10/13/2022
Important Information for Saturday's Ride:
Things to consider before you ride:
1. Ensure that you DOWNLOAD the ROUTES and or a cue sheet if you need one
2. Ensure that your bike is in good working order.
3. Carry a spare Tube / Tools with you like you would on any other ride.
4. Fill your water bottles before you get to the ride.
5. Carry some snacks with you. Rest Stops will be stocked but what if it’s something you don’t like or can’t eat?
6. Pair up with a partner that will not leave you along the route. It’s always best to have someone with you if you have a mechanical issue.
The weather forecast is nearly perfect riding weather. As of now, the forecast is calling for sunny skies and a high of 78 degrees!
We Ride Rain or Shine. Only Lightning will delay us.
We will have early packet pickup available Friday afternoon at Printer’s Ale from 4 PM until 6 PM. So, if you are in the area, come by to get your packet and enjoy a cold beer while onsite! The address is 940 Columbia Dr, Carrollton, GA 30117. If you are unable to drop by on Friday, no worries, you can get your packet Saturday morning at Printer’s Ale.
We will have SAG operating during the day of the ride. They will be able to deal with basic issues like flats and if needed SAG a rider back in. As with any ride, we all should be carrying your normal repair items like tubes, tire levers, inflation CO2 or pumps etc. NOTE, HELMETS are always required for all riders on the course. If you ride and require a special tube, make sure you have a few on you.
Primary SAG support will be provided by West Georgia Cycling. We greatly appreciate their support for the ride. Make sure to say thanks to them when you see them. Local bike shops keep us on the road so please support them with your business if in the local area. Hopefully everyone has checked their bikes out this week and you are ready to roll!
If you have an emergency on the ride, CALL 911. If you need assistance on the ride, you can call our SAG phone number which is (678) 476-4974. Please make note of this number.
Start of the Ride
The official ride start time is 9:00 am and we do want to get you out and rolling on time. We ask that you start to gather at the entrance to the Arch behind the Lead Out vehicle at 8:30 am. We will make a few announcements, and then a local a capella singing group, Noteworthy, will perform 2 songs: “7 Bridges Road,” and “Mountain Music.” Then, the Carrollton High School Air Force Junior ROTC detachment will present the colors, and Noteworthy will perform the National Anthem. Following the anthem, we will begin the rides, and will stage based on the route.
About the Ride
• Parking for our event will be next door at OFS. Printer’s Ale will be holding their Oktoberfest Celebration on Saturday, so we want to allow for their regular customer traffic to park. The address to OFS is: 10 Brightwave Blvd, Carrollton, GA 30117. After parking, ride your bike next door to Printer’s Ale.
• Check In / Day of Ride Registration will be at Printer’s Ale, which is our starting location for all rides. Registration will open at 7:45AM. You will be given a color-coded wrist band that corresponds with your chosen route. If you decide to opt for a different route than what you originally registered for, please notify us at check in, so that we can ensure that we get you the proper wrist band.
• Speaking of routes, we ask that you review and download the routes in advance from our website at https://www.semperficentury.com/Ride.html. If you have a GPS computer, pick out the course you are planning to ride and have it loaded.
• The routes are well marked for all the courses. Our route markings for this year’s event are as follows:
• 37 Mile Road: White (Jarhead Jaunt)
• 64 Mile Road: Green (Mean Marine Metric)
• 102 Mile Road: Red (Semper Fi Century)
• 52 Mile Mixed Surface: Orange (Gunny’s Gravel Grinder)
• 81 Mile Mixed Surface: Blue (Full Metal Gravel)
• Each rider will have a wrist band that is matches color of the route selected. The wrist band will also have the SAG number printed on the wrist band for easy reference.
• We ask that you ride safely and predictably, point out road hazards as there will be some on the routes. Please follow the rules of the road and obey the traffic laws, and be respectful as you pass through the different neighborhoods along the way. If there are people out give them a friendly wave. Most of our roads are low traffic except in a few areas. Be mindful that we are sharing the road with motorists, who at times can be impatient.
• If you are riding in a group with a pace line, please make sure you observe good practices of pace line riding. Pace lines should be no more than two riders across. The key is to ride predictably and ensure there are no sudden movements, changes of direction and speed in the line. Also, be aware of Cars back and when safe allow them to pass, if need be single up to facilitate their passing for your safety. Please keep your pace line manageable so motorists can safely pass.
• When you return, we will have a designated area to hang your bike. When you finish your ride, feel free to hang your bike and join in the festivities! For our riders, we are providing a post ride meal. In keeping with the Oktoberfest theme, the main offering will be a Bratwurst lunch with sides and dessert. Alternatively, a vegetarian offering will be available. Special beer releases will be occurring throughout the afternoon, including a very special one, “Jarhead Juice!” This is a special release for our event, and is a peach Kolsch. Also, for those interested in participating, Printer’s Ale is having a stein hoisting competition at 4 PM. Entry into the stein hoisting competition is not included in our registration fee, but you are welcome to enter! It is our understanding that the entry fee will be $20, which includes a special stein that you will be yours to keep. Look for more details on event day!
• We will also have toy collection boxes set up on site the day of the event. Toy donations are not required to participate in our event, but are certainly appreciated! If you wish to donate, the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation will gladly accept new and unwrapped toys. Many people are struggling right now, and we hope to make a difference in our area this Christmas. We are very appreciative of your support!
Please keep in mind that we are not Professional Event Organizers. We are making our best effort to ensure that our riders are able to ride safely and fully enjoy the day on our roads, and the post ride celebration. Please feel free to submit any comments or feedback to us at [email protected]
Thanks for riding with us!
Ben Wood
Ride Director
New for 2022:Gravel Routes & New Venue! The Carroll County Cycling Club and Printer’s Ale Manufacturing Co. Presents: The 2nd Annual Semper Fi Century for Toys for Tots Cycling Event, Toy Drive and Oktoberfest Celebration Saturday October 15th, 2022, at Printer’s Ale Manufacturing Co. in Carroll...
