Jan 07 2011

Newest Bike is a Chainless Cruiser

I added to my stable of bikes recently.

I purchased a Sonoma Oasis beach cruiser. Since it’s a cruiser, it’s quite comfortable with a cushy, padded, spring-loaded seat and nice, high handlebars that allow me to ride without being hunched over.

But the most unique aspect of this bicycle is that it doesn’t have a chain. Instead, it has a 3-speed “self-contained drive shaft.” To me, that means no more pants caught in the chain, no more shoelaces chewed to oblivion, &  no more chains coming off the sprocket. It also means no more black, greasy hands from replacing the chain on the aforementioned sprocket.

Sonoma Oasis beach cruiser is
comfortable, stylish, & inexpensive

I shouldn’t say “no more” since I still own three bikes that have chains. But at least I’ll have fewer incidents of the caught pants, chewed shoelaces, & greasy hands.

This bike wouldn’t win any races, but it’s a lot of fun and very comfortable to ride. And it elicited lots of comments at the coffee shop today, both about it’s retro look and the lack of a chain.

Oh, one last quality of the bike appealed to me. It only cost $315… brand new… with no shipping charges.
What more could a cheap bike freak ask for?

And the Sonoma Oasis beach cruiser is also available as a bike rental, if you’d like to try one out before buying it.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/01/07/newest-bike-is-a-chainless-cruiser/

Jan 07 2011

1955 England Cycling Video

This bicycle video from England was made a year before I was born. But it’s amazing how little some things have changed. A bike I bought in 1977, and thought was all modern, was very similar to the bikes the British folk were riding in this video. Oh, some things are different, like British  similes that make little sense to me…, “… like new potatoes without the smell of mint?” I’m not sure I’ve ever smelled mint with new potatoes, but anyhoo, have a look at this fun little bike video and enjoy.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/01/07/1955-england-cycling-video/

Jan 05 2011

Silver Comet Trail Guide now available on Everytrail.com

I am proud and pleased to announce the completion and publication of a Silver Comet Rail Trail guide on the Everytrail website.  This guide can be purchased for only $1.99 on Everytrail’s website and automatically downloaded onto your smart phone. It is such a handy way to get trail information while on the trail. It is much easier to pack and use than bulky paper trail guides and it’s quite interactive with a trail map, pictures, trail description, detailed “Points of Interest,” and links to other useful websites.

trail tunnel on
Georgia’s Silver Comet Trail

From my experience, the guides come in handy before you even get to the trail. Sometimes the hardest part is finding the trailhead. It’s a snap with the Everytrail guide.

Included in the Everytrail Silver Comet Trail guide are suggestions for rental bikes, suggestions for lodging, a description of the one steep spot in the trail, and information about ways to access the trail. Of course there’s also information about the old railroad tunnel, the trestles, the towns the trail runs near, and more.

If you haven’t yet tried one of these fun, easy, & inexpensive electronic trail guides, you owe it to yourself to check one out now. Make it your easiest, quickest, & cheapest New Years resolution.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/01/05/silver-comet-trail-guide-now-available-on-everytrail-com/

Jan 04 2011

Local Rail-Trail a Source of Pride

I love to hear/read about people and communities that are enthusiastic about their local rail trails; they should be. I don’t think a lot of people realize all the benefits that major trails bring to their communities. For a reasonably low price, trails bring tourists, economic benefits, health benefits, added transportation options, decreased air pollution, job opportunities, community togetherness, recreational opportunities, and the aforementioned civic pride.

spur trail that connects to the Coal Creek Trail

I just discovered a blog called pedalparadise that details the great biking opportunities in Northampton, MA. One particular post on the site describes how the trail of Northampton (not to be confused w/ the Bridges of Madison County) helped lure a cyclocross racer into moving to the area.

I can relate. The cycling atmosphere, in general, helped lure me to the town where I live; then a great regional trail specifically convinced me to move to my present neighborhood. Looking out my back window and seeing people enjoying the trail on a daily basis bring immeasurable contentment.

Of course, I’m probably preaching to the choir on this particular venue. Now we just need to convince the rest of the world that trails make a difference and return much more than they cost.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/01/04/local-rail-trail-a-source-of-pride/

Jan 02 2011

Bike Sharing is Growing at a Phenomenal Rate

It seems like bike-sharing just started yesterday, and all of a sudden, it is all over and being used with great

frequency. Some place like Dublin, Ireland and Paris, France seem to be especially smitten w/ the bike share program.
When I looked at the Google/Bike-Share map (link & graphic on left), I was pleased to see that the United States has also caught bike-share fever. The numbers at the U.S. facilities aren’t quite as impressive as those in most European locations, but I’m sure our relatively low prices for gas have something to do with that. In addition, the U.S. doesn’t have quite the bicycle culture as they do in Europe. Hopefully, that’s very gradually changing.
If you get a chance, check out the bike-sharing blog. Join me in a pledge to try out one of your local bike-share stations. I’ve talked to the folks at the Denver & Washington D.C. bike-sharing programs, but as of yet, I haven’t given them a spin. It’s on my to-do list for this coming spring or summer.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/01/02/bike-sharing-is-growing-at-a-phenomenal-rate/

Jan 01 2011

Unite Bike Day on Oct. 2, 2011

I thought this post, on the UniteBike website, was interesting and worthwhile. I just added it to my calendar, and I hope you do the same. I like the idea of bikers uniting for a common cause. The biking community has a lot to offer the world. So without further ado, directly from UniteBike, here’s the message:
Bikers Unite
Unite Bike is aiming to make a huge jump forward in 2011.  The idea behind Unite Bike has evolved from a simple personal photographic project to help promote cycling commuters in the Twin Cities area to a way for cyclists to gather together and promote cycling all over the world.
The 2011 mission for Unite Bike is to become an internationally recognized day to promote cycling.  And to do it by taking photos of cyclists – both to symbolically and physically represent why cycling is an important activity.
The 2011 official Unite Bike photos will be taken on October 2nd – the first Sunday in October.  Which hopefully will become the officially recognized international day of cycling moving forward in the future.
Unite Bike needs a lot of help to make this possible.  Right now there is a very small and dedicated team working to move this idea from a goal to a reality.  And we need you’re help.
As we get organized for the 2011 Unite Bike at any point in time – if would like to help in any way, please contact Unite Bike founder Clark Patrick here:
www.revolution@clarkpatrick.com
And here are a few very simple things you can do right now:
1.) Join our Facebook group, follow us on Twitter, take a look at more Unite Bike images on Flickr, and watch a few of our videos on Vimeo.
2.) Help us spread the word. — Write a blog post about Unite Bike.  Contact someone from a media organization that can do a story on Unite Bike.  Start to organize cyclists in your own cities to get ready for Oct. 2nd.  Tell other people who care about cycling to reach out to us with any ways they might be able to help.
3.) Think about a way you or your organization might be able to sponsor, partner, or promote the Unite Bike mission.
4.) Take ownership over Unite Bike.  This is an idea… a movement…. an ideal…. for you.  Unite Bike is clearly and simply meant to unite us all around something that we care about and that is an important step forward for humanity.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/01/01/unite-bike-day-on-oct-2-2011/