 The many roads you see
on the map for the Floyds Fork Tour can also be taken by bicycle. As a racer and rider who
has lived in Floyds Fork area for many years I know the roads extremely well and I would
say they are some of the best roads you could find while staying within the metropolitan
Louisville area.
What makes these roads great for riding is that they are challenging, scenic, and
traffic is light. The roads within the valley are flat and easy to ride on. But then when
you have to climb out of the valley there are some brutally steep hills. For example:
Going North on Broad Run Road is akin to riding your bike up a wall. The rest of the roads
contain gently rolling rises that require effort but not enough to take away from the
view. On many of the roads such as Johnson Road and Beckley Station and parts of English
Station Roads you can look down and across the valley. This is probably best seen in
Spring or Fall when the trees are not so overgrown but the colors create a pretty scene.
In 6 years of riding and training in this area I have never encountered a serious problem
with any vehicles. The worst that has happened is that I have had a horn honked at me a
few times. Most of the other motorists are very respectful and give a wide space when
passing. Since there are no bicycle paths you will be forced to ride on the roads. But
make an attempt to stay off of Shelbyville and Taylorsville Roads. Traffic is very heavy,
and fast, and there is no shoulder to ride on.
I have a couple of short loops of roads that I like to do my race training on. This is
one of the favorite rides for me.
Starting at Floyds Fork Park off of Taylorsville Road take a right on to Old
Taylorsville Road. Follow this road and you can see the Fork through the tree s. The first road you come to take a left onto English
Station Road. On your right will be the Lausman Oil Company. Go straight across
Fisherville Road and continue on English Station. The next road you come to will be Echo
Trail. Take a right turn on this road but be careful, it is downhill and off camber and it
does happen to be a three way stop. Directly after you turn you will cross a bridge over
the Fork. You are very high up and get a decent view.
The Fork here looks kind of like a swamp land almost. Continue down this hill and look
at the farm on the left. See if you can spot the emu's hiding in the tall grass. Follow
this road up the hill (it's not that bad a hill) and cross over Interstate 64. Shortly
after the roads turn into Gilliland Road, but just keep going straight and you will be
fine. Soon you will be riding into Eastwood. As soon as you get to a stop sign take a
right onto Eastwood Cut-Off, this is a short stretch before you take a left onto Johnson
Road where Figaro's Pizza is. Now if you have ridden out from the City or are just a
little hungry, stop in, they serve up an excellent, excellent pizza.
 Now then, cut straight across U.S. 60 and off
down the hill. Now be careful, the road becomes one lane and there are many curves where
you cannot see more than a hundred feet down the road. Follow this for a while and look to
your left down the valley. This is a fun road because before you get to Aiken Road there
is a tight S-curve that goes down a hill. Now when you get to Aiken Road take a left and
down a very fast descent. At the bottom of the descent is the fork. Now there is a one
lane bridge at this point so look to the other side of the fork before you cross so you
can see any other traffic. Now follow Aiken back up the hill, and turn left onto Beckley
Station. Now you are at the backside of Lake Forest. Continue to follow this Road and take
a left at the four way where an entrance to Lake Forest is. You will go down a small hill
but beware of the Railroad tracks at the bottom. Now you Come back up to Shelbyville Road
or U.S. 60.
 Go across and keep following it down the hill
and past the Copperfield subdivision. You will now go under Interstate 64 and on your left
will be a sod farm that runs right up next to Floyds Fork. Now prepare your self. Because
when you take a right onto Wibble Hill you will hit a grunt of a hill. It isn't to long
but it can get you if you aren't in the correct gear. When you get to the top you will be
back on English Station. Stay on this road and make to turns at all. Be sure to check to
your left to see if you can look back down the valley. Now this will put you back at the
intersection of Echo Trail and English Station. Go straight and back to the Floyds Fork
Park, or take a left and go around another time. If you do one loop you will get about 13
miles in.
My name is Rob Evans. I graduated from Eastern High School in 1999, I am a cycling
"enthusiast" and I have raced for 6 years and now compete at the elite level.
Visit KIPDA's website to learn more about bikeway plans in Jefferson
Co.
Warning: Some Web sites to which these materials provide links for
the convenience of users are not managed by the Jefferson County Public School System.
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error reporting about this page and its links should be sent to the webmaster - currently David Wicks, Louisville, KY.
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