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Backroad toursMaybe going out hunting for the perfect trail is a little too much. Perhaps a cycling tour of the roads less traveled, such as through the Chickamauga Battlefield, would be more your speed.If that’s the case, consider checking out Velo View Bike Tours, which recently relocated to the Scenic City from Austin, Texas. Offering everything from brisk day tours here in the city and surrounding area, to three-day trips through the Cherokee and Nantahala national forests, to weeklong vacations through the Rocky Mountains, if you’re looking for a way to get in to cycling in the area — or just like the idea of guided tours through some of America’s most scenic regions — check out Velo View Tours at veloviewbiketours.com.
As summer stretches the sunlight into evening hours, giving us more time outside, it can be a great season to scout out new mountain biking trails, which are often cooler than one might think. But with a whole world of trails to choose from, trying to get outside your comfort zone can be, well, discomforting. Thankfully for you, REI and the International Mountain Biking Association have come together to create the MTB Project App.
Easily accessible both on- and offline, the MTB App has catalogued over 72,000 miles of mountain biking trails across the globe, from those in Tennessee to those in Ireland, New Zealand and more. Featuring reviews and need-to-know information about the trails, this is one of the best ways to find a new favorite cycling path nearby or far, far away, complete with graphs showcasing average precipitation and temperature to help you determine if you’d even be interested in the trail this time of year.
How are 72,000 miles (and counting!) of trails catalogued? Simply enough: By you. If you’ve got a favorite trail tucked away out on the Cumberland Plateau and you don’t see it on the list, consider adding it. You might be able to introduce other cyclists to a little slice of paradise.
There are just under 300 different trails mapped out in East Tennessee alone, so it’s almost guaranteed there’s at least a few you haven’t checked out yet.