Dec 10 2010

Velo Ride Across America = Roll Over America

I’m a big recumbent fan, and these Velos (see picture) are the ultimate recumbent. So I was interested in this Velo ride across America at the website rolloveramerica.eu. From what I can gather, the velo movement is gaining steam and is becoming a major player in the recumbent cycle scene. 
I wish I had the time to join the Velo Tour of America. It sounds like a fun activity with enjoyable people. And when it rains, unlike with regular biking, you’re under cover and out of the elements.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2010/12/10/velo-ride-across-america-roll-over-america/

Dec 08 2010

Netherlands Bicycle Routes and City Planning

City planning in the Netherlands and throughout Europe plans around bicycles and bike routes. As the following video shows, they have organized the town(s) so that it is actually easier and safer to travel by bicycle than it is by car:

I don’t know about you, but I’d love to spend a couple months exploring all these European bike routes.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2010/12/08/netherlands-bicycle-routes-and-city-planning/

Dec 07 2010

Asabet River Rail Trail

I enjoy finding new trail blogs.

I just found one entitled, Assabet River Rail Trail’s Blog.

It had me from the first sentence: “Some communities embrace rail trails more than others.”

The Boulder Creek Path passes
through downtown Boulder, CO.

That is so true. I put rail trail communities into three categories:

  1. Those that don’t have a trail system.
  2. Those that do have a trail system.
  3. Those that have a trail system and wholeheartedly support that system.
I’ll focus on the positive here and give a couple examples of towns that have great trail systems and continue to make them better.
The first trail town that comes to mind is Keene, New Hampshire. On my visit there last year, I was impressed at their goal to become a trail hub. Two of the bigger trails in Keene are the Ashuelot Rail Trail and the Cheshire Rail Trail. The Ashuelot trail starts/ends right in town and meanders out into the countryside following the Ashuelot River. It passes numerous old cemeteries, abandoned rail centers, and quaint New England villages.
The Cheshire trail starts outside of town and crosses over some beautiful bridges on its way to the Massachusetts state line. Last I heard, the plans were to bring the trail right into downtown and connect it with the Ashuelot Rail Trail. I believe these are two crucial steps for assuring the trail thrives and gets lots of users.
Another great trail town is Boulder, Colorado. It has a nice mix of trails such as the Boulder Creek Path and the Meyers Homestead Trail, and it keeps adding trails and connecting one with another. This dynamic trail building is essential to the success and usefulness of a trail system. With lots of open space around the town, Boulder has lots of room to grow its trail system and, hopefully, that’s exactly what it plans to do.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2010/12/07/asabet-river-rail-trail/

Dec 06 2010

Recumbent bikes and trikes

For those of you interested in recumbents, I just added the recumbent bicycle source to the blogroll (in the left column).

I still think that recumbents and rail-trails are the perfect mix. Riding a recumbent trike or bike on a rail trail is about as close to heaven on earth as we can get.

I rented this recumbent for my ride on the Longleaf Trace Trail in Mississippi

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2010/12/06/recumbent-bikes-and-trikes/

Dec 05 2010

Winter trails are nice, but…

Even those of those of us who enjoy cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on snowy winter trails, sometimes long for the warmth of a summer trail filled w/ the sounds of babbling brooks, chirping insects, and croaking frogs.

So here’s a little slice of a summer trail for you to play whenever you start to feel the need for your sunny trail fix, or a peaceful French song, or to see a hike from a bug’s (or very small dog’s) eye view:

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2010/12/05/winter-trails-are-nice-but/

Dec 04 2010

Freecross perfect for rail trails

OMG!! Can you imagine this on the Silver Comet Trail or the Tammany Trace trail or… Well watch this video of the Freecross, a cool outdoor elliptical machine and tell me you’re not dying to get this on a nice paved path or concrete trail somewhere:

According to the Freecross website, founder Wolfgang Eisenberg started the company as follows:

“A long-time bike enthusiast, runner and fan of the indoor elliptical trainer, Wolfgang Eisenberg (47) had the flash of inspiration back in 2006 to get the elliptical trainer outdoors and onto wheels. “After a back injury, I noticed the strain that biking puts on the lower back, as well as the impact associated with running/jogging. The elliptical was a great solution because of the upright, low-impact motion and great all-around workout. I just thought it would be better outside.”

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2010/12/04/freecross-perfect-for-rail-trails/