Looking to extend your riding season this winter? If you’re in the U.S., December might not be the best month for riding – unless you live in the south. With average highs right around 67-71°F, loading up the car and heading to Gainesville, FL is sounding pretty good.
It sounds even better when you hear what Atomik has in store. Atomik has always had a soft spot for Jamaica – in fact, the company was essentially created during one of their many mountain bike trips through the Blue Mountains for the Jamaica Fat Tyre Festival. Hoping to bring some of that island vibe to their home of Florida, the Rocks, Roads, and Reggae ride will combine a two day 100 mile bikepacking trip with live reggae music and authentic Jamaican cuisine prepared by a local chef. Knowing Wayne and Kevin, there will also be quite a party with the ride finishing at Blackadder Brewing Company.
Starting on December 2nd, the ride will traverse through some of Gainesville’s best backcountry gravel/dirt/sand roads, with the course laid out by Jayson of the Gravel Cyclist (so a gravel bike with 35-40mm tires is recommended). The two day event is $75 which includes sag stops (one per day), dinner and breakfast, and the campsite, but riders must be prepared with their own camping equipment that will be carried on their bike. Registration is capped at 110 spots, and more info can be found here.
While Atomik Carbon Cycling Adventures is kicking off with their first organized ride, Atomik Carbon has some news as well. Atomik recently announced a new life time limited warranty that will cover its carbon rims and carbon bars for the original owner when purchased through an authorized dealer or through Atomik directly. The product has to be registered, and the warranty only applies to defects in materials or workmanship, but it’s an improvement for an already stellar product (we’ve loved every Atomik wheel we’ve tested).
They’ve also improved their crash replacement policy by extending it to the lifetime of the product and including new spokes, nipples, and labor in the relatively low replacement cost of $275 for an MTB rim, $310 for road, $370 for plus, and $400 for fat.