Small Town USA: Opelika, Alabama & the Gravel Roads Less Traveled

opelika alabama gravel cycling
Lee County Courthouse

Opelika is a city in and the county seat of Lee County in the east-central part of the U.S. state of Alabama. It is a principal city of the Auburn-Opelika Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 census, the population of Opelika was 26,401, and in 2019 the estimated population was 30,908.

opelika alabama gravel cycling

The Auburn-Opelika, AL MSA with a population of 150,933, along with the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area, comprises the Greater Columbus combined statistical area, a region home to 501,649 residents. – Wikipedia.org

opelika alabama gravel cycling

LaFayette is the county seat of Chambers County, Alabama, United States, 47 miles (76 km) northwest of Columbus, Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the population of the city was 3,003. LaFayette is also the birthplace of Joe Louis, world heavyweight boxing champion from 1937 to 1949. Joe’s commemorative statue can be seen in this video.

opelika alabama gravel cycling
Plenty of tough grades along this course!

In this video, JOM of Gravel Cyclist kicks off a tour of downtown Opelika and later traverses the quiet country roads beyond the town’s city limits. The town of LaFayette is also visited in this video. All sorts of interesting stuff happens in town and along the gravelly road less travelled.

opelika alabama gravel cycling
Kerry, one of the owners of Red Clay Brewing Company

Video: Small Town USA – Opelika, Alabama & Beyond

Additional Photos

opelika alabama gravel cycling
Pre-ride visit to Red Clay Brewing Company
opelika alabama gravel cycling
Post-ride visit to Red Clay Brewing Company
opelika alabama gravel cycling
Low gears were very handy, FSA WE Drivetrain

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1 Comment

  1. John McBurney

    I grew up in Opelika and it has been great to learn of the great gravel/dirt road scene there. Hope to come home and do some rides, post Covid.

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