Mark's Bike Tock: 2025

Martins Bike and Fitness

Martins Bike & Fitness is a retail store in Ephrata, PA. I purchased a Giant Roam II bike there in 2013. I researched and tried many bikes before settling on the Giant Roam. My local bike shops did not carry the Giant brand. Martins was a high volume dealer that had Giant bikes in stock at at an attractive price point. Since then I purchased another bike for my wife and a carbon frame for me.

I try to utilize my local bike shop whenever possible but I liked the Giant brand. I do stay local for accessories and repairs. Recently I decided it was time for a new helmet. My local shop was closed that day and I remembered Martins was building an addition the last time I had visited a few years ago. I thought I would take the two hour ride to get the helmet and see the expansion.

When I walked into the expanded store I was awe struck. This is one of the the largest bike shops I have ever been in. There are other retailers that sell more bikes but they generally have many locations. Martains is concentrated in a single location. The store has a large staff and everyone I delt with was very knowledgeable. They have a dedicated test track to facilitate trying out your favorite bike before buying.

The store also contains a museum. Their museum does not have nearly as many antique bikes as Bicycle Heaven but the bikes they do have are professionally displayed on raised platforms with railing and proper lighting. It creates a true museum experience rather than a bike shop filled with old bikes.

The store is located at 1891 Division Highway (Route 322), Ephrata, PA. Find it at: (40.14849, -76.12252)

For more information visit their website.

Bike Shop

Museum

Courtney Campbell Causeway

The Courtney Campbell Causeway is located between Clearwater and Tampa, FL. It incorporates a four lane highway and a paved bike path. It is approximately eleven miles long. The bike path has nice views of Old Tampa Bay along its entire length.

About halfway across is a paid parking area (27.97187, -82.61127). There are porta potties here. The bike path is across the highway but there is a traffic light that facilitates crossing. This is where I started. Perhaps there are better options, but I am not familiar with the area.

On the day I visited in May of 2025 there were a significant number of people, but the trail didn’t feel the least bit crowded since the people were spread out and the trail was very wide. The trail is flat, just a few feet above the water. The exception is a couple of bridges that allow marine traffic under the road/bike path. The nice part is that the bike path bridges are separate from the road bridges. The remainder of the trail is protected from the roadway by guard rails and or trees.

More information at:

Visit Clearwater

Florida Scenic Highways

Video of my ride:

Grand Canyon, South Rim

While visiting the Grand Canyon South Rim I rented a bike from Canyon Adventures Bicycles. The outfitter has three suggested bike rides; I started with none of the above. I started on the greenway trail that parallels the main park entrance road between the visitor center (where the rentals are) and the town of Tusayan. This trail takes you through the Kaibab National Forest. There are a few ups and downs and no views of the canyon, but it was a peaceful ride in a wonderful forest setting. The trail is set back from the road and you can see cars only occasionally. It was very smooth, paved but the ups and downs and the 7 thousand foot elevation provided a bit of a workout for this flatlander (I live at 200 ft elevation) used to nearly level rail-trails. The trail is about 6.5 miles long. I started at the visitor center and didn’t see any noteworthy wildlife on the way out but rode by three elk on the return. These were near the campground. I later learned this is a favorite hangout for elk.

The next leg of my ride was what the rental shop calls the Yellow Ride. This is a paved bike path from the visitor center to Grand Canyon Village. This is kind of an urban setting within the forest. You pass offices, maintenance buildings, homes, rental lodging, a supermarket and various other buildings. The route then moves to a road restricted to shuttle busses. The road takes you to various lookouts overlooking the canyon. You must park your bike and walk out to see spectacular canyon views. The total mileage to Hermits Rest is just over ten miles, half in the urban setting and the remaining portion on the shared road. I generally don’t ride anywhere where there are cars but the buses were infrequent and I was sure the drivers were alert for cyclists. I encountered another elk on this road. She was walking down the shoulder toward me. I crossed the road and we both continued on our way without incident. This route has a half mile section with a 6% grade. If you choose this route or the Kaibab Forest section I did first you may want to consider an ebike also available at Canyon Adventures. I turned around just past Monument Vista for the sake of time and possible rain.

The rain still had not materialized by the time I returned to the Visitor Center so I ventured on to the so called orange route. This goes from the visitor center toward Yaki Point. The first half mile or less bypasses the busy part of the rim trail where bikes are not allowed. It then joins the rim trail where there are less pedestrians and bikes are allowed. Here the trail is immediately adjacent to the canyon rim sometimes just a couple of feet away. The views from your saddle are nothing short of spectacular. There is no need to get off the bike but the views beckon you to stop and gaze at the sight. There were still some walkers but you won’t want any speed here. The adjacent canyon is a safety issue and the views must be admired at a slower pace. This route is three and a half miles.

My total mileage for the day was 26 miles. There were a few miles on the red route that I did not ride. I would not come here just to ride but if you are a cyclist and are planning a trip to see the canyon be sure to include time for a bike ride. It was very memorable for me as I expect it will be for you. Note, this is a national park and there is an admission fee.

For more information visit:

National Parks website

Canyon Adventures