Join us for our 8th incredible trip up and down the future route of the Firefly Trail on Saturday, March 23, 2019, with distance options of 1-87 miles on our out-and-back course. This year we are again planning three starting locations with five SAG stops, on-road support, and plenty of beautiful scenery and friendly small towns. All proceeds will benefit the mission of Firefly Trail Inc. to promote the completion of all 39 miles of the Firefly Trail from Athens to Union Point, Georgia.
REGISTRATION
…is now open at Active.com: https://www.active.com/athens-ga/cycling/races/ticket-to-ride-2019?int=
Or send a check or money order, payable to Firefly Trail Inc., to
Firefly Trail Inc. c/o Tom Keene
345 Lyndon Ave.
Athens GA 30601
VOLUNTEERS
We love our volunteers! More folks are needed to help with registration and SAG stops. All volunteers receive a free t-shirt and lots of appreciation! Sign up at http://signup.com/go/WkEKLxu.
ABOUT THE RIDE
Choose to start from:
• Jittery Joe’s Roaster, 425 Barber Street, Athens
• Winterville Depot, 102 S. Main St., Winterville
• Union Theatre, Fluker Street, Union Point
The full out-and-back course from either Athens or Union Point is about 87 miles, with fully-stocked SAG stops (including restrooms) every 9-13 miles. This ride features the lowest-traffic paved roads we could find close to the historic corridor of the Georgia Railroad Athens Branch. Riders who prefer flatter terrain will especially enjoy the route from Union Point to Woodville or Maxeys. Ride to a SAG stop and back for an option of as little as 10 miles or choose your own distance – whether 1 mile or all 87 – by turning around wherever you wish. It’s a perfect ride for cyclists of all interests and abilities, and a great warm-up for the spring event season.
NOTES
• Planning is nearly complete but a few details may still be subject to change. We will update this page as plans are finalized.
• This is an on-road ride. There are some significant hills and you will be sharing the road with motor vehicles. All roads are paved.
ROUTES
The basic course will be the same as in past years, but with some improvements based on your suggestions from the 2018 ride. Here are links to Ride with GPS routes for this year’s full routes:
• Athens to Union Point: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/29345647
• Union Point to Athens: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/29335312
• Winterville to Union Point: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/29235172
Cue sheets will be posted to our website closer to the ride date, paper copies will be available at registration, and every turn will be marked.
DETAILS
• Pre-registration – $40
• Students – $30
• Day of registration – $45
• Teams of 5 or more – $35 each before the day of the ride. (Individual registration online will not show the $35 price. A check will be mailed to the team captain reimbursing the $5 difference for each team member.)
• Day-before registration/rider bag pick-up – Friday, March 22, 3-6 p.m., Georgia Cycle Sport Concepts, 1029 Baxter St., Athens
• Parking – Free. In Athens, parkiong at the Roaster will be VERY limited due to construction. Please plan to park at The Cotton Press on Oneta Street and the Bobby Snipes Water Resource Center on Barber Street, about 0.5 miles from the start. Street parking may also be available. Please do not take up parking places at nearby businesses. In Winterville, use the parking area behind the depot, park along the side street north of the depot, or park at the Winterville Community Center about 0.3 miles north off Church Street. Please do not use parking areas at Pittard Park, including the overflow lot, or at the church. Parking at Union Point will be in the bank parking lot and along streets near the Union Point Theatre.
NOTE: All cars must be removed from The Cotton Press and Jittery Joe’s Roaster parking lot by 5 PM. If you are likelty to return later than 5 PM, choose another place to park! If you do the full route, you will need to average more than 11.5 mph (including stops) to get back in time.
• Pre-ride mechanical support – Georgia Cycle Sport will have mechanics at Jittery Joe’s Roaster before the ride for minor repairs and adjustments.
• SAG stops – Restrooms, sports drinks, water, and snacks at
• Athens – Jittery Joe’s Roaster. Open 8-4:30
• Winterville – Winterville Depot. Open 8-4:30
• Crawford – Crawford Depot. Open 9-4:30
• Maxeys – City Hall/Post Office. Open 9-4:30
• NEW! Woodville – CJ’s BBQ. Open 9-4:30
• Union Point – Union Theatre. Open 8-4:30.
• SAG support – We will have vehicles driving the route to help riders who are having trouble
• Route marking – Pavement will be painted at all turns and at points that might be confusing, except on the Firefly Trail segment and in Dudley Park, where pavement painting is not permitted. Turns in this section will be marked with signs.
• One-way riders – Our SAG drivers will be on the course to help riders who are having trouble; they won’t have the capacity to provide return service. If you want to do a one-way ride, please arrange your own return transportation.
• Rider appreciation gift – A really cool, quick-dry t-shirt plus goodies from our sponsors.
• Athens post-ride party – Enjoy great live music by The Dixieland Five frmo 12-3, Terrapin beer (1st pour free with wristband; $5 thereafter and for non-riders), UGA’s 1785 Taqueria food truck (cash, debit or credit) and the full menu for sale at the Roaster. You don’t have to ride to party; everyone is invited!
• Union Point festival – Enjoy live music by the Silver Strings Bluegrass Band and Unsilanced, CK’s Smokehouse food truck (cash, debit or credit), and Oconee Brewing Co. beer served by 44 Growlers (1st pour free with wristband; $5 thereafter and for non-riders). Also enjoy raffles for adult and children’s bikes and a free bike rodeo for kids ages 4-9! You don’t have to ride to party; everyone is invited!
• Goodie bag – Will be provided for all riders. If you register but decide not to ride, you can pick up your bag at Georgia Cycle Sport Concepts the week after the ride.
Trail status:
When completed, the Firefly Trail will provide safe and level opportunities for walking, running, bicycling, skating, active commuting, and other non-motorized activities. It will be a nationally significant rail-trail connecting schools, businesses and communities across three counties.
In 2017, Athens-Clarke County opened the first section of the trail between East Broad Street and Old Winterville Road. With $16.7 million in voter-approved TSPLOST funding, planning and design are underway for a segment in Winterville, a railroad-grade crossing of Trail Creek, a bridge over the future US 78/Loop 10 onramp, and paved trail out to Hancock Road or beyond.
Meanwhile, Maxeys expects to pave its “Model Mile” as soon as all rights of way can be acquired, and Union Point is raising funds to match a $100,000 grant to build a Model Mile from downtown to the Union Point STEAM Academy. A Local Action Committee has formed in Greene County and other communities are exploring opportunities.
Up and down the corridor, your involvement is making a difference. Thank you for your support of the Firefly Trail.
See our sponsors at www.fireflytrail.com. Be sure to tell them thanks!
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