THOM 12 | Spring / Summer 2019

WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE
Dirt Road
IN THE LAST ISSUE OF THOM, I WROTE ABOUT HOW
Thomasville’s network of trails encourages us to explore
the nooks and crannies of the community on foot. Well, it
turns out that those trails are great for bicycles, too, and
they connect to an even larger network of clay dirt roads
that are pure cyclist Nirvana.
“There are several hundred miles of clay roads focused
on the interconnection of our land,” says Hubs & Hops
owner Roger Hawks as he points to a giant map of Red
Hills plantations on the wall of his shop. The Hubs & Hops
bike shop and taproom, located at the southwest corner of
the horseshoe-shaped array of buildings around the Ritz
Amphitheater in Downtown Thomasville, celebrated its
first birthday in March.
“I’m confident we have some of the best roads for clayroad
riding in the country,” Roger says. “But how many
people know that? Not many; so a big part of our work is
holding events and letting people know about it.”
As part of its mission to strengthen the cycling
community—and to serve some cold beer to thirsty
pedalers and their friends—the Hubs & Hops team
leads a group ride every Saturday, weather permitting.
There is no charge if you have your own gear, and rental
equipment is available for new riders and those from
out of town. There are rides for cyclists of many levels of
fitness and endurance.
“The basic route leaves from our shop and winds through
the historic downtown area and then out toward Millpond
Plantation. It’s a 20-mile loop out and back, but at any point
you can cut that short. A typical ride for the enthusiast is a
65-mile loop that starts and ends at our back door.”
Roger learned the ropes of the bicycle trade as a partner
in Tallahassee’s Higher Ground bike shop after he retired
as supervisor of forensics for the Tallahassee Police
Department. He and his wife, Nancy, were considering a
move to Thomasville when they heard about a building
adjacent to the amphitheater that was available for lease.
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