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About this trip
This tour begins with a day in downtown Atlanta in the vicinity of the MLK National Historical Park and Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum, and ends with an afternoon/evening/morning stay in downtown Birmingham at the historic and elegant downtown Tutwiler Hotel, just blocks from the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and the 16th St. Baptist Church. In between we'll ride the magnificent Silver Comet and Chief Ladiga Rail Trails, which together stretch almost 95 miles across western Georgia and eastern Alabama, among the longest paved pedestrian paths in the country.
These two trails are rich with tributes to the glorious age of passenger rail, with three trestles and a railroad tunnel integrated into the trail designs, as well as numerous train depots restored as resting places for trail users. Both are remarkably flat and smooth,and pass through small towns that embrace the trail with welcome centers, ice cream and sandwich shops, as well as long stretches of protected wilderness and alongside enchanting wetlands. where you may spot fox, deer, and numerous species of birds.
We'll cover 94.5 miles in 3 days of riding on the Silver Comet & Chief Ladiga Trails; the mileage in Atlanta and Birmingham will depend on your desire for cycling on trails/local streets vs. touring museums and memorials in the area.
Tour Leaders: Jack Pettry & Tony Palmer
What about E-bikes?
Senior Cycling does NOT have E-bikes available for rent, but you are welcome to bring your own Class 1 (Pedal-assist only) E-bike on this tour.
Difficulty rating of this tour:
On a scale of 1-5, with 5 being most difficult, this tour is rated a 3.5 due to the distances of Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday's rides: 31.4 mi., 36.4 mi., and 37.5 mi. respectively.
Cancellation Policy
Please Please review Senior Cycling's Cancellation Policy here.
And, Please purchase trip insurance. Especially at our age, even though no one expects or wants it, health issues arise and accidents happen. At Travelinsurance.com you can get quotes for coverage from several different providers and get all your questions answered about different levels of coverage, such as "Cancel For Any Reason (COFR)" polices and Pre-Existing Condition waivers. Allianz Travel Insurance and TravelGuard by AIG are also well-known companies with reasonable rates. Please check it out and protect your travel investment.
What’s included
- 5 days of riding
- Accommodations5 nights lodging
- Tour leadersExperienced and cycling expert tour guides
- Meals5 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners
- Full supportVan/sag support including provisioned snack breaks (+ mechanical assistance and van ride, if needed)
- Luggage Transportation1 carry-on sized suitcase + 1 daypack/other satchel
- Post-rideDaily post-ride informal gathering with light snacks (fruit, cheese, crackers, chips, nuts etc.) and non-alcoholic beverages
- Detailed ItineraryTurn-by-turn directions via free use of RideWithGPS app
What’s not included
- TransportationYou must make your own travel plans to and from Atlanta.
- Alcohol with meals
- Personal items/services
- Gratuities for guides
- Travel protection planWe highly recommend that you purchase trip insurance (not included with tour price) to protect against unexpected emergencies. Please see Travelinsurance.com
- Pre- and post-trip hotel(if desired)
- Bike rental(if needed)
Available Packages
Based on double occupancy
Available options
Cost to have your own room each night
Our bikes are well-maintained hybrid style, upright posture, most are Trek FX2 or Verve 2-3 models. Helmet, pannier and cable lock included.
An extra night before the tour starts (Saturday April 26) at our group rate, including tax.
An extra night at the conclusion of the tour (Friday May 2) at our group rate, including tax.
We'll be returning to our starting hotel between 3-4 p.m after a 2+ hour van ride. If you don't want to be stressed about making an evening flight home, or prefer not to set out on your drive home in late afternoon, this is a good option. To secure our group rate, you must include this no later than 60 days prior to the tour; it will no longer be available within 60 days of the tour.
Itinerary
Meet riders in Atlanta at our starting hotel, the Hampton Inn Atlanta NW Cumberland for our introductory meeting and social hour. Then we'll go to dinner at a nearby restaurant.