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PHOTO (LEFT):
A
fisherman casts
into the Flat River
near the King
Milling Dam,
built as part of
the Main Street
Bridge, a section
of the North
Country Trail in
Lowell.
PHOTO (BELOW):
Bicyclists use
a small bridge
spanning the
Paint Creek on the
Paint Creek Trail
in Rochester.
While the project continues to roll on, the state has be-
gun looking for private donors; $160 million in donations
are needed in order to receive matching dollars from the
state and federal grants.
Somewhat complicating matters is the goal to have most
of the new trail be American Association of State Highway
and Transportation Officials compliant—meaning it must be
10 feet wide with a 2-foot shoulder on both sides—in order
to qualify for those federal grants. Bennett confirmed some
of the new trail, including a stretch near Clarkston, can only
sustain an 8-foot path due to road and drainage issues
along the proposed route. In those cases, alternate sources
of funding—most likely private donations and other, smaller
federal and state grants—will need to be found.
Building Awareness
With such a broad timeline for completion, the Iron Belle
hasn’t gotten a lot of publicity after its initial unveiling.
When asked, many of the residents and businesses
using the community trails say they have never heard
about the Iron Belle, but are excited at the idea.
“Business would definitely increase with more trail
users,” said Tanner Scheys, who works at the Rochester
Bike Shop, near the Paint Creek Trail. “The crushed lime-
stone is bad for drivetrains but great for us. I imagine
we’ll be selling a lot more tubes, doing more repairs.”
Paint Creek Trail users account for about 60 percent
of the shop’s business, and that number would only grow
with an influx of trail users. Surrounding businesses,
including several bars, a number of restaurants and one
microbrewery, would also benefit, Scheys said.
Public awareness will be raised over time as Iron Belle
signage is introduced along the trail. The first signs near
84
No. of days it
took Chris Hillier
(hillierhikes.com)
to thru-hike the
developing Iron
Belle
WINTER 2017 RAILS TO TRAILS
11
B E A U T Y A N D S T R E N G T H
SO YOU WANT TO BIKE THE
IRON BELLE?
Here are a few tips for when you decide to tackle part—or
all—of the Iron Belle Trail:
y
y
USE WIDE, FILE-TREAD TIRES.
There are enough sur-
face changes on the Iron Belle that you’ll need a great
all-around tire—one that’s knobby enough to handle
loose gravel and dirt but smooth enough to keep you
rolling fast on paved surfaces.
y
y
GET LIT.
Very few spots on the Iron Belle have lights on
the trail, and you don’t want to be miles from the nearest
town when the sun goes down and you can’t see holes
or dips in the trail.
y
y
CARRY A PAPER MAP.
Relying on digital maps or GPS
files is good, until your device runs out of juice. Enlarge
and print out the sections of the trail you’re planning to
ride, making notes of food options and services along
the way. Be sure to stick them in a clear gallon-size
zipper-lock bag to keep them dry in case of rain.
•