Roswell Cycling Festival
There are three special events throughout the day:
8 a.m. to noon — Roswell Mayor’s Ride (recreational ride for all). 6-mile ride is free for families; other routes of 20 and 40 miles are $30 for individuals;, 62-mile ride is $35.
10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. — Historic Roswell Criterium. Ten races for junior, elite and pro cyclists (all must have USAC license). Registration ranges from $30 to $45 per race.
2 p.m. to 5:25 pm — Kids Bicycle Safety Rodeo and Races. Free for children 6-12. With waiver and parent signature, children go through a safety inspection and obstacle course, then can race on the same course as the pros.
Historic Roswell Criterium race schedule
10 a.m. — Masters 35 and over
10:35 a.m. — Men Level 3/4
11:20 a.m. — Women Level 3/4
11:55 a.m. — Men Level 4/5
12:40 p.m. — Men Level 2/3
1:45 p.m. — Juniors ages 10-14
2:15 p.m. — Juniors ages 15-18
2:50 p.m. — Masters Divisions
4:00 p.m. — Women Pro Level 1/2/3
5:00 p.m. — Kids activities
6:00 p.m. — Men Pro Criterium ($5,000 purse)
Information at www.roswellcyclingfestival.com.
Cycling terminology
Bell lap — When you hear a bell ringing at a bike race it means either a final lap or a "sprint lap," where a prize is awarded to the leader.
Breakaway — A tactic where one or two riders sprint ahead of the pack, either to keep the outcome of the race from being determined by a dangerous mass sprint or to speed up the pace of the riders.
Carbon fiber — The material that most of the bikes are made of; they amazingly weigh a little over 15 pounds.
Criterium — A spectator-friendly timed or multi-lap race of 25 to 60 miles held on a closed course with laps about a mile in length. The closed course usually features both right- and left-hand corners.
Drafting — Similar to the drafting you will find in NASCAR. It's when one cyclist positions himself behind another racer, who blocks the wind, allowing the drafter to go faster and save energy.
Peloton — The bunch or pack that is the main group of riders in a bicycle road race.
Cycling terminology
Bell lap — When you hear a bell ringing at a bike race it means either a final lap or a "sprint lap," where a prize is awarded to the leader.
Breakaway — A tactic where one or two riders sprint ahead of the pack, either to keep the outcome of the race from being determined by a dangerous mass sprint or to speed up the pace of the riders.
Carbon fiber — The material that most of the bikes are made of; they amazingly weigh a little over 15 pounds.
Criterium — A spectator-friendly timed or multi-lap race of 25 to 60 miles held on a closed course with laps about a mile in length. The closed course usually features both right- and left-hand corners.
Drafting — Similar to the drafting you will find in NASCAR. It's when one cyclist positions himself behind another racer, who blocks the wind, allowing the drafter to go faster and save energy.
Peloton — The bunch or pack that is the main group of riders in a bicycle road race.
Atlantans are no strangers to the sport of bicycle racing. In three Atlanta Olympic competitions — mountain, road and track cycling — biking was one of the most watched and attended events.
From 2003 to 2008, the Tour de Georgia was one of the pre-eminent professional road cycling events in North America. The international event took the world’s best cyclists through the streets of Macon, Rome, Chickamauga and Stone Mountain, culminating with an exciting criterium finish in metro Atlanta.
On April 27 that buzz returns with the Roswell Cycling Festival, highlighted by professional road cycling in the 13th Historic Roswell Criterium.
Hitting speeds up to 44 mph on Canton Street in Roswell might get you a traffic ticket, but that is how fast 150 skilled riders will be going through the streets of Roswell, which has been designated as Georgia’s first Bicycle Friendly Community.
“There’s a real bicycling culture up here,” said longtime Roswell Mayor Jere Wood, an avid cyclist himself. “The council is enthusiastic about cycling, the city is enthusiastic about it, and it keeps me sane. There is a lot of support, and the criterium weekend is where we really celebrate cycling in Roswell.”
The races run all day in downtown Roswell, and fans are allowed to bring blankets and lawn chairs to watch all the action. The decks and patios of local bars and restaurants will be packed. Some of the best viewing will be at the Fickle Pickle and Diesel restaurants, right on the race course. The Fickle Pickle even moves tables and chairs from the restaurant outside on this one day to let fans watch the races.
The competitors race as individuals, but ride as part of a team. If you want a team to root for, look no further than one that is based and trains in Alpharetta.
Team Novo Nordisk features riders from America and Europe and, under the direction of Russian Alexey Schmidt, these riders race with more than a first-place finish in mind. Every member of the team has Type 1 diabetes, and at every race they aim to inspire and educate others with any form of diabetes.
“We are riding all around the world and meeting lots of people,” said 27-year old rider Simon Strobel, a team member. “(People) come see us just because we have diabetes. It’s a harsh diagnosis, but we tell people they can move on, and it’s possible to reach your goals.”
Strobel said fans who have attended the Roswell Criterium in past years know what to expect, but new fans will have a blast.
“It’s great. The spectators see us every lap, and we come by every few minutes.”
And don’t forget about those crashes and falls familiar to viewers of the Olympics and the Tour de France.
“You crash,” Strobel, a native of Schwanfeld, Germany, said with a laugh. “I’ve been lucky. I haven’t had any fractures, just abrasions of my skin. You can’t be afraid, but just aware that it can happen (anytime.)”
Also adding interest: This year the Roswell races are part of the USA Crits Speed Week. This is a six-race series in Georgia and South Carolina. Roswell is the second race in the series, and an overall men’s and women’s champ will be crowned May 3, after the race in Gaffney, S.C.
The criterium is just one part of a full day celebrating bicycling in Roswell. The day kicks off with the Mayor’s Ride at 8 a.m. and then the USA Cycling Amateur Races at 10 a.m. The Kids Zone, with all sorts of games for the younger set, opens at 10:30 a.m. Kids can have their bikes inspected for safety at the popular bike safety rodeo, which begins at 2 p.m. The kids races and the bike parade take place at 5 p.m., right before the pro races.
In between races, the whole family can enjoy exhibits, demonstrations and tech support offered on issues you may have with the performance of your bike.
The races take place on the loop making up Canton, Norcross and Green streets in Roswell. Parking is at Roswell City Hall.
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