Atlanta FJR Bike Night

[Calimus]

I knew you were still traveling, just wanted to make sure this didn't fizzle, sorry if it came out wrong. I'm doing fine, thx for asking. I'll be perfect is this damn road rash on my knees would hurry the hell up and heal. It's the only thing left to go away.

 

[06INDIXIE]

I'm in I think, but going that direction at that time of night would be awfully tough. I'll have to put that GPS to work I guess.

 

[wallypiper]

A couple of suggestions for NW.

TGI Friday's on Power's Ferry just south of Windy Hill. Not so far north for folks coming from other parts of town, nice patio for when the weather gets nicer. Across the street from my office. A little pricey if you want much to eat but typical chain pub variety and consistent, if medium, quality.

Doc's on Cumberland Blvd between Cobb Parkway and Spring Rd. Also not so far north, a patio, decent food but nothing special, lots of atmosphere (25 years old), not a chain, on my way home from work.

And finally a place I went to for the first time the other day. Not quite so northwest. Pig-n-Chick on Roswell Road (Kroger shopping center, west side between Mt. Paran and Windsor Parkway). Nice little patio, good barbecue. Nothing Buckhead about it - family oriented casual bbq joint.

No trying to take over your deal, just three places I know of that have a pretty good layout for a small bike night - patios, visible parking areas and decent food.

 

[wallypiper]

Oh yeah - Hooters has the worst food in the chain bar/restaurant business. They only have one thing that makes them worth a visit.

If you plan for this to be a eating sort of thing, I'd take Hooters off the list.

 

[Calimus]

Thx for the suggestions Wally. I'm hoping we can get this put together before months end. With luck, I should have my FJR back around the 15th but I certainly don't mind showing up to a meet bike-less. At worst, I can provide some entertainment and show up on the wife's SV (imagine a hippo on a tricycle).

TGIF's is a good place and they have an awesome Pecan-crusted chicken salad. Sure it's a pricy salad, but you definitly get enough to fill ya up. Hope this comes together soon.

 

[jwilly]

I like the idea of TGIF's as well. The place usually isn't too busy in the evenings because it's mostly business in that area. I will stop by there or call the manager and see if we can secure an area. Like wally said if it's cool out we can sit on the patio.

Based on responses it looks like Wednesday nights would be good?

JW

 

[Calimus]

Works for me. It's looking like I might get my bike back while all of ya are at EOM so the whole fat man on a little Sv idea might get tossed out the window. Though I did break down and ride it the other day. Just couldn't take it anymore 3 weeks and no bike was just too much.

 

[2wheelingdawg]

weeknights are out. I live on the South side of town, Mcdonough, and traffic is just way to bad to make it to cobb co. Ya'll ever do some weekend stuff let me know.

 

[ngarider]

My commute is Acworth to Dunwoody, so that works for me... 5pm is a bit early, but I could swing out around 630/7. A lifetime ago, we did bike nights that started at 6 or 7 to give folks a chance to get out to the spot. Of course, streetracing followed. . .

 

[RayW]

A couple of suggestions for NW.

Doc's on Cumberland Blvd between Cobb Parkway and Spring Rd. Also not so far north, a patio, decent food but nothing special, lots of atmosphere (25 years old), not a chain, on my way home from work.

Dang Wally...where do you work? I work right across the street from the Cumberland Mall in that building right next to the Bank of America. If you know the area you know who I work for now.

I generally run past Doc's too and then head west on Windy Hill to get home.

TGIF sounds good to me too. Since I get off at 3:00 I'll have to find something to kill some time though. I'm sure the boss wouldn't mind if I worked some overtime. :blink:

Ray

 

[wallypiper]

Dang Wally...where do you work? I work right across the street from the Cumberland Mall in that building right next to the Bank of America. If you know the area you know who I work for now.
I generally run past Doc's too and then head west on Windy Hill to get home.

TGIF sounds good to me too. Since I get off at 3:00 I'll have to find something to kill some time though. I'm sure the boss wouldn't mind if I worked some overtime. :blink:

Ray

Well, I thought I knew the area but I don't really know exactly where that BofA is. Actually, I avoid the Cumberland Cluster when possible. I'm usually busy trying to figure out what frigging lane I should be in on Cobb Pkwy. Have you ever counted? There are 10 lanes on Cobb Pkwy at the intersection with Akers Mill. There are 7 lanes approaching that intersection northbound and woe unto he who approaches in a lane he doesn't want to be in.

I work for Process Systems, Inc. Its a small, private, engineering company which, unless you are in the plastic packaging business, you have probably never heard of. Our office is in a building that is part of the Interstate North complex and is, oddly enough, across the street from the BofA branch at the corner of Windy Hill and Powers Ferry. Windy Hill to get home - yikes. Guess that part of it isn't that bad though, especially at 3. I use Spring Road, which isn't any better though, and do it at 5 or 6 or 7. Sometimes, I take an alternate route that is farther but has much less traffic and many fewer stops. But I'm headed for South Cobb and Concord, more or less, well south of Windy Hill.

In fact, the downside of all of the locations on my list is rush hour traffic in the area. The worst in Atlanta.

 

[wallypiper]

weeknights are out. I live on the South side of town, Mcdonough, and traffic is just way to bad to make it to cobb co. Ya'll ever do some weekend stuff let me know.

Its 40 miles just to the Cumberland stuff I listed. That's the problem with "Atlanta" - its 40 miles across in any direction.

FWIW, traffic isn't that bad coming through town, it starts to suck around Windy Hill or Delk and you could bail before that, in fact before 285. But still, 40 miles across town - I understand the reluctance. I haven't gone to the Vortex since I moved to Smyrna because it just isn't worth it to make the ride down there on a weeknight. Or I'm just a wuss.

 

[RayW]

Dang Wally...where do you work? I work right across the street from the Cumberland Mall in that building right next to the Bank of America. If you know the area you know who I work for now.
I generally run past Doc's too and then head west on Windy Hill to get home.

TGIF sounds good to me too. Since I get off at 3:00 I'll have to find something to kill some time though. I'm sure the boss wouldn't mind if I worked some overtime. :blink:

Ray

Well, I thought I knew the area but I don't really know exactly where that BofA is. Actually, I avoid the Cumberland Cluster when possible. I'm usually busy trying to figure out what frigging lane I should be in on Cobb Pkwy. Have you ever counted? There are 10 lanes on Cobb Pkwy at the intersection with Akers Mill. There are 7 lanes approaching that intersection northbound and woe unto he who approaches in a lane he doesn't want to be in.

It's right across from the Sears Auto shop...in fact right across Akers Mill. I'm in the building right next to it with the "Sprint" sign on the top.

Biggest problem I have is holding my speed down heading south on Cobb. I usually manage to hit the lights just right and just blast past 285 and up the hill. Then move all the way to the right so I can turn right onto AM then left into the driveway. No problem. Been getting pretty lucky going home too...lots of lanes means lots of choices for getting a jump on the cages. Just gotta remember to stay out of the far right couple lanes going home...don't want to end up on 285 or 75.

I work for Process Systems, Inc. Its a small, private, engineering company which, unless you are in the plastic packaging business, you have probably never heard of. Our office is in a building that is part of the Interstate North complex and is, oddly enough, across the street from the BofA branch at the corner of Windy Hill and Powers Ferry.

OK...<looking at Google Maps>...opposite corner of the I-75/I-285 interchange. Got a friend that works over there somewhere too, I think. Not sure of the name of the place but I think it has something to do with guitars and such.

So...who does your company get it's internet from????

Windy Hill to get home - yikes. Guess that part of it isn't that bad though, especially at 3. I use Spring Road, which isn't any better though, and do it at 5 or 6 or 7. Sometimes, I take an alternate route that is farther but has much less traffic and many fewer stops. But I'm headed for South Cobb and Concord, more or less, well south of Windy Hill.

<checking google maps again>... OK...see that....that's one of my alternate routes too. I seem to hit a lot more red lights on Spring Rd than I do on Windy Hill. Traffic at 3:00 isn't too bad. Wait until after 4:00 though and it can be a bitch. For my alternate route from Spring I get on Hurt Rd and take that into Powder Springs. It might actually be a little shorter that way but I think the ride down WH and then Macland is faster. Macland is 55 mph speed limit on the 4 lane section.

In fact, the downside of all of the locations on my list is rush hour traffic in the area. The worst in Atlanta.

I think if they could synchronise the lights better it prob wouldn't be as bad. I always get stuck at Atlanta Rd and then again at South Cobb. After 4:00 I might even have to site thru two red lights before I can get thru. <grumble>... They seem to have gotten Cobb north bound figured out finally. I have to wait for the light right there at the mall but once it changes I can blast right by 285 and usually don't have to stop again until the light by Best Buy. Gotta be REAL careful of the idiots coming off 285 though that cut clear across to turn onto Spring Rd. I think they need to make that a "NO right turn on red" intersection. :angry2:

And...to keep it just a little bit on topic...My biggest problem with any of the locations is that I'll have a couple hours to kill before the rest of you show up since I get off at 3:00. That plus I have to be back at work the next morning by 7:00 AM so I'll need to be back home in Hiram and in bed by 9:00 PM.

Ray

 

[wallypiper]

Here's my secret road:

Instead of Cobb Pkwy, use Cumberland Blvd to get across 285. Only problem is you have to turn left on to Cumberland from where you're at. I don't know how hard that is. But if you can do it, take Cumberland Blvd across 285 then turn right at the first light onto Spring Hill Parkway (shhh - don't tell anybody about this road). That does a 270 deg turn and takes you west right next to 285 and dumps you out onto Paces Ferry. Right on Paces takes you to Atlanta Road. Right on Atlanta. Then you can take Ridge over to South Cobb or go all the way up to Concord. This route is longer than Spring but has lots less traffic and lots fewer lights. Starting from the intersection of Spring and Cumberland Blvd. it take me about the same amount of time to get to South Cobb/Concord this way as it does if I just take Spring all the way, but I get to keep moving and go a little faster most of the time so its my hot weather choice to keep from sitting in traffic on Spring.

Even if you go north on Cobb Pkwy and turn left on Spring, it can be quicker. Turn left onto Cumberland from Spring, then left from Cumberland onto Spring Hill. Not many people make that left turn from Spring onto Cumberland so usually not a long wait there. Come to thing of it, that may be a better way for you to go because it seems like there's usually a lot of traffic coming across 285 on Cumberland.

Watch for LEO on Spring Hill. They're not there often but the speed limit is only 30 mph until you cross Mount Wilkinson Pkwy about halfway from Cumberland to Paces Ferry.

Actually, there just isn't what I would call a good way to get from Cumberland Mall to Hiram during any kind of normal traffic hours. You're lucky you have those hours. If you worked normal 8-5, you'd be badly screwed.

I guess I have totally jacked this thread now.

Sorry. :blush:

Oh, our phone and internet is Cbeyond.

 

[RayW]

Hey Wally..you get wet goin home last night? I did. boss kept us a bit late for a stupid meeting. Just long enough for me to get the rain all the way home. :angry2:

Drove the truck today....

So...when are we gonna set up this bike night??????

Ray

 

[wallypiper]

Uh, naaa. I watched the weather Thursday AM and decided to take the car. I did get some sprinkles Wednesday afternoon on my way home but actually enjoyed the cooling effect. Took the car Friday, too, because it was the last day before vacation and I needed to get some stuff out of it that belonged at the office while I'm gone. And now its a beautiful, stunning, gorgeous archetypical late summer Saturday in Atlanta. I want to go jump on feej so bad it hurts. Alas, vacation isn't a moto trip this time. Me, the wife and the dogs are headed to the beach and the car will be stuffed to the gills with stuff that we might wish we had taken if we don't take it.

Forcast for Blairsville, GA:

Clear skys, bright sun, 75 deg, 50 deg dewpoint. Oh man. I hate spending this day driving the wrong direction in the car.

 

[motorcop2396]

hello let me know when and where and I will be there.

I am planning a trip to Colorado in October if you or anyone else is interested

 

[wallypiper]

just bumping this

I will be out of town next week and probably for several weeks in a row but would like to see this happen before the real fall weather (read - cool rainy nights) sets in here.

 

[Calimus]

I right there with ya. I'll be in Denver from the 15th-19th and if I don't get my bike back before then, I should definetly have it back after my return. Lets get this thing together.

 

[jwilly]

I agree I want this to happen but I have had a couple of bombs dropped on me that I'm working through right now. Sorry I haven't been able to do more with this. Please understand, you won't hurt my feelings if you want to get something going. I will do whatever I can to help.

Thanks,

JW