Sorella Road Team

A Preview of the 2017 Race Season

By Jennifer Klein, Communications Chair

The Sorella road race season kicks off March 3-5 at the Tour of the Southern Highlands (ToSH) Stage race in Woodstock and Ball Ground, Ga. It’s made up of a Pro Crit (criterium) on Friday, TT (time trial) and circuit race on Sat, and RR (road race) on Sunday.  

Come to downtown Woodstock Friday night (3/3 @ 8pm) and join the Sorellas cheering for our own Barb Stella and Dawn Hill in the blazing Pro/1/2 crit, with Pro/1/2 men following. They'll so appreciate our support!!   In addition to the Friday night crit, Sorellas will be racing in Ball Ground at 11:30 and 3 on Saturday, and Sunday morning at 8:50 and 10:10.  The  road course is known for its hills, plus some great spectating areas there as well. Details at http://www.toshsr.com/events/

Sorella should be well represented in all categories this year.  At the very competitive Cat 2, new Sorella racers Barb Stella and Dawn Hill are the ones to watch, and in Cat 3, Bianca Martin, Kim Nelson, Jennifer Klein and Chloe Murdock. We’ve got returning Cat 4 racers in Angela Barros and Katie Hamlin and a crop of enthusiastic new Sorella racers in Ali LeCraw-Smith, Sarah Hoots, Charity Newsome, Susan Barrett, Eleanor Adams, Ellen Carroll and Nancy Marencin. As long as you’re a Sorella member you can race in a Sorella kit… try it!!  And long time endurance racer Julie Gazmararian will represent Sorella in a 300K event coming up in March.

After ToSH, the Union City Mayor’s Race and then the Georgia Tech races happen the next two weekends.  Then races in Athens and Roswell the last weekend of April, and the State RR May 13 in Clarkesville. Racing continues on through the summer with the Georgia Games, GA Gran Prix and local crits in East Point and Grant Park in August.

For Masters racers Kim and Jennifer (and others 40+ or 50+ we can recruit), the USA Cycling SE Regional Road Championships are in Duluth in April 22-23, and USA Cycling Masters Road Nationals in Augusta June 1-2, where Kim and Jennifer will defend their 60+ 1st and 2nd place 2016 finishes. Then the next week National Senior Games will be held in Birmingham, with cycling events as well as competition in 20 other sports for pre-qualified athletes aged 50+.

Beginner Mountain Bike Clinic

March 19 at 2:00 pm

Come and join us for the Cycleworks/Atlanta Cycling Mountain Bike Clinic at Haw Creek in Cumming. This trail is beginner friendly and we will be learning the basics of Mountian Biking. We hope to see you on the trail!

For directions and to RSVP visit the Facebook event page.

Contact Amy Plummer at cycleblue24@gmail.com or 770-231-9105 with questions.

Featured Sorella

Meet Robin Allen

2017 GAPs Ride Series

Sponsored by Atlanta Cycling / Cycleworks

Have you ever wanted to ride the gaps but were afraid of those big climbs?  Well this year our sponsor, Atlanta Cycling / Cycleworks is offering a 10-session series to get you familiar with the terrain. At the end of the series you'll be ready to participate in the 3Gap50 or the 6Gap100, held in the fall.

Join Mark Gernazian from Cycleworks as he leads riders of ALL LEVELS.  These GAP rides are NO-DROP. Riders will regroup at the top of each climb throughout the year. The typical front gap 34 mile ride takes 2.5 to 3.0 hours to complete. That includes two to three stops along the way. Rides become longer as the series progresses. The first five months are spent riding the front three Gaps. Then riders will begin riding the back three Gaps and all 6 Gap rides during the last three months, leading up to the 3/6 Gap event at the end of September.

Expect your pace to be 3-4 mph slower than your local ride pace.

Rides begin at 8 am now, and move to 7:00 or 7:30 when the weather warms up.

Here are the dates:
1.      March 11
2.      April 22
3.      May 20
4.      June 24
5.      July 8
6.      July 22
7.      Aug 5
8.      Aug 19
9.      Sept 16

Contact Mark@cycleworksinc.com for more information. All rides begin at the Rock Pile located at the intersection of Hwy 60 and Hwy 19 about 10 miles north of Dahlonega, Ga.  (Here is some history about the Stone Pile as well as directions).

Tour of the Southern Highlands Stage Race

Volunteers Needed 

fThe Sorella Road Race team is excited for our first local 2017 race, the Tour of Southern Highlands http://www.toshsr.com taking place in Woodstock and Ball Ground March 3 - 5!  We have over a dozen Sorellas planning to race and/or volunteer during this three-event stage race. Those volunteers are able to cheer for our veteran and novice race team members as they represent Sorella in the time trial, circuit and road races, all scored individually and then combined for an overall winner.  If you are able to volunteer your time, want to race (you don't have to be on the race team to enter), or just want to come out and cheer on the ladies please reach out to Angela Barros atbarros14@gmail.com for more information, and of course wear some of your Sorella attire to let everyone know you are a part of one of the greatest women's cycling clubs around!

Giving Back

Sorellas Serve at Homeless Shelter 

By Kim Nelson, Membership Director

Thank you once again, Sorella Sisters, for donating and serving food at the Central Presbyterian Shelter in downtown Atlanta on Sunday, February 12th.  It went off without a hitch, thanks to the direction from pro Aimee Murphy, the tips from Kathy Masters and the experience of Susan Haynes, not to mention the helping hands that prepared/donated the food and those that served.

One of the highlights of the evening for me was when one of the fellas said, "Hey, are ya'll from that cycling group that meets at the U-Haul on Saturdays?".  Indeed, we are, thanks to group ride leaders like Amy Plummer and Angela Barros!  It was nice to resurrect a community service project that had previously been an annual event during the early years of Sorella Cycling.  And what a great opportunity for us to commune off the bikes with our club members and some of their families.  I hope we will continue to find ways to give back to our community.

Membership Update

Welcome new members and renewals!

Our club roster is at 173 members!  These fine ladies joined our club in February:

New Members : Marika King, Eleanor Adams, Evelyn Fisher

Renewals: Pam White, Kate Riley, Lisa Ramey, Jennifer Rau, Katie Reiland O'Grady, Beth Fordyce

What to Eat....

100 Calorie Fueling Breaks

Photo Round Up

Wednesday Evening Stone Mountain Ride

This ride runs from October to March.  It is led weekly by Sorella Pilar Hernandez. Meet at the West Gate (walk-up) parking lot. Have rear and front lights. Lights are so that you can be seen not to see. (The park is well lit) The pace and number for loops will vary depending on participants. Roughly 20 miles with an average pace of 12-14 mph. Because the ride consists of loops, it's great for all levels of riders - plus there is no fear of getting lost!  Fellas are welcome with the understanding that it's a women's ride and allow the women to set the pace.

For questions, contact Pilar at d.pilarhernandez@gmail.com 

Atlanta Winter Bike League

The Atlanta Winter Bike League is a great way to build endurance, strength, speed, bike handling skills and group riding etiquette. There is a pace group for everyone from beginner to elite.  Sorellas have several group leaders and many participants. Look for our kits and come say "hi". This event is sponsored by Robert Wilhite, owner of My Cycle Coach.  

The riding time increases 20 minutes each time we meet.  For March 11 the ride time will be 4 hours and for March 25 the ride time will be 4 hours 20 minutes.

Learn More Here

Monthly Silver Comet Trail Ride at the Caboose

Join Sorella Ride Coordinator Angela Travis Barros as we lead a ride on the Silver Comet Trail from the Paulding Caboose trail head in Hiram, GA headed out toward the big tunnel/Rockmart.

Bring a Fella and/or a friend! The ride will split into several different groups for desired distance (20 to 45 miles) and pace so we encourage everyone to join us.

RSVP on facebook

Tuesday Ladies Ride

Tuesday Atlanta Cycling Vinings Women's ride begins March 15th! Atlanta Cycling Vinings Women's Road No-Drop Rides every Tuesday March - October (March 6:15PM / Apr-Aug 6:30 / Sep 6:15 / Oct 6:00).  Route often follows the 18 or 22 mile route on low traffic streets following a painted route at no drop pace. The emphasis will be on meeting others and on becoming more skillful and comfortable while road riding. Departing at the same time is a MENS/MIXED group, riding a different route ~24 miles.  More info at http://atlantacycling.com/articles/atlanta-cycling-group-rides-pg37.htm

NOTE: We are looking for a sweeper(s) and ride leaders for this ride.  This is a great way to support women's cycling.  If you can help us out, contact Angela Barros.

Tuesday Ladies Beginner Rides 

Join ride leaders Amy Plummer and Mary Jo Falvey for a 15 - 20 mile ride on a flat road with a wide shoulder.  We will be covering bike handling skills, riding in a pace line, rules of the road for cyclists, and how to stay safe.  These rides will prepare new riders to join the Tuesday evening ladies ride at Atlanta Cycling Vinings in April.

RSVP on Facebook 

Option 2:
Emily Burrows, Club Vice-President can work with individuals on parts of the Atlanta Cycling course during the mornings - if that suits your schedule better.  Contact Emily for more information.

Saturday Ladies Beginner Rides

Beginning in March beginners can meet on the first Saturday of the month for a developmental road ride. Each ride begins with a 15 - 30 minute review of basic road skills.  We will have lunch or coffee following the rides.  The dates and locations of these rides will be:

• March 4th 9 am Riverside Park Roswell, GA
• April 1st 9am Riverside Park Roswell, GA
• May 6th 9 am Silver Comet Trail- Smyrna Bikes Location
• June 3rd 9 am Stone Mountain Park

• Start a ride near you by putting the word out on our private club Facebook page.
   
• Check out rides offered by our sponsor, Atlanta Cycling. They host regular rides out of their Atlanta Cycling and their Cycleworks Stores.
  • http://atlantacycling.com/events/atlanta-cycling-group-rides-pg37.htm
  • http://www.cycleworksinc.com/about/rides-events-calendar-pg978.htm

• You can also visit Southeastern Cycling's Website to learn about rides and events throughout the southeast.  The site was founded (and is maintained by) club member Trish Albert.