sunday, you will see cyclists everywhere. It's the annual 3 Gap / 6 Gap cycling event. I think this year there will be around 2000 riders. It doesn't go up Brasstown Bald but the 6 Gap option passes the base of the climb.

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Originally Posted by Red Haired Girl

Anyway, I'll be in Atlanta this weekend (staying near Peachtree Street and 14th). Any suggestions on where to ride (or how to avoid the Atlanta traffic?)?

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If you're staying near Peachtree and 14th, you won't be too far from Piedmont Park and the Virginia-Highlands neighborhood. You can usually find some low-traffic roads in that area to ride and it's a pretty neighborhood.

Also, Bad JuJu is correct, the Jenny Ewing Memorial ride is this Sat. It should be a great ride. If you can't make it for the organized ride, you could still consider riding on the Silver Comet trail. It's a great place to ride.

The start of the climb up Brasstown is at the top of the climb of Jack's Gap. I've never climbed Brasstown either, but I've stared at it after climbing Jack's, wondering how it's even possible. I'm sure more than a few folks doing the 6 Gap Century are going to take that little sidetrip up to the top.

There is a bike route that loops through and around Piedmont Park, and it connects to a PATH route (bike path and roads) that goes all the way out to Stone Mountain. Stone Mountain is a nice park with very bike-friendly roads that make a good hilly training ride.

Like Skibum said, even if you can't make the memorial ride, the Silver Comet is a great place to ride. Once you see it, you'll understand why it's so popular.

wow, hadn't realized there was a special ride this Saturday...think I'll do that vice doing the GA mountain thing. May do the Silver Comet on Friday though. Thanks for the information and advice!

Red