21st Annual Capitol to Coast Bike Ride; Atlanta-St. Simons.

The Event: 21st Annual bike ride from Atlanta to the Coast.  3 days, 300 miles of hot asphalt, smooth open roads, cold beer and a great cause; supporting Special Olympics of Georgia cycling. 

The History: 21 years ago, pre-cell phone, pre-carbon fiber, pre-GPS, pre- round wheel, three friends decided a ride to the coast would be a great idea.  With back-packs, a convenience store roadmap and bikes that weighed more than a swing set, we rode out of Atlanta heading southeast; at least we thought we were headed southeast.  Three days later we arrived in Savannah.  Every years since we've ridden either from Atlanta to Savannah or Atlanta to Charleston, with 5 to 10 riders of varying degrees of experience and fitness. From folks who had not ridden since the Carter admnistration, to competative racers who are looking to log some pre or post season mileage, the ever evolving group has been diverse and supportive. 

The Details:  This years the course will be from Atlanta to St. Simons.  Departing Friday October 14, arriving in St. Simons on Sunday October 16th. The route winds through Milledgeville, Dublin, Vidalia and ends up in St. Simons on Sunday afternoon.  The ride is supported by a sag wagon throughout.  The current route has the riders staying the night in hotels in Milledgeville and Vidalia before ending up at the King & Prince in St. Simons on Sunday.  There is no registration fee, but the riders share gas expenses for the support vehicle. 

The Motivation:  In addition to our love of riding and the desire to wear spandex in public, the event helps raise money for the Special Olympics of Georgia, and specifically the cycling program.  Cycling is the most expensive sport for SOGA athletes; requiring over $350 per athlete to compete.  We've been successful in raising over $50,000 over the years, and hope to continue with your support.  Click here and you'll understand:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJHOt-vqTjc&feature=related

How You Can Help:  Ride with us.  If you have better judgment than that, you can provide financial support with any amount you can spare.  Gearing up for these sports can be expense: $50 for a helmet, $100 for cycling shoes(seriously) , $350 to cover all the event costs for the athlete.  Any amount makes a difference. 100% of everything we raise goes directly to SOGA, with all ride expenses being provided from the "But I thought we were going to Vegas this year" fund.

Thank you in advance for your support. Donating through this website is simple, fast and totally secure. Stay turned to this site for updates.

Jeff Schneider

Member, Board of Directors, Special Olympics of Georgia