Bicycling About Parker #3
3rd in a series
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Choosing a bike and a Ride to the Pinery
The first decision is where and what sort of riding you're likely to be doing. Long rides through the countryside? Commute to work? Off-road, along trails? Leisurely rides around town with the grandchildren? To the local shopping center?
Different types of bikes suit different activities better, so know what you want to do, and your choice will be clearer. There are numerous gradations between bicycles, and some will fit a couple of categories. The major types are Comfort Bike, Mountain Bike, Hybrid Bike or a Road Bike. A good Local Bike Shop (LBS) should be a good starting point. Lots of folks are choosing a hybrid of some sort as a starter bike.
Comfort Bikes
Comfort' bikes are a type of hybrid closer to a mountain bike than to a road bike. Typically, they come with front fork suspension, seat post suspension and more upright riser handlebars. They're a bit heavier, but well suited to a range of riding conditions. Wheels are fitted with wider road type tires. Slower, but designed for general purpose riding.
Mountain bike
Designed for off road and rougher trails. However, lots of folks choose them for commuting. On pavement/cement they are slower going and harder work, so swap out those chunky off-road tires for tires with a 'road' tread (slicks). They come with no suspension, front and/or rear suspension. Suspension can eat up pedal energy.
Hybrid Bikes
Hybrid bikes are a popular 'cross' between a mountain bike and a dedicated 'road' bike. The frame will have a shape (or 'geometry') which is similar to that of a mountain bike, but in many other respects they are similar to a road bike. They are often a very good choice for commuters or as a first bike for newer riders, and bike shops probably sell more of them than any other sort of bike.
Fitness Hybrids
A 'Fitness Hybrid' is a bit lighter and faster form of hybrid, without the front fork suspension.
Fitness hyrids are also sometimes called 'flat bar road bikes', and they'll usually have a slightly lighter frame, a solid (no suspension) front fork, straight 'flat bar' handlebars, and a bit better quality and type of gearing, which is designed to help you get up to and maintain speed a bit better. The 'entry level' fitness bikes are generally more expensive than the entry level comfort bikes.
Road Bikes
Some call them "racing bikes." Deeper in the frame than a hybrid bike, built from light but strong materials, have really good gearing, and sport those skinny, fast wheels and tires. They also almost invariably come with the curved 'drop' handlebars which allow the rider to get right down and aerodynamic, for riding into the wind and downhill.
Today's 'road bike' is very suitable for a wide range of riding. It's the bike of choice for many of the more experienced riders. But, be conscious of obstacles such as cracked road surfaces or a bit of gravel on the road.
Other bike types
Recumbent Cycles have you sitting down lower, in a seat which has a backrest and with the pedals and crank set forward. Perhaps more comfortable and efficient, but slower up (and faster down) hills.
Folding Cycles are worth considering if your riding is going to be mixed with travel in bus, train or tram. Today's dedicated '
Touring Bikes' sport a stronger and longer frame, to give you an increased wheelbase distance for comfort on longer trips, and they come with mounting points for just about any combination of fenders, racks and whatnot else.
Cyclocross Cycles are a heavy duty road bike designed for rougher use and tougher weather.
More about choosing where to purchase a bicycle in a later article.
Ride to the Pinery
Our ride this week takes us from the Parker Recreation Center to the Pinery and Scott Road and return - a little over 15 miles round trip.
Start from the Parker Recreation Center, NE corner of Lincoln and Jordan. Go ¼ mile east to the Cherry Creek Trail.
Turn right. Go underneath Lincoln and through the open space. The trail to the right just before the fire training facility goes to Clarke Farms and passes by Cherokee Elementary School.
Notice the fire training facility on the left - one of the best in the area. It's fun to watch the training. This year, Parker Fire joined with South Metro Fire to form a large district.
The next trail left - just about 100 yards - goes to the spanking brand new Parker Railbender skatepark, tennis courts, playground and porta potty. This skatepark is likely one of the best in the country, with three different arenas - beginner, intermediate and advanced. Across the street is the two-year-old recreation department field house.
Continue to the memorial bench for Delia Attard, who was a lady, 84 years old, who daily walked miles on the trail. I used to talk with her. She was found floating in a pond last year and could not be revived.
The next intersection will be a trail leading to Mainstret. After that is the unmarked Sulphur Gulch Trail (yes, that is how it is spelled). The Cherry Creek Trail goes to the right, the Sulphur Gulch Trail to the left. Go to the right, crossing Cherry Creek on the bridge.
And, quickly, you encounter "The Hill." This is the only "sort of steep" hill on the Parker Trail System, and it is only about 50 yards long to the top. Shift to your lowest gear, and "spin" up the hill. There is no shame in walking up the hill. Enjoy the ride down - you may get up to 24 mph, depending upon your bike and the wind speed and direction.
Continue south on the trail. After about a mile, near the tires that are sculptured, listen for the peacock. You are going through a lot of open space now owned by Parker. As you approach the shelter and the memorial to children who died at an early age, the dirt trail to your right (west) goes up to Salisbury Park and around a small reclaimed water pond. This is a good place for a walk.
Cross the bridge and you will be at McCabe Meadows, formerly known as East Bank Trailhead, with a restroom, running water, real toilets and a shelter. Time for a break, a drink of water and refill the water bottle.
Go south and you will enter the Parker arboretum where each year more trees are planted and labeled. Then go under the brand new Hess Street bridge, and then past Stroh Ranch, and the soccer fields. There is a porta-potty at the soccer fields, and a new low-water crossing over Cherry Creek.
Continue under the Stroh Road bridge. Across the creek to the west, the larger red building that looks like a barn includes a diversion dam that will move excess Cherry Creek water to the new Reuter Hess reservoir, several miles west. The dam is raised and lowered by air bladders. Inside the building is a huge pump.
You will go through several open gates. Just a few years ago, they were closed and you got to ride through horses and sometimes sheep and cows in the fields.
Soon you will come to a "Y" in the road. Going to your right will take you to Scott Road, where the trail follows a gravel road and crosses a dilapidated old bridge, now closed to cars. Please turn left, and you will be at the Pinery shelter in about ¼ mile. Porta-potty and shelter. The trail continues east to the Pinery - about ½ mile to the big canvas dome.
Stop, look at the beautiful open space, notice the "Rattlesnake Area" sign. Go the extra 1/2 mile to Scott Road and return to the rec center.
You will have gone about 15.5 miles or so.
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