Mark Taylor

Mark Taylor's Outdoors column and notebook appears regularly in The Roanoke Times.

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May is National Bike Month, which means many cycling clubs and bike advocacy groups are making an extra effort to get as many people as possible off their duffs and onto something with two wheels (and no engine).

During the month, a number of special cycling events are planned for Southwest Virginia.

But as with many of those specially designated days, weeks and months, the hope is that the interest isn't fleeting.

There's no arguing that Western Virginia is cycling heaven in many ways, with plenty of great riding areas and regular events for cyclists of all abilities.

Here's a look at just a few of the highlights:

Family friendly

Great spots for casual pedal trips

Roanoke Valley greenways

For casual family biking it's tough to top paved greenways, and the network of those trails keeps growing in the Roanoke Valley.

The centerpiece of the system is the Roanoke River Greenway, which runs along the river for about 5 miles from Wasena Park to 13th street. Riders have to hit the road for a short bit near Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Otherwise this route is totally traffic-free.

Find the routes and other information at www.greenways.org.

Huckleberry trail

Winding from the Blacksburg public library to the New River Mall, the paved Huckleberry Trail covers just under 6 miles and is popular among walkers, runners and recreational cyclists.

For maps and more information, visit huckleberrytrail.org.

Virginia Creeper Trail

This route has become a family favorite for good reason: It's easy and the setting is beautiful.

The cinder trail stretches from Abingdon to Whitetop. Many riders take shuttles from midpoint Damascus up to Whitetop Station and then enjoy the 17-mile ride along Green Cove and Whitetop Laurel creeks back to town.

Vacreepertrail.com offers a good primer on the route.

New River Trail

Another great rails-to-trails route, the New River Trail covers 57 miles along the New and its Chestnut Creek tributary. Part of the Virginia State Parks system, the cinder trail has a couple of camping areas along the way.

Because the trail is so long, most cyclists do out-and-back routes. The grade is so gradual it is essentially flat no matter what direction you're going. For more information, visit dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/new.shtml.

Fat tire fun

Try these spots for great mountain biking

Carvins Cove Natural Reserve

Offering everything from easy routes suitable for beginners to some of the region's most technical and exciting singletrack, Carvins Cove is considered by many fat tire fanatics to be the best mountain bike destination in the Roanoke area.

The best access to the trails is at the park's Bennett Springs parking lot. Visitors to the area are required to have passes, which are available at the main entrance and boat dock area or at the Just the Right Gear bike shop near Bennett Springs.

For more information about the area visit roanokeva.gov and seek out Carvins Cove Natural Reserve in the Parks and Recreation section of the site.

Douthat State Park

With its variety of terrain, Douthat State Park offers something for everybody. A few easy trails around the lake are suitable for novice off-road riders, while experts will be pushed by the miles of challenging singletrack on the mountains around the park.

Find details at dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/dou.shtml.

Other spots to check

Mill Mountain Park and Explore Park in Roanoke, Waid Recreation Area in Rocky Mount, Pandapas Pond outside Blacksburg.

The next level

Races and other gut-busters

Road races are rare, but the region features a decent amount of mountain bike racing.

The Virginia Mountain Bike Championship series (mountainbikevirginia.com) has been around for 15 years. Two of the three races are in the bag for this season, with the final one coming up in June at Massanutten.

The Virginia DeRailer Series (the name is a play on the region's railroad heritage) features six races in Bedford, Danville, Lynchburg Rocky Mount, Martinsville and Roanoke. The next stop in the series is Falling Creek Park in Bedford County on May 17.

All levels of riders are welcome. Visit vaderailerseries.com for complete details.

For a tough road ride that's a lot like a race to some, try the Mountains of Misery century (cyclingdoubleheader.com) in Giles and Craig counties on May 25.