Rides for hybrids in Atlanta?
 

While purchasing our hybrids last week, I asked the sales person at the shop about their "Beginner" ride. Well, it seems we have different definitions of "beginner" as I was advised that attempting the beginner ride on a hybrid was a no-no.

So, given that most "beginner" rides are really still tailored to dedicated road bikes. Are there any rides out there that match the pace of what a typical hybrid is capable of? Bikes in question are the Specialized Sirrus and Vita Sport Disc models.

Welcome. I moved from Decatur a few years ago and can tell you there isn't much this time of year. Go to the Southern Bicycle Legue's website (www.bikesbl.org) and look for rides in your part of town. You can contact the ride leader and tell him about your bikes and riding experience so he/she can advise you. Also the folks at Atlanta Bicycle Coalition (Atlanta Bicycle Coalition) can help you find rides. They also offer bike safety course for new riders.
And you can just ride the bike path from your neighborhood to Stone Mountain and back (www.pathfoundation.org). You'll run into dozens of riders along the way to ride with. Or try the Silver Comet Trail (same website).
Good luck.

Plus one on the Comet. I hear the beltline is good as well but can be overly crowded. I live south of the ATL and when I ride the SCT I usually start west of ATL where the crowds aren's as dense. I was in Cedartown on business once and rode from Cedartown to the AL line nad back and saw maybe 5 people the whole time. Was very nice LOL

Cycle shop in Vinings? Those guys "tried" to kill me on one of their so called beginner rides.

I have ridden a great deal on other shops easy rides with people on hybrids, mtb, recumbents. There isn't so much a limit on the type of bike as your ability to keep up with w/e the average is. I would try to look for a sub 14 MPH average NO DROP ride, meaning they won't leave you behind if you fall off the back.

As others have already mentioned, Atlanta has a great trail system building, and there are lots of good places to ride in the off season and get some legs under you.

You don't mention where in Atlanta you want to ride, but I would look at bike shops positioned near trails. Peachtree City has an extensive network of trails and Bicycles Unlimited has PATH rides on Wednesdays and Saturdays where kids are invited, so the pace sounds more casual. There are also 3 bike shops near Midtown that I would think would organize rides on the Beltline. I know there is a bike shop along the Silver Comet, too.

Also, you might search for social rides where the focus is more about riding to a local pub than getting a good workout. Look up "The Mobile Social" on Facebook and Alpha Bikes in Alpharetta also had a Wednesday night ride that was a social ride. Atlanta Bike Commuters has Two-Wheel Tuesdays, which is a social ride, too. Good luck!

PTC cart paths are REALLY nice. I live nearby and go to ride there quite often. I couldn't tell you the last time I rode the trike out on the road. There is an excellent and easy to follow 10K path (marked by the jogging club) around the lakes and a really good ride with places to stop for a picnic or rest, if you like.

A word on the "Mobile Social"..... where it is a somewhat slow paced ride around Atlanta....
Keep in mind that, this is a ride put on by college students whom are "activist" minded about cycling and your being involved kind of puts you into situations where you are making rides to locales simply to manipulate public opinion about cycling. It's not always that way, and it really took me a couple of years participating in the ride to "see" it. The ride is super motivated by beer and has (had) a beer sponsor. It often shows up at locations to "show" them (at that business) how they "need" a bike rack (etc), even though aside from this ride few people on bikes ever show up...or it will end up at a location to increase numbers of cyclist for various social and political purpose. It kind of turned me off to the ride after time in conjunction with just how slow and ponderous the ride is getting anywhere. The time getting there, and distance involved in the actual riding aspect are rarely worth it, overall, unless you happen to live in town, can ride to town, or have some ulterior ride plan to go along with. From a social perspective, if you are into talking with a bunch of liberal college age kids, then it really may be your bag.
IMO and in spite of the public opinion you will hear online concerning them, the Critical Mass Atlanta rides are FAR better than the Mobile Social from a ride perspective.

With that said, the MS is put on by Atlanta Bicycle Coalition whom have done incredible things for Atlanta Cycling.

I'm late to the discussion but if anyone is still paying attention, try this route on a Sunday morning...

Tour of Downtown Atlanta - A bike ride in Atlanta, GA

I am not sure I recall the right username, but isn't this the route you did on a SS back in the summer?

Yes. Fixed-gear. There was hardly a car on the road and Piedmont Park was almost empty.

I read about your crash on the RR tracks and I think this route goes over the same tracks. I hope you are fully recovered.

This is what the ride was like. I think the OP would enjoy it with or without a group.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RPuOQ0IKjU...tlanta.001.jpg

Also just thought of it, Performance Bike has some beginner level rides. The PB store in Marietta (Town Center) does a 15 mile ride from the store to Kennesaw Mountain and back.

Yeah, it took me out for a while and I still haven't ridden the "streets" of Atlanta since. More time related at this point.

Thanks

I ride with PB out of Buford(Mall of GA), and they do a 10 mile beginner right from the shop up north to Hamilton Mill on Ridge Road. very nice easy ride. 10-12 MPH, no drop. nice scenery and people. there are mostly road bikes, but have seen many people on hybrids as well.

I ride in East Atlanta. These 3 trails are interconnected and it can go 25 miles each way! No traffic and seldom flat land. I love it!

Rockdale River Trail | Georgia Trails | TrailLink.com
Arabia Mountain Trail | Georgia Trails | TrailLink.com
South River Trail | Georgia Trails | TrailLink.com

I didn't realize that was there Nice lay out May give it a try soon

Tagging on to an old thread, I didn't see a link to the Cobb County trail "system"... lots of work still to be done, but it's not the dearth of rideable areas that the Path map might suggest.

http://cobbcountyga.maps.arcgis.com/...68e96724610e87

Also look at the Sope Creek trails just above the Chattahoochee in Marietta, if you don't push too hard they're quite rideable on a trail oriented hybrid.

Another late tag on...the Big Creek Greenway in Alpharetta and Roswell is VERY doable for hybrids...8 miles of paved trails...

Have to say that you might want to mention to the club to create another page for all the cycling accident posts. Definitely would dissuade me from wanting to come ride up there.