Rail Trails

Speaking of rail trails (I was in my last message), I believe that the
"Great Allegheny Passage" rail trail is either complete or very close to it.
This would mean that you could ride for over 300 miles from Pittsburgh to
Washington DC and never have to share the road with an automobile. I rode
portions of it a few years ago and it was just a delight. Some spots weren't
so pretty but most of it was and all of it was car free.

I wonder what the longest "car free" rides are in the US. Does anyone know
of anything longer?

Jeff

Jeff Grippe wrote:
Speaking of rail trails (I was in my last message), I believe that the
"Great Allegheny Passage" rail trail is either complete or very close to it.
This would mean that you could ride for over 300 miles from Pittsburgh to
Washington DC and never have to share the road with an automobile. I rode
portions of it a few years ago and it was just a delight. Some spots weren't
so pretty but most of it was and all of it was car free.

I wonder what the longest "car free" rides are in the US. Does anyone know
of anything longer?

Jeff

The GAP is complete (to my knowledge) except for the first 9-mile
stretch from Pittsburgh to McKeesport. There are some issues with
private property owners that need to be resolved before the last few
miles are continuous. However, as far as I know, the intention is to
have the trail complete in 2008. More info is available at the ATA
website (http://www.atatrail.org/).

Best,

Dan

Jeff Grippe wrote:
Speaking of rail trails (I was in my last message), I believe that the
"Great Allegheny Passage" rail trail is either complete or very close to it.
This would mean that you could ride for over 300 miles from Pittsburgh to
Washington DC and never have to share the road with an automobile. I rode
portions of it a few years ago and it was just a delight. Some spots weren't
so pretty but most of it was and all of it was car free.

I wonder what the longest "car free" rides are in the US. Does anyone know
of anything longer?

Jeff



I know there are longer trails out there, but one of my favorites (so
far) is the Withlacoochee (sp?) trail in central FL. It's only 46 miles
but it's well maintained and has lots of nice shady rest stops along the
way.

Ken
--
The bicycle is just as good company as most husbands and, when it gets
old and shabby, a woman can dispose of it and get a new one without
shocking the entire community. ~Ann Strong

On 01/18/2007 12:07:57 "Dan B." wrote:

Jeff Grippe wrote:

Speaking of rail trails (I was in my last message), I believe that the
"Great Allegheny Passage" rail trail is either complete or very close to
it. This would mean that you could ride for over 300 miles from
Pittsburgh to Washington DC and never have to share the road with an
automobile. I rode portions of it a few years ago and it was just a
delight. Some spots weren't so pretty but most of it was and all of it
was car free.

I wonder what the longest "car free" rides are in the US. Does anyone
know of anything longer?

Jeff

The GAP is complete (to my knowledge) except for the first 9-mile stretch
from Pittsburgh to McKeesport. There are some issues with private
property owners that need to be resolved before the last few miles are
continuous. However, as far as I know, the intention is to have the trail
complete in 2008. More info is available at the ATA website
(http://www.atatrail.org/).

Best,

Dan
I think there are quite a lot of potential routes like this in the
U.K., but most are yet to be utilised, expense to metal them is
obviously a consideration.

--

Buck

Give a little person a little power and create a big problem.

http://www.catrike.co.uk

Buck wrote:
snip
I think there are quite a lot of potential routes like this in the
U.K., but most are yet to be utilised, expense to metal them is
obviously a consideration.
snip

Assuming that "to metal them" refers to paving with asphalt, macadam,
chipseal, or some related substance, most of the GAP has not been
metaled. (If my assumption is incorrect, chalk it up to a Colonial
upbringing...)

The majority of the GAP, and most rail-trails in the southwestern
Pennsylvania region, are made hiker/biker-friendly by removing rails,
ties, and ballast, then spreading a thick bed of crushed limestone. Not
nearly as nice to ride as smooth asphalt, but substantially more
pleasant than gravel and dirt, and less expensive in terms of both
material cost and labor to put in place.

On 2007-01-18, Dan B. wrote:

Buck wrote:
snip
I think there are quite a lot of potential routes like this in the
U.K., but most are yet to be utilised, expense to metal them is
obviously a consideration.
snip

Assuming that "to metal them" refers to paving with asphalt, macadam,
chipseal, or some related substance, most of the GAP has not been
metaled. (If my assumption is incorrect, chalk it up to a Colonial
upbringing...)

The majority of the GAP, and most rail-trails in the southwestern
Pennsylvania region, are made hiker/biker-friendly by removing rails,
ties, and ballast, then spreading a thick bed of crushed limestone. Not
nearly as nice to ride as smooth asphalt, but substantially more
pleasant than gravel and dirt, and less expensive in terms of both
material cost and labor to put in place.

What size tire do you use this time of year on the linestone? I just
upsized to 1.75. While it helps the handling in the muck, I sure notice
the extra weight. Judging by the depth of my tracks, I'm sure there's a
little extra drag from the mud too. This freeze/thaw stuff really sucks
in the limestone.

chuck wrote:
snip

What size tire do you use this time of year on the linestone? I just
upsized to 1.75. While it helps the handling in the muck, I sure notice
the extra weight. Judging by the depth of my tracks, I'm sure there's a
little extra drag from the mud too. This freeze/thaw stuff really sucks
in the limestone.

I generally go 1.5" in the winter, and drop my pressure to 75-80 psi.
Good weather, I'll go 1.125" and 100-110 psi

Ken C. M. wrote:
::
:: I know there are longer trails out there, but one of my favorites (so
:: far) is the Withlacoochee (sp?) trail in central FL. It's only 46
:: miles but it's well maintained and has lots of nice shady rest stops
:: along the way.

If that can become a 92-mile out and back, then I'm interested in this
trail. Which is it?

On 2007-01-18 18:32:47 +0000, "Dan B." said:


Buck wrote:
snip
I think there are quite a lot of potential routes like this in the
U.K., but most are yet to be utilised, expense to metal them is
obviously a consideration.
snip

Assuming that "to metal them" refers to paving with asphalt, macadam,
chipseal, or some related substance, most of the GAP has not been
metaled. (If my assumption is incorrect, chalk it up to a Colonial
upbringing...)

The majority of the GAP, and most rail-trails in the southwestern
Pennsylvania region, are made hiker/biker-friendly by removing rails,
ties, and ballast, then spreading a thick bed of crushed limestone. Not
nearly as nice to ride as smooth asphalt, but substantially more
pleasant than gravel and dirt, and less expensive in terms of both
material cost and labor to put in place.

Yes to metal them I mean to surface them, is that term not used
in the U.S.?
--
Three wheels good, two wheels ok

www.catrike.co.uk

Pave would probably be the preferred term here assuming that you are talking
about some hard surface.

Jeff
"Buck" wrote in message
news:2007011918205075249-SPAMTRAPian@trikesandstuffDOTcoDOTuk...
On 2007-01-18 18:32:47 +0000, "Dan B." said:


Buck wrote:
snip
I think there are quite a lot of potential routes like this in the
U.K., but most are yet to be utilised, expense to metal them is
obviously a consideration.
snip

Assuming that "to metal them" refers to paving with asphalt, macadam,
chipseal, or some related substance, most of the GAP has not been
metaled. (If my assumption is incorrect, chalk it up to a Colonial
upbringing...)

The majority of the GAP, and most rail-trails in the southwestern
Pennsylvania region, are made hiker/biker-friendly by removing rails,
ties, and ballast, then spreading a thick bed of crushed limestone. Not
nearly as nice to ride as smooth asphalt, but substantially more
pleasant than gravel and dirt, and less expensive in terms of both
material cost and labor to put in place.

Yes to metal them I mean to surface them, is that term not used
in the U.S.?
--
Three wheels good, two wheels ok

www.catrike.co.uk