When Steve and Susan Solomon’s eldest daughter couldn’t make a planned family backpacking trip in 2013, some biking friends offered a suggestion: try BRAG instead. That spontaneous pivot became a “great adventure” and launched what would become a remarkable family tradition—25 BRAG rides spanning 12 Big BRAGs, 8 Spring TuneUps, multiple Fall rides, and a Winter Ride.
Today, the Huntsville, Alabama couple are fixtures in the BRAG community, known for creative team jersys and fake moustaches. The Solomon’s evolution from first-timers focused on survival to seasoned BRAG veterans who ensure everyone around them has a great experience.
Building a Family Legacy
That first 2013 ride set something in motion that would ripple through the entire Solomon family and since then both daughters—Sarah and Stacy—have completed multiple BRAGs with their parents. “It is great family fun,” Steve and Susan say, though they admit with a laugh that “our extended family and non-biking friends don’t really get what BRAG is, and certainly think we are a bit crazy for doing it.”
For Steve and Susan, recently retired from careers in missile defense and software development for the Army, BRAG offers the perfect blend of everything they value: travel, outdoor activities, exploring new places, and meeting fun people. More importantly, it’s a week when they can “leave our normal weekly tasks at home and enjoy an epic 300+ mile adventure with encouraging friends in the scenic Georgia outdoors.”
Finding Their People
Over 25 BRAG rides, the Solomons have woven themselves deeply into the BRAG community fabric. They ride with the Alabama Chain Gang, Rocket City Riders, and Redbeard’s Pedal Pirates, maintain close connections with what they call their “awesome South Carolina Cohort,” and count Team Paparazzi, the Chattahooligans, and their Old Blind Dog friends as part of their extended BRAG family.
“We love the camaraderie, positive outlook, and general helpfulness of the entire BRAG family,” they explain. This sense of belonging—of being part of something larger than just a bike ride—is what transforms BRAG from an annual event into a cherished tradition.
The Transformation
Ask the Solomons if they’re the same riders who started in 2013, and their answer reveals the deeper journey BRAG offers. “Physically, the mechanics of riding a bike is the same. My thinking is different now,” they reflect. “When we first started doing BRAG we were mostly focused on getting ourselves through the rides. Now we have more fun and a sense of the BRAG community and helping and encouraging others and ensuring everyone has a great experience.”
It’s the evolution every BRAG veteran recognizes—the shift from personal achievement to community support, from proving something to yourself to helping others discover what BRAG can offer. They’ve also gained the wisdom to know that “if for some reason we need to SAG on a route that is okay too”—the kind of self-compassion that only comes with experience.
A Well-Oiled Machine
After 25 rides, the Solomons have their BRAG routine perfected. Steve typically wakes first, unlocking bikes, pumping tires, filling water bottles, retrieving devices from chargers, and scouting breakfast options. They dress for riding, apply sunscreen, pack their indoor camping spot, and load the luggage truck before meeting their team.
“Our team is a mix of riding preferences, so some may leave early with a friend, others may ride in a larger group,” they note. “We usually take our time and enjoy the route and chatting at rest stops.” It’s an approach that prioritizes experience over speed, conversation over competition.
At each day’s finish, they find a spot in the cooler indoor camping area, then immediately visit the welcome table to plan lunch and afternoon activities. Evenings mean group dinners and live music. Before bed comes the ritual of laying out the next day’s kit, loading routes, charging devices, and coordinating start times—efficient without being rigid, planned without losing spontaneity.
Collecting Memories
Twenty-five BRAG rides have created an impressive catalog of memories. Last year’s ride around the Formula 1 track was “a blast.” Susan’s birthday and their anniversary often fall during BRAG week, creating special on-road celebrations. The 2022 peach farm’s peach ice cream was “amazing.” Cities with swimming holes, pools, or beach areas provide “a great break from summer heat.” Even the COVID years, with their “strangeness of those Social Distance/Hand Sanitizing years,” became part of their BRAG story.
Georgia has revealed countless gems: the giant spring and cave in Cave Springs, Lake Lanier’s expanse, the dramatic Toccoa Falls, even the Atlanta Skydive Park. Their favorite routes include the Atlanta to Savannah ride—”this scenic route gets flatter as you go and you start to see Spanish moss on trees and finish on the Savannah river”—though they appreciate challenging routes too: “The hilly ones are tough, but so scenic.”
Small Town Magic
Some of the Solomons’ best memories come from unexpected small-town encounters. Riding through rural Georgia in his University of Alabama kit, Steve stopped at a family’s lemonade stand. They got excited seeing his jersey because their son attended the same school, leading to a nice visit—the kind of spontaneous connection that only happens when you slow down enough to notice.
Another evening in Dahlonega, their group’s dinner ran late and they missed the last shuttle. “The town was deserted, but we saw a young man walking his dog, and he generously agreed to drive us back and he had to make several trips since we could not all fit in his car with the dog.” It’s these moments of unexpected kindness that define BRAG’s magic.
Then there was the Vidalia VFW karaoke night where Team Paparazzi members Savannah P., Anna Z., and Marianna S. “sang so well when we left they handed us all king-size Vidalia Onions to show their appreciation.” Only on BRAG does a cycling event lead to karaoke, which leads to giant onions as parting gifts.
Hard-Won Wisdom
Twenty-five BRAGs have taught the Solomons lessons they’re eager to share. Their essential gear list includes practical items—a good rolling duffle bag, sun hat, ear plugs, eye mask—and “most importantly…some fake moustaches and a smile.”
Their packing advice is specific: don’t pack necessary riding gear like helmets or shoes in your luggage truck bag. Put walking shoes in just before throwing the bag on the truck. Add highly visible ribbon, paint, or tape to make your bag easy to find in a pile of similar bags.
For training, they recommend regular club rides during the week with progressively longer weekend rides. Pick a fun century in April or early May for motivation. Use Spring Tune-Up as both preparation and a readiness indicator for consecutive long riding days.
Most importantly, they’ve learned that BRAG “is more of a sight seeing tour and is more fun if you stop, explore, and enjoy the people, scenery, and environment.”
You Know You’re a Real BRAGger When…
The Solomons offer three markers of true BRAG veteran status. You know you’re a real BRAGger when: “Post BRAG when you enter a large room and automatically scan it for outlets.” When “you see a table of snacks you hear the words ‘wash your filthy hands!’ in your head.” And when “you can recite most of the BRAG first timers talk.” These aren’t just funny observations—they’re the muscle memory of someone who’s lived BRAG life 25 times.
Looking Forward
For newcomers considering their first BRAG, the Solomons’ advice is welcoming and wise: “Cyclists are generally fun-loving and interesting people. Be friendly and get to know fellow Riders, BRAG staff, Dream Team riders, and people in the cities along the way.”
Even after 25 rides, their BRAG bucket list isn’t empty. They’d love to bike through Helen, Georgia, or explore state parks like Cloudland Canyon in Rising Fawn—proof that BRAG continues to offer new discoveries.
From that first father-daughter ride in 2013 to becoming pillars of the Alabama Chain Gang, the Solomons have fully embraced what BRAG offers. They’ve celebrated birthdays and anniversaries on Georgia roads, survived COVID protocols, received Vidalia onions from grateful karaoke audiences, and experienced countless kindnesses from strangers. They’ve introduced their daughters to BRAG and watched the tradition take root in the next generation.
Their essential gear list says it all: practical items help, but what really matters are “fake moustaches and a smile.” Because after 25 BRAG rides, the Solomons understand that showing up ready to have fun, help others, and embrace whatever adventures Georgia offers is what transforms a bike ride into a family legacy.
