Chastain Urban Bike Adventure

We all know and love Chastain Park for the popular amphitheatre and concerts.  And maybe some of you have walked your dog there or taken a leisurely stroll or jog around the 3 mile loop..or maybe even played golf on the North Fulton course inside the park…but biked it?  C’mon.  Really??

That’s exactly what we plan to do!  Well…in a “round-about” way.

The main pathway that loops the park is ideally suited for walkers and joggers...so we’ll be skirting on designated bike lanes around the park for a short distance, then diving in and out and around the majestic neighborhoods of Buckhead and Sandy Springs that border the park.  I plan to keep us off of the busier roads so we can admire perfectly manicured lawns and multi-million dollar homes that we could never afford to live in. 

The ride is a relaxing and undulating 10 mile loop with a few steep hills here and there and MANY turns and stops.  Due to the high frequency of stops, it is probably better suited for bikes with flat pedals such as hybrids and mountain bikes (I myself will ride a hybrid), but anyone experienced with a road bike and clip-on pedals should be ok.  Just be mindful that there is a little more traffic to contend with and the roads will have some small debris here and there (pebbles, gravel) since we are spending some time in neighborhoods.  This is the first official AOC sponsored bike ride in Chastain Park, so my hope is that we can enjoy the beautiful scenery and get in a little exercise.

I expect the ride to take us about an hour, and afterwards we will hop over to Fellini’s (this is OPTIONAL) and enjoy some pizza and cold beverages.

Due to the presence of a few steep hills and traffic in some areas, some intermediate experience is recommended.  We must obey road laws and traffic signs at all times and try to stay together.

Our pace will be determined by the group and our stops in between, but count on an easy pace of 10 MPH. 

**PLEASE NOTE** 
You are responsible for your bike maintenance and/or repairs. Other AOCer's will be willing to provide what help they can. But ultimately individual riders are responsible for any repairs. Make sure you complete a pre-ride maintenance check a day or two prior to the event.

Chastain Park is a rather large park.  We will convene on the north side of the park near the entrance to the Chastain Pool, at the intersection of West Wieuca Rd NW and Elliot Galloway Way.  (Elliot Galloway Way is a one-way road.)  There is plenty of parking on this road as well along West Wieuca Road.  You may need to park farther away and ride over to meet the group.  Please review a map before you drive and follow the directions below very carefully.

Also, please be mindful of the heavy traffic in this area.  We will wait 10-15 minutes, then head out at 6:45 pm after introductions.    Please try to prep your bike before arriving.

Directions:

A) From Georgia-400,exit at the Lenox Road and head West towards Piedmont Road NE.

B) Turn right onto Piedmont Road NE and follow until it intersects Roswell Road NE.

C) Turn RIGHT onto Roswell Road NE and immediately take your first left onto Powers Ferry Road.

D) Stay on Powers Ferry Road.  Drive past Chastain Park (you will see it on your right) and take a right onto Stella Drive NW, then an IMMEDIATE right onto Elliot Galloway Way.

E) Park on Elliot Galloway Way.  If there are no available spots, you may park on West Wieuca Road.

Again, we'll gather near the intersection of Elliot Galloway Way and West Wieuca Road, next to Chastain Pool.