General Expectations:

Expect no pressure, few plans, and many beautiful miles of relaxation.

It's common for newcomers to have no idea what is going to happen during the trip, and that's fine.  Otter and I didn't have a clue what we were doing the first time that we took this trip.  Neither should you.  The long and short of it is that you will figure it out as you go - just like we did.

Let's first go over what not to expect:

1. This is not a race. While we seldom ride together as a big group, small groups will naturally form. Be aware of the cruising pace will usually be in the 5-10 MPH over the limit range. This will vary from group to group.
   
2. We do not travel from bar to bar, and as a general rule, please do not drink alcohol during the day. Your fellow riders thank you (Nighttime is an entirely different story)
   
3. There is no itinerary. Itineraries are for business trips, and this one is for pleasure.

Having said that, the general rule of a trip with no rules is "Ride your own Ride."  Period.

And ride we do.  While the days are not extremely long, we are riding about 2200 miles over 5 days, so you do the math.  This usually means getting on the road at about 8:00 AM, and most people get to the hotel around 6:00 PM, depending on weather, stops, and meals.  There is a lot to see and a lot of miles to cover, so spend your time wisely. 

We will usually designate a "breakfast stop" each morning.  However, these are just suggestions and are in no way mandatory.  You will find that most everyone stops there for breakfast, but they usually come and go in waves since not everyone leaves the hotel at the same time.   For dinner, depending on the night, we may order pizza or invade a local establishment.  We will usually do this as a group also, but again, if you're hungry earlier than the group is meeting for dinner, eat.

Let's get onto the riding expectations.

With the exception of Day 1 (where we do have a planned route until just after Grand Rapids), there is a starting point and an ending point.  In between are many fabulous miles of scenery.  Enjoy them, and whether that means riding by yourself or with others is completely up to you.  That's about it.  What else did you expect?

Before the trip, we will distribute page per day handouts.  These pages will highlight the general route as well as a few of the SPOIs (suggested points of interest) along the way.  Use them as little or as much as you want.  It's a good idea to bring a couple maps, just in case there are some other things you want to venture out and see.   Overall, the days will be yours to do with them as you please.  

After breakfast at Stooges, if you have not been through Grand Rapids before, ask a verterin ATLer to help you get through the city...it's not difficult, but we don't want anyone getting lost this early on ATL.  Finding route 37 north is the key.  After that however, the rest of the day and the rest of the trip is 100% up to you.  Even if you do decide to go out on your own, with the number of riders on this trip, and with the fact that on days 2 and 3 there is really only one route to take, you're very likely to run across another rider at some point.

There may be times when a bike has problems.  Many of the seasoned veterans carry tire repair kits, oil, and extra tools.  We're all in this together, and we'll never leave someone stranded, assuming that you're on the right route and we see you. 

There are also times when the weather can impact the ride.   Rain, shine, sleet, snow, we ride.  What else are we going to do?   Temperatures can range from the 30's to the 90's on this trip, and we have had rain in the past.  Be sure that you have adequate clothing with you. 

The bottom line is to do whatever you want to do....as long as you enjoy yourself.  If that means stopping more often than others, or less often, fine.   If that means cutting out a loop and heading straight to the hotel, go for it.   Do what you need to do to get the most enjoyment possible out of ATL.  If we can help, just let us know.

Trip Guidelines

There are few rules on this trip other than the already stated "Ride you own ride."  However, there are a few guidelines that everyone must follow.

1. Do NOT go faster than you want to, or feel like you need to "keep up" with faster riders.  Again, this is not a race, and there is nothing fun, cool, or heroic about crashing.  In fact, it's a pretty easy way to end your trip on a sour note.
2. When riding as a group, please ride in a standard stagger with the lead bike in the left hand side of the lane, and the following bikes staggered right and left behind the leader.  This makes it easiest for the leader to keep track of the people behind them.
3. Under the general heading of "common courtesy" we would simply as that you ride with others the way you expect them to ride with you.  In general, there's no reason for passing in corners.  Make sure you give the rider in front of you the space that they need.  Give them the entire lane, and then some, just in case they need to swerve to avoid road debris.
4. If you need or want to stop for some reason, please let someone else in the group know that you are stopping voluntarily by giving them the "thumbs-up" sign (or similar) before pulling over.  This will allow the group to keep going, rather than getting a few miles down the road, figuring out that you're no longer there, and turning around to come find you, only to see that you just stopped for a break.
5. Know where you are going...it is everyone's responsibility to know the general route and the location of every hotel.
6. If something happens and you will not make it to the hotel, PLEASE call the hotel and leave a message so that we know you are OK.  If it's feasible to do so, someone will come and help you.
7. Be sure your bike is in working order.  Tires should be 75% new or newer.  All controls should be in good working order.

What can you really expect to get out of this trip?

If this is your first trip or your first ATL or your first long bike trip, you're likely to have some anxiety or questions.  Nothing that we write or speak about can explain all of this.  You'll find out soon enough what this trip has in store for you.  Again, be prepared, go in with an open mind and enjoy the experience. 

Nobody is going to stand here and tell you that this trip will change your life....but that possibility does exist.  We are going to hit some incredible roads and see some fantastic places.  It will be difficult to wipe the smile from your face at the end of the day, and you might just find yourself counting the days until ATL2011.  You might also start looking at a map, and think "Hmm, Colorado isn't that far away..."

The companionship of others on this trip will amaze you.  We will be sharing this experience with a lot of great people and long lasting friendships have been known to result from trips like this.  While we don't have weekly or monthly meetings, we do oftentimes have get togethers before and after the trip.

As many of your realized last year, each in your own way, the memories that you take with you will last forever.  Go in with an open mind and let the road surprise you again, just like it did last year.  Every year is different and unique, if you let it be.  You may have learned a thing or two last year that will help you to enjoy this year's trip a little more (like heated handgrips, right Tyrone??), but regardless of that, there will be things during this trip that will be much different from last year.  Even though the "planned route" is the same, the journey will take you to a different place every year.