Level 1 Ride Strickland Rd Raleigh NC

Level 1+ Ride
Sidewalk
Begin and End at Falls of Neuse and Strickland Roads
3.92 miles round trip

Begin at the corner of Falls of Neuse and Strickland. Travel up Strickland on the right side of the road. When you get to Six Forks, turn right and continue on the sidewalk to the light at Lead Mine. Turn around on the same sidewalk and complete the loop.

This stretch of Strickland Rd is very flat with one or two slight incline areas. The sidewalks are nice and smooth. Very comfortable and enjoyable urban ride. Get off the trails for a moment and enjoy our beautiful city! Great for endurance and sidewalk practice. Level 1+ riders should be able to negotiate the sidewalk widths with no problems.

Level 2+ Ride-- Oak Park-Crabtree-Ironwood Trails Raleigh NC

Crabtree Valley Trail

Ironwood Trail





Trail(s): Crabtree -Oak Park Trail 1.43 Mile
Crabtree Valley Trail 1.66 Mile
Ironwood Trail 1.72 Mile

Total Distance: 4.81 each way/ 9.62 round trip

Not my favorite trail group because of the too often messy nature and pedestrian challenges. As much as I enjoy street riding, if I ride a greenway I like to enjoy the scenery and ride my Trikke comfortably without this, even if the trail is a level 2 or 3. Still, this route remains a popular Trikke trail for many and is ultimately a greenway trail. This route connects 3 Raleigh greenway trails and empties out into the Shelley Lake park, so you can try each or chunk them together for a long ride. To do them all is a 9-10 mile roundtrip Trikke.

Start the Oak Park Trail by parking at the designated Greenway entrance at Oak Park Rd and Lindsay Dr. This is a fairly level trail with a few sharp inclines as you approach bridges. What used to be wood covered bridges are mostly now cement. This makes crossing them much easier. This trail can be quite messy in spots with lots of broken branches and other terrain troubles. You'll go past the corporate offices of Golden Corral and head towards Crabtree Mall. There has been a lot of construction in this particular area with the defunct Solis project, so be aware of concrete rocks and construction leftovers. The trail has some broken up areas here as well so be careful! Trikke Hike(walk) under Creedmore Rd and resume your ride behind the mall on the flat greenway. This ends Oak Park trail so if you need to turn around do so here and complete your 3 mile round trip back to the beginning.

The Crabtree Valley Trail is a bit enigmatic. It begins behind the mall and covers a nice flat ride to the McDonalds at Blue Ridge. At this point it dips down under Glenwood Ave. Be very careful and aware of your surroundings here! The underpass is a bit unsavory. While bikes and Trikkes transverse the area, due to it's proximity to the Mall and residential areas, there can be quite a bit of pedestrian traffic using the trail for transportation. Heads up because there have been incidences here. The trail has a great deal of wide concrete sidewalk as well in this portion which can be uncomfortable for greenway riders. Once through here, the trail is a bit uneven, broken and even clunky. Mostly flat with a few steep inclines. Continue this for 1.66 miles

Ironwood Trail is better, flatter and more classically Greenway as you leave the traffic behind you. Wooded and winding. It's a great trail experience and is a good point to "let it out" and push your Trikke speed. Mostly clean trail but be aware! The Ironwood Trail leads you up North Raleigh to Shelley Lake...but that's another story..... Turn around and do the distance back down for the full 9-10

Overall this trail is a good work-up to differing terrains like you will see on streets and sidewalks while having the general climate and comfort of a greenway trail. If you like smooth paths, no matter what the level, you'll probably want to pass on it.

Level 1+ Trikke Ride- Raleigh NC

Level 1 + Trikke Ride Raleigh NC
Alleghany Trail - Raleigh Greenway
Length 2..75 miles round trip

Very nice Trikke ride through a beautifully wooded area winding by Crabtree Creek. Excellent for practice, and endurance building. Inside the beltline and near North Hills shopping center, this is a Raleigh jewel. Begin by parking at the Lassiter Mill and entering the Greenway across the street. Nice vegetation and views. Wide path, Not polished concrete but fairly smooth, trail. Ever so slight inclines on occasion but overall, a very peaceful ride. 

Cap City Trikkers will be having a group ride here on December 6, 2008.  

Join the group at our website www.CapitalTrikke.com (see "free group rides.") or on this blog (see left side bar) Its free to join, but membership and registration is required to go on rides with us.

My Goodness! Level 1 and 2 Trikke Ride Chapel Hill NC

Could there ever be a more beautiful local ride!?
Meadowmont Village Trail Chapel Hill NC
Level 1 and 2
Approx 1 mile each way

The trail at Meadowmont is a beautiful and serene lake path that both levels will be able to ride and enjoy.
There are some brief inclines, but Level 1 riders should be able to manage or walk very short distances. Lots of flat distances that are perfect for the level 1 rider. This is such a nice ride, let nothing hold you back from trying this location! You can get great work done just traversing the pictured spot! The full route winds through the Meadowmont community and ends at the Rashkis Elementary School about 1 mile later. A good spot to begin is next to the UNC Health/Heart Center. This is near the rear of the village shoppes. Pack a picnic and relax by the "pond" after your ride!

Level 1+ 2 Ride , RBC Center Part 2- Raleigh

RBC Center
Looping by Trikking the Drive Around The Center
Level 1-2
1.2 mile loop


Park near the top of the East area and begin your loop "counterclockwise" so that you are doing more downhill. Still this is not a pure downhill so you will enjoy working on your technique and most won't go too fast. When you get to the bottom of the loop and are to start back up CUT ACROSS into parking lot area 69 West. This will keep you off the steep incline! You will have a short incline through here and past the front of the RBC..then the loop begins again. Nice ride!

Level 2 Ride Blue Ridge Rd- Raleigh

From the Art Museum on Blue Ridge to
the Corner of Duraleigh and Burwell Rollins
Sidewalk
Level 2
1.3 miles one way

Park at the Art Museum and start your sidewalk distance ride. Travel down Blue Ridge past Rex Hospital, past where Blue Ridge becomes Duraleigh, past Edwards Mill/Duraleigh, down to where the path starts to go downhill at Burwell Rollins. Mostly slow downhill. Coming back slight inclines, with a particular one between Edwards Mill and Macon Pond. After that, good workout back to the Museum.

Level 1 Ride-Raleigh -NCSU

NCSU Central Campus
E. Dunn Street (across from Pullen Park)
Variable Distance
Level 1


Park at the beginning of Dunn, and ride down into Central Campus past Reynolds Auditorium. Head further past the bookstore. Venture into the courtyard and circle back. Lots of parking lots near Reynolds to ride around in.

Level 1+ , 2 Ride-- Cary

From Cary Academy (Corner of Harrison and Cary Parkway)
to SAS Campus near I40
Level 1 (all sidewalk) Level 2 (slight incline but very do-able for level 1)
.7 miles each way

This is a very flat sidewalk path down Harrison Avenue towards I40. Busy street but very peaceful sidewalk ride. Slight inclines coming back to Cary Academy. For the very adventurous and secure, park all the way at the other end of Harrison at the entrance to Umstead Park, ride up to the I40 interchange, then use the light to walk across the bridge (still on sidewalk) to SAS to begin the route up again. This adds about .3 of ride distance.

Level 1 Ride Cary

Corner of NW Maynard and Chapel Hill
Starbucks and Lowes Shopping Center
Level 1

This is a great location to ride. The backlot of Lowes faces Chapel Hill Road so you are not isolated (nice street views) but there is little delivery traffic on weekends. Travel from the Starbucks lot through the backlot to the opposite side parking lot. This lot is also mostly empty and has little traffic.

Level 1 Ride Cranfill, Sumner, and Hartzog- Raleigh

Cranfill, Sumner, and Hartzog Building

Building Parking Deck

5420 Wade Park Blvd, Raleigh

(Across From RBC Center. I40 exit towards RBC, right on Wade Park)

Level 1

.1 mile inner lot loop --.3 mile if you loop around building

  Very nice parking deck. Oddly lumpy but nice grooves in the pavement for smidgen of a  challenge. This area is the upper deck of the lot, but sits level to the street. Completely contained by a barrier wall and arched entry. Take that entry out and loop around the building for a change of pace. Best times when the working crowd has gone home. Excellent weekend practice site right off I 40. Great alternative if the RBC lots are full.

Level 1 Ride TriCenter South Building 5- RTP

TriCenter South V
3871 S. Alston Ave  Durham---Research Triangle Park
(left off E. Cornwallis Ave near Glaxo Smith Kline)
.7 mile loop
Level 1

Can you imagine a gigantic .7 mile parking lot loop? This warehouse facility and business park in the RTP offers a smooth loop with a few speed bumps on one side for variety. Go after 5pm and on the weekends for near complete freedom of movement. Plenty of wide berths perfect for carving and play. As an added bonus do the loop and swing out to the street sidewalk that runs clear down the front of the lot. Adds an extra .4 miles to your loop with this and make it a 1 mile loop. Cool!

Click this map and choose "bird's eye view." The giant loop begins to the right of the picture

Level 1 Ride Amelia Christian Church Lot- Clayton

Amelia Christian Church - Clayton
Parking Lot
1696 Amelia Church Rd
.2 mile per loop

Level 1

Very nice flat parking lot loops around the entire church without any significant incline. Very nice level 1 practice route.
Church lot completely empty in the afternoons except Wednesday evening and all day Sunday.

Level 1 Ride RBC Center- Raleigh

RBC Center East Parking Lots
Parking Lot 1 East
Parking Lots 10-16 East
Map
Level 1

Glorious spot to practice all techniques except hill climbing! Whoo hoo! Use these lots when nothing is going on at the RBC Center or Carter Finley stadium. Best day is Sunday. Here is the link to the RBC Center schedules to help you figure out those days. Practice starts and stops on the flat surface. Practice turns and speed runs. Great location for beginners and groups. We will be planning a fun ride here very soon. 

Level 2, 3 Ride Ridge Rd -Raleigh

Ridge Rd from Wade Ave to Glen Eden
Level 2-3
Distance 1.4 miles each way

It's best to park in the Whole Foods parking lot if you drive to this ride. Head up Ridge Rd and start Trikking at about Churchill Dr., due to some sharp inclines and ripped up sidewalk and messy concrete from Wade to Churchill. From there you should stay in the bike lane on the street, but on the weekends there are cars parked there so have a little fun zooming up and off the sidewalk as needed. Almost all down hill to Lake Boone. It's a blast to zoom down through here and slip through the intersection with the cars! This point is at a little over .5 miles so it would be just fine to turn around here. Venture on from there to Airline Dr, and it goes up slightly and down slightly but gets tougher to Glen Eden because the bike lane ends and there is no sidewalk from Glen Eden to Airline .1 miles on the return.

Watch for traffic-- even with the bike lanes. Avoid the ride during church hours because the bike lanes are full of parked cars.

Level 2, 3 Ride Durant Trail- North Raleigh

Durant Trail
Corner of Durant Rd and Camp Durant Rd
Level 2, 3
Distance 1.68 one way
Beautiful Greenway ride with
no other challenge than regular somewhat steep inclines. If you’re conditioned this will be challenging and a great workout!

Level 2, 3 Ride Lake Crabtree- Morrisville

Lake Crabtree County Park
I40 and Aviation Parkway
Level 3
Distance Approx 1 mile one way

Start at Crabtree Business Park across the street for a great ride downhill. Cross Aviation Parkway into the park and get ready for sloping and long inclines followed by more wonderful downhills into the park. Cars and bikes on this route but auto speed is 20 mph.

Level 2, 3 Ride American Tobacco Trail- Durham

Durham American Tobacco Trail
Hwy 54 and Fayetteville Rd
Level 2, Level 3
Distance -Varies

Start at the Southpoint Crossing Center. This is a level 2 ride due to slight inclines. Still this is a beautiful trail for groups. The trail heads into downtown Durham about 5-6.5 miles later, ending at the ball park so it’s a “pick your distance” kind of route as to when you want to turn around and double back.

Level 2, 3 Ride Fayetteville Street- Raleigh

Raleigh Fayetteville Street-
Level 2-3
Distance .9 mile Loop
Sidewalk and Street Riding On Weekends.
Downhill and slight incline coming back.
Begin in Parking Lot of Hillsborough Place (Corner of Hillsborough and Dawson)
Head East
Right on Salisbury
Left on Morgan
Right of Fayetteville
Travel to Sheraton and Convention Center Plaza past
WTVD Channel 11
Loop Back