It's All About The Ride Comments 0 | Recommend 0 By road or by trail, cycling is a great way to escape July 31, 2008 - 11:06AM Bernie Petit There's something about jumping on his Giant road bike and going for a 30-mile ride that sets Kings Mountain resident Michael Bell's mind at ease. "When I go for a ride, mentally I can check out for a while and I'm not worrying about my job or anything else going on," Bell said. "I can forget about the world for a while." But where do area bikers go when they're looking for a good place to ride? Well, as any hardcore biker will tell you, it all depends on the type of terrain you prefer. For Bell, 31, nothing beats the bevy of country roads found in Cleveland, Gaston, Lincoln and York counties. The new father - he's got a 10-month-old at home - participates in a regular weekend ride with the Cleveland County-based Carolinas Pace Line, which organizes weekly rides in Kings Mountain and Shelby. He said cycling isn't as hard on his body as running and is more fun. "You don't get the pounding of running," Bell said. "I ride with a decent group and I like the comraderie and trying to jockey back and forth." Trail riding can offer similar benefits, said Josh Taylor, the Piedmont Area Single Track Alliance vice president. Taylor, 35, said he bikes three days a week to stay in shape. "I'm not a spring chicken anymore," said Taylor, who lives in Stanley. "I can't talk myself into going to the gym or eating like a vegetarian. What I can talk myself into doing is going to ride my bike." Plus, riding, whether on trails or on the road, is something that gives people more control over fun activities that sports needing a team of participants. "I don't need to get a hold of some friends to go ride," Taylor said. "I can just throw my bike in my truck and go." TIPS FOR NEW BIKERS Area experts offered these pointers for folks interested in taking up biking or for those looking to brush up on their skills. Get out of town. The best trails or best places to ride won't be found in the city limits. For cyclists, getting out of town will mean less traffic. Ride early or late. Riding during the day can sap you of your energy and make your ride less enjoyable. Obey the traffic laws. This one is for anyone who'll be riding alongside car traffic. Obeying traffic laws can help bikers minimize the risk of collisions with motorized vehicles. Talk plenty of water. Don't just drink water during your ride - drink it before and after also to help prevent cramps, heat exhaustion and dehydration, which can impair your concentration and cause life-threatening situations when riding on trails or among traffic. Carry a fix-it kit. Unless you're prepared to walk back or call someone to pick you up (which may not work for mountain bikers), take what you need to repair a flat tire or to perform other basic maintenance with you. Find a decent used bike before committing to a high-priced one. This is especially important for newcomers - you don't want to spend hundreds of dollars on something you're not going to stick with. Also, visit a bike shop that has experienced riders and discuss how you want to use your bike to help determine the style and size that best works for you. Ride with others. Whether learning basic stunts on a mountain bike or learning how to ride in a paceline, having riding partners helps you become a better biker. WHERE TO RIDE - MOUNTAIN BIKES Here are some of the more popular public mountain biking spots locally. -Broad River Greenway, Boiling Springs. About six miles of trail. Upriver, mostly flat trail features rocky streams and loose soil, which make having fat, knobby bike tires a must in the heart of the trail. - Pee Wee's Mountain Bike Park, Lincolnton. About 6.5 miles of trail. Trail fee: $2. It's a fast single track with plenty of jumps and deep gullies. It has beginner trails and trails for more advanced riders. Plus, it's a haven for mountain bikers who like stunts and beginners who want to learn. - Poston Park, Lowell. About four miles of trail. It's the only public mountain bike trail in Gaston County and consists of three loops and hilly terrain. A very scenic trail with large leaf magnolias, a fern forest and a rocky stream. It's features plenty of climbs and drops and doesn't have any long sections. - U.S. National Whitewater Center, Charlotte. About 11 miles of trails. The trails provide cardio and technical challenges for riders and are not as friendly for beginners, though there are areas where inexperienced riders can bail outeasily. The trail, most of which predates the Whitewater Center, rises 70 feet from the banks of the Catawba River. WHERE TO RIDE - ROAD BIKES The country roads and rolling hills found in Cleveland, Gaston, Lincoln and York counties provide plenty of long, scenic routes for cyclists to ride. Here are a few. - Battleground Drive (which becomes Park Road) through the Kings Mountain National Military Park and Kings Mountain State Park, York County. It's only about eight miles from one end to the other (though there are opportunities to branch off and explore), but the roads are in good shape and it's hilly enough to be challenging, but not too much so. - Sparrow Springs Road through Crowders Mountain State Park to Pinnacle Road to Lake Montonia Road to York Road south towards Kings Mountain State Park. Route goes along the edge of Gaston and Cleveland counties into South Carolina and gives riders views of two state parks. - Highway 216 from Kings Mountain to Highway 274 into Cherryville. It's a fairly flat stretch that allows riders to push their limits for speed. - Marietta Street from Gastonia (will change names in Dallas) to West Wilkins Street to North Oakland Street to Philadelphia Church Road to Ratchford Drive to Cloninger Road to Springs Road to Hardin Road to Fancy Hill Road and back to Philadelphia Church Road (back track to Gastonia). About a two-hour ride. - Union Road by Forestview High School to Beatty Road to South New Hope Road towards Cramer Mountain to Union-New Hope Road back to Union Road. Popular Sunday morning circuit for many cyclists. WANT TO JOIN? Here's a sampling of area groups and clubs for cycling and mountain biking enthusiasts. -Carolina Pace Line: A Cleveland County-based road cycling group that meets four days a week for rides in Kings Mountain and Shelby. The group started in February and has more than 20 members. Club dues are $10 for individuals or $15 for families. For more information, visit www.carolinaspaceline.com or email michaelbell@carolinaspaceline.com. -Gaston County Cyclists: Gaston group that promotes road biking throughout the county. Club dues are $15 for individuals and $20 for families annually. For more information, visit www.gastoncountycyclists.com. -Piedmont Area Singletrack Alliance: The regional wing of the non-profit Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association serves Gaston, Cleveland, York and Mecklenburg counties. It's committed to promoting and managing new and existing trail systems throughout the Piedmont and spearheaded the effort to develop the mountain bike trail at Poston Park in Lowell. The group has an active message board. Annual dues are $35. Details: www.bikepasa.com or joshtaylor@mindspring.com. LOCAL BIKE SHOPS They're more than a place to buy bikes and supplies - they're often a great source for tips and local riding information. Here are a few in our area: - Bohemian Cycle Works, 115 N. Lafayette St., Shelby. 704-481-0822, www.geocities.com/bohemiancycleworks/. - Gaston Bicycle & Service, 316 E. Franklin Blvd., Gastonia. 704-865-5471, www.gastonbicycles.com. - Ride-A-Bike Bicycle, 116 North East Court Square, Lincolnton. 704-735-1746, www.rideabike.com.