Saturday Start & Sunday Finish location:
The start and finish lines for the Bike MS: Atlanta to
Athens will be located on the campus of Georgia State
University. Specifically, cyclists will line up on
Piedmont Avenue at the intersection of Gilmer Street.
Click here for a downloadable map and
directions.
Saturday Overnight Location in Athens:
Day one of the ride will end in downtown Athens, GA.
Overnight festivities, including the Team Village will
be located at the Host Hotel, the Holiday Inn, at the
intersection of Broad Street and Lumpkin Street.
Ride Schedule:
The ride will start on Saturday, April 10th at 8:00 a.m.
The route will officially close at 6:00 p.m. Day two
begins on Sunday, April 11th at 8:00 a.m. and will
officially close at 5:00 p.m. Riders are encouraged not
to leave the start line prior to or after 8:00 a.m. as
support will not be available.
Minimum Pledge:
Cyclists riding in the Bike MS: Atlanta to Athens commit
to raising a minimum of $350 to be reached by the
Packet Pickup prior to the ride. Donations support
client programs, services and research supported by the
National MS Society.
Packet Pickup & Rider Credentials:
All riders must pick up their packet of rider
credentials at a Packet Pickup prior to the ride. Please
review the
Packet Pickup page for more information.
Minimum Age Requirement:
The minimum age to participate is 12 years old at the
time of the ride. For the Bike MS: Atlanta to Athens
2010, riders must be 12 years old by April 10, 2010.
Safety Restrictions:
Equipment and accessories attached to bicycles for
transporting children and/or pets are not allowed. This
includes, but is not limited to, bicycle trailers,
Tag-Along or Trail-a-Bike products, and child carrier
seats. Please review the
Cycling Guidelines page for more information.
Rider Services Centers:
For any questions that you may have regarding the bike
ride during the event, the Rider Services Center will be
able to help you. A location will be available at the
Packet Pickup as well as at the Start/Finish and
Overnight.
Accommodations:
Riders are responsible for arranging hotel
accommodations during the ride. Several area hotels have
been secured in both Atlanta and Athens, with special
rates for the weekend. A dedicated, free camping area
will also be available. Please see the
Accommodations page for more information.
Food And Beverage:
Break points are located along the route and will
provide water, sport drinks, fruit and snacks. Lunch
will be provided on day one and day two on the route.
Breakfast will be provided on Sunday morning at the
Overnight location. Dinner will not be provided on
Saturday night - Cyclists and their families are
encouraged to enjoy the tastes of Athens.
Bike Compound:
You have the option to store your bike in the Bike
Compound on Saturday night of the ride. The Bike
Compound will be a secured facility located in the Team
Village at the Holiday Inn. NOTE: For security reasons,
your Rider Number must be clearly displayed on the bike
and you must have the matching Rider Number on you in
order to pick your bike back up out of the compound.
Bike Maintenance:
The
Official Bike Stores will have mechanic support
at Break Points and at the start and overnight lines
throughout the ride. Beginning March 1, 2010, Official
Bike Stores will offer free inspections for all
registered riders. All riders with a bike inspection
sticker on their bike during the ride will be offered
normal labor charges for free.
Non-Denominational Service:
A non-denominational fellowship service will be offered
on Sunday at 7:00 a.m. at the overnight location.
Support And Gear (SAG) Vehicles:
Support And Gear (SAG) vehicles are operated by
dedicated volunteers who patrol the route to provide
help to riders who might need assistance. Should you
need a SAG to transport you to the next break point,
first move off the road and out of the path of other
riders; next, dismount your bike and stand nearby; then
wave your helmet to let the drivers know that you are
not just taking a break. Be aware that some of the
official vehicles on the route are medical, staff or
communications vehicles and are not equipped to carry
riders. Also, at peak hours SAG vehicles may be full.
Please have patience, another will be by soon.
Motorcycle Marshals:
Motorcycle Marshals are dedicated volunteers who patrol
the route, respond quickly to emergencies and traffic
situations, and check the well-being of riders. Please
follow the instructions of these volunteers.
Bike MS Routes Signs:
Route signs are placed along day 1 and day 2 routes as
directional signage. Please adhere to all road signs in
addition to taking directions from the route signs.


