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On the Trail

As the weather warms, it is hard to miss the near-constant whizzing of bicycles all along the shoreline - sometimes it seems you can't travel more than five minutes without passing solo riders or groups of cyclists peddling along the streets and local trails. The average person has probably been on a bike in their lifetime, so what makes people take it to the next level? What drives the cycling culture that has a welcome home on the shoreline?

Cycling is by no means a new form of exercise or transportation. People have been riding all over the world for centuries, but the key to cycling's popularity is in its accessibility says Gary Nicol, co-owner of Essex's Pedal Power.

"It is one of the best low-impact forms of exercise you can get involved in," he says. "When people say 'what segment of the bicycle population do you serve' I say 'everyone – cradle to coffin'."

Kids can get started young and older adults who may struggle with balance or more vigorous activities can find reprieve on a bike Nicol says. And while cycling is a good option for all ages, it is also rider-specific.

"It can be anything you want it to be," he said. "It can be a fast walk, it can be a competitive thing, it can be an all-day thing, it can be a half-hour thing so whatever your idea of cycling is and, as long as it makes you happy, then it is what it is."

But what makes the average rider want to join a cycling group? Cycling groups or group rides are available shoreline-wide, with bike shops and cycling clubs offering group rides for cyclists of all experience levels. The Southern Connecticut Cycling Club (SCCC) Vice President Mike Cohen says the club provides rides for all abilities and can turn what is sometimes considered a solitary activity into a group event.

"Like most things, it is more fun to do with friends," he said. "Generally, somebody has the idea of a good route and they have looked at it and they invite other people to share that route with them. And very often afterwards the group will go out maybe for lunch or to a bar and it just makes it into a social experience."

Rich DeCarlo, manager of Action Sports' Branford shop, says he sees people from all walks of life come try group rides. The store offers road and mountain bike rides, and DeCarlo says that while the dynamics of each group of riders is different, the store aims to keep the rides open to all.

"They are called no-drop rides, which means if you are not in the best shape there is always going to be somebody that will ride with you," says DeCarlo. "You are never going to be left behind."

Pedal Power, with locations in Essex, Middletown, and Vernon, also offers group rides – everything from road to mountain to "Bikes & Beer" rides for all experience levels. Nicol says he too sees it as a chance to enjoy cycling in similar company.

"The difference between riding by yourself and riding in a group in my point of view is it is just simply being social," he says. "We are all human beings – we like to talk to each other and experience great things alongside one another and the group ride experience allows that."

For the person views cycling as a primary form of exercise, group rides also provide accountability.

"It is motivating because you know someone else is going to be out there and if you miss a ride somebody is going to say 'hey where were you last week?'" he says. "It is that good-natured cajoling that motivates us to get out and ride our bicycles."

Nicol said there are plenty of store-sponsored rides and groups, and with the proliferation of social media, a multitude of bike group options and easy access to local trail ride guides. But however you chose to participate in cycling, the takeaway is pretty simple.

"It is being part of something is fun," he said.

Where to ride

The winding roads along the coast and up through the woods on the shoreline provide for a scenic ride, but for those who are more comfortable biking a safe distance away from cars, there are numerous off-road trails in the area to pick from.

One such option is The Preserve, a 1,000-acre parcel of land across the towns of Old Saybrook, Essex, and Westbrook. The Preserve includes over 10 miles of trails that are carefully marked. Other option for riders include Westwoods in Guilford, which has 39 miles of trails over 1,200 acres, the Branford Supply Ponds, and the Shoreline Greenway Trail (SGT). While not yet completed, the trail

is envisioned as a 25-mile continuous path designed for cyclists, walkers, and hikers connecting Lighthouse Point in New Haven to Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison.

SGT board member Peter Hawes said the longest sections of the trail are a little over a mile in length, which might not seem like much for long-distance bikers, but the trail is a safe place to get on a bike.

"The two existing sections of SGT give people at least short distances where they can ride, knowing they're safe from speeding traffic and/or distracted drivers on cell phones, etc.," he said. "These trail sections also happen to be in locations that are generally quiet and peaceful, and scenically beautiful."

Also in Madison is the Rockland Preserve. Located up near the Madison/Durham line, the preserve is home to the Singletracks, a flowing tour of the 650-acre property complete with different segments and loops divided by difficulty. The tracks are incredibly popular according to award-winning Singletracks designer Jason Engelhardt, who said conservative estimates suggest 500 cyclists per week use the tracks.

I want to ride my bicycle so what do I need?

When it comes to picking out the best equipment, the trick is to know just how much time you are planning to spend on a bike according to Nicol.

"It doesn't have to be expensive," he said. "Conversely it can be a passion of gear – it is functional artwork, a bicycle."

For someone looking to ride about 20 miles a couple times a week, Nicol said a good quality bicycle shop bike and a pair of cycling shorts are key. Not all riders need competition outfits but Nicol said a pair of cycling shorts can make the bike seat and the cycling motion all the more comfortable.

"The experience can be greatly hindered by a poorly functioning bicycle and if you don't trust it you won't want to go out, and if it isn't comfortable you won't want to go out," he said.

A helmet. There are too many horror stories of cyclists being injured while biking because they were not wearing a helmet and as Nicol pointed out, paying a little bit of money for a good helmet is always going to be less expensive than a hospital copay.

"A safe functioning bike that is the right size for you, a helmet, and a pair of shorts," he says. "That is really all you need to enjoy three or four hours a week of out and about sporty kind of riding."