Mountain Biking Louisiana
Mountain bike buying advice, please?

I am looking to buy a mountain bike. I live in Louisiana, so there are no mountains just flat dirt road trails. I can not afford an expensive. What should I look for in a used one at a pawn shop or even a new cheap?

Buy a new one is quite expensive. If you are looking for a used bike you want a good brand. I do not know all the good brands, but someone in a bike shop would quickly fill on what brands to look used. I was lucky and got a Trek had a second store for $ 70. This is a new $ 250 bike. Everything worked – I could not believe it. But his fixation is not rocket science, so if you can get a brand well spent, can afford to make some repairs. page Louisiana roads good sound – I'm in Montana, where everything is up and down.

Mountain Biking Louisiana

Road Trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina: Banner Elk Mountain and Grandfather

One hot day last summer and stifling countries in the plain of the North Carolina, me and my bike friend thought it was time to make plans for a visit on weekends. Not wanting to spend too much time to get there, but certainly want a change of scenery and escape the stifling summer heat, we decided to check the area Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains, about an hour and a half drive from his home in Mooresville, NC

This Friday, we took leave work two hours earlier, we packed our bags and set up our pigs 77 to I 40, the destination Banner Elk, North Carolina. We turned off the Interstate in the foothills of Morganton, then a cruise through the small Mayberry as a people, soon we will look in the curves, Table Rock and view past many mountains, the heat of summer is already melting. Occasionally stuck behind a local, not in a hurry to get anywhere where, soon passing lane and threw in our way.

We've got 105 in Linville and we knew we were almost there. Crossing Next 7 miles to Grandfather Mountain Shadow, we arrive at Tynecastle stone buildings, turned left down the valley and past the sugar the town of Banner Elk. We had reservations in Banner Elk Inn Bed & Breakfast, turned right at a red light and does not take long to check-in

Be the cocktail, we stretched our legs with a cool stroll from the city and visited some local bars, then crossed the street and went to the stone walls has benefited an excellent steak dinner.

Saturday is a day to visit the region. After a good breakfast in the hostel, we saddled and has directed to Linville Falls, we caught the Blue Ridge Parkway. Heading north to Blowing Rock, Blue Ridge Parkway is full of winding roads and mountain views, one the best ways to travel in the mountains of North Carolina.

Shortly after reaching the green road, we find the Linn Cove Viaduct. A marvel of engineering, the bridge is a raised deck around Grandfather Mountain for about eight miles and has some of the most beautiful mountain views on the promenade. Designed to help bridge is a good example of Mother Nature and man did it live. We stopped to take a walk along the road that passes under the Linn Cove Viaduct For better view of the impressive architecture.

Julian Price Park was the next step of the walk, with a primitive camp and a beautiful lake which offers excellent trout fishing. The park extends over 4,000 hectares and has 25 miles of trails. An amphitheater, picnic areas, rental Canoe and Julian Price make a great place to spend the day. We spent a couple of hours, then moved to Blowing Rock.

We have left the Blue Ridge Parkway at Moses Cone Memorial Park, extracted from the craft center, and moved to Blowing Rock for lunch. In return, Boone took the road back from the Appalachian State University, and rose again to 105 Banner Elk.

Back at the hostel, there had a lot of light left so we took a short break, jumped back on the bike and headed for the mountain to Valle Crucis. A narrow mountain road funny with a rope really means in a zigzag pattern on the upper path through the mountains had great views of the mountains to move houses, shelters, farms horse, and some quantitative bed breakfast nestled in their own corners of the mountain.

Valle Crucis is a very rural community, its center operations is the mast general store, we stopped to see in a glance. The family of the mast has a strong presence here of two shops and the inn Mast, one of the best in retirement and many in the region. Here may come when you really want away from. A mountain lodge with two breeding of quality horses for those who love to climb things alive.

On the way back to 105 Banner Elk, we enjoyed ourselves so much in these tight little roads that he decided to go to a maximum of seven demons, a tourist ski holidays with Hawksnest Golf Resort and thick at the top mountain.

After a day of riding again in Banner Elk we go to happy hour in Bayou Smokehouse and Grill and is stayed all night, down steep Brewski, Texas Style Bar-B-Que, and some great Louisiana Cajun cuisine.

Sunday was the day to win the Big Daddy all, the grandfather of the mountain. After being on the road all day Saturday, Today, we went hiking serious.

With the highest peak in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Grandfather Mountain is located on the eastern continental divide and hosts the annual gathering of Scottish clans and Highland Games. We McRae Meadows and paid the $ 14 per person to enter the mountain of private property. Parked Briefly Museum of Nature and had a quick tour habitat for wildlife, animals from the region on display in their natural habitat.

As we headed to the Mile Bridge High, we could see the clouds racing through the gaps between the peaks. It was cold and cloudy visibility in foggy day, as so often in the mountains North Carolina, and was the best patches. But we were there for hiking, trekking and that's what we did.

We began our trek to Calloway Peak, and to be in the middle of summer, we had plenty of company. The trail is well marked that leads us through difficult terrain easily, with ropes and wooden ladders that help us to scale rock walls, and several open views where we recognize Mt Mitchell to the horizon, and condominiums higher sugar Sugar Mountain as we have seen in the cloud below us.

Never reached the summit of Pico Calloway, the more you go the more difficult, but we did after getting a good workout, and the increase was almost as difficult as climbing. We returned to the parking area the beam, held our breath and then mounted our bikes for the rest of the trip. It is good to have the vibration of the road with us again, and when we left the foothills of Morganton, the fresh mountain breeze and were to become a pleasant memory.

If on a bike, car or truck, a trip route to the Blue Ridge Mountains of Carolina North is a great way to beat the heat. The area around Banner Elk and Grandfather Mountain is dotted with holiday homes people throughout the Southeast, a large proportion to escape hot, humid summers of Florida.

Outdoor activities abound throughout the year with the Skiing and snowboarding in winter and hiking, fishing, kayaking, rafting, tennis and golf, camping, or simply cross the road in spring, summer and autumn. Whatever your pleasure, Banner Elk and Grandfather Mountain in the Blue Ridge Mountains is a great destination for the trip of the great American road.

About the Author

A former resident of Banner Elk, Michael
Talbert currently resides in Jacksonville
Beach Florida and is webmaster for Biker Leather Ltd., an online retailer of leather motorcycle jackets, chaps, and accessories.

Small towns with outdoor activities?

Well, I live in New Orleans, Louisiana, where many people live and there are many crimes, so I decided to go elsewhere and you want to go to a small town where few people and not much crime. I want to go where there are mountains (and mountains of love), and cold place with outdoor activities such as sailing on the lake, mountain hiking, biking, race walking (you know what I mean) but also provides a balance in housing, employment, health, art and entertainment. Please please give me suggestions (I prefer the western United States).

Olympia Washington sounds like the place for you! :] I live there and love is a nice place to live

Mountain Biking the Comite Trail

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