Tips for finding new cycling routes
Trail hunting
The feeling a cyclist has when exploring a new route is hard to beat. It sparks a sense of adventure and offers a new series of challenges that you will have to overcome. Each curve makes the cyclist go deeper and deeper into an unknown territory, always keeping him in the socket and fighting against that banal feeling of going on automatic pilot, which he is very likely to have when traveling on too familiar routes. Which does not mean that every cyclist has to give up his favorite places in search of a new route; but sometimes, it can be nice to start exploring a new area. Who knows? It is possible that you have an amazing route nearby that has been hidden from you all this time. Here are the best tips that will help you discover new and interesting routes in your area.
Classic map
Long before the era of smartphones and portable GPS systems, a good old-fashioned map was the only way to navigate the route. It is very possible that the printed maps do not contain the most up-to-date information, but they can be a very useful tool for discovering routes. Always look for route maps, such as those you will find at forestry stations or cabins. These maps will usually have all the routes marked and mentions about the difficulty of the routes.
If you are not lucky enough to find a trail map, you will have to make do with a topographical map of your area. Look for secluded parking lots or forest areas that have nearby forest roads or paths and start exploring these areas. Sometimes, if you go to the end of a forest road, you will reach a location with minimal tree cover, from where you can have an incredible perspective on the trails.
It uses digital technology
There is nothing wrong with using technology to find routes. Moreover, this is one of the best ways to find new routes. Mobile phone applications and websites such as Strava, Garmin Connect or Google Earth can be useful tools for finding new routes. Apps like Strava allow users to explore the local circuit that other cyclists have already mapped out for them. A very good idea will be to even follow some cyclists in your area on Strava to see what routes they have covered.
If you are an adventurous cyclist, using Google Earth can be a great way to discover routes. Use this program as if you were looking for routes on a map, but take advantage of the power of technology and zoom in on the areas that interest you, as if you were in a CSI series. Try again this time to find possible trailheads disguised in parking lots, or promising forest roads, which can lead you to a route.
In locations with many trees, look for dark lines, because these can be roads or trails that will lead you through the forest. A stream or a river can also help you find routes, because you will be able to find a foot of a bridge or a route that runs parallel to it.
Local information
One of the surest ways to find new routes is to ask for help from local cyclists. The employees of the bike shop will be more than willing to help you find a bike route, because the more you ride, the more you will buy from them. Many shops even organize group tours, which are not only a great way to meet other cyclists, but also a chance to find new routes. If your local bike shop doesn't have an active cycling group, try using websites to help you find local mountain biker groups. If you can't find a group, you can try to organize a group tour yourself. It can also be useful to talk to other cyclists you meet on various local routes. Ask them what route they are taking that day and see if you can go with them.
Places to avoid
It might be tempting to follow a path that will take you to a private property or an environmentally protected area. But it is your duty to respect these areas and avoid cycling in them at all costs. If you are not sure if you can ride a bike in a certain area, it is probably better to avoid it.
Great for exploring
Finding new routes can be interesting and can even improve a cyclist's skills. New routes require you to think and react quickly to obstacles and unknown characteristics of the route. Often, it takes several laps on the same trail before returning to the autopilot feeling that occurs when you know a route like the back of your hand.
Follow these tips and you will become a real trail hunter! Even when you're driving on various trips, look out the car window and look for undiscovered trails, because trail hunters have the greatest benefits - those that come from conquering virgin trails! Cheers to trail hunting!
Source: mbaction.com
Image source: freepik.com
