The 14^th Annual Athens Physical Therapy Firefly Trail Ticket to Ride with Athletic Brewing Co., rolls out on Saturday, March 22. An expected 250 bicycle riders will enjoy routes of 14 to 82 miles – including up to 12 miles of paved trail and beautiful, low-traffic roads – connecting Athens and Union Point, on or near the route of the existing and future trail

This year’s event features starting points at Dudley Park in Athens, the historic depot in Winterville, and the Union Theatre in Union Point. Union Point will also host two trail-plus-gravel options of 26 and 68 miles, as well as the Tracks to Trail Firefly Fest from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with live music, vendors, food trucks, a Kid Zone and more for the whole community.

The Athens Physical Therapy Firefly Trail Ticket to Ride with Athletic Brewing Co., is a unique event. Featuring an out-and-back course, riders can choose how far they want to go and how fast they want to ride. Gravel and paved options start at 9 a.m. in Union Point, while riders will start at 10 a.m. from Winterville and Athens. On-road ride support will continue until 4 p.m. south of Maxeys and until 5 p.m. north of Maxeys.

In addition to great cycling, riders will enjoy support stops with food, beverages and restrooms every 7-14 miles in Athens, Winterville, Crawford, Maxeys and Union Point. “SAG” stop closing times will vary, depending on when riders pass through.

Pre-registration is now open on BikeReg at https://www.bikereg.com/69206?preview=1. Registration before March 15 is $35 for students, $55 for adults, and $45 per person for teams of 5-12 riders. After March 15, including day-of, registration is $40 for students, $60 for adults and $50 per person for teams. Registration includes Firefly Trail socks (while supplies last), Ride With GPS route maps, cue sheets, rest stops, on-road support and – for those 21 and over with ID – one free pour of Bruzze beer in Union Point or one free can of beer from Creature Comforts in Athens.

Firefly Trail, Inc., is thrilled by the continuing title sponsorship of Athens Physical Therapy, which has locations in Athens and Lavonia to implement the company’s mission to “strive to educate, equip and empower our patients to ‘enjoy life more.’”

“We are passionate about the Firefly Trail because of the enormous health and economic benefits it will provide to our whole region,” said Dr. Chris Doerr, a physician and owner of Athens Physical Therapy. “My wife Stephanie and I love to ride rail-trails when we travel. We hope our involvement sparks even more support and helps speed construction of this trail to serve the communities we love and call home.”

Also this year, Firefly Trail, Inc., welcomes Athletic Brewing Co., as the event’s second title sponsor. Athletic brews a wide variety of great-tasting, non-alcoholic beers, and gives back up to $2 million annually to protect and restore local trails through its Two for the Trail program. In addition to APT and Athletic as Title sponsors, the event’s full list of sponsors includes:

• Firefly Trail premier community sponsor: Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center

• Diamond: Ogeechee Peaches, Seachem Laboratories and St. Mary’s Health Care System

• Platinum: Athens Neurological Associates and BankSouth

• Gold: Athens Retina Center, Carson Plumbing, The Commercial Bank, First American Bank and Trust, Joiner & Associates, Oconee Rivers Greenway Commission, Silver & Archibald, and United Community

• Silver: Allergy Partners, American Pest Control, Athens Spine & Balance, Bass Landscaping, Creature Comforts Brewing, Mama’s Boy, New Urban Forestry, Oconee Top Dressing, Phillip Morris, MD, The Real Estate Book Lake Oconee, Union Pharmacy, and the Winter Bike League

• Additional support provided by Georgia Cycle Sport and The Hub

Families with small children and other riders who are uncomfortable on roads can enjoy trail-only off-road options in Athens, Winterville, Maxeys and Union Point (a short ride on quiet streets is needed to reach the trail from downtown Union Point).

Volunteers are vital for the success of the ride, and numerous opportunities are available. Like riders, volunteers receive a pair of Firefly Trail socks as a token of appreciation. Please email [email protected] for information or to sign up.

All proceeds from Ticket to Ride support the work of Firefly Trail Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, to build support for the trail and help local communities attract and match grants for planning, design, construction and maintenance.

When completed, the Firefly Trail will provide a safe, off-road, 39-mile path for walking, running, cycling and other non-motorized uses. As rail-trails have done all over the U.S., it will improve health, generate significant economic opportunities, and build a greater sense of community.

For complete details, including parking locations, ride URLs, and most popular distance options, please visit www.fireflytrail.com.