DO RAILBIKERS HAVE ONE TRACK MINDS?

It would seem so. I have been building and riding railbikes here in the Adirondack mountains of northern NY since the late 50's. There is something about railbiking that is worlds beyond merely riding a bicycle, and I love it. My wife loves it. My father loves it. All my friends love it. What makes RAILBIKING so much fun? Perhaps the fun comes from doing something wild, not done by many others. I am sure there is more to it than just that. Railbikes are self-steering. You are free to look around and enjoy. Those iron rails winding off into the distant unknown can provide hours of delightful excursion. They often lead through wilderness unexplored by most. You set the pace, so have plenty of time to soak up the scenery. My favorite abandoned railroad goes right past my home. In spring everything is coming alive. Summer brings the wild growth here in the east that can almost bury an abandoned track. Curious wildlife appear everywhere. In fall, the colors, and their reflection in the many lakes and beaver ponds, is almost overpowering. This is not to say railbiking is without mishap. Railbikes are mechanical contraptions. Parts loosen, fall off, or break, as is their nature. Even more exciting, if I dare use that word, railbikes occasionally 'de-rail'. This is railbike talk for "the blankity-blank bike came off the track." My wife's sister got so carried away looking at autumn leaves she leaned away from the outrigger. In slow motion, she fell into the bushes and scratched herself on a spruce stubble. She got back up with a very foolish smile on her face. Be careful. Small trees and bushes growing close to the rail can snag your foot, jerking the bike off the track. Sometimes a sudden stop will make the rear wheel skid right off the rail. You bounce along on the ties, and come to an ungraceful stop. A good railbike design will greatly increase your enjoyment. The quickest way to a happy experience is to pick a design with a history of success, and go with it. The Bentley RAILBIKE is a very good design. No welding is necessary. My front wheel guide makes use of side rollers. This gives you precision steering, minimal friction, and almost no noise. I use a simple handlebar lever to raise the guide slightly for crossings, or full up for normal bicycle riding. My adjustable height outrigger is an extremely rigid geometric structure that is simple and lightweight. The outrigger has excellent ground clearance to avoid brush. Pull 3 pins, and the outrigger comes completely off and folds. Whether or not you choose the Bentley RAILBIKE design, welcome to the unique sport of RAILBIKING.