The long ride – 94 miler, Tour de Elli- jay is a tough route, with
strenuous
This month we want to give a shout-out to three great riding events that have taken place so far this year. You’ll want to put them on your calendars for next year for sure. And perhaps they’ll inspire you to participate in a few of the great rides featured in the previous pages. Happy trails! - the Editors
Cartecay Bike’s Annual Italian Festival by Andrea Hinda
Once again, Mike Palmeri, along with his staff and volunteers, had another success- ful Italian Road Bike Festival. Mike is the proud owner of Cartecay River Bicycle Shop (
www.cartecaybikes.com) located in Ellijay, GA. Mike created the Italian Road Bike Fes- tival to celebrate the start of the Classic Road Bike Races in Italy that happen in the spring, and.... because Mike is an Italian! It started out as an organized ride garnering about 50 – 70 enthusiasts and has evolved into a full blown multi route, supported bike ride that attracts riders from as far away as Canada. The growth of this ride has enabled the Bike Shop to donate the proceeds to community bicycle/pedestrian projects with the generous support of sponsors.
Thanks to Terry Palmeri’s perseverance on or- ganizing the event, the registration for the ride this year was inside the lobby of Dalton State College in Historic Downtown Ellijay. That was a really good thing because the weather didn’t look so good the morning of the Bike Festival, but as they say, the show must go on. Dalton State College generously donated the use of the lobby and restroom facilities. As always, the 95 dedicated riders that showed up were filled with excitement and enthusi- asm. Everything went along like clockwork and the ride started on time with the Ellijay Fire Engine escorting the peloton through town. The only dark cloud with the start was a torrential downpour and slippery railroad tracks. But that didn’t stop our stoic bike rid- ers – no one was hurt, the rain stopped and they continued on a journey through the sce- nic back roads of Gilmer, Pickens and Murray Counties.
38 May 2012
climbs and some of the most spectacu- lar views on Burnt Mountain and Fort Mountain, and, when you are not expecting it – some sneaky little steep climbs. Yes, we are sadistic. An often asked question is, why don’t we make an even 100 miles? You don’t ask that question after riding the 94 miles, you are glad you don’t have to ride another 6. But, with well stocked strategic Sag Stops you can make it. The middle ride – 65 miler, Marco Pantini is a tough ride also which includes the 7.5 mile climb over Fort Mountain. You have bragging rights if you can do it. And for folks like me – the short ride (43 miler), Gi- anniBugno is just right. With just a few short climbs and gorgeous scenery it is a delightful ride on smooth roads with not a lot of traffic. You feel you have accomplished something when you finish.
And that’s not all – after completing the long, middle or short rides you were treated to an authentic Italian lunch provided by Charlie’s Restaurant (
dineatcharlies.com). Charlie’s generously donated Sicilian Penne which not only was delicious, but satisfied our rider’s diet requirements of being gluten free, and vegetarian. And what would an Italian bike ride be without cannolis? The Cartecay River Bicycle Shop served up cannolis and home- made gluten free chocolate chip cookies. To wash it all down – a wine tasting featuring locally made wine by Cartecay Vineyards (
cartecayvineyards.com).
Cartecay Vineyards is one of the many reasons to visit Ellijay; tour the vineyard and sample their wines! And while you are here, be sure to drop in on Mountain Valley Farms with their pasture raised beef and pork (grassfed-
georgia.com). If you are wondering why this article is evolving into a gastronomic adven- ture, it is because Mike and I know that if you ride hard, you want to eat well and these are places that we patronize.
FREEWHEELIN’
And we would be remiss if we didn’t men- tion all the other sponsors that supported this event – Vittoria (bike shoes made with atten- tion to detail in Italy), Ellijay Oral Health Center, Walmart, Lowes, United Community Bank, Love Those Mountains Realty, and El- lijay Deli. Special thanks to Jamis Bikes and the Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce. And of course, a very special thanks, to all our Volunteers – we couldn’t do it without you!
The 9th Annual Tony Serrano Century by Paul Jones
The primary function of the TSCR is to pro- mote cycling safety. We go about this in dif- ferent ways. First is funding cycling advocacy organizations.
Over the nine years of the event, the TSCR has donated over $20,000 to Georgia Bikes and the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition. The growth of this year’s ride will allow us to donate at a minimum, another $5,000 for advocacy. At the same time, we have kept the cost of par- ticipation in the TSCR low, so that cyclists can have an opportunity to enjoy a first class ride, while at the same time helping make the roads safer for themselves.
The TSCR also builds strong ties to our lo- cal community. We have donated several thousands of dollars to Monroe and Walton County based groups to help build parks, pro- vide free medical care and promote healthy living projects. The good will generated by these actions is reported in local newspaper articles, on local cable shows and through di- rect contact with citizens. I believe that these things help generate good will coming back to us on the road. Walton Wellness’s Project
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