After a tumultuous previous year, The Atlanta Cycling Festival (ACF) is proud to be back for its eighth annual event! From October 13 to 16, people from all around Atlanta are welcome to come and participate in bike rides, classes, parties and plenty of fun. With a simple mission of connecting cyclists of all levels in the Atlanta community, this festival encourages growth and friendship within this active hobby.

The year 2020 took everyone by surprise, but it also allowed more people to discover the thrill of bike riding. The team behind the festival hopes that the event will one day become the most impactful bicycle festival in the southeast. Their vision is to see a week where cyclists from all over travel to Atlanta for everything bicycles. Based on previous years, the ACF is well on its way to doing just that. In 2019, the festival hosted more than 25 events all around Atlanta and had more than 3,300 participating cyclists. They also created a temporary Bike Park with the help of REI and MTB Atlanta.

This festival is to help new riders to develop their skills and to fall in love with cycling around Atlanta. It is a great conduit to connect more experienced cyclists with each other as well as explore metro Atlanta. The ACF also knows the importance of giving back to the community and partners with local businesses and non-profits to reach their goals.

The Atlanta Cycling Festival is a family-friendly event with no age restrictions. New riders and anyone who loves to bike are welcome! Every bike ride for ACF is a “no drop ride” which means there are appointed ride leaders to guarantee everybody makes it to the end safely. With so many events, there are plenty of opportunities for every type of cyclist.

This cyclist’s dream come true is a rapidly growing event and one any cyclist should investigate. Bound to have even more participants this year, this incredible event will have even more fun and opportunities to give back to the cyclists of Atlanta.

For those who wish to do more than just ride, the festival also welcomes volunteers. Volunteer opportunities include ride leaders, planners, hosting events and more. There are lots of ways to get involved and anyone interested can sign up on the website.

If you are unable to make it to the October week-long event, there are many other events that occur during the year. This September is the first Bike Packing Adventure, a camping trip from September 18 at noon to September 19 at 1 p.m. This adventure is open to beginners and experienced riders alike, with packed gravel roads and emphasizes self-support.

If you’re looking for a more experienced ride, then the annual Bike Camping trip is for you! This spooky camping trip kicks off on October 30 at noon and ends October 31 at 1 p.m. Ride with fellow cyclists out to Rockmart, Georgia along the Silver Comet Trail and enjoy an evening of bonfires, beer, food and fun. This worry-free event is fully catered so all riders have to do is enjoy the scenery.

This past spring, the Atlanta Cycling Festival hosted an extremely popular Virtual Festival for the second time. The week is filled with route releases that will have you exploring Atlanta’s well-known and lesser-known streets on two wheels. All routes are free and available for download through Ride With GPS.  Past routes include the South River Trail Loop, Buckhead Bellyache, Urban Farms Ride and Dolls Head Trail.

The ACF also hosts monthly rides with different cycling groups from the Atlanta area.

For more information on the Atlanta Cycling Festival and updates on upcoming rides, visit their website at www.atlantacyclingfestival.com.