Oct 26 2010

Hitting the trail may help prevent dementia.

According to a recent long-term University of Pittsburgh study, daily hikes may significantly decrease your risk for dementia. The study, reported in the AARP online journal, showed that those who walked on a daily basis, had a nearly 40% decreased risk of developing dementia.

The Colorado Trail provides
as little or as much hiking as
you could possibly want.
So what does this have to do with trails and trailsnet?
It seems to imply that if you are a trail junky, you are probably decreasing the likelihood of developing dementia in your later years. Although the study was limited to measuring the walking habits of its participants, it is likely that exercise in general, and specifically a regular habit of low-impact exercise is going to pay big benefits in the long run.
So if you’re in the south, jump on the Longleaf Trace trail. If you happen to reside in the northeast, bike on over to the Great Allegheny Passage trail. Those of you in Colorado, hoof it to the Platte River Trail and … well you get the picture. Exercising doesn’t have to be boring or difficult. Find a beautiful trail and get lost in your thoughts and the glory of nature.
Have fun and protect your memory at the same time.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2010/10/26/hitting-the-trail-may-help-prevent-dementia/

Oct 25 2010

Ashuelot Spooktacular Halloween trail in New Hampshire

The Keene Pumpkin Festival is over, alas, but the Halloween spirit is still alive in Cheshire County New Hampshire.

As I revealed in my Halloween Trails blog a couple weeks ago, some of the New England rail trails are perfect for spooky bike rides and enchanting hikes. One of the very best halloween-themed rail trails is the Ashuelot Rail Trail that runs from Keene, NH to a ways beyond Winchester, NH.

The trail follows the Ashuelot River and goes past some pretty thought-provoking graveyards, abandoned mills, and downright scary sights. In addition to the permanent fare, such as cemeteries and haunted factories, I was creeped out by a ferocious looking dog. I’m pretty sure his name was Cujo. Fortunately, his bark and vicious looks were worse than his bite, and I escaped w/ a rapidly beating heart, a bruised ego, but no actual attack from the aforementioned demon dog from Hades.

I’m sure there are other spooktacularly haunted trails slithering throughout the kingdom of ethereal delight. But I need your help in finding them. I’ve given some suggestions in the Halloween Trails blog linked above. But w/ All Hallows Eve rapidly approaching, I’d love it if the trailsnet blog readers would share some other hauntilicious trail suggestions.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2010/10/25/ashuelot-spooktacular-halloween-trail-in-new-hampshire/

Oct 24 2010

Drive up bike window for coffee

With fall in the air, wouldn’t it be nice to be able to grab a hot coffee or mocha on the go while riding your favorite trail or stretch of road?

Well now you can if your favorite trail happens to be the Platte River Trail or you favorite stretch of road happens to be in Denver, Colorado.

Happy Coffee is just a couple blocks away from the Platte River Trail and is conveniently attached to Salvagetti Bicycle Workshop, which is no relation to Santa’s Workshop but which is just is good if you’re a bike-riding coffee freak like me.

This whole bike-up coffee concept is a revelation to me, but maybe you know of some other such places. If so, I/we’d love to hear about them. I think every major trail should have at least one coffee-to-go place. Drop a comment if you know of any other bike-friendly coffee shops.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2010/10/24/drive-up-bike-window-for-coffee/

Oct 23 2010

Bitterbrush Trail on Hall Ranch Open Space

Northwest of Boulder, Colorado lies the Hall Ranch Open Space, part of the North Foothills Open Space complex. Both Hall Ranch and Heil Ranch are included in this system, and both areas have incredible mountain bike trails that are now connected by a bike trail.

The Bitterbrush Trail and the Nelson Loop Trail are both on Hall Ranch Open Space and are about a mile and a half from Lyons, Colorado on highway 7. The two trails make up a lasso trail (sometimes also called a lariat trail) with the Bitterbrush Trail forming the rope handle of the lasso and the Nelson Loop Trail forming the actual lasso.

These trails are fairly steep in spots, and they are studded with outcropping rocks and tree roots along the trail. While these obstacles make the trail fairly difficult, they also make it the ultimate roller coaster ride for seasoned mountain bikers.

View and download the Everytrail Guide for these trails and enjoy directions, descriptions, pictures, and suggestions on your smart phone. It beats lugging around an unwieldy guidebook every time you hit the trail.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2010/10/23/bitterbrush-trail-on-hall-ranch-open-space/

Oct 21 2010

fall foliage quote for the day










“Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn.”  – Elizabeth Lawrence


I thought this quote was appropriate for the season as long as Ms. Lawrence meant sitting on a bicycle seat.  (-:

My fall treat for you is a list of good autumn leaf viewing trails:
late September on the Great Allegheny 
Passage trail (GAP) in Pennsylvania

Of course there are many more great fall foliage trails so grab your bike and enjoy the autumn colors.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2010/10/21/fall-foliage-quote-for-the-day/

Oct 20 2010

Free Bike Guide

One of the newest blogs we’ve featured on the trailsnet bloglist is Travellingtwo.

In the last few blogs, they’ve shown a creative decoration use for an old bicycle wheel, announced the winner of a recent contest, and review a Primus Omnifuel Stove. 
I like a site that has a focus on bicycles with a wide range of topics within that theme.
Head on over to their site, join their newsletter and get a free Bike Touring Basics guidebook (ebook). I did, & can’t wait to check it out. Maybe it’ll give me a few tips for my rail-trail trips.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2010/10/20/free-bike-guide/