Originally Posted by
iim7v7im7
Hi,
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I have both semi-country roads and a dirt/gravel canal path near my home. I also have a beach cottage in RI where there are plenty of country roads of varying quality to ride. I am fairly tall, 6'-2"+ and a bit heavy at 215 lb (could lose about 25 lb.). I used to mountain bike with my friends 15-20 years ago but haven't really biked in over a decade now. I am in the process of visiting 3 or 4 LBS within a 30 minute radius to see which shop I like most and of course to choose a bike. Because the canal path is so convenient as an option, I have been looking at bicycles that can be ridden on the dirt/gravel surface (Cyclocross and Hybrids). The 4 dealers near as a composite me sell:
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Thanks,
Bob
So, which canal path are you close to? The D&R feeder path from Washington's Crossing to Frenchtown is nice and certainly doable on a road bike. (Mine has 28 mm tires.) The D&R main path used to be nice but hasn't been repaired as well after storm damage. However, it can also be ridden on 28 mm tires. A few months ago I rode the section from Princeton to South Boundbrook. It was doable, but a little rough in spots. Also the section south from Washington's crossing, through Trenton and up to Princeton is also doable (rode most of that last year just to see, since the section in Trenton had just been opened).
When I first got into biking, I spent a lot of time on the paths. However, it gets old after a while. Riding on the roads gives you a much bigger variety of routes and terrain, so you can see something a little different every time out. You can find hills that you have to walk up the first time, but eventually you meet the challenge and ride up!
- Ed