I tend to limit my riding on bike trails when touring.
Never quite sure what I'll find on the trail ....
Sometimes pleasantly surprised by a moose,
but often frustrated.
1. Bike trails are often indirect and slow.
The worst are squiggly - weaving around every tree.
Great for kids with training wheels - not great for getting from A to B.
When there is a major highway to cross, there is often a long, out-of-the-way dogleg.
And then there are the stop signs at every block.
2. Safety is an issue, if there are a lot of business/residential entrances.
Bike trails that are little more than a wide sidewalk on busy city streets are scary.
Drivers are frequently turning into or out of businesses and may not be looking for cyclists.
3. City/Suburban trails can be clogged with casual users.
It's tough making headway when people are strolling 3 and 4 abreast.
You have everything from the guy zooming on the road bike to moms withs strollers.
Strava helps.but it's hard to know which trails are clogged when.
4. Often, trails don't go all the way through.
Sometimes trails dump you out where you have to weave thru traffic to get to your route.
Or, worse, come to a dead end with some kind of barrier requiring you to backtrack.
And then there's the unexpected surprise, "Trail Closed Ahead".
5. Trail surfaces are extremely variable.
Sometimes paved trails are as smooth as a bowling ball.
And other times tree roots have created a washboard.
Unpaved trails can be hard-packed or quicksand.
Often some of both.
6. Availability of services.
Since longer, rural trails are usually converted rail lines, services are few and far between.
Crossroads stores are a disappearing breed, but they still are out there - on roads, not trails.
Even in towns, you can find yourself blocked from access to services in view.
7. Scenery.
Rail trails have very modest grades, but you also don't get many hilltop views.
Because many rail lines are long abandoned, the trails can run thru a tunnel of trees.
Great, if it's midsummer and hot. But you don't have much variation in scenery.
And then, in some places you have to pay to use a trail!
<<<>>>
All that said, there are some great aspects about trails.
A) Car-free.
Gotta be the number 1 thing. No traffic, no noise, no fumes.
A trail segment after riding on a busy highway is like a bike spa.
B) Safety
Because there are no cars, trails are much safer.
Still, you have to look out for debris, rough surfaces, and other users.
C) Gradient
Most bike trails have very little climbing. Or freaky descents.
For newer tourers or at the beginning of tours, it may be a good way to start.
<<<>>>
I've been on trails all over the country - tending towards longer, rural trails.
Some of my favorites include:
1. The Katy Trail in Missouri -
River views and tall bluffs, small towns scattered along the way.
But it can be crowded with amateurs on nice weekends.
It does replace brutal ups and downs on parallel Hwy 94.
2. The Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes in Idaho -
Gorgeous scenery, near-wilderness riding through wetlands.
The eastern segment is meh - right alongside I-90.
Does anyone know why the bridge over Lake Coeur d'Alene has the humps?
3. The Great Allegheny Passage in Maryland and Pennsylvania -
Again, gorgeous scenery, especially along the Youghiogheny River and little towns.
This trail is paired with the C&O Trail to create a route from Pitsburgh to Washington, DC.
But, as beautiful as the C&O is, it can be a mudhole after any significant rains.
4. Carquinez Scenic Drive in California -
This used to be a through road from Crockett to Martinez, but the middle section washed out.
After many years, the middle section was rebuilt as a bike-ped trail - so, very little auto traffic, too.
This ride is the best of both worlds - trail & road. But .... some steep climbs to get the vistas.
<<<>>>
What's been your experience with bike trails on tours?
