Okay, I know the scope of this probably seems huge. So let me give you a few details to norrow it down significanly.
I’m in the process of trying to get some triathletes at my company (US & Canada) together for either a winter training week(end) or a racing weekend.
Two possibilities I’ve identified (among many many I’m considering) are to focus the event around either Memphis in May or St. Anthony’s Tri.
If I select Memphis, I need to figure out some good training areas east of Memphis, (TN, KY, NW GA) that we could perhaps do the week following the race.
St. Antony’s sells out so quickly that it is a long shot for this…but if a bunch of us are headed there anyway so spending some time in FLA to ride and train after the race is also a possibility.
Most of us are from Toronto, Chicago, and NYC…so any help would be warmly welcomed.
There are lots of group rides in the St. Petersburg / Tampa area. St. Pete Bike Club does rides throughout the week. On Saturday there are rides of all levels and most of them hit a lot of the same territory as the St. A’s race course. Check out the club’s website:
Ditto to Kuendig’s note on Lexington, KY. Check out the Bluegrass Cycling Club at www.bgcycling.org. Rides almost every day for a variety of skill levels. I’ll be happy to pass on any additional details. Lots of beautiful, rolling hills, horse farms, etc.
The six gap ride in the Ga. mountains is fun. Some seven mile climbs, you’ll hit 50 mph coasting on the way down. Lots of great rides right inside Atlanta. I can help more if you decide to come here.
Nashville has a lot of great rides, but I would consider the Natchez Trace. Plenty of rolling hills like IMMOO and its longer than you need. do a google search and there is a ton of info.
Check out a place called Helen GA. It is north of Atlanta. From there you can ride many of the Tour de Georgia stages. 6 Gap is an epic ride. Hogpen Gap is a 7 mile 7% grade climb and Brasstown Bald is even steeper. There are some great routes/climbs in the area. You can basically roll right from your hotel there. Helen is a small mountain village that looks like a German alpine village. Nice place and reasonable cost. Great riding around there. There is a Pearl Izumi outlet just south of there (carry everything that PI makes) and the Litespeed factory is just north of there (contact Herbert for a tour).