A journey is like marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it. - John Steinbeck
In honor of National Bike Month, here are some road biking trips and trails you may want to check out:
Underground Railroad Bicycle Route
Cyclists can now pedal the path to freedom taken by African slaves who fled north on the Underground Railroad. The route was conceived in partnership with the Adventure Cycling Association, North America’s largest bicycling organization, and the University of Pittsburgh’s Center for Minority Health.
The history of this remarkable period comes alive as cyclists pedal along the corridor that traces the Underground Railroad route from the Deep South to Canada. This bicycle route memorializes the Underground Railroad, a network of clandestine routes by which African freedom seekers attempted to escape for many years before and during the Civil War. The recently completed bike trail winds along bucolic back roads and incorporates such historic sights as former slave markets and museums, documented safe houses and African-American cultural stops.
Whether it’s a short journey through the rich historic areas along the route or a trek over the entire 2,000 miles, exploring the Underground Railroad Bicycle Route is a great choice for a cycling adventure. Guided tours and self-guided trip maps can be found at Adventure Cycling Association
The “jewel of Sacramento” is the 23-mile American River Parkway. In the midst of one of America’s major metropolitan areas lies miles of parkway bike path that promises pleasant rides to cyclists of all levels. The Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail, recognized as a national trail in 1974, is considered one of the nation’s No. 1 bike paths. This thirty-two mile long trail winds from Folsom to Old Sacramento, paralleling the American River and stopping at many key places along the way. [+]
Jones Beach Bike Path
The premier bike path on Long Island, NY runs south from Merrick Road for 5 miles on islands and over channels of the bays that separate the barrier beach from Long Island proper, and it provides the best bicycling experience available for this kind of terrain. Best of all, it terminates at Jones Beach, which itself is an unmatched oceanfront park with golf course, ball fields, skating rink, and other activities plus numerous eateries. To best enjoy this ride, allow a full day for the complete circuit. Trails.com
Acadia National Park
The carriage paths lacing Acadia National Park, on Maine’s famous Mount Desert Island, are one of Acadia’s unique features. These dirt roads, winding through the island’s interior forests and skirting its lakes and mountains, afford spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean. This is a beautiful tour on a sunny afternoon in August or a dark and dripping early morning in April-when Acadia’s forests and mountains take on an isolated magnificence most tourists miss. Highlights abound, including spruce-framed views of Somes Sound and a dramatic passage along a ridge between Jordan Pond and Penobscot Mountain.Trails.com
Other Suggestions
The Katy Trail is America’s longest rail-to-trail cycling trail (225 miles). Discover limestone cliffs, two Missouri capitals, winery towns & ragtime history.
Prince Edward Island is a cycling paradise - beautiful, unhurried coastal roads, fabulous seafood, welcoming hosts and home to Anne of Green Gables.
George S. Mickelson Trail in famous Black Hills of South Dakota. Cyclists ride through several old tunnels, over dozens of trestle bridges and pass by abandoned gold “placer” mines along the way. The Mickelson Trail is considered one of the most scenic Rail Trails in America!
International Destinations
From Australia to Europe to Sri Lanka or Asia, there’s probably a tour company organizing an international bicycle tour. Whether cycling the coast of Ireland, pedaling the length of Vietnam from Saigon to Hanoi, or biking between Italy’s greatest renaissance art cities, it’s likely you’ll find a tour that meets your special interests.
Of course, these are all just suggestions. There are plenty of guided and self-guided cycling tours available. Some are van supported (your gear and sometimes you ride with a driver) and some are self-contained (everything goes on the back of your bike). Some feature rigourous terrain and elevation and some are appropriate for families with young kids. So whatever your situation, you should be able to find a cycling trip that fits your requirements. Get out and ride!
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