BMW/Greenville Spinners Event Monday, Dec. 3rd

Last Monday a Greenville Spinners/BMW bike ride/social event was held at the BMW Performance Center on Hwy 101 in Greer from 5PM till about 8:30PM. It began with an open test track for anyone who felt like a ride. I got out on the track about 5:00 with maybe 15 others, and as more riders found their way out to the track, it seemed to get windier and colder. Luckily, part of the 2 mile circuit was shielded from the wind by large earth berms, so there was a little relief from the chill each lap. By 6PM, there were maybe 70 riders on the wide, lighted, smoothly paved track, and several variously paced groups were forming, as well some who rode solo and two up. Hank M. was even riding a fixed gear track bike in the faster group.

The track itself is one of two used for the BMW Driving Schools and features two roughly 7/8 mile straights, each ending in a slight right hander which quickly turns into a banked left leading onto the next straight. Posted speed limits are in the 90's on the straights and in the 40's in the turns. The South end of the track is a huge three lane, high speed banked turn similar to the ones seen in European car ads, and the North end turn is tighter and less steeply banked.

After the ride, a dealer expo was held in one of the conference rooms adjacent to the Performance Center's large dining area. New bikes and cool new gear were on display from Sunshine Cycle Shop, The Great Escape, Gusto Cycles, Carolina Triathlon and Hincapie Sportswear. Next was the lasagne dinner buffet and the raffle, in which gifts donated by the shops were given away. The raffle Grand Prize was a 2-Day BMW Driving School.

Everybody seemed to have a blast riding on the track, seeing the new products and enjoying the great food. Big thanks to Mike Renner from BMW for hosting the event. If this event is held again, or if the track is ever open to local cyclists for an event like this, you owe it to yourself to check it out.