Ditching the car to cycle around Central Kentucky? Tips on how, where to get started.
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Have you ever found yourself stuck in a Lexington traffic jam, only to see a fit-looking cyclist zip through the congestion carefree?
If you’ve longed to join Lexington’s community of cyclists, but have felt daunted by sinking hundreds of a dollars into a bicycle purchase, we’ve got you covered.
We asked James Gonyer and Adam Drye, the co-owners of Broomwagon Bikes + Cafe in Lexington, for their advice.
Below are answers to some top local cycling questions, as well as some tips to connect with bicycling groups and some spots to try out.
What advice do you have for buying a bike?
“The question ‘What type of riding do you see yourself doing’ is the thing to meditate on,” Drye wrote in an email.
“More specifically: ‘Where are you going to be riding?’ ‘What type of terrain? i.e., Smooth pavement? Hills?’ ‘How often are you going to be riding?’ ‘Do you need to carry cargo?’ ‘Are you more concerned with comfort, efficiency, or speed?’ and, of course, ‘What can you afford to spend?’ ... Some people have half a dozen bikes that are dedicated to each type of riding they do and each bike might be for a different answer to those questions.
“The important thing is not letting external ideas tell you what bike is right for you, your own personality, lifestyle and budget should decide the right bike for you...
“Lastly, there are an infinite array of options online and at department stores offering deceptively cheap options, and if you know what is right for you that’s cool, whatever gets you riding. But I strongly recommend going to your local bike shop and taking as many test-rides as you can while talking to a human being that has made bikes their living. The right bike will just feel right. ... Have a conversation with a professional before spending more money than you can afford to throw away.”
What tips do you have for riding safely in and around Lexington, especially in traffic?
According to Drye, the most important thing to keep in mind is to “assume you’re invisible until you have made eye-contact with the drivers!”
“The best skill to practice is to be able to ride in a straight line while looking behind you to make eye contact with a driver,” he advised.
- Don’t assume drivers know the 3-foot passing law or that they check their rear-view mirrors before turning.
- “Right hooks” at intersections are the most frequent vehicle vs. bike collision spots. Avoid them by taking the lane at intersections.
- Wear a helmet, keep your tires inflated and inspect your bike regularly.
- Plan your route. Don’t rely on your GPS app. Be prepared to improvise your route if you need to.
- Familiarize yourself with the city’s official bike map, which can be found at imaginelexington.com/bike-lexington-map.
How can new cyclists find groups to ride with?
“The Bluegrass Cycling Club organizes daily group road rides and the Kentucky Mountain Biking Association helps maintain the mountain bike trails and organizes routine social events and trail work days,” Drye said in his email.
“Also there’s Social Cycling Lexington which organizes relaxed, family-friendly urban social rides downtown to help new riders meet other riders and there are other informal groups for almost every discipline of riding, from bike polo, bike packing, gravel riding, urban canine bikejoring and a #bikelife BMX Wheelie crew.
“A lot of those groups are only organized as Facebook groups, but our mission as a business is to serve as a hub for folks in those cycling communities to connect with others [in real life]. So we encourage new and aspiring riders to come down and just talk to us so we can connect them with like-minded communities,” he said.
Bike paths and trails to check out near Lexington, KY
The Legacy Trail comes highly recommended. This 12-mile trail begins at the Isaac Murphy Memorial Garden and runs north to the Kentucky Horse Park.
Biking bourbon lovers can also try cycling the Kentucky Bourbon Trail if they’re looking for more of a challenge.
The Dawkins Line Rail Trail in eastern Kentucky is another great option with 35 miles that can be biked.
More information is available at visitlex.com/guides/post/biking/, and there’s also an interactive map of routes developed by local cyclists.
Do you have a question about recreation for our service journalism team? We’d like to hear from you. Fill out the form below of email ask@herald-leader.com.
This story was originally published June 2, 2022 at 11:00 AM with the headline "Ditching the car to cycle around Central Kentucky? Tips on how, where to get started.."
