Hattiesburg, MS

[giant_kyle]

Any locals? or southern/central Mississippians that do some mountain biking, or anything?

[recneps345]

Little Colorado in Jackson was fun while I was in school. I am now in Birmingham though.

[giant_kyle]

Awesome, i'll have to look it up once i get a bike, and feel comfortable to take some trails

[Conveyor Belt]

They're out there, kyle. I'm sure some people do actual mountain biking. I see the road riders more, though. Me, I'm a guy on a mtb turned road friendly commuter bike.

[Conundrum]

On the coast here - mostly road, but I do MTB when I can - what of it there is down here that is. It is F L A T down here on the beach so mostly sandy trails with a few dips and such and lots of roots. Road riding is pretty good, again as long as you like flats and don't mind wind. If you're in Hattiesville check out the Longleaf Trace. It's supposed to be a great ride, but I've never made it up there to do it.

[Hob684]

I'm from the 'Burg and ride the Trace when class/work will allow.

I'm still tryin to work up the courage to ride the quarter mile of 4th street to class.

[giant_kyle]

haha, i live off of fourth for now. Fountainbleau Apts. Right across from USM.

[Hob684]

then you're lucky. There's a little path at the backside of your parking lot on the left to get on the Trace.

i'm at Mark IV down past Mugshots. I've either got to ride to Mugs and get on the Trace at 7th St or go left and get off my bike to walk it through sand in the S-curve by I-59. Neither route is very safe.

[giant_kyle]

well, i dont have a bike. I do mugshots' computer work on the side:) great hamburgers!

[Hob684]

lol.. i've never actually eaten the food there. If i'm there then its after 10 on a weekend.

[giant_kyle]

Alrighty, i bought an 07 Giant Yukon 24" saturday. I'm chompin at the bit to do some riding.

[Hob684]

i've recently taken up (as in.. yesterday) riding early morning around 6-6:30am. I'm tryin to get into a routine if you feel like ringin up some miles on the trace.

[Platy]

If I'm remembering correctly, there's a sidewalk type connection to the Trace just past the dead end marker at the south end of 31st Ave.

[Hob684]

Yeah there is. You can also take it towards USM and you come out just east of St. Patrick's (between Pat Ferlise Center and St. Pat's)

[YATES]

I'm up in Oxford, however, during senior year of high school i had to do a metric century and i elected to do it down there on the longleaf.. it went very well

[giant_kyle]

i can hop on the long leaf right behind my apt. Hob, we should def meet up sometime. Though i have a MTB and you're riding a roadie, i dont guess i'd slow you down too much. What's your average speed?

[Hob684]

Sure thing, usually ~17mph. still workin on gettin my butt used to this bike.

[ggallin]

i will be riding the trace from start to finish in october.

[Hob684]

round trip or one way?

[giant_kyle]

Cool, according to my cyclo-computer i'm averaging about 15 on the "uphill" portion of the trace, and 18 on my way back down to my apt. This is on my MTB, hrm i wonder what i could do with a roadie:)

[spdtrip]

Jackson, here.

Little Colo has been replaced with the "ridgeland trails". Though, they are in Madison...

[Paul Barnard]

Cool, according to my cyclo-computer i'm averaging about 15 on the "uphill" portion of the trace, and 18 on my way back down to my apt. This is on my MTB, hrm i wonder what i could do with a roadie:)


You'll pick up quite a bit of speed with a roadie. Even switching your MTB tires for some narrow road tires will make an appreciable difference. We should all get together and ride the trace sometime. I haven't done it yet, but have been looking for an excuse to head up that way. Depending on wind and terrain I average between 17.5 and 19 on solo rides.

[joshlsulli]

I'm from the 'Burg and ride the Trace when class/work will allow.

I'm still tryin to work up the courage to ride the quarter mile of 4th street to class.

With the traffic on Hardy, Good Luck!!!:eek:

[Hob684]

With the traffic on Hardy, Good Luck!!!:eek:

i'm not about to even look in the Hardy St direction while on my bike. I don't care if its 4am with zero traffic and i'm lit up like a christmas tree I am not riding Hardy St.




As for meeting up sometime and riding I believe the Hub City Cyclists (HCC) have rec rides (~15mph) every sunday at 130pm starting at the USM gateway depending on weather.

I was planning on going this Sunday however I somehow forgot that it was our 1st wedding anniversary (i figure why get her hopes up for next year!) so i won't be joining this weekend.

(For more info on the rides and HCC call Nancy at Hattiesburg Bicycle Center)

[giant_kyle]

About nancy, she has been basically no help to me. every time i go in there she treats me like i'm a bother, i really am not impressed with either bike shops in town. I dont really enjoy trace riding, more for keeping in some sort of riding shape. I do however love bethel, i rode the briar patch down there this weekend and i'm hooked to singletrack.

drew's shop(nancy), hattiesburg cycles, tends to be more geared to roadies, which is cool since there is nothing really but flat land around here.

[Hob684]

eh.. to each his own i guess.

[joshlsulli]

There is an old dirt bike trail in Clinton, MS. The city maintains the area well. Great for MTB.

[giant_kyle]

Who is doing what this weekend?

[Hob684]

i just got an email from HCC that there is a group ride starting at USM gateway at 7am going to prentiss.

anyone is welcome, turn around when you want if you don't want to go the full distance. You must have helmet and provide your own fuel and water.

I'll be turning around around 8:45a b/c i've got to be at work at 11am.

[giant_kyle]

roading is boring to me lol. i need to go ahead and get a road bike so i can keep up with you guys

[Paul Barnard]

I'm going to Key West. I'll be out of the saddle (bike) for a while.

[Hob684]

edit

[Hob684]

Kyle I just wanted to say that you were right about Moore's shop..

This was my first trip ever to Moore's Shop.

I was going for a ride on Wednesday and I typically go from the grand through campus to the Trace. I noticed as i was leaving that my speedplays needed greasing so i figured i'd swing by HBC and see if they could do it.. I was told (all by nancy) that they were out of the grease that they have on sale and he had 4-5 bikes to do right now and i would have to drop my bike off sometime later this week to get it done... (we're talking a 5min unscrew 1 screw squirt some grease and go). I said ok then and left.

I figured i'd try to find my way to Moore's bike shop and see if they could do it. After getting lost in the ghetto several times and finally finding it (i tried to stay off hardy) It took the guy literally 3 minutes to do. And they weren't "slow" as it was.. there were 2-3 people standing around buying stuff and checking on bikes. $2.50 + $4.99 for a spare tube and i was on my way.

Great customer service and very nice people. Good selection of gear on teh floor too.

def. getting my business next time.

**i would've greased the pedal myself but i was out and all lycra'd out so i didn't feel like driving to HomeDepot

[Desert_Donkey]

Howdy, everybody! Another Burger here, and longtime local rider.

Hob684, I noticed that you mentioned living at Mark VI, over by the "dirt shortcut" to the Trace. We really need a tunnel from the apt. complex to the trail, like the one over on 38th/4th!

I've been riding the paltry trails of Hattiesboig for some years now, and the old "Ghost Trails" were the best, but now they're gone, lost to overzealous development. I've swapped my knobbies for Michelin Transworlds, and now I just ride my FS/XC rig on the street.

I'm looking at road rigs now, thinking to commute from Mark VI to Camp Shelby. So far I've looked at a Giant OCR2 and an FCR series(I forget which), and they both have their strong points. I'm leaning heavily toward the pure road rig, and I may just have to accept the fact that I won't be able to mount fenders or very much in the way of cargo capacity on it. I want something fast, to make the best of my time on the way out there, but the road conditions are teh suck out in Dixie.

I wonder if I could just get the FCR and swap a drop bar and brake/shifter setup onto it, and have the best of both worlds? Hmmm...

It sure is nice to see so many people around the 'Burg interested in riding! For years, it was a solo thing or no riding at all around here! Now we have organized rides! Woot!

[Hob684]

Yeah once you get out there you see more and more cyclists.

*DD i'm usually on a black Trek1k or a blue/silver beater and YES we do need a tunnel.. or pave the dirt trail or somethin.. I usually just sprint to 7th street and hit the sidewalk by the apts across from the store.

as for group rides the Saturday morning one w/ Conveyor Belt was pretty fun.. nice change of scenery and attitude.

Saturday = anyone, any bike, avg spd ~10-12mph. Great way to meet people and just hang out.
Sunday = Roadbikes only and get ready fly. Avg ~20mph.

[Conveyor Belt]

Yeah, I can't keep up with roadies. Maybe going downhill, maybe... but not on flats, etc.

[Hob684]

CB I applaud your diligence and will power to keep to commuting everyday. Life isn't always about going fast and racing. The ride Saturday was the most fun riding w/ people that i've had ina while. I'll definately be back this saturday.

[giant_kyle]

Hey guys,

It's amazingly hot out there these days. I've recently moved. I now live @ eagles trail. Once the weather becomes palatable i want to start riding with some of you guys.

[Desert_Donkey]

You really haven't lived until you've ridden to Prentiss in mid-August, run out of water between Sumrall and Bassfield(Gasp! I can make it!...Argh! No I can't!), and being covered in salt crystals as the wind evaporates your sweat. On a 28 pound FS/XC rig running knobbies.

[Conveyor Belt]

You're crazy, DD...

[Hob684]

You're crazy, DD...

I agree.

DD, I think I remember you mentioning that you work at C. Shelby and talking of commuting.

Please tell me you have a route that doesn't include 49S. I think I would need a new saddle/shorts if I had to ride that road...

[Desert_Donkey]

I agree.

DD, I think I remember you mentioning that you work at C. Shelby and talking of commuting.

Please tell me you have a route that doesn't include 49S. I think I would need a new saddle/shorts if I had to ride that road...

I'm not THAT crazy! :D 49 is a deathtrap even in a car.

My tentative route will take me down S.40th through the Richburg Rd neighborhood, then I'll cross Broadway Extension and hit Bonhomie Rd, heading for the Elks Lake Rd bridge over 98. Once I'm there, I'll have to take the back roads through Dixie, but at the hour I'll be travelling them, I don't anticipate much traffic. I can't remember the name of the road, but it comes out at the entrance to the CS North Gate approach road. I'm continuing to scout out alternate routes, but there's a limited number of ways I can go without making huge detours. It's still gonna be a long ride, but I think I'll be able to manage it three days a week with a lighter, faster bike.

There's no way in Hell I'm gonna try this route on my off road rig; I rode up to the Elks Lake Rd. bridge, as a trial run, and that bike is just too heavy to hump all those hills out there at any kind of speed.

[Hob684]

Hey CB, got the new route up for TdH 9/1 yet?

[Desert_Donkey]

I erred on the side of restless recklessness tonight, and took off across town on my new OCR2. The traffic was nightmarish all around campus, and close to 49, but my preferred roads were less travelled and as quiet as the city cemetery.
I used to commute, and had to make my way back home after dark, so I'm no stranger to H'burg night rides, but I'd forgotten how nice it was, gliding through the dark streets late at night. It's like a ghost town in some areas, and the only noise is the smooth, clicking drone of my drivetrain. The wide streets in the Oaks District are perfect for these rides, and that's where most of my route took me tonight.

[Desert_Donkey]

Where ever'body at?

Y'all better be out ridin'... :D

[Desert_Donkey]

Zounds.

This thread is dying like a leaky tire, already...

Just got back from TDY at Fort McCoy, Wis., and the little town called Sparta which is close by has a kick-ass cycling culture going on. Every one of their street signs has a little graphic of one of those old-fashioned, 8-foot tall bikes(which I found out is called a "high wheel") on it. Two bike shops for a town that size is pretty good, and I saw a LOT of riders there and in the surrounding towns. Was too busy with school to get a chance to rent a bike and ride, though...bummer.

Even bigger bummer: I'm back, but I can't ride my new OCR2 becuase the FSA carbon fiber seatpost has a three inch crack down one side where the seatpost clamp pinched the crap out of it. I didn't discover this until I was at Epley road last week, and about to adjust the seat up and to the left a little, when I noticed the tip of the crack peeking out of the seat tube. Not good. So I had to adjust the seatpost down past the level of the crack and then ride back with my knees doubled up, also not good.

I'm not too sure about getting another CF post to replace it with, though. I'm thinking Thomson right about now...

[Hob684]

sometimes there just isn't much to talk about...

when do you usually ride? My class schedule is odd to where somedays i have a 5 hr block of nothingness.. we should ride sometime..

[Sesh]

There's a century starting at the Baptist Healthplex in Clinton this Saturday, if anyone feels like putting some miles on their bike and car. Starts at 7:30 though. Think you can go 25, 50, metric, or full 100. I guess since it's an out and back on the Trace you can do whatever.

Probably to far to drive for a ride when you got plenty of road down there, and it is forty bucks. But there's full SAG support and food/drink stations out there. Figured I'd pass on the info anyway.

[Desert_Donkey]

Where is Clinton? Is it directly on the trace? I have never ridden a century, but I'd like to.

Update on my OCR2: took my damaged seatpost to Mr. Moore's today after work, and talked to Chris. He's got a new seatpost on order for me, which should be here in about a week, plus he gave me a loaner seatpost to ride with until my rig gets fixed. That's why they get my business, even if by some chance I happen to find a better deal somewhere else.

Hob,

I usually leave work around 4:30, and hit the Trace around 5:30 or 6:00. I'm gonna have to start getting up earlier, but it's hard to do some days. Once I get spun up on my bike, I'll probably make a few trial runs on my route before I start commuting to Camp Shelby. I'm hoping to maximize my riding time before the days get too short.
LMK when you can hit the Trace(or wherever) and I'll link up with you.

[Sesh]

Where is Clinton? Is it directly on the trace? I have never ridden a century, but I'd like to.


Yeah. It's a little west of Jackson on I-20 and there are Trace exits to it.