"Ride a bike, ride a bike, ride a bike" -- Fausto Coppi
 "Ride lots" --Eddy Merckx
It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle." --Ernest Hemingway
"I want to know different environments. I want to ride to them and completely immerse myself inthem. It restores me." --Thom Parks
"Bicycles have no walls" --Paul Cornish
 "Everything is bicycle" --Stephen Crane
"Life may not be about your bike, but it sure can help you get through it" --Hallman
"If the constellations had been named in the twentieth century, I suppose we would see bicycles." --Carl Sagan
"I thought of that while riding my bike."  --Albert Einstein, on relativity
"When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race." --H.G. Wells
"Chasing records doesn't keep me on my bike. Happiness does." --Lance Armstrong
"When the spirits are low, when the day appears dark, when work becomes monotonous, when hope hardly seems worth having, just mount a bicycle and go out for a spin down the road, without thought on anything but the ride you are taking." --Arthur Conan Doyle
"Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride." --John F. Kennedy |
 |
|
|
ALWAYS wear a helmet! Period. This single, simple, affordable piece of equipment can save your life. Here is a brief tutorial from theLeague of Illinois Bicyclists on adjusting your helmet: |
|
|
Trail Tips |
 Please respect the rights of the private property owners along and adjacent to this trail.
Make sure you top off your water supply before heading down the trail.
Help to keep the trail an enjoyable place for the next visitor by taking your refuse to the nearest receptacle.
Watch out for other trail traffic, stay to the right, and let people know that you are preparing to pass them by calling out "on your left" as early as possible.
The tunnel at Tunnel Hill can be quite dark even in the middle of the day. Slow down or stop, let your eyes adjust, and watch for other visitors inside as you pass through.
|
|
Equipment & Tech: Choosing A Comfortable Women's Bicycle Saddle |
Truth be known, she's a lot tougher than most. But, if there is one thing that bicyclists have an opinion about, it's the saddle that they choose to sit on. So, after many tries at finding the perfect fit, these are the top 3 picks that have worked the best over the course of many miles of trail riding.
#2 Serfas Curva |
Serfas is a California company focused on designing and maufacturing performance-oriented bicycle  components and accessories. At 340 grams, it's plenty light on weight but not light on comfort. About $50. A nice intermediate, durable saddle that will serve you well no matter what kind of bicycle you ride. |
|
|
#1 Bontrager Select Women's |
 Sometimes it's the simple, inexpensive stuff that works the best and this saddle fits that description. Nicely padded. Wide design for women's hips. About $40. This one just seems to fit, especially on longer rides, with just the right amount of padding in just the right places. Bontrager, a division of Trek Bicycles, manufactures many other components that appear on bicycles bearing the Trek badge. Very durable. This one has been on the tandem for a couple of years now. |
Next Month: Men's Saddles
|
|
|
#3 Performance EasyRider |
With a name like "EasyRider", it has to be good right? This has all of the latest padding googaws, including a sizeable pair of springs that seem to transmit an overall floating sensation to the  entire ordeal. This can sometimes be a detraction along with the weight, but if you want a cushy, very affordable saddle, try this one out. About $30. |
|
|
|
Some Of Our Favorite Routes & Rides |
|
Tunnel Hill to Vienna - Probably the most popular stretch of the trail, which includes several trestles, the tunnel itself, many creeks, wetlands, and prime Southern Illinois scenery. Excellent in the fall.
Barkhausen to Tunnel Hill - A bit more challenging because of the minor grade going toward Tunnel Hill, most of which is between MM220 to MM215. Historic trestles, protected wetlands, and miles of isolated bliss.
Harrisburg to Vienna - This makes a nice day trip with several opportunities for food, sights, photos, and even a couple of ghost towns.
End-To-End & Back - Challenge yourself! This is a very manageable route that will let you see the entire trail in one day and challenge your abilities at the same time. Make sure to take time to stop and enjoy some local hospitality. We especially like this route in the spring and fall. |
|
|
|
