BikePacking 101 - SCT - 45mi Out & Back

Pack your saddlebags, B.O.B.'s, panniers and/or BACKPACK for an awesome winter bike event that take us out the Silver Comet Trail (SCT) to the Camp Comet's primitive campsites. From Smyrna, GA. to just about Cedartown, GA, this 45 mile out & back path ride at a fun pace of 15mph or so that kicks off 10am SHARP. I'll be on my CX bike but a road/touring bike is probably best suited for this event, or even a hybrid bike. We did a test run on a section of the SCT - and let me tell you - when you add 40+ pounds of gear to a bike...it's a WHOLE DIFFERENT form of torture :P 
We may or may not be together the entire path (depending on pace of others), so be comfortable knowing that in advance. I will be vetting people hard on this too, you'll need basically all of the gear you'd need for primitive backpacking, the physical & mental fortitude, and a bike to carry it all on (no shuttling gear out separately, it's bike packing). You'll also be required to maintain your own rig & gear, be prepared for mechanical issues, "out there repairs" and the unexpected.

The campsites are primitive, as I mentioned before. With that being said, it's on the SCT so we have some Creature Comforts (wink, wink) at our disposal and worse case scenario we're near a roadway (hwy 278) a lot of the time...AAA y'all, it's no joke.

Wheels down at 10am SHARP and we'll ride out from the small parking lot off of E/W Connector & Gaylor - there's a Firehouse Subs off the small service road (Camp Highland SE, see GPS map above for Google Map).

The campground marker (photo above) is at mile 45 and the sites are right off the trail (actually left but you know what I mean). There is a convenience store not too far away so there's always an option for additional water and/or supplies, but don't rely on this place for food. Bring plenty of lights & batteries being sure to set up your tent/hammock site as soon as you get there, since it's first come, first serve format. 

There's plenty of dead trees around, so weather permitting we'll have a lil fire to tell stories, play banjos and harmonicas around the pit. A pack saw will be in tow with me, but if anyone else has one....more the merrier!

We'll want to break camp up Sunday kind of early to zip back to Smyrna in time to get home to enjoy the remaining part of Sunday & St. Paddy's Day.

This event combines the best parts of backpacking with the best parts of bike riding = BIKEPACKING. If it's a success, we'll be sure to "crank" out more of these events in the future.

All gear is to be "muled" by rider - no sag wagons!
It's Bikepacking, not Bike Slack Packing...all  potential participants will be vetted for a gear shakedown over the phone. I reserve the right to remove members if this requirement is not followed.

Again, the GPS link above shows where we meet, but it's off East-West Connector & Gaylor Rd on Camp Highland Rd SE in the small trailhead lot that is close to the main road.

Easilest way to get there is I-285 to Atlanta Rd (exit 16) go west off the freeway (which is actually NW in direction) 1/2 mile to Cumberland Pkwy- which changes names to East-West Connector as soon as you cross over South Cobb Dr -  turn Right on Gaylor Rd, it's the first road to the Right, followed by an immediate Left on to Camp Highland Rd SE, the small parking lot to the left along E/W Connector. We will meet there. WHEELS DOWN AT 10am SO GET THERE WELL B4 10am

#KeepTheRubberSideDown #LeaveNoTrace

There are NO restrooms, running water or power at Camp Comet.  There is however a porta potty at a nearby parking lot.

No electric bikes thanks

Camp site is free but limited in space and it's a FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE set up. Let's hope we're the only loco cyclists out there this weekend.