Bigger BRAG Coming Local Leader Says

The number of campers coming to Summerville’s J. R. “Dick” Dowdy Park later this month is expected to grow to about 400 people, according to city officials.
The fourth annual Bike Ride Across Georgia (BRAG) is scheduled to make an overnight stop in J.R. “Dick” Dowdy Park in Summerville.
“For the year 2019, we foresee no changes. It will be business as usual. The only change that I picked up on is that they are looking at possibly 400 [riders] this year. We have hosted this particular bike ride across Georgia for several years now in Dowdy Park. The group comes in around noon and it is a very well educated, well behaved group of individuals that just love bicycling,” Summerville’s Main Street Director Susan Locklear said.
Riders start in Chattanooga and end their course in Atlanta on the third day. To join in the ride, the cost is $175 per person.
“We are their first stop. This is very good for our downtown businesses and restaurants. We always see these bike riders . . . they all eat supper here. Many of them will visit Jim’s Family Restaurant for breakfast or they’ll eat onsite. It’s one of the events that we do borrow vans and other vehicles to transport our visitors to some places that are not so walkable like the Crushed Tomato or The Willow Tree. We customarily have a concert in the park that night and after they leave out you would never know anyone was in Dowdy Park the next morning. They are very clean and neat people. We have never had a problem with this and I just don’t foresee anything changing with it,” Locklear said.
The city council unanimously approved allowing BRAG to serve alcohol in the park up until 9:30 p.m.
“BRAG’s US Bicycle Route 21 ride is a great intro to long-distance cycling or a great tune-up for experienced riders. Even more so, there is great entertainment nightly with bands, local attractions in our overnight towns, and the BRAG Bar. Each day we carry your luggage from town to town so you can focus on your riding. We also have plenty of rest stops each day so you can snack and get rehydrated along the way. Get a flat tire, medical issue, or bonk one day? No worries, we’ve got SAG (Support & Gear) that’ll come pick you up,” according to BRAG’s website.