Apr 23 2010

The Tammany Trace bike trail near New Orleans, Louisiana

Tammany for nothin’ and your bikes for free.
Okay, so it’s a terrible interpretation of the Dire Straits/Mark Knopfler lyrics; but wait to you get to the end of this description for an even worse lyrical massacre.
However, if you want to skip the beginning and end of the article, you’ll find what’s in the middle to be a gem of bike trail advice.
The Tammany Trace Trail (TTT) or just “The Trace” as the locals call it is a masterpiece trail; it’s no wonder it has one awards for being one of the top-rated trails in the U.S.
Located in the Tammany Parish, the trail is just across Lake Pontchartrain from New Orleans in the St. Tammany Parish of Louisiana. It’s easy to find, easy to ride, and easy to fall in love with.


The information above is a portion of the description for the Tammany Trace a rail trail in Louisiana. For more information click on the link or visit www.trailsnet.com.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2010/04/23/the-tammany-trace-bike-trail-near-new-orleans-louisiana/

Apr 21 2010

museum bike exhibit

For a bicycle ride back to the days of yore, check out the bicycle exhibit at the Longmont, Colorado museum.

Heres the website: bicycle exhibit @ Longmont Museum in Colorado

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2010/04/21/museum-bike-exhibit/

Apr 21 2010

Longleaf Trace Bike Trail in Mississippi

If you are bilingual, you may know that tres + tres = seis;

However, if you are bikelingual, you should know that Trace + Trace = fantastic biking.

I just had the opportunity to ride the Tammany Trace Trail in Louisiana & the Longleaf Trace Trail in Mississippi. They were both incredibly peaceful and enjoyable trails with lots to see and do.

It was a yin and yen type of trip that started w/ me eating lots of delicious cajun food in New Orleans, then balancing that with four days of biking on the two rail trails.

I spent two days on each of the trails and stayed overnight in New Orleans and Covington, LA then Hattiesburg and Prentiss, MS. To find out more information about the Mississippi & Louisiana trails visit trailsnet.com where you will get trail statistics, pictures, and trail maps.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2010/04/21/longleaf-trace-bike-trail-in-mississippi/

Apr 19 2010

Support Rails to Trails

Here’s your chance to help support rails-to-trails w/out spending a cent of your own money.

American Express is going to donate money to five different funds, and you get to decide on one of those.

Please visit: http://www.takepart.com/membersproject/vote and cast your vote for Rails-to-Trails conservancy.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2010/04/19/support-rails-to-trails/

Apr 19 2010

cruiser bike

On a recent trip to Louisiana, I had the chance to ride a good old, one-speed cruiser bike. It reminded me of the original bikes I owned back in Montana.

It was very comfortable and one speed was all I needed on the Tammany Trace Trail since it was so flat and well paved. It took me a while to get used to the good old back pedal brakes. A couple times, when I got to highway crossings, I tried to find hand-brakes only to realize they weren’t there.

Since I spent two full days on the trail, I appreciated the wide seat and the high handlebars. It was a blast from my past and the real deal on two wheels.

A picture of the bike I rode is on the right:

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2010/04/19/cruiser-bike/

Apr 14 2010

Lone Biker

“One travels more usefully when alone, because he reflects more.” – Thomas Jefferson
Another reason for my solo travels.
Every time I go on a trip… and I mean every time… and I go on lots of trips… the same people ask me: Who are you going with? Are you going alone?
The answer is always the same: I’m going by myself. 
I wonder if other “business travelers” get these questions over and over. My guess is, probably not. I don’t think people perceive my trips as “business trips” because they involve riding bikes on awesome trails in beautiful landscapes. Doesn’t sound like a typical business trip does it?
Besides, I’m pretty sure I would have trouble finding the perfect travel partner. They would have to have the following qualifications:
  • Enjoy bike riding
  • Be willing to ride very slowly (Even on a good day, I’m a slow bike rider since I like to enjoy the scenery, but on these “business trips” I take tons of photos and jot journals full of notes.) or…
  • Be willing to ride alone
  • Be satisfied w/ a wide variety of accommodations from nice to budget
  • ditto w/ meals, from sumptuous to meager
Bottom line… I love these trips, but more picky travelers might not. I love being on the road and on the trail and my expectations for everything else are pretty low to non-existent.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2010/04/14/lone-biker/