There aren’t many gravel trails to ride on in the Bronx or the city for that matter. The few times I’ve actually ridden on real gravel trails, I had to completely leave the city.
But the other day, I hopped on my Walmart gravel bike (Ozark Trail G1. Explorer) that I named Ranger and headed over to Bronx Park to explore.
Now, I can honestly say I don’t think I was supposed to be riding on the trails in the park. My friend Wendy said part of the trail I was on was called Bronx Forest, and I’m pretty sure those are only meant for hikers and nature walkers. I didn’t notice a sign or anything, but I think that’s the case. But hey, what is done is done, and I had a good little time on the trails!
I can also admit they were a little sketchy in the beginning, but I didn’t feel uncomfortable at all. The terrain was mostly dirt, but there were some patches of gravel and pavement scattered along the trails. I crossed over a few bridges and passed some little ponds.
For the longest time, I’ve passed the entry points into those trails and wondered what was back there. I never took the time to explore because it always seemed a bit sketchy to walk back there. But on Ranger? It was a completely different story. I probably wouldn’t have experienced these cool trails without my gravel bike.
I totally get why people ride gravel now. It’s just fun! Not to say road bikes aren’t fun, they definitely are, but to me, gravel feels way more like exploration and adventure. You don’t have to worry about cars, and yeah, you may get a little dirty, but it is totally okay.
I definitely plan to ride Ranger a little more before it gets too cold outside. All in all, Ranger did good on the trail. If I get more into it, I will invest in a better bike, but for now, Ranger and I will be rocking and rolling!
Below is a link to the YouTube link to a video I recorded while on the trail.