For all the hype about its golf, Augusta is no slouch when it comes to mountain biking. Less than an hour from the city’s center are nearly 70 miles of trails, with difficulty levels ranging from flat-as-a-board Bartram Trail to the rocky, curvy, occasionally wet Stevens Creek Trail. Reporter Patrick Verel, of The Augusta Chronicle, braved the birds, bees, bugs and trees to discover what local mountain biking has to offer:

A golf ball-size bruise on the inside of my left thigh. That's the extent of injury I suffered on my ride on Turkey Creek, a 7-mile, winding, climbing, single-track trail just outside of Modoc, S.C. Considering the heat index - around 100 at the time - and that I was riding a bicycle designed primarily for pavement, that seems acceptable.

I'd taken my Gary Fisher Alfresco hybrid on the 3-mile off-road loop near the Augusta Canal and held my own, but for an adventure as far off as Modoc, I wanted some experienced riders with me. Former Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association CSRA chapter President Angela Allen agreed to meet me at Turkey Creek Trail. It's one of 10 the group helps maintain, and it's considered intermediate level, equal parts work and "wheee!"

In addition to Turkey Creek and the other trails, the association is in the process of building a trail called Forks Area Trail System near the intersection of Woodlawn and Hopewell Church roads in South Carolina. In conjunction with Long Cane Trail, LLC, the group won a federal grant that will enable it to build a 17-mile trail. It has agreed to donate 1,500 hours to the construction, and the planned completion date is December 2006.

Three minutes into the ride, I blindly followed Mrs. Allen down a hill that hooked to the left and led to a 20-foot-long, 2-foot-wide plank bridge that she easily traversed. The bridge spans a dried-out riverbed, which is fortunate because the ramp leading to it proved too steep, and when I turned left to regain my balance, over the edge I went. Michael Drawdy, who was following behind with his wife, Barbara, and Patricia Shivley, was there to soothe my bruised ego.

"About half the people that go across that thing walk over it," he said. "The reason is because of the angle. When you hit the ramp, you're kind of going to the left and, like you did, if you keep going, you're going to fall."

On a gently sloping ridge 3.5 miles in, we stopped at a U.S. Park Service access road. It's no wider than a path, but that doesn't stop a biker's nemesis - all-terrain vehicles - from getting through.

"We report them when we see them, and the park service does their best to track them down, but it's hard," Mrs. Allen said.

The interest is more than aesthetic. Turkey Creek is part of the Sumter National Forest, but most of the mowing, shoring up and bridge repair is done by Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association volunteers. Portions of it are barely 4 feet wide, and it simply can't accommodate ATVs.

After five miles, we stopped at a clearing to take in the view of the waters of Stevens Creek. Our group agreed to turn back, but first, Mr. Drawdy, a corrections officer at the Federal Correctional Institution in Edgefield, insisted we visit "The Dips" less than 800 yards up the trail. Roller-coaster dips that plunge 15 feet then rise right back up, they can be conquered so long as you keep your speed up.

The way back was exhilarating because the long uphill climb from mile three to four had now become a downhill breeze. When I attempted to skirt around a bridge and ride through a muddy culvert below, my legs gave out and I was forced to walk the bike up to the trail. When we pulled up to our cars 90 minutes after starting, our final stats were 72 minutes riding, with an average speed of 8.3 mph.

Not bad for an amateur.

Reach Patrick Verel at (706) 823-3332 or patrick.verel@augustachronicle.com.

How to get there

- Take Furys Ferry Road (state Highway 28) to Modoc, S.C.

- Turn right at state Highway 23 and cross two railroad tracks.

- Follow Highway 23 for approximately three miles and turn left on Cold Springs Road.

- When the road ends at Key Road, turn left.

- Continue on Key Road until you get to Key bridge.

- The trail head is just past the bridge on the left, and there is parking for about eight cars.

- The 5.5-mile Wine Creek trail can be accessed from the other side of the road.

What you'll need

The basics:

- A bicycle: If you can get your hands on a model with full or partial suspension, do it. Even on a relatively easy trail such as Stevens Creek, your backside will thank you for it.

- A helmet: There are simply too many boulders and logs waiting for you to bash your head into.

- Towel: Even if you ride after dusk, you'll break a major sweat.

- Water: A bottle or Camelbak full of water is a must-have, but if you want to really do it right, take a page from former Southern All-Road Bicycle Association President Angela Allan and take a thermos filled with ice water and a bag of washcloths. At the end of a long ride, heaven is a cold washcloth on your face.

Optional but recommended:

- Gloves: It's hard to grip brakes and handlebars when your hands are glistening with sweat.

- Bug spray: You're OK as long as you're moving, but when you stop, the mosquitoes will feast on you.

- Eye protection: Ninety percent of the ride is shaded, so clear glasses are preferable.

Online information

- Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association CSRA: www.sorbacsra.org

- Cycle Augusta http://cycleaugusta.tripod.com

- South Carolina Trails: www.sctrails.net

- Georgia Trails: http://georgiatrails.com