Birmingham Bike Trails (Homewood, Anniston, Mountain Brook: coop, shops, suburbs)

[movin100]

I recently moved to Birmingham (280 area) and was curious if there were any good bike trails around the area (rails to trails, etc). I have a road bike so I was hoping for paved trails.

[cpg35223]

The Chief Ladiga Trail allows you to ride from Anniston Alabama all the way to Atlanta. It's supposed to be very cool.

[bluebeard]

There aren't many isolated bike trails around here. You usually havta get a bit into the traffic. People post their rides here:
MapMyRide.com - Map your Cycling, Bike Map and Mountain Biking Routes and join our Cycling Community of Cyclists. Cycling GPS for Cycling Social Network, iPhone, Topo Maps, Elevation Profiles, GPS Support.
People tend to go around the Mountain Brook area. There is also a ride around Chealsa/Columbiana that is nice.

[cpg35223]

Originally Posted by bluebeard

There aren't many isolated bike trails around here. You usually havta get a bit into the traffic. People post their rides here:
MapMyRide.com - Map your Cycling, Bike Map and Mountain Biking Routes and join our Cycling Community of Cyclists. Cycling GPS for Cycling Social Network, iPhone, Topo Maps, Elevation Profiles, GPS Support.
People tend to go around the Mountain Brook area. There is also a ride around Chealsa/Columbiana that is nice.

The Columbiana Loop. I used to ride that.

Also, Oak Mountain is great, too.

[bluebeard]

Originally Posted by cpg35223

The Columbiana Loop. I used to ride that.

Also, Oak Mountain is great, too.

And cars there will be more on the lookout for cyclists.

[cpg35223]

True...lower speed limit.

That being said, almost all the local bike shops will have maps o'plenty of routes people use. There are more out there than you'd think.

[luksky]

My son is an avid biker and he just got back from some great trails in Pellham....I believe it's not far from B-ham.

[cpg35223]

This is in the future, but cool nonetheless. The Red Mountain Park will have miles of biking trails. Eventually the plan is to create one continuous bike trail all the way from Vulcan to Pelham.

[bluebeard]

Originally Posted by cpg35223

This is in the future, but cool nonetheless. The Red Mountain Park will have miles of biking trails. Eventually the plan is to create one continuous bike trail all the way from Vulcan to Pelham.

That stuff will be supercool. One thing I do appreciate about Birmingham is the existing and growing nature parks right adjacent to the inner suburbs of the city itself.
Bike shops to ask for routes might be Homewood/Cahaba cycles and Birmingham Bicycle Company. Bob's Bikes might be good, but somehow, despite the seemingly down-to-earth name, they seemed snobbier. But I totally could've just met the wrong people on their bad days or something.
There's also a new bike coop I haven't visited yet.
Bici Cooperative

[cpg35223]

Originally Posted by bluebeard

That stuff will be supercool. One thing I do appreciate about Birmingham is the existing and growing nature parks right adjacent to the inner suburbs of the city itself.
Bike shops to ask for routes might be Homewood/Cahaba cycles and Birmingham Bicycle Company. Bob's Bikes might be good, but somehow, despite the seemingly down-to-earth name, they seemed snobbier. But I totally could've just met the wrong people on their bad days or something.
There's also a new bike coop I haven't visited yet.
Bici Cooperative

I always liked Cahaba Cycle....they aren't huge bike snobs.