Jan 05 2012

Darned Cyclists Getting a Free Ride…

Check out this hilarious Onionish type of sarcasm found on the Cycle Lifestyle blog:

Rail passengers and car drivers were today outraged by the unfairness of the transport system, as it was annouced that cycling fares would rise by a paltry 0% in 2012, remaining at £0.00. Rail fares are to rise by 5.9% in January, while petrol prices remain as high as drivers’ stress levels.

M. Iserable, a spokesperson for People Who Don’t Cycle, told Cycle Lifestyle magazine: “I don’t see why cyclists should get such a good deal. Cycling already costs nothing, and now prices have been frozen at nothing…

Read the rest on CycleLifestyle.

 

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2012/01/05/darned-cyclists-getting-a-free-ride/

Jan 03 2012

Meet Trail Buddies on MeetUp.com

Bike trails are fun; Hiking trails are awesome; snowshoe trails are great exercise.

But not everyone has discovered that yet. So it’s not always easy to find cycling partners, hiking buddies, or snowshoeing pals… until MeetUp came along. If you haven’t discovered it yet, MeetUp is a social networking site that does more than just connect you on the internet. Oh, it starts on the internet, but then it goes the next big step and helps you organize events where you can join like-minded individuals in real life.

You will find Meetup groups for nearly every possible human interest; and if you don’t find a group for your interest, you can start one. You’ll be amazed how many people are out there who share similar interests with you. So if you’re into riding your bike on trails, you could sign up for a group like West Denver Trails or Denver Bicycle Touring Club or Buffalo hikers or Miami Trikkers or New Orleans Trail Runners or Spokane Snowshoers or …

Here’s a little YouTube clip of what MeetUp is all about. This clip is vintage since it was made in 2008, but it is one of the better introductory clips out there. A more recent video montage can be found here and is a good followup to the clip below:

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2012/01/03/meet-trail-buddies-on-meetup-com/

Jan 02 2012

Inflatable Bicycle Helmet

Okay, if I still haven’t convinced you to ride on trails instead of roads, at least prepare for the inevitable by wearing a helmet. And if you don’t like wearing a helmet, it looks like we’ll soon have an alternative (or even an addition) for keeping your cranium safe.

So here is the world’s first inflatable helmet. It’s like an air-bag for cyclists. Take a look and remember, you saw it on trailsnet first:

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2012/01/02/inflatable-bicycle-helmet/

Dec 30 2011

WingFlyer Looks Like a Fun Trail Vehicle

Trails and Personal Transportation Vehicles (PVT) are two of my passions. I love sharing both with the readers of the trailsnet blog.

I recently discovered a PVT that looks like it would be a blast to try on a paved or concrete trail. As with most trail vehicles, it seems like it would provide exercise, transportation, and lots of fun. It’s called a WingFlyer and has a lot in common with elliptical trainers. I hope to get a chance to try one out soon, but it looks like it would provide a great workout for your calves in particular and your whole body in general.

Here’s a YouTube video of the WingFlyer in action. Enjoy:

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/12/30/wingflyer-looks-like-a-fun-trail-vehicle/

Dec 21 2011

New Year’s Resolution, Trail Style

Just like a great novel, your New Year’s resolution needs a strong theme in order to be successful. And that theme needs to be tangible, positive, & measurable.

Now this is the part where most plans tell you to eat less, exercise more, or find some ethereal balance between the two. And those are the plans that are destined to fail. What’s positive about starving yourself? What’s tangible about asking you to flounder around looking for just the right exercise? And who wants to measure something as boring as calories, pounds, or inches?

a group of people walking on a trail over a bridge

Get fit while having fun.

For this year’s resolution, one word says it all: Trails!!

If you’re thinking this sounds different than any other New Years resolution you’ve ever read, you’re correct. That’s exactly why this one will work. It’s tangible, positive, and measurable… in a brand new, fun way.

Trails are the perfect weight-loss tool. They provide both exercise and diet assistance. They’re located in your community. They’re fun. They’re social. They’re healthy. They’re free … (Read more about using trails to achieve your fitness goals on Examiner.com)

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/12/21/new-years-resolution-trail-style/

Dec 20 2011

Rail Trails: Top Ten

The folks at Adventure Cycling have come up with their list of favorite rail-trails, & I’d say they’ve compiled a great one. Here are their ten best trails, in no particular order:

1. George S. Mickelson Trail, South Dakota; length: 109 miles.

2. Great Allegheny Passage, Maryland-Pennsylvania; length: 141 miles.

3. Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, Idaho; length: 72 miles.

trail sign for Alabama's Chief Ladiga Trail

Alabama's Chief Ladiga Trail

4. Katy Trail State Park, Missouri; length: 238 miles.

5. Paul Bunyan State Trail, Minnesota; length: 111 miles.

6. Raccoon River Valley Trail, Iowa; length: 56 miles.

7. Iron Horse State Park, Washington; length: 100+ miles.

8. Chief Ladiga Trail, Alabama; length: 33 miles.

9. Elroy-Sparta State Trail, Wisconsin; length: 32 miles.

10. Bizz Johnson National Recreation Trail, California; length: 25 miles.

Thanks to Adventure Cycling for including that list. Check out their page & let them know what you think or leave a comment below with your favorite rail-trail experiences.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/12/20/rail-trails-top-ten/