Aug 11 2010

350 BICYCLISTS FROM 30 STATES CELEBRATE AND RALLY FOR CAMDEN/PHILADELPHIA TRAIL CONNECTION

“…the Greenway Sojourn has a long history showcasing trail-building and improvement projects along its route.”

Keep greenways green!

Follow the link in the title of this blog post to read about the Greenway Sojourn and the celebration they had for it in Washington, D.C.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2010/08/11/350-bicyclists-from-30-states-celebrate-and-rally-for-camdenphiladelphia-trail-connection/

Aug 09 2010

Is there really a constant need for speed?

I’ve been involved in an ongoing online dialogue about bollards on trails. For those of you not familiar w/ the term, a bollard is a device used on trails to keep motor vehicles out. (see enclosed pictures.)

In the course of the discussion, I mentioned that riders/bicyclists could avoid dangerous collisions w/ bollards by limiting their speed. One member of the discussion asked “Don’t we like riding fast ?”
My simple reply to that is, “NO!” Not always. In fact, when it comes to trails, for me the answer is never.
There are so many places and activities where fast seems to be the default speed. Some examples of perpetually fast(er) vehicles include motorcycles, road bikes, planes, trains, & automobiles. Okay, I’ll grudgingly give them their “need for speed.”
But what about trails? Can’t we have just one place where we can escape speed? Can’t we have a place where we can relax and enjoy the scenery? How about a place where we can relax and enjoy each other w/out constantly being angry that someone is going “too slow?”
And no we can’t just leave it up to each individual; because then trails will just end up like the road: just another place to get frustrated w/ one another.
Bikers already have a bad name. Automobile drivers don’t like them because they’re a nuisance. Pedestrians don’t like them because they’re too fast and dangerous. And much of that criticism is rightfully earned.
But I’m a complete trail fanatic. I love trails, not because they’re another place to put the race in “rat race.” I love trails because they’re a place to slow down and enjoy the world. They’re a place to enjoy the view and stop to chat with fellow trail-users.
So it’s a very short, one-word answer to your question. “NO!” We do not like riding fast. Not everywhere. And we don’t like constantly worrying about others who ride fast. I’m not saying you can’t ride fast, but please do it on the road or the race track or the velodrome. Please allow the rest of us one place for tranquility, harmony, peace, and all those other 6os words.
Trails are a special place, and we should keep them that way.


Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2010/08/09/is-there-really-a-constant-need-for-speed/

Aug 07 2010

Cycling is on the Increase

“Government data published this morning confirms that in 2009 cycle use increased to the highest level in decades.”


Hopefully this isn’t a surprise to you because it certainly isn’t to me. I mean, what’s not to love about cycling?

  • It’s fun.
  • It’s easy.
  • It’s inexpensive.
  • It’s environmentally friendly.
  • It uses no fossil fuels.
  • It’s great exercise.
  • It’s a great activity for all ages.
  • It’s a wonderful family activity
  • I could go on and on…
Bicycling is the perfect activity for any economy, but it is especially appropriate for this recession.

Anyway, the National Travel Survey shows that while biking is on the increase, “car use is steadily falling.” Now that’s double good news.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2010/08/07/cycling-is-on-the-increase/

Aug 04 2010

Tandem Rowing Recumbent Bike

If you love bikes of all kinds, like moi, then you’ll get a kick out of this crazy looking bike. It’s about as original as they come and would exercise a whole different set of muscles.
Instead of pedaling it, the users row it like a boat or rowing machine. Each person’s propulsion system works separately so they can be in different gears and even row w/ a different cadence.
Another benefit: One person can see where they’re going and another can see where they’ve been. If I had more room in my garage, I’d snag this bike in a heartbeat.
I wonder how it does on hills?
There’s a great video of how it operates. You can find it by copying the title of this blogpost then going to Youtube and copying it in the search field.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2010/08/04/tandem-rowing-recumbent-bike/

Aug 03 2010

Great Allegheny Passage & C & O Canal Towpath trails

I’m starting to prepare for my September bike trip from Connellsville, PA to Washington D.C. This trip is going to be longer and more complicated than previous ones. It will entail about 300 miles on the Great Allegheny Passage and C & O Canal Towpath trails. It will also involve four states and the District of Columbia.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2010/08/03/great-allegheny-passage-c-o-canal-towpath-trails/

Jul 30 2010

Great Allegheny Passage & C & O Trail tours

I am in the middle of planning a trip on the Great Allegheny Passage and C & O Canal Towpath trails. 


And it’s a lot of work (and time). 

For those of you who want to save the time and hassle of doing all the trip planning yourself, there’s a company called Mountainside Bike Tours that will take care of most of the planning for you. They can arrange shuttles, lodging, and dining as well as give advice for each leg of the tour.

It takes a lot of the guess-work out of a trip when you can rely on the locals/professionals to take care of the important details. It leaves you time to relax and enjoy the ride.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2010/07/30/great-allegheny-passage-c-o-trail-tours/