Over 1,000 cyclists are in-route to explore communities along the Georgia Hi-Lo Trail this week as part of the 44th annual Bicycle Ride Across Georgia (BRAG). The 2024 "City to Sea" ride, spanning from Atlanta to Savannah, will lead cyclists through several towns situated along the proposed 211-mile Hi-Lo Trail.
On Day 5 of the 7-day journey, riders will reach their first stops along the Hi-Lo Trail. The cities of Sandersville and Tennille in Washington County will welcome cyclists before they continue to Wrightsville in Johnson County and spend the night in Swainsboro, Emanuel County.
Day 6 (Friday, June 7) will lead riders through Twin City before they reach Statesboro in Bulloch County, where they will spend the night.
Day 7 takes cyclists through Effingham County and onto Guyton, Bloomingdale, and Savannah in Chatham County for the finish.
Cyclists, community leaders and local press are invited to attend screenings of the documentary film Searching Hi & Lo that explores the mission behind the Georgia Hi-Lo Trail on June 6th at 5PM at the Luck Flanders Gambrell Building in Swainsboro and June 7th at 5PM at the RAC Seminar Room of Georgia Southern University in Statesboro.
Inspired by Iowa's renowned RAGBRAI, BRAG has grown into an annual event and offers multiple experiences each year, boasting an audience of over 3,000 riders. The week-long Big BRAG ride is a curated experience highlighting routes along Georgia's diverse landscape that include local sites, entertainment, activities, food, and beverages.
"We are ecstatic to help host BRAG and showcase Georgia Hi-Lo Trail communities," said Mary Charles Howard, Founder and Executive Director of Georgia Hi-Lo Trail, Inc. "Our team works in these communities, and we see the beauty and hospitality they offer. Drawing an event like BRAG is not just validation. It will be a tremendous boost for the local economies."
“Events like BRAG and the Athens to Savannah Ride bring bicycle tourism to our communities and confirm what we have known,” says Becky Sanders, President & CEO of Statesboro Convention & Visitors Bureau. “These visitors are a good fit for Statesboro. They don’t just bring tax dollars. They help drive awareness for our community and the Georgia Hi-Lo Trail mission, which boosts support to complete our segment of the trail. We are so pleased to see Statesboro included in BRAG’s route this year!"
BRAG route through Bulloch County
According to the Bulloch County Sheriff's Office, the riders will leave Swainsboro starting Friday morning at 7am. They will enter Bulloch County on Pleasant Hill Rd. and take the following route to the RAC at GSU.
- Pleasant Hill Rd.
- Highway 80
- Rest stop at Pepper Jacks
- Portal-Metter Rd.
- Westside Rd.
- Highpoint Rd.
- Country Club Rd.
- Cypress Lake Rd.
- AJ Riggs Rd.
- Gateway Blvd. to JC Cannady
- Cross Hwy 301 S to Langston Chapel
- Old Register Rd. to the RAC at GSU
On Saturday at 7am, they will take the following route:
- Leave the RAC and ride through GSU to Fair Rd.
- Gentilly Rd. to the S&S Greenway
- S&S Greenway to the roundabout at Burkhalter/Rushing Rd.
- Burkhalter
- Magnolia Church Rd.
- Clito Rd.
- Brooklet-Leefield
- Stilson-Leefield
- Hwy 119 to the Effingham Co. Line
About the Georgia Hi-Lo Trail
Georgia Hi-Lo Trail, Inc. is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to connecting and empowering rural Georgia through the development of the 211-mile Hi-Lo Trail, which will join communities across an 8-county area. When complete, the Hi-Lo Trail will connect to the 38-mile Firefly Trail, creating the longest paved trail in the U.S.
The organization's initiatives, such as Kids Bike League and the Athens to Savannah Ride, promote its values and raise awareness for its mission. See the detailed master plan on GeorgiaHiLo.org. Kids Bike League serves children within the eight-county region to deliver equal access to bikes, opportunities to ride, and empowerment for growth. Learn more on KidsBikeLeague.org. Athens to Savannah Ride, scheduled for October 17-20, 2024, offers cyclists the choice between a 3-day road ride or a 4-day gravel ride, both covering 285 miles and finishing in Historic Downtown Savannah.
Learn more on AthensToSavannah.com.
