Freedom Park has some wicked mountain bike trails!
Located in James City County, Virginia. The Eastern Virginia Mountain Bike Association made these trails right. Whether you want wooden features or natural terrain, they'll keep you smiling.
small, medium, large, or just go around
riding the Logness Monster
Colby Swamp
There are some big jumps/drops and 20 emergency access points along the trails.
unlike Bay Area land managers, they embrace the mountain bike
Articles on biking for beginners appear everywhere, but I rarely see a good one.
Americans seem intent on reinventing the wheel when it comes to biking. The authors pull random and often misguided tips from a hat. Look to countries where everyone rides!
BM: Made of lightweight, fast-drying materials that stay cool, this shirt includes back pockets to hold snacks, keys, and other essentials.
GP: If you don't race, loose is better. Loose clothing ventilates better and stays off your skin. Untuck your shirt, so it flaps a little and keeps the air moving around your skin.
On shoes
BM: Invest in a clipless system, which increases power and efficiency and smooths out pedal strokes by connecting cleats on your shoes to the pedals.
GP: As long as your pedals aren't dinky, any shoe does the job without flexing because the shoe is supported by the pedal. The benefits of pedaling free far outweigh any real or imagined benefits of being locked in.
On gloves
BM: They prevent blisters and pressure pain from the handlebar and protect your hands in case of a fall.
GP: I can see gloves (or mittens) in cold weather, but they're far from essential in fair weather.
On helmets
BM: That's your only brain up there. Strap this on to help keep it safe.
GP: Are you safer wearing a helmet and overestimating its protection, or going helmetless and riding more carefully?
On buying bikes
BM: Buy the highest quality bike you can afford. For $500-700, expect entry-level components; a frame made of no-frills steel or aluminum; basic wheels. For $1,000 to 1,500, expect mid or entry level parts; a midquality steel or aluminum frame, maybe with carbon fiber mixed in; lighter, stronger wheels. For $1,500 to 3,000, expect upper-level components; a frame made of some high-quality aluminum or steel or midlevel carbon; lighter wheels.
GP: The lighter bike is good for maybe five years before it breaks or you just don't trust it anymore. The heavier one may easily last twenty or thirty years because it can withstand scratches and minor gouges. The more useful steel bike let's you ride tires up to 38 mm so you can ride it over any paved surface with remarkable comfort, because you can lower the pressure in the wide tires. It fits fenders, so it's a year-round, all-weather bike, not a part of the year, good weather one. A weight difference of a few pounds is hard to get worked up over, especially when the "extra" weight makes the bike better.
My school year has ended and tomorrow I will be on vacay in MN & VA!
I would like to thank all the school staff, volunteers, parents, and my coworkers that make my work possible! We bring the joy of biking to thousands of kids each year.
A perfect ride on Coast View Trail. I've got my bike and body dialed-in and it feels great!
Leopard Lily? on Old Stagecoach Road
mandatory ocean shot
I stopped for a family of quail on Dias Ridge(stock photo)
Eucalyptus Ave is a pleasant surprise. This could be a problem road with hurried drivers cutting through the residential neighborhood, but instead the street is great!
Added curves and narrow lanes calm traffic, making room for plants and sidewalks.
