Bike the South is a bike touring company based in Chattanooga offering guided and supported bicycle tours throughout the southeast that follow the company’s philosophy of “Slow Travel. Southern Charm. Carefree Cycling.”
“Bike the South started as a passion project during the pandemic to promote regional travel and bring bicycle tourism to the southeast. Many people rediscovered their bicycles during the pandemic and we wanted to provide an opportunity for them to travel further with confidence on our guided and supported tours”, says Founder and President Jim Johnson.
Tours feature carefully curated routes through scenic landscapes that highlight local history and culture, charming inns and innkeepers in rural settings to help travelers escape the hustle and bustle of city life.
Tours range from half-day to week-long and are aimed primarily at recreational cyclists who may want a little extra support while cycling in new places. Some tours have scheduled departure dates, while most are offered daily on request for parties of four or more–perfect for a small group of friends. Most on-request tours can be customized at no extra cost.
Here’s a sample of Bike the South’s longer tour options:
Tennessee Hills and Stills
Few names are as synonymous with Tennessee as Jack Daniel’s. And few parts of the South are as scenic as the landscapes you’ll enjoy on this supported tour that explores South Central Tennessee’s rolling hills and craft distilleries. From Jack Daniel’s in Lynchburg to George Dickel in Normandy to Nearest Green in Shelbyville, you’ll enjoy slow travel, true southern charm, delicious southern meals, and a landscape rich in culture and natural beauty.
Atlanta to Savannah + Tybee Island
Travel Georgia off the beaten path by bicycle through scenic Georgia countryside. Explore from Atlanta to Savannah with a bonus coastal ride on Tybee Island.
Atlanta’s Journey to Civil Rights
On this journey through Atlanta by bike, you’ll spend three days exploring historic civil war and civil rights sites around the city while learning about Social Justice in the South, Reconstruction, the Lost Cause, the Jim Crow era, redlining, immigration, access to education, the history of voting rights and how all these topics have impacted critical conversations in America today.
Wine and Bike in the Tennessee Overhill
The Tennessee Overhill is a treasure trove of rivers, waterfalls, forested mountains, quiet backroads, and sprawling farmland. It’s a region where tradition and family still mean everything, and the family-owned farms and vineyards–and the local wines–are a featured focus of the tour. Home base will be a private mansion just outside the historic town of Athens.
Chattanooga Sampler
Enjoy some of founder Jim Johnson’s favorite day-tours in Eastern Tennessee and Northwest Georgia on this five- or seven-day sampler tour. Cyclists ride from “base camp” at a charming Chattanooga inn, using the company van to extend range on some days. Tours are primarily guided.
Day tours and “short escapes” are also available, including tours in the Sequatchie Valley and the Tennessee Overhill region in Tennessee, plus a fun afternoon tour through Mountain Cove in Georgia.