May is National Bike Month and Danville has set the stage for ways you can join in the celebration, like biking the 2-mile 2168 Spears Creek Connector Trail or the 3.5-mile Millennial Park trail network or the Henson and Clarks Run Trail, a “car-less” bike trail within the city limits.
“People can take part in National Bike Month by getting out and riding, whether recreationally with their family on the weekend or by brainstorming a way to commute to work or run errands by bike,” said Andrew Crown-Weber of Danville Bike and Footwear, a family business founded by his father, Ernst Crown-Weber, in 1993.
The shop offers a multitude of services, including bicycle repair, assembly and maintenance and shoe fittings and recommendations. It also offers educational programs for schools and community groups, provides local trail and race information, organizes and sponsors the annual Constitution 5K for the Arts and hosts biweekly group rides.
Although the weekly group rides may be challenging for beginners, Andrew says the outings reflect different skill levels of riders.
“The shortest distance one might expect to ride would be 14-plus miles, going about 14 mph on average,” he said.
For beginners, Andrew recommends Danville’s Millennium Park, known for its scenic fishing lake, families of ducks and peaceful outer loop.
“You can park your car in a central location and then mix and match various pathways to reach the distance you want to ride easily,” said Andrew. “If you ever need a break or want to stop, you’ll never be too far away from your car.”
Also scenic is the Henson and Clarks Run Trail, a picturesque route taking bikers past tobacco farms, shady woodlands and a creek area. For those seeking a longer ride, the bike shop recommends the “Out and Back on Bluegrass Pike” jaunt, which begins at Danville Bike and Footwear, departs town via a bike lane and then turns north onto Bluegrass Pike. It is a scenic backroad ride, about nine miles in length, rolling past horse farms, stone fences and creeks.
“Although Bluegrass Pike does not have bike lanes, traffic is light and drivers there are very used to seeing runners and cyclists,” said Andrew.
For intermediate riders, the Woven Wire Mountain Bike Trail is a 2-mile off-road trail that opened in 2019 within Danville’s city limits. Located along a floodplain, it offers some challenges and is a good introduction to off-road riding. To find the trail, look for the Boy Scout kiosk near The Still at Blue Rook Distillery at the end of Techwood Drive.
PLAN YOUR RIDE & RENTAL
Danville has an enthusiastic bicycling community and a scenic bicycling trail system. Cyclers can discover and create routes at www.mapmyride.com/us/danville-ky. Staff at Danville Bike and Footwear can advise on area trails and routes. Bicycle rentals are available through Rick Serres. Visit or contact Danville Bike and Footwear (417 W. Main Street; 859-238-7669) to be put in touch with Rick for selecting a bike.
Too tuckered to tire home? Danville has a variety of lodging options, including camping at Pioneer Playhouse Campground (where you can also enjoy a Kentucky farm-fresh barbecue dinner accompanied by live music and outstanding theater under the stars). Currently, the campground can accommodate RV campers equipped with their own bathing facilities only. Additionally, a variety of Danville bed and breakfast inns and short-term rentals offer comfy accommodations as do a half dozen name brand hotels.
