I may in the future be looking for a home in this area and I want to know what the triathlon-scene or cycling area is like. The heat and the humidity and the winter months…the pros and cons…
Lucky you!
You’re looking at moving to one of the up and coming cycling Meccas in the US. Greenville, SC and the surrounding Upstate area is one of the most fabulous places for cycling and triathlon you could ask for. There are more races and weekend events like centuries and organized group rides than you can keep up with. The terrain could hardly be more ideal. Greenville is in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Take a ride south of town and it’s nearly flat. Head north and it gets into gorgeous, rolling terrain. Paris Mountain which featured in the USPRO Road Race Championship (aired today on Versus, btw) is on the north end of town and is a nice, 12 to 15 minute sustained climb right in the city. Ride an hour north of town and there’s Caesar’s Head … a six mile climb at 6 percent that takes you up into North Carolina where there’s plenty more climbing to be had.
As for the triathlon scene, all the local YMCAs have sprint events each year. Go to www.setupevents.com for the rundown of larger-scale events including the SC Half Ironman and a new Ironman distance event that will be in the area next year. Plus, the TriAmerica series makes a stop just 30 minutes down the interstate from Greenville in Anderson, SC. TriAmerica is the group that puts on the Great Floridian.
August sucks. It’s just plain hot. Over 100 degrees for about two weeks straight and then mid to upper 90s since then. Aside from that, great riding weather abounds. We ride outdoors here year-round. We have some winter weather, but it’s not too bad. If your schedule is flexible and you can get in a lunchtime ride, you’ll be greeted by a fair number of 50 degree afternoons even in January. You might even catch a 70 degree afternoon. You might also catch a 15 degree one, but there aren’t long stretches of grey skies and cold weather.
Drivers here aren’t any worse than anywhere else as far as I know.
Oh … and we also have some really neat events nearby like the Assault on Mt. Mitchell. It’s 102 miles from Spartanburg, SC (right next to Greenville) to the top of the highest mountain east of the Mississippi River. It’s a one-way ride that’s nearly all uphill … especially the last 30 miles. If you live in this area and you’re a cyclist, it’s a must-do event at least once in your life.
PM me if you have specific questions I can cover.
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Ditto what he said and then some. I’m a G’ville native and I love it. Feel free to PM me too if you want me to elaborate.