Mountain Biking - Good Bike Shops?

I want to test ride some Specialized and Kona XC and mountain bikes. I live in Fayetteville, Tennessee (just above the Alabama border). The closest bike shop to me is in Huntsville, Alabama, but it doesn’t sell either Specialized or Kona.

Are there any bike shops in Tennessee, or in Alabama as far south as Birmingham, or in Georgia as far south as Atlanta, that allow “real” test rides? By “real” test rides I mean something more than just a “parking lot” ride. I mean a ride in the dirt over some bumps.

I’m getting back into riding after many years of not riding. Bikes have changed a lot. The biggest thing I’m trying to decide is hardtail or full suspension. I plan to joy ride only. Dirt roads, fire roads, and light trails. No racing and nothing extreme. But I’m 42 years old and ride comfort is very important to me.

I don’t know anybody that rides bikes, so I don’t have any means to test ride except going to bike shops. So I want to ride some hardtails and full suspensions in the kind of terrain that I plan to ride in once I buy a bike.

Can anyone recommend a good Specialized and/or Kona bike shop based upon my location?

Thanks.

I want to test ride some Specialized and Kona XC and mountain bikes. I live in Fayetteville, Tennessee (just above the Alabama border). The closest bike shop to me is in Huntsville, Alabama, but it doesn’t sell either Specialized or Kona.

Are there any bike shops in Tennessee, or in Alabama as far south as Birmingham, or in Georgia as far south as Atlanta, that allow “real” test rides? By “real” test rides I mean something more than just a “parking lot” ride. I mean a ride in the dirt over some bumps.

I’m getting back into riding after many years of not riding. Bikes have changed a lot. The biggest thing I’m trying to decide is hardtail or full suspension. I plan to joy ride only. Dirt roads, fire roads, and light trails. No racing and nothing extreme. But I’m 42 years old and ride comfort is very important to me.

I don’t know anybody that rides bikes, so I don’t have any means to test ride except going to bike shops. So I want to ride some hardtails and full suspensions in the kind of terrain that I plan to ride in once I buy a bike.

Can anyone recommend a good Specialized and/or Kona bike shop based upon my location?

Thanks.
Go to each bike companies website, they have dealer locators just type in your zip code.

I'm in atlanta and every test ride I went on when buy my bike a few months ago was an around the parking lot bit. There really isn't any dirt near the store and I doubt they would just let you take the bike for a day. You could probably buy the bike and then take it back. But anyway, I think cycleworks, sells specialized stuff and I think atlanta cycling has kona.

In brimingham there is chahaba (sp, and they ) and bike link (south side of birmingham down hwy280) but I dont remember what they sale off the top of my head. If you go an hour west of birmingham to tuscaloosa the LBS here stocks spec. but I honestly do not like the store.
Have you considered Memphis (Outdoor Ect and Peddler have specialized, but my favorite storein the world "Bikes Plus" but no spec. or kona), Nashville and Chattanooga (but I dont know any stores)
I dont know if this helps or not but this is the little knowledge of the area

There's a Specialized dealer in Nashville at Nashville Bicycle Company. There's also Franklin Bicycle Company in Franklin(same owner). They also sell Cannondales, Raleighs and maybe Giant(can't remember for sure). Used to have a store here, but downsized to just two in middle TN. The one here used to do p-lot test rides, but there was some dirt/grass right outside the p-lot with some small bumps/hills. Doubt there's much dirt at the Nashville shop, but Franklin might be a better bet-should be a little closer, too.

Here's their site: http://nashvillebike.com/site/intro.cfm

Still got the link up for the Murfreesboro shop, but it's been closed for months now. HTH.

[edit] Only TN Kona dealer is in Morristown-wherever that is:
The Pedal Shop
4182 W. Andrew Johnson Hwy.
Morristown
37814
Phone: 423-581-8876

AL:

Birmingham Bicycle Company, Inc.
1103 Dunston Avenue
Birmingham
35213
Phone: 205-870-8330

I know that it doesn't help you in Tennessee but I have to give a shout out to Bike America and Lee Fox. Everyone at his shops/ stores, he has several throughout the Tri-county area of South Florida, are knowledgeable, friendly, and they ALL ride. Who knows you may be down in Florida some day and in need of a shop for parts or service. Look these guys up if ever in the need. Absoulutely won't do you wrong. At least that has been my experience.