Seriously considering taking a job in Lynchburg. Anyone have experience on tri related issues with Lynchburg? Pools? Road riding scene/safety/acceptability of bikes on roads, running trails?
Are the public schools decent if you have kids there?
THanks
I went to school in CVille and it was fine up there, but in Lynchburg you’d probably get a beer can thrown at you from a moving car if you were riding on the road. That, or constantly buzzed by rednecks in trucks who don’t take kindly to bicycles on their roads. If you move to Lynchburg, maybe find another hobby like watching professional wrestling or Nascar while drinking budweiser.
Seriously considering taking a job in Lynchburg. Anyone have experience on tri related issues with Lynchburg? Pools? Road riding scene/safety/acceptability of bikes on roads, running trails?
Are the public schools decent if you have kids there?
THanks
If you are in to trail running at all, Lynchburg is an awesome place with a great ultrarunning scene. Look up David Horton, he is one of the legends of the ultra world. There are so many options for cool runs and races. The entire area is beautiful
I have done a lot of riding in Lynchburg and have never had any issues. For the most part the drivers have been very courteous. There are always exceptions unfortunately but I have loved the riding in the Lynchburg area. Lots of nice riding around town (rolling hills and not too much traffic) and the Blue Ridge Parkway is very close to town (less than 30 minutes). There is a pretty active triathlon club there: http://www.irongateclub.com/ and as a previous poster mentioned a great running community as well.
From what I know the schools are good but it depends on the area. I did just do a search on Great Schools and if you are in the right area the elementary schools are very good. The High School in Lynchburg has a pretty low rating but in Forest, VA (neighboring community) there is a High School with a 7 rating. The ratings are just a starting point of course and reflect test scores more than anything… but based on Great Schools there are some good schools.
Oh, and as far as pools whenever I’ve been there I’ve swam at the Y. There are two and one has a very nice pool (Jamerson). I’ve also gone to Smith Mountain Lake (about 1hr15 away) to do some open water swims but there is at least one lake much closer that the Tri Club uses for open water swims (and some even swim in the James River).
Lynchburg Va? I hope you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior … and that your Republican. Otherwise, you may have difficulty making friends.
Really? That conservative?
i grew up there, never had a problem with road rage or anything, great roads, blue ridge parkway is close/rideable distance(thunder ridge is awesome) pools are good, but most are private (miller park is a public pool option but ive never trained there, wasn’t in the best part of town as a kid)
rivermont ave has riverside runners, which was always excellent service when i went there. and bike unlimited is a great bike shop. blackwater creek trail is great for running and is a popular paved trail, with some trail off-shoots.
as far as conservative and religious, liberty university is there, jerry falwell university, so there is a large population of highly religious people, but i never noticed a negative from this.
where are you moving from? humidity is a large factor in summer training, but if you are used to the east coast/south its nothing new.
public schools are awesome, from elementary through high school. the town has gotten a lot of character is the last couple of years, since i moved, and it embraces its historical aspects but balances it well. farmers market downtown is awesome…anyway, rambled on there…good luck
no problem, if i remember 20-30 miles to the parkway. usually lots of parking if you drove then rode on the parkway as well. as far as the religion aspect goes, i wouldn’t worry about it, its not suffocating or anything, brings a lot of stereotypes to the area, but also a lot of money that goes to (usually) improve the community…such as: http://www.virginia.org/Listings/OutdoorsAndSports/SnowflexCenter/
winters aren’t bad, maybe 1-2 snows all winter, just high humidity in the summer months, early morning training is the way to go
my parents still live in the area, so if you have any specific questions i can pass them on if you would like.
In Lynchburg you will never have to look for hills to train on and pretty easy access roads that are a little more bike friendly that we find up here in the Washington DC area. If you do move out there check out their Sprint Tri that they have in late April. It is a real fun race to start the Triathlon season off with.
Good luck, definitely a ultra conservative area, its the home town of Jerry Falwell Aka Liberty College (I only lived in the area for a short time)
I also found the area kinda unhealthy, lots of big box stores, not many healthy eating options for dinning out and way more smokers then I have ever come across.
I would swim at the downtown YMCA, while older equipment and building the pool is meters and cleaner (showers not so much) There are few people that meet at there to swim early am.
outdoor swimming - IVY lake its owned by Liberty college and its private but you can request a pass.
If you join Lynchburg’s tri club (Irongate) you get the Ivy lake pass.
Ridding bikes SUCKS, its not a bike friendly city, I did not feel safe ridding by myself.
But on the bright side there is an amazing run groups and shop Riverside runners By Randolph college. If you go into the shop Heather the manager will personally make sure you get connected into the tri/run groups. Really could not speak highly enough of that store and the people who work there.
If you PM me I am happy to get you names or other suggestions
I’m visiting Lynchburg this week. Any ideas where to get in a pool or open water swim? Thanks!
Jamerson YMCA is your ticket. If you bring a bike you can ride from there towards the Parkway. Actually, you can just ride the Thunder Ridge route. Spectacular. Lynchburg can be crowded in the city but as soon as you get to the outskirts, you’re knocking on heavens door.
I went to school in CVille and it was fine up there, but in Lynchburg you’d probably get a beer can thrown at you from a moving car if you were riding on the road. That, or constantly buzzed by rednecks in trucks who don’t take kindly to bicycles on their roads. If you move to Lynchburg, maybe find another hobby like watching professional wrestling or Nascar while drinking budweiser.
Wow. Tainted much? Judgmental. Narrow-minded? I bet those are all things you detest?
I always find it so interesting that people that are liberal in their viewpoint are very open to every single group except conservatives . Or heaven forbid (pun intended) Christians.
It is an incredibly beautiful area with fantastic riding and trail running. The people are warm and friendly.
I have family in Lexington Va. and visit often. You can hop on the Blue Ridge Parkway or hike the Appalachian Trail.
I agree on all points.
It is an incredibly beautiful area with fantastic riding and trail running. The people are warm and friendly.
I have spent a lot of time in SW Virginia, I love it.
Lynchburg is also < 30 miles from Bedford, which is where Peaks Coaching Group is located. That’s pretty handy if you want to join one of their PM training classes. I’m sure they have plenty of good local routes for you.
I went to school in CVille and it was fine up there, but in Lynchburg you’d probably get a beer can thrown at you from a moving car if you were riding on the road. That, or constantly buzzed by rednecks in trucks who don’t take kindly to bicycles on their roads. If you move to Lynchburg, maybe find another hobby like watching professional wrestling or Nascar while drinking budweiser.
Wow. Tainted much? Judgmental. Narrow-minded? I bet those are all things you detest?
I always find it so interesting that people that are liberal in their viewpoint are very open to every single group except conservatives . Or heaven forbid (pun intended) Christians.
It is an incredibly beautiful area with fantastic riding and trail running. The people are warm and friendly.
I have family in Lexington Va. and visit often. You can hop on the Blue Ridge Parkway or hike the Appalachian Trail.
Yes, tainted. From having things thrown at me while I cycled through Lynchburg. And “coal rolled,” or whatever you call it that people like you do to cyclists, multiple times. I didn’t say anything about liberalism, conservatism, or christianity, so I think you projecting like that betrays your bitterness/taintedness. As you’re bring judgmental, take offense to imagined insults, and as I suspect you’re a conservative christian from your post, maybe you should go to church more so you can learn to be less judgmental of others. (Matthew 7:1?)
As to your points on Blue Ridge, it is absolutely gorgeous. So at least you got that right!
And “coal rolled,” or whatever you call it that people like you do to cyclists, multiple times.
I could wrong here, I’m pretty sure cyclists don’t coal roll other cyclists.
Parents live there.
Nice place.
I aged in Lexington. Usually make it back for a friend’s Mardi Gras party.
To the OP: Don’t miss Storming Thunder Ridge. In May. Century mile ride with a 13 mile climb. It’s not steep, but like the Energizer Bunny, it just keeps going and going…
And it benefits the YMCA of Central Virginia
No they don’t…sounds about right on how people deal with each other on the roads over there.
My experience was also that they probably go to confession a lot and look for reasons to repent…
But yeah, I didn’t ride on Bleu-Ridge, so that may be different.
And “coal rolled,” or whatever you call it that people like you do to cyclists, multiple times.
I could wrong here, I’m pretty sure cyclists don’t coal roll other cyclists.