Bicycle Mornings in Cades Cove to Begin

Bicycle Mornings in Cades Cove to Begin

Monday, May 6, 2013

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This Wednesday marks the first day of vehicle-free cycling in Cades Cove. From May 8th through late September, the Cades Cove Loop Road will be closed to motor vehicle traffic on Wednesday and Saturday mornings until 10:00 a.m. in order to allow bicyclists and pedestrians the chance to enjoy the cove without the hustle and bustle of automobile traffic.

Three years ago the Smokies re-paved the loop road and made it an outstanding destination for road bikes. The 11-mile one-way road provides bicyclists with excellent opportunities for viewing wildlife and touring 19th century homesites. During the summer and fall season, bicycles may be rented from the Cades Cove Campground Store (located near the Cades Cove Campground) if needed. For information call (865) 448-9034. If at all possible I would highly recommend bringing your own bikes.

If you wish to explore the interior of Cades Cove via Sparks Lane and Hyatt Lane, you will need a mountain bike or a hybrid.

For more information on cycling in the Smokies, please click here.










Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Airbags.....for cyclists?

Airbags.....for cyclists?

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

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Introducing the Hövding! This "stylish" collar actually takes the place of a cycler's helmet, and acts as an airbag that inflates on impact. In the event of a crash, the Hövding deploys itself by inflating an internal airbag in less than one second, covering the head and protecting the skull from injury.

This short video explains the product in a little more detail:




So, for those that don't wear helmets while riding, would you wear one of these? Would you trust them to actually work?


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Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Cycling season in Cades Cove is winding down

Cycling season in Cades Cove is winding down

Friday, September 10, 2010

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In case you wanted to get one last bike ride around the Cades Cove Loop Road without having to fight automobile traffic, you better hurry. The last day for the road being closed to motor vehicles on Wednesday and Saturday mornings is September 22.

In other words, there are only four more opportunities left this year.

On each Wednesday and Saturday mornings throughout the summer, the Cades Cove Loop Road is closed to motor vehicles until 10:00 a.m. to allow pedestrians and cyclists to enjoy the cove.

As I mentioned in a post earlier this summer, other than walking it, biking the loop is the absolute best way of seeing Cades Cove - especially since the road has been repaved.

For more information on bicycling in Cades Cove, and other areas in and just outside of the park, please click here.




Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Google Maps adds "bicycle route finder"

Google Maps adds "bicycle route finder"

Monday, March 15, 2010

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Last week, in conjuction with the opening day of the National Bike Summit in Washington DC, Google maps launched a Beta version of its new direction finder for bicycle routes.

The new map tool will help cyclists find the quickest, safest way from Point A to Point B.

Apparently cyclists have been advocating for Google to add a layer for bicycles to its "Get Directions" function for some time now.

A petition started by Peter Smith at Google Maps 'BikeThere' received more than 50,000 signatures from bicyclists who wanted the service.

The bicycle route finder uses data gathered on bike paths, bike lanes and low-traffic streets to arrive at the suggested route. Google staffers are emphasizing that this project is in Beta, and have built in ways that users can inject their feedback into the results at the "Report a Problem" area.

The results may not show the most direct route in some cases. Not only safety, but topography is also factored into the route-finding formula so that cyclists can avoid steep hills, etc.

Google has produced a "how to" video explaining how to use the new service:




> Please click here to give the new map tool a "test drive."

> Click here for information on bicycling in and around the Great Smokies.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.

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Cycling Cades Cove: season is winding down

Cycling Cades Cove: season is winding down

Friday, September 11, 2009

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In case you wanted to get in one last bike ride around the Cades Cove Loop Road without having to fight automobile traffic, you better hurry. The last day for the road being closed to motor vehicles on Wednesday and Saturday mornings is September 23.

On each Wednesday and Saturday mornings throughout the summer, the Cades Cove Loop Road is closed to motor vehicles until 10:00 a.m. to allow pedestrians and cyclists to enjoy the cove.

Also, one other thing to consider, the loop may not reopen to bicycle traffic next May as normally scheduled. The loop road will be repaved next spring and could possibly last through early summer, so cyclists may not have access to the road until later than normal next year.

Another good reason to get your cycling fix in while you still can!

For more information on bicycling in Cades Cove, and other areas in and just outside of the Park, please click here.

Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.

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Bicycling the Cades Cove Loop Road

Bicycling the Cades Cove Loop Road

Thursday, April 30, 2009

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Beginning next week, the Cades Cove Loop Road in the Great Smoky Mountains will become a bicycling friendly option for cyclists again. Every year during the summer months, the National Park Service closes the 11-mile, one-way loop to motor vehicles on Wednesday and Saturday mornings until 10:00 a.m. in order to allow cyclists the opportunity to enjoy the cove without the hassle of dodging motorists.

The Cades Cove Loop Road provides cyclists with excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing and touring 19th century homesteads in this historic area of the park. The terrain along the loop is mostly flat, but there are a few, short, steep hills. Although the road is paved, there are many sections of rough and pot-holed pavement. The loop is passable for road bikes, but until the loop is re-paved, mountain bikes and hybrids are probably better suited for this road. The loop is scheduled to be re-paved during the first-half of 2010.

From May 6 through September 23, 2009, the loop will be closed to motor vehicles on Wednesday and Saturday mornings until 10:00 a.m.

For more information on bicycling in Cades Cove, and several other locations in and around the park, please click here.

May 10 - Don't forget Mom!

Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.

Smoky Mountain Day Hikers Store Quality gear and apparel from some of the best outdoor brands.

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Bush to help open national parks to mountain bikes

Bush to help open national parks to mountain bikes

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

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The Interior Department under the Bush administration is taking steps to make it easier for mountain bikers to gain access to national parks and other public lands before the president leaves office.

Yesterday the National Park Service confirmed that it's preparing a rule that will allow decisions about some mountain bike trails to be made by park managers instead of federal regulators in Washington, a process that normally can take years. If adopted, the proposal would likely result in more mountain biking opportunities on public lands.

The plan would eliminate public review and comment for new bike trails, which could be opened in any park area not prohibited by law. Each park manager could designate backcountry trails open to mountain bikes by making a simple notation in an internal document called a “compendium” which is available to the public upon request but receives no public notice or public comment prior to approval. Nor would a park manager prepare any environmental compliance under the National Environmental Policy Act or other laws prior to adoption.

“The pending proposed bicycle rule is a step backward for park conservation. IMBA (the International Mountain Biking Association) is correct to anticipate that such a lax and nearly invisible process will open many more trails to bikes,” commented Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) Board member Frank Buono, a long-time former NPS manager. “We think the current rule is a good one. PEER does not oppose mountain bikes on trails in backcountry areas that are outside of designated, proposed or recommended wilderness but each proposal to allow bikes on backcountry trails should be thoughtfully and publicly considered.”

I really can't think of any trails in Great Smoky Mountains or Shenandoah National Parks where mountain biking would be appropriate (other than those that are already approved: the Gatlinburg Trail, Oconaluftee River Trail, and the lower Deep Creek Trail). For these two parks in particular, it would seem to me that problems with trail erosion as well as potential conflicts with hikers and horseback riders would be too much of a deterrent.

However, I would think that mountain biking in some of the western parks such as Canyonlands, Teddy Roosevelt, or Joshua Tree, as just a few examples, would be appropriate on some of the trails within these parks.

What do you think? Should individual park managers be allowed to make decisions on allowing mountain bikes on trails? Should the public still be allowed to give feedback before any changes are made to trail usage regulations? Should bikes be allowed on any national park trails?


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, hiking gear store, and more.

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