Otago Central Rail Trail is Part of the New Zealand Cycle Trail

The New Zealand Cycle Trail is also called the Nga Haerenga and is actually a series of many  trails throughout New Zealand. In all, there  are 20 trails that comprise the New Zealand Cycle Track. The bike trails are in various stages of development:

  • 4 are currently completely open and ready for bike riding from end to end.Nga Haerenga, The New Zealand Cycle Trail logo
  • 13 of the New Zealand trails have sections open and are still being constructed.
  • 3 of the bike tracks are still in the planning phase.

The New Zealand Cycle Trail offers bike trails for everyone including cycling trails with varying grade levels:

  • bike rider going over bridge on Otago Central Rail Trail in New ZealandTwelve of the New Zealand cycle tracks are considered easy.
  • Three of the New Zealand cycle tracks are considered intermediate.
  • Three of the New Zealand cycle tracks are considered advanced.
  • One of the New Zealand cycle tracks is considered expert level.

One of the most famous cycle tracks in New Zealand is complete and makes a great bike ride for all levels of riders. Named after the original railway line, built between 1891 and 1907, the Otago Central Rail Trail, New Zealand’s original ‘Great Ride’, was first opened to the public in 2000.

Steeped in history, the rail-trail offers a 150 kilometre scenic and historic journey into the Central Otago heartland.  This is big sky country where cyclists will traverse ever-changing mountainous, dry and rocky landscapes, high country sheep stations, spectacular river gorges, tunnels, viaducts and more.

There are over 20 townships located on and off the trail to explore… (Read more by visiting the link below.)

via Otago Central Rail Trail | Nga Haerenga, The New Zealand Cycle Trail.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2012/04/16/otago-central-rail-trail-is-part-of-the-new-zealand-cycle-trail/

Milford Track Trail. All the information you could want about Milford New Zealand

 

Once described as the finest walk in the world, the Milford Track is one of New Zealand’s most popular walks, with approximately 14000 people completing the Milford track each year. This website aims to be a comprehensive information resource on the Milford Track, letting you have all in the information you need in one place. We cover the walk itself, the history of the track, where it’s actually located and you’ll also find some photos taken by people on the walk.

via Milford Track. All the information you could want about Milford and the Milford Track.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2012/04/15/milford-track-all-the-information-you-could-want-about-milford-and-the-milford-track/

Trikke Personal Transportation Vehicle & Trikke Trails

Trikke Trail

Trikke Trail

Trikke Carving Vehicles

Trikke carving vehicles (Trikkes) are the brain-child of Gildo Bileski and may be the ultimate full-body workout for trail lovers. Trikkes are powered by a combination of leg, hip and arm power and are usually seen swaying down the trail in a back-and-forth motion like a trout swimming upstream. The tri- in Trikke stands for the number three and that number is very important. Trikkes have three wheels, three extensions, and are accelerated in three stages. The first stage uses mostly the brute force of your arms, the second stage incorporates more of the entire body and the third stages adds rhythm and momentum into the process. There are even three cardinal rules for operating a Trikke: 1.) Know your terrain. (trails baby) 2.) Rhythm is king. 3.) Protect your momentum.

Trikkes can either be purchased online or from a certified local Trikke dealer. Whenever possible, it is best to purchase your Trikke from a certified dealer and/or, better yet, a certified Trikke Trainer. Trikkes are an absolute blast for riding on trails, but there’s a bit of a learning curve when you first start to use them. It is best to have a certified Trikke trainer show you the proper way to operate a Trikke for maximum fun, safety and efficiency.

Visit the Trikke website to get an idea of the different models of Trikke available. In addition to the various sizes and colors of the regular Trikkes, you also have the option of purchasing a hybrid Trikke that can be electrically powered in addition to body powered. Of course you should be familiar with the rules of your local trails in regards to  riding ahybrid Trikke (Pon-e). For a list of Trikke trails, check out the links in the next section (below).

Trikke on Trail

Trikke on Trail

Trikke Trails

Trikkes can easily be used on roads or on trails. But, due to the side-to-side motion needed for propelling them, trails provide the safest option for recreational Trikking. The best Trikke trails are usually asphalt trails or concrete trails and often have a gentle grade of less than 2%.  Rail-trails often make the best Trikking trails. Some examples of excellent Trikke trails include Georgia’s Silver Comet TrailVirginia’s Mount Vernon TrailColorado’s Platte River Trail andCalifornia’s Huntington Beach Trail.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2012/04/14/trikke-personal-transportation-vehicle-trikke-trails/

Trail travel & everything else you wanted to learn about trailsnet

Trailsnet now has an “about” page. So for those of you who were wondering, here’s what trailsnet is all about:logo for trailsnet website: a network of trails on the internet

What is trailsnet?

  • Trailsnet is a website for active travelers and trail lovers.
  • Trailsnet provides information about both self-guided and hosted active travel opportunities worldwide.
  • Trailsnet is a network of trails on the internet.
  • Trailsnet allows users to find the trail of their dreams for biking, water sports, hiking, snowshoeing, inline skating, cross-country skiing, backpacking, trail running, Trikking and more.
  • Trailsnet allows users to add their own trails and specifically encourages all different types of users to add trails that best suit their particular activities and personal transportations styles.

What kind of trails are found on trailsnet?

▪ bike trails       ▪ kayak trails     ▪ hiking trails       ▪ canoe trails     ▪ underwater (scuba & snorkel) trails        ▪ rail-trails      ▪ canal trails     ▪ urban trails     ▪ connector trails     ▪ mountain bike trails     ▪ backpacking trails            ▪ historical trails     ▪ scenic trails     ▪ park trails     ▪ county trails         ▪ inline skating trails         ▪ paved trails          ▪ cement trails           ▪ dirt trails           ▪ gravel trails            ▪ Trikke trails    ▪ International trails    ▪ Island trails    ▪ Trekking trails     ▪ handicap accessible trails     ▪ snowshoeing trails     ▪ nordic ski trails

How do I add trails to trailsnet?

  • From any page in the trailsnet website, click on the “Add a New Trail!” link near the top of the page.
  • For first-time users, you will be prompted to enter a username & password.
  • Enter as much trail information as you know.
  • If you have pictures, enter those also. (Unfortunately, some users have had problems with this feature because of browser compatibility issues or file size for the picture. If this happens, feel free to send a couple trail pictures to kevin@trailsnet.com, & he will enter the pictures on the trail page for you.)
  • Once you enter all the information, you will submit the trail for final review; you will be notified when it has been published. (When that happens, feel free to notify the world that you are a published trail-guide writer. Share the good news with your Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook and blog friends.)

Why add trails to trailsnet?

  • Believe it or not, there is absolutely no record of how many miles of trail there are in the United States, the world, or even any given state. Trailsnet would like to remedy that by providing a list of every trail in the world in one central location. That way, we will know how many miles of trail are out there, what types of trails they are and who is using the trails. This will improve trail location, trail funding and trail record-keeping.
  • If you have your own website, trailsnet allows you to provide a link back to your website with each trail you add to the trailsnet trail inventory.
  • It’s nice to share. If you have a trail that you enjoy, now you can share it with others so they can enjoy it.
  • It allows particular types of trail users to share trails that are specific to their interests. For example, if you are a recumbent lover, you can add a recumbent trail that you enjoy. If you are a Trikke rider, just add a Trikke trail and share it with your fellow Trikkers. The same goes for tandem bikes, Elliptigos, Street Striders, inline skaters, equestrians, trail runners, backpackers, hikers, snowshoers, nordic skiers, etc.

What makes trailsnet unique?

  • Trailsnet is the only trails website that caters to active travelers. We realize that some people enjoy trails so much that they design vacations around their favorite long-distance trails. So we provide news about trail tours, active travel tour companies, long-distance trails, and how to plan trail-based vacations.
  • Trailsnet knows that trails are particularly well-suited to most personal transportation vehicles (PTVs) like bikes, Trikkes, recumbents, tandems, G3 Steppers, Elliptigo, Street Strider, inline skates, etc. So we provide information about personal transportation vehicles as well as the trails that cater to those vehicles.
  • Trailsnet is not directly affiliated with any other organization, so our trail reviews are unbiased and diversified. We include information about all types of trails, not just limited types of trails.
  • Trailsnet absolutely does not compete with other trail organizations but works in conjunction with them. In fact, trailsnet is a huge supporter of such organizations as American Trails and Rails to Trails Conservancy.
  • Registering with and adding trails to trailsnet is incredibly easy. We don’t require membership, personal details or a lengthy profile.

What is the difference between trailsnet.net and trailsnet.com?

  • Trailsnet.com includes a blog, trail vehicle (PTV) information, trail tour information, trail products reviews, and the ability for users to add trail information.
  • Trailsnet.net is mainly a listing of trails with the ability for users to add trail information.
  • Both trailsnet.com & trailsnet.net are currently non-profit websites, however trailsnet.net is officially registered as a non-profit entity whereas trailsnet.com does not currently have that official designation.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2012/04/13/trail-travel-everything-else-you-wanted-to-learn-about-trailsnet/

Silver Comet Trail in Georgia

trail tunnel on Georgias silver comet trail

Tunnel on Georgia's Silver Comet Rail Trail

I felt like a Hell’s Angel sitting on my low-slung, bad-boy Harley.
I looked like a dork. (See 4th picture on carousel for proof.)
I didn’t care. The bike I rode was a recumbent, and I probably didn’t ever exceed twenty mph. But that’s okay.
The weather was perfect; the trail was incredible.
According to the literature, The Silver Comet is the longest paved trail in the U.S.
It is the ideal trail for a recumbent bike or just about any other bike for that matter.
I started my ride on a Thursday. I started in Smyrna, Georgia where I rented a recumbent bike. There were a few people on the trail, but the population diminished rapidly as I headed west.
There’s absolutely no chance of getting lost on this trail. Not only is it extremely wide and mostly concrete, but it is also well marked. For the first portion of the trail, there is a (mostly) separate path for equestrians, but I only saw a couple horseback riders…
Read more about the Silver Comet Trail in Georgia and the Chief Ladiga Trail in Alabama on trailsnet.com.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2012/04/12/silver-comet-trail-in-georgia-2/

Trikke Carving on the Hawthorne Trail in Florida

The Hawthorne Trail is 16 miles long, not counting the side trail to the look out areas.
From the Hawthorne side it is fairly flat for about the first 6 miles and then some hills, then sink holes ! For trikkers, a good challenge! Probably the most natural scenic trail in Florida.

Here is a link to the FL trail information
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/guide/regions/north/trails/gainesville_hawth.htm

Here is a good video of the trail as well.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2012/04/10/trikke-carving-on-the-hawthorne-trail-in-florida/