Sunday, July 26, 2009
Life, Health + Fitness, Atlanta

Happy trails to you

There are plenty of bike routes in Atlanta, but I’m on the hunt for those of the flat variety

By Colleen Oakley

My dad bought me a road bike for my birthday. This is because I may have agreed to do a century bike race with him over Labor Day weekend. For those of you unfamiliar with the “lingo,” a century is a 100-mile route that you complete in one day.

When I brought my new toy home, I decided to test it out and see how far I could go, having not ridden in about four years.

Two miles later, my thighs burned, my face was red and I was sweating profusely, and cursing the fact that I ever agreed to participate in this race. What had I been thinking?

The only good news is that the two miles I (slowly) covered on my first excursion were extremely hilly, and the race down in Savannah is, for the most part, flat.

So that settled it, I needed a flat place to train. Thanks to the PATH Foundation, there are an abundance of those.

THE SILVER COMET TRAIL
This mostly flat and paved path connects Atlanta to the Alabama state line. Fifty miles of it are complete, which means if you’re feeling really adventurous (I wasn’t), you could ride a total of 108 miles in one day. There have been concerns about safety along the trail, so just like anywhere else, follow sensible safety precautions—ride in a group, time your trip so you get back before dark, and take extra tires (for flats) and water (to prevent dehydration).

BIG CREEK GREENWAY TRAIL
Built on a flood plain in Alpharetta, this park has 10 miles of paved, virtually flat track. For those who like to wander, there are also fun hiking and mountain-biking trails in the park.

CORALWOOD WOODS IN DECATUR
This 1-mile loop is designated for beginners, but you can go round as many times as you like to build up your mileage. Go to www.n-georgia.com/bike_trails.htm for directions to the trail (and find some more intermediate climbs as well).

STONE MOUNTAIN
At the base of the famous rock face is a 5-mile loop. When you come out of the parking lot, turn left, and you’ll be sure to go down the one massive hill on the trail. Turn the wrong direction, and you’ll be going up it—at the end of your ride. No fun at all.

ON THE ROAD
If you don’t want to ride on a designated trail free of cars, but want to take your chances on Atlanta roads, check out www.sadlebred.com/gamaps.html for a list of road routes already drawn up for you and group rides that take place every week. SP
Colleen Oakley is a freelance writer in Atlanta and the former editor of Women’s Health & Fitness magazine. Got a fitness challenge for her? E-mail her at fitness@sundaypaper.com.