Bike Paths or Roads

Good question, Brian. For me, it's pretty much about availability. I can drop down the hill about 3 city blocks and be on the local rail trail. It's a 5 borough trail and I can get a 20 mile ride loop. The "drop down" is the kicker, 3 blocks of very steep hills at the end of the ride; however, there is a downhill set of switchbacks and a tunnel at the north end of the trail as well. So it's not all flat. My bike shop gig is 5 miles down the trail so it is a good commute. Also, there are multiple points on the trail to exit and pick up a road ride. There are MANY trails here in Western Pennsylvania, all the others are drive-to, minimum of 30 minutes away. I would categorize most of the good backroads road rides the same way, 30 minute drive-to minimum.

The trails ARE a bit crowded, especially in light of the pandemic, and there's always the clueless ones, the dogs even the leashed ones, the unrestrained kids on tiny bikes. A good workout at speed is somewhat difficult. On the major trails, the crowds usually thin out a mile or so beyond a trailhead/entry point, not true for some spots like Ohiopyle State Park on the Great Allegheny Passage.

As far as accidents, I've had two helmet-smashing ones, one on the trail and one on the roads. Even the back roads around here can be hazardous - one of our shop customers is 70 something year old retired Marine, a very active modern bike roadie. Last year riding on a back road, hit-and-run, left for dead and probably would be except a UPS driver came along and stopped. So I guess each has its advantages or disadvantages.

One thing I haven't mentioned is the limited access scenic roads like the Skyline Drive in Virginia or the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia and North Carolina. I dearly love riding these roads, beautiful scenery and wildlife, huge climbs and downhills, camping/cabin possibilities. Some disadvantages there, though, "leaf peepers" in autumn, unexpected weather (rain, fog, temp changes), occasional critters you don't want to meet up close and personal crossing the road, and then there's the long dark tunnels. I guess these would fall under the category of epic rides.

Best,
John "wheelson"

Frame pumps have two uses; a flat tyre and aggressive dogs 

I may be on a different continent but both your experiences sound familiar. 
Luckily I am only two miles away from a network of old railway trails and lots of country lanes that go into Derbyshire and South Yorkshire, although I haven’t got that far yet.

For years I just casually used a MTB on the railway trails as most people do around here but got fed up with the mess me and the bike got into during winter and the rides being slowed down with walkers, dogs and anti-motorcycle barriers (they’re everywhere).

A few years back I decided to buy a road bike after a long long time of not owning one and soon got the bug. Having said that I’ve gone in my own direction with it rather than following the lycra crowd, I’m not a ‘racer’ as such and have little to no interest in any of the apps or using devices, I’m as happy on a vintage 3 Speed as I am one of the road bikes. For me it’s as much about the scenery, clean air, clearing my head and being out in the countryside as it is fitness. I find it timeless, other than a modern car going by I could be riding in any decade and it is relaxing.
For that reason I prefer country lanes and I find drivers are very courteous once on the lanes. All the hazards for me are within the two miles of riding in town beforehand, I nearly got hit twice in the space of ten minutes one day. The first incident was a taxi driver cutting across me on a box junction, the second was a really old guy that pulled out in front of me, thankfully I was going slow and he was apologetic. He just didn’t see me. 

My current rides are usually 20 miles or under, I’d rather get out every other day than do a few bigger rides at the weekend. I have an urban circular if I go out at night or on a 3 Speed which is around 10 to 12 miles, the other rides are as mentioned mostly country lanes going through the odd village.

Id like to try some riverside and canal paths next year when the rules are more relaxed, as it means me driving out to the city, parking up somewhere then taking the bike down a route. 

I think a safe and enjoyable road is is one where traffic consists of one car at a time, not a clump of cars or steady stream of traffic. Those situations encourage tailgating where drivers have reduced visibility, patience, and processing bandwidth.

Brian

Franco - once we get down into Spring and hopefully get the cv19 vaccine, I'll put my bike in the back of the car and meet up with you for a scenic ride if you are up for that?

Interesting choices to think about. The closest true bike path to me is about 25 miles away (The Airline Trail) on the old NY to Boston railway line. I try to get from my home down to the beach areas where the air is cleaner than any other areas around SE CT. I do come through New London on my way home from most rides, but only a small segment is right in the city. I opt for that compromise because the city put in many well-marked bike lanes with signage indicating cyclists can take full lane. The mayor is a friend and was a former lifeguard with me. He still has his Motobecane and is responsible for me getting my Viscounts. Once the lanes went in I contacted him and thanked him personally. The Airline trail is nice for leisurely rides and is well used by all those breathing people. I've been trying to avoid any close encounters with humans too.

I can’t remember the last time I had a flat, watch me have a run of them now.

Potholes are quite bad here, I’ve dented rim walls but no flats. Some of my bikes run old school tyres with minimal puncture protection as well like Raleigh Record and Michelin World Tour.

I find that knowing which roads are bicycle friendly puts me on a safer ride than riding the only nearby bike path down by Jones Beach here on Long Island. I do love the bike path on weekdays when the they are not so inundated. It's well paved but extremely windy on some days. It's basically 5 miles north to south down to the beach and then 3.6 miles out to the east along the Ocean Pkwy. Next year the east-west section will be opened with a 10 mile extension. I can't wait for riding into a 13.6 mile headwind! The east-west stretch is loaded with head down aerobar riding triathletes hammering away. A few years back, I finally convinced my wife to get out for a real ride (not spin class) on the path. That didn't work out too well as she got rear ended by a guy riding with his head down on the east-west raceway section and hasn't ridden outside since. The north-south section is loaded with families with little ones going down to the beach and is equally hazardous. The idea of a path/rail trail just for bikes and non motorized travel sounds better than the reality for me.

NY State is scheduled to complete the Empire Trail by next year. The idea of a continuous route from NYC to the Canadian border and Albany to Buffalo along the Erie Canal is intriguing and would be fun to tackle if and when I retire and hopefully still capable of long rides. I've ridden the section north of NYC (North County Trailway, Putnam Trailway, Dutchess Rail Trail, Walkway over the Hudson) and found them enjoyable and less hazardous than Jones Beach, but it's a car trip to get started and I prefer just heading out the door on my bike.

Brian had previously mentioned Le Petit Train du Nord up in Quebec, Canada. I've ridden the section around Mont Tremblant many times as we've vacationed there for years. Highly recommended! Great memories of doing the Petit Train du Nord run section of the inaugural Ironman 70.3 Mont Tremblant back in 2012. Some sections are paved and some are hard pack gravel easily ridden on skinny road tires. Like Brian, plans for 2020 were of course covid cancelled but I'm signed up (and hoping it will be safe) to be back for the sprint triathlon in 2021 and will of course be back riding the LPT du N!

One problem with bike trails is that they usually exist where you don't need them and are missing from places where you do. In urban areas, former railway routes are often built over, either by design or by encroachment, so many long distance trails have on-road segments through these busy areas. In rural and suburban areas the trails often run parallel to, and sometimes adjacent to, lightly trafficked roads that have better pavement and more points of interest.

Brian

Oh my word...that sounds like a great thing to aspire to. Imagine that? I'd love to see a country that way