Why do you ride your bike?

I recently found a quote that aptly describes why I love bike trails. It also illustrates a different biking philosophy than the norm:

"Moving fast is not the same as going somewhere."  - Robert Anthony

What does that have to do with biking and trails?

I think it has a lot to do with my biking style and that of many other rail-trail riders.

It seems like most bikers I meet are into speed. They are more concerned with getting from point A to point B... quickly. Whether they are on a road bike or a mountain bike, they are sprinting down the straight stretches and blasting around corners. If they are riding with others, they are concentrating on the competition of going faster than the next guy. How many people can I pass, how quickly can I get "there?"

That's what I see on the roads, and that's what I see on mountain bike trails. But when I'm on a destination trail (rail-trail, canal trail, distance trail) I see the opposite. People are riding for the joy of riding.  Their priorities seem to be to enjoy:

enjoying a Wyoming rail-trail

1. the scenery of the trail
2. the outdoor experience
3. the camaraderie
4. the fresh air
5. the relaxation
6. nature

You'll notice that nowhere on that list are the words speed, competition, or thrill-seeking. 

Don't get me wrong, I'm not against those pursuits. My point is, "It's nice to have somewhere to go where you can get away from those things when you want to relax, rejuvenate, and enjoy the great outdoors. There's enough stress in everyday life without also forcing it into your vacation, hobby, or leisure pursuit.

So where can you go to find such peaceful and tranquil trails? Well for starters, here's a list of states with links to their premier destination trails:

Alabama trails
Colorado trails
Florida trailsGeorgia trails
Hawaii trails
Idaho trails
Louisiana trailsMaryland trails
Mississippi trails
Montana trails
Nevada trails
New Hampshire trails
New Mexico trails
Pennsylvania trails
Texas trails
Virginia trails
Washington state trails
Wisconsin trails
Wyoming trails

Why do you ride your bike?

Silver Comet & Chief Ladiga Trails

Help!!

I'm trying to get to the Silver Comet Trail and not having any luck.

My First mistake was to book my flight into Birmingham, AL instead of Atlanta, GA. I thought I could easily get to the Chief Ladiga Trail from Birmingham airport.

Wrong!!!!!

So now, I've decided to start my rail trail ride on the Silver Comet Trail rather than the Chief Ladiga Trail. A couple of the reasons I made that decision include:
- Easier to get from airport to a hotel near the trail.
- I found a great and very helpful bike shop named SCD Bikes that has recumbent bikes for rent and is located near the Silver Comet Trail.

I tried getting a shuttle or a ride from a local. I called a few people and put an ad in Craigslist. But nothing came of it. So now it looks like I'll have to rent a car. I'd hoped to avoid that. It's a bit of a waste since I'll be on a bike for most of the trip. I'll only really need a car to get from the airport to the hotel and back again.

I think someone would do a pretty good business if they provided shuttle service for trail riders. One of the bike rental shops should consider this as part of their business.

Silver Comet & Chief Ladiga Trails

Lookin' for Some Southern Trails

As you can see by my Winter Trails post, I appreciate a good, brisk trail outing as much as the next guy. Come November, December, even into January, I enjoy slapping on some warm clothes (I'd say muckalucks, but I have no idea what those are.), donning a pair of warm boots, and sliding along a scenic cross-country ski trail or plowing through hip-deep snow atop a pair of old fashioned snowshoes.
But we're coming to the end of January and sailing full tilt toward February and guess what. The novelty of  fresh powder and crisp air is wearing thin. Unhitch the dogs from the sled, it's time for some warm weather. I'm longing for a warm day on a sunny southern trail.
Don't get me wrong, I'd love to visit the Ashuelot Rail Trail in New Hampshire, the Hiawatha Trail in Idaho or the Boulder Creek Path in Colorado. But not now. Not in the midst of winter. I want sunshine, shorts, and a hankerin' for an ice-cold root beer rather than a pipin' hot cocoa.
The worst part is, I'll probably have to wait over two months for my dream to come true. In March, I fly into Birmingham, Alabama to check out trails in Georgia and Alabama.  Then in April, I'm off to New Orleans to try out some Louisiana trails & Mississippi paths. I look forward to it, but I'd prefer not to be looking forward to it with binoculars. March and April seem to be a long ways off.
Let's see.... the bright side?  Oh yeah, I have plenty of time to research. So if any of you have any ideas for great trails down south, please leave a comment/post/suggestion on this blog. I'm dyin' to hear from you. I'd just to prefer to be dying of heat frustration rather than hypothermia about now.

Lookin' for Some Southern Trails