General Cycling Discussion - Driving to a trail. Am I alone thinking that it is wrong?

I can understand when one drives to deliver goods. Or at least goes to the office.

But driving to the trail head. One passes the neighborhoods where people suffer already from abundance of motorized traffic and just adds to the misery of people, who live there.

So one wishes to improve his/her health, breath fresh air, and drives a car with bikes on the rack.

When I see it, I feel an internal protest. Why to not cycle to the trail?

Perhaps because it's nowhere near ones home? Perhaps also, the trailhead doesn't interfere with anyone's neighbourhood in the least. One needs to consider that there are a lot of people in these forums who live in vastly different areas and circumstances. I don't take my bike to trailheads, I don't ride trails, but I don't have a problem hauling my bike to an area where I want to ride. If I was going to ride my bike to that/those areas, I would likely never arrive. Certainly not on the day that I was able to devote to riding.

I submit that it's not wrong in the least.

Well I don't drive so that answers that. But there are trail I would like to get to which are 2 hours away and are a 3 hour tough single track. I would definately drive or find another way to that type of trail due to the fact I don't want to be on my bike 7 hours. :)

Well, personally I'd rather ride all the way and log a few extra training miles. However, not everyone can easily ride to terrain ranging from golden beaches to rainforest shrouded mountains all within 40km of their front door. :p

The only trail worth riding in my area is 25-30 miles away. I could ride there, but I'd rather spend my time enjoying the trail, so I drive.

Well one reason for driving to the trail is just plain fear. Many people who cycle on trails are afraid to ride on the road. We have a new trail here in Central Florida and it is a short one. People in a nearby residential area have to go over I-4 on an overpass. I have ridden this overpass for years and found nothing objectionable to it. I read in the paper the other day that the local authorities were getting zillions of complaints from rookie cyclists that the rail on the bridge was "too low" and they were afraid of getting brushed by a car and falling over the rail and off the bridge onto I-4. I was astounded. I never rode close enough to the edge for the low rail to be a problem but many rookie cyclists ride as far to the right as possible because they fear cars.

I don't have enough fingers and toes to count all the vehicles carrying bikes that pass me each weekend as I ride to Stone Mountain.
They're missing out on the extra riding time, exercise, training, whatever.

I know some of these people and have asked them why they do this. Fear is the most common "excuse". :eek: :rolleyes:

FYI: The speed limit around Stone Mountain is 25 and 30 miles per hour and most of the route is one-way with the road separated into two lanes - one for cars, one for bikes, skaters, runners, etc.
Not at all like riding on the "real" roads.

Little to judgemental for me. I don't think you can generalize it is right/wrong to ride/drive to a trail since everyone's particular circumstances are different. If I'm taking my dog, I drive. If I don't, I don't. If the trail is close, I drive if it is not I don't. If you can ride to your favorite trail, feel fortunate.

I do my best to worry about me. I don't give a damn what others do.

Alexey, consider yourself lucky if you live close enough to a trial to ride there.

Not everyone has the luxury of a trialhead within bikable (presumalby MTB) distance.

So what should those folks do?

Yup, I'd be willing to guess that the bulk of us WOULD ride to the trailhead if it were possible/practical. There are no trails within riding distance from me, so I drive. It's really as simple as that.

Originally posted by RonH
Fear is the most common "excuse".

This is interesting since many sources say that more accidents occur on the bike paths / trails than on the roads!


Contrary to intuition, cyclists riding on bicycle paths ... have a higher crash rate than cyclists riding on roads... (http://www.massbikeboston.org/resources/stats.htm)


...the one major study on bicycle accidents [Kaplan 75], shows that bicycle paths or lanes do not reduce the number of accidents on them, but rather increase the number of accidents... (http://www.csua.berkeley.edu/~piaw/accident.txt)


The accident rate on bike paths is about 2 1/2 times the accident rate on roads. (http://www.fifth.simdata.com/linda%20woods/woods081194.htm)

etc...

That being said, I think it's perfectly reasonable to put your bike on/in the car and drive to somewhere that might be a little nicer to ride. Plus, if we're talking about mountain bike trails, maybe they don't like riding their knobby tires on the road. As long as people are making an effort to get on their bikes, I say, "Good for them!"

Tim

It depends. A few years ago I was phenomenally strong and gave anyone grief that didn't ride the eighteen miles to our local trailhead. I've since learned, 1) theres always someone out there that can kick your butt, 2) it's not good to thrash the crap out of your body every day and 3) everyone has different limits, if you friend quavers at riding 1 mile to the trail hop in the car and spread the cycling love.

:beer:

And some people just get bored with the 18 mile road ride / valley trail ride to the actual trail head :)

In Whistler! Come on man! :D It sure wouldn't be fun on a bike with 8" of travel.

Actually I ride a ht :D...no dually for me, I like the technical xc trails over dh. But yes if I had one that ride would suck even more.

I can't afford to fix the damn thing when (not if) it breaks. I will bike to 90% of my trails as they are within an hour ride. But there are trails located in Squamish and Pemberton and just outside whistler that I would get a ride to :)

I can't afford to fix the damn thing when (not if) it breaks.
I know how that goes. I've found that having two bikes is essential, even then I'm occasionally stuck with two dead bikes. Currently I'm learning that the Prodigy stuff my Rocky Mountain came with stinks, the post is bent and the big chainring is worn to nubbins.

Prodigy xc or prodigy dh chainring?

If you have the cash next lp and north shore are tough :) (What RM BTW)

It's a Hammer Race with Prodigy XC rings. I have standard RF rings on my cyclocross bike, so Prodigy has been a little disappointing. This is 2001 stuff, I'd hazard to guess newer prodigy has been improved. Of course, the Prodigy stuff wouldn't be disappointing if it wasn't for the fact that RF makes such nice stuff.

I usually ride on the road – most times I start and end at my house. Sometimes I want to see something different and it’s too far away to ride to in time.

This Sunday I am going on an organized trail ride that is a 1.5 hour drive to get to, but it should be worth it. It's a stretch of abandoned PA Turnpike with 2 abandoned tunnels. I hear that one tunnel is so long that you can’t see the exit from the entrance.

I think that this trail is so unique it’s worth a long drive.

In my younger days I used to ride the roads all the time---drivers were carefull and considerate---I could also keep up with traffic from light to light.

Then about 10 to 15 years ago----something changed----I would be riding and darn near get killed every time out---Now I ride the trails to stay off the road.

Depends on said person's situation.

How does one know where I am going when they see 2 bikes on my rack?

I could be carrying them 3 miles to the LBS for a tune-up or carrying them 250 miles to my daughters house for a weekend visit which includes riding. Maybe they are on my car just so they'll be closer to me.

I guess I just don't understand the point of the question.

Originally posted by Rotifer
It's a Hammer Race with Prodigy XC rings. I have standard RF rings on my cyclocross bike, so Prodigy has been a little disappointing. This is 2001 stuff, I'd hazard to guess newer prodigy has been improved. Of course, the Prodigy stuff wouldn't be disappointing if it wasn't for the fact that RF makes such nice stuff.

also prodigy is really their equivelent to entry level components. :)...

How does one know where I am going when they see 2 bikes on my rack?
I don't think he was slamming anyone with a bike on their car. It's a bit like people who adopt the siege style of climbing versus the alpine style.

Maelstrom - I had thought Prodigy would be the equivalent of XT. But you are right, they are closer to LX.

But driving to the trail head. One passes the neighborhoods where people suffer already from abundance of motorized traffic and just adds to the misery of people, who live there.

Gosh, what an absolute generalization framed in narrow and parochial thoughts!!

We have LOTS of bike in cars and on cars. We have trails and good riding roads 10, 20, 30, 40 50 and more miles away.

If I go to the mountains to ride (80 miles away) I don't see much sense in riding there - especially since it is all freeway.

If I ride on the trails right near my house, I jump on my bike and ride.

My wife does NOT like to ride on the street, so we don't do that together.

Come on, stop being so narrow in your thinking.

We drive to trial heads all the time. There are so many great trails just out side our front door but there are also great trails in the surrounding cities and counties that if you do not drive you will spend the majoraty of your ride time (4 to 5 hours one direction) riding to the trails.
Also, there are a bunch of riders that I ride with that live 3 hours away so we take turns riding in each others area.
Then there is the dh runs only where it would not be fesable to ride our dh bikes to the trails so we shuttle there and then to the top.

Slainte:beer:

Originally posted by Alexey
I can understand when one drives to deliver goods. Or at least goes to the office.

But driving to the trail head. One passes the neighborhoods where people suffer already from abundance of motorized traffic and just adds to the misery of people, who live there.

So one wishes to improve his/her health, breath fresh air, and drives a car with bikes on the rack.

When I see it, I feel an internal protest. Why to not cycle to the trail?
Alexey, I understand the spirit of your post. I, too, muse at the number of cars with empty bike racks that pass me on my bike. I guess people think of cycling as a sport, not
transportation.

I, too, would like to see more cyclists hit the road, but alas, Goliath of Gath shouts very loudly, there. I guess I can't blame them. Modern cities are designed for the "favorite child," the motorcar. Distances, speed limits, attitudes and pavement surfaces all work in favor of driving. Even the way roads climb straight up hills and over them, instead of on more level places, reflects the predisposition to motorized transport design.

I sometimes think I'd like to live in a small nation ruled by a king who cycles obsessively and owns no cars. :)

Anyway, I get your point. Maybe someone will see your example and think, "I can do that, too."

Originally posted by RonH
I don't have enough fingers and toes to count all the vehicles carrying bikes that pass me each weekend as I ride to Stone Mountain.
They're missing out on the extra riding time, exercise, training, whatever.

I know some of these people and have asked them why they do this. Fear is the most common "excuse". :eek: :rolleyes:

FYI: The speed limit around Stone Mountain is 25 and 30 miles per hour and most of the route is one-way with the road separated into two lanes - one for cars, one for bikes, skaters, runners, etc.
Not at all like riding on the "real" roads.
Man, Ron! Stone Mountain is really a great place to ride! Some great hills, too! :eek:

Man, I have had a 28-mile commute day turned into an amazing ride by taking a detour on the way home from work and circling Stone Mountain Park! :) Or, heading out there on a weekend, since I live only 2 or 3 miles from the gate. I often recommend the Park to others who are looking for beautiful places to ride!

(P.S. This is not a "trail." It is a road with a 25 mph speed limit, circling a lake and surrounded by forest, and of course, the "rock" itself: a huge, round-topped piece of granite poking straight up like a giant bald head. I heard somewhere the Native Americans in this area considered it sacred.)

I guess people think of cycling as a sport, not transportation

Yes, that is the neat thing about bicycling, as evidenced by the numerous forums on this website:

Racing
Commuting
Touring
Recreational (soon to be added)
Training
BMX

Bicycling is a lot of different things to a lot of people. And it should be. If it is transportation to someone, it is fitness to someone else and it is a relaxant to a third person. Isn't that great??

Originally posted by LittleBigMan

Man, Ron! Stone Mountain is really a great place to ride! Some great hills, too! :eek:

Man, I have had a 28-mile commute day turned into an amazing ride by taking a detour on the way home from work and circling Stone Mountain Park! :) Or, heading out there on a weekend, since I live only 2 or 3 miles from the gate. I often recommend the Park to others who are looking for beautiful places to ride!

(P.S. This is not a "trail." It is a road with a 25 mph speed limit, circling a lake and surrounded by forest, and of course, the "rock" itself: a huge, round-topped piece of granite poking straight up like a giant bald head. I heard somewhere the Native Americans in this area considered it sacred.)

OK, that's it, I'm on my way! Where is Stone Mountain exactly?

I have to drive to the trails I ride.. Living Downtown, everything is a trek... that's why I bought my truck! Also, how else would I get all my water, gear tools and all the other excessive stuff I have to have with me?

I see your point though, and if I lived close to trails, I would ride for sure! Too bad I don't...

:(

Joe

The only time I drive my bike to a trail is when it's too far away to get there by bike.

Most of my road bike group tow their bike behind their cars to go on our weekly ride. I thought from the beginning, this is cheating.
I ride to the meeting point.. This increases my annual mileage about an additional 1200 miles over my riding buddies.. I am almost as proud of that fact, as the fact my cycling to work, saves about 2200 miles on my car each year..
So I am up from by cycling friends about 3400 miles as base miles, before I even start the training portion of my regimen..