I’m going to be in Birmingham, Alabama next weekend for a long weekend without my bike. Is there a good place to rent a road bike for training, a good group ride on the weekend, and/or run and swim venues for an out-of-towner? I’m also looking into moving there permanently, so I’d like to check things out since I live in the Boulder area now and have all of the tri scene I could ever hope for and more.
Tri and bike scene in Birmingham SUCKS. No not really, but you are coming from Boulder, so if you expect the worst, you might be pleasantly surprised.
Cahaba /xycles rents bikes. Call the Cahaba Heights location and see if they have your size available. 205-967-2003. http://cahabacycles.com/page.cfm?pageId=12&storeId=1 Look to left on their website for link with info on ride routes and group rides.
There is a big ride every Saturday morning at 8:30 from Starbucks Mountain Brook Village. Next Sunday is the first race of the year, so the group may be smaller and go a bit slower. http://www.alabamacyclingnews.com/bbl.htm
We don’t have any bike lanes and few polite drivers, so if you just try to ride somewhere you’ll have a horrible time, if you live. One you learn the good roads, riding is quite nice. Bike commuting is difficult and almost unheard of (I do it from time to time).
Many pools, but two main groups are: http://www.magiccitymasters.org/ Their pool (saltwater 25YD) is closed next week, but any other time, just email the coach and join them one M,W,F morning to see what it is like. Other one is BSL http://www.magiccitymasters.org/ (50M) There is a pro, who swims in the Lake at Oak Mountain State Park (but I bet he’s not swimming now (water is probably 40 degrees), and KJGROG, who posts here, reportedly swam in an industrial park stormwater pond when he lived here.
Great local race organizer: www.team-magic.com. Local tri club www.vulcantri.com
PM me if you’d like to talk further.
Oh, and did I mention that US Olympic trials will be one hour away in Tuscaloosa? (That’s gotta say something for the tri scene.)
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I haven’t been swimming at the Oak Mountain lake - water is far too cold, even with the Helix and a neoprene cap on. Have been swimming at the Wald Park Pool. Very, very nice swimming there. Chlorine levels always spot on.
This weekend at Oak Mountain State Park is the Adam’s Heart Run ( 5K, 10K and 10 mile)
Should be fun! Then some triclub members are going mountain biking afterward. Come join us!
Excellent! I’m glad that Wald Park is working our for you. Look forward to saying hello to you one day. I think we raced together in the Pepper Crit.
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