Jan 12 2011

The Dirt Bum blog

I enjoy finding blogs about bicycle touring and the people who ride their bikes for enjoyment and exploration.

bike riding w/ friends on a
great American rail-trail

One of my recent finds is the Dirt Bum blog. It’s by a guy who enjoys exploring the back roads of Kansas on his bike. I think what really caught my attention was his information about the time he spent riding a couple different recumbents. I usually assume (sometimes incorrectly) that people who ride recumbents are more into the scenery, relaxation, and recreation of riding rather than the speed & competition. Since that’s my style of biking, it’s fun to read the experiences of like-minded individuals

Of course I had to ask, in the comments section of the blog, if he’d had any experience on rail-trails.  I know that Kansas is home to the Prairie Spirit Rail Trail and a few smaller ones also.

Don’t get me wrong. Sometimes I enjoy biking the back roads. But when I really want to relax and enjoy my biking, nothing beats a good rail-trail.

I’d love to continue exploring blogs that are related to trails, bicycling, and active travel. If you have any suggestions, please leave a comment. I love to get reader feedback about the other favorite blogs out there.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/01/12/the-dirt-bum-blog/

Jan 11 2011

Sparta, WI has the bike trails to prove its supremacy.

I just learned that Sparta, Wisconsin bills itself as the “bicycling capital of America.”

bicycle capital of
America

To that I reply, “Way to go Sparta.” Any town that is proud of its cycling connection deserves the title of bicycle capital. From what I’ve seen of the bike trail network in Wisconsin & especially in the Sparta area, they would certainly rate up there pretty high for me. Personally I would gladly put Sparta ahead of some of the other high ranking towns based on bike-trail density alone.

The most well-known trail in the Sparta area is the Elroy-Sparta Bike Trail. It is a long trail through beautiful Wisconsin countryside. Any town can say it’s the bicycle capital, but those who can prove it through a solid infrastructure of trails, has an advantage over the competition, in my book.

Then there’s the cool bicycle statue that says welcome to Sparta, Wisconsin. Do Portland, OR & Boulder, CO have large bicycle statues? Oh sure, Boulder has the runner statue and nearby Louisville, CO does have a statue of the late-great John Breaux standing beside his bike; but the huge, colorful biker statue in Sparta kicks butt, in comparison.

The bottom line is that Sparta has the trails and it has the bicycle pride. Ladies & gentlemen, we have a new bicycling capital… for now anyway… until you can prove to me that your town deserves to be capital for a while.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/01/11/sparta-wi-has-the-bike-trails-to-prove-its-supremacy/

Jan 10 2011

Relationship between biking, walking, & obesity

There’s yet another study out showing the relationship between active travel (biking & walking to get from here to there) vs. car travel and the relationship to obesity rates.

Infographic by The National Building Museum in Washington DC, USA.

It’s no surprise that where children utilize human-powered transportation to get to (for example) school as opposed to being driven there, they seem to be much less likely to suffer from obesity and its ill-effects.

Obviously, activity is the key: If kids participate in movement-based after school activities, this might very well help to alleviate some of the affects of being driven to and from school. But then there’s the whole petroleum consumption and its maladies.

I have noticed a related correlation. The schools that have trails (some safe, off-road route) that lead to them, have a much greater rate of children who walk or ride their bicycles. Of course this makes sense from numerous standpoints. First, the trails are safer than kids walking & riding on busy (or any) roads due to a decreased risk of auto/pedestrian accidents. Secondly, for those people who are paranoid about someone kidnapping their child (“The Ransom of Red Chief” is more realistic than this fear, but that’s another story.) then trails are also much safer. It is much more likely that the (ubiquitous) kidnapper will utilize the services of an automobile when attempting a kidnapping. I would assume (having never seen the upside of kidnapping) that it would be much easier to pull off such a stunt from a motor vehicle than on foot or (nearly impossible) on bike.

Anyway, I think the above chart allows the statistics to speak for themselves. Active kids are healthy kids.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/01/10/relationship-between-biking-walking-obesity/

Jan 09 2011

Inline Skating Resource Center Blog

With all the great paved and concrete trails highlighted on trailsnet.com, I haven’t spent nearly enough time on the topic of inline skating.

Trails rock & inline skating rolls!!

So that’s what this post is about. Unfortunately, I’m far from an expert at inline skating. Oh sure, I own a pair, with all the pads, to boot. And I first tried the sport long ago when pads were not on the market and the sport was known only as “Roller-blading.” Of course, I took a nasty fall and bruised my ego. The girl I was with took an even worse fall and bruised much more than just her ego. I also remember the skates being HUGE. 

Boy did I digress. The point I wanted to make, rather than try to come off like an expert skater, I’ll introduce you to a blog I just discovered called the Inline Skating Resource Center Blog. After perusing the site, I can guarantee you that the folks @ IISA knows a heck of a lot more about “Roller-Blading” than I do.

So if you get a chance, hop on over to IISA’s blog and read about her experience on the Trail of the Couer d’ Alenes, in Idaho. It’s a great trail for biking and a great trail for inline skating. And while you’re there, you can check out another Idaho path called Trail of the Hiawatha and the Spokane Centennial Trail, in Washington. The Trail of the Hiawatha is gravel, but the Spokane Centennial Trail is concrete, like the Trail of the Couer d’ Alenes.

Have fun, but be sure to wear a helmet and pads.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/01/09/inline-skating-resource-center-blog/

Jan 08 2011

Mason killed in bike accident

Former British boxing champion Gary Mason has died in a cycling accident.
Here’s the score:
cars that have killed bicyclists on road – 89,000
bikes that have killed car drivers on road – 0
cars that have killed bicyclists on trails – 0
bicyclists that have killed car drivers on trails – 0
In this case, I much prefer a tie.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/01/08/mason-killed-in-bike-accident/

Jan 07 2011

Newest Bike is a Chainless Cruiser

I added to my stable of bikes recently.

I purchased a Sonoma Oasis beach cruiser. Since it’s a cruiser, it’s quite comfortable with a cushy, padded, spring-loaded seat and nice, high handlebars that allow me to ride without being hunched over.

But the most unique aspect of this bicycle is that it doesn’t have a chain. Instead, it has a 3-speed “self-contained drive shaft.” To me, that means no more pants caught in the chain, no more shoelaces chewed to oblivion, &  no more chains coming off the sprocket. It also means no more black, greasy hands from replacing the chain on the aforementioned sprocket.

Sonoma Oasis beach cruiser is
comfortable, stylish, & inexpensive

I shouldn’t say “no more” since I still own three bikes that have chains. But at least I’ll have fewer incidents of the caught pants, chewed shoelaces, & greasy hands.

This bike wouldn’t win any races, but it’s a lot of fun and very comfortable to ride. And it elicited lots of comments at the coffee shop today, both about it’s retro look and the lack of a chain.

Oh, one last quality of the bike appealed to me. It only cost $315… brand new… with no shipping charges.
What more could a cheap bike freak ask for?

And the Sonoma Oasis beach cruiser is also available as a bike rental, if you’d like to try one out before buying it.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/01/07/newest-bike-is-a-chainless-cruiser/