SmartTrail app.

Those wonderful outdoor folks in Boulder, CO are at it again. The people at Boulder Mountain Bikes are creating an app called SmartTrails to help users locate & navigate bike trails. The app will not only help you find a trail but will provide updated trail conditions, trail descriptions, and trail ratings.

There was a great story in the Boulder Daily Camera about the SmartTrails app. The developers are seeking a grant to help them get this worthwhile project off the ground. If you'd like to help them out and put them over the top, you can vote for their grant idea on the GOOD Boulder Fund website. It's easy to vote, doesn't cost you anything and helps support a good trail cause.

So far, the only problem I see w/ this app is that it's not quite available for iphone yet; but according to BMA rep. Andria, they are on top of it. In fact, they "have an iOS developer working in parallel..." What I think that means to us non-techie folks is that they are soon going to have an [iphone] app for that.


If you want more information about the app, you can drop an email to smarttrail@bouldermountainbike.org.

In the meantime, I'm curious what apps, GPS, or other trail-navigation devices you guys are using out there. Leave a comment below.

SmartTrail app.

GPS Good for More Than Just Trail Directions

Auto driver & bicyclist altercations are inevitable
when riding on the roads.

Whenever I ride my bike on the trails, I take my GPS to record information for trail guides. It turns out that it may come in handy for insurance purposes also.

To read a fun story about a bicyclist from Denver whose GPS came in handy after a car-bike collision, click on this link. It turns out a motorist rammed into this guy who was out on a training ride on his bike. Then she (the car driver) tried to lie to the police about it. Fortunately, the bike rider had his GPS running, & it corroborated his version of the story. For him, it turned out to be a happy ending since her insurance company ended up paying for his damages.

GPS Good for More Than Just Trail Directions

List of biking essentials

Spring is here and not only are your muscles a little rusty, but so is your memory. Each year you forget some essential item for your bike ride until you get back in the routine. Here's a series of lists. Of course it depends where you're going & for how long, so I assembled a series of lists depending on the bike trail, the length of the bike ride, and your purpose for riding:

Must have every trip:

• bike
• helmet
• water
• sunscreen
• sun glasses

Strongly suggested most rides:

• snack
• emergency cash
• bike light (front & back) (required by law in some places)
• camera
• padded shorts
• bike repair kit
• spare tire or at least a patch kit
• pump
• cell phone
• GPS (might already be on your phone)

Remember I said you might have sort of a rusty memory this time of year? Well that applies to me also, so please let me know what I forgot.

List of biking essentials