Where to ride around Montgomery?

There is a tri club in Montgomery:

www.montgomerymultisport.com

The same people that run the club are getting ready to open a tri shop in Peppertree shopping center as well.  For a bike shop, there is a small one in Prattville, but I usually go up to the Birmingham area and go to one of the Cahaba Cycles locations for better selection.

I agree that Montgomery is not very bike friendly and riding on base is probably one of the safest places.  I am still a newbie to the whole tri thing, so I haven't been riding much, but I have already had a close call with a stupid driver who had plenty of room and decided to leave me as little of it as possible.

Edited by calgalinal 2010-08-27 7:35 PM

Welcome! I am new to riding in Montgomery myself, however I have lived here my entire life. Your best bet is to ride early and east. I like to park at the Ray Thorington Rd CVS and ride down RT, take a right onto Pike Rd, then take a left down Wallahatchee, and ride to the little church on the right... then back. It's about a 22 mile ride. Nice, quiet, and I get to see other early morning riders, which to me is always pleasant.

www.mgmbikeclub.org

Every Wed is a short time trial around the loop at Deer Creek (Vaughn Road, about 1.5 miles east of Taylor Rd).

I do a LOT of riding in this area.  The DOT recently put up a lot of "Share the road" signs, and it's a fairly popular area for cycling.  Having said that, I think most locals have gotten accustomed to seeing cyclists out here.  Still, the drivers aren't as friendly as some other places I've ridden (southwest Oklahoma was awesome and Delaware was also good.  

I ride mostly SE of town - out Ray Thorington Rd (good, wide road), and then out Pike Road (I hate Pike Road - it's moderately busy and no one seems inclined to wait until it's safe to pass you).  But the good news is that I'm only on Pike road for about 1.5 miles total.  There's quite a few loops available from Pike Road.  I'll try to attach some pictures/maps.

Stand by for pics...
 











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I do a lot of variations on this route (live in Deer Creek).  Some options:
- Once you're on Pike, instead of turning left on Wallahatchie, go straight a couple hundred yards and turn RIGHT on the next road - you'll pass an Ace Hardware, and that road continues about 5 miles or so until it comes to the 231 intersection.  Turn around and backtrack - I like this option if the winds are strong out of the west or NW - get the headwinds out of the way early!

- Another option: from Pike road, continue straight past Wallahatchie, down the slight hill and then up to the top of the next little hill - turn Left onto Carter Hill Road (a grass strip airport with wind sock).  After about 1.5 miles or so, turn left onto Matthews Rd.  Matthews rd has a lot more ups and downs than the other roads.  At the end of Matthews Rd (about 5 miles or so), you'll come to a T intersection across from a single grain elevator and the tiny Matthews post office - turn Left.  Follow that road north, and in about 2-3 miles, you'll come to the John Hall store on the intersection of Vaughn rd.  That store is a very popular meeting place for cyclists, I think they ride on Thursdays and Saturdays.  Those roads are empty of traffic and great for biking.  Anyways... from the store, turn left onto Vaughn, and in about 2.5 miles or so, you'll come right back to the original church that abagailhancock uses as her turn around point.  This total loop is about 27 miles long.

Bottom line: there's some GREAT riding, once you get OFF pike road! 

Damn J, that is a comprehensive route suggestion...I really should have stuck with you this year instead of moving across the street...

http://www.mapmyride.com/route/us/al/montgomery/788128577303658917<... />
This is an out and back that we ride on Saturday Mornings from Montgomery Multisport.
http://www.montgomerymultisport.com  Montgomery Alabama Bike Shop

Usually 30ish folks dividing in to three groups based on speed.

Tuesday and Thursday rides leave the shop at 5:30am.  Usually 20+ riders.. lots of blinky lights...

G.

link not working.

Weekly Tue and Thur ride. 

http://www.mapmyride.com/view_workout?w=218128602867472962

Look under route/map.

steve