South Carolina Smiles and Places 2008 Official Vacation Guide - (Page 92) By Joquita Burka IT’S JUST PLAIN FUN. SINCE THAT FIRST TIME YOU WOBBLED DOWN THE DRIVEWAY WITH YOUR DAD RUNNING ALONGSIDE, YOUR BIKE HAS BEEN A TICKET TO FREEDOM. As you grew up and graduated to more gears and cushy bike seats, the bicycle has remained a unique combination of fun and adventure. Lucky for you that South Carolina is a truly bike-friendly state. Admit it— you’ve gotta love a state that creates names such as Sumter Chain Gang (local bike club) and Tour de Dump (rolling route that circles a landfill). And with 610,000 acres of National Forest; 80,061 acres of natural beauty preserved in our state parks; lakes and rivers forming our “Freshwater Coast” on the west; incredible beaches on the East Coast; and mountains in the northwest, our state is an incredible playground that seems made to be explored from the seat of a two-wheeler. So grab a water bottle, a map and start peddling. It’s a great way to see the state at a slower pace. HIT THE ROAD. When you say “biker” around the South Carolina Upstate, residents will be quick to tell you all about our favorite local hero, George Hincapie. At the international level, fans have seen George leading the way for seventime champion Lance Armstrong in the Tour de France. When he’s at home in Greenville, his frequent training rides take him up and down the local hills at a pace few can match. In 2006, George thrilled the hometown crowd by winning the USA Cycling Pro Championships. The 2007 Road Race Championship again traversed the steep switchback climbs of Paris Mountain and the crowd-lined streets of downtown Greenville. Hincapie finished a close second to Levi Leipheimer who just months earlier stood in third place on the podium in the prestigious Tour de France. Thousands of cyclists participate in this Labor Day weekend event that includes activities for the whole family, fun rides for amateurs, as well as the national time trial and road race championships. (www.usacyclingchampionships.com). Don’t miss the race in 2008 as the championships return to Greenville for the third year of a three-year run. For those mere mortals among us, the Palmetto Cycling Coalition keeps an online calendar providing the dates, times and links to weekly rides as well as competitive events across the state. Rides vary from casual family rides to singleday century 92 South Carolina Smiles 2008 http://www.usacyclingchampionships.com http://www.usacyclingchampionships.com
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