Dec 31 2010

The five newest & coolest forms of human-powered transportation

Elliptigo

At trailsnet, we’re all about human-powered transportation, and normally, we highlight the standard fare of biking, hiking, snowshoeing, nordic skiing, inline skating, & horseback riding. But we’re also intrigued by some of the newer forms of sweat-equity transportation; so here’s a list of some cool new ways of getting around while getting in shape:

The Schweeb

  • The Schweeb, by Google is like a hybrid between a bike and a monorail. It is currently located in New Zealand as a recreational application, but it’s potential for transportation is sky-high!

  • Those of you who enjoy the elliptical trainer at your local gym will love the Elliptigo. It allows you to cruise like a bicyclist while standing upright like a cross-country skiier. It’s like running without all the jarring impact.
  • The Trikke, like the Elliptigo, allows you to stand up while moving down the street or trail. But it’s a lot less expensive and more of a full body workout. And once you master the Trikke, it’ll be a cinch to move onto the Skki during the winter months.
  • Okay, recumbents aren’t all that new, but they haven’t yet caught on like I think they’re bound to someday soon. So many of you may not even be aware of the recumbent movement. However, if you give one a try, I predict you’ll be hooked. I know I was.
    • recumbent
  • Technically velomobiles are a form of recumbent. But I think they look way cool, and seem to have their own following, so I’ll give them their own category. They look like the human-powered machine of the future.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2010/12/31/the-five-newest-coolest-forms-of-human-powered-transportation/

Dec 30 2010

Pittsburgh Walk & Bike

Streetfilms have some great videos of alternative transportation success stories with many films that involve biking and bike lanes. Here’s one of the videos about a biking triumph in Pittsburgh.


Pittsburgh Walk & Bike from Streetfilms on Vimeo.

Now as most of you know, I prefer completely dedicated bike trails, but I also know that’s not possible in a lot of places. So some of the bike lanes in the Streetfilm videos are the next best thing to separated bike paths.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2010/12/30/pittsburgh-walk-bike/

Dec 30 2010

Trails Network Blog Optimized for Mobile Devices

Now you can access the
trailsnet blog on your
cell phone.

If you’ve ever tried to access the trailsnet blog on your mobile phone, it probably took up a lot of real estate on that little screen.

Well now, the trails network blog can be viewed in a much more appropriate format for mobile phones & other portable viewing devices. And the really good news is that when you view it on your computer, it will still look the same as always.

 Happy trails & happy trails network viewing.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2010/12/30/trails-network-blog-optimized-for-mobile-devices/

Dec 28 2010

If it’s not mountain biking, and it’s not road biking, then…?

Here is the bike trail version of the famous, “Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Clause…” letter.

I recently received an email from a gentleman who had this question for me:

Subject: bike trails
Don’t quite understand what your problem is with naming of routes.
I ride mountain bikes, whether part of my route goes on to the road or is part of a canal toe path or anything else it is just part of the route.
Essentially, what you are describing is mountain biking, your routes may be a sub genre but I don’t see what the issue is with calling it mountain biking….

I’d be glad to explain the difference between mountain biking and the type of biking I usually do now. I was an avid mountain biker for many years, and the type of biking I now do is as different from mountain biking as mountain biking is from road biking:
When mountain biking, I ride a mountain bike; whereas when trail biking I have the option to use a mountain bike, but may also use a road bike, a recumbent, a tandem, a velocycle, a recumbent trike, a hybrid, a tagalong, a bike trailer, or even a Trikke. Just like with road biking, I can certainly use a mountain bike, but it’s not mountain biking.
Mountain biking, as the name implies, is usually done in the mountains; whereas trail biking may be done in the mountains, but it is more likely to be done on the plains, in the city, on the coast, or even in the desert.
Mountain biking, for better or worse, correctly or incorrectly, is noted for its steep ups & downs, often borderline dangerous style of riding, and caters mainly to riders aged 15 to 40. Obviously there are numerous exceptions to this, but I still mountain bike and would estimate over 90% of the riders I see on the mountain bike trails fall into this category. On the other hand, when I’m on multipurpose trails, every time I go out I see riders aged one (trailers) to four (tagalongs) to 90 (recumbents, hybrids, etc.).
Mountain biking is predominately single-track with a dirt surface. The type of trails I ride are asphalt, concrete, cinder, gravel, and, occasionally, dirt.
And now for the most important point. I read a lot of blogs, and I was shocked to read, in one of the blogs, that less than 1% of the people in the U.S. ride bikes on a regular basis. I’m sure that you would agree with me that that is sad. You probably feel, like I do, that biking is one of life’s greatest pleasures. So how come so few people do it? It would be easy to say, “Because they’re lazy, or boring, or timid, or…” But let’s face it, when your two choices are:
Risk life & limb on a road where, at any minute, a distracted driver may injure or kill you or…
Risk injury on a mountainside trail where you may be taken out by a root, rock, rut, or out-of-control mountain bike or…
Enjoy riding until your 50s, then give up biking altogether when your joints begin to protest at the punishment of riding on steep trails or the start & stop of riding in traffic or…
You can seek out trails that are more mellow such as rail-trails, canal-trails, and other forms of multipurpose trails.
More and more, I am choosing this final alternative, but it is quite difficult to find good, accessible bike rides when they are all bunched into the two categories of mountain biking and road biking.

Now is where I have to admit, I have no idea who you are or what organization you’re with. My guess is that you probably won’t change your mind, no matter what I say… for now.

But the time will come when you will tire of risking your life on the roads and your limbs on the “mountain bike trails,” and you’ll seek out another type of riding because, like me, you love riding your bike. Who knows, maybe you’ll want to take your kids on a ride and won’t want to risk their life or limb. Or maybe you’ll try a recumbent bike and love it. Or possibly you’ll want to go on an active vacation with friends, but some of them will be mountain bikers, some road bikers, some inline skaters, some hikers, and some equestrians; and wouldn’t it be nice if you could find a trail that met all your needs so you could enjoy them together? Or what about a multigenerational outing with little kids, teens, tweny-somethings, middle agers, & grandma/grandpa. You may live in super family where three year old Susie is right on 83 year old grampa’s rear tire on a twisty, bumpy, steep mountain bike trail. But that type of family is pretty rare.

It is my hope that when the time comes, you will be able to go to the popular trail sites such as Everytrail.com, trails.com, trailsnet.com, et al and find the perfect fit in a category that is simply called, “bike trail” or “multitrail.” Hopefully when we make that simple little adjustment, that simple addition of one more trail category, more people will discover the joy of biking, not as an adrenaline high, not as a race, not as some type of constant competition, but just as a form of recreational, environmentally friendly, healthy, and socially enjoyable pastime.

And of course those people who enjoy mountain biking and road biking, like I did for over 40 years of my life, will continue to do so and have a great time. Only once we add one more category of bike trails, the other 99% of the folks can join us in the joyous activity we call biking.

Kevin Purdy
www.trailsnet.com
kevin@trailsnet.com
www.trailsnet.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/trailsnet

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2010/12/28/if-its-not-mountain-biking-and-its-not-road-biking-then/

Dec 27 2010

A Revolutionary New Way to Learn How to Ride a Bike Without Training Wheels

Check out the Gyrobike / Gyrowheel.

I think I’m going to have more children just so I can teach them to ride a bike using this cool equipment:

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2010/12/27/a-revolutionary-new-way-to-learn-how-to-ride-a-bike-without-training-wheels/

Dec 27 2010

The Making of a Rail Trail

How does a rail trail get built?

I recently read an article from the Salem News (I love their witch-on-a-broom logo.) about building the Danvers Rail Trail which would run from Peabody to Wenham. Now I know nothing about Peabody, except that I once wrestled a guy from Montana whose last name was Peabody. But that’s beside the point.
construction on
Mount Vernon Trail in Virginia
I also realized that I know very little about building rail-trails either. You’d think that since I’m such a huge fan of them, I’d know more, but…
One of the first factors to consider has absolutely nothing to do with the physical labor involved w/ building a rail trail. It’s the paperwork, the community relations, the permits, etc. Community members must be notified, meetings held, people convinced of the worthiness. That would be way harder than swinging a pulaski.
Then, before the trail can be built, the old railroad ties & tracks haveto be removed, the routes has to be surveyed and graded. Vegetation needs to be thinned or removed. Remember, all of this has to be done before one bit of trail gets built.
construction on
Mount Vernon Trail in Virginia
Oh, did I mention finding the land, purchasing the land, obtaining the easements, zoning, safety regulations, contracting w/ a trail building company, building bridges, repairing bridges, meeting environmental standards, avoiding or replacing wetlands…
Yikes!! When I think about it, it’s amazing that we have so many of the best trails that we do. It also makes me appreciate those trails even more.

My thanks go out to the trail organizations, builders, fund-raisers, planners, and, of course, users. Next time you ride a trail, try to remember how special it is and all the work that went into planning and implementing the trail construction.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2010/12/27/the-making-of-a-rail-trail/