Come join Patrick and the Bikes or Death Community as we take over Mulberry Gap in the North Georgia Mountains the weekend of November 11-13. (Arrive a day early on Thursday to head out on an overnight bikepacking adventure into the Chattahoochee National Forest)
When Mulberry Gap approached us about Bikes or Death taking over their facilities in northern Georgia, our imaginations started running wild. We decided the most important thing was to build the bikepacking community to share adventures and stories. The best way to do this, you ask? A pre-event overnight bikepacking trip, scavenger hunt through the national forests (on bikes, of course), educational programs and speakers, an in-person interactive podcast led by Patrick, bonfires, live music, beer, group rides and general merriment in the great outdoors. How can we possibly pack all of this into 3 days? You'll just have to come find out for yourself! We'll see you there!!
PRE-EVENT | Thursday, November 10
This overnighter will be a self-supported group overnight ride (must bring your own camping/cooking gear/food). A S.A.G. vehicle will be available to transport gear to and from the campsite if you’d like to travel light. :)
**If you’re arriving early and not joining us for the overnighter, you are welcome to book additional nights and meals at Mulberry Gap.
ARRIVAL FOR PRE-EVENT | 12:00pm
SELF-SUPPORTED OVERNIGHTER ON THE PINHOTI | 2:00pm: 15–25 mile round trip | Gravel and singletrack routes (details available in the downloadable event schedule below) with option of additional riding after setting up camp.
ARRIVE AT CAMPGROUNDS | 3:30pm–4:30pm
DINNER AT THE CAMPSITE | 6:30pm (on your own, be prepared with your own food and cooking gear)
BONFIRE AND BEER | 8:00pm
PRE-EVENT | Friday, November 11
BREAKFAST AT THE CAMPSITE | 8:30am (on your own, be prepared with your own food and cooking gear)
RIDE BACK TO MULBERRY GAP | Post-Breakfast: Various mileage/surface options available to make your way back to Mulberry Gap!
LUNCH (option to order ahead of time w/ Mulberry Gap or be prepared with your own food and cooking gear).
After arriving back, attendees will have the morning/early afternoon to themselves until check-in.
Day ONE | Friday, November 11
REGISTRATION AND CABIN/CAMP BOOKING CHECK-IN AT OFFICE | 2:00pm
MEET + GREET GROUP RIDE | 3:00pm
DINNER AT THE BARN | 6:00pm
WELCOME | 7:00pm
AFTER PARTY AT THE BARN/FIRE PIT | 8:00pm | Barn Camp 1
DAY TWO | Saturday, November 12
COFFEE AT THE BARN | 7:30am
BREAKFAST AT THE BARN | 8:30am
EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATION | 9:30am - (Bikepacking Basics including Campfire Cooking, First Aid, etc)
LIVE PODCAST | 10:30am
LUNCH AT THE BARN | 12:30pm
SCAVENGER HUNT RIDE | 2:00pm
DINNER AT THE BARN | 6:00pm
LIVE MUSIC WITH KURT WHEELER | 7:00pm - 10:00pm
DAY THREE | Sunday, November 13
COFFEE AT THE BARN | 7:30am
BREAKFAST AT THE BARN | 8:30am
PRESENTATION(S) OR SHORT GROUP RIDE/FUN EVENT | 9:30am
LUNCH AT THE BARN (FAREWELL + RAFFLE WHILE EATING) | 12:30pm
LOAD OUT | 2:30pm
PACKAGES & PRICING:
$499.00/person - PRIVATE CABIN (capacity of 1 or 2 individuals in each private cabin) including 6 meals (Friday Lunch & Dinner, Saturday Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner, and Sunday Breakfast)
$449.00/person - SHARED BUNKHOUSE (mens’ and womens’ options for shared bunkhouse) including 6 meals (Friday Lunch & Dinner, Saturday Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner, and Sunday Breakfast)
*SPACES FULL* $275.00/person - TENT CAMPING including 6 meals (Friday Lunch & Dinner, Saturday Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner, and Sunday Breakfast)
$275.00/person - CAR/VAN CAMPING (Camping INSIDE your car/van? have a rooftop tent? These spaces are for folks camping inside a vehicle) including 6 meals (Friday Lunch & Dinner, Saturday Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner, and Sunday Breakfast)
PLEASE NOTE: in the below registration form, only choose Thursday dinner and/or Friday breakfast add-ons if you’re arriving early (Thursday) and staying onsite at Mulberry Gap. If you are planning to join the group for the overnight bikepacking trip, you must have your own food and cooking gear.
*Bikes or Death t-shirt order has been submitted.
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Special Guests!
Scotti Lechuga - Scotti is an Arkansas girl with a global heart for cycling — claiming a heritage of “half princess, half dirt bag”, Scotti’s raced everything from UCI world tour road races to some of the hardest bikepacking events like Silk Road Mountain Race. She loves to pop some champagne on the podium but has also ridden her bike through humbling blizzards in third-world countries. As of 2022, she’ll have raced her bike in six continents around the world and believes these experiences in sport and culture are what have shaped her into who she is today.
Scotti is a story teller, a life and performance coach, mom to twin 11-year-old boys Eli and Ethan, and a hopeless coffee addict. The co-founder of Leborne Coaching and OZ Development junior cycling team, Scotti enjoys having moved into a more holistic side of coaching with a mission to inspire and nurture the athlete spirit in others. She is an advocate for philanthropic cycling projects and enjoys partnering with individuals and brands to create purposeful, authentic growth, change and transformation.
You won’t want to miss her presentation!
IG: @scottilechuga
Eddie O’Dea - Eddie just completed the first attempt at the Eastern Divide Trail bikepacking route, the longest contiguous off-road centric route in the world. His journey started at Cape Spear, Newfoundland, traveled inland to the Appalachian Mountains, and south all the way to Key West, FL. This ride served as a fundraiser for the Georgia Cycling Association: https://www.georgiacycling.org/tackling-the-trail Past endeavors include record setting rides at the Trans North Georgia, Stagecoach 400, and the Hurican 300.
Eddie is a bike fitter, technique instructor, and cycling coach at Cycle Techniques https://cycletechniques.com/ by trade. He is also a founding member of and on the Board of Directors for the Georgia Cycling Association.
Patrick will be interviewing Eddie on Saturday of the event. Think podcast, but with audience participation! I can’t wait to hear about his experience and we’re thrilled he’s going to be able to make it!
P.S. Did you notice how well our Takeover logo blends into this photo? Accident? No, destiny!
IG: @eddieodea
Maxwell Johnston - Maxwell is a visual storyteller based in Austin, Texas. He began taking photos as a way to begin to document some of the beautiful scenes and routes he was exploring on his rides. Quickly after, he fell in love with combining his passion for cycling and photography; and more importantly, he fell in love with this amazing community of “adventure” cyclists. He has photographed events like the East Texas Showdown and his images have been featured on Bikepacking.com and The Radavist. He has also contributed to the growing Texas bikepacking scene by creating and documenting two overnight bikepacking routes near Austin.
Maxwell will be sharing some of his favorite photos with us, as well as some that didn’t turn out and why, plus tips you can use in your own photography.
Maxwell is a husband, dog dad and an individual in long term recovery. Based on his own experience, he is an advocate for mental health and the positive impact doing hard things in the outdoors has on one’s spirit. By sharing his images and being honest about his past struggles with alcoholism, he hopes that others are inspired to experience the same joy on the bike.
Musical Entertainment: Kurt Wheeler!
Huge shoutout to our event partners and sponsors!
