Road Bike North Georgia

Book excerpt: Just a few short hours north of Atlanta, the Georgia mountains offer the best of all possible worlds for road bikers. A mild climate and nearly year-round cycling season, rolling blue ridges, tiny mountain towns and famous apple orchards all add up to a great cycling destination. From the historic Chickamauga Battlefield to the Brasstown Scenic Highway, from Helen to Ellijay to Rome, author Jim Parham lays out rides for all ability levels. Twenty-five of the region's best bike routes, ranging from 9 to 62 miles in length, are listed in this guide. Each route description includes complete directions, detailed map, elevation profile, road surface conditions, mileage and estimated riding times, points of interest and services available along the way.