First Annual GA SORBA Epic Weekend

Join the Georgia Chapters of the Southern Off Road Bicycle Association for a weekend of IMBA Epic rides and fellowship in the North Georgia mountains!

Inspired by the Nimblewill Mountain Bike Festival of days gone by, we are reviving an annual weekend to celebrate the work of our Georgia SORBA Chapters and the great riding and camaraderie of our Georgia mountain bike community!

In our inaugural year, we could think of no better place to base camp than with our good friends and sponsors Mulberry Gap Mountain Bike Get Away.

On Saturday, we will ride the Bearhoti route straight out of Mulberry Gap, the classic combination of Bear Creek, Pinhoti section one, Pinhoti section two and then back to the Gap.

On Sunday, we will move over to Bull and Jake Mountains for a Poker Ride and fundraiser for SORBA sponsored by Maxxis, CST, and Finish Line products.

So here are the details:

All reservations for weekend accommodations will be handled through Mulberry Gap.

You can choose your meals and your lodging, whether you want to camp or stay in one of their awesome cabins. A two-night stay is required. Reserve through their website today: https://www.mulberrygap.com/cabin-camping-reservations-mulberry-gap/. Have questions about accommodations? Call 706-698-2865 or emails reservations@mulberrygap.com.

To register for Saturday’s Bearhoti ride, buy a ticket (donation) on the Eventbrite link below. The price for the ride is $15 and covers all facility fees for Mulberry Gap which include parking, wifi, showers, a SAG stop, and a donation to the local trails. Prefer to skip the 4.5 mile gravel climb? You can opt for a seat on the shuttle for an additional $10 and you’ll meet us at the top of the climb. Mulberry is also offering a bagged lunch option for $10. The SAG will be included on the route with water and light snacks. The ride starts from Mulberry Gap in front of the office at 10 A.M sharp. Shuttles leave at 10:30 and are limited to 24 riders. You must buy a ticket here to register for the ride and you will need to sign a waiver on site.

To register for the Poker Ride at Bull Mountain, buy a ticket (donation) at the Eventbrite link below. $25 gets you in on the Poker Ride and the potential to win some great prizes from our sponsors. You will also get a cool stainless steel pint glass to commemorate the ride. All proceeds from this ride will go to aid in future trail maintenance at Bull and Jake Mountains. The Poker Ride will start and end at the Bull Mountain Parking lot. The ride starts at 11:30 A.M. and we will have a cut off of 3:30 P.M. You will need to sign a waiver on site for this ride.

SORBA Rain Policy: In the event the trails are too wet to ride per SORBA’s policy for responsible riding, we will have a gravel route option for both locations. The great news is both Mulberry and Bull Mountain have some of the best gravel riding in the state, so a good time is guaranteed!

Can’t spend the entire weeekend with us but have either day free? Join us for a great day in the mountains for either ride.

Sounds pretty epic right?

All tickets are available here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/first-annual-ga-sorba-epic-weekend-tickets-55009835900

Remember, if you want to ride, you MUST BUY A TICKET (DONATION) to either one or both of the rides.

Any questions can be directed to Brett Davidson, President of MTB Atlanta at sorbabrett@gmail.com.

Thanks and we look forward to seeing you for an epic weekend in the mountains!

MTB Atlanta Volunteer Board 2019-2021

Election results are in. Thank you to all of you who voted and for the folks who volunteered to step up to be on the Board to support our mission of building and maintaining sustainable trails and bike park facilitates on public land for mountain biking and outdoor recreation in Metro Atlanta.

The Board would like to thank Sandy Saffold for serving with us for two terms and for Tom Tomaka for serving as President and most recently Vice President of MTB Atlanta before moving to Western North Carolina.

We look forward to seeing you out on the trails in Metro Atlanta over the next two years!

Consider the Double Down Trail Fund for your Year End Giving

Thanks to Atlanta Cycling and anonymous donors we are only $5,200 shy of our goal of matching our $25k REI grant for Southside Park!

Thanks to you, we have raised $19,800 towards our match!

Want new trails ITP? Donate today! https://mtbatlanta.com/double-down-fund/

Board Elections underway until 12/31

Every two years we have Board elections. Here are your nominees for the 2019-2021 term:

Brett Davidson, President

Jeff Hunt, Treasurer

Keith Worsham, Vice President East Metro

Pete Edmondson, Vice President, South Metro

Chris Doane, Vice President, South Metro

Wayne Whitesides, Vice President, Tri-Cities

Chris Alasa, Vice President, Atlanta

Robby Bennett, At Large

Mike Edwards, At Large

Jennifer Braddock, At Large

Brad Beadles, At Large

Cliff Seal, At Large

Christian DiCenso, At Large

MTB Atlanta Board Nominations-Due 12/15/18

Do you love mountain biking, off road cycling, outdoor recreation, trail building and trails in general? Do you have a passion for conservation, giving back and building opportunity and community? Know anyone else who does as well?

Every two tears we accept nominations and have elections for our volunteer board. We would love for you to get involved or nominate someone that you think would be a super advocate for mountain biking and recreational trails in Metro Atlanta.

MTB Atlanta is always looking for new members for our board to help build capacity in our work with trails, inclusivity, women’s cycling, youth cycling, membership, social events and bike parks and urban cycling.

We are looking for At Large members and a Membership Director, Women’s Cycling Advocate, and Social Director.

Deadline for nominations are Saturday 12/15 and elections will be open until the 31st.

Email your nominations with a brief bio and a paragraph on what you want to achieve with us to sorbabrett@gmail.com.  We will fill you in on the rest once you submit your nomination.

Thanks and spread the word!

New Kids Riding Group- The ATL KID GOAT RIDERS!

MTB Atlanta is launching a new group ride series and corresponding social group for kids and parents who want to ride together called the ATL KID GOAT RIDERS.

This group was inspired by a local mom and her son who wanted to know if there were any groups for kids to ride trails in Atlanta. We didn’t know of any and she stepped up to run the first ride!  Her son came up with the great name for the new group.

These rides are made for young children and their parents to have fun and gain experience riding dirt trails together.

Our first ride will be held on the Evergreen Trail at Southside Park on November 11th at 12 P.M.

A mountain bike and helmet is required, all children must be accompanied by one of their parents on the trail and a waiver must be signed. After all those requirements are met, fun will be held by all!

If you are not on Facebook follow along here and our Events calendar.  If you have any questions reach out to sorbabrett@gmail.com .

New RIDE 20 Development Map

It has been a banner year for access and development at MTB Atlanta and as we move into the build season, we wanted to share our successes and this map of our plans with you.

We have a new initiative that we have named “Ride 20.” We believe every Metro Atlanta resident should be no more than 20 minutes from a natural surface trail for mountain biking or a bike park or pump track.  As an organization, we aim to seek out opportunities for soft surfaced trails and bike park and pump track facilities in communities that are underserved for mountain biking, outdoor recreation and sustainable, well designed, soft surfaced natural trail systems.

Much great work has been done by our cousin Metro Atlanta SORBA Chapters like SORBA Woodstock, RAMBO, GATR, and SORBA West Georgia towards this end. We intend to fill the voids.

Check out the high res map of our current projects on the initiative here: Ride 20 Map

This year we have forged new partnerships and gained new access in the cities of Newnan, Carrollton and College Park, and in Coweta and Carroll counties.

We have had Memorandum of Understandings (the agreements on which access is secured and trail projects are built with permission from land managers) approved by the City Council of Newnan, the City Council of College Park, and the County Commissions of Carroll and Coweta counties.

We currently have active trail build projects at Southside Park in Atlanta,  South Rockdale Park in Rockdale County, Chattahoochee Bend State Park in Coweta County, and Sykes Park in East Point.

We are meeting to plan two bike park projects in Newnan and East Point and have supported the new Smyrna Bike Park project at North Cooper Lake Park.

We are in the planning stages at Moore’s Bridge Park and Jones Mill Park  in Carroll County, working on flagging phase 3 and 4 at Chattahoochee Bend State Park, and planning pocket park trail development along the Carrollton Greenbelt.

Let us know your feedback, and if you know of any opportunities for trail, bike park, or pump track development in the Metro, contact sorbabrett@gmail.com.

As always, support our work by joining or renewing your membership today at  https://www.imba.com/renew/chapter/210548 , donating to our trail fund at  http://mtbatlanta.com/double-down-fund/ or volunteering at one of our work parties http://mtbatlanta.com/events/.

Action Alert! Vote Yes on Amendment One, the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Amendment

Mountain Bikers are Conservationists. We absolutely must support funding for public land and conservation for shared use trails and our sport. We have a tremendous opportunity to do just that on November 6th.

The Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Amendment is on the ballot on November 6 as Amendment One.

This Fall Georgians have a historic opportunity to dedicate funding for conservation and outdoor recreation, and it can be done without a tax increase.  Georgia’s economy and quality of life are directly tied to both the water quality of our rivers, lakes and streams and the availability and beauty of our outdoor spaces, wildlife habitats and parks.

Amendment One will allow a portion of the existing sales and use tax on outdoor sporting goods to the protection of the state’s land, water and wildlife with no new taxes or fees. Over $20 million would be dedicated every year for the next ten years.  This funding could not be used for any other purpose and would be subject to strict accountability provisions and public disclosure.

If passed, this funding would: Protect lands critical to clean drinking water and the quality of Georgia’s lakes, rivers and streams. Acquire and improve parks and trails for  outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy in communities throughout the state. Maintain and improve access to wildlife management areas and create new opportunities for hunting and fishing. Support Georgia’s $28.3 billion outdoor recreation industry.

The Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Amendment is supported by a coalition of  leading conservation organizations including: The Conservation Fund, Georgia Conservancy, Georgia Wildlife Federation, The Nature Conservancy, Park Pride, The Trust for Public Land as well as MTB Atlanta and the Southern Off Road Bicycling Association.

Mountain Bikers are some of the most active stewards of recreational trails on public lands in the state of Georgia, and our work benefits others beyond our sport such as hikers, runners, and equestrians. We urge you to do your part as a steward of public lands and trails by voting YES on Amendment One.

For more information, you can go to the website:  http://www.GeorgiaOutdoorStewardship.org or contact bfoster@georgiaconservancy.org.

2nd Annual Dirty Sheets Gravel Grinder -Sunday, November 11th!

Join us for the 2nd annual Dirty Sheets Gravel Grinder on Sunday November, 11th.

Registration is live and sign up before October 28th to lock in early bird pricing. The first 100 sign ups receive a shirt.

Sign up here today: https://runsignup.com/Race/GA/ChattachoocheeHills/DirtySheetsGravelGrinder

This year we are gonna get a little more racy and we have two options to choose from: a one lap 20 mile sprint or a three lap 60 mile race with timing.

We will also have a 20 mile social ride for those of you who want to enjoy the beauty and challenge of the Dirty Sheets at your own pace.

This years race will start on the route and we will have beer, vendors and great food for you to enjoy after your ride.

Our Sponsors include- Pedal for Pets, Crosstown Grille and Ale House, and Macon Beer Company.

All proceeds from the event will benefit the MTB Atlanta Trail Fund and the Southern Animal Alliance Group!

Fall Membership Drive is Underway- Join by Oct. 31st and win a Yeti!

Our Fall Membership Drive is underway and we need you now more than ever!

If you ride a bike off road in Metro Atlanta, you need to  join MTB Atlanta.

Join or renew today at https://www.imba.com/join/chapter/210548

Choose annual auto renew so you can keep your membership current and we will enter you in a local give away for a $100 REI Gift Card!

MTB Atlanta has worked to build and maintain 30 miles of mountain bike trails in Metro Atlanta and has 60 miles of new trail in development.  We are actively working to increase access for our sport and for trails for Outdoor Recreation as well as pump tracks and bike park facilities in Metro Atlanta. All of this takes funding and financial participation from the mountain bike community as a whole. We have an all volunteer Board that is looking to increase capacity as an organization. Simply stated, we are great at building and maintaining sustainable trails, but we need you to help us build a sustainable organization to support our work and our trails in Metro Atlanta.

This is why we need you to join or renew today.  Your membership provides us with the funds to build and maintain trails. Your membership makes a difference when we meet with land managers to gain or preserve access. As we have seen with the developments at Big Creek Park in Roswell, we cannot take our trails for granted. It takes an organization to keep trails open and to advocate for new trail access.  Land managers in Metro Atlanta, from the National Park Service on down to your local municipality have no budget to build or maintain trails. Your participation is essential to keep the quality riding you love available.

MTB Atlanta has four active trail builds starting this Fall/Winter at Southside Park, Sykes Park, South Rockdale Park, and Chattahoochee Bend State Park. We have opened new trail access in places like Carroll and Coweta Counties and the cities of East Point, Carrollton, College Park and Newnan. This access has the promise of delivering a regional ride center for all Metro Atlantans to enjoy.

Join or renew with MTB Atlanta in October and you’re entered to win a Yeti Cycles SB5 or SB5 Beti C-Series GX kit, plus a $2,000 JensonUSA shopping spree, a Western Spirit cycling trip for two and a BikeFlights shipping voucher for two. For 30 years, MTB Atlanta has helped create and maintain more trails close to home in Metro Atlanta. Your voice and your support matter!

Thank you for being an important part of the Metro Atlanta mountain biking community and we will see you out on the trails!