The way points of this bicycle route:
I lived nearby for many years. Five Points is a central, fun area downtown from which to start/end. This is a bank parking lot at Saluda/Blossom. This ride is good for South, Southwest and even Southeast winds.
Gentle hill SE to Wheat St.
Right at Assembly, jog to Left turn lane at signal.
Safe left turn signal/lane, wide road on Blossom from here.
Safe left, or vary by taking the previous left at Axtell. State is wider.
Mind the RR tracks and lights here. Alternatively, take Frink to 12th.
Industrial area, but gets you to 12th Ext. Alternatively, you can take Frink St. to 12th.
This road is new, very smooth, and I used it for TT/Sprints, along with many others
You can take Dixiana either way, but the more interesting is to loop around to the left.
This crossing can be dangerous! Be careful, and get across, turning left, to continue SE toward Gaston.
Next stretch can be nerve-racking, but stay to the right and bear right at 321.
This section is hilly, and where I really start mashing to get up to my first big interval. You probably won't have to stop or unclip until Gaston, or farther!
There's a mini-mart here, if you need anything. Turn left, East-SE, on Mack/31, a beautiful road taking you to Sandy Run.
Short right/left here, onto Old Sandy Run, continuing on 31
By now you're really feeling the second long interval, and from here to 176, you can go as fast as you want!
There's another mini-mart here. Take a left. If the wind is from a Southerly direction, from here you have some GREAT downwind flying to enjoy!
If the gates are open, you can stay straight here and pass through the power plant park, which is nice, or stay on 176 and keep enjoying the smooth interval.
Very fast here, but watch for trucks and other traffic.
Go back the way you came, or take a variation, as this route will show.
Don't let the traffic scare you here, keep pushing and you'll get a great payoff.
Payoff starts here, a beautiful view of Southern Columbia, including downtown buildings, and a huge downhill where you can show off - be careful, though!
Shopping traffic gets thicker here, but people will respect a fast rider!
Take Knox Abbott (Blossom) here, or go up farther into town. Again, with Southerly winds, you're flying through here.
Tricky lights through here. Continue to Meeting St.
Again, fast section here, if dangerous. You could be at your top speed all the way across the bridge ahead!
Slight climb up to Pulaski or Wayne here.
Best crossing at Blossom is at Park, so enjoy the wide USC scenery here.
Easy light at Blossom, take the sidewalk and continue around to the Ped/Bike bridge.
The bridge variation, which I usually took both ways, of course.
Back in 5 Points!
Welcome to Bikely, take a step by step tour of this path:
Press Start Tour - then use the navigation buttons below to move along the path.
Tagged with: Training, Onroad, Smooth, Difficult, High traffic, Urban, Rural, Scenic
