The Athens to Savannah Bike Ride (AthSav) is an annual fundraiser designed to raise support and awareness for the construction of the Georgia Hi-Lo Trail. The proposed trail, when built and connected to the Firefly Trail, will be the longest paved multi-use trail in America at 250-miles. The AthSav 2020 Ride, which will take place on October 23rd and 24th, will also offer a virtual component this year. Both experiences will closely align with the Firefly Trail (Athens to Union Point, 39 miles) and planned Georgia Hi-Lo Trail (Union Point to Savannah, 211 miles).
Riders Enjoy Picnic Lunch in Statesboro
The 2020 AthSav Ride will come through Statesboro on Saturday, October 24th, stopping
for a picnic lunch at Mill Creek Park. This 2-day, 235-mile ride travels from Athens to Tennille
on day1, overnighting in Sandersville, Day 2 travels from Tennille to the coast, covering 134
miles. Their lunch stop in Statesboro on their second day of riding will be provided by Your Pie
Statesboro and hosted by Visit Statesboro.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the AthSav 2020 Bike Ride has limited in-person
participants to 50. In-person participants will be responsible for fundraising $378.00. There is no
fundraising requirement for virtual riders. Virtual riders will also get to explore the towns along
the route through short, memorable videos that offer a local’s perspective.
Rider Flexibility
When a rider participates virtually, they have the flexibility of deciding when they want
to participate, how much mileage they want to cover, and if they want to run, walk, or bike.
Riders can participate in their living room while touring over 230 miles of beautiful rural
Georgia. Each time a participant completes the mileage it would take to get to each town, these
videos will be released to them. This provides the rider with incentive and also provides the town
with the exposure it deserves. The following towns and counties will be highlighted during the
ride:
- Athens
- Winterville
- Sparta
- Washington County
- Wrightsville
- Statesboro
- Effingham County
- Savannah
At the end of the 2020 ride, videos will be released for each town, county, and the state to
help promote our rural communities and the Georgia Hi-Lo Trail ecosystem. The Georgia Hi-Lo
Trail takes pride in igniting opportunities among rural communities in health and connectivity.
The importance of a healthy and thriving community is more evident than ever in the
current times. Creating a safe space for Georgians to use for recreation will help develop a strong
local population of empowered people with diverse interests. Participation in this fundraiser will
help ensure the project stays on track to benefit rural communities and their citizens for decades
to come.
