The latest Ken Burns documentary, “The National Parks: America's Best Idea,” began airing on PBS on Sunday. It got me thinking about how the parks are wonderful destinations for bike touring.
The traffic at some of the most popular ones can be daunting; Yellowstone National Park warns about narrow roads and non-existent shoulders.
But in spite of cars and campers, bicycling up to the rim of the Grand Canyon, left, is an experience I'll never forget.
Here are links to some stories I've written over the years about bicycling in the national parks. There are stories about the best parks for bicycling, spring cycling in high-elevation parks, and a new bike route map from Adventure Cycling Association that will visit a half-dozen national parks in the Pacific Crest.
“10 best national parks for bicycling” — August 3, 2009:
National parks might seem like natural destinations for family car trips or RV excursions, but they also have many factors that make them ideal for bicycle travel. ..
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/09/28/bike-travel-and-our-national-park-system/
When the cover of Parade magazine teased a story with “Bike Friendly City,” my wife asked me to guess the city.
I immediately guessed Portland, Oregon. Wrong.
Parade chose Columbia, Missouri, and its bicycling mayor Darwin Hindman, right, as a prime of example of what a city can do to rescue itself from motor vehicle addiction.
It's a good choice. Columbia was one of four US cities in 2005 to be granted $22.5 million in federal funds to become more bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly. The others were Minneapolis, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, and Marin County, California.
So far, the city has begun installing …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/09/27/progress-in-a-bike-friendly-midwestern-city/
Australia's Cadel Evans finished a disappointing year on a high note by winning the road race of the UCI Road World Championships on Sunday in Switzerland.
Evans, who started turning his pro cycling season around with a third place podium finish at the Vuelta a Espana a week ago, won the rainbow jersey in Mendrisio with a commanding solo charge across the finish line.
He finished 27 seconds ahead of Russian Alexandr Kolobnev and Spain's Joaquin Rodriguez and became Australia's first-ever road World Champion.
After the finish, Evans said he looked forward to defending his title on home soil ….
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/09/27/cadel-evans-wins-road-race-at-world-championships/
Although bicycling is a major interest of mine, another is playing trumpet in a community concert band.
So you can probably understand my joy and amazement to see my two avocations combined in The Netherlands by the Trompetterkorps Bereden Wapens. It just makes me smile.
In addition to the fact that they're riding in formation as they play their instruments, they actually sound pretty good. And check out the snare drummer — no hands on the handlebars. (Larger version on jump)….
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/09/26/big-brass-band-on-bicycles/
Elite men's road race is Sunday
Cyclists from Italy and France won gold medals in the women's and under-23 men's road race Saturday at the UCI Road World Championships at Medrisio, Switzerland.
Italy's Tatiana Guderzo won the women's road race in a solo attack from a four-woman breakaway that included the US's Kristin Armstrong in her last professional race.
The Boise, Idaho, pro cyclist finished with the group, but in fourth place, just missing out on a bronze in the road race to complement the gold medal she won Wednesday in the individual time trial ….
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/09/26/gold-for-italy-and-france-at-world-championships-in-switzerland/
The 10-mile trail takes bike riders through urban parks and natural areas.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/09/25/map-of-apple-capital-recreation-loop-trail/
Those of you heading to Wenatchee, Washington, for Saturday's Dam2Dam charity bike ride should consider paying a visit to the Apple Capital Recreation Loop Trail if you have any extra time.
I explored the trail earlier this month on an overnight camping stay in the Wenatchee area during my bicycle tour from Cle Elum, over Blewett Pass and up the Columbia River. The trail passes through natural wetland settings and urban parkland and offers spectacular mountain views from both sides of the river.
The paved loop is a wonderful 10-mile trail that hugs both shorelines of the Columbia River with bike-only crossings at the north and south end. It's heavily used by commuters and recreational cyclists, and it's also an excellent way for visitors to get a feel for the Columbia River environment. ….
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/09/25/biking-the-wild-and-tame-sides-of-the-wenatchee-loop-trail/
Switzerland's Fabian Cancellara streaked to victory at the UCI World Road Championships on Thursday to regain his individual time trial title.
The 28-year-old previously won the title in 2006 and 2007, but this time he did it among home-country crowds in Mendrisio, Switzerland.
Tom Zirbel created some early excitement among US cycling fans as the Clear Lake, Iowa, native lead the ITT bike race going into the final group of favorites. Zirbel, who rides for Bissell pro cycling during the season, ended up finishing just off the podium in fourth place. …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/09/24/cancellara-beats-the-clock-at-worlds-zirbel-just-misses-podium/
My son told me from college earlier this week that some of his buddies saw two guys with a hacksaw trying to steal bikes from a bike rack outside his dorm about noon Sunday.
The guys and gals chased them off and called campus police, who dutifully took a report. All were surprised and amazed by the brazen attempt to steal bikes in broad daylight.
College campuses seem to be frequent targets for bike thieves; lots of bikes left around that are often unlocked or locked with an inexpensive cable lock. At many campuses, bike theft is the most frequent crime reported to police.
Browsing around the Internet, I see that most colleges recommend U-locks over cable locks, which are easily voided by bolt cutters. In fact, the campus police at my son's college sell reduced-rate U-locks to incoming freshmen …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/09/24/hoping-that-bike-thieves-take-the-bait/
Kristin Armstrong of the US won her second World Championship in the individual time trial on Wednesday, following up on her gold medal performance at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
The 36-year-old from Boise scorched the 16.6-mile bike route in 35:26 minutes, beating rival Noemi Cantele of Italy by 55 seconds.
Meanwhile, Australia's Jack Bobridge, a 20-year-old member of the South Australian/AIS bike racing squad, became the under-23 individual time trial champion.
Both individual time trial races are part of the UCI Road World Championships going on through Sunday at Mendrisio, Switzerland. The men's elite cyclists race on Thursday …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/09/23/kristin-armstrong-becomes-world-champion-again-bobridge-wins-for-under-23-men/
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