Our ABCS Ride Directors are gearing up for the first rides in the Series, less than 3 weeks away! We hope you're as excited as they are and we want to thank you for your enthusiasm and support. Did you realize that your registration supports over 13 charities and causes? And beyond the funds we are raising, we hope to bring awareness to the struggles of many people across our state.

• Peddlin' for a Cure - Camp Smile-a-Mile (children with cancer and their families) and American Cancer Society

• Tour Autauga - cancer research and survivorship

• Old Howard 100 - Sowing Seeds of Hope (improving quality of life in Perry Co)

• Tour de Blue - Urology Health Foundation (free prostate cancer screenings)

• Boll Weevil 100 - charitable work across the state & wounded veterans

• Cheaha Challenge - Chief Ladiga Trail, Coldwater Mountain Trails, & local Alabama High School Mountain Biking Teams

• TriStates 100 - Children's Hospital of Alabama (Pediatric Cancer Unit/Dawn Pitchford Fund)

• Hot Hundred - Tuscaloosa Mental Health Alliance

• Ironworks Century - construction and maintenance of hiking & biking trails at Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park

• Birmingham Bicycle Club's 42nd Annual Century - Share the Road signage and bike safety education

• All You Can Eat Century - AlaBike and Spring City Cycling Club

• Johnny Ray Century - Parkinson Association of Alabama /Davis Phinney Foundation

• Glassner Autumn Challenge - in memory of Dr. Jim Glassner and bicycle safety/awareness projects of the Montgomery Bicycle Club.

My apologies to TriStates 100 organizers for missing the link to their OPEN REGISTRATION in last week's newsletter. New headquarters, new route, but same 3 states! Sign up and check out their cool jersey, shorts, and bibs at www.tristates100.com.

Detail,details on rides 3 and 4...

OLD HOWARD 100
APRIL 18^TH - MARION

• Directions: From Birmingham, take I-59 toward Tuscaloosa. Take Exit 97 (West Blocton) and turn left on Hwy. 11/5. In about 3 miles, turn left on Hwy. 5 (by People's Bank). Travel 44 miles and turn right on Lafayette Street (by Judson College sign). Watch for Old Howard signs for parking on campus. Address is 302 Bibb Street.

• Ride Day Registration starts at 8 am. Century riders take off at 8:30 followed by 9:00 mass start for remaining cyclists.

• Goody Bags include event t-shirts for pre-registered riders. Walk-ups get shirts as long as supply lasts. Printed maps and cue sheets will be in your bags. Jerseys can be purchased as you register online or at Ride Day Registration. Breakfast bars and bananas will be available but if you're up early, stop by the Saw Meal Restaurant on Hwy. 5 on your way into town (about 20 miles north of Marion).

• Distance Options: Your mileage choices are 34, 43, 75, and of course, 101 miles. Ride with GPS maps will be posted on the ABCS site very soon.

• SAG: A clearly-marked Cahaba Cycles support vehicle will be on route to assist you along with Pell City HAM Radio Club operators... either motorcycle or marked trucks. The Old Howard is the kick-off event for this great HAM group and will involve even more operators than usual! The Old Howard also receives full support from the Marion Police Department, Newbern Volunteer Fire Department (with its collection of antique fire trucks), and the Suttle Volunteer Fire Department. Bruce Herbitter of the Montgomery Bicycle Club will be patrolling the Selma Loop.

• Rest Stops: Stations will be well stocked with an array of energy foods and pb sandwiches... and plenty of pickles and mustard, too! East Rest Stop will be supported by Samford students, working as part of the Samford Gives Back service day. Sigma Chi fraternity has claimed the Greensboro rest stop for all 11 years of the ride

• Printed maps and cue sheets along with emergency phone numbers will be provided. Watch for bright yellow spoke & wheel road markings plus extra free-hand yellow arrows. There will be added bold Old Howard 100 directions signs attached to posts & in the ground.

• Sign In: As you return to headquarters, slow up and check in with Stanley Woodall who will be recording your bib number.

• Lunch! Before 2:00, hot dogs and lemonade are served outdoors. From 2 til 5, the Judson Dining Hall serves lasagna, green beans, salad, garlic bread, and self-service ice cream. Dirt Dog Watson claims the Old Howard has the best food in the Series!

• Motels: Unfortunately, the one good motel in Marion is full because of the MMI alumni weekend. Selma has several good chain hotels and is 25 miles away. There are several B&B's in the area with possible openings.

• Don't forget to add a jersey!
   Contacts: Cameron at [email protected]
   or
  Rosemary at [email protected].
  WEBSITE: http://howard.samford.edu/oldhoward/ 

TOUR DE BLUE
APRIL 25^TH - MOODY (BIRMINGHAM)

• Directions: This scenic century ride starts from the gorgeous Red Diamond Corporate Headquarters at 400 Park Ave., Moody, Alabama 35004 (just outside Birmingham). Red Diamond is a 106-year-old family-owned coffee, tea, and foodservice company. The corporate office overlooks a beautiful lake and is located on 65 acres with the Coffee/Tea Manufacturing and Foodservice Distribution Centers.   From I-459, exit 29 for I-20 toward B'Ham/Atlanta. Keep right & follow I-20 E/Atlanta. Exit 147 toward Brompton. Turn left onto Kelly Creek Rd. Turn left at Katheryn St. Slight left onto Park Ave. Red Diamond, on the right.

• Online registration is open!

• Friday Night Registration: 2-6 pm at Birmingham Bicycle Company, 1105 Dunston Ave., Birmingham

• Ride Day Registration: 6:30 am at Red Diamond.

Bagels & Red Diamond coffee will be available!

8 am Start for 48, 76, & 107-milers

8:30 am Start for 13-milers

Claim your goody bag including Clif Bars, waterproof cell phone case (courtesy Blue Cross Blue Shield Alabama) water bottles, custom Road ID bib, and event t-shirt.
 
Birmingham Bicycle Company provides mechanical support at headquarters and on route. Support is also provided by local law enforcement and St. Clair County Amateur Radio Emergency Service. SAG vehicles will be marked with magnetic signs.

• Distance Options: include 48, 76, &107 miles.   New this year is a 13-mile option especially for less-experienced riders. The route will travel through the rolling countryside of St. Clair County without the more challenging aspects of the longer rides. There will be a rest stop stocked with food and drinks. Cost is only $25 and will be a great introduction to a well-organized, large group cycling event!

• Rest Stops: There will be 5 Rest Stops for century riders, well stocked with food and drinks including fresh fruit, pb&j sandwiches, cookies, Gatorade, water, and pickles. Astellas, Eligard, and Jennifer Ely of the MS Society and other supportive groups will man (and woman) the Rest Stations for your support.

• Maps & Cue Sheets are available on the www.tourdeblue.com site. Abundant road markings will be seen with a cool TdB stencil you can't miss, plus signage at key intersections! In its 8^th year. The TdB offers scenic springtime sites as you pedal through St. Clair and nearby Alabama counties. Funds raised support free prostate cancer screenings in the underserved/uninsured areas of Alabama and promotes awareness of the importance of early testing.

• Sign In: There is a mandatory check-in for century riders at the Ashville Rest Stop and a Finisher's Check-In at Red Diamond for all riders. Take that giant step up onto the podium to be presented your Centurion medal by representatives of Birmingham Southern College and smile for a photo.

• Lunch: The post-ride meal is Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q! Grab some refreshing chocolate milk and meet the folks from Barber's Dairy! Soft drinks from Pepsi and a cooler of Blue Bell ice cream! All this with DJ musical entertainment. There will also be a Medical Tent at headquarters along with masseur and physical therapist. What more could you ask for?!

How about this super cool jersey?

You can still take advantage of Early bird discounts on Active.com and order the jersey too.

Want to help out as a volunteer? Sign up here. Need more information? Contact: Sherry Wilson at [email protected].  

Lots of other info on host hotels, past ride comments, photos, event sponsors, and social media links at: www.tourdeblue.com.

BO BIKES BAMA

Thank you to BBB organizers for cross promoting with the Alabama Backroads Century Series!

Two-sport legend Bo Jackson will host his fourth annual Bo Bikes Bama charity ride in Auburn, Alabama on Saturday, May 2, 2015. The event will continue to support communities in need across the state of Alabama through the Governor's Emergency Relief Fund (GERF). Since the inaugural ride in 2012, Bo Bikes Bama has provided nearly $800,000 to help communities recover from the April 2011 tornadoes and prepare for future disasters. Producing partners of the ride include Nike, Trek Bicycle, Trek Travel, and Big Communications. 

Photo courtesy of Jason Wallis Photography

ABCS RIDE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

SIGN UP EARLY!