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bicycling

Appalachian

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Technology /

Appalachian Bicycling along the Appalachian trail? Yes, indeed! This trail spans more than 2000 miles, running through fourteen states from Maine to Georgia. This is not an adventure to be undertaken lightly; especially if you’re aiming for more than a single day’s riding. Parts of the AT are quite rugged. Hazardous weather is a possibility. Summer can see strong T-storms; and cold weather can bring snow and ice, making riding much more difficult. Packing for this adventure seems to be quite a challenge. You want the right stuff, but don’t need to be weighed down with things you won’t really need. To begin with, how about the bike? Is a touring bicycle best? If you’re going to spend nights along the trail, will you need a tent? A sleeping bag? Oh, and don’t forget, there are bears there! We visited Great Smoky Mountains when I was a kid. I remember them as being quite wet; a waterproof tarp to put under your tent wouldn’t be a bad idea. Neither would a poncho. And a first aid kit … there we go, getting overloaded already! Naturally there’s more than the Appalachian Trail to cycling in North Carolina. These routes range from the easy Neuse River Loop from Mini City, to the expert Roadbike Loop from Brevard. So many trails, and so little time to ride them! This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional. FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube INTERPRETER

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Mississippi

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Mississippi How do you spell “Mississippi”? My mother used to put it: “Capital M-I- Hump-back, Hump-back I; Hump-back, Hump-back I; Crooked-letter, Crooked-letter-I.” However you want to spell it, Mississippi is home to the Natchez Trace. From Natchez, Mississippi to Nashville, Tennessee, the Trace is 444 miles of beauty. Roll past farms and creeks; forests; and interesting historic sites. For the most part, motor traffic is light. The entire Trace, in fact, is a designated bike route. Then there’s Tanglefoot Trail. Despite its name, don’t go getting tangled up in your bicycle chain! “TT” gives  you 43 miles of riding through farmland and small towns, with numerous opportunities to dismount and explore; or have a picnic lunch. Is the history of the Civil War your thing? Visit the Vicksburg National Military Park. This ride is more challenging than the Tanglefoot Trail; but beautiful. Fans of the paranormal might want to visit Windsor Ruins. These remains of an antebellum plantation house are said by locals to be haunted. It’s a hilly 10 miles to get there, so be sure you’ve got your climbing legs in order! Now how do you spell “Mississippi”, again? This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional. FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube INTERPRETER ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and  retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional.   FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL Chop Chop Chop! June 21, 2026 Electrolyte Season June 19, 2026 Whirlwind June 18, 2026 Here Comes Number One! June 17, 2026 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Road Warrior?

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Road Warrior? The State of Illinois seems to have “road warrior” built into its name! Not that this means that you have to hammer away all day. Why not take your time, and enjoy yourself? And even use an e-bike? For example, there’s the 46-mile Tunnel Hill State Trail. Along the way you’ll find a variety of scenery, trestle bridges, and even ghost towns. The George Rogers Clark Discovery Trail is comparatively new. About four of its nine miles run through Fort Massac State Park. Here the history buff can enjoy re-enactments and living history. Mountain Bike Trails at Touch of Nature includes paths suited to both the beginning rider; and those who are more advanced. These trails are also open to hikers; runners; and walkers. What do you do when all this easy pedaling gets to be too dull? You might want to shake things up a bit and Ride the Fault Line! This week-long event takes you through parts of four states, including Illinois. Learn about the New Madrid earthquakes. Experience Civil War history, and ride along the Mighty Mississippi. Do your tastes lean toward urban riding? The Windy City has plenty to offer. You can ride along the lakefront. Ride the Major Taylor Trail, commemorating the African-American cyclist who both set world records and broke through racial barriers. If you’re daring enough, there’s the June Naked Bike Ride, meant to promote positive body image as well as cycling. Or, it you like, you can always abandon casual riding paths, and be the road warrior. This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional. FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube INTERPRETER

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Hoosier

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Hoosier What’s a hoosier? It always sounded to me like someone who makes hosiery! I was wrong about that, but nobody seems to know for sure exactly how the word originated. When I hear “Indiana“, I think of the Bugs Bunny cartoon in which Elmer Fudd gets a robot to try to get rid of “that wascal wabbit” Bugs, who is always getting into his “cawwots”. I don’t know for sure whether either Bugs or Elmer ever rode a bicycle; if so, they could tell me what the cycling is like in the Hoosier State.  There’s a two-day tour through Amish country. At rest stops, you can sample local produce; or enjoy baked goods. I, for one, would love to try shoofly pie! There’s a century ride that follows the shore of Lake Michigan; and which benefits the Visiting Nurse Association. SAG stops provide food and drinks. Bloomington is home of the Little 500, a two-day event that is the cyclist’s parallel to the Indy 500. Participation is restricted to full-time undergraduate students at the University of Indiana. There are separate events for men and women. Tickets are sold for the public. Whether you’re a native Hoosier or not, Indiana has a lot to offer cyclists. This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional. FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube INTERPRETER

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Through the Woods

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Through the Woods You’ll really be riding through the woods when you go cycling in Pennsylvania. It’s all in the state’s name; and Pennsylvania offers a great deal to fans of Rails to Trails. The Great Allegheny Passage runs through the state and neighboring Maryland. This one is a favorite! The Allegheny River Trail is a close rival, with great scenery and chances to spot wildlife. Like waterfalls and geology? Try out the Pine Creek Rail Trail. Fantastic rock outcrops for much of the way! Ghost Town Trail will appeal to history buffs. Historic markers tell stories of old towns, blast furnaces, and more. Heritage Rail Trail, too, is full of history. Have lunch at the restored New Freedom rail depot! Lehigh gorge Trail is a 26-mile (42 km) multi-use trial from White Haven to Jim Thorpe; and is part of the much longer D & L Trail. Want to get away from it all? Perhaps Sandy Creek Trail would suit you. This path is in remote northwestern Pennsylvania, and has some terrific scenery. The Butler-Freeport Community Trail is 20 miles of riding through the woods and over bubbling creeks. Oil Creek State Park Trail might sound like something that would upset the EPA. Apparently it’s quite the contrary. Along this trail you can find fly fishing as well as cycling; or, in winter, cross-country skiing! Finally, there’s the Redbank Valley Rail Trail, the 2014 Pennsylvania Trail of the Year Award. Choose your trail; pump up your tires and fill your water bottles (or Camel-Bak); and pack your ride food. Happy riding in the Keystone State! This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional. FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube INTERPRETER

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Southern Ease

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Southern Ease Southern ease sounds to me like sitting in a shady porch in a nice rocking chair; and sipping at my favorite cold drink. If that’s a little too much ease for you, South Carolina has ten easy bicycling trails that the whole family can enjoy. Swamp Rabbit Trail sounds rather like cottontails running (or do I mean hopping?) all over the place. This 13.5-mile trail is fun for cycling, walking, and jogging. And who knows? You might spot one of those long-eared critters. A funny aside: not long ago my sister told me of a joke that her brother-in-law told her: Q. What do you call a line of rabbits hopping backwards? A. A receding hare line! 😆 If the thought of all those rabbits makes you hopping mad, don’t let them become a pain in the neck. You can Bike the Neck instead. This 16-mile trail runs between the Atlantic and the Waccamaw River. If you’re a nature lover, this would be a good trail for you. For those looking for a more challenging ride, it sounds like the Ravenel Bridge might fit the bill. It says you’ll “burn some calories” getting across it. It’s less than three miles long, but is steep. Or, depending on your direction of travel, can you count on having to battle a strong headwind? That doesn’t exactly sound like southern ease to me. Or ease from anywhere. When I want some southern ease, I’ll just stay in the old rocking chair and be lazy. This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional. FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube INTERPRETER

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Rhode Island

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Rhode Island How is the Ocean State of Rhode Island for cycling? It’s a very small state, to be sure, but cyclists have a number of choices. I think I’d like the Blackstone River Bike Path, as it runs along a river much of its length. Maybe I’d see some water birds other than the ones I see around here all the time. The Quonset Bike Path is 2.5 miles of entirely off-road riding; great for a family outing! I must admit, however, that 3.7 miles isn’t much more than a warm-up for me. The western two-thirds of Rhode Island are rough and hilly. That sounds like MTB territory! For riders who find flat trails much too tame, there are some mountain bike trails out there. Big River/Carr Pond has trails for all levels of riders, from beginners to experts. Burlingame State Park also has something for MTB enthusiasts of moderate ability. This Yellow Dot Trail sounds interesting. It’s open to hikers; and to snowshoeing and skiing in Winter. As always,  if you plan to be out more than an hour or so, use a Camel-Bak to be sure you have enough water. Pack along some ride food: protein bars, GU-Gels, and so on. You certainly don’t want don’t want to bonk! This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional. FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube INTERPRETER

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Mittens?

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Mittens? A mitten is what I think of when I view a map of the USA; and look at Michigan. If I tried cycling in Michigan right now, I’d sure want mittens, or maybe even heated gloves; and a lot of other cold-weather gear as well. Summers look like a good time for a cycling tour in the Wolverine State. I guess you could do without the mittens then. The Michigander tour offers two- to eight-day tours, with beautiful views of Lake Michigan. Most of the routes are a mix of road and trail. SAG support; gourmet coffee; and more are included in the package. Then there’s ODRAM. How would you like to pedal roughly 150 miles in a single day? And 80 or so miles of it with “rolling hills”? I have a sneaking suspicion that I’d find said rolling hills some tough climbing! At least there’s usually a tailwind, which can provide a bit of a boost. Not feeling up to a cross-country ride? The Great Lake-to-Lake tour lets you have a taste of the wheel-dipping ceremony. Start at Lake Michigan; ride to Lake Huron on this 275-mile sightseeing jaunt of seven days. As usual, there are so many rides and cycling routes that I can’t begin to go into all of them; but the ones I’ve read about sure sound wonderful. Just don’t let me forget my mittens if I go there in Winter. This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional. FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube INTERPRETER

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Coasting?

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Coasting? Coasting too much is generally frowned upon by “serious” cyclists. But if you want to “coast” all day, head for Maryland and the Seagull Century. On the 100-mile Assateague route, you’ll have a great view of the Atlantic Ocean; and you may see the Assateague wild ponies. Follow the white seagulls! Is 100 miles in one day too much for you? The 65-mile Princess Anne Metric route rolls through Somerset County; follow the yellow seagulls. Just don’t get confused and start following the yellow brick road! I’ve always heard that SGC is flat; but that it can be very windy. That’s not surprising for a coastal route. I hope that the routes are arranged according to prevailing winds, with the TAILwind on the second half of the ride. SGC does not provide bottled water; better bring the Camel-Bak! As always, wear a helmet. Bike mechanics are available at rest stops in case you need technical support. Are you looking for purely recreational cycling in Maryland? How about the GAP? This 159-mile rail trail between Cumberland and Pittsburgh is nearly flat; and beautiful as well. Or check out  “The Grand Old Ditch“. This is a good one for bird-watching. So head to The Old Line State for some cycling pleasure; but keep the coasting to a minimum. ABOUT ME © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional. FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube INTERPRETER

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Hard as Granite?

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Hard as Granite? If a bicycle route were “hard as granite”, I doubt that I’d do well on it. But riding needn’t be as hard as that. New Hampshire has a number of routes that the whole family can enjoy. Several are the rails-to-trails type. For the youngster eager for that first real ride, try the Silk Farm Road Bike Path in Concord. Of course there are other riding opportunities as well. If you want something off the beaten path, try the Great North Woods. You’ll have the chance to enjoy some spectacular scenery! Head South a bit, and you’ll find the White Mountains region. Routes here range from easy to expert in difficulty.  It looks like most of the routes in this New England state are rolling to mountainous. The Seacoast area has a number of cycling routes. Some are pretty long; others are short, bur require riding near traffic. It’s a good time to invest in a rearview mirror! Maybe those mountainous New Hampshire routes aren’t for me. I’d need to train up until my legs muscles got hard as granite! This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional. FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube INTERPRETER

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