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Spring Tune-Up 2012
Spring Tune-Up 2012 Ride It. Love It. BRAG About It. |
Come ride with us at the 19th annual BRAG Spring Tune-Up Ride on April 20-22, 2012. BRAG veterans, 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 to do so. Join us for the 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 2012! |
The terrain around Madison is flat to 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, and a candy shop, all just a mile from camp. Find out more about Madison at www.madisonga.org. Download the Registration Form Here RIDE ON - 50% off Registration Ends February 18 - Download Form here |
AGAIN THIS YEAR On Friday night, we will have a DJ and free Happy Hour beer party downtown at the air-conditioned Conference Center, complete with DJ Ned Mountain. Ned has been spinning mountains of tunes for years at SBL dances. He knows exactly what bike riders want to hear after a long day in the saddle. We'll also have some Cokes, Dasani Water, and snacks to go with the beer. Outside, Madison is hosting a Classic Car Cruise-In Friday night. Bring your ID for the beer party. We will be checking them. |
Spring Tune Up Featured in Lakelife Click here to download a pdf file of the article (large file, please be patient) (provided with permission from the publisher) |
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Mama Ralphael is handling the ice cream social Saturday afternoon. Ask for the Jerry Special (vanilla ice cream, chocolate syrup, strawberries, chopped nuts, whipped cream, and a cherry on top). Save room for S’Mores at camp after dark. You can start your diet Monday morning. |
BRAG Spring Tune-Up 2012 will begin and end at Heritage Park in Madison, Georgia. At on-site registration, you will receive your obligatory BRAG Spring Tune-Up wristband. You will also receive your maps and route descriptions. You can purchase BRAG merchandise at the registration area. A bicycle shop 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. See below for Directions to the Start/Finish. |
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WHEN DOES IT START & SCHEDULE OF EVENTS FRIDAY, APRIL 20. The Brer Rabbit Ride. 58 miles (or 30 or 11). HQ open 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Mama Ralphael breakfast buffet on site. Ride to Eatonton. Back at camp: hot shower at shower trailer, Mama Ralphael post-ride lunch & supper meal options, walking or biking tour of historic Madison, including African-American museum, movies. Downtown Happy Hour from 5pm – 7pm at the Conference Center with DJ Ned Mountain and free beer. Classic Car Cruise-In downtown. Campfire on site with S’mores. No alcoholic beverages are permitted at any time at Heritage Park. SATURDAY, APRIL 21. The Oreo Cow Century Ride. 101 miles. Social Circle, Rutledge Loop. FULLY SUPPORTED. Free STU 2012 Century Ride Bandanna to the first 100 finishers, or The Blue Willow Ride 57 miles (or 32, 10, or shorter miles). HQ open 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. 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. Back at camp: Ice Cream Social, walking or biking tour of Historic Madison, movies. Happy Hour at the Brady Inn. Ned Mountain will be back spinning your favorite tunes. Campfire at Heritage Park with S’mores. No alcoholic beverages are permitted at any time at Heritage Park. SUNDAY, APRIL 22. The Rock Eagle Ramble. 62 miles (or 39, 21, 15, or shorter miles). HQ opens at 7 a.m. Mama Ralphael breakfast buffet on site. Ride to Rock Eagle for the optional Spring Sunday Lunch Buffet. 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: Camping is not allowed at Heritage Park Sunday night. No alcoholic beverages are permitted at any time at Heritage Park.
NOTE: If riding short options, a vehicle may be needed to get to the lunch stops. SOME EVENTS, ATTRACTIONS, AND MILEAGES ARE TENTATIVE AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE AS WE CONTINUE TO PREPARE THE BEST POSSIBLE SPRING TUNE-UP RIDE. |
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MEALS Mama Ralphael will be back on site with a $6.50 all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet. Mama will have a hearty $5.00 lunch at BRAG HQ: Dinner buffet at BRAG HQ - $9.00 Rest stops will be located every 15 to 20 miles along the route. There will be a fully-supported optional Century Ride on Saturday, April 21. Shorter ride options will be offered each day. On-route lunch options are available all three days. Meals can be purchased on-site. Friday’s ride features several restaurants in Eatonton. Saturday’s route goes by The Blue Willow Inn, and Sunday’s route goes to the Rock Eagle Spring Sunday Lunch Buffet. 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 for first-time BRAG riders. |
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MOTELS The James Madison Inn in Madison has again joined BRAG as a sponsor of the Spring Tune-Up Ride and will award one lucky rider with a free night's stay at the Inn. A registration will be chosen at random from all the Spring Tune-Up registrations received by March 31, 2012. This free night's lodging may be used during Spring Tune-Up, subject to hotel room availability. Register now for the Spring Tune-Up Ride at 50% off until February 18 and get your name in the drawing. After February 18, register for Spring Tune-Up at regular registration prices. If you cannot attend the Spring Tune-Up Ride and would like to get in on the drawing, please send a 3 x 5 inch card with your name, address, phone number, and email address to BRAG, PO BOX 871111, Stone Mountain, GA 30087, so as to reach us before March 31, 2012. Write on the top of the card the words, "STU DRAWING." For more information on The James Madison Inn, please visit http://www.jamesmadisoninn.com/ This room is a $234 value. They are offering a 20% discount to BRAG riders staying with them during the ride. When making reservations, make sure you tell them you are a BRAG rider to receive the discount. To confirm your ride registration, check the web site for the updated weekly registration list. |
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DIRECTIONS TO THE START/FINISH • Take I-20 to Madison, GA (I-20 East from Atlanta). Exit at Exit 114, US 129/US 441, Madison-Eatonton Exit. |
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Testimonials from Spring Tune-Up 2011 riders: “Great route through some beautiful country.” “I had a great first experience. It was very organized and I met great and interesting people.” “The rest stops and food were great.” “The happy hour events were very nice.” “I liked the friendly folks in Madison.” “I like the Madison area for biking, and the town’s people were very friendly and accommodating. They seemed to really want us there, and I really liked being there.” “I enjoyed being around great people with the same interest and getting to know people from other areas.” “The pimento cheese sandwiches were a nice touch, and I loved the countryside around Madison.” “I enjoyed the people, the scenery and the overall ride in a small town.” “Madison is a great host town, and the routes were great.” “I was reminded as to why BRAG is one of the best rides in the state. I truly enjoyed my time mingling with fellow riders, the volunteers and snacking at the rest stops. Thanks for a great time.” “My family and I had a wonderful time on our first STU! We can’t wait for the next one!” “I enjoyed STU as always. The organizers did a marvelous job, and I’m already looking forward to next year.” |
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Thank You to Our 2012 Sponsors
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You Can't BRAG if You Don't Ride! |
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