BROKEN HEARTS SEVEN! | Sat May 7th

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Sopo Bicycle Cooperative is proud to announce the seventh annual Broken Hearts and Bicycle Parts fundraiser the weekend of May 7th.  While the event has traditionally centered around the alleycat race and benefit concert at the finish line, this year there will be additional bicycle-related activities all weekend to attract visiting cyclists, encourage new riders, and maintain our commitment to the cycling community in Atlanta.

Advance registration can be done online at Sopobikes.org.  Those with smartphones can quickly link to the registration page via QR code from any of the posters or fliers around town.  We encourage participants to register in advance to ensure a spot in the main event and will be offering exclusive prizes for pre-registered individuals at the event Friday night.

Friday is set to be a low-key welcoming event for both travelling participants as well as new cyclists to town.  The night will begin with a social group ride, leaving Woodruff Park downtown at 7pm and rambling around the city until dark.  This ride will be led by Sopo volunteers and will eventually end at the Fallen Arrows HQ for a cookout and dance party, featuring a local DJ.  We hope that this relaxing start to the weekend will encourage good friendly relations in the community and allow a positive competitive spirit to grow between participants.  Volunteers will be on hand at the Fallen Arrows HQ to register partipants in advance.  Suggested donation $5 for food..

Atlanta cycling advocacy group, the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition, will be hosting their Fourth Annual Beltline Bike Tour Saturday morning with the aim of exposing the utility and pleasure of the Beltline to local cyclists.  Sopo encourages participants and visiting cyclists to check this event out but to be sure to save some energy for the alleycat later in the afternoon.  Please check their website for more information.

On Saturday the 7th, alleycat participants will meet at the shop location around 3pm to pick up manifests and the the alleycat is set to begin at 4pm.  The Music Room will be hosting a benefit concert Saturday evening at the finish line starring Indyana Jonz, Basement Banshees, and The Wild, ending with DJ Soundwave spinning the night away.  Attractions at the finish line will include an outdoors performance by the Atlanta Sedition Orchestra (ASO), a Skids and Tricks competition.  Prizes will be awarded based on the originality of participant costumes, creativity and good spirit in completing checkpoint tasks, as well as overall time for completion.  Tickets to the benefit concert will be $10 but event participants will have complimentary access.  The benefit concert is an 21+ event, ID required.

We will also be hosting a farewell vegan brunch Sunday morning at WonderRoot and all are welcome to come out.  Volunteers will be cooking and serving tasty vegan treats while showing the favorite television shows of your childhood.  Food will be served at 1pm and will be $5.

2011 Broken Hearts and Bicycle Parts sponsors include, New Belgium Brewery, Timbuk2, Fallen Arrows, Gorilla Sacks, Savage Pizza, Loose Nuts Cycles, Pabst Blue Ribbon, and more.  Please see our website for a full list of participating sponsors.

We are hoping to improve upon the successful legacy of the past six years and welcome many new faces to this fun Atlanta cycling event!

Important Addresses:

Sopo Bicycle Cooperative

465-C Flat Shoals Ave

Atlanta, GA

Fallen Arrows HQ
840 Dekalb Avenue
Atlanta, GA 30307

The Music Room
327 Edgewood, SE
Atlanta, GA 30312

Wonderroot
982 Memorial Drive
Atlanta, GA 30316

Dick Lane Velodrome: Wednesday Night Racing Vol. 1

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This past week, Dick Lane Velodrome opened its gates for the 2011 weekly racing season. 39 riders came out to race across three categories. The first race of the night was the chariot race, which is a one lap drag race. Here is a shot of Faster Mustache rider Brian Tester sprinting to his first win of the season in the A’s Chariot Race:

Next up was the win and out, one of my favorite races. I made a move at the bell and opened up a small gap

WIn and Out Bs

however, I was edged out at the line by East Point Track Club rider Jardslau Mol. Speaking of the East Point Track Club, here is a shot of one of their new riders, Stephen Touset, riding across the line to take third in the C’s win and out.

Win and Out cs

The last races of the evening were the 5, 8, and 10 mile record attempts. While there was strong racing in all categories, no records fell. Here is Scott Patton of Fixed Gear Fever fame doing some work for the B group’s 8 mile attempt:

Record Race Bs

The weather was perfect all night long. A small but vocal crowd was out to cheer on the racers. Overall it was a a great kick off to what should be another amazing season of racing at Dick Lane Velodrome. I’ll leave you with a shot of the A’s field mixing it up in the Win and Out.

Lookout for regular race recaps and features as the season heats up!

Win and Out As

Photo credits: Colleen Jordan

The 2011 Track Season at Dick Lane Velodrome

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Daniel Banks

Rolling on a freshly painted track, East Point will be the place to be as the 2011 Season gets underway.

Tonight will be the first Wednesday night race for the A, B & C Category racers.

Last night already ushered in the initial Master’s, Beginner’s & Women’s races.

Pictured above is Daniel Holt in the foreground and Bill Thomsen leading the Keirin pack below.

IMGP2455

Look out for Faster Mustache this season on the track.  We have an extremely strong team this year!

Feel free to submit photos, comments, racing tips etc. to be included in weekly coverage

Below, the ‘Sultan’s of Sling’ Valentin & James in the Madison!

DLV Madison Weekend

See everyone tonight at the the track! http://www.dicklanevelodrome.com

Head over the archive for more shots and highlights from last year.

Working Man's Madison | Day 2

The Early Bluebird Ride

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Sunrise in Northwest ATL

3-4 hour weekly training for those pressed for time on Saturdays 6-9 or 10am.

We choose from:

a) riding from the same start location to the Silver Comet Trail and then riding on the path until we’re halfway to our return time

b) riding SE of the city on country roads past the 3/4 county ride route (Swan Lake)

c) riding SW of the city through Cascade to the Silk Sheets route around Chattahoochee Hills towards Serenbe.

d) Or some other route. Votes Welcome!

6am sharp start, finish by sometime around 10 or so.

Eric, Daniel & Justin
Ride Goals:

low traffic, quiet roads, preferably some decent scenery, and a steady pace, though everyone’s welcome to attack particularly on the hills as they see fit and then regroup. Flat to rolling terrain would be nice, too.

We’d like this to be an early morning alternative to Tucker. I’d like to call it the ‘Early Bluebird Ride’ or Bluebird Ride for short.

See you at 6am!

More photos from the ride here, RSVP on Rapha Rendezvous or search #Bluebirdride on twitter.

Atlanta

Early Bluebird Ride & Paint the Track!

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Sunrise in Northwest ATL

This week we’ll be choosing from:

a) riding from the same start location to the Silver Comet Trail and then riding on the path until we’re halfway to our return time

b) riding SE of the city on country roads past the 3/4 county ride route (Swan Lake)

c) riding SW of the city through Cascade to the Silk Sheets route around Chattahoochee Hills towards Serenbe.

d) Or some other route. Votes Welcome!

Justin climbing

6am start, finish by sometime around 10 or sooner to head to the DLV to paint the track.

Ride Goals:

low traffic, quiet roads, preferably some decent scenery, and a steady pace, though everyone’s welcome to attack particularly on the hills as they see fit and then regroup. Flat to rolling terrain would be nice, too.

We’d like this to be an early morning alternative to Tucker. I’d like to call it the ‘Early Bluebird Ride’ or Bluebird Ride for short. See you at 6am!

More photos from the ride here, RSVP on Rapha Rendezvous or search #Bluebirdride on twitter.

Atlanta

Matt Reeves, Atlanta Messenger

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Matt Reeves

Met up with Matt downtown earlier this week. He was one of the main NACCC organizers last year.

We met at the courthouse.  I was applying to become a notary and Matt offered to sign as an ‘endorser’.

Back when i was a fulltime student, I was always downtown.  Everyday. I totally miss it.

I miss riding in the midday traffic, in the areas of Atlanta that feel like a city.

I had fun rolling with him for a few stops.  Keeping up on my Civia was pretty tough.

Matt

One pick up was rather strange.  I think the run was from a food processing plant to a restaurant direct.

He said he was picking up some freshly pickled ginger.  I laughed.  What? Really?

Pick up

Meanwhile, I scoped out his Leader workbike.  The ever reliable Shimano Tiagra group with Sram cranks.

Of course Thomson stem and seatpost and a classic Turbo saddle topping it off.

Continental Gatorskins are really the only way to go in my opinion.

Leader Work Bike

Yep.  A freaking heavy duty jar of ginger. Don’t let that bust open in your bag man!

Ginger pick up

I needed to go and Matt now had his last delivery of the day.  We headed north on Peachtree.

Matt, Mashin it

Passing through 5 points instantly reminded me how EVERYONE is ready to lay it all on the line to jaywalk.

Matt

I’m always commuting from Grant Park to Buckhead and need to get downtown more often!

It was good riding with you Matt! Look out for him this season at the track on his new Gan Well Pro!

Turn Lane

Stella’s Gap | March 27th

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This hilly ride goes through some of the best roads you will find anywhere inside I-285.

“We will tour Buckhead and Sandy Springs with options of 26, 35 and 42 miles. Expect a full range of speeds (13-19 mph) on this ride, but no matter how fast you ride it, you must be fit to do this route. This ride will leave from the Millennium Arch in Atlantic Station, at 17th and State Streets (by the lake; very Roman-looking). If you drive, please park on Mecaslin Street between 14th and 16th streets, and ride to the Arch. Directions (from Midtown): west on 14th St across the Connector, right on Mecaslin – then park. From your car, ride north on Mecaslin, turn right when it dead ends at the lake, and you can’t miss the Arch. Closest MARTA station is Arts Center – generate transit directions). For more information email David Southerland or call 404-933-4541. DEPARTS at 9AM

More info here: http://www.atlantabike.org/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=1108

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Photos from here & here

Drop in or drop out!