Thursday, January 13, 2011

Kansas Cycling Opportunities

One of the benefits of blogging about trails and bicycling is that it opens my eyes to all the great bike trails and websites out there.

I now realize how little I knew when I first got started. One great example of that is Kansas. (the state, not the band) I hate to admit that I wouldn't have considered Kansas as a cycling state if not for recent forays into blogs and websites such as Kansas Cyclist, RecumBum, and DirtBum.

I couldn't have been more wrong. Kansas has awesome cycling opportunities and great websites to showcase those opportunities. I just had my head too close to my bicycle seat before.
summer means sunflowers
& trails

First of all, nearest to my heart, are the trails in Kansas. Two spectacular looking ones that I hope to do within the next year are the Prairie Spirit Trail and the Flint Hills Trail. Both of those trails are already top-notch, and it sounds like they'll continue to get better with future expansions in the works.

Although I'm not much of a road cyclist, it sounds like Kansas also has some nice options there, too.

Now that Kansas is on my trails/cycling radar, I hope to be able to give you first-hand accounts of their trail system and their cycling community. Who knows, maybe someday we'll be able to hop on a bike in Utah and ride all the way to eastern Missouri without ever getting off a trail of some kind. I promise you, if they build it, we will come.

Of course I welcome any and all comments and suggestions about Kansas Trails. I can't wait to learn more about the cycling opportunities in the Sunflower State.

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7 comments:

Paula said...

Don't forget "Horizon" in Arkansas City. It WILL challenge you. You won't believe you're in Kansas. http://kssingletrack.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=34&Itemid=79

greggyBman said...

You're right. When I think of Kansas, I think of rolling fields, Dorothy, Toto, and Aunt Em.
But I don't usually think of bicycling and bike trails. But I suppose that's an unfair prejudice.
Now I want to head to Kansas for a bike riding trip.

trailsnet said...

You're right Paula. The "Horizon" looks like it would challenge me to the max.
It looks like a great trail and the KS Singletrack website is extremely thorough and helpful.
Each day, I'm becoming more convinced that Kansas is one of the top cycling states. Not only do they have great cycling venues, but also a nice variety of bicycling opportunities for all levels of riders. I think that is key to really getting public support for biking.

Bike Prairie Spirit said...

Hi,

This is Sam who runs the Bike Prairie Spirit site. If you want to let me know when you plan to hit the trail and I will see if I can come meet you. Even if you don't want a riding partner, let me know if there is any information that you need.

One way or another, I hope you have a good ride.

Sam

trailsnet said...

Hey Sam,

I'd enjoy a riding partner for my Kansas (& possibly Missouri?) ride(s). I just got back from a great 35 mile loop ride in Nevada. It kicked my butt. Good thing there was an endless buffet waiting for me when I got back to the trailhead. (Which just happened to be the oldest casino in Nevada.)
I'm hoping to do the Kansas ride before it gets too hot, but I've got a lot of trails planned between now & summer, so I hope I can fit Kansas in May. That may be wishful thinking though.

trailsnet said...

Hey Sam,

I'd enjoy a riding partner for my Kansas (& possibly Missouri?) ride(s). I just got back from a great 35 mile loop ride in Nevada. It kicked my butt. Good thing there was an endless buffet waiting for me when I got back to the trailhead. (Which just happened to be the oldest casino in Nevada.)
I'm hoping to do the Kansas ride before it gets too hot, but I've got a lot of trails planned between now & summer, so I hope I can fit Kansas in May. That may be wishful thinking though.

greggyBman said...

You're right. When I think of Kansas, I think of rolling fields, Dorothy, Toto, and Aunt Em.
But I don't usually think of bicycling and bike trails. But I suppose that's an unfair prejudice.
Now I want to head to Kansas for a bike riding trip.