Ahhh! Spring is finally just around the corner! It's been a long, cold, and dreary winter but I hope you've still managed to get in some good training time. And even if you haven't, remember all of our events offer multiple supported distances and tons of fun and excitement. We'll be kicking off the season with two brand new rides and for many, brand new Alabama Backroads.

 

BICYCLING ADVOCATES: Come to Montgomery March 26 and 27 for the Alabama Bicycle Summit. The 2015 Summit will focus on developing cycling in Alabama for transportation, tourism and ultimate economic development. We need cyclists, cycling clubs, businesses, and town, city, county, or state government employees to attend! The Summit begins Thursday afternoon at 5 pm with a bike ride with special Summit guests, Bicycle Tourism Specialists, Russ Roca & Laura Crawford from A Path Less Pedaled in Oregon, followed by a reception at Baumhower's in downtown Montgomery.  Friday is a day packed with planning and advocacy speakers and sessions, followed by a mixer with beer supplied by New Belgium Beer at RSA Plaza.  Thursday's reception, Friday's breakfast, and Friday's lunch are all included in your registration fee.

Sign up now at: TinyURL.com/2015BikeSummit and share www.AlaBike.org/summit.html with your friends!

 

For safety's sake, helmets are required to participate in all rides. Please call out your intentions to pass, always on the left. Carry spare tube, air supply, and pry tools for flat repairs. Point out dangerous debris/potholes on the road. Remove gloves at Rest Stops and wash/sanitize hands before reaching for food.

 

We hope the details below will be of some help to both new and more-experienced riders in knowing what to expect at these first two events.

 

PEDDLIN' FOR A CURE
April 4th - Monroeville

Cyclepaths of Monroeville is hosting this event which supports 31, 69, and 103-mile riders.

• Directions: Take I-65 toward Montgomery to Exit 93 for US 84 toward Monroeville. Slight right onto AL-12W/US-84 W. Turn right onto AL-136 W. Turn right onto AL-21 N/AL-41 N/S Alabama Ave. Address is 65 North Alabama Avenue. Spend some time visiting historic downtown landmarks and the To Kill a Mockingbird Set.

• Parking: Please park off the Downtown Square in the new parking lot on N. Mt. Pleasant Ave. or in BC&S shopping center on E. Claiborne St.

• Ride Day Registration & Breakfast begin at 6:00 am. If you have not mailed in your printed & signed registration form, please bring that along http://www.cyclepathsbikeclub.com/registration.  
  Online registration closes March 31st. Breakfast will include sausage biscuits, plain biscuits, and fruit.

• Ride starts at 8:00.

• There will be goodie bags for everyone with t-shirt, water bottle, pens, highliter, handouts, and sunscreen or small first aid pack... still working on even more goodies!

• Distance options for Peddlin' include 31, 69, and 103 miles, supported by frequent rest stops with volunteers working in honor and memory of a cancer patient in their area. Century riders can enjoy as many as 8 rest stations. All will enjoy quiet country back roads and beautiful scenery.

• Rest Stops: There will be a wide variety of goodies at the rest stops including pb crackers and sandwiches, fruit, canned drinks, water, gatorade, boiled potatoes, chicken salad, pickles, olives and more.

• Cue sheets, maps, and downloadable Ride with GPS maps are on the Peddlin' website. Printed maps will be available.

• SAG: Rescue squad vehicles and ham radio operators will be on the route for your support. Rescue Squad vehicles will be official and radio operators will have magnetic Bicycles Ahead signs.

• Post-Ride Sign In is required.

• Lunch: Hamburgers, chips, drinks, and dessert will be ready around 10:30.

• Area Restaurants: David's Catfish, AJ's Family Restaurant, Courthouse Caf�, and 3 Mexican Restaurants.

• Volunteers: If you have a traveling companion who would like to help out at the rest stops or lunch set-up, here's a link to sign up or

Contact: Cherie Stabler at [email protected] 

 

Website: http://www.cyclepathsbikeclub.com 

  

TOUR AUTAUGA
April 11th - Prattville

• Directions: Take I-65 to Exit 179, which is the Prattville/Millbrook Exit. Turn onto Cobbs Ford Road towards downtown Prattville and from there you will see signs to Tour Autauga/ Spinner's Park. Address is 390 West Sixth Street.

• Ride Day Registration: 6:30 am. Course opens for Century & Metric Riders at 7:30. Course opens for 36 Mile Riders at 8:00 am. A Bike Mechanic will be available for any pre-ride assistance and also on route. Paramedics are also on call for any emergencies during the day. Online registration is open!

• Every pre-registered rider and volunteer will receive an event t-shirt. Your goody bag will be stocked by Bell Road Cycle, Honey Stinger, and Academy Sports.

• Distance options include 36, 62, and 100 mile routes with well-stocked Rest Stops. Prepare yourself for the quiet and beautiful back country roads of Autauga County! The 36-mile route is exceptionally well-supported for newer riders.

• Rest Stops: Century riders can take advantage of 6 Rest Stops stocked with pb sandwiches, honey, big dill pickles, oatmeal pies, bananas, Cliff & granola bars, gels, fig newtons, vanilla wafers, oranges, homemade goodies, and more!

• Cue sheets, maps, and downloadable Ride with GPS maps can be found on the website; however, roads will be painted in 3 colors: yellow for the 36-milers, white for 62, and orange for 100. Your printed maps with cue sheets will be in matching colors and will include emergency phone numbers.

• SAG vehicles are marked with yellow flags.

• Please stop by to sign in after your ride and meet Ride Directors, Bill and Sharon Duke. Century Riders also sign in at the ABCS Awards Table to collect your medal and smile for the birdie.

• Lunch: Papa John's and Marco's will be sending plenty of pizza and along with ice cold Pepsi products and bottled water, lunch will begin around 11:00.

• Area Restaurants: Jim 'N Nick's, Outback, O'Charlie's, Longhorn, Chappy's, Olive Garden, and Mellow Mushroom (with great brews).

• Motels: Recommended motels with special rates will soon be posted on their site.

• Volunteers: If you have a friend/spouse who plans to come cheer you on, we still have volunteer opportunities and would love to have him/her join the fun. Here's the link to sign up or you can...

Contact: Sharon & Bill Duke at [email protected]

 

Website: www.tourautauga.org 

 

It helps tremendously in planning for Rest Stop supplies and lunch if you go ahead and pre-register. Registration is also open for these other ABCS rides in 2015:

OLD HOWARD 100	4/18
TOUR DE BLUE	4/25
BOLL WEEVIL	5/9
CHEAHA CHALLENGE (&ULTRA!)	5/17
HOT HUNDRED	7/25
IRONWORKS CENTURY	8/8
GLASSNER AUTUMN CHALLENGE	10/10