The Great Urban Race is coming to Charlotte on 9/12. My opinion is that this sounds like a fun event for all and a good way for newcomers to meet people or learn about the city. Here is a link to register and more information:
The Great Urban Race | Charlotte 9/12/2009 (http://www.greaturbanrace.com/register09_charlotte.php - broken link)
Or, if you don't have a teammate you can sign up for the Charlotte Go Social Club at
Go Social Club (Charlotte, NC) - Meetup.com. They can help you find a partner for the race.