BICYCLE WORLD TRAVELER COMING TO GEORGIA

Author, world bicycle traveler, and handlebar videographer and Customer evangelist for the Bike Friday fold-up bike, Lynette Chiang (The Galfromdownunder) is coming to Georgia. She has been traveling by bike since 1997.  She is the author of The Handsomest Man in Cuba, her experiences of cycling as a single female through Cuba. Her web site is:  http://www.bikefriday.com/staff/lynettechiang

Log on http://www.bikefriday.com/events/georgia for event times, places, and all the details.

She creates feature-length adventure films she calls "handlebar movies" shot one-handedly from the saddle and edited on the road. These films have been praised by travel, cycling and digital technology audiences from New York to LA.  Lynette is a sought-after keynote speaker on customer evangelism, minimalist multimedia, travel and "the marketing you do when you're not doing marketing". Her unusual career path inspires women, seniors and minorities all ages and stages to "Just (get on a bicycle and) Film It".

Lynette will be in Rome on Saturday, June 20, for a bike ride and a talk ("16000 feet on a Friday" - Friday bicycle that is).  Lynette will be in Atlanta on Sunday June 21. She will have a 17-mile bike ride at 10:00 a.m. at Ansley Mall and a talk at REI (I-85 Access Rd.).  The REI talk is titled "Route 66 by Bicycle" and starts at 3 pm.  On Monday, June 22, Lynette will be in Peachtree City for yoga, a bike ride, Adventure Cycling Lunch & Learn and an evening video with Q&A . 

SATURDAY JUNE 20 – Rome, GA

 1:00 p.m. – Cave Spring Ride – (downtown Rome) – ALL CYCLISTS WELCOME
Location - Bridgepoint Plaza at the corner of Broad Street and E. 1st Ave in downtown Rome
Join The Galfromdownunder for a 40 mile ride to historic Cave Spring.  In addition to the natural spring in Rolander Park, the ride will include Bob Moore Bridge, Nature Conservancy's Black's Bluff preserve and Myrtle Hill where Ellen Axon Wilson, first wife of President Woodrow Wilson is buried. For more information, email WHMoll@... or call 706-859-7726.

7pm: 16,000 Feet on a Friday – Film, Lecture, Q&A, sponsored by Bike Walk Northwest Georgia Speaker Series 2009.

Location - Austin Moses Room in the Sheffield Thompson Building, Shorter College, Rome. In October 2004 author and bicycle traveler Lynette Chiang (The Galfromdownunder) biked the World's Highest Paved Road with 6x Race Across America legend Lon Haldeman on a Bike Friday travel bicycle. This 500-mile, 12-day expedition followed the barren hills of Lima over the 16,000 foot Ticlo mountain pass, descending into spectacular terraced valleys to reach Satipo, a remote, inland jungle town. Local police proclaimed the group as the first 'gringos' to reach there by bicycle.  Lynette shot a 45-minute DVD video of this journey one-handedly, using a simple Canon ELPH digital camera tucked into her jersey pocket.For more information, email WHMoll@... or call 706-859-7726.

SUNDAY JUNE 21 - ATLANTA, GA
10:00 a.m – Ansley Midtown Ride – (Ansley Mall) - ALL CYCLISTS WELCOME                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
Join the Galfromdownunder for a 17 mile tour of midtown, encompassing Virginia Highlands, Emory, Candler Park, Inman Park, Old Fourth Ward, and Little Five Points. No ride if raining. Meet in Monroe Drive side of the parking lot of Ansley Mall, intersection of Piedmont Rd. and Monroe Dr. Meet at a nearby coffeehouse after the ride. For more information, email rcampag@... or call 404-316-6432.

3:00 p.m. - ROUTE 66 BY BICYCLE: PEDALING THE MOTHER ROAD - Film, Lecture, Q&A, Refreshments.
Location R.E.I., 1800 Northeast Expy NE Atlanta, GA 30329. (404) 633-6508
Author, world bicycle traveler and handlebar videographer Lynette Chiang (The Galfromdownunder) presents excerpts from her 45 min documentary of a bicycle expedition along the 'forgotten highway', led by Race Across America legend and fan of Route 66, Lon Haldeman. Ride along the original alignments through 8 states over 29 days, experiencing the people, places and chocolate malt milkshakes that made this highway great.  For more information, email jferger@... or call Jamie Fergerson at 404.633.6508 ext 220

6:00 p.m. - SEE THE REAL CUBA AND AVOID A $55,000 FINE: - Slideshow, Lecture, Q&A. Dinner out afterwards.
Sorella Cycling Club www.sorellacycling.com – Members only. RSVP requested.With Cuba off limits to Americans and large fines served to some defiant travelers, many have given up on seeing the 'buena vista' of this controversial Caribbean isle. The Galfromdownunder presents a slideshow and talk based on her book, The Handsomest Man in Cuba, an apolitical, no-bucket-baths spared tale of what it is like to eat, drink and be cautiously merry among ordinary Cubans. Hailed by Australian critics as 'one of the best on-the-road travel books of this generation', the USA edition won a Silver Award for Travel Essays in Foreword Magazine's Book of the Year 2004 and was favorably reviewed in the New York Times.

MONDAY JUNE 22 – PEACHTREE CITY

7:30 a.m. – Yoga for Cyclists.

Meet The Galfromdownunder at Lake Peachtree at the Picnic Park below the library for an hour of yoga designed for cyclists. Bring yoga mat and a towel to go under the mat on the grass.

Location – Willow Bend Road Picnic Park

8:45 a.m. – Casual bike ride on the Peachtree City scenic, wooded, multi-use paved trails

12:00 -   Adventure Cycling: Lunch & Learn – Film, Lecture, Q&A

Bring a brown bag lunch and hear about ROUTE 66 BY BICYCLE: PEDALING THE MOTHER ROAD

Location – Bridge Community Center (www.thebridge-cc.org ) 225 Willowbend Road, Peachtree City.

Author, world bicycle traveler and handlebar videographer Lynette Chiang (The Galfromdownunder) presents excerpts from her 45 min documentary of a bicycle expedition along the 'forgotten highway', led by Race Across America legend and fan of Route 66, Lon Haldeman. Ride along the original alignments through 8 states over 29 days, experiencing the people, places and chocolate malt milkshakes that made this highway great.

6:30 p.m. – PERU: 16,000 FEET ON A FRIDAY - Film, Lecture, Q&A

Location – Bike Center, 1801 Georgian Park, Peachtree City, www.atlantatrek.com; B.Y.O.C. (Bring Your Own Chair)

In October 2004 author and bicycle traveler Lynette Chiang (The Galfromdownunder) biked the World's Highest Paved Road with 6x Race Across America legend Lon Haldeman on a Bike Friday travel bicycle. This 500-mile, 12-day expedition followed the barren hills of Lima over the 16,000 foot Ticlo mountain pass, descending into spectacular terraced valleys to reach Satipo, a remote, inland jungle town. Local police proclaimed the group as the first 'gringos' to reach there by bicycle.  Lynette shot a 45-minute DVD video of this journey one-handedly, using a simple Canon ELPH digital camera tucked into her jersey pocket.

Meet afterwards at Taco Mac for brew, food and sharing adventure stories.

Log on http://www.bikefriday.com/events/georgia for event times, places, and all the details.

I’ll be attending a wedding in Sonoma Valley on Aug 1. I would like to stay an extra few days or week and do some exploring.

I think the temps may be really hot in Sonoma in Aug. Does anyone have suggestions for rides?

Should I stay in Sonoma and tour with my Crusoe or, should I take Amtrak and head north or along the coast where it is cooler?

Is there an organized club ride or group during that time which I could join?

Brenda

Cartpath Christmas Lights ride – Peachtree City has ~100 miles of golf cart trails strictly for recreational use. Join the local Peachtree City cyclists for a tour of the Christmas lights.

Meet at Brenda’s house on Monday, Dec 22. Arrive in time to gear up with lights in the front and blinkies on the rear and ready to roll at 6:30 p.m.  Plan on an easy pace of 1 – 1 ½ hours then gather afterwards for hot chocolate. Please RSVP to Brenda at bcarlton@... if you plan to attend. She will respond with directions to her house which is located in Peachtree City off of McIntosh Trail.

Bring out the Bike Friday’s tomorrow night and join the Southern Bicycle League regular Thursday night ride.

Be sure to bring your lights.

Here’s the details:

I have done that section many times. It is more congested but I think we’ll be able to handle it. The mornings are more crowded than the afternoon.

The nice thing about meeting here is a good selection of restaurants plus there’s a bike shop if anyone needs something before/after the ride.

Looking forward to seeing you.

Brenda

October 4 – Silver Comet – 2:00

Meet Brenda for a casual ride on the flat Silver Comet at 2:00.

We'll ride a couple hours at a leisurely pace.

I'll be on the orange/yellow Bike Friday driving the white Avalon.

Meet in front of Smyrna Bicycles - 4624 Camp Highland Road, Ste. 400, Smyrna, GA 30082

Bike shop - if you get lost -  770-436-3252

Please RSVP.

Directions

From 285: Exit: South Cobb Drive going North

Go approximately 2 miles;

Turn Left on East-West Connector

Shops at Silver Comet will be approx. 1/4mile down on your right

Take first or second left to enter shopping center. Smyrna Bicycles is 2 doors down from Starbuck's. - http://www.smyrnabicycles.com/

October 19, Sunday – Peachtree City Path Trails & Lunch

Peachtree City has ~100 miles of scenic cart path trails with lots of greenspace. Join Brenda for a two hour tour of the trails. We'll meet at her house then afterwards will order pizza for lunch. Bring pictures from your Bike Friday adventures on an USB memory stick. We'll view your pictures on the wide-screen TV while we chow down on pizza.

Please RSVP in order to recieve the driving directions. Peachtree City is 30 minutes south of Hartsfield Airport.

November 1 – Silver Comet – 10:00

Meet Eric for a casual ride on the flat Silver Comet at 10:00. Lunch afterwards. Options are Firehouse Subs, Atl Ribs, Vinings Grill, Atl Bread

Meet in front of Smyrna Bicycles - 4624 Camp Highland Road, Ste. 400, Smyrna, GA 30082

Please RSVP.

Directions

From 285: Exit: South Cobb Drive going North

Go approximately 2 miles;

Turn Left on East-West Connector

Shops at Silver Comet will be approx. 1/4mile down on your right

Take first or second left to enter shopping center. Smyrna Bicycles is 2 doors down from Starbuck's. http://www.smyrnabicycles.com/

I’m taking my Bike Friday to do this ride tomorrow and to watch Tour de Georgia climb Brasstown.

I called Tom and it appears there are 10 -12 road bikes going and will be riding an average of 14 – 15 mph.

Come on out if you can get away.

Brenda Carlton

678-357-9911

http://www.sabacycling.com/images/Brasstown%20Bald.bmp

Guys,
Above is the link to the map for our ride on Saturday.
Not too hard of a route, for sure & we’ll go at a casual pace.
Let’s meet at the Marriott on Windward Parkway and GA400 at 9:30AM.
From there, we can caravan up to the our ride start point – which will be at the corner of GA180 & Town Creek School Road.
That point is 18.5 miles into the official route.

5 miles from the end our ride, we’ll stop and watch the riders suffer up Brasstown Bald….
Immediately after they go by, we can ride straight down hill 5 miles to our cars and leave.

This will be a super day &  GREAT FUN!!!!!

Let me know your thoughts.


Tom Gaster
M: 404-441-1651

Being a veteran of Tour de Georgia watching, the best time is had when there are multiple viewing options - time trials, multiple laps or quick shortcuts between viewing locations. Otherwise, it is wait, wait, wait, woosh, wait, end of day.

With that in mind, the best opportunity is the team time trial at Road Atlanta on April 24, I believe (10 miles made up of four circuits on the hilly, 12-turn track for each 8-man team, two teams on track at same time and opposite of usual direction to add a short steep hill). We get a time trial and multiple laps and a lot of viewing space. That would be the best stage. Details, schedule, directions, etc can be found at

http://www.roadatlanta.com/event_detail.lasso?-Token.eventfile=ev_tourdega.lasso&-Token.id=34

Riding from some nearby spot would avoid paying a parking fee and make a big impression for Bike Friday with our huge group of BFs riding around amongst the crowd of viewers. We will probably also get on the TV highlights, so dress nicely. Bring your BF referral cards out and have them ready.

Please respond if you have an interest in attending.

Do we have members on our Yahoo list that know the area and could point us toward some roads to ride in addition to viewing the event? If so, please respond.

Thanks!

Brenda Carlton

EVENT:
Team Time Trial, Road Atlanta, Braselton, Ga.
Distance: 10 miles (16.1 km).
Start: 1:00 p.m.; expected finish: 4:00 p.m.
Teams will race in heats, with two teams running per heat.

FESTIVAL:

·                     8:30 a.m., food vendors open.

·                     10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m., N2 a Cure Adult Charity Ride. 2.54-mile open course for one hour; entry fee of $40 includes t-shirt and goodie bag. Benefits Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children's Healthcare; all Levels of cyclists welcome. Information at www.N2Racing.org.

·                     12:45 p.m., Start Ceremonies: National Anthem and Official Start Ceremony

·                     1:00 p.m., N2 a Cure Kids' Rodeo; entry fee $10. All ages welcome: bike handling, safety checks, family fun. Information at www.N2Racing.org.

·                     10:30- 5:00 p.m., Health & Wellness Expo; free. Includes family-friendly activities, local vendors, food and beverage vendors, big screen with live race action.

Just touching base with you guys. Is anyone planning to ride tomorrow?
If so, please let me know. Otherwise, I will re-schedule for another day.

We’re planning to put together a slate of rides for the quarter. It seems we can only do quarterly mailings via the Bike Friday main mailing list for GA.

We only have a handful of folks registered on our Yahoo group so far.

Do I have any volunteers from folks wanting to lead a ride in the next quarter?
If so, please send me an announcement in the format below.

Thanks!

Brenda