Local Routes
Duke is surrounded by great roads for cycling in almost every direction. Below are some of our favorite training routes.
10-30 Miles
◊ Cornwallis to NC10 (13): http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/35273278
◊ Big Sinai Loop (18 scenic miles around Duke Forest): http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/35274350
◊ Turkey Shoot (20 miles–includes Turkey Farm Rd, a scenic road in Duke Forest where you’ll find deer and a croquet course among other interesting sights): http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/35951418/
◊ Blackwood Mountain Loop (22 miles–Blackwood Mountain is a short, very steep hill great for doing hill repeats): http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/35955762/
◊ Sinai-New Hope Church (22 miles–New Hope Church is a scenic road that connects Durham to the area between Chapel Hill and Hillsborough, prime riding country for local cyclists. This route just hits a small part of NHC. Be careful on 86–it’s busy): http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/35274782
◊ Ebeneezer Church (22 miles–Sparger and Cole Mill Roads can have higher automobile traffic volumes in mornings and late afternoons/early evenings on weekdays): http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/35273028
◊ Out Craig to St. Mary’s (25 miles–Sparger and Cole Mill Roads can have higher automobile traffic volumes in mornings and late afternoons/early evenings on weekdays): http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/29861446
◊ Tuesday Night Bike Chain Ride (28 miles, double loop–twice up Sinai hill): http://www.mapmyfitness.com/routes/view/8485968
30-40 Miles
◊ Maple View Farms Ice Cream Ride (31 miles; popular route for the Sunday Social Ride): http://www.mapmyfitness.com/routes/view/14864214
◊ Hillsborough-St.Mary’s (31): http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/35275074
◊ NC10-Lawrence-St. Mary’s (31): http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/24027962
◊ NC10-NHC-Dairyland-Rogers-Eubanks-Sinai (34 miles–a nice, medium-distance loop that goes out through a lot of the rolling farm country around Chapel Hill and Carrboro): http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/23345928
◊ Wednesday Night Hammer Ride (36 miles, lollipop–out, loop, back): http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/13384526
◊ Bahama (37 miles–heads out to the area where the Duke Road Race was held in 2011): http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/23973874
◊ Lake Jordan (a beautiful 38-mile ride out to and across the lake. Because of heavy traffic during the week, early weekend mornings are the best time to do this route): http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/21715178
◊ Johnson Mill (40 miles–goes out into gorgeous North Durham farmland and hits one of the longest climbs in the county. Not too steep, but certainly challenging. One of our favorite rides in the area): http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/29861528
◊ Butner (40 miles–crosses Falls Lake and then goes out to the little town of Butner, famous for it’s federal prisons. Bernie Madoff is there, among others. Getting out of Durham during the 4-6pm hours can have higher traffic volumes): http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/22329112
40-60 miles
◊ Hillsborough-Efland-Cedar Grove Ride (55 miles–great roads once you get to Hillsborough): http://www.mapmyfitness.com/routes/view/14866518
◊ Hurdle Mills (58 miles–this route follows parts of the Habitat for Humanity century and goes north to the little town of Hurdle Mills. There is a short (<0.25 mile) stretch on Guess Road that can be busy): http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/24328554
60-100 miles
◊ Saxapahaw (66 miles–Saxapahaw is an old mill town on the Haw River where textiles were made until the mid ’90s. It’s undergoing a revitalization as the old brick and timber buildings are being converted to restaurants, condos, and even a new ball room. Saxapahaw is home to music festivals, hiking, canoeing, and of course the famous Saxapahaw General Store where you can refuel before heading back to Durham): http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/25911768
◊ Rougemont-Bahama (69 miles): http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/24324230
◊ The P-Ride (74 miles including the out and back from Durham): http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/32954556
◊ BikeFest Century (100 miles–popular ride in late August starts and ends in downtown Hillsborough. Route is well-marked with helpful yellow arrows, so it’s hard to get lost. Very scenic and rural north of Hillsborough. Be prepared to face some dogs, though): http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Hillsborough-Bikefest-100-2010
Looking for more area rides and group riding options at all levels? Check out the Tar Wheels’ web site, which offers many rides leaving from Wilson Park in Carrboro: http://chapelhillcycling.com