There and Back Again - My First Bike Tour
This is how I found myself in my lowest gear, climbing the hardest hill in my life on the spur off state route 180 that leads up to the top of Brass Town Bald.
This is bike touring, and it has become one of my favorite vacations. There is something incredibly freeing about being on a bike, especially when your bike includes two panniers with almost all you need to survive for a few days. While you cannot cover the same ground you can in your car, a bike brings you much closer to the landscape you are traveling through. It’s much easier to stop and enjoy a spectacular vista (well, you also may need a rest!), and the chances of meeting folks along are always enhanced.
My first unsupported, fully loaded, biking adventure came from a friend’s desire to do something epic before heading home. Prior to returning to Czechia, after finishing his post-doc work at Georgia Tech, Jan had spent his time here car-free and was well-known in the cycling community. In fact, about 20 people showed up for his first planning meeting for the adventure: Atlanta to Brasstown Bald and back.
In the foothills of the Appalachians.
As you probably know, Brasstown Bald, at an elevation of nearly 4,800 feet, it is Georgia’s highest peak, and that is how I found myself in my fighting up the hardest hill in my life. The spur off route 180 is about 3 miles with grades nearing 11%. We were probably about two thirds of the way up when I just could not pedal anymore and called out, “I gotta stop a minute!”. Leah, who was just behind me concurred. “Me too!”.
We walked our bikes a couple hundred yards and then climbed back on for the rest of the way up to the Brass Town Bald Visitors Center. There we reunited with Jan and Tim, and Jacob and another Leah who arrived shortly afterwards. Whereas 20 people had bravely shown up for the first planning meeting, only six of us made the trip.
The original plan was to bike to the very top, and despite all our efforts they had just opened the Visitors Center and no vehicles were allowed on the final three quarters of a mile to the peak due to the shuttle buses. So, we walked. Our leader Jan was frustrated not to be able to bike to the very top, though I did not complain.
On top of Brasstown Bald - Leah, Jan, Tim, Leah, Kevin, and Leah.
Our trip was unsupported, meaning we had nobody driving a van to pick up anyone if a bike broke down, or carry our tents and sleeping bags. We were on our own and it felt great. We were lucky as we had no major mechanical issues. Planning the trip involved figuring out where we could stop for the night, knowing where we could buy food, and most importantly, beer. While I had always done wilderness camping, having such luxurious accommodations was great! Having a real bathroom was great, but having a shower was even better!
Our trip was about 270 miles over four days, with three nights of camping. The route took us northeast towards Cleveland where we camped first. Then we travelled through Helen, up to Unicoi Gap and cut over towards Brasstown Bald. There we camped the second night near Suches and the third night at Sweetwater Campground at Lake Allatoona. We travelled through a lot of different terrains, but only one dirt road that I recall (this was before the gravel craze).
The author at Unicoi Gap
While it was late March, we had nice spring weather, with a little drizzle on the final day as we rode from Lake Allatoona through Roswell and back into town. It was an epic adventure!
Our final night at Lake Allatoona - Jan, Tim, Leah, Jacob and Leah.
If you are interested in touring, but perhaps want to start off with a far less epic, but still amazing trip, then In October the Atlanta Cycling Festival has organized a ride for you. This is a great entry-level bike camping trip where you don’t have to load your bike with your sleeping bag and tent because we will carry all your stuff and feed you! While the ride out and back is not too long, it’s about 37 miles on the Silver Comet each way, which has barely noticeable grades. Plus we stop three times, so even if you’re not used to riding that far, it’s not a hard ride. The group is fun, the food is good, and we’ll have beer and perhaps something a little stronger if you want it!
Bike Touring Tips
If you do want to try heading out on a bike for an overnight on your own or with some friends, here are some tips:
Planning is key. Plan your stops so you know where you’ll be staying, and then figure out where you can get provisions nearby. Make reservations, if needed, so that you have a spot at the campground.
Be careful with your distances between overnights, especially if you are planning to stop and see the sights along the way. It’s a lot easier to set up your tent in the daylight!
Don’t carry too much. While it is easier to carry a load on your bike than on your back, it’s helpful to minimize weight with a lightweight tent, cooking supplies, and sleeping bag. Having all the same in small sizes helps too.
Bring tools for simple repairs and flats. Bring more than one extra tube.
Bring a back up battery to charge your phone and lights. Phone batteries will run down quickly in remote areas since your phone is working harder to find a signal.
Let someone not on the tour know of your route and timing, and then check in with them.
