FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Montpelier, Vermont   The era of digital delivery is here and Vitesse Press is at the forefront. You can now easily download our books 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at MindsetSports.com.

We are happy to announce that we’ve teamed up with MindsetSports and can now offer you, our customers, our products as secure eBooks on this exciting, new site. Look inside our books, using MindsetSport's  easy-to-use preview option, by visiting MindsetSports.com now!

MindsetSports.com is the biggest retailer of downloadable eBook, audio, and video titles focused on running, biking, swimming, training and nutrition. eBooks and digital material have zero impact on old growth forests and use very little energy to produce and distribute, so by choosing an eBook, you're choosing to protect the environment in which you spend so much of your time.

The books we have available for download right now are: Canoe Racing, Cycling Along The Canals of New York State, and Bicycle Road Racing.

Yesterday, the Albany Bicycling Coalition, a local advocacy organization, offered a historical tour of Erie Canal artifacts between downtown Albany, the Canal's original terminus, and Cohoes, about 12 miles to the north. Many of the 18 former locks in this stretch have been nearly lost or forgotten, and the original canal long since paved over. But with a little research, it's possible to find them, and our leader did just that.

We probably saw stonework or other evidence from at least 12-14 of these old locks, and many were far off the beaten path and covered with weeds. Others, like Lock 1 in North Albany, have been excavated somewhat and preserved as historic sites. This one was actually a "weigh lock", one of only 3 on the system, where canal boats and their cargoes were weighed to determine the appropriate canal toll.

Continuing northward and passing many of the other 17 locks, we finally arrived in Cohoes, where the falls of the Mohawk River were running high and were spectacular. (Read more)

This route and area is well covered in our book,  Cycling Along The Canals of New York State.  

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Cohoes Falls photo by Bobistraveling

Another spot that Louis Rossi, author of Cycling Along The Canals of New York State, recently revisited during his bike tour along portions of the Erie Canal was the Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum.

The museum is located within the Old Erie Canal State Historic Park in Central New York State. During the 19th and 20th centuries, 96-foot long cargo boats were built and repaired on this site. The Museum tells of the construction of these boats, the workings of the restored dry docks and the social history of the canal area.  It's another wonderful part of the history along the Canalway bike trail.

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photo by Louis Rossi    More photos are here

The weather is changing. The days are shorter and it’s cooler; often wet. Does that mean we have to give up on cycling? Not at all! There is no bad weather; there is only bad clothing! With a little planning, knowledge and organizing, you can continue to cycle all Autumn, and even into the winter.

So reads a great bike blog post which continues:

 

In fact, the fall is a beautiful time of year to cycle. The air is crisp and the leaves are changing to brilliant colors. Here are some pointers for keeping safe and comfortable cycling in the cooler weather.

• With fewer cyclists on the road, drivers anticipate us less, therefore be very aware of what is going on around you and ensure you wear light coloured clothing that is highly visible. Yellow is the most visible. Consider a reflective vest.
• Falling leaves can be slippery; don’t make any sudden moves. Consider putting fatter tires on if you cycle with slicks.  (Read the whole post)

Another post from California says this:

"Why do I like riding in the fall? Because it's the right time of year," said Curtis Fong, whose Stateline, Nev.-based Bike The West produces cycling events in the Lake Tahoe region. "The relatively consistent weather makes temperatures about perfect. The summer traffic is gone so the roads are lonelier. And the changing colors of the aspen trees framed by occasionally snowcapped peaks make for spectacular scenery."

Another great thing about cycling in the autumn is that you're reasonably fit from all those miles you've hammered out during the spring and summer. Plus your next big race or century ride isn't until next spring, so you can actually go out for a spin without feeling like you have to pound out every mile.

From a UK blog:

My main reason for loving this time of year, is because of how quiet it gets when I’m out there on my bike. I can usually go a good few hours without seeing a soul, when Im off the beaten track. This is a far cry from Summer when you can’t go more than 100 yards without skimming a dog walker, or a happy jogger.

In Idaho they agree:

“Local trails tend to be less crowded than in the spring and summer, and as long as trails are dry, most remain rideable into the winter unless there’s seasonal closures to protect big game wintering grounds.”

“It’s a good way to stay in shape and keep the holiday calories from hanging around your waistline.”

 image from frankh

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Here are some bike-friendly camping destinations to check out whether you're packing up the panniers for a self-guided bike tour, craving some sunshine after singletrack riding, or on a quest for some quality time with the family. Feel free to suggest your favorites.

"If you are like many cyclists and don’t like to ride in a pack, you can always create your own solo cycling tour. It doesn’t have to be a grand adventure like cycling across Canada, or even an out-and-back to Merrickville. It can be anything beyond your farthest ride into an area you’ve never cycled before.

Solo touring has the advantage of letting you go where you want, when you want, as fast or slow you want. You can change the route on a whim because there is just you to please.

10 Solo Touring Tips

1. Be prepared. Carry some cash, a credit card, OHIP card, emergency contact information, a fully charged cell phone, and any emergency medications such as your asthma puffer. Don’t forget a vest or rain jacket if the weather is iffy. Bring a map or have the route logged into your GPS. Adventure is good but being lost isn’t..."(Read the whole article by Sheila Ashcroft)

Photo by Francois Schnell

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