View Full Version : Rides in Charleston South Carolina
roadie7
07-16-2006, 06:25 AM
Good morning--My wife and I will be visiting Charleston, South Carolina in late August and I'm bringing my bike. Does anyone know of cue sheets or any rides for 20 or so miles? I'd like to ride in the morning before we visit the tourist sites.
Thanks.
Go to Charleston Bicycle Company in West Ashley on Hwy. 17 next to Krispy Kreme. Talk to John or Mike and they have a big map there where they can show you potential rides or hook you up with one of the group rides. They have a web site if you google the shop name. Also, check out coastalcyclists.org, the local club that I believe has a few of their old century ride maps posted. Hope this helps.
bigbill
07-17-2006, 01:57 AM
I was the VP of Coastal Cyclists for a couple of years back in the 90's and layed out most of the courses on the website. The century courses are out in Mount Pleasant and the Summerville area. There is one out on Wadmalua next to St John's Island. They all involve some driving to get to the ride. John's Island has some nice riding but it would seem a shame to drive 30-40 minutes to ride 20 miles. There is a nice out and back route that starts on James Island at the bagel shop and goes out to Folly Beach. The guys at the bike company or The Bicycle Shoppe on Meeting Street downtown should be able to get you there. The two Godmothers of cycling on James Island are Debi and Sandy. They should be on the website for Coastal Cyclists.
billrick
07-31-2006, 12:20 PM
I hate to discourage you, but I just returned home after a week in the Charleston area with a bike. I was staying in the St. John's Island area, near the Kiawah Resort and Seabrook Island. I can't recall ever riding in a more antagonistic and agressive area in my life, and I ride in downtown DC almost daily! The cars in the lowcountry area were very agressive - speeding, honking, and narrowly passing pedestrians and slow farm machinery on the backroads. Scary stuff. People have actually vandalized the "Share the Road" signs with red spray paint, drawing the big "circle and slash" symbol through them to indicate "DON'T Share the Road." And the Kiawah Island Resort has banned cycling on its only access road, so you can't get there by bike.
Other than beach cruiser bikes within the gated communities, the only other people I saw on the road were the rural poor, and they were risking their life riding on the wrong side of the road facing traffic. I can only guess that a few of their neighbors had been mowed down from behind. The roads are beautiful but very narrow and dark, lined with ancient mossy oak trees.
If you take a mountain or cx bike, I'd recommend the Swamp Fox trail north of Charleston on hwy 17. It is flat and straight and quiet. A bike would also be fun in the old town area, but mainly for a leisurely cruise in the old neighborhoods. I didn't make it to a local shop for advice, but will do that next time. If you decide to skip the bike, I doubt you will be sorry - it is an amazing area. The beach and the food and the fishing will keep you more than happy. Good luck!
rob137
07-31-2006, 01:29 PM
Charleston in August??? Reconsider.
I was in Charleston Bicycle Company yesterday and they have a book for sale of local rides. It is busy with traffic there but you just have to know where to go and there are plenty of nice rides.
m_moses
08-01-2006, 12:02 AM
I used to live on James island and my favorite ride was to go out Folly Road to the beach and on to one end of the island and back. Usually a nice tail wind on the way back. However, the traffic on the island will be pretty bad this time of year. Shouldn't be too bad if you go early.
The new Cooper River bridge has a huge bike/pedestrian lane and the view from there must be fabulous.
Mick
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