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| | Here is a list of suitable bicycling routes that we use

 | "new" MS25 bypass (OAB x2) [will open
to high speed traffic anyday :-( ]
18.0 miles -- Main Street "strip
mall" across from Starkville Wal-mart, go W on MS12. Ride
extents of MS25 bypass (as of April 2003) from MS25 south of Starkville to
Reed Rd. intersection and back to start.
|
 | MS 182 (OAB)
xx.0 miles -- Take MS182 to EMCC/Golden
Triangle campus and back to Starkville
xx.0 miles -- Take MS182 to US45
intersection in
Lowndes county and back to Starkville
|
 | Starkville, MS - GTR Airport, a.k.a "Bikes-n-Planes
Ride" (OAB)
36.0 miles -- Take Mississippi
Hwy 182 (old US 82 highway) from Starkville to Golden Triangle Airport and
back
Traffic on MS 182 is typically quite light
except when in the vicinity of Starkville. Most drivers are
courteous, but we have had a few "bozos" driving in stupid and
dangerous ways. I suspect they were heading to/coming from the
"Crossroads" (an infamous honky-tonk located at the intersection
of MS 182 and US 45A).
| Directions |
Mileage (approx) |
Notes |
| head E toward/through MSU |
0.0 |
start from home and head to MS182 |
| R on MS 182 |
5.2 |
using back roads through Clayton
Village |
| R on Airport Rd. |
15.7 |
head S to GTR Airport terminal |
| GTR Airport |
18.0 |
visit the GTR "food court" (drink/snack
machine) |
| L on Airport Rd. |
18.2 |
head N back to MS182 and US82 |
| L on MS 182 |
20.3 |
between Airport/EMCC floods after heavy
rain |
| L onto back roads to MSU/Starkville |
31.0 |
|
| L to driveway |
36.0 |
safely home |
|
 |
Mathiston, MS - Jeff Busby camping area (OAB)
24.0 miles -- Start at closed "Red
Cap" factory just W of Mathiston, MS
The NTP is great riding (little traffic,
few intersections, and NO trucks). Unfortunately, the NTP pavement
on this route is mostly "tar and chip". Very tough and
tiring on the hands and saddle area. Jeff Busby area has a
convenience store with drinks and snacks. The restrooms are fairly
clean, especially the ones on top of "Little Mountain" or in the
campground.
| Directions |
Mileage (approx) |
Notes |
| R on US 82 |
0.0 |
head W toward Eupora & Winona |
| R on NTP access ramp |
0.5 |
|
| L on NTP |
0.6 |
head S toward Jackson |
| L into Jeff Busby area |
12.0 |
drinks and snacks |
| R onto NTP |
12.0 |
head N toward Mathiston & Tupelo |
| R onto US 82 E exit ramp |
23.5 |
|
| R onto US 82 E |
23.6 |
Watch for big, fast logging trucks |
| L to parking |
24.0 |
|
|
 |
Mathiston, MS - Mantee, MS (OAB)
32.2 miles -- Start at closed "Red
Cap" factory just W of Mathiston, MS
The NTP is great riding (little traffic,
few intersections, and NO trucks). The NTP pavement on this route is
very smooth asphalt or fine aggregate asphalt surfacing. The
convenience store in Mantee has affordable prices on drinks and
snacks. However, the restrooms are typically quite filthy.
| Directions |
Mileage (approx) |
Notes |
| R on US82 |
0.0 |
head W toward Eupora & Winona |
| R on NTP access ramp |
0.5 |
|
| R on NTP |
0.6 |
head N toward Tupelo & Nashville |
| L on MS 46 |
15.8 |
|
| L into "country store" |
16.0 |
drinks, snacks, and (gasp!) cold beer |
| R onto MS 46 |
16.0 |
|
| R onto NTP |
16.2 |
head S toward Mathiston & Jackson |
| L onto US82 E exit ramp |
31.9 |
|
| R onto US82 E |
32.0 |
Watch for big, fast logging trucks |
| L to parking |
32.2 |
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|
 | Western Oktibbeha County Metric Century (MSU-Starkville-Sturgis-Maben loop)
Approximately 60 miles -- Start at the west
parking lot for MSU's Sanderson Center
| Directions |
Mileage (approx) |
Notes |
| R on Coliseum Blvd |
0 |
|
| L on College View St |
0.2 |
|
| R on Barr Rd |
0.3 |
Barr Rd becomes University Dr becomes
Main St |
| L on Meigs Dr |
1.8 |
follow Main St traffic flow toward L (Meigs Dr) |
| R on Lampkin St |
1.9 |
follow traffic flow toward L
(Greensboro St) |
| L on Whitfield St |
2.3 |
Whitfield St becomes Pin Oak Dr |
| L on Aspen Rd |
3.3 |
|
| R on MS 12 |
3.5 |
Stop lights and urban [sic] traffic |
| R on New Light Rd |
5.0 |
(store) |
| L on Old Hwy 12 |
7.1 |
|
| R on MS 12 |
10.1 |
Fast traffic and big trucks! |
| R on Pleasant Ridge Rd |
14.2 |
Bradley community |
| L on Sturgis - West Point Rd |
17.6 |
|
| R on MS 12 |
21.1 |
Welcome to Sturgis (store) |
| R on Sturgis - Maben Rd |
21.7 |
|
| L on Double Springs Rd |
33.3 |
|
| R on County Line Rd |
33.6 |
follow pavement toward R (County Line
Rd) |
| CROSS US 82 |
36.8 |
Divided hwy. Be careful! |
| R on MS 15 |
38.2 |
Welcome to Maben |
| R on MS 763 |
38.5 |
(store) |
| L on Maben - Bell Schoolhouse Rd |
38.5 |
|
| R on MS 389 |
47.0 |
fast traffic |
| L on Main St |
58.4 |
Welcome back to Starkville |
| L on College View St |
59.7 |
|
| R on Coliseum Blvd |
59.9 |
|
| L into Sanderson Center parking lot |
60.1 |
Hit the showers! |
|
 | Starkville-Columbus Lake Dam (OAB)
|
 | Starkville-Mantee (OAB)
|
Other Suitable Road and Touring Routes
 | Natchez Trace Parkway
The Natchez
Trace Parkway is a 444-mile road (and designated bike route)
maintained by the National Park Service between Nashville, Tennessee and
Natchez, Mississippi. It follows (roughly) the original Natchez
Trace path used by 18th century river traders and "western"
pioneers. Many web
sites and publications exist to help plan a ride down the NTP.
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 | Mississippi River Trail
The Mississippi
River Trail is a 10-state cycling route traveling over 2000 continuous
miles between the headwaters of the Mississippi at Lake Itasca, Minnesota
and the Gulf of Mexico in Louisiana.
Tennessee Department of Transportation Bike Routes
The Tennessee Department of Transportation
has published suggested
"bike routes" as an aid to cyclists. All roads suggested are
regular roads of the state, county and city highway systems and are used
by trucks and cars with no special lanes provided for bicycles.
|
Off-road and Mountain Bike Trains
 | the "ERC Trail"
The famous trails located just north of the
Mississippi Research and Development Park and Mississippi State
University. Much of the trail system was destroyed to build the
MS12/US82 connector, but some trails are functioning. Can't be
beat for being just a few minutes from home and the office.
|
 | Noxubee Crest Trail (Tombigbee National Forest)
The Noxubee
Crest Trail is located just south of Ackerman, MS in the Tombigbee
National Forest. Twenty-five miles of forested single track and fire
roads. Terrain ranges from flat bottomlands suitable for beginners
to fairly technical hillside trails with creeks, logs, jumps, etc.
Something for everyone. A $3 day-use fee applies and goes to trail
maintenance and development. One of the nicest trails in the region.
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Terms and Acronyms
- MTB
- Mountain Bike
- NTP
- Natchez Trace Parkway
- OAB
- Out and back
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