Hello, DU Bicycling Group.

[Skinner]

Do you have any room here for a DU admin who is excited about his new mountain bike?

A few weeks ago I got a new mountain bike and my wife and I have been doing a little bit of trail riding. Nothing too technical -- just relatively flat singletrack through the woods. The suburbs around Washington, DC aren't exactly the most interesting terrain. But still I am having a blast!

I'm basically a newbie to the whole mountain biking thing. Are there many other mountain bikers here? Anyone know any good trails within an hour or two of Washington?

[Kolesar]

1. Washington is laced with a network of rail-trails and a towpath

I drove down from Ohio to ride them...and attend an antiwar rally a few years ago;-). You may be looking for something more rugged and rustic, though. I don't know what to tell you, except contact the Mountain Bike Association or look for some links. In my experience, park districts are not very supportive of mountain bikers and seldom make routes for them.

If you want to drive about 4 hours, there is Ohiopyle State Park in Pennsylvania, who have some mountain-bike routes and one of the prettiest rail-trails in America. Go there about Oct 10 for the fall colors. There are segments of the Potomac towpath trail that will challenge your cycling skills on account of floods that have beat up the alignment. That's a bit closer to home.

[happyslug]

12. You may want to try the lost Turkey Trail in Bedford County Pa

The Pennsylvania State Parks has designated the "Lost Turkey Trail" as opened to mountain biking. The Lost Turkey Trail is a serious of interconnected old timber railroads and long abandoned roads 26 miles in length. For more see details see:

http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/hiking/turkey.aspx

The Pennsylvania Game Commission has also opened trails for Mountain biking. For Southwestern Pa See:
http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=463&q=151259

Pennsylvania has had a problem with erosion over the years so disliked any activity that encourages erosion, thus most hiking trials ban bicycles. The Lost Turkey Trail is one of the exceptions (And it is closed to biking on one end). As to its name, the trail was made using old roads and railroad beds that diverged off PA 56 (The old Bedford Pike). The trail received its name when a couple of its original trail blazers become lost after trying to track down a turkey they heard gobble. Thus the trail received its Current name.

I also point out that this fall the Mt Savage Tunnel access will be finished. This will permit you to bike from DC to McKeesport Pa on an exclusive bike trail.

For more see the "Great Allegheny PAssage":
http://www.atatrail.org/

Please note the trail will be only completed to Pittsburgh or through the South Hills of Pittsburgh for a couple more years (Hopefully next year, 2006, but we will have to wait and see). Once the Montour Trail is through the South Hills of Pittsburgh you will be able to continue the trip to Weirton West Virginia and into the flat lands of Ohio.

[dean_dem]

2. Happy to help, Skinner

A trail up there I have always wanted to check out is the C&O trail. It starts around Alexandria I think, and you can ride it for over 100 miles. It would be perfect for a mountain bike, and I'm pretty sure its mostly flat terrain. There's even a 10 mile loop around DC if you don't want to go too far out.

Check this out for more info: http://www.bikewashington.org/canal/

[Longhorn]

3. Careful -- it's amazing how addictive cycling is!

I've been almost consumed by it since I started in March -- and my real season doesn't begin until fall because it's just too dang hot right now! So I just keep buying stuff for my bike and reading as much as I can about it.

A good site to check out -- besides our group, of course -- is www.sheldonbrown.com. Lots of info about anything you'd want to know, including a great glossary.

Y'all have fun! :)

[bvar22]

4. Welcome to the Bicycling Group, Skinner.

I'm Bob, and I'm a bicycling addict.

I wasn't always a bicycling addict. In fact, for many years I hated the "Kamikazes on Wheels". That is back when I was a "runner", and believed that all "REAL MEN" were runners. Bicycles were for kids and wimps. Additionally, my Home Town, New Orleans, is NOT a city that is bicycle friendly... No dedicated bike paths, many drunks on the streets, sidewalks and streets buckled by tree roots and pot holes. Several of my friends were killed by motorists over the years.

As I aged into my late 40's, I developed arthritis in my toes (from the continued abuse of running?), and was forced to stop running. My weight ballooned up by 60 pounds. Depression set in as I spent less time producing "endorphs" and playing in the sun.

A few years back, I migrated to Minneapolis and became friends with an avid bicyclist. Eventually, she was able to persuade me to join her on bike ride. Despite my poor (out of shape, overweight) condition, I was instantly converted.

Minneapolis is very bike friendly with several hundred miles of dedicated bike paths (NO motorized vehicles) within the Twin Cities. There is a HUGE bike community with a large number of bicycle commuters. It is possible to wander around and through the Urban Areas without EVER having to compete with motor vehicles except to occasionally cross a street.
(I'm going to post a pictorial survey of the Bike Paths in the Twin Cities in the near future).

The Bicycle Addiction is much kinder to my body than running. I no longer wake up the next day after a hard workout with sore knees and feet. I can also stay aerobic much longer on a bicycle than I could running. My weight is down and I'm much happier playing in the sun and making "endorphs".

The only real drawback to a Bicycle Addiction in Minnesota is WINTER!
It is only possible to ride for 1/2 the year!

[dean_dem]

5. Don't worry, you'lladjust to riding in winter eventually.

I've heard of guys from Massachusetts who cover their skin in Vaseline to insulate themselves from the cold. Now that's a dedicated cyclist.

And I'm not sure where the cyclist-runner rivalry came from, but you're right that it exists. Maybe we should all unite against the real enemy: SUV drivers who don't seem to understand the phrase "Share the road."

[bvar22]

6. It's not the cold so much as...

...all the Ice and Snow. Some of the bicycle paths double as "Snow Mobile Trails" during Winter. Even if the paths were cleared, there would always be the likelihood of hitting a patch of ICE and crashing. I HAVE seen some people on bikes during Winter, but they were extremely local, like doing laps around their block where they knew there were no ice patches.

I agree with you about the blind ass SUV drivers who Own the Road. That is one of the good things about Minneapolis. I can ride all day on dedicated bike paths and not worry about being Mowed Down from behind by a 6,0000 lb. WMD in irresponsible hands.

I ride on the roads some, but NEVER with the Peace of Mind that is provided by a dedicated bike path.

[Skinner]

7. Anyone here ever try these?

http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/studdedtires.asp

I've been checking out bike websites, and I was surprised to learn that they sell studded tires for snow and ice. Anyone ever try them?

[Kolesar]

9. A few years ago I happened upon websites of the "ice bikers"

They had a hobby of riding with those on frozen lakes in very cold states (like Michigan and northward). They dressed up in snowmobile suits, goggles, and moonboots and got their riding in on frozen lakes. There is some application for studs on winter roads, but that is too nuts for me. A heavy snowpack would be enough to slow me down to a crawl in the winter, and that is not worth the trouble.

In my experience, I just cannot stay warm enough and keep my wraparound eyeshades from fogging up in temperatures less than 30F. I find myself pulling my balaclava off of my nose at every stop light so that my glasses don't fog as it is.

[Longhorn]

10. I hate to send you to another board

but since you asked, have you checked out www.bikeforums.net? They have an entire forum just on winter cycling. And a forum on commuting. I stay out of the politics and religion forum, even though I think liberals outnumber the "others." No other politics board for me! :) A few conservative views filter into the bicycle talk but it's not too bad. I don't think that board is as big and active this one but it comes close -- maybe dozens of posts per minute instead of hundreds? ;)

[Skinner]

11. I have not checked it out.

But I will. Thanks for the tip.

[shrike]

19. Thanks, Longhorn

Don't know if I have the guts to cycle in the ice and snow, but I'm contemplating it.

[Kolesar]

20. Ice Bike--Home of the Winter Cyclist--And Other Crazy People

http://www.icebike.org/

[shrike]

21. Wow. Cool. Thanks. n/t

[happyslug]

13. Yes, I used them the last two winters.

They do keep you on the road, but you will notice increased roll Resistance (i.e. you will notice you have to peddle harder). I only use them to go to and from work during winter do to the increase roll Resistance, but one advantage is I am in better shape come spring when I switch back to slicks (Yes, as soon as the snow melts off comes the Studs).

[PuraVidaDreamin]

17. Yes- Get a pair!

They are a bit heavier than regular tires. I usually have
mine on for a total of three months. Nice if you
hit a patch of ice. Hitting the breaks is much
safer.

Usually I can't ride if the snow gets higher than
six inches dense, light and fluffy about 8
When it gets packed and trails have been
tracked, the studs are especially helpful.

[happyslug]

14. When I bike in the Winter I tend to wear based on the Temperature.

At temperatures above 35 degrees, I just wear normal pants shirt and Jacket. I carry with me in my panniers, a set of neos booties, rain pants and rain jacket (Gore texed). I drag them out as needed (and more often than not I start to wear them and then take them off and put them in the panniers).

Starting about 40 degress you will need gloves. At 40 degrees just something soft that keeps the wind off your skin (No Insulation, insulation makes the gloves to hot at 35-40 degrees but you need something). If uninsulated gloves are NOT good enough to keep my fingers warm I put on a set of thin poly or silk gloves inserts. This is generally good enough for most biking in winter. I stay with leather for even in wet weather gives some protection from water.

A few years ago I ran across some "Wind-Proof" uninsulated gloves made by Gore-tex (But NOT goretexed, i.e. Just wind proof not Water Proof). I liked them, kept the wind off my hands even through their were NOT leather. Mixed with a silk liner very good at keeping the hands warm.

Now if it starts to rain I pull out some old bright orange Gore-Tex hunting gloves. If the rain is so cold that you need more than a thin glove go with the thicker glove (and like most rain gear, drop it as soon as the snow or rain stops).

As to my head last year I just used an old orange balaclava, between it and my helmet my head stayed more or less dry. This year I want to get a Goretex Balaclava to give me that extra protection in wet weather.

If the above can NOT keep you warm, by a set of Poly long johns with soxs and baklavas to keep you warm, but I find long johns NOT worth it unless you are biking at less than 35 degrees (But worth it at that temperature). Again I keep a set inside my panniers in case it gets to cold.

The above combination is good enough till about 25 degrees, at which point heavier clothing is needed (Remember when you are biking you have more wind on you than if you are walking, thus you need more clothing, but more in the sense of wind breakers than insulation).

Below 25 degrees I pull out my old Army mittens (No goretex, you rarely get snow below 25 degrees, thus gore tex is NOT needed, snow comes in about 25-35 degrees, can fall when below 25 degree but than rarely melts and gets you wet, the real killer snow is 25-35 degrees that melts as soon as it hits your body).

I also pull out my goose down parka with hood (Which I wear under my helmet after adjusting the helmet for the hood). Again I take it off and open the zipper when ever I get over heated.

Notice one of my theme is avoiding OVERHEATING while biking in winter. This happens more often then people think, they bundle up to keep warm and than start exercising which produces heat. You have plan for this by taking off clothing as you heat up (and when you take a break start to wear more clothing as you cool down). For this reason I use Panniers on my winter trips (and on long winter trips I drag out my bicycle trailer to carry extra clothing including dry clothing to replace wet with sweat clothing).

Notice the other theme is protecting the body from the wind. This is very important while winter biking. Sometime all you need is a windbreaker on your body, legs and hands (i.e. uninsulated gloves). The windbreakers protects your skin from the affect of the wind which is the main problem in winter biking much more than the need for insulation. Keep your body parts covered.

[Fovea]

8. Nice to hear it.

Not a mountain biker, but a cycling nut.

[PuraVidaDreamin]

15. Well if you ever find your way onto Cape Cod

Stop into my hubbie bike shop
True Wheel Cycles has been there for 20 yrs.
Mitch and I have built approx 26 miles of
SWEET SINGLTRACK. I started the cape chapter of
Nemba 'bout 5 years back. Did a few wetland restorations
near trail, taught AmeriCorp in trail building (environmentally
sound) The trail leaves outta my back yard. I think it's
gotta be some of the best trail in the NE- save the kingdom Trail
up in Coventry Vermont. If you thinking of headed this way
ever-give me a heads up- You can tweak Mithc on bike shit
and I'll take you down Debie's Mounds (my design) The dudes
who climb it will often head to the store to tell
my hubby,'Hey, I climbed your wifes mounds"

Anyway keep the rubber side down!

[Gregorian]

16. Hey you!

How cool. I've been mountain biking since the mid 80's. I've discovered that the planet was made for mountain biking. You'll always find a trail somewhere. It's one of the best sports around. No need for a car, usually.
As for forums, I suggest mtbr.com for everything from product reviews, to specific location forums, and a special section for trail reviews. And a lot of the members are pros and shop owners.

Hope you really enjoy your riding!

[shrike]

18. The most amazing mtn. biking trail I ever saw

was along the DesChutes river in Oregon. Which I realize is far, far away from you, but I'm just sayin'.

Quite frankly, I found it terrifying, but the hard-cores were loving it. Switchbacks, moguls, lava beds -- far too advanced for me. I'm too out-of-shape and too old.

[Skinner]

22. I've rafted the DesChutes.

Great river. That was about 20 years ago. But I've never biked there... Yet.

[Shine]

23. Welcome, Skinner!

As a newbie, myself, I was thrilled to find this forum recently.

Glad to hear you'll be hittin' the trails soon with your new mountain bike. I'm a roadie girl, but hey, it's all good. Just remember to wear a helmet! It's a no-brainer, dude!

:hi:
Happy Trails,
Shine