A recent blog post brought up the issue of safe bike travel. I’ve biked on paths, trails, and roadways, it didn’t take long to determine my favorite. From my first wobble, I’ve enjoyed biking and the sense of freedom and excitement. We’re lucky to have access to multiple biking options within minutes of our home.
Oddly enough, I still have a fleeting memory of the moment I first rode a bike on my own, without training wheels. I’m sure I was equally excited learning to walk, my memory doesn’t go that far back. Bike riding might be the first moment of independence for most children. Having the ability to go somewhere on your own, exploring the world around you.
Many people are comfortable riding on the side of the road with traffic whizzing by, I’m not. Long before I developed epilepsy, I was nervous about traffic. Falling while riding on the roadways is a concern, you never know how rough the roadside is, or width of the bike lane. Drivers aren’t always careful when encountering bike traffic, not always yielding as they would, say, a motorbike.
Bike paths Located within towns or through rural areas, sometimes are in scenic areas more nature related. Some trails are paved while others are dirt or gravel. Many towns in our county are incorporating a bike path network to connect communities and towns. We love our local bike path winding along the shores of Lake Champlain.
Off road biking is an option for the more adventurous and skilled rider, many areas have both groomed and ungroomed trails. Our area offers both options, we are lucky to have multiple off road biking trail systems available within a 5 minute ride from our home. Training for technical riding is something most take slowing before working up to the difficult trails. I ride a very hilly neighborhood in an effort to get buff enough to handle the courses.
- Fellowship of the Wheel manages a multi-location system with varying levels of difficulty.
- Kingdom Trails Located in Burke Vermont offer some of the best off road biking in the area. Multiple trails available for all skill levels.
- Trapp Family Bike Trails Located in Stowe Vermont, offers 13 miles of maintained trails. Stowe village also has a nice meandering paved bike path to enjoy as well.
- Catamount Outdoor Family Center Located in Williston Vermont offers fat biking during the winter along with over 20 miles of trails, including single and wider gravel trails, and two pump tracks.
- Sleepy Hollow Biking Center With 35km of trails, their mountain bike trails wind up and around the over 800 acres of Sleepy Hollow. Ride the newest trail Darth Vader for an epic ride down the mountain.
- Vermont Mountain Biking Association Is the hub for all things mountain biking for the state of Vermont. Schedules of events, trail conditions, and mountain bike information can be found on this site.
As a result, considering all the local options, we won’t run out of ride varieties any time soon.
Twitter: twitterHaralee
I agree biking is the first thrill of independence as a kid. I still get the thrill of speed too. I like bike paths best, or any path or trail that I don’t have to start up quickly from a light!
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Off road bike tours are really interesting. For some hours you can just leave the busy world behind you and get refreshed with the touch if mother nature. Those locations you mentioned are great by the way.
I agree, getting away from the hectic day to day routine is uplifting.
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