Jun 22 2012

Surface Transportation Bill & Trails Funding

Support Trail Funding

Once again, Congress is about to vote on a Surface Transportation Bill. And once again, trail funding could be in jeopardy. Sources in Washington D.C. say that there is a sense of urgency to pass this bill. That could be good or it could be bad. As the bill currently stands, it includes funding for programs like the Recreational Trails Program, Transportation Enhancements, and Safe Routes to School. However, if congress is in a hurry to pass the Bill, deals will be made. In the process, some elements of the Bill will likely be cut. There is a certain faction in Congress that would love to see funding cut for everything except highway spending. Some of them have repeatedly stated that they think trails are a waste of money. This includes recreational trails, commuter trails, scenic trails, historical trails and rail-trails.

Please help convince your elected representative to support our nation’s trails, alternative transportation and outdoor recreation. Ask them to hold the line of funding for these important programs and to convince their fellow Congress members to do the same.

 

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2012/06/22/surface-transportation-bill-trails/

Jun 21 2012

Vail Pass Trail on a Trikke Pon-e Hybrid PTV

Normally we ply the trails on self-propelled vehicles such as bikes, inline skates, recumbents and regular Trikkes. But last weekend afforded the opportunity to try out a hybrid Pon-e Trikke with an electric motor. In addition, the trail in question was as downhill wonder that plummeted from the top of Colorado’s Vail Pass down into the Gore Valley.

As a result of the electric propulsion and the downhill trail, we enjoyed an easy and fast trail ride. Check out the Vail Pass and Gore Valley Trail and enjoy a couple great trail videos below and on the Trailsnet trail review page.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2012/06/21/vail-pass-trail-trikke-pon-e-hybrid-ptv/

Jun 19 2012

Scottevest Trail Vest

Travel Vest by Scottevest

Okay, it’s a “travel vest,” but for me it’s a “trail vest.” Let me start by thanking Scott Jordan a.) for inventing the Scottevest and b.) for letting a group of travel bloggers, including yours truly, try the vest. I can already tell it will be my most valuable possession on upcoming trail trips. Or, more importantly, it will hold my most valuable possessions and allow for easy access to those possessions.

No More Ugly Day Pack

travel vest with trail essentials

Scottevest Travel Vest

As most of you know, riding trails is fun, relaxing and invigorating. But since I ride trails with the specific purpose of writing trail reviews, I have to carry a lot of “stuff.” In addition to the usual snacks and water most of you carry, I have to carry my tools of the trade. Some of those tools of the trade are shown in the picture to the right of this blogpost. In order to fit everything in one picture, I took some minor liberties, so not everything is in the exact position I would normally have them in. Most items would go on the inside vest pockets, but a couple of them would also go in outside pockets. However, no matter how I organize it, carrying my trail essentials is so much easier in the Scottevest than having to lug around a cumbersome day pack.

List of Trail Essentials in Scottevest

Here’s a list of the items I carry in my Scottevest while on the bike trail, hiking trail, Trikke trail, snowshoe trail…

  • wallet
  • keys (I love the extendable key holder)
  • iPad
  • pocket change
  • pens
  • writing journal
  • sunglasses
  • camera
  • smart phone
  • earbuds (The BudBucket system is great on a Scottevest.)
  • bike gloves (not pictured but carried in outside pockets of Scottevest)
  • water bottle (not pictured but carried on bike frame or hydration pack which easily fits over Scottevest)
  • sunscreen (not pictured but carried on inside pockets of Scottevest)
  • lip balm (not pictured but carried on inside pockets of Scottevest)
  • multitool (not pictured but carried in seat pack of bike)
  • maps(not pictured but carried in outside pockets of Scottevest)

Other Products by Scottevest

In addition to the Travel Vest, Scottevest also makes other great travel & clothing products. Some of my favorites include their Kelly Jacket, snap front shirt, cabana shirt, hoodies, pullovers, travel boxers, convertible pants, cargo shorts and much more. I look forward to reviewing other Scottevest products in future blog posts and trail review pages. In the meantime, visit the Scottevest website to check out the Travel Vest and other great products. And since my amateuristic photo doesn’t do it justice, take a look at the cool X-ray view of the Scottevest.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2012/06/19/scottevest-trail-vest/

Jun 16 2012

Father’s Day Video

 Happy Father’s Day!!

Yes this video is a car advertisement, but it’s pretty touching, nonetheless. Sometimes a short video like this conveys a stronger message than a lot of movies do in over two hours. Sorry, this one has nothing to do with trails, but hey…. good is good!!

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2012/06/16/fathers-day-video/

Jun 16 2012

Trail Workers Deserve Respect

Trail Construction

Trail detours happen!! They’re inevitable, but necessary. I experienced very minor trail detours both yesterday and today.

cyclists must dismount sign at construction site

Trail Detour

This particular trail detour was barely even noticeable. But a brief conversation I had with some of the construction workers was enlightening and disappointing. They revealed an ugly side to some local trail bikers.

At this particular construction site, bikers were required to dismount and walk their bikes through the construction zone. It was a simple and common-sense request. The trail narrowed and made a fairly sharp turn, so safety dictated that riders walk their bikes for about 50 yards. I noticed that two of the workers were eyeing me and other bicycles with a rather defensive look. So I asked them how things were going. They weren’t too enthusiastic in their reply so, on a hunch, I asked them how the bicyclists were reacting to the detour, the request to dismount, and the general disruption of their trail ride.

Trail Rage

Like I said, the answer was disconcerting at best. Both workers said that over half the bicycle riders were rude, uncooperative and downright abusive. They said that some refused to dismount, others swore at them and one biker even spit at them. Mind you, all of this just because the bicyclists had to slow their pace, get off their bike for about a minute and walk instead of ride. Needless to say, I expressed my sincerest apologies to the workers. I was extremely disappointed that one group of riders give all bicycle riders a bad name. Granted this particular trail is not only a recreational trail, but also a commuter trail. But that is no excuse for rude behavior. Road rage is bad enough, but trail rage is intolerable.

I’m curious if this is common on commuter trails. Commuting on a bicycle is good. Being a jerk isn’t. Let’s keep trails as the one civil place left in this world.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2012/06/16/trail-workers-deserve-respect/

Jun 14 2012

Utah Mountain Bike Trails

Trail Contributor Adds Utah Bike Trails

We’ve discussed the best Wisconsin rail trails, Colorado mountain trails, New England fall foliage trails andmountain bike trail in red rocks California beach trails. Well I’d like to thank our newest trailsnet trail contributor, Steve, for creating some great Moab area trail reviews on trailsnet.com. Moab, Utah is considered by many to be mountain biking nirvana. It was a shame that one of the premier mountain bike trail centers was missing from our network of trails. Fortunately that trail deficit has now been remedied.

The beautiful red rock lined trails of Moab are great for both hikers and mountain bikers but the bike tribe has managed to take center stage over the past twenty years or so. Despite Moab’s reputation as a hard core biker haven, it’s possible for bike riders of all levels to thrive among the towering sandstone trail network. For good examples of trails that can be appreciated by both intermediate and advanced bicycle pedalers, check out the Amasa Back trail and Slickrock trails recently added to Trailsnet’s Utah trails list.

Hopefully Steve and other trail riders will continue adding Utah trails to our ever growing list of mountain bike trails. We could also use some Utah trails pictures. So feel free to email your trail information to Trailsnet. The more the merrier.

This is the place where I would normally encourage you to add a comment (below) about your experience on Utah trails or, better yet, add your favorite Utah trail to the trailsnet network. And I still encourage you to do that, but I also have a more general comment request: Let me know how easy it is to leave comments on the Trailsnet.com website. I’m thinking about changing the comment process, and I’d like some feedback first. If it works fine and is user-friendly, then I won’t mess with it. But if you think it’s a burdensome process, then it’s time for a change.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2012/06/14/utah-mountain-bike-trails/