SATURDAY • MAY 4, 2019 PRESENTED BY THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION participant guide THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF VELOCITY, BENEFITING GRADY HOSPITAL. We are so very excited about the impact this new fundraising ride is already having on our hospital and community. As you prepare for whichever distance you have chosen, we hope you will do so knowing that your participation and fundraising go directly to support Grady’s lifesaving and life-changing care. You never know when you might need Grady — but you can be confident that Grady will be there if you do, as it has been for over 125 years. We hope the information that follows is helpful as you prepare for your ride on Saturday, May 4. 2 VELOCITY PARTICIPANT GUIDE WEEKEND OVERVIEW VELOCITY RIDES AND All rides will start from the 50-yard line of Mercedes-Benz Stadium. FINISH LINE FESTIVAL Saturday, May 4, 2019 We encourage you to stay for the VeloCity Finish Line Festival after the ride and Mercedes-Benz Stadium and enjoy great food from our partners at Loyal Q, along with plenty of drinks to cool The Home Depot Backyard you down. You’ll also enjoy live music, an expo, kids zone, mountain bike demo track and more! Be sure and wear your participant wristband for free access to food and beverages. And don’t forget your ID for the adult beverages. The VeloCity Finish Line Festival is open to the public, and we’d love your friends and family to join you after the ride. Hospitality passes are available for pre-purchase HERE. Additional post-ride resources for riders will include: • A shower trailer • 15-minute massages • All-day bike valet and bag check NOTE: All attendees will be subject to security checks. Friends and family coming to cheer you on at the finish line are welcome to bring their own food and beverages, although alcohol and glass containers of any kind are prohibited. 3 VELOCITY PARTICIPANT GUIDE EVENT SCHEDULE All events will take place rain or shine. In the case of extreme weather, participants will be contacted by email and through the VeloCity Atlanta app about any changes to the event. Information will also be posted on the VeloCity Facebook page. SATURDAY, MAY 4, 2019 MERCEDES-BENZ STADIUM THE HOME DEPOT BACKYARD 6:30 AM VENUE OPENS 9 AM INDOOR CYCLING SESSIONS BEGIN Coffee and breakfast available for participants Hourly through 1 p.m. 7:30 AM 100-MILE RIDE BEGINS 10 AM FINISH LINE FESTIVAL BEGINS Food tents and bars open for service 8:30 AM 62-MILE RIDE BEGINS 5 PM VELOCITY COMES TO A CLOSE 9:30 AM 25-MILE RIDE BEGINS 9:45 AM CITY RIDE BEGINS NOTE: Riders should plan to arrive at Mercedes-Benz Stadium one hour before their start time. 4 VELOCITY PARTICIPANT GUIDE For your convenience, we are offering several remote packet pickup options throughout the week leading up to the event. If you’re unable to pick up your packet prior to event day, please allow additional time that morning to deal with longer lines. Monday, April 29: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Free Flite Bicycles, 6014 Sandy Springs Circle, Sandy Springs PACKET PICKUP Tuesday, April 30: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Bicycle South, 2098 N. Decatur Road, Decatur Wednesday, May 1: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Atlanta Cycling Ansley, 1860 Piedmont Ave. N.E. Friday, May 3: 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. Soccer Ball Plaza (between Mercedes-Benz Stadium Gate 1 and The Home Depot Backyard across from Mercedes-Benz lot) Northside Drive between Magnolia and Rhodes streets Saturday, May 4: 6:30 – 9:30 a.m. Soccer Ball Plaza (between Mercedes-Benz Stadium Gate 1 and The Home Depot Backyard across from Mercedes-Benz lot) NOTE: Please allow extra time for lines if picking up on Saturday. Packet pickup for each ride closes 15 minutes prior to start time. Saturday, May 4: 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. (INDOOR CYCLING ONLY) In The Home Depot Backyard at the Indoor Cycling tent, 1 Backyard Way NOTE: Indoor Cycling packets may also be picked up at the Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday times listed above. QUESTIONS? For any questions about packet pickup, please contact [email protected]. 5 VELOCITY PARTICIPANT GUIDE Both Mercedes-Benz Stadium and The Home Depot Backyard are easily accessible by bike, car, or MARTA. PARKING For packet pickup on Friday, May 3, temporary parking is available in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium lot at the corner of Northside Drive N.W. and Magnolia Street N.W., across from The Home Depot Backyard. Participant parking is available on May 4 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Blue Lot, located at 271 Northside Drive N.W. Parking is $15 on-site, although you may pre-purchase your parking voucher for $10 by going to parking.mercedesbenzstadium.com/events/75605/velocity-2019-access-code-needed. Enter search code “VeloCity2019” to access the discounted parking for VeloCity. NOTE: “VeloCity2019” is case sensitive. RIDING YOUR BIKE PARKING AND TRANSPORTATION For the convenience of our participants and guests arriving on two wheels, bike valet service will be available at The Home Depot Backyard from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. MARTA Vine City station is a short, easy walk from both The Home Depot Backyard and Mercedes-Benz Stadium. For schedules, click here. The Home Depot Backyard Event Parking Friday Packet Pickup Parking 1 Backyard Way Blue Lot Mercedes-Benz Stadium Lot 271 Northside Drive Northside Drive between Magnolia and Rhodes streets 6 VELOCITY PARTICIPANT GUIDE CITY RIDE, 25-, 62-, AND 100-MILE ROUTES Rider Instructions Every rider participating in VeloCity must: • Sign the participant waiver at packet pickup • Wear a helmet • Attach your bib number to the back of your jersey or T-shirt • Attach your timing chip to your seat post RIDER INFORMATION • Not wear earbuds/headphones • Remember that VeloCity is a ride, not a race, and follow all state and municipal laws governing bicycles on public thoroughfares at all times Arrival at Mercedes-Benz Stadium All participants will enter Mercedes-Benz Stadium through Gate 1 — nearest the Northside Drive pedestrian bridge and The Home Depot Backyard. You will find plenty of signage and volunteers upon your arrival to point you in the right direction. We recommend that you arrive at least an hour before your ride start time. Start times are as follows: • 100-mile: 7:30 a.m. • 62-mile: 8:30 a.m. • 25-mile: 9:30 a.m. • City Ride: 9:45 a.m. Please note that everyone who enters Mercedes-Benz Stadium will be subject to security screening. INDOOR CYCLING All indoor cycling classes will take place at The Home Depot Backyard. Arriving for Your Class All participants in any of the VeloCity indoor cycling classes led by our partners at Vibe Ride should use the parking and transportation instructions found in this Participant Guide. Please plan to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to your scheduled class (30 minutes if you do not already have your packet). Cycling shoes and towels will be provided for all participants. Bag check will be available. Indoor Cycling Schedule Classes will take place on the hour, with the first class starting at 9 a.m. and the last at 1 p.m. After class, we encourage you to stay, enjoy food and drinks, and cheer our road cyclists on as they cross the finish line! 7 VELOCITY PARTICIPANT GUIDE Be Ready to Have Fun! Whether you are new to indoor cycling or a veteran spinner, be prepared to have a great time riding to the rhythm, with live music and high-energy instructors! To learn more about what to expect, visit CONTINUED theviberide.com. Questions? If you have any additional questions, please email us at [email protected]. RIDER INFORMATION ON THE ROUTE All four routes will be fully supported with rest stops and SAG (Support and Gear) vehicles, mechanics and medical personnel. All routes are subject to modifications up to and including the day of the ride due to unexpected changes in route conditions. 6-Mile (City Ride) This route will run along closed or partially closed streets in downtown Atlanta. There will be one rest stop at approximately the halfway point with water and other sports drinks and snacks. Riders will be RIDER RESOURCES directed by a combination of cones, route signage and police officers. For your safety, please obey all ride officials and law enforcement officers and do not cross any traffic barriers along the route. To view this route, click here: ridewithgps.com/routes/26982458. 25-Mile, 62-Mile and 100-Mile Rides These routes will be led by police escort and feature a controlled course for the first 5 miles. After that, riders are required to follow the rules of the road. Rest stops will be located every 10 to 12 miles and be fully stocked with water and sports drinks, snacks, personal facilities and medical support. Support and Gear (SAG) vehicles will be on all three routes to ensure all riders have the support they need. You may also call 678-944-VELO (8356) for assistance at any time. This number will be printed on your wristband and your bib. • To view the 100-mile route, click here: ridewithgps.com/routes/26679857. As an extra challenge for our 100-mile riders, there will be two “King of the Mountain” segments on this route (locations indicated on route map). • To view the 62-mile route, click here: ridewithgps.com/routes/28893915. As an extra challenge for our 62-mile riders, there will be one timed “King of the Mountain” segment on this route (location indicated on route map).