Mar 15 2011

Federal Budget Deficit Calculator; Select Proposals to Balance Deficit – AARP Bulletin

I just balanced the federal deficit without cutting a penny from trail funding; and it was easier than I thought it would be.

Now it’s your turn to give it a try. Click on the link below and try balancing the budget. It’s really quite enjoyable and enlightening.

Federal Budget Deficit Calculator; Select Proposals to Balance Deficit – AARP Bulletin

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/03/15/federal-budget-deficit-calculator-select-proposals-to-balance-deficit-aarp-bulletin/

Mar 15 2011

Hit the trail with a Trikke for a great workout.

In addition to bikes, I enjoy our great trails as a hiker, inline skater, equestrian, and runner. Within the past year, I have also begun riding a Trikke on some of my trail travels. Not only is the Trikke a lot of fun, but it’s also a great, full-body workout. The images below show some of the muscle groups used when riding/maneuvering a Trikke. As you can see, a person doesn’t have spend all day cooped up in a boring weight room to get in shape. A half hour on the trail gives a nice upper and lower body workout in addition to aerobic fitness.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/03/15/hit-the-trail-with-a-trikke-for-a-great-workout/

Mar 14 2011

What country has the best biking trails?

Bike trails are awesome and travel is one of the world’s most popular pastimes. More and more people are beginning to combine their passions of bike riding and travel into the growing market of active travel.

Where in the world can you find
the best bike trails?

After all, what’s not to love about:

  • staying fit
  • exploring uncrowded countrysides
  • being environmentally responsible
  • staying safe
  • meeting locals and fellow travelers
  • seeing unique places that are less traveled
  • getting to know the true flavor of a country
  • saving money
These are all benefits of traveling via bicycle on the trail networks of various countries.
So now it’s your chance to vote on which country you think has the best bicycle trails in our monthly trailsnet poll found at the top of the left hand margin in this blog. If you’re undecided, that’s okay; you can choose more than one. If you don’t see the country of your choice, feel free to tick (as our friends in England would say) the box next to “other” and then leave a comment with the name of your favorite bike trail country.
In fact, no matter what country you choose, we’d love to hear why you think it’s the best bike trail country. Leave a comment explaining your choice. Heck, you may win some converts to the bike trail country of your choice.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/03/14/what-country-has-the-best-biking-trails/

Mar 10 2011

Trailsnet Nominated for Stylish Blogger Award

Woohoo!!

Trailsnet has just been nominated for its second award. (Last year trailsnet received an award on the American Trails website.)

I am pleased and proud to say that Australian blogger KirstyGirl7, the recent recipient of the Stylish Blogger award, nominated trailsnet & seven other blogs to receive the torch she has passed along.

Kirsty is definitely a stylish blogger, and it would be a great honor to follow in her footsteps.

I’ll keep you posted as to how the contest develops.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/03/10/trailsnet-nominated-for-stylish-blogger-award/

Mar 09 2011

Going Slowly is a great bike travel blog w/ awesome photos

I’ve always said that bike travel is the best way to really see the land, no matter where that land happens to be. Now I’ve found another blog that proves that. 

It’s called Going Slowly and it chronicles the adventures of Tyler and Tara as they venture around the world on their bikes. In the process, they are taking some incredible photos and writing beautiful journal entries. I wish I was still teaching so I could show this blog to my students as an example of how to have fun with writing while doing something you love. Ya gotta love the new writing opportunities that the internet has spawned.
barge on C & O Canal Towpath trail in Maryland
Anyway, Tara was nice enough to send me some links to particular journal/blog entries that dealt with trails and/or bikeways. One of them entitled “The Canal” is set in Germany, but looks like an extremely lush version of the C & O Canal Towpath in Maryland.
Another entry, entitled “Altmuhltal Cycle Route,” is also set in Germany and contains some beautiful photos of the forest, meadows, and miniature wildlife near the path. That cycle route is definitely on my bucket list of future rides. It’s all I can do to stick with my itinerary of finding the 50 best bike trails in the U.S. Each time I see a blog like Going Slowly, I want to venture into Europe and beyond. (I must be strong. Only 23 trails to go.)
Anyway, a big thanks and shout-out to Tara and Tyler, wherever you are. Keep up the great riding, writing, photography, and bike blogging.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/03/09/going-slowly-is-a-great-bike-travel-blog-w-awesome-photos/

Mar 09 2011

Lake Mineral Wells State Trailway in Texas

So what are these Everytrail guides all about?

I get asked that question a lot, so I’ll start by displaying a sample of the description from my latest Everytrail Guide entitled Lake Mineral Wells State Trailway, near Fort Worth, Texas:

Lake Mineral Wells State Trailway rail trail

Immerse yourself in the history, wildlife, and countryside of Texas as you make your way from Mineral Wells to Weatherford on this 20 mile trail through time.

When it’s freezing cold up north, this trail makes a nice winter-time escape. If you are a trail-lover, then you’ll enjoy the flat terrain, peaceful surroundings, and well-spaced diversions along the trail.

Who will enjoy this trail?
– Bike riders who want to get in a 40 mile ride without risking life and limb on the highways.
– Hikers who want the solitude and serenity of a country trail.
– Vietnam veterans who want to stop off at the National Vietnam War Museum.
– Bird watchers who want to see an incredible variety of aviary delight from the pure white of the waterbirds near Sunshine Lake to the vibrant red and yellow birds that flit through the Texas underbrush.
– Historians who want to learn about the old, abandoned railroad, the Native American uprisings, and the days of Texas cattle/oil barons.
– Anyone who wants to get some exercise while viewing the Texas countryside.


 That’s just a small portion of what is found in an Everytrail guide. In addition, there are numerous trail pictures, descriptions of those pictures, a trail map, trail points of interest (POIs), useful trail links, suggestions for other trails, and a brief summary of the important trail facts such as length of trail, trail level, and trail activities.


The really nice thing about the Everytrail guides is their portability. If you have a smart phone such as an iPhone or Android, you can download a trail guide and have it available on the trail. Another nice aspect of the Everytrail guides is that you only need to purchase the guide you need for a specific trail or bundle of trails as opposed to a whole book of trails you may never use.


If you haven’t had a chance to check out Everytrail, give it a try on your next hiking or biking trip.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/03/09/lake-mineral-wells-state-trailway-in-texas/