A Quick Warning and Alternate Routes for the Silver Comet Trail Section Between Cedartown GA and Rockmart GA

Three of us did the full skate from mile 0 of Silver Comet outside Atlanta, GA to the end of Chief Ladiga Trail just inside Anniston, AL yesterday. My GPS's said it was 94.92 miles including a few side trips and fun backtracks. Thanks to Tom B for joining us and especially his wife and kids for driving out to retrieve us. Also thanks to Jonathan K for a nice offer of retrieval as well. We had a great day, but not all of it was great. We had some extra challenges due Tom's axle and my brake pad wear (and not having my usual spare brake pad along and late in the day was using the metal as well as the pad to stop, ha), but we still all agreed the section between Rockmart and Cedartown is not up to the quality of the rest of the Silver Comet. I'm not saying it's impossible, but before you go, know that not all of this section of the Silver Comet is a railtrail, and it is a very different and much more technical section, even for cyclists, if their bikes are not in top shape. On a bike, be sure you have your brakes, rims and tires well maintained. On skates bring an extra pad and tools or some sandals or be ready to burn some wheels and put strain on your knees. There are some nice parts of this section, but some technical stops and turns that are perhaps not worth it for most skaters and some cyclists. It's a shame but eebee and I agreed later that we'd rather not have the trail there than have this particular trail in place. We hope they'll eventually get the rights to the rail bed and make it up to the quality of the rest of the amazing Silver Comet. Once we can look at our data and maps, we'll be searching in earnest for a roadskating alternative route to avoid the worst parts of the Silver Comet between Rockmart and Cedartown, because we love the idea of a nice 95 mile skate on rail-trails. As for the Chief Ladiga, it's all safe except for a few roots here and there, and all asphalt. If they fix the non-rail-trail sections and add the six miles or so in to the Anniston Amtrak station, it'll be a true train-skate adventure opportunity, especially if Atlanta can link from the Amtrak station to the Silver Comet. I'm really glad we did the full trip now that we made it, but there were times during the day where we wondered about it all. At all parts of the day at least one of us had done every section of the Silver Comet and Chief Ladiga except the one between Rockmart and Cedartown, so we knew once we got to Cedartown it'd be OK, but we were starting to wonder what worse might be ahead of us on the trail. Fortunately, it all came out well. If you go, take care!

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