If you’ve been looking for updates on the ongoing rails-to-trails conversion going on with the old CSX line that runs through Memphis, then it’s likely that you’re somewhat frustrated. Seems that even the Greater Memphis Greenline site doesn’t get updates very often. Probably not their fault… the construction seems to be going rather slowly.

So I figured I’d post my own personal update. Friday, after I finished wrapping the surly’s bars w/the most pimpin bar tape ever, I took it for a ride down the trail, which runs almost right behind my house. The tracks are all pulled up, and the gravel has been leveled, though some of the bridges are still cross-tied, and there are a lot of iron hooks, spikes, and plates strewn about in the rocks (they’ll pop up & hit your frame/wheels when you run over them, too). I rode from Germantown Parkway to Mendenhall and back. The gravel is really loose, which makes singlespeed riding pretty tough. I had to maintain a hard effort in order to keep from getting bogged down. It’s definately NOT road bike friendly at this point, and I’d be hesitant to say that just anyone on a CX or MTB could get through it without much difficulty. There’s also the bridge over the Wolf River… it’s just open crossties- some of which are rotten/burnt out. Crossing is pretty hazardous.

I’m pretty excited about the project- however slow it is being completed! It’ll be like a commuter highway for me to get to U of M. A few photos: