My company has been supporting the Dream House 500 for the last 4 or 5 years, and I got the opportunity a couple years ago to actually ride it, and want to recommend that as many of you as possible do it. It's an absolute blast!
This isn't your typical charity ride. This is a highly organized self-paced ride through 500km (about 300 miles) of the best roads you can find. That's just the half of it. If you're into the adventure riding thing, they take a sub-group on some Forest Service roads as well.
Your day starts in Alpharetta, at American Honda, where continental breakfast and coffee are available. Once you get checked in and go through a very brief rider's meeting, you get the route sheet for the first leg. Most of us broke into small groups of four or five, but some went it alone.
You're then headed for some of the best riding out there, frankly. These guys route you through places you've probably never been, and as sport-touring riders, they know how to make a great route. And they are organized beyond belief. You get lost, they have a phone number you can call to get you back on track. Have a mechanical problem? They have a truck and trailer ready to come get you.
After the start, there are four checkpoints, including the end. Lunch is served at the second one, and what a lunch it is! There's great food and a live band, normally lakeside at a state park. You get to sit and bench race while you're lunching, and what a great bunch of people.
At the end, there's dinner, and it too, is unique. You're handed a slab of whatever meat you chose when you registered, and pointed toward some grills. You grill it to your liking, and then pile your plate with the supplied home-made side dishes and dessert. You get to meet some of the kids you're supporting, too, which is truly amazing.
Think I'm done? Nope. At the end they give out prizes, since there's also a poker run, a raffle, and a couple other contests tied to this.
Honestly, I have to say it's one of the best days imaginable on the bike.
Check it out: http://www.dreamhouse500.com
This isn't your typical charity ride. This is a highly organized self-paced ride through 500km (about 300 miles) of the best roads you can find. That's just the half of it. If you're into the adventure riding thing, they take a sub-group on some Forest Service roads as well.
Your day starts in Alpharetta, at American Honda, where continental breakfast and coffee are available. Once you get checked in and go through a very brief rider's meeting, you get the route sheet for the first leg. Most of us broke into small groups of four or five, but some went it alone.
You're then headed for some of the best riding out there, frankly. These guys route you through places you've probably never been, and as sport-touring riders, they know how to make a great route. And they are organized beyond belief. You get lost, they have a phone number you can call to get you back on track. Have a mechanical problem? They have a truck and trailer ready to come get you.
After the start, there are four checkpoints, including the end. Lunch is served at the second one, and what a lunch it is! There's great food and a live band, normally lakeside at a state park. You get to sit and bench race while you're lunching, and what a great bunch of people.
At the end, there's dinner, and it too, is unique. You're handed a slab of whatever meat you chose when you registered, and pointed toward some grills. You grill it to your liking, and then pile your plate with the supplied home-made side dishes and dessert. You get to meet some of the kids you're supporting, too, which is truly amazing.
Think I'm done? Nope. At the end they give out prizes, since there's also a poker run, a raffle, and a couple other contests tied to this.
Honestly, I have to say it's one of the best days imaginable on the bike.
Check it out: http://www.dreamhouse500.com