The Little Miami Scenic Trail is about to get a lot busier as people come out of hibernation to greet the warming temperatures. Now is an ideal time to ensure your bicycle is ready for the season. To begin, inspect the following:

1. Wheels and tires: Spokes are connected and uniformly tensioned. Tires have remaining wear, with no visible damage to the tread or sidewalls. The tires are properly inflated.
2. Brakes: Front and rear brakes apply smoothly and engage fully.
3. Chain: Chain is well lubricated and shifts smoothly through all gears.
4. Frame, fork, and seat: Bicycle overall is structurally intact with no visible cracks or rust. Parts are firmly attached to the frame.
5. Helmet: Helmet is intact with no cosmetic or other damage. The chin strap fastens tightly. Helmet age is less than 3 (or perhaps 5) years.

Depending on your level of familiarity with bicycle maintenance, you may be able to address one or more of these items (e.g., inflating tires, changing tires and tubes, or lubing or changing the chain) yourself. Your local bike shop stands ready to conduct a tune-up and to address any specific needs.

A few years ago, I brought my bike into a local shop, requesting specific maintenance based on my own inspection. The shop mechanic discovered a crack in the frame that was not evident from a visual inspection, which led me to purchase a new bike. The solution was considerably more expensive than I expected, but I avoided a potential catastrophe.

Now’s the time. Inspect your bicycle today and be ready to enjoy the Little Miami Scenic Trail safely.

by Erick Wikum
March 2024

by Bill Schroeder

About 10 years ago, Little Miami Conservancy began a property rescue intervention aimed at restoring a small but badly abused riverside property. Sadly, describing this property as neglected would be an understatement. Pictures below show shocking neglect and ruination of a place that should have been one of the prettiest on the river. Not only was the riverbank trashed with garbage and junk, but there was also a potential for pollution and a likelihood that the shack there would soon collapse and fall into the scenic river, causing even more ruination.

Joining forces with Warren County Building and Zoning Department, Warren County Prosecutors, local financial institutions, donors, and dedicated cleanup volunteers, the Little Miami Conservancy was able to negotiate an agreement to acquire ownership of this abused property, and rehabilitate it back to life, addressing environmental issues, zoning violations, safety hazards, building demolition and restoration of the land for public enjoyment. Located across the river and a half-mile upstream from the Morgan Family Campground, the property is now known as the Mel Hensey Nature Preserve. It is a beautiful trailside rest stop for hikers and bikers, and other trail users, featuring a great view of the river, a pollinator garden, interpretative signage, and park bench for rest and relaxation with a great view of the River. Since its dedication in 2014 the Mel Hensey Nature Preserve has become a popular rest stop for trail users, featuring a pollinator garden, bees, birds, deer and other wildlife that also live in the river corridor, and are a part of its ecosystem. Many thanks to all who helped make it so, and especially for the Morgan family continuing to keep it beautiful.
Cleanup Volunteers, 2014

Photos Below: Cleanup volunteers pull old truck from river; Hensey family at Preserve dedication; view from the riverbank; Hensey Nature Preserve beauty.

January 2024

During her November 28, 2023 memorial service, Rosalynn Carter’s grandson, Jason Carter, shared some humorous anecdotes. She remembered his every birthday with a card and a $20 bill—even when Jason turned 45. She traveled the world, visiting 122 countries, and even climbed to the Mount Kilmanjaro base camp. In that spirit, she told him that what might appear to be her cane was in fact a trekking pole.

Like a cane, trekking poles provide stability when walking, hiking, or climbing. Nordic walking (sauvakävely in Finnish) is a form of fitness walking aided by specially designed poles. Nordic poles include wrist straps and either sharp tips (suitable for use on the Little Miami Scenic Trail) or rubber nubs (suitable for use on concrete surfaces). Some poles are adjustable in length, which is handy for providing the proper fit. The technique is just an extension of walking with arms alternatively swinging forward and pushing off towards the rear using the poles. A short video illustrating the basic technique is available here. Nordic walking not only can be safer than conventional walking (due to use of stabilizing poles), but also provides proven health benefits, burning more calories and engaging more muscle groups than regular walking, as explained in this Harvard Medical School article. 

Is Nordic walking for you? The real test is not whether you are in your 90s and in need of a cane, like Rosalynn was, but whether you want to take walking to the next level of safety and health. I invite you to submit any questions you have about Nordic walking poles, technique, etc. to the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., through whom I will provide a response.

Article by Erick Wikum
January 2024