Looking Nice Routes in Triangle Area

[WashDC-FB]

Hello:

My wife and I are considering coming down to Cary this weekend to visit her family. We just got into biking and just completed our longest ride this past weekend in Eastern Shore MD of 25 miles at 11 MPH avg.

I have been searching the web looking for bike routes within 1-2 hour drive of Cary- preferabley paved and flat, but can do gravel and a little hills. Ideally a 25-35 mile loop or an out and back same amount of miles.

Does anyone know of a resource for researching appropriate rides in the area, or can suggest something like that within an hour or two of the triangle?

Thanks for your help.

[JayC]

Here's a couple of options for you.

This is the SlowSpokes ride for this weekend. It leaves from Cycling Spoken Here in Cary.

http://trianglecycling.com/showthread.php?t=19629

The Selma Cyclepaths also have a Saturday ride. Its about a 45 minute drive from Cary but its seriously out in the middle of nowhere. Here's a link to their website where you can get directions to the starting location.

http://selmacyclepaths.org/21376/index.html

Route this week is Big Boys Dont Cry. Its a 29 mile route, virtually no hills whatsoever.

I personally will be riding with the Cyclepaths this weekend but lots of forum members will be at the SlowSpokes ride. Cant go wrong with either, although there is considerably less traffic on the Cyclepath rides.

[Zonda]

My wife and I are considering coming down to Cary this weekend to visit her family.

Welcome to the group! Hope you both can join us Saturday.

[TracyW]

Both of Jays suggestions would be good. The cyclepaths ride would have the advantage of less traffic where the Slow Spokes ride might be more geared for your speed.

[WashDC-FB]

Dear JayC, Zonda and Tracy:

Thank you for your suggestions and warm welcome. As my wife and I are still begginers, ridding in a group is a little bit intimidating, but we talked about it and are willing to give it a shot-- we just dont want to hold up the pack. We are leaning towards the Cyclepaths ride as we would rather avoid traffic for a while till we get used to cars buzzing past us. Do you think that ridding between 10.5-11 mph will be a problem with this group? Also we probably need to take two breaks as we are still getting used to it (I notice there is one break scheduled)-- will this be a problem? Alternatively- do you think we could follow the cue sheets pretty easily on our own for a ride without the group-- we are just wary of being a drag on the group- especially as we are visitors.

Sorry for all the questions!!

[JayC]

Dear JayC, Zonda and Tracy:

Thank you for your suggestions and warm welcome. As my wife and I are still begginers, ridding in a group is a little bit intimidating, but we talked about it and are willing to give it a shot-- we just dont want to hold up the pack. We are leaning towards the Cyclepaths ride as we would rather avoid traffic for a while till we get used to cars buzzing past us. Do you think that ridding between 10.5-11 mph will be a problem with this group? Also we probably need to take two breaks as we are still getting used to it (I notice there is one break scheduled)-- will this be a problem? Alternatively- do you think we could follow the cue sheets pretty easily on our own for a ride without the group-- we are just wary of being a drag on the group- especially as we are visitors.

Sorry for all the questions!!

There were some people riding at that speed last year. I really dont know what speed everyone is at now. That being said, there is 1 more convenient store that you will pass on this route but it's before the sceduled rest stop. After the last rest stop, houses and country graveyards are about the only thing you will pass.

This is mostly an out and back route tho with an loop on the end of it so should you fall off the group, you could turn around in Micro (see below) and start back towards Buffaloe Rd and the group will probably catch you at some point.

You might want to consider doing the Easy Rider route if you are concerned about being dropped. The routes are identical except the Easy Rider route does not have the loop at the end and is a straight out and back ride. It will cut off ~5 miles or so.

You can bring cue sheets for both and if you find you are having a tough time keeping up when you get to Micro, just change to the Easy Rider route and turn around.

Following the cue sheet should be very easy. There are only a handful of turns and all but one of them is at the end of the roads.

I will say this and people who have ridden out here will verify it. You will go faster out here than you average at your regular rides. This area is FLAT, REALLY flat and once you get off Buffaloe Rd, cars are usually sparse.

[WashDC-FB]

Thanks for the clarification JayC. We dont really mind being dropped as we would stick together, we just want to make sure we are not holding anyone back. As we have done 25 miles last week in 2:18 mins (2:45 with the breaks) we would like to add a bit of distance along with working on speed- so I think we want to try the 29 miles.

Is it understood that who ever cant keep up gets "dropped"? If thats the culture that would actually be good for us, so we dont feel like we are being a drag-- if we get dropped we get dropped, at least we got to meet some new folks in the begining-- I think we would be okay finishing alone.

[JayC]

Thats about the size of it. Usually tho, there are so many people on these rides that there is someone going your pace.I think last week there was something like ~30 riders.

Now the SlowSpokes rides are truely "led from the back" and are no drop.

[WashDC-FB]

Thanks JayC- your advice is really helpful :-) Looking forward to the ride!