Bikes Stores for the Greenway in North Raleigh
If you want to bike these trails you are going to need a good bike. The trails in North Raleigh include the greenway trails which make up over 50 miles of trails across the city. These trails can take you from North Raleigh to Crabtree Mall only crossing one city street. Who wouldn’t like to take a bike ride to the Mall on a warm summer’s day?
One place you can find information on this trail is the AC Content article on the Shelley Lake Trail by this author.
Unless you are planning a long walk, here is a place that provides excellent quality bicycles:
All Star Bike Shops Inc
5011-A Falls of Neuse Road
Raleigh, NC 27609
(919) 876-9876
Hours are: Mon-Fri 10-6 Sat 10-5
Their Quail corners locations is in the heart of North Raleigh in the shopping center at the corner of Falls of Neuse and Millbrook Rd. (officially East Millbrook Rd.) It is on the same end as Fallon’s Flowers. They also have shops in other parts of the city.
One of the truly pleasant rides is along Raleigh’s Bicycle paths. Much of Raleigh is very suburban (sprawl). Unlike compact cities up north the suburbs go right up to the core city. As a result the city during spring, summer and fall is like one giant garden. Everyone grows or attempts to grow some kind of flowering plants. The trees are covered with blossoms. And the bike trails take you right through these neighborhoods. Routes 11 and 14 appear to be the major bike routes in the North Raleigh Area but I will be following all the routes and providing places the routes can be picked up. Interesting much of bike route 14 appears to follow the greenway. Bike trails can add tens or hundreds of miles of additional pleasure for the biking enthusiast.
If you are going to tour the city via the bike routes you will still need a bike.
Another fine North Raleigh bike store is:
Trek Bicycles Of Raleigh
10911 Raven Ridge Rd
Raleigh, NC 27614
(919) 845-2600
Hours are: Mon-Fri 11-7, Sat 10-5, Sun 1-5
A third location to ride is in William B. Umstead State Park. This park has, according to the state, over 11,000 acres. That’s right an 11 thousand acre state park wedged into NC’s capital city, Raleigh, in the north western corner and the eastern border with Durham (famous for the Durham Bulls). Most of the trails off the actual roadways are more suitable for mountain biking than street bikes. But the park also has a lot of surface roads within it that can be biked.
Another fine source of bicycles in North Raleigh is:
Frank’s Cyclery
8321-105 Brier Creek Parkway
Raleigh, NC 27617
(919) 293.0200
Hours are: Tues-Fri 10-7, Sat 10-4, other times by appt
The nearest greenway trail to Franks is the Lake Lynn Loop which connects to the Shelley Lake Greenway by bike route 14. The route can be reached from the Ray Road exit from Lake Lynn going right down Ray Rd and then left onto Howard.
If you are buying a bike for a beginner, you make want to ask about riding classes. Some shops offer these to provide young children and adults new to riding and opportunity to learn in a safe environment.
In addition flat trails like the Allegany Trail (Greenway) along Allegany Drive is a really good flat trail where a really new beginner can learn to ride. To get to Allegany Trail take Six Forks to North Brook. Go west on North Brook to Yadkin. Take a left onto Yadkin. Cross under 440 and across a bridge. Take your first left onto Allegany Drive. Stop at either of the two tiny dirt parking areas on the left. Follow the paved path to the main trail. For a half mile left and a little bit more to the right the trail is flat paved and wide. This is an excellent safe flat surface for a first time rider and their mom or dad.
There are other bike stores in the area though these stores are the top shops of there kind. Most offer bikes, service and extra care.
