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Ron
Coker Homes Inaugural
North Georgia Winter Cycling League Event The first ride in the series began in Clarkesville at the town square where the cyclist gathered to take part in the training ride and compete for the honor of being the first attack zone champion. Today’s ride would cover some of the same roads used by the pro cyclist in the Tour De Georgia and drew in riders from Hall, Habersham, White, and Rabun counties. The riders signing in for today’s ride contained some of the elite fast men of North Georgia. Former WBL champ Shooting Star Bridges, along with future Habersham Cycling Hall of Fame inductee Andy Brackett. Floyd Landis’s twin brother Scott Hefner and Darting Dustin Mealor was also there to keep the pace high in the attack zone. Other riders joining in the pack were junior sensation Reilly Mahon, and dad Duane Mahon. Ron Coker, of Ron Coker Homes Inc, chose this course and rode it like he owned it. The pack chatter ceased and breathing grew difficult when he powered to the front to take an epic pull on several occasions. Former mountain bike racer turned roadie Chris Ross took on the mountains, along with Mountain Man Stan White from Rabun County. Bulldog Alumni John Lilly from Hall County was on hand to kick us down the road along with Colin O’Rielly a future UGA alumni. Dr. Mike Cordes made the grades along with Bob Cervelo Frame. The Habersham Hammer, Sammy Ariail ran the course backwards and then jumped on his bike as the pack grew near and hammered us on into town. The Habersham Hammer only rides bikes to keep the mileage off his running shoes and to dish out some suffering to those not blessed with his genetics. The pack began the ride with a nice easy tempo going north on the New Statue of Liberty Hwy which points her hand to the North Georgia mountains. Easy tempo was soon replaced as we reached the first climb of the day going up Raper Mountain. This is the same mountain that saw a breakaway in the 2004 edition of the TDG. There was no such breakaway today and no one attacked the climb in the big ring like the pros. The tempo remained steady as we lumbered over Raper and right onto hwy 197 easing our way to our next climbing challenge. We were miles away from the attack zone but tension was growing in the pack. The tempo up the Burton Dam climb was high since the attack zone was near, but a few riders kept their excitement in check and eased over the climb saving their legs for the attack zone. After a 50 mph decent the pack reformed and we entered the first attack zone of the season. Old man Joe Burch was the first to instigate the action and he was quickly joined by Scott Landis-Hefner. Their attack was futile as the pack led by a steady Andy Brackett reeled them in without as much as breaking a sweat. Dustin Mealor was next to dart off the front only to be caught by the pack still being led by Brackett. Ron Coker was next to build a lead that looked promising until he was caught. Junior sensation Rilley Mahon was next to join the attack action and his move were followed by a group of four. Bracket was having no breakaways on his watch and reeled them in with a steady pace. Nearing the end of the attack zone, Scott Landis-Hefner jumped from the pack and was soon joined by Old Man Burch. The two were making their way toward the finish line when they were joined by a stomping Mountain Man Stan White. The finish line was a little too far away for their legs and it was not long before Shooting Star Bridges shot out of the pack and past them headed for the grand finale. The pack, still being pulled along by future Habersham Cycling Hall of Famer Andy Brackett, remained together. Shooting Star Bridges managed a slim lead on the final kilometer going up a gradual but painful rise. Shooting Star dug deep getting a second and third wind and held off the pack for the sprint win at the line. Nearing the line Darting Dustin Mealor jumped around the engineer pulling the train for second place while Brackett maintained a steady pace (for him) to finish the attack zone in the final points paying position. After the attack zone the pack eased up and went back to tempo riding through the scenic Seed Lake and Lake Rabun roads. The curves on these roads are some of the most fun you can have on a bicycle. If you do not believe me ask Scott Landis-Hefner, he was having so much fun he extended the six mile attack zone an additional six miles. The remainder of us rode tempo until we caught up with him as he stopped to take a break. While we stopped to interview Landis-Hefner and regroup a little, Mike Cordes made a breakaway for the home stretch. We would not see him again until the Clarkesville CLS. With the attack zone excitement ended we rode on toward the Tallulah Gorge crossed over the dam and headed to Hollywood down old 441 where we met up with the Habersham Hammer. The pack was fortunate that the Hammer had prior commitments and could not make the ride start but now we were looking at a fresh Habersham Hammer. Well it turns out the Habersham Hammer was a little broke down from a half marathon he ran earlier and he took it easy on us normal humans and pulled us at a reasonable tempo back to Clarkesville. The weather was great for this time of the year. Everyone that wore the new Descente undershirts with the wind blocker front panel said they thought it was the best undershirt they could buy. All had a good time and no one crashed or flatted. We averaged a steady 17 mph for the tempo portion (most of the ride) with a 26 mph average for the attack zone. After the podium appearance and the awards were given out, the interviews were completed with media, the pack departed for home. Next week’s ride will start in Cornelia at the Community Bank Operations Center parking lot on Main Street. The ride will be sponsored by Graphic Image USA and will venture over into White County with a few hills along the way. Shooting Star Bridges is our first attack zone champion. Any contenders had better bring some legs because the ride ends with a tough attack zone that is sure to bite back if you are not ready.
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