:::BRAG Spring Tune-up 2008 :::

All cyclists and their families are invited to join in the 16th annual BRAG Spring Tune-Up ride on April 17-19, 2009. BRAG veterans, come experience the fun and fellowship of BRAG without having to put up and take down your tent each day. BRAG newcomers, this is a terrific way to experience BRAG without taking a week off from work. Join us for this Spring Tune-Up ride to clear the cobwebs off your bicycle and shake the winter right out of your legs. Come see what makes the Bicycle Ride Across Georgia so special. It’s much more than just another bike ride. Ride for a day or for the entire 3-day weekend. Join us for the fun, the food, the fellowship, and the festival at BRAG Spring Tune-Up 2009!

The terrain around Madison is flat to gently rolling hills, with a few surprises. Madison was voted “Best Small Town in America” and is “the town Sherman refused to burn.” Madison is located on Georgia’s Antebellum Trail and Georgia’s Antique Trail and features pre-Civil War and Victorian homes with a charming downtown. There are 14 restaurants on the square, plus an ice cream/chocolate shop, all just a mile from camp Find out more about Madison at www.madisonga.org.

BRAG Spring Tune-Up 2009 will begin and end at Madison Heritage Park in Madison, Georgia. At on-site registration, you will receive your obligatory BRAG Spring Tune-Up wristband. You will also receive a copy of the BRAG safety pledge, maps and route descriptions. You can purchase BRAG merchandise at the registration area. Cycleworks will provide bicycle repair and technical support. A portable shower trailer will be on site to provide hot showers after each day’s ride.

All outdoor camping for the weekend (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights) will be at Heritage Park. RVs are welcome, but no hookups are provided. No alcoholic beverages are allowed on park property. There is no indoor camping at Heritage Park. Mapquesters, search for Heritage Park at 1100 Brown Lane, Madison, GA 30650 (for search purposes only. Not a U.S. Mail address).

Café Campesino gourmet coffee will be available for purchase each day. Start your day with a BRAG brew! Mama Ralphael will be back on site with a $6.50 all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet – old fashioned oatmeal, grits, scrambled eggs, sausage, biscuits & gravy, fruit, juice & hot coffee. On Saturday, add pancakes; Sunday, add French Toast for more variety. After hammering out those hard miles, Mama will have a hearty $5.00 lunch waiting with an assortment of sandwiches (you do the fixins), Saturday, add BBQ (or veggie burgers), cole slaw & baked beans; Sunday, Hamburgers (or veggie burgers), Hot dogs, (or soy dogs) with chili, cheese, kraut and all the condiments. Every day ice tea and lemonade, salty chips and salsa, and a sweet snack. Dinner buffet ($8.75) starts Friday with a 4-pasta night which comes with meatballs, salad, garlic bread, strawberry shortcake. Saturday is Mexican night – make your own burritos or super nachos with beef, beans, rice, cheese, sour cream, and all the veggies. Finish with pineapple shortcake topped with coconut and rum sauce.

Rest stops will be located every 10 to 15 miles along the route. There will be a fully-supported Century Ride on Saturday, April 18, and extended mileage “Hammerhead” options on Friday and Sunday. Shorter ride options will be offered each day. On-route lunch options are available all three days. Short option rides may not go past the lunch stops.

On-route lunch options are available all three days. Meals can be purchased on-site at the following restaurants: Friday—Rock Eagle Cafeteria, Saturday—The Blue Willow Inn, and Sunday—Yesterday’s Cafe. Short option rides may not go past the lunch stops. If you ride a short option, you can ride your bike back to camp, get your car, and still make it to the lunch stop to meet your friends.

All BRAG rides are “Show and Go.” There is no organized group start. It’s a ride, not a race. There will be Newcomers’ Meetings each morning at 7:30 a.m. and 8 a.m. for first-time BRAG riders.

If you prefer to stay in a motel, Madison has several motels to choose from. There are also several Bed and Breakfasts in the Madison area. Make reservations early. For more information on accommodations, visit www.madisonga.org/accommodations.htm.

To confirm your ride registration, check the web site for the updated weekly registration list.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

You Can’t BRAG if You Don’t Ride!

THURSDAY, APRIL 16. Outdoor camping available at Heritage Park after 3:30 p.m. BRAG headquarters open from 6 p.m. until 7 p.m.

FRIDAY, APRIL 17. The Rock Eagle Ride. 63 miles (or 69, 39, 21, 15, or shorter miles). HQ open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Optional Café Campesino coffee and Mama Ralphael breakfast buffet on site. Ride to Rock Eagle for optional lunch at the 4-H Conference Center. Get back to camp in time for a hot shower. Mama Ralphael post-ride lunch & supper meal options on site. Back at camp: walking or biking tour of historic Madison, including African-American museum, movies, library nearby with internet access. Campfire on site with S’mores.

SATURDAY, APRIL 18. The Eagle Tavern Century Ride. 100 miles. Watkinsville, Social Circle Loop. FULLY SUPPORTED. Free STU 2009 Century Ride Bandanna to the first 100 finishers, or The Blue Willow Ride 57 miles (or 68, 44, 32, 10, or shorter miles). HQ opens at 7 a.m. Optional Café Campesino coffee and Mama Ralphael breakfast buffet on site. Ride through rural Good Hope and Social Circle, GA. Optional lunch at The Blue Willow Inn, voted Top 5 “Bodacious Buffets” in America by the Food Network. Mama Ralphael post-ride lunch & supper meal options on site. Entertainment on the Square downtown. Back at camp: Ice Cream Social, walking or biking tour of Historic Madison, movies. Campfire on site with S’mores.

SUNDAY, APRIL 19. The Oreo Cow Ride. 56 miles (or 72, 35, 11, or shorter miles). HQ opens at 7 a.m. Non-denominational church service at 7:30 a.m. Optional Café Campesino coffee and Mama Ralphael breakfast buffet on site. Ride to Rutledge, GA, for an optional lunch at Yesterday’s Cafe. Get back to camp in time for a hot shower. Optional Mama Raphael lunch on site. HQ and campsite close at 3:00 p.m.

NOTE: If riding short options, a vehicle may be needed to get to the lunch stops.

SOME EVENTS AND ATTRACTIONS ARE TENTATIVE AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE AS WE CONTINUE TO PREPARE THE BEST POSSIBLE SPRING TUNE-UP RIDE. ADDITIONAL DETAILS AND UPDATES WILL BE POSTED ON THE BRAG WEBSITE: www.brag.org

Directions to the Start/Finish

Click here for Map

Do a Mapquest.com or Google.com map search for 1100 Brown Ln., Madison, GA 30650. (For search purposes only. Not a U.S. Mail address.) Madison is about 70 miles east of Atlanta.

• Take I-20 to Madison, GA (I-20 East from Atlanta). Exit at Exit 114, US 129/US 441, Madison-Eatonton Exit.
• Go north on US 129/US 441 at the traffic light. If coming from Atlanta, this is a left turn off the exit ramp. If coming from the East, this is a right turn off the exit ramp.
• Go approximately .8 mile and turn right on the Madison Bypass (US 129 Bypass/US 441 Bypass) at the traffic light.
• Travel 3.1 miles on the Bypass and then turn right onto Old Buckhead Rd. at a traffic light.
• Continue .1 mile and turn left onto Brown Ln. Madison Heritage Park is .1 mile ahead on the left. BRAG headquarters is located in the picnic pavilion on the left.

Support our Sponsors


Coca-Cola	Powerade

Jameson Inn	Alavert

Advil	Cycleworks

Café Campesino	Aquaphor

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