Feb 18 2013

Welcome Back Trailsnet Subscribers

Trailsnet JetPack Subscriber Process Up and Running

trail sign

Subscribe over there, please!

Awhile back, I found out that Trailsnet subscribers were no longer receiving blog-post notifications. in fact, I found out that this hadn’t been happening for quite some time. And a quick look at Google Analytics told me that it was making a fairly significant impact on the Trailsnet website traffic.

A while back, I started using JetPack as a major part of the Trailsnet WordPress blog & website development. I just assumed that everything would easily transfer from the old system to the JetPack system. Well, I used to lecture my students about what happens when you ass-u-me anything. But thanks to Jeremy of the WordPress forums and Steve from the Great Plains Trail Alliance, I think things should be running fine once again.

I hope those of you who were loyal Trailsnet subscribers will sign up once again. Sorry for the additional hassle, but it’s really quite easy. And just like before, your email address is completely safe and will not be loaned, sold or secretly betrothed to a third party. It’s just so we know that you’re a real human being and not some silly spammer.

So please subscribe (aka follow) to the Trailsnet blog once again by typing your email address in the subscribe box over there on the right hand side of the page. If you ever change your mind, unsubscribing is even easier and can be accomplished with the click of a button/link. Of course, who would ever want to unsubscribe from Trailsnet though?

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2013/02/18/welcome-back-trailsnet-subscribers/

Feb 15 2013

Help Needed Again from Trailsnet Posse

Steve… Barry… anyone out there?   (-:

As I chronicled a few days ago, my JetPack plugin didn’t seem to be sending emails to Trailsnet subscribers to notify them when there were new posts. I just disconnected from JetPack, then reconnected. A WordPress helper told me that that may resolve the issue.

That’s where I need your assistance. Please notify me via comments below (preferred), email or the Trailsnet contact button up on the horizontal header toolbar above to let me know if you received an email notification about this post.

Thanks, and I am anxiously awaiting your update.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2013/02/15/help-needed-again-from-trailsnet-posse/

Feb 12 2013

Colorado Bicycle Summit 2013

logo for colorado bicycle summit

CO Bike Summit

Economic Impact of Cycling

The Colorado Bicycle Summit is turning into quite the success story. Last year’s attendance was terrific. This year’s was even better. Once again, Governor John Hickenlooper was one of the Keynote speakers. Governor Hickenlooper is an avid supporter of bicycling and the rights of bicyclists. He, and many others, spoke of the huge, positive impact that cycling has on the economy of Colorado.

Bikers: The Other 60%

One of the themes of the conference was the need to reach out to the biggest, yet most underserved, segments of the biking population. According to statistics presented at the conference, about 1% of bike riders are the ones who would ride at all costs. They are the ones who are completely fearless (or senseless, depending on your point of view) and will ride their bikes in any condition, no matter what. These are the bikers we hear the most about, for good or bad. They are also the competitive bicycle riders. The next group is the “enthusiastic & confident” bike riders. This group makes up about 15% of the potential bike market/bike industry. This is the most visible group on the roads (usually) and trails (sometimes). This group is also the one represented the most in the bicycle industry. This group is the one that the bicycle apparel, bike accessories and bike manufacturing industry caters to the most. We’ll skip the most important group for a bit and quickly cover the 24% of the population who has absolutely no interest in biking. For whatever reason, these people do not currently nor will they ever probably have much impact on biking infrastructure or the bike industry. Then there’s the biggest group of all, and that is the “interested but concerned” group. This group is by far the biggest and makes up 60% of the entire population. This group is not made up of daredevils, racers or “bike nuts.” This group has mostly fair weather bikers who value comfort, safety & convenience. You will not see this group on the roads very often because they value their lives more than they value biking for the sake of biking.

Reaching the 60% of (Potential) Bikers

The vast majority of the potential biking market may or may not even own a bike. In fact, they may hardly ever get out biking. It’s not because they don’t want to. It’s because they don’t want to bike unless it is safe, convenient & accessible. And, even though this group is the biggest of all, they are the group that is ignored by the entire biking world, from bike clubs to bicycle companies. And the reason for this is simple human nature. Most people who own bicycle manufacturing corporations, run bicycle clothing companies or lead bicycle groups and bike clubs are cycling aficionados. So they can’t relate to folks who want to bike just for fun: not for competition, not for thrills and not to become buff. If riding bikes is dangerous, they don’t want to do it. If bicycle riding is uncomfortable, then count them out. If it’s overly expensive, then forget about it.

Copenhagen Bicycle Culture

So how do we reach the “interested but concerned” bikers? It can be done, because other cities & countries have done it. A good example is the bike culture that has been established in Portland, Oregon and Copenhagen. And the Colorado Bicycle Summit provided guest speakers to discuss the biking infrastructure in both of those communities. So we’ll talk about that in a future Trailsnet blog post.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2013/02/12/colorado-bicycle-summit-2013/

Feb 10 2013

Trailsnet Subscriber Help Needed

Mystery of the Missing Trailsnet Blog-post Notifications

Alert Trailsnet subscriber Steve, of Great Plains Trail Alliance, pointed out to me that he hasn’t gotten a Trailsnet blog update in a long while. Upon hearing this, I realized that a lot of my normal commenters haven’t commented for a while. So I’m wondering if there’s something wrong w/ the RSS Feed that is supposed to be sending notifications to subscribers when I publish a blog post.

Please Contact Me If You Got a Notification

mail box

Are you getting emails?

I would greatly appreciate if you could send me a real brief message either in the comments below or by visiting the Trailsnet contact page & sending me a quick note.

Thanks to Steve and all of you who help me figure out if I’m missing a plug-in or something.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2013/02/10/trailsnet-subscriber-help-needed/

Feb 08 2013

Unexplored UK Cycle Paths From London to the Lake District

bike rider on bike trail

Image by hotblack via Morguefile

Mother Nature’s Bike Trails

Hypnotic silence reigns, like a king over its subjects. Here, Mother Nature is at her best, alleviating the hectic hum-drum of traffic, tension and tourism. At times,Nature’s orchestra punctuates a glorious tapestry of silence. Silence is tranquil, awe-inspiring and stunning…it’s pure bliss for the cyclists who have chosen to observe nature at its work, a world away from the more common routes.

Welcome to one of Mother Nature’s best-kept secrets: her lesser-known cycle paths….

1)  London’s Scenic Gardens

Our first cycle circuit takes us to the realms of Bloomsbury and Shoreditch to spy London’s lesser-known greenery; a route perfect for a lazy summer day. In all, the route is expected to take a few hours. But don’t worry! If you fancy a day out, the route can be easily extended to a whole day.

The route covers a stunning 24 gardens, starting and finishing with Russell Square, whisking you to historical gardens, architectural gems and memorials to cultural icons such as Daniel Defoe.

Keen to start peddling? Handy street maps and an adaptable route planner can be found here.

2) The Lake District and Cumbria

Enjoy the sights of the Lake District on one of its lesser-known cycle tours. Start at Whitehaven Harbour to Ennerdale Bridge and traverse through town roads, traffic-free cycle paths and back roads, with gently-undulating hills.

This particular route is suited to the more experienced cyclist as it involves travelling with traffic.

Keen to discover some breathtaking scenery? Check out maps and a cycling guide here.

3) The Lancaster Loop via Glasson Dock

Covering 17 miles, this cycle route takes you around Lancaster, allowing you to explore this quaint city with history and charm. The tour takes you to various country lanes, canal tow paths and cycle paths with some hills. It also circulates around Lancaster’s restaurants, shops and pubs.

Want a taste of Lancaster? Well, access maps and instructions here.

4) A Leisure Ride in Bristol

Take a short and sweet cycle ride on one of Bristol’s lesser-known gems: Frome Greenway. Explore historical sites such as Eastville Park and Hermitage Wood. The route takes you to off-road and on-road cycle paths, as well as some busy roads so is suitable for the more experienced cyclist.

Like the sound of Bristol? Print out a map here.

 

5) The Royal Forest of Dean

Explore one of the UK’s lesser-known forests. The Royal Forest of Dean is a beautiful cycling location with 27000 acres of deciduous and conifer woods. The forest provides breathtaking scenery and is suitable for both beginner and advanced cyclists.

Want to connect with nature? Check out all of the forest’s routes here.

England’s Cycle Paths

So, these are some of the UK’s lesser-known cycle paths ranging from London to Lancaster. All you need now is a helmet and a bike! Many locations provide leisure bikes to hire. So, enjoy peddling down the road less travelled.

What do you think? Leave your comments below…

Featured images:
License: Creative Commons image source

Jennifer Leung is currently a student at the University of Manchester. She writes for All Terrain Cycles as well as maintaining her own lifestyle blog.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2013/02/08/unexplored-uk-cycle-paths-from-london-to-the-lake-district/

Feb 03 2013

HoboRoll by GobiGear

Hoboroll luggage organization system

Hoboroll by GobiGear

Compress Your Gear

You’ll find an abundance of travel advice about how to pack lighter for your worldwide travels. Often the advice involves you getting by with less. Pack fewer shirts, fewer pants, fewer underwear, fewer socks and so on. But wouldn’t it be nice to pack a smaller footprint while still bringing the same amount of swag? Impossible you say? Not with the Hoboroll from GobiGear. Remember those cartoons where they had a miracle shrinking ray? The evil villain pointed it at his nemesis (or a car or dinosaur or…) and the ubiquitous eerie sounds and wavy lines would spout forth from the shrink-ray gun and, poof, the shrink-ray recipient would be 1/10th the size as before. That’s kind of what the hobo roll does with your clothes and gear. It shrinks them down to a more manageable size. Now you can fit more into your backpack, suitcase, pannier or glovebox. But it goes one step further and also helps you organize your stuff. Here’s how it works:

ski gear for ski trip

Will it fit?

How to Use the Hoboroll Luggage Organizer

  1. Open the Hoboroll nice and wide so that you can see all five compartments.
  2. Start adding your travel items. (Clothing is ideal, but it works for other travel necessities too.)
  3. Separate your gear by compartment. So socks go in one, gloves & hat in another, etc.
  4. Once you’ve got everything in, cinch up the ends of the Hoboroll by pulling on the outside
    ski clothes packed in hobo roll

    It fit!!

    cords.

  5. Next, it’s time for the magic shrinking ray. Just snap the two strap buckles together, then pull tight on the straps until your HoboRoll is about half the size as it originally was.
  6. You’ll be amazed by how much time and space you’re going to save in your luggage with the condensing and organizing power of the Hoboroll by GobiGear.

Put the Hoboroll in Your Luggage or Use It As Your Luggage

hoboroll luggage compressing system

Ends cinched.

For short excursions, the Hoboroll may be all the luggage you need. It has plenty of room for most of your necessities on a short voyage of just a day or two. But for most of your travel needs, the Hoboroll provides you with a method for  condensing and organizing the stuff that you pack into your luggage. Once the Hoboroll has been filled and bound, it fits neatly and compactly into almost any luggage, daypack or backpack. And because of the five different segments in the Hoboroll, you’ll easily be able to find what you need. Here are some examples of ways that you can use the Hoboroll for active travel tours, regular travel or adventure travel vacations:

  • bike trips – The Hoboroll fits nicely in most panniers including the top compartment and the side-saddles.
    ski clothes

    Hoboroll compressed!

  • backpacking – The Hoboroll is perfect for fitting lots of clothing in a small nook of your pack.
  • personal transportation vehicles (PTVs) – The Hoboroll slips right into most storage compartments including the Glovebox of your Trikke. (See photo below.)
  • skiing trips – The Hoboroll is ideal for helping you organize and transport your volumes of ski gear. Instead of making  extra trips to and from your car, you can easily load all your gloves, extra socks, hats, snacks and other ski accoutrements into the Hoboroll, hang it on the doorknob so that you don’t forget it when you leave and just make one trip to the car or ski lodge with everything you need. It frees up your hands for carrying your skis, boots, poles, snowboard or Trikke Skki. It’s great for cross-country ski trips and snowshoe trips also.
    hang hoboroll on doorknob so you won't forget it

    hang on doorknob

hoboroll skiing

Great for skiing.

fits in a trikke glovebox

Fits in a Trikke Glovebox.

 

hoboroll in bike pannier

Fits in a pannier.

hoboroll luggage organizer in the side saddle of a bike pannier

Hoboroll in side compartment of bike pannier.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trail product review by trailsnet, Public Relations by Deep Creek PR

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2013/02/03/hoboroll-by-gobigear/