MAY 20-23, 2024: Vidalia, Georgia
Does anyone smell onions? Less than 10 spots remain!
We are headed to the onion capital of the world, Vidalia, for three days of riding and eating. Vidalia sweet onions are in season and you can bring home a bag.
GTR is the only tandem rally that has a pre-tour option that allows you to extend your GTR experience to six days of riding. It’s what the cool kids do before GTR starts. You will meet some fun people in a much more intimate setting.
Vidalia is all about the onion. Everything in town has an onion theme.
It’s only 40 miles from Vidalia to GTR 2024, so you will have an easy drive to get to “Big GTR” when the pre-tour ends.
GTR PRE-TOUR AT A GLANCE
Monday, May 20: We will gather at 8PM at our host hotel for packet distribution and to meet our fellow riders.
Tuesday, May 21: Our first ride of GTR Week is a remote start and features options of 31 or 43 miles. Our ride begins at Big Al’s Country Market (an onion buying opportunity!) and winds through the south-central Georgia countryside. Afterwards, you can eat at Big Al’s, where everything is fried and everything is good. Our favorites include the fried chicken, breaded French fries and “cone bread”, which is thinly fried corn meal. Tuesday night, features a “tandem takeover” at a local restaurant that has wine slushies on the menu.
Wednesday, May 22: Today’s ride starts from the host hotel and has options of 36 or 47 miles through more of the same countryside you saw on Tuesday. Tonight, we are going to do an optional “Pre-Tour Banquet” at Benton Lee’s Steakhouse on the banks of the Altamaha River. (Note: the cost of dinner at Benton Lee’s is not included in the price of the pre-tour.)
Thursday, May 23: We’ve got time for one more ride before we check out of our hotel and head up the road to GTR 2024. The last ride of the pre-tour goes 22 miles, which will give you plenty of time to get ready for the Thursday festivities at GTR 2024.
GTR PRE-TOUR CLIMBING CHART
We may tweak a few routes, but the climbing won’t change much:
| Day/Option | Climbing (Source: Ride with GPS) |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 31 | 1400 feet |
| Tuesday 43 | 1900 feet |
| Wednesday 37 | 1300 feet |
| Wednesday 50 | 1900 feet |
| Thursday 22 | 900 feet |
THE PRE-TOUR IS LIMITED TO 30 TEAMS.
GTR PRE-TOUR REGISTRATION
The pre-tour is a hot ticket and usually sells out each year. If you are coming, register early. You will register for both GTR and the pre-tour at the same time. Due to the popularity of the pre-tour, you must register for GTR 2024 to do the pre-tour. There are no “pre-tour only” registrations.
GTR PRE-TOUR COSTS
The cost of the pre-tour is $150 per team. The cost includes rider’s insurance, maps, cue sheets, GPS files, hopefully some SWAG, and a really fun time. The cost does not include your hotel room, which is $139 a night plus taxes. Hotel information will be provided after you register for the ride.