Water trails suggested for trailsnet.

"How about adding water trails?"

That was a suggestion I just received from Archie in South Carolina regarding the trailsnet website.

And it's an excellent point. When I first began compiling information for the trailsnet website, my intention was to include every possible type of trail. So I collected information about mountain bike trails, rail trails, backpacking trails, and water trails. In fact, I still have files full of information about water trails all over the United States and a few international ones as well.

But alas, once I actually built the trailsnet website, it became overwhelming, so I decided to focus on multipurpose trails that were bike accessible and able to be used by people of all ages and abilities. I felt I could do more justice to the site and site visitors by having more of a focus.

My dad relaxes in his kayak on
the beautiful waters of Middle
Thompson Lake in NW Montana.

However, the trails network blog is much more diverse and includes other types of trails. Which brings me back to Archie's suggestion: What about water trails?

I would love to include information about water trails. Some of my most enjoyable trail trips have included kayaking on the chain of lakes in northwestern Montana or canoeing on the Powell River lakes up in Canada. For at least a couple more years, I will continue focusing on bike/multipurpose trails on the website, but I will definitely begin sharing more information about water trails on the trails network blog.

So let me start by sharing this website for the Berkeley County Blueways in South Carolina. It looks like a great water trail system. Since I haven't yet featured any South Carolina trails on trailsnet, I'm hoping maybe I can check out the B.C. Blueways when I visit S.C.

Thanks for the suggestion, Archie!!

Water trails suggested for trailsnet.

Choose your favorite trails website in our latest poll.

A new trail-related poll was unveiled on the trails network blog yesterday. The poll is located in the left hand column of the blog and allows participants to make more than one choice. The topic for this month's poll is: What is your favorite trails website? And of course, the trails network blog is one of the choices but, hey, no pressure... did I mention you can make more than one choice?

If you want to find out more about each of the trail websites, here are some links to check out:

Oops... I forgot to add
a cute graphic to the
blog on Valentine's
Day, so here it is.

www.traillink.com

www.trailsnet.com

www.everytrail.com

www.trails.com

www.... well, you're already at the trails network blog, so a link here would be rather redundant.

I would encourage you to vote early and often, but you're only allowed to vote once, so just vote early.

Choose your favorite trails website in our latest poll.

Trails Network Blog Optimized for Mobile Devices

Now you can access the
trailsnet blog on your
cell phone.

If you've ever tried to access the trailsnet blog on your mobile phone, it probably took up a lot of real estate on that little screen.

Well now, the trails network blog can be viewed in a much more appropriate format for mobile phones & other portable viewing devices. And the really good news is that when you view it on your computer, it will still look the same as always.

 Happy trails & happy trails network viewing.

Trails Network Blog Optimized for Mobile Devices

It's time to add a third category of bikers

I may never have really given the issue of trail categories a second thought if I hadn't started writing and publishing trail descriptions, guides, and reviews. In fact, I didn't even really need to ponder the category issue on my own trailsnet website or trails network blog because the sites specialize in multi-use, multi-user trails that are  used by people of all ages and abilities.

Just because you're on a bike in the
mountains, doesn't mean you're
mountain biking.

However, when I started writing trail guides and reviews for other companies/websites/ blogs, I was asked to classify the trails as either mountain bike or road bike. That quickly became frustrating, because most of the trails I rode fell into neither of those categories. They definitely were not on the road, because I avoid road-riding whenever possible. And mountain biking is what I used to do, back when I was childless, immortal, and invincible... oh yeah, and when I spent a lot more time in the mountains. But alas (or thank goodness, depending on your perspective) those days are behind me.

Then I started looking for trails, that were family friendly, knee friendly, and, well, just plain friendly. That's when I discovered rail trails and other recreational trails that weren't necessarily mountain bike trails. These trails were scenic, they were fun, they allowed riders to pull tagalongs and strollers. And life was good...

Except for two problems. First, the trails were hard to find because there weren't any websites for them; and two, there was no official category for this type of biking. And there still isn't. As you can see, it isn't mountain biking because it often isn't in the mountains and it isn't the crazy, roller-coasterish type biking that is associated with mountain biking. And (my favorite part) it isn't done on the roads.

So my solution is apolitical. I say we just call it trail biking. It's not only for the gonzo, speed-demon, over-the-top daredevils (although it does not necessarily exclude them) that are drawn to mountain biking. It can be practiced in any part of the country by seniors, youth, parents, toddlers in bike trailers, athletes, non-athletes, commuters, recreationalists... the list goes on.

It is a very inclusive type of biking that encourages family togetherness, exercise, ecotravel, energy conservation and so on.

I think that by adding the category of trail biking, it would be more inviting and less intimidating to those, like me, who just like to venture forth on our bikes for a relaxing jaunt on the trail, whether that trail is a half mile or 150 miles.

I know that's a bit of a ramble, but I'm on a roll. It's time to open up biking to everyone.

It's time to add a third category of bikers