Slow is smooth
I dipped my toes into the South many years ago and did a bike ride in Louisville, Kentucky, just across the Ohio River from Indiana https://jollyroutes.com/lollygagging-in-louisville/. It was a simple city cruise on the waterfront bike path. Since then, I’ve picked up a habit of doing these city cruises when I make trips to the South. New Orleans came years later and recently I completed one in Nashville, TN.
Just like when I visited New Orleans, I came to Nashville for business. Well, my end destination was Huntsville, Alabama, but Nashville was the transit stop between air travel and car rental. It was the perfect opportunity to knock off another state.
The laid-back attitude of the South lends itself well to city cruises. That combination of hot weather and drawling Southern accents fits well with a slow ride on a paved trail, surrounded by other casual exercisers. In the land of Tennessee whiskey, there’s no need for spandex and racing tires.
Cruising in Comfort
I began the morning at the landmark of the South, Waffle House. They served me two waffles, one still gooey and full of batter, the other as crisp as a potato chip. Then I made my way to a local cafe where I was hoping to find some Southern style sweet tea. They didn’t have anything of the sort on the menu, but they happily served me a black tea with sweetener.
Around noon I made my way to Shelby Avenue Bicycle Company, which as far as I could tell, was the only place in the state that rented bicycles on a Sunday. I asked if they could fix me up with something to tool around the town for the day, and they pointed me to their selection of Cruisers hanging from hooks outside the building. Then they gave me a map and I was on my way.
I started the ride with a nice downhill from the local neighborhood to the river bottoms. It was a sweet ride, low and slow, complete with bell that I could ring whenever I wanted to cruise by the walkers and joggers. Once I hit the Cumberland River I took a turn on the Shelby Bottoms Greenway, which took me away from the city and into a preserve.
The Shelby River Bottoms is a forested area along the river. I’d imagine it floods from time to time, as it has the feel of a marsh. There are also a number of bridges that cross over small creeks, as well as muddy paths going off the main trail which are off limits to bikers. About halfway through stands a pedestrian bridge over the Cumberland that connects to the Music City Bikeway. Beautiful views abound. The Greenway is a popular area, but still quiet and secluded from the city.
Country Town
The trail goes nearly four miles through the River Bottoms before it loops on itself and heads back in the other direction. The only impediment of the day was a tree that laid strewn across the path. As far as wildlife, I saw many birds flying around as well as a few turtles clinging to logs. Once I completed the Greenway, I headed the other direction toward the downtown.
Along the way I passed a downed utility pole from a recent thunderstorm, which made me nervous but apparently was of no danger considering all the people running by it. I also climbed my first hill of the day, up to the top of a disc golf course. Then I continued my cruise, past the Tennessee Titans stadium, and into the heart of downtown.
In downtown I tasted the Nashville country music flavor. People played guitars on the side of the streets and country music blared from bars, some of which were owned by country stars. Several pedal pubs passed by, giving me an idea for a future Southern City Cruise. The only person I chatted with though was a young woman who tried to get me to donate to a nonprofit with aims to reform land use.
Then, from the heart of downtown, I returned to the path and cruised back to Shelby Avenue Bicycle Company. This ride included one more hill climb, which is the one difficult aspect of riding Cruisers. After completing the city cruise returning the bike I made my way deeper into the South to Huntsville.
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