I went in to Giant Wake Forest a few weeks ago for the first time after finally dusting off my Trek…read more2000 from 2003. I was in need of a better understanding of what my body was doing on the bike and making sure that as I went beyond 20 miles for a ride I wasn't going to inadvertently injure myself simply based on my riding position. I ended up speaking to Adam, the store owner, who has passion for biking literally emanating from his body like a cycling Angel sent to make sure you have a good time. The guy literally wants you to be on a bike! He suggested a few things, starting with new cycling shorts, as well as some new shoes. These were complete game changers. He didn't try to sell me the most expensive, but did explain the differences and let me make the decision myself. Based on this experience, I deduced to go back for a bike "sizing", a bit cheaper and more streamlined than a full "fit", it still hit the high points of seat height adjustment, seat fore-aft, analysis of my pedal stroke, as well as getting some insoles for my shoes that better align my knees to prevent injury and maximize efficiency. We discovered that my seat post was entirely too short to support my needs and he replaced it on the spot. Finally, and this was a shock, he analyzed the way my butt fit on the seat, and we found one that was more comfortable and didn't impede my motions as much. The reason it was a shock was because they actually have a seat loaner program! I paid 30.00 as a deposit, and now I have that seat on my bike to take on a longer ride. That 30.00 can be applied to any new seat as I make the decision on shape, and ultimately weight. As I was in between parts of the adjustment process, other folks walked in and spoke to other employees, or Adam. They were all able to discuss the customers needs, make recommendations, and continued to show me that it wasn't about making a quick sale or up-sell, it was literally about making sure somebody was going to have a great experience from the time they walked into the door to the time they got on two wheels. While I'm currently riding an older Trek, I do plan to upgrade to a Giant, through Adam and Giant Wake Forest in the next year. Highly recommend this shop for your cycling needs!

I think this place finally imploded…read more Can't say I didn't see it coming. Bike store employee/mechanics are either A) awesome, or B) awful. One of the regular guys here was awful. He would say lame bro stuff with literally no prompting. I guess he just assumed that because I'm a man that I want to hear "giggity-giggity" locker-room stuff when I come in asking about a part. I can't imagine that women or families found it comfortable to shop or patronize the place, and I can't imagine why I never saw a woman near the place whenever I was up there. Their inventory was very limited. I think they were running out of captal/credit and it looked like they couldn't afford to restock. They ordered me a part, then for weeks I kept hearing, "oh, I think it's coming on _______day. Oh, let me check the invoice number and get back to you. Oh, we got a big order in today. We have to inventory everything first but I will give you call later." No one would call me back. Ever. I think I finally got a call several weeks later saying the part had arrived, but by then I had another shop source the part/do the work. They got the part within days. I tried to make this my go to place for parts and maintenance that I couldn't do at home, but it was just too challenging. All in all, it just became more sensible to drive a little further to places that had less obnoxious staff, better turn-around-time, and an all-around healthier vibe. I really want any LBS to do well. But some of these places fall into a death-spiral that is real difficult to pull out of. Unfortunately, I found that this place was circling the drain.

If your into trail running or biking this is a great place to get in some miles. Just finished 13…read moremiles of trail running. Second day in a row, did 10 miles yesterday. Just make sure you follow the directional signs.

Rob and the entire team at The Bike Guy are not only passionate and knowledgeable about cycling,…read morebut they are awesome humans. Last weekend, I thought I had lost my car fab somewhere on the trail. I came back in a panic and without hesitation, they let me take one of their e-bikes out to go back and retrace my 25 mile ride. When I got back, without finding my fab key, they told me to leave my car as long as needed and helped me figure out a locksmith. They were kind and genuinely caring. As fate would have it, upon loading my bike into my friend's car, I saw my key fab had somehow fallen from my pack and gotten lodged into my bike frame where it remained for over 18 miles! Thank you so much to the team for all your help and care!

Did some bike shopping here but ended up buying from a competitor…read more Sales person was very friendly. Helped me narrow my search. Alas the model I needed (large frame version) was not in stock. I test rode a smaller frame version. They offered to let me buy a bike and order the large frame version for me. I suggested they call me when they get one in stock. Nyet! Salesman was not willing to do that. I guess trying to motivate me to buy a bike. Spending over $1000 requires me to physically try the product before I buy. I bought from a competitor.

I came across William B Umstead State Park while staying in a nearby hotel for business. I am…read morealways looking for somewhere peaceful to walk or run when I have the time and so happy to have found this park nearby. I came to find out that the park covers thousands of acres and has all kinds of trails. The entrance I utilized on foot required my constant attention after crossing over the interstate as the sidewalk vanishes and I had to make sure I was on the shoulder to make sure I didn't get squished by cars going into and out of the park. It wasn't that difficult but be aware if you are entering the park on foot from the nearby SAS campus (of which I understand Umstead along with a friend started). There's lots of parking from this entrance and a few trails to choose from. I took the Loblolly trail from the Reedy Creek entrance. It is fairly long at around 7 miles out. It's not a loop. I did about a mile and a quarter of the trail and it was awesome. All covered with a tree canopy the trail is well marked and maintained. It ranged from gravel to vines and rocks to bare dirt. Great scenery and very peaceful. There's enough room to pass other walkers and hikers. I really enjoyed this park. I want to explore it more if I'm in the area again as I had time constraints. I highly recommend this well maintained park and will visit again. Nothing quite like a good walk in nature. Enjoy!

Wonderful trails for biking, hiking, walking (and also some trails are sign-posted to allow…read morehorses). Not crowded. Miles & miles of trails. Picnic tables and pavilions. Creeks and streams. Lakes and ponds. Boating. BE AWARE of closed trails, bridges, etc...stop by the park office AND check the website for closures.

I started coming to the Beaver Dam entrance of Falls Lake since there is a public beach, as well as…read moreaccess to the lake where you can open water swim. I have been practicing some open water swimming here. It is populated but has plenty of parking, making it feel family friendly and safe. On warmer weekend days I've seen families come out and have a BBQ. It's the perfect spot to enjoy the summer if you do not have access to a pool or can't make it down to the beach.

It's always nice going out to the Falls Lake area to hike. There are many trails for that and for…read moremountain biking too. Some of the trails are easy while others more challenging. Some off shoot trails go along the shorelines and people come out here to fish or put a kayak in the water. There are plenty of birds and other wildlife to watch in the lake areas. Just a historical note. The Falls Lake area is part of the Neuse River system and is the main supply of water for Raleigh & Durham. It was created in the 70s to supply drinking water for a quickly expanding area of the state. Many valley, farms, and pasture lands were flooded to create it. In times of drought it's not uncommon for the top of an old barn to be seen in the water.

Great service (Scott) and support as we shopped for a new bike. Selection of bikes is large. Prices…read moreseem reasonable and you can certainly spend $$$ thousands but we are wanting a basic city bike. Used bikes available for sale. Good location. Took a few bikes for a test ride. Perfect experience. As someone who last bought a bike 20 years ago i was grateful for Oak City Cycling. We tried one other local bike shop first and it was a disaster... OCC was the way to go for us.

Had my bike tuned up this spring and am very pleased with everything about this placeread more

Great shaded walk !!! Nice little creek .Great place for dogs !!! I came with my sister and we did…read more4 miles !! We were protected from the Sun and that was a plus !!!

I went while it was free. Beautiful and nice place to lay in the sun. The restrooms were closed,…read morebut they provided portable toilets

A good place to bike, walk your dog or just plain walk/ jog. I've been through pumpkin loop and…read morecrow branch overlook and I prefer the crow branch since we never realized there was a whole retention pond to walk alongside!! Beautiful and able to see a mix of wildlife if you look closely enough and slow down. We've seen crayfish, mushrooms, even owls and deer out there. Really love this spot and glad it's close to home! It doesn't have water like drinking fountains or legitimate bathrooms is the only reason it's not a full 5 star. Otherwise I'd consider it a 4.5. There is also a small pollinator garden area that comes up on the left when starting from MLK side. Love this place.

Near the university campus, this offers a retreat for runners. The entry road is of dubious…read morequality, but it isn't that long. Some gravel roads continue to run through the area but are pedestrian only most of the time, and a series of hiking and bike trails interlace each other throughout the area. The aesthetic of Carolinian forests is distinctive and it was a peaceful environment. The trail marking could stand to be clearer and I got turned around a bit. It's definitely worth checking out the area.

This park has a little of everything for everyone: hiking, mountain biking, fishing, picnicking,…read moretrail running. My limited experience was running the trails, or attempting to...it was tough, lots of downhill/uphill, but the switching and beautiful scenery made for good mental distractions. Many trails to chose from, but you can also pick a loop to follow which combines trails and were well marked, options include: Green 2 Mile Loop, Blue 5 Mile, and Red 12 Mile. I think a longer 15+ mile loop is marked as well, but not indicated on the map. Trail Map: http://www.svmba.org/Resources/Documents/Trails1.pdf The Blue Loop trailheads were easily found from the main parking lot, behind the restroom or up the paved trail, past the large picnic area on the left. My GPS had the Blue Loop at 4.6 miles. Very hilly!! Thankfully, mostly shaded, dirt, roots, but not very rocky. Trail shoes nice to have, not necessary. Apparently, the Southern Virginia Mountain Bike Association maintains the trails, does an awesome job too. Interspersed, you'll come across their handiwork, see photo of "Nessie" :) Facilities included: restrooms, large parking lot, bike wash, large covered picnic area, picnic tables in shade along the river, paved path in addition to the unpaved trails. Bikes, horses and pets on leashes were permitted. Mountain biking info/reviews: http://www.singletracks.com/bike-trails/anglers-ridge. Great trails, best I experienced in the area. Enjoy.

This is a nice place to go relax, take a picnic or if you want to get in a bit of exercise, there…read moreis a nice walking trail.

This park is a hidden gem. The hiking & biking trails are well-maintained and the facilities,…read more(pavilion, campgrounds, restrooms) are clean and new. If you're in eastern NC and think Raleigh has a corner on the state park 'market' give this pretty place a try. Come up for a day trip. Hike the trails, go fishing in the creek(s) -- with a license of course then jet to Littleton for a good selection of cuisine. Or, camp at the pristine campground, where a sweet little cabin, complete with Adirondack chairs will finish off your relaxing, peaceful day. Kudos to the Medoc Mountain State Park crew.

I have always drove by the park entrance so I decided to visit one day with my dog for a little…read morehike. There are a lot of trails here that makes for an excellent workout via hiking, running, or walking. It has a visitor center with bathrooms. I particularly like that there are picnic tables and fun jungle gym area for kids. It is worth the visit.