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BikePacking 101 - SCT - 45mi Out & Back




The Basics:
Event Type:Bike
Event Location: Smyrna, GA   Bike: BikePacking 101 - SCT - 45mi Out & Back  National Weather Service Forecast
Date(s) & Time:Sat, Mar 16 2019  10:00 am >> Sun, Mar 17 2019 2:00 pm
Registration Opens: Sun, Mar 3 2019 8:01 pm
Registration Cut Off: Tue, Mar 12 2019 9:00 pm
Event Duration:1 Days 4 Hours
Difficulty Rating:D5: Difficult
Distance:90 Miles
Pace:Moderate
Trip Leader(s):
Horhay
Mike S
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Member Cost:None

Participant Info:
Who's Invited: Members Only, 21 And Older Only
Maximum Group Size:8
Minimum Group Size:3
Number Registered So Far: 7 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)
Are Dogs Permitted: No

Itinerary:

Pack your saddlebags, B.O.B.'s, panniers and/or BACKPACK for an awesome winter bike event that take us out the Silver Comet Trail (SCT) to the Camp Comet's primitive campsites. From Smyrna, GA. to just about Cedartown, GA, this 45 mile out & back path ride at a fun pace of 15mph or so that kicks off 10am SHARP. I'll be on my CX bike but a road/touring bike is probably best suited for this event, or even a hybrid bike. We did a test run on a section of the SCT - and let me tell you - when you add 40+ pounds of gear to a bike...it's a WHOLE DIFFERENT form of torture :P 
We may or may not be together the entire path (depending on pace of others), so be comfortable knowing that in advance. I will be vetting people hard on this too, you'll need basically all of the gear you'd need for primitive backpacking, the physical & mental fortitude, and a bike to carry it all on (no shuttling gear out separately, it's bike packing). You'll also be required to maintain your own rig & gear, be prepared for mechanical issues, "out there repairs" and the unexpected
.

The campsites are primitive, as I mentioned before. With that being said, it's on the SCT so we have some Creature Comforts (wink, wink) at our disposal and worse case scenario we're near a roadway (hwy 278) a lot of the time...AAA y'all, it's no joke.

Wheels down at 10am SHARP and we'll ride out from the small parking lot off of E/W Connector & Gaylor - there's a Firehouse Subs off the small service road (Camp Highland SE, see GPS map above for Google Map).

The campground marker (photo above) is at mile 45 and the sites are right off the trail (actually left but you know what I mean). There is a convenience store not too far away so there's always an option for additional water and/or supplies, but don't rely on this place for food. Bring plenty of lights & batteries being sure to set up your tent/hammock site as soon as you get there, since it's first come, first serve format. 

There's plenty of dead trees around, so weather permitting we'll have a lil fire to tell stories, play banjos and harmonicas around the pit. A pack saw will be in tow with me, but if anyone else has one....more the merrier!

We'll want to break camp up Sunday kind of early to zip back to Smyrna in time to get home to enjoy the remaining part of Sunday & St. Paddy's Day.

This event combines the best parts of backpacking with the best parts of bike riding = BIKEPACKING. If it's a success, we'll be sure to "crank" out more of these events in the future.

All gear is to be "muled" by rider - no sag wagons!
It's Bikepacking, not Bike Slack Packing...all  potential participants will be vetted for a gear shakedown over the phone. I reserve the right to remove members if this requirement is not followed.

 


Required Items to Bring:

 

Bike - helpful

Helmet - a must

Cold Weather gear for the ride out, the night there & the ride back

all the backpacking gear for over night:
Tent, S-Bag, mat, stove, water
Food
Energy drinks
E-tabs
more food

Flashlight(s) & Batteries
Charging equipment - they have outlets/hookups if I'm not mistaken, but just in case

Tools
Pump
tube(s)
CC & Cash
RoadID and regular ID

 

 

Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.

rain gear if necessary...but I'll probably pull the plug on this if it looks bad!

Strava/Garmin/MapMyRide gadgets

Glasses/Sun or clear

Waterproof containers for food, clothing, gear and trash!

Rodent proof bag(s) for smelly stuff

 

just think of the worst case scenarios and plan accordingly! 

 


How to Get There:
Event Directions:

Again, the GPS link above shows where we meet, but it's off East-West Connector & Gaylor Rd on Camp Highland Rd SE in the small trailhead lot that is close to the main road.

Easilest way to get there is I-285 to Atlanta Rd (exit 16) go west off the freeway (which is actually NW in direction) 1/2 mile to Cumberland Pkwy- which changes names to East-West Connector as soon as you cross over South Cobb Dr -  turn Right on Gaylor Rd, it's the first road to the Right, followed by an immediate Left on to Camp Highland Rd SE, the small parking lot to the left along E/W Connector. We will meet there. WHEELS DOWN AT 10am SO GET THERE WELL B4 10am


Notes:

#KeepTheRubberSideDown #LeaveNoTrace

There are NO restrooms, running water or power at Camp Comet.  There is however a porta potty at a nearby parking lot.

No electric bikes thanks


* We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines while participating in AOC events.

Cost Includes:

Camp site is free but limited in space and it's a FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE set up. Let's hope we're the only loco cyclists out there this weekend.


Cancellation/Partial Attendance:   Please review the AOC cancellation policy.