This summer, the city of Rome will serve as the starting point for the highly anticipated Bicycle Ride Across Georgia, affectionately known as Big BRAG. On May 31st, cyclists from across the state and beyond will converge at the Forum River Center for an overnight stay, kicking off a week-long journey averaging 55 miles per day. Local officials are preparing for a significant influx of riders and supporters. Chris Fincher of Floyd County Emergency Management highlighted the excitement surrounding the event after attending a recent planning meeting. “There is going to be a big sendoff,” Fincher said. “They’ve got a large archway that they are going to take off from, and that night before they are going to have a lot of things in town to kind of welcome the riders to Rome. BRAG brings with it a large contingent of really knowledgeable planners. They’ve done this before, and they know what to prepare for with shower trailers and things like that. BRAG has turned into a really big thing.” The cyclists will embark on their statewide adventure from Rome, heading towards Cartersville, Jasper, Dawsonville, Clarkesville, and Toccoa. The epic journey concludes on June 7th in Hartwell, Georgia. For more information about Big BRAG, including registration details and the full route, visit brag.org.