Bicycling
"If the path be beautiful, let us not ask where it leads" - Anatole France
If you really want to enjoy the scenic byways of New England, cycling is the way to go. You'll traverse country roads and lanes that you would never think of traveling on by car. You can stop at a moment's notice to view a scenic panorama - no need to worry about a rear-end collision or the lack of a parking spot. See a path leading to an ocean beach? Just passed a winery? A quick turn (after looking over your shoulder, of course) and you're there. If you keep to the seacoast or never go more than a few dozen miles inland from the metropolitan area, you will never have to face more than a few relatively easy hills.
Besides perusing the Web sites listed below it will serve you well to get a copy of one or several of Howard Stone's "Short Bike Rides" (Eastern Massachusetts, Central and Western Massachusetts, Rhode Island, or Maine). These books offer over one hundred New England rides with maps, detailed directions, and a summary of scenic spots along the way. From Howard Stone:
"Bicycling is an ideal way to appreciate the New England landscapes unique intimacy, which is not found in most other parts of the United States. The back roads turn constantly as they hug the minute contours of the land, forcing your orientation down to a small scale. Every turn and dip in the road may yield a surprise-a weathered barn, a pond, a stream, a little dam or falls, a hulking old mill right out of the Industrial Revolution, a ragged stone wall, or a pasture with grazing cattle or horses. Most of the smaller town centers are architectural gems, with the traditional stately white church and village green flanked by the town hall, a handsome brick or stone library, and graceful old wooden homes."
SABR - Seacoast Are Bicycle Routes
www.seacoastbikes.org
SABR's mission is to enhance the transportation system of the Seacoast-Great Bay region of New Hampshire and southern Maine through the development of an effective and safe network of bicycle routes connecting the towns in the region.
The Eastern Trail
www.easterntrail.org
From Kittery, Maine to Casco Bay. Imagine walking - or biking - mostly through off-road woodland trails from Strawberry Banke in Portsmouth, New Hampshire to Bug Light Park on Casco Bay in South Portland. This is the vision of the Eastern Trail Alliance (ETA).
The East Coast Greenway
www.greenway.org
Linking cities from Maine to Florida. "Aiming to connect all the major cities of the East Coast along a continuous, off-road path, the East Coast Greenway spans 3,000 miles from Calais, Maine to Key West, Florida. With the trail now 21 percent open for public use, individuals and communities all along the East Coast are already beginning to enjoy the Greenway's many health and economic benefits. But still, there's much to be done. Frequently likened to an urban Appalachian Trail, this remarkable trail has the potential to enhance the lives of millions of Americans for generations to come."
NorEast Cycling
www.noreastcycling.com
NorEast Cycling was created to promote both competitive and recreational cycling for a variety of disciplines including Road, Mountain and Cyclocross.
Bicycling - from Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycling
Wikipedia article on bicycling. Includes many useful links.
Bicycling Terminology - from Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycling_terminology
If you don't know the meaning of the following words, this is the place for you: bidon, caravane, danseuse, endo, feed zone, ......, wheelsucker.
The Science of Cycling
www.exploratorium.edu/cycling
Cycling 101. A fun and informative site. Many explanations, audio and video clips, interactive javascripts, and lots of images dealing with the history and technology of cycling. Learn about gears, braking and steering, frames and materials, cycling aerodynamics, and more.
Rails-to-Trails-Conservancy
www.railtrails.org
The purpose of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) is to create a nationwide network of public trails from former rail lines and connecting corridors. Features a search site for finding any of 1200 nationwide trails.
Bicycling
www.bicycling.com
The online version of Bicycling Magazine.
Effective Cycling
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effective_cycling
TWikepedia article on the "trademarked cycling educational program designed by John Forester, which was the national education program of the League of American Wheelmen for a number of years. The Effective Cycling program consists of text books and training courses (for both students and instructors) and a training video for students. The EC program helps people learn to bicycle more efficiently, safely and enjoyably."
Le Tour de France
www.letour.fr
The official site of the Tour de France. This site is the first to post the complete results for the day. For the racing aficionado or should I use the french neologism, fan?
Trail.com
trails.com
Mountain biking, hiking, climbing, paddling, skiing, and more. This is a commercial site (modest subscription fee) providing information and guide book titles for over 30,000 trails throughout the US and Canada. You can obtain topographic maps, trail overviews, regional maps, and detailed route descriptions.
Bike Tours Direct
www.biketoursdirect.com
Resource for Bike Tours in Europe. Travel with European bike tour companies and choose from more than 200 guided and self-guided tours in 30 European countries
Additional links:
Return to Web Links Page
Return to Home Page
