Southern Indiana Trails

Southern Indiana Bike Shar e Our Bike Share Program is a personal initiative to collect used bikes and bike parts to restore for donation. Each bike will cleaned and retored to proper safe working conditions, which means all working parts will be inspected, repaired or replaced. We are dedicated to the idea that a used bike can have a direct impact on a child's freedom, self-esteem and mobility. What does a bike mean to a child? With a bike, a kid can ride to parks and playgrounds, go for a spin with friends, get to a boys and girls club, mentoring or after-school program, and stay active. Do you have a kid's bike that you no longer need? You can: ....give a child the chance to be active, get outdoors and have fun! .....give youth a healthy, positive focus .....do something good for the planet .....teach kids about giving Donate your used bike to help another child.

By Rich Davis ULLIN, Ill. — Think of it as Louisiana without the alligators, a southern swamp in a northernmost range. That's how residents of this area near the tip of Southern Illinois (about two hours southwest of Evansville) describe the Cache River State Natural Area with its wetlands, ancient cypress trees and a yellow songbird known as a prothonotary warbler. The warbler arrives here each spring from the tropics, one of many small, quick and beautifully colored migratory birds that push the number of bird species to around 200. Drive, hike or even bike these parts and you'll come upon an elevated boardwalk south of the interactive Wetlands Center (visitor information) on Illinois 37 — a place where the stubby "knees" of cypress trees pop up from underground root systems and river birch give way to American elm and swampy tupelo trees. A 10-minute drive east brings you to Heron Pond. A rock trail leads over a bridge and past a soft man-made rapids and trees chew...

One of the most common practices to improve athletic performance is through nutrition for mountain biking. Athletes who participate in endurance riding know about getting nutrition for mountain biking by storing extra energy in the muscle tissue for endurance riding. The right nutrition for mountain biking is essential for endurance riding and is commonly referred to as "carb loading." Glucose is the fuel the body extracts from the breaking down of carbohydrates. The glucose, called glycogen, is stored in the liver and muscle tissue. The more glucose (bloodstream) and glycogen (muscle tissue) the body can access when in endurance situations the longer the muscles will continue performing at an optimal level and avoid fatigue. The newest scientific findings suggest that athletes should eat a diet of 70 percent carbohydrates three days prior to an event, and physical workouts should get shorter prior to an event. The increased carbohydrates should come from reducing protein and...

There are so many new, fancy and very useful products for bicycling enthusiasts. With all of the new equipment, gadgets and gizmos, it is hard to remember what is necessary. What is the basic bicycle safety gear that everyone who loves riding their bike should own? It doesn't matter why you love to ride. You may be a recreational bike rider. You may ride your bike down the street and back with your newly riding child. Or, you may even be a very serious bicyclist who rides several miles every day. Whatever your reason for getting on your bike, there are some basic things you should never ride without. A bike helmet is an obvious staple when acquiring bicycle safety gear. This applies whether the rider is an adult or a child. Unfortunately, many riders do not like to wear them. This makes no sense when weighing the benefits against the possible damage to you hairstyle. Children should always wear knee and elbow pads when out riding their bikes. Even children as old as 10 years should...

Older story but interesting. 2,500 overtaking motorists in Salisbury and Bristol were recorded Cyclists who wear protective helmets are more likely to be knocked down by passing vehicles, new research from Bath University suggests. The study found drivers tend to pass closer when overtaking cyclists wearing helmets than those who are bare-headed. Dr Ian Walker was struck by a bus and a lorry during the experiment. He was wearing a helmet both times. But the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said tests have shown helmets protect against injuries. To carry out the research, Dr Walker used a bike fitted with a computer and an ultrasonic distance sensor to find drivers were twice as likely to get close to the bicycle, at an average of 8.5cm, when he wore a helmet. The experiment, which recorded 2,500 overtaking motorists in Salisbury and Bristol, was funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. Dr Walker, a traffic psychologist from the University's Dep...

Wildflower Extravaganza Saturday, April 3 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 2:30 p.m. Audubon Museum Join us for three leisurely hikes to see the vibrant forest flora. Additional programs for all ages will also be available. 9 —10:30 a.m. Wildflower walk - Audubon Museum - Front Porch Learn about the traditional uses of native wildflower plants on this one-mile hike. 11 a.m.—12 p.m. Wildflower walk - Audubon Museum - Front Porch Learn about the traditional uses of native wildflower plants on this half a mile hike. 12 —12:30 p.m. Kids Wildflower Scavenger Hunt - Audubon Museum Back Porch In this 30 minute program for children ages 3-5, we’ll learn about shapes, colors and our local flowers on this easy paved trail. 1 —2 p.m. Making Your Yard a "Backyard Habitat” - Museum Meeting Room Naturalist Julie McDonald takes you through the steps needed to make your yard into a National Wildlife Federation "Backyard Habitat." You'll see examples of the ha...

Most every gardener strives to grow the best, most stunning flowers around, but that goal is hard to get hold of. Whether you want to raise prize-winning blooms or just have a home garden filled with of beautiful flowers, there are some things you can do in order to ensure your garden is in the best shape possible. Soil chemistry counts The chemical make-up of the soil is one of the biggest factors that contribute to the success or failure of your garden. If the soil in your planting beds is poor in nutrients, it is unlikely that your plants will thrive or produce those beautiful flowers that you want until you enrich the soil with the nutrition the plants need. Don't make the mistake of thinking that the soil chemistry is the same all over your yard. It is important to test the soil in each area of your property that you plan to plants, especially if the areas are away from each other. This can be important if part of your property is on a slope, or if it has been used for other t...