A Grand Bicycle Path

Earlier this month, the first eight miles of a planned system of more than 40 miles of separated bicycle and pedestrian pathways (and enhanced road shoulders) opened in Grand Teton National Park. The completed stretch of pathway connects the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center at Moose with the bustling south Jenny Lake area.

The original big push for the creation of this network of pathways was ignited by the tragic death of 13-year-old Gabriella Axelrad, who was hit and killed by the driver of van in Grand Teton National Park in July 1999.

This is going to be an incredible addition to the park, and a boon to getting visitors out of their cars and into the great outdoors on their feet and their bicycles. No longer will cyclists have to wait until April (as shown in the photo above), after the snow melts and before the Teton Park Road opens to motorized vehicles on May 1, to enjoy a car-free ride alongside the magnificent Teton Range.

It is my sincere hope that as more and more members of the public discover the joys of cycling in Grand Teton, they will be inspired to pressure the national park to the north, Yellowstone, to begin building a network of road shoulders and bicycle paths. That park administration's acceptance and encouragement of cycling over the years has been lukewarm at best. I could tell you stories. How about you—have you ever bicycled in Yellowstone? What was your experience?

photo courtesy of M. McCoy

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BIKING WITHOUT BORDERS is posted every Monday by Michael McCoy, Adventure Cycling’s field editor, and highlights a little bit of this or a little bit of that—just about anything, as long as it’s related to traveling by bicycle.

Tools for the Road

I'm often asked by touring cyclists about tools. They are generally heavy, so you don't want to carry more than are necessary, but at the same time, not having the correct tools can leave you stranded. There are a lot of factors to take into consideration when packing for the road. Terrain, climate, and bike setup can all influence your tool selection. To take some of the guess work out of the equation, here is my general roster of tools that keep me rolling with confidence.

For weekend tours (2-3 days), a basic tool kit will often suffice. This will handle almost any simple repair that will get you back up and running. Of course, make sure your bike is in good working order before you hit the road, and you'll likely bypass most major mechanical issues. Here are the basics:

Multitool (2-8mm allen keys, flathead and Phillips screwdrivers, chain tool, spoke wrench)
Frame or Mini Pump
Tube x 2
Tire Levers

For week long tours (4-8 days), I like to take the basic kit above and toss in a few items that will add some durability to small repairs:

Zip Ties
Duct Tape (can be wrapped around water bottles or bike frame for easy storage)
Chain Lube
Patch Kit
Adjustable Wrench

If you are hitting the road for an extended period of time (9+ day), you may benefit greatly by beefing up your tool kit, and mechanical know-how. At this point, you will not only be carrying a strong selection of tools, but you will also have a few key replacement parts as well:

Brake/Shift Cable
Spare Spokes or Kevlar Spoke
Spare Brake Pads
Replacement Cleats (if using clipless pedals)
Spare folding tire
Extra Bolts (M5 threading is most common)
Spare Chain Link/Pin
Cable Cutter

This is a pretty general outline. If you have any special needs regarding racks, trailers, and/or mountain bikes, be sure to address those as well (special tubes, torque wrenches, hose clamps, etc).

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TOURING GEAR AND TIPS is written by Joshua Tack, a part Adventure Cycling's Member Services department. It appears weekly, highlighting technical aspects of bicycle touring and advice to help better prepare you for the journey ahead.

Cyclists' Only Camping: Chester, Illinois

Chester, Illinois is not only the home of the legendary Popeye the Sailor, it is also houses a new, first class Cyclists Only Camping location run by the Fraternal Order of Eagles.

It all began last summer when two cyclists passed through on the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail. They lucked out and happened to encounter the Eagle's tiki bar and weekly volleyball game. The Eagles offer lunch, dinner, and spirits at the bar on a daily basis through the summer. The cyclists and the Eagles passed the evening together and, it "all snowballed from there" according to Andy Clarkson of the Eagles.

Before that summer's end, Andy contacted Carla in the Routes & Mapping department and their information was added to the TransAm #9 addenda. In addition to offering a piece of ground for cyclists to pitch their tents, laundry facilities, restrooms, and showers with towels and basic toiletries are also available. In the works for next season's cyclists, is a building with bunk beds and air conditioning, as well as more showers and restrooms.

This summer, the Adventure Cycling supported TransAm group stayed with the Eagles. The leader, Andy MacIntyre, wrote in his leader notes, "Excellent place to camp!" High praise indeed for someone who's seen the gamut of camping spots across the country. The group's appearance in town even rated an article in the local paper, the Randolph County Herald Tribune.

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GEOPOINTS BULLETIN is written by Jennifer 'Jenn' Milyko, an Adventure Cycling cartographer, and appears weekly, highlighting curious facts, figures and persons from Adventure Cycling's Route Network with tips and hints for personal route creation thrown in for good measure.

New Online Bicycle Touring Portait Gallery

In 1982 the co-founder of Bikecentennial, Greg Siple, began photographing bicycle travelers visiting the organization's Missoula headquarters--of course, we're now known as Adventure Cycling Association! Framing his subjects with a simple neutral backdrop, and recording their stories on the spot, Greg has created a beautifully simple chronicle of a few of the many individuals that cross the country by bicycle every year, including retirees, students, fundraisers, solo travelers, friends, couples, and groups of all stripes.

More than 3,000 cyclists’ images make up the National Bicycle Touring Portrait Collection. Some travel as an exhibition to galleries, museums, and events around the nation; others can be seen in Adventure Cyclist magazine’s regularly featured “Open Road Gallery.” And now, seventy-six of these images can be viewed in our new online Portrait Gallery.

Users can browse the portraits by themed categories such as tandems, recumbents, and musical instruments, and a new search function allows the curious to search by a cyclist’s name, bike type, year traveling, starting city, rider hometown, and more.

In hopes of reaching out to new cyclists and bicycle travelers, we've also shared a few of the portraits on Flickr, and the response has been phenomenal.

Galleries or individuals interested in exhibiting the National Bicycle Touring Portrait Collection’s traveling print exhibit can contact Winona Sorensen at wsorensen AT adventurecycling DOT org or 1-800-755-2453, ext. 219.

photo by Greg Siple

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NEWS, NETWORKING, AND NEW MEDIA is written by Winona Sorensen, Adventure Cycling's media director, and appears weekly, highlighting cool media (articles, videos, photos, etc.) related to Adventure Cycling and bicycle travel. Get media updates from Adventure Cycling.

Guest Post! When Time Stands Still

Last December, we held a contest challenging folks to write up their best experience on an Adventure Cycling guided tour. The winner was given a prize of $100 off the 2009 tour of his or her choice. One of the winners, Kamila Gwiazda, wrote about her 2008 trip touring the Pacific Coast and, with her $100 credit, chose to ride on our 2009 Tetons to Tides adventure. Since I already know that she's a fantastic writer, I asked her to do a guest posting about her recent adventure. What follows below is her contribution. Thanks, Kamila!


"I was part of this year's Adventure Cycling Tetons to Tides trip, covering the western third of the TransAmerica Trail. We started in Jackson, Wyoming, and were headed 1700 miles west towards Florence, Oregon, via the 'scenic route'. This included riding up the steep (9-10%) 5-mile Teton Pass on our first day, a two day loop through Yellowstone National Park, and a layover in Missoula, Montana, to visit Adventure Cycling's office.

We experienced the whole gamut of weather the West has to offer: headwinds in 100+ degree temps in Montana, lightning at the top of a pass in Idaho, a 12-hour downpour in Eastern Oregon (which gets an annual rainfall of 10 inches and boasted a fire danger of 'extreme'), and fog on our final day down the Oregon coast.

One particular aspect of this 30-day trip sticks out in my mind: the feeling that 'real life' stops. I had to keep reminding myself that life kept going for everyone around us, which explained why the roads were busier on Saturdays and stores were closed early on Sundays. A striking example of how our group took leave of 'real life': while in Idaho, we rode along the Snake River, jumping in and out of the Mountain and Pacific time zones for a few days. Instead of following local ('real') time, we stayed on Mountain Time until crossing into Oregon. We called it 'TTTST', or 'Tetons to Tides Standard Time'. Conversations regarding grocery shopping or dinner went like this:

Meet at the restaurant at 6pm.

Local time or 'TTTST?'

Local, but remember it closes at 7 [local], so that's really 8 [our time].

It got rather confusing, especially when certain cell phones switched time zones automatically. Needless to say, we all managed to wake up for breakfast on time!"

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ON THE ROAD is posted each Tuesday by Sarah Raz, Adventure Cycling's Tours Specialist and Intrepid Traveler, and shines a spotlight on the daily delights that take place on Adventure Cycling Tours.

A Traffic-Free Autumn Getaway

In September 2005 my wife Nancy and I joined a few hundred other riders in the 8th annual Mickelson Trail Trek in South Dakota. The George S. Mickelson Trail--or "the Mick" for short--is a 114-mile rail-trail connecting Edgemont near the south end of the Black Hills with Deadwood in the north.

The leisurely, three-day mountain-bike spin (the trail features a fairly smooth surface of crushed rock) led us through an ever-changing drama of gold-mining history, tall granite crags, tunnels and trestles, ghost towns, pine forests and autumn-fired aspen groves, country stores, sparkling streams, and the in-progress (since 1948!) sculpturing of the Crazy Horse Memorial, which when finished will dwarf nearby Mount Rushmore. We were constantly amazed by the fact that 19th century surveyors managed to find a route through this precipitous expanse of mini-mountains flat enough for the Burlington Northern Railroad trains to follow.

The 12th annual Mickelson Trail Trek is scheduled for September 18-20, 2009. Also be aware that Adventure Cycling's seven-day Black Hills Loop, slated for September 11-18 in 2010, takes in some 80 miles of the Mick, as well as a selection of other great cycling byways in the Black Hills.

I heartily recommend adding the Mick to your "must-ride list," whether you're new to bicycle travel or a saddle-savvy veteran.

photo courtesy of Mac McCoy

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BIKING WITHOUT BORDERS is posted every Monday by Michael McCoy, Adventure Cycling’s field editor, and highlights a little bit of this or a little bit of that — just about anything, as long as it’s related to traveling by bicycle.

Dynamo Lighting Systems

While I don't recommend riding at night, there are times when it's simply unavoidable. For us eight-to-fivers, night rides are the only way to get out during the work week. There are those moments where a wrong turn or mechanical issue will set your arrival time back, and there are other times where you just don't want to finish your ride. Whatever puts you in the dark, you want to make sure you're safe, and prepared.

Dynamo lighting systems are aimed at the rider who understands that they will be out on the road when the sun goes down, and use the wheel to generate electricity to power your headlight and/or taillight. There are two popular modes of generating electricity. One example would be the Bauch and Muller sidewall dynamo. This unit incorporates a small rubber roller that mounts to your front fork and rubs against the sidewall of your tire to power your lights. The roller is soft enough that it doesn't create excess wear on your tire, and will not produce a large amount of friction to slow you down.

Another style that is used by Shimano and Schmidt Dynamo is the dyno hub. The electricity is generated by the rotation of your hub, which keeps the electrical conducting drag to a minimum. You will have to have your front wheel built around this hub, making this option is a little more expensive than a sidewall generator, but it is more durable in the long run. Just make sure you switch off your light when you're riding during daylight hours. You can't release the generator, so if you leave it on, it will run as long as your riding. Shimano is pretty limited on their hub selection, so if you have a specific spoke count, or flange width in mind, check out Schmidt Dynamo.

In terms of the actual light that will be illuminating the road ahead, you have quite a few options. Some bulbs offer excellent visibility directly ahead, and others are better suited for peripheral vision. The light intensity for all of these units is very consistent as you ride. At slow speeds, say 5mph or less, you will experience a flickering of the light. Once you speed up, it will maintain a constant beam.

While these systems are very reliable, it's never a bad idea to carry a backup. There are few things more frustrating than squinting your way through country roads, just hoping that you will catch a glimpse of the dead skunk on the side of the road before you make contact.

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TOURING GEAR AND TIPS is written by Joshua Tack, a part Adventure Cycling's Member Services department. It appears weekly, highlighting technical aspects of bicycle touring and advice to help better prepare you for the journey ahead.

Bike Club Involvement

Local clubs can be a great resource for finding new places to ride and new people to ride with. They can also offer opportunities to affect positive change for cycling in your own community.

For bicycle tourists, clubs can be an excellent place to find a good meal and a comfortable space to stay along the route. If you are interested in finding a local club to join, or even a club along your next riding route, you can go to the online Cyclists' Yellow Pages and search by state or regional listings for both clubs and shops in that area.

In our most recent Annual Member Survey, we found that 45% of our members belong to a local bike club, and bike clubs from around the country (and even into Canada) have chosen to support Adventure Cycling through membership and donations. Currently, over 100 bike clubs belong to Adventure Cycling as bike club members, with a handful of those sending additional donations each quarter.

We want to send out a special thanks to all of the clubs that help us to get more people out on bicycle adventures. If your bike club is not a member of Adventure Cycling, learn more about the benefits of club membership and encourage them to join!

photo from neotint's Flickr photostream
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MEMBERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS is posted each Friday by Amy Corbin, Membership and Marketing Coordinator and spotlights the various benefits of membership, what we have accomplished thanks to member support and even interviews with some of our most passionate and dedicated members, both individual and organizational.

REI’s Jewell

What follows is a special post from our executive director, Jim Sayer, on his recent trip to Bozeman, Montana, for a wellness and health summit.

"After a great family vacation on the Olympic Peninsula, I raced back to Bozeman for a special summit a week ago on wellness and health organized by Montana’s senior senator, Max Baucus (www.makehealthhappenmontana.com). Good conference with really high profile leaders from foundations (like Robert Wood Johnson and Kaiser Family), health providers, and nonprofits like the YMCA and United Way. Of course I made lots of pitches for bicycling and bicycle travel. In fact, there were many mentions of cycling and walking as major contributors to wellness. That doesn’t always happen in Montana.

I also got the chance to have dinner and visit with Sally Jewell, the CEO of REI Coop. Of all the people I’ve met at my job, she is one of the best and most ardent advocates for an active lifestyle. Some of it comes from being a pitch-person for such a big supplier of recreational goods – but you can tell that it comes primarily from a deep personal conviction about the joys and benefits of being outdoors. (She was a board member at REI before becoming CEO.) She is an especially big supporter of “no child left inside”, a growing movement to get kids away from video consoles and back into the great outdoors – as a dad, I completely appreciate this effort.

On Sally’s watch, REI has also continued to support our new route development, most recently with a second grant for our work on a Sierra Cascades paved route (due out next year). If you ever have the chance to meet her or hear her speak, do it. She is approachable, a keen analyst, inspirational and full of good ideas. Though I’ve got to get her to do more bike travel! Maybe some day when she moves on from being the CEO."

photo courtesy of Jim Sayer

Unexpected Service: Public Library

There are some basic services cyclists expect to see on our bicycle-travel oriented maps. These generally run the gamut from various lodging options, grocery stores, restaurants, and bike shops.

With the introduction of the Lewis & Clark Bicycle Trail, we reviewed the possibility of adding a new service. This was back in the early 2000s, and the number of cyclists with daily online journals was beginning to acquire critical mass. Around this time we started receiving requests to list cyber cafes in the Service Directory. Unfortunately we knew from local experience that these kinds of businesses can be painfully short-lived.

Fortunately, also around this time, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation was giving money to libraries across the country to update their computer systems, including internet capabilities. Aha! Here was our answer -- we would add public library locations. It seemed every county had at least one, and we gambled that the odds were good that bike tourists passed by them on a daily basis. As we added them, we always attempted to locate the branch closest to the route.

Since the addition of libraries to our maps, I have read in several cyclists' blogs that libraries often offer much more than just an internet connection. They are frequently air conditioned, and as such can be a good spot to cool off in the heat of the day. By talking to other patrons, arrangements can be made for overnight accommodations, and loads of free advice is available about local opportunities for recreation and sites to see.

We are thankful to the many librarians across the country who have warmly welcomed traveling cyclists into their domains and offered such fabulous assistance. In appreciation for all the services libraries provide, our Adopt a Library program allows you to donate an Adventure Cycling membership to a branch of your choosing for half price. Every library can use a little more adventure, don't you think?

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GEOPOINTS BULLETIN is written by Jennifer 'Jenn' Milyko, an Adventure Cycling cartographer, and appears weekly, highlighting curious facts, figures and persons from Adventure Cycling's Route Network with tips and hints for personal route creation thrown in for good measure.

Seeking Graphic Designer!

Here's a chance to put your mad skills to work for the nation's largest membership cycling organization in the U.S.

We're seeking an energetic, detail-oriented graphic designer passionate about working with people, and bicycling, to design and produce complex multi-page publications and graphics for both print and web implementation.

The position is open until filled. We will start reviewing applications and arranging for interviews on September 4, 2009.

Learn more about the position and how to apply.

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NEWS, NETWORKING, AND NEW MEDIA is written by Winona Sorensen, Adventure Cycling's media director, and appears weekly, highlighting cool media (articles, videos, photos, etc.) related to Adventure Cycling and bicycle travel. Get media updates from Adventure Cycling.

No Smoking

Bicycle touring during the summer in the Pacific Northwest can be tricky. Summer temps are almost guaranteed to be spectacular, but weeks of dry, warm weather can provide ideal conditions for forest fires. We keep our tour leaders informed of any impending road closures, but independent riders on our routes can stay up to date by checking out our Temporary Route Road Closures forum.

This year, however, has been incredibly fire-free, and spending time outdoors has never been more pleasurable! I’ve enjoyed several Montana rides where I’ve been able to stop and fill my water bottle (and belly) with huckleberries, and our Intro to Road Touring in Oregon had a similar experience with these yummy, seasonal berries. What a perfect dessert...



All the more reason to see the world at 12 miles an hour!

photo by Josh Tack

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ON THE ROAD is posted each Tuesday by Sarah Raz, Adventure Cycling's Tours Specialist and Intrepid Traveler, and shines a spotlight on the daily delights that take place on Adventure Cycling Tours.

One-Track Minds

I received a phone call about ten days ago from Matt Burney, who is unicycling the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route with Gracie Sorbello on her Divide By One adventure. The two were pedaling in the greater Yellowstone country, not far from my home, when he called. Gracie, who graduated with a degree in music from Duke University — where she was a four-year starter on the field-hockey team — became the first woman to ride across America on a unicycle in 2006. "Gracie and I wanted to talk to you about some of those hills you put in the Great Divide," Matt said, jokingly. "But then we realized that it's called the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, not the Great Divide Unicycle Route." They're raising funds and awareness for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as they go.

Last week I also received an email from one Gideon Erkenswick, who wrote to tell me about an Indian citizen and graduate student in Australia who's attempting to become the first person to ride a unicycle from the West Coast to the East Coast of that Down Under country. From Perth to Sydney is about 5,750 kilometers, or 3,570 miles. Sid Rajan's 3 Oceans Unicycle Tour is subtitled "3 Oceans, 1 Continent, 1 Big Wheel, 1 Crazy Dude."

I didn't realize until very recently just how big this adventure-unicycling movement is getting to be. There's even an online publication called Adventure Unicyclist that appears to be out of New Zealand, and a Guatemala-based commercial tour company called Unicycle Adventures.

It all sounds great, but I think I'll stick to two wheels. (My colleague Winona Sorensen, who posts here on Wednesdays, had this to say: "Just one question ... can you do a wheelie on one of those things?")

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BIKING WITHOUT BORDERS is posted every Monday by Michael McCoy, Adventure Cycling’s field editor, and highlights a little bit of this or a little bit of that — just about anything, as long as it’s related to traveling by bicycle (or unicycle).

Auxiliary Brake Levers

When touring loaded, your braking distance is increased. Making sure that your brakes and pads are in proper working order is always important, but having quick and easy access to your levers can also prove to be very beneficial.

Auxiliary, Inline, Interrupter, Cross, or Top Mount levers. Whatever you call them, they are a very useful addition to any touring bike with drop bars. They mount to your handlebars in a similar fashion as mountain bike levers, and allow you to access your brakes while resting your hands on the tops of the handlebars. These are particularly useful when riding through congested areas, where you may find yourself making quick, unexpected stops. In addition to providing another location to access your brakes, you can get more leverage when pulling the brakes, for increased braking power.

Installation takes a little mechanical know-how, but if you are familiar with replacing brake cables this retrofit will be no problem. As far as selecting a brand to go with, Tektro and Cane Creek are the most economical options (approximately $20-$25), and include barrel adjusters for easy access on the fly brake adjustments. For those looking for a clean, classic look, Paul Components makes a nice looking set for around $75. These are available for 26.0mm or 31.8mm handlebar diameters.

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TOURING GEAR AND TIPS is written by Joshua Tack, a part Adventure Cycling's Member Services department. It appears weekly, highlighting technical aspects of bicycle touring and advice to help better prepare you for the journey ahead.

Our Corporate Supporters

A few years ago, Adventure Cycling launched a corporate membership program that gave cycling-related businesses (and non-cycling businesses who think that we do some pretty cool things) the opportunity to support Adventure Cycling in a more significant way. Over the past year, this program has evolved substantially and we are excited to unveil our improved Corporate Supporter Program this week.

Some of the changes include a hefty package of benefits aimed at providing membership exposure for these businesses, greater partnership opportunities for our supporters, and the ability to pass along their love of Adventure Cycling through a number of free memberships to clients, board members, staff. and others.

If you work for (or perhaps own) a company that supports the idea of getting more people cycling, you should consider encouraging them to join as an Adventure Cycling Corporate Supporter. It's good for your business, good for Adventure Cycling, and great for the future of cycling in America.

If you need just a bit more encouragement, check out our current list of amazing supporters and read more about the incredible work we are doing to promote cycling and bicycle travel!

photo by Aaron Teasdale

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MEMBERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS is posted each Friday by Amy Corbin, Membership and Marketing Coordinator and spotlights the various benefits of membership, what we have accomplished thanks to member support and even interviews with some of our most passionate and dedicated members, both individual and organizational.

Elusive Potomac Loop

One route in the Adventure Cycling Route Network that seems to be often forgotten is the Tidewater Potomac Heritage Bicycle Route. This route begins and ends in Washington, D.C. traversing 378 miles into Maryland and Virginia roughly following the Potomac River before returning to our nation's capitol.

The route is rich in history from Arlington National Cemetery, to Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County National Battlefields, through plantations and farms, past museums and historical sites. Services are relatively frequent though if you wish to camp nightly, you will be challenged to find campgrounds.

When this route was first released in 2004, we thought it would be a popular loop route. Unfortunately, not long after publication, the cruise ship company necessary to complete the loop at the southern end (across the Chesapeake Bay) closed. We scrambled to offer suggestions and alternatives.

The best option we came up with is a two step solution: Reedville/Smith Point, Virginia to Smith Island, Maryland then Smith Island to Point Lookout State Park, Maryland. However, due to the high costs of fuel, these services can be subject to cancellation when coupled a low number of reservations. We recommend booking in advance to increase your odds of making the crossing. A second possibility is to ask around at the marina and see if you can hire a fishing boat to ferry you and your bike across.

If you have any suggestions for making this crossing in a predictable fashion, thus keeping the route a loop tour, let us know. A detail map of the route is found through the Tidewater Potomac Heritage Bicycle Route page.

images by Routes & Mapping Department

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GEOPOINTS BULLETIN is written by Jennifer 'Jenn' Milyko, an Adventure Cycling cartographer, and appears weekly, highlighting curious facts, figures and persons from Adventure Cycling's Route Network with tips and hints for personal route creation thrown in for good measure.

Listen to Africa

Gadling's Kraig Becker recently covered a truly lovely bicycle travel effort, Listen to Africa. According to its website, Listen to Africa is "a two year bicycle expedition recording African sounds and voices." You can literally follow the journey of Huw Williams and Rebecca Sumner (Bex) by clicking on the geotags tacked onto each of their photo galleries and sound recordings. I loved the recent "Terns at Cap Blanc" recording and found their blog delightful - a great read where rich imagery and dry humor prevail.

photo by Listen to Africa

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NEWS, NETWORKING, AND NEW MEDIA is written by Winona Sorensen, Adventure Cycling's media director, and appears weekly, highlighting cool media (articles, videos, photos, etc.) related to Adventure Cycling and bicycle travel. Get media updates from Adventure Cycling.

Riding Well With Others

There’s something to be said for the solitary bicycle tour, time alone with your thoughts and your bicycle can be an important occasion for introspection and meditation. When folks on Adventure Cycling tours are asked about their ride, however, they’ll almost always come back to the absolute joy of being able to share their experiences with the friends around them. Bill Maxwell, upon completion of our self contained Trans Am, wrote: “I couldn't have asked for better companions…[we] felt a bond that could only be forged through the experiences and challenges that we have all faced together.” He then quoted an African proverb that truly sums up the group cyclo-touring experience:

If you want to go fast, go alone.
If you want to go far, go together.

“We went far,” Bill said. “And we went together.”

Bill and me during his Adventure Cycling visit
photo by Bill Maxwell

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ON THE ROAD is posted each Tuesday by Sarah Raz, Adventure Cycling's Tours Specialist and Intrepid Traveler, and shines a spotlight on the daily delights that take place on Adventure Cycling Tours.

Yes, Virginia, There is a Cookie Lady

This week I’m dishing up a cornucopia of coverage; a veritable potpourri of pedal-powered paragraphs … well, three of them, anyway.

1. The first one is scary. The Citizens for Safety Coalition of Iowa, organized by Dan Jones of Van Meter and others, is attempting to have cyclists banned from the state’s farm to market roads (defined as a state or county road that connects agricultural areas to market towns—in other words, some of the best cycling roads around). At this writing, the coalition had received about 730 of the 1,500 signatures from Iowa residents they hope to get in order to have a ballot initiative on the voting slate in November 2010. The good news, in my humble opinion as a cyclist and former Iowan, is that the Iowa Bicycle Coalition has crafted a counter petition opposing the bike ban—and garnered more than 1,500 signatures in just three days.

2. We ran across a nice story in the Waynesboro NewsVirginian about June Curry, the fabled “Cookie Lady” of Afton, Virginia, and TransAmerica Bicycle Trail fame. At 88, June can no longer bake cookies, but the baked goods are only a small part of what made her legendary. More important are her kind spirit and generous nature, and those are still going strong. (Just don’t try sneaking a beer or bottle into June’s bike house—“That’s my pet peeve. I don’t allow it. That’s what makes Cookie Lady mad,” June tells reporter Liz Barry.)

3. Finally, Adventure Cycling is helping to support the Climate Ride, providing a free membership voucher to all participants. The organizers are currently trying to fill the last few openings for the ride, which will see approximately 200 cyclists covering the 300 miles between New York City and Washington, D.C., during the last five days of September. The organizers offer the following as the top-three reasons why you should join in: 1) Be part of a grassroots effort by joining a fascinating group of renewable energy experts, climate activists, and concerned citizens; 2) The riding itself is fantastic, following country roads through Amish Country and past Revolutionary War and Civil War sites; and 3) It’s fun, unforgettable, and fully-supported.


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BIKING WITHOUT BORDERS is posted every Monday by Michael McCoy, Adventure Cycling’s field editor, and highlights a little bit of this or a little bit of that—just about anything, as long as it’s related to traveling by bicycle.

Keeping Your Cool

August is a huge month for the bike industry, and for consumers as well. Manufacturers everywhere are starting to hint at their 2010 lineups, and closeouts on 2009 gear mean incredible deals for you. This leaves many cyclists asking themselves, what's the hottest item out there? Well, sit back and let me tell you. It's not a sleek, lugged steel frame, or a bombproof set of touring wheels. It's far from puncture proof tires, or an indestructible helmet. It just so happens that the biggest thing going on for cyclists right now is the weather.

In many regions of the country, August is a hot and dry time of the year, so you need to be well prepared when hitting the road and/or trail. Here are some tips that should help you stay cool throughout the remainder of the hot summer cycling season.

Hydration:
This is the most obvious solution to beating the heat, but it's amazing how many cyclists suffer from dehydration. Packing enough water for the ride isn't enough, you need to make sure you use it efficiently. It's easy for people to start drinking when they are thirsty, but the trick is to drink before you reach that point. Once you're thirsty, you have already lost too much water.

In addition to drinking often, it's important to make sure you're hydrated before you set foot out the door. The better hydrated you are before the ride, the better job your body will do absorbing fluids. Electrolytes contained in many energy drinks are also a great way to help your body absorb fluids. There are countless drink mixes out there, so choosing one over the other can sometimes be intimidating. My advice is to find one that tastes good, and is easy to take down. This will help encourage you to drink more often.

Ride Time Selection:
Try and avoid riding during the hottest time of day. If you head out in the early morning, or late evening, you'll experience cooler temperatures, and in some cases, less traffic. Be aware of daylight at these hours, and make sure you're visible to other vehicles on the road. When the sun is low at dawn and dusk, it can often set a sharp glare on the windshields of cars, making it harder for them to see bikes on the road.

Shady Routes:
Find roads or trails that provide natural shade from trees. This might not pull the air temperature down a great deal, but it does fend off the sunlight. Bike trails can be a great option, as the trees often creep up close to the path. Parks and mountain bike trails also provide excellent opportunities for shade.

Topography:
If you live in or near the mountains, head upwards. While a long uphill grind doesn't promote much airflow, you will be sure to cool off on the return trip. If you reside in the flat lands, find large body of water or river to ride near. The breeze coming off the water is usually a little cooler, and sometimes the simple sight of water gives you a mental boost to help combat the blazing heat. Bonus points are awarded for finding summer snow in the mountains, or taking a dip in the water mid-ride.

Clothing:
Fortunately, most cycling clothes are already designed to deal with warm temperatures. Full zip, or sleeveless jerseys are always a good pick. Definitely reach for some light fabric cycling socks, as hot spots on your feet can make any ride miserable. One piece of clothing that isn't so obvious is a cooling vest. They won't stay cool for long days in the saddle, but they can keep your body temperature down for a few hours.

Small Details:
There are a few little things you can do that will go a long way when it comes to staying cool. Always wear sunscreen. Not only will it prevent sunburn, but it also keeps your skin from drying out, which improves water retention. If you live in a city, head for the countryside. Buildings, roads, and traffic contribute to elevated temperatures in congested areas. Not only will you find cooler temperatures outside of the city, but you will also get much better views. Lastly, never underestimate the power of a haircut.

Ultimately, you'll find yourself dreaming of these days when the mercury drops into the single digits, so be sure to take advantage of them. If you have your own tricks to escaping the heat, feel free to throw them out there!

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TOURING GEAR AND TIPS is written by Joshua Tack, a part Adventure Cycling's Member Services department. It appears weekly, highlighting technical aspects of bicycle touring and advice to help better prepare you for the journey ahead.

Member Feedback Helps Shape Adventure Cycling

In 2008, Adventure Cycling conducted the first all-member survey in quite some time. We decided that the best approach would be to do an annual assessment that gave our members the opportunity to chime in on our programs, benefits, and plans. Thus, the Annual Survey was born. That first year, 22% of our members responded to our very long, very thorough survey, and gave us some really good feedback, tons of suggestions, and launched us into planning for the new year.

This year, we took a a different (much shorter) approach and focused on new program planning, along with general satisfaction, and how you ride. Again, the response was wonderful, with 28% of those surveyed offering feedback on every aspect of Adventure Cycling, including over 1,200 comments!

Rather then making you read through ALL of that, we summarized the results. Check out the full summary, and if you didn't get a chance to take the survey this year, be sure to watch for it next February and help us to shape the future of Adventure Cycling. If you can't wait that long, feel free to leave a comment, or contact us at info AT adventurecycling DOT org or 800-755-2453.

photo by Aaron Teasdale

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MEMBERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS is posted each Friday by Amy Corbin, Membership and Marketing Coordinator and spotlights the various benefits of membership, what we have accomplished thanks to member support and even interviews with some of our most passionate and dedicated members, both individual and organizational.

'Go Fish' Touring

I'm always curious to see how people bring their various passions to bicycle travel. I've read of cyclists with speakers mounted on their handlebars because no experience is complete without tunes, and of coffee aficionados who carry all the supplies for making the perfect cup anywhere in spite of the extra bulk and weight. Ranking right up there with the music and coffee people, have got to be enthusiastic fishermen and women.

I can see in my mind's eye a youngster riding down an old dirt road on the way to the perfect summer fishing hole. Apparently many of them have carried that memory into the "grown up" world. They simply add panniers or a trailer to the bike and set off to discover a new favorite spot. There is a wide range of equipment available and the evidence is available that they are not alone in the desire to combine these two activities.

Adventure Cycling route researchers have found over the years that camping at fishing accesses is often acceptable, if on the primitive side. They are predominantly located in states like Montana and North Dakota on the TransAmerica and Lewis & Clark Bicycle Trails. Any route along a waterway, like the Underground Railroad Bicycle Route, may also yield them. I'm sure there are some hidden gems on other routes, too. (I won't ask you to reveal them since I know the ability to keep a secret is a required attribute of a good fisherman.) These sites are often run by state fish and wildlife departments or the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Just make sure you have the proper license for your location. Then, it's fish on!

photo by Dad of the day on flickr

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GEOPOINTS BULLETIN is written by Jennifer 'Jenn' Milyko, an Adventure Cycling cartographer, and appears weekly, highlighting curious facts, figures and persons from Adventure Cycling's Route Network with tips and hints for personal route creation thrown in for good measure.

Inspiration & Action

I was really inspired this week after receiving a call from Cathy Rosenthal about her nephew, Matthew Sanchez, who will finish his ride across America on the TransAmerica Trail on August 7th.

Matthew and a small group of friends traversed the continent this summer to raise funds for the Shepherd Center's new SHARE initiative. According to his website, the SHARE initiative will "help wounded U.S. military service members and their families obtain additional care to promote their recovery from combat-related injuries...The program initially will concentrate on cases in the Southeast, then expand to a larger scope."

Matthew received care at the Shepherd Center after sustaining a severe football injury in high school which left him paralyzed. Today, he's part of the University of Georgia's club triathlon team and tackling transcontinental adventures. Right on.

On another note, Amtrak is looking for input from traveling cyclists about bicycle service on its Capital Limited line which connects Washington, DC and Pittsburgh, and runs along the C&O Canal/GAP. Learn more and take the short survey.

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NEWS, NETWORKING, AND NEW MEDIA is written by Winona Sorensen, Adventure Cycling's media director, and appears weekly, highlighting cool media (articles, videos, photos, etc.) related to Adventure Cycling and bicycle travel. Get media updates from Adventure Cycling.

Tasty Meals, Tasty Views

We’ve been getting incredible reports back about Cycle Washington (7/11-7/18) — after all, it is the tour that Tom Radley, the tour leader, gets to lead in his home state!

The experience sounds like a dream. One participant, Curtis, described the view from the top of Washington Pass, “If it was in a movie you'd think it was overdone and that nothing could really look that magnificent.”


Curtis also raved about the tour menu, “We started with local mussels and oysters. I'd have been happy to end it there, but it was followed by caught-that-day Washington salmon, local corn, and a salad featuring local berries that were bursting with yummy goodness. I just can't say enough for Kathy, our caterer. She made every meal a delight.”

Sadly, Cycle Washington has come to an end (at least for this year), but Farm Fresh, leaving on September 19th from San Francisco, features the same talented tour leader and caterer, and a set of majestic vistas all its own.

photo by Bob Mette

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ON THE ROAD is posted each Tuesday by Sarah Raz, Adventure Cycling's Tours Specialist and Intrepid Traveler, and shines a spotlight on the daily delights that take place on Adventure Cycling Tours.

Ridertainers Rule

There are almost as many reasons to plot a bicycle adventure as there are bicycle adventurers. Some individuals set out on a long-distance ride with the goal of raising money and awareness for their chosen charity. For others, the sense of self-discovery and learning more about their country and/or world is reason enough to ride. For certain people, the impetus may be to lose weight and get into shape. Still others, suddenly finding themselves unemployed, say, “Why not go for a long bike ride?”

A few intrepid individuals combine entertaining themselves by riding during the day with entertaining others when they stop for the evening. Take Alvaro Neil, a Spaniard, former notary, and self-described “biciclown” who has been touring the world for nearly five years. Alvaro has performed his clown show at least fifty times and for more than 16,000 people across the globe. “The world is so big if you stay at home, but it is so small when you go out,” he says in an interview with the Jakarta Globe.

Closer to home (for some of us), Layne Gneiting is an Adventure Cycling member from Mesa, Arizona, who’s in the midst of a nationwide storytelling journey along the Northern Tier Route. “This is the most exciting program I’ve ever put together,” says Gneiting, an Arizona State University lecturer in Interdisciplinary Studies. “What began as a dream to cycle coast-to-coast quickly switched directions. First and foremost this is a storytelling tour. I just happen to be cycling into town instead of driving.” He’s accompanied on the trip by his wife and seven children.

Then there’s the growing number of musical performers eschewing the diesel-fume-belching tour bus and choosing instead to travel from show to show by bicycle: the Ginger Ninjas, the Ditty Bops, and Attila Horvath, to name just a handful.

Rock on, and ride on.

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BIKING WITHOUT BORDERS is posted every Monday by Michael McCoy, Adventure Cycling’s field editor, and highlights a little bit of this or a little bit of that—just about anything, as long as it’s related to traveling by bicycle.

Bamboo Bicycles

Thanks to our partners at the Center for the New American Dream for this guest post!

“You already probably know about bamboo shirts, skirts, socks, underwear, furniture, floors, paper, sheets, towels, plates, bowls, spoons, kitchen utensils, cleaning wipes, etc. But you may not have heard of the bamboo bicycle.

Produced in conjunction by bike designer Craig Calfee and a group called Zambikes, the frame is made entirely from sustainably grown bamboo. While Calfee’s design company already sells customizable bamboo bikes, the plan is to begin to grow bamboo sustainably in Zambia and have local artisans craft them into frames to be sold in the U.S. Profits will be reinvested in Zambike’s projects, helping Zambians help themselves by providing local entrepreneurs, as well as medical professionals, with bikes and carts to use in delivering goods and to serve as jungle ambulances.

The best part is that this isn’t an item you should buy just because it makes you feel good inside. Apparently, bamboo provides better shock absorption than the more commonly used carbon fiber and is also very crash resistant. The bikes currently on sale by Calfee come with a full ten-year warranty.”

For more on bamboo bikes read New Dream’s full blog post.

Power Grips

I try not to review products that we carry in our online store to avoid being biased in my reviews, but the truth of that matter is that we carry products that we ourselves use in the field. Therefore, once a month, I'll highlight a piece of equipment stocked on our shelves.

The Power Grip pedal strap is a great addition to just about any bike. Simple design in motion, it consists of a single strap, and just a few nuts and bolts. The strap attaches to most standard platform pedals, and installs in a matter of minutes. The tools needed for installation consist of a small Phillips screwdriver, needle nose pliers (to secure the nuts while turning the screws), and a 3mm allen wrench.

Once you have the straps set up, try not to draw any conclusions based on the first ride. They are a bit stiff out of the box and will need some fine tuning. After a good day in the saddle, they will loosen up, and over time, getting in and out of them will be second nature.

The large strap is set in a diagonal position, which provides two big benefits. First off, it allows for a large contact area around your foot, which increases power on the up stroke, as well as comfort. The second benefit you gain from this design is that it makes for an intuitive exit from the pedals. Instead of pulling your foot straight back, you instead kick your heel out a bit and make a smooth exit that won't leave you stuck in your pedals at an intersection.

The standard Power Grip strap will handle a shoe with a circumference of around 12 inches. If the widest part of your shoe exceeds that circumference, you should check out their XL size, which is perfect for large shoes and winter boots. Right now, we only carry the Regular and XL sizes in black, but there are also tan options out there that can match up to your classic leather bar tape and saddle. Don't have platform pedals? They also offer a pedal/strap kit option that will get you going out of the box.

These straps are a great choice for riders that aren't quite comfortable with clipless pedals, as well as for people who want a comfortable and reliable setup that will provide excellent pedal efficiency from coast to coast.

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TOURING GEAR AND TIPS is written by Joshua Tack, a part Adventure Cycling's Member Services department. It appears weekly, highlighting technical aspects of bicycle touring and advice to help better prepare you for the journey ahead.