Cyclists have a chance to challenge themselves and enjoy the beauty of Dawson County this weekend.
The Second Annual Shine Pedalers Metric will kick off at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame at 7:30 on Saturday.
The event is hosted by the Dawson County Office of Tourism and Development, Northstar Bicycle and Northside Hospital, Bojangles and Townley Portables.
Chamber of Commerce President Christie Haynes said she is excited about showing off Dawson County. We thought the ride would help promote how beautiful our area is and also engage that outdoor recreation culture, Haynes said about the event.
The ride offers a 50-kilometer ride and a 100-kilometer ride, allowing for different levels of difficulty. Since the ride isnt timed, cyclists get to take in the sights of the area. Youre going through some of the most beautiful parts of the county, Haynes said. Most people enjoyed it just because that allows another opportunity for training.
The 100K ride is scheduled to begin at 7:30 a.m. The 50K will follow shortly at 8. Riders can register online via active.com, or on the day of the race. Race-day registration begins at 6:30 a.m.
The ride starts and ends at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame. Included in the registration price is a t-shirt and admission to the Dawsonville Moonshine Distillery and Georgia Racing Hall of Fame.
Haynes said the ride is not a fundraiser for the Chamber or Office of Tourism. Its done as an awareness builder, she said. As far as the money aspect, we just raise enough to pay for the costs of the ride. This past year, the chamber has been pushing outdoor recreation in the area, Haynes said.
The ride is not expected to create traffic delays in the county. We worked with the sheriffs department to make sure there will not be a single road that is closed. That is very important to us, Haynes said. Riders will follow rules of the road, meaning there will not be any road closures or barriers for the event. Riders should be finished by 2 p.m.
Registration is $35. For registration and information, you may visit www.dawson.org or www.active.com