Get Ready for Bike MS: Georgia Power Savannah Ride!

Endorsed by ardent cyclists and novices alike, the ride offers a two-day fundraising ride through the world-renowned city of Savannah, Georgia, steeped in history and beauty. Quickly becoming one of Georgia’s two-day cycling traditions, the Bike MS: Georgia Power Savannah Ride is a non-profit sporting event celebrating its fourth year in the fight against multiple sclerosis.

Like its sister bike ride the Bike MS: Cox Atlanta Ride, this event is reaching new heights in an effort to better the lives of all Georgians living with MS. By joining hundreds of riders, participants will be making a profound difference in the lives of people living with MS who are served by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society-Georgia Chapter. The Bike MS: Georgia Power Savannah Ride is one of two rides hosted by the National MS Society-Georgia Chapter that together will raise more than $1.4 million for client programs and research in 2009. Both tours are regarded by cycling enthusiasts as premier rides in Georgia, with experienced management, well-coordinated routes, and special attention to riders’ safety and comfort.

The Bike MS: Georgia Power Savannah Ride 2009 will once again highlight picturesque routes through Savannah’s Low Country and historical landmarks. It will also feature a figure 8 route, allowing for greater efficiency and fun at the Start, Finish and Overnight Celebration all headquartered at our host location, the Roundhouse Railroad Museum, a National Historic Landmark site that is the oldest and largest existing 19th century railroad operations complex in the nation. As part of their weekend experience, cyclists can tour the steam and diesel locomotives, rail cars, steam-powered machinery, and model railroads.

For more information and to register, please visit www.bikemssavannah.org.

Get Ready for the Street Festival!

Join us on Friday, September 12 from 4:00-9:00pm at the third annual Bike MS Street Festival & Packet Pickup as the town of Pine Mountain rolls out the red carpet for the Bike MS: Cox Atlanta Ride 2008 on Sept. 13 -14. Feast on local Pine Mountain favorites; groove with music and dancing; browse Pine Mountain merchants; visit with official bike stores; and attend the onsite Packet Pickup. Sponsored by the City of Pine Mountain, the Pine Mountain Tourism Association and Merchants Association, this is sure to get you pumped up for the ride.

For our “out of town” participants and for those who waited until the last minute, this will be your last chance to get your bike inspected and to register or pick up rider packets (available at the First Baptist Church). Registration and Rider Packets will NOT be available the morning of the ride.

For a map to Pine Mountain, go to www.pinemountain.org.

Bike MS Official Bike Stores offer tune ups and advice before the ride

The Bike MS: Cox Atlanta Ride is just weeks away. As you prepare for the ride, our official bike stores can make sure your bike is tuned up and ready to go.

Additionally, official bike stores are available to help you in several ways:

• As of August 1, there is an official bike inspection which guarantees free labor on the ride.



• Recommendations and literature on training to make sure you have the right bike.



• Each of the Bike MS Official Bike Stores host regular training rides from their store locations. Easy, moderate, and fast paced rides are available.
  

Thank you for riding in year's Bike MS: Cox Atlanta Ride. We look forward to seeing you and your bike at Callaway Gardens!

The ride is only a month away! How's your training coming?

Of course you all know that the ride is only a month away and we're sure you've been training hard. Here are a few tips to help you out in your last push before the Bike MS: Cox Atlanta Ride on Sept. 13th and 14th at Callaway Gardens.


1. Eat, Drink and Ride
On all rides, you should drink 4-8 ounces of water or carbohydrate drink every 15-30 minutes. Drink more if it’s hot, humid or you are really riding hard. On rides more than two hours in duration, carbohydrate replacement drinks empty more slowly from the stomach, so the total fluid amount should be reduced to 2-4 ounces every 15-30 minutes.

2. Check in with one of the Official Bike Stores
The best source for bicycling information is one of the Bike MS: Cox Atlanta Ride's Official Bike
Stores. Your Official Bike Store is also the best source for your mechanical questions.

3. Keep track of your mileage
Another key aspect of training is assessing your improvement. Keeping track of start and stop times will help you judge overall speed.

4. Sometimes double-up on miles
After working up to a moderate day, attempt an endurance day by doubling the mileage once a week. The purpose is to gain confidence and improve cardiovascular fitness.

5. Ride hills
After warming up with a moderate day ride, find a hill that you can climb without totally exhausting yourself. The power and stamina developed with hill work will assist you in taking the larger hills along the route.

6. Work on speed intervals
Interval training works the same way. Start with one sprint on each ride and then add more, longer sprints each time that you ride. Interval training will improve overall speed, endurance and your ability to recover.

7. Check out the event website for more information
The Bike MS: Cox Atlanta Ride website has all the info you need; map routes for day one and day two , rider services, calendar of events and more.

Let us know how it's going. Comment on your training and any tips you have.

Bike MS Jr. opens this year's ride to cyclists of all ages

This year's Bike MS: Cox Atlanta Ride is offering an opportunity for the whole family to get involved...


The Bike MS Jr. Ride is a brand new and exciting program open to all cyclists from ages 5 to 11. This one-day ride, held in conjunction with the Bike MS: Cox Atlanta Ride, offers a specialized ride and fundraising experience for our youngest participants. The junior cyclists will enjoy secure routes throughout Callaway Gardens with frequent break points at various attractions throughout the park.

This is sure to be an experience the whole family can enjoy and be proud of!

Get started! Sign-up your junior cyclist today at, the Bike MS: Cox Atlanta Ride.

Bike MS Jr. Promotes

• Lifelong fitness and health
• Community responsibility through fundraising for a good cause
• Basic cycling skills to enhance ability, safety & confidence
• Teamwork and respect
• Cycling ettiqute for responsible, informed cyclists
• Vital communication skills as parents teach and assist in fundraising
• Appreciation of nature through breakpoints at Callaway Gardens nature centers

Long awaited Steve Penley masterpiece unveiled

We were truly honored last night to have renowned artist Steve Penley unveil his long awaited masterpiece created exclusively for the National MS Society – Georgia Chapter to promote the Bike MS: Cox Atlanta Ride. His artwork will serve as the design for the jersey to be awarded to the top 100 fundraisers from this year’s Atlanta ride!!

We would like to express our gratitude to Steve Penley for his work and Linstrum+Matre Artworks for hosting the event.

The evening was filled with excitement about the painting and the upcoming September ride. On hand was National MS Society- Georgia Chapter President Roy A. Rangel; artist Steve Penley, National MS Society- Georgia Chapter Board Chairman Gary Grant and National MS Society National Board Chairman Weyman Johnson

Remember that registration fees increase on August 1, so register online.

Renowned Atlanta artist Steve Penley unveils his masterpiece created exclusively for the Bike MS: Cox Atlanta Ride

This Tuesday, July 29, Steve Penley’s latest work, created exclusively for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society – Georgia Chapter, will finally be unveiled at Linstrum + Matre Artworks. We are honored that this work of art will serve as the design for the jersey to be awarded to the top 100 fundraisers from this year’s Atlanta ride!! We are so thrilled to have such a talented artist contribute to the event. This jersey is sure to be one of the most coveted in the history of the ride. Steve Penley, a Georgia native, is celebrated for his use of bright colors and expressionistic brush strokes to turn everyday and iconic images into vivid creations.

After the unveiling we'll post Penley's masterpiece for the Bike MS: Cox Atlanta Ride “Top 100 Club” jersey design.