Coosa Valley Cycling disbands
The group funnels money left in its treasury to TRED.
As the annual Up the Creek bike ride approaches this weekend, the Rome News-Tribune has learned the Coosa Valley Cycling Association has formally disbanded and turned over its treasury to Trails for Recreation and Economic Development.
“Nobody wanted to be in charge,” said Chris McCormick, a longtime leader of CVCA. “Everybody just wanted to be able to enjoy their rides.”
“It was a decision (to disband) that had to be made,” said Dan Greeson, president of the association for the past year and a half. “The volunteers (at events) were always the same five or six people.”
“Nobody seemed to mind paying the dues,” said Mark Webb, another former president. “It’s really sad; we did a lot of fantastic things through the years.”
McCormick said the decision was made to give the funding to TRED because the organization has the same goals related to promoting cycling and advocating for trail development in the Rome area.
Julie Smith, president of TRED, said the $8,000 that was turned over would be used for a variety of purposes, including educational programs and maintenance of the new GE Trails at Garrard Park.
Peggy Moore, one of the founders of CVCA with her husband Bob Moore, Harry Brock, Trey Smith, Clay Pullen, Paul Coryea, Lawrence Stone and others said at one point membership easily topped 100 cycling enthusiasts, and a few years after its organization it became an official tax-exempt group.
“We gave a lot to help develop the Silver Comet Trail,” Moore said. “We also gave away a lot helmets and lights to children over the years, safety-related things, and we printed safety literature for school children in both English and Spanish.”
Moore said that over the years, club members were actively involved in bringing events like the Tour de Georgia and Bicycle Ride Across Georgia to Rome. She said CVCA was always a family oriented group and one of the big events each year was the Dog Day Lunar Bike Ride around the Mount Berry Mall.
Those same five or six volunteers that have done the bulk of the work for the last several years will be volunteers for the 27th annual Up the Creek rides Saturday. The event features a family-friendly 5-mile ride along with 32, 53, 71, 81, 104 and 109mile road ride options.
Smith said more than 350 riders had registered online as of Tuesday afternoon, and she expects another 200 or more if the weather is good Saturday morning. All rides will leave from the Town Green in front of the Forum River Center.
The longer rides will depart at 8 a.m. The Harbin Clinic 5-mile family ride will leave at 9 a.m. Registration on the morning of the race is $55 for the long rides and $20 for adults and $5 for children for the Harbin Clinic 5-mile family ride.