Rock the Bike

Two of my favorite topics are 1) bicycling and 2) rock 'n' roll music (going all the way back to the '50s). That's why I'm making it a personal mission to compile a list of rock 'n' roll songs that delve into the subject of bicycling. But I need some help, because so far my list is woefully short.

There is, of course, Queen's over-engineered and overly dramatic (IMHO) 1978 anthem "Bicycle Race." Another well-known one is the title track off Livingston Taylor's album Bicycle. It's a little closer to jazz-folk than rock, but I'll include it anyway. Then there's "Bike," a really bad song (again, IMHO) on Pink Floyd's 1967 debut album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn.

And this just in: A Canadian band named Sloan on November 23 released its new digital EP album called Hit & Run. The title is based on an experience band member Chris Murphy had last summer, when he was struck by a car while riding his bicycle. I'm not sure any of the five songs on the EP are cycling-related, but I'll include this one on my list, too.

Other than that ... help me out here. There have to be songs I'm not thinking of.

Meanwhile, maybe I'll compose my own bike-rock song. I already have a title — "RAGBRAI Rag." Now all I need is lyrics and a melody.

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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.

Pedro's: Bike Grease Company Lubes Up Mother Earth

Pedro’s makes it easy to be even more environmentally-friendly when it comes to cycling.

This company makes an assortment of bike lube, bike cleaners, and bike tools. But from Pedro's website, the thing you may notice first about the company is its environmental focus. A prominent section of the site explains their environmental commitment, focused on sustainability. Plus they have several articles discussing methods to live a greener lifestyle, many of them focusing on cycling.

Their catalog dedicates most of its space to talk about how biking helps the environment. And it’s not all talk -- the majority of their bike greases, lubes, and washes are non-toxic and biodegradable. Canola oil is the base ingredient in their environmentally-friendly lube lineup. Their spray lube uses no chemical propellants, so they also avoid the problem of aerosols. And, when it comes to their tools, if you’re using them to fix your own bike, rather than tossing it away and buying a new bike, you’re already helping out the earth a bit.

Whether Pedro’s is more environmentally-friendly than other bike tool and lube companies in the long run might be arguable -- but if their commitment to sustainability gives Pedro’s a competitive edge that encourages other companies to develop environmentally-friendly products, we’re all a little better off.

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GREENCYCLE is posted each Saturday by Kylie Paul, Adventure Cycling’s sales and shipping specialist. With a lifetime commitment to conservation, Kylie hopes to share the many ways that bicycling and Adventure Cycling are helping to improve our planet!

Bicycle Touring Gift Ideas Under $25

Black Friday may be over, but that doesn't mean you can't find some great gifts for the cyclist in your family or circle of friends. Whether you're buying for the holidays, a birthday, or just because you in a generous mood, here are ten bike products under $25 that any rider can appreciate.

1. You can almost never go wrong with bike lube. Anyone that rides a bike will have to use it at some point, and you can easily find a bottle for under $20 at your local bike shop. Pedros, White Lightning, and Dumonde Tech are some of my favorites.

2. The gift of handlebar tape gives you the opportunity to bestow some of your own flare on someone's bike. Most handlebar tape will run in the range of $12-$16.

3. I used to dread the gift of socks until I started cycling. Defeet, and Sock Guy offer a large variety of styles and designs at around $10 per pair.

4. Anyone who puts in long miles can appreciate chamois cream. There are plenty of options out there, such as Udderly Smooth, and Chamois Butt'r, and you can get a generous amount for around $22.

5. Hydration is a never ending process for a cyclist, so you can never go wrong with a drink mix. I have had great luck with Hammer Nutrition, and a large 32 ounce tub of HEED comes in at $22.

6. If someone you know has a replaceable derailleur hanger on their bike, the Gimp Emergency Derailleur Hanger is the perfect gift at $14.50. Its compact, light, and will get you back up and running if disaster snaps your hanger in half.

7. Some of the best gifts are the ones that show you care, and nothing says that better than an Ultralight Medical Kit. The $17 kit includes everything you need to clean and bandage the most common bike related injuries, such as road rash.

8. I had major doubts about the Fiber Fix Spoke when I first heard about it, but when I finally had to put it to use, it quickly became my new best friend. They are light, easy to use, compatible with just about any wheel, and pack very well.

9. Water bottles are another great gift idea, but sometimes find their way into the roadside ditch. Bio-Bottles by Tacx are a 100% biodegradeable, and costs around $9.

10. Lastly, what better way to inspire someone to start planning their 2010 adventure than an Adventure Cycling map. We currently have 38,158 miles of routes mapped, so there's a good chance we have something available in your neighborhood. They cost $14.75 ($11.75 for members) per map section.

Hopefully this will provide you with some good ideas, and check out our On-line Webstore or your local bike shop for even more options.

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TOURING GEAR AND TIPS is written by Joshua Tack of 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.

Romanian Rhapsody

Imagine you're cycling along a back country road and you encounter a farmer who smiles and waves. He invites you into his home for a cool drink of water. Then once you've settled down into a chair with your beverage he asks, "Would you like to hear my daughter play the violin?"

You're stuck. You're a captive audience. Bring on the violin.

This is exactly what happened to Kat and me in Romania. We were a hundred miles away from the nearest city. I knew this was going to be painful. The violin is one of the sweetest instruments on the planet ... when it is played well. In the wrong hands, it sounds more like a dying animal.

We sat back in our chairs as his young daughter set up a music stand in the middle of the room. No matter what kind of noise came out of this instrument, we were going to have to smile and nod our heads with approval and admiration. I pulled out my tape recorder. The father beamed with pride.

The daughter ruffled some pages of music onto the stand and brought the violin up to her chin.

I prayed that this house concert would be short and sweet.

Ten seconds later, I wished it would never end.

music link



Our jaws dropped as the sweet melody filled the tiny room.

How could this be? In this little humble house in the middle of no where in Romania?

I learned that it wasn't the young girl's talent that was lacking ... it was my ability to see beyond the physical surroundings and my preconceptions that sorely needed a lesson or two.

audio recording (Romania-violin) by Willie Weir
photo (Romanian village-1996) by Willie Weir

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SIGHTS AND SOUNDS appears on Friday afternoons. Willie Weir is a columnist for Adventure Cyclist magazine. His latest book Travels with Willie: Adventure Cyclist compiles his favorite writings over the last twelve years. He lives in Seattle with his wife Kat. You can read about their local adventures and life without a car at www.yellowtentadventures.com.

Adventure Cycling Library Membership

As the holidays come around the bend, many of you are looking for ways to give back to your community. One way is to share the adventure of bicycle touring by giving one of our special, half-priced Library Memberships to any of your local libraries, including public, university, and K-12 schools.

These memberships offer a one year subscription to Adventure Cyclist magazine, which the library will then add to their periodicals section for anyone to read.

By participating in this Adopt-A-Library program, you are saying that getting the next generation of cyclists on the road is important. You are saying that you believe in the transformative power of bicycle travel, and you want everyone in the U.S. to have the opportunity to stumble across it while combing the shelves of the local library. Not convinced? Check out this inspiring challenge/reminder from Willie Weir.

If you are looking for the perfect gift this year that doesn't involved boxes and bows, share some inspiration with the community you love and give the gift of adventure to your library.

photo by Aaron Teasdale

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MEMBERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS is posted each Friday by Amy Corbin, Membership and Marketing Coordinator. It 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.

Farmington, Missouri: Cyclist Friendly Community

If you need further evidence about the hospitality available on the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail, look no further than Farmington, Missouri. Located on Section 9 of the TransAm, this community has extended its hand in multiple ways to the touring cyclist.

Last summer we received news that they had organized a Pedestrian/Bicycle Advisory Board for the town and that the TransAm route was at the top of their priorities. At that time, they were offering a free, hot shower at the Farmington Civic Center and free camping less than a mile outside of town at Wilson-Rozier Park. The park even has flush toilets and sinks available to cyclists, if they call ahead to the police department and ask for them to be unlocked. In downtown Farmington, cyclists will find plenty of food options and a bike shop is in the works.

The jewel in their crown of offerings is the newly opened TransAmerica Trail Cycler's Inn (also known as Al's Place), a hostel with 14 bunk beds, three bedrooms, a bathroom, kitchen, and laundry room. Interestingly the hostel building was originally the county jail! The building is secured with a keypad so again, cyclists should call the police department for the current code. (See how handy those law enforcement listings can be?) And according to Greg Beavers, city administrator, "In the spring, we will stencil way-finder signs on the shoulder of the road about 2 miles out of town to make the Inn easy to find."

All this adds to the mounting evidence that more miles in Missouri would be a good thing to consider when growing the Adventure Cycling Bicycle Route Network. With that being said, regardless of where our growth takes us in the future, today (and every day!) we're thankful to have such fabulous facilities extending their goodwill to cyclists along our routes!

photo by Greg Beavers

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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.

Midwest Movement on the USBRS

A couple weeks ago I attended the Mid America Trails and Greenways Conference where I participated in a meeting with groups already working on regional bike routes and trails -- many of which will serve the U.S. Bicycle Route System directly.

There is Marcy Colclough, a senior planner with the South Harbor. Marcy coordinates a nine county group called Southwest Michigan Alliance for Recreational Trails (SMART). Marcy's working to link these trails and routes into the growing system being developed in northern Indiana thanks to the good work of Mitch Barloga, a non-motorized and greenways planner for the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIR-PC). Mitch also serves on the board of the Greenways Foundation, an Indiana based non-profit that promotes trail building and greenways.

Okay, I'm name dropping, but I would be remiss if I didn't recognize and tip my hat to Scott Anderson of the Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance. He is (at the moment) volunteering his time to work on the development of U.S. Bike Route 20 through Michigan. He's spent countless hours reviewing the Adventure Cycling North Lakes Route and Lake Erie Connector, talking to the communities that those routes traverse, and now he's reaching out to the transportation agencies that manage the roadways. He's getting a bit of help from another steadfast volunteer, Kerry Irons (Adventure Cycling's Volunteer of the Year award recipient in 2007). Kerry also participated in the meeting at the Mid America Trails and Greenways Conference, and helped facilitate it.

We were joined by Josh Debryn, Michigan Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator and Ron Emery, Assistant Attorney General to the Transportation Division of the Michigan Department of Attorney General. See their presentation "Michigan Bike/Ped Safety and Liability" which explains how Michigan law protects bike/pedestrian accommodations including on-road bicycle designations.

Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Indiana representatives took part in an afternoon working session that yielded a good number of ideas and outcomes. I look forward to working with all these states and regions on USBR 30, USBR 35, USBR 66 and USBR 76 in the coming months.

map by Casey Greene, Adventure Cycling Association

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BUILDING THE U.S. BICYCLE ROUTE SYSTEM is posted twice per month by Ginny Sullivan, USBRS coordinator, and features news and updates related to the emerging U.S. Bicycle Route System.

National Day of Listening

Last week I wrote about three pairs of bicycle travelers who are documenting stories of people and places along their respective cycling routes. This week I was happy to stumble upon NPR's campaign for the National Day of Listening on November 27th, the day after Thanksgiving.

Its website suggests, "On the day after Thanksgiving, set aside one hour to record a conversation with someone important to you. You can interview anyone you choose: an older relative, a friend, a teacher, or someone from the neighborhood."

Discussions about family lore, exciting mishaps on the bicycle tour of a lifetime, the people and places wedged into their hearts because they serendipitously encountered them right when they needed them most...

Time for reflection and conversation: what a beautiful way to give thanks.

If you capture a bicycle-travel story that you'd like to share with us (in audio or video format), post a link in the comments below, or send the file or link to press AT adventurecycling DOT org (please put "bike travel story" in the subject line).

Happy holiday!

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NEWS, NETWORKING, AND NEW MEDIA is written by Winona Bateman, Adventure Cycling's media director, and appears weekly, highlighting cool media (articles, videos, photos, etc.) related to Adventure Cycling and bicycle travel. Writing a story about bicycle travel or Adventure Cycling Association? You can contact Winona via our media room or view our news releases.

Bicycle Fashion: The Road is your Runway!

As a proud subscriber of both Adventure Cyclist magazine and Vogue, it’s hard not be occasionally bummed out by my (lack of) options for bicycle fashion accessories. I mean, I’m all about rugged adventure, but I want to do it with a little bit of flair! So you’ll understand why I was particularly excited to revisit this Interbike Fashion Show (mentioned on this blog back in October); great clothes, great shoes, and, last but not least, great bicycles! Check it out and make your morning commute your runway. And remember: TWEED!

I’m busy packing up for a month long cycling trip south-of-the border, and, while I’ve tended to prefer to tour with a trailer, I couldn’t help but be tempted by these beautiful, Portland-crafted panniers; no more plain black bags for this touring fashionista! How do you say "styling" in Spanish?
photo by Queen Bee Creations

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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.

Bikes in the (Non) Wilderness

According to an October 29 story in the Great Falls Tribune, a new crop of National Forest travel plans will ban mountain bikes from wilderness study areas and certain other non-wilderness areas in Region 1 of the Forest Service (Montana and parts of Idaho). Fat-tire bicycles have been prohibited in areas established as wilderness by the Wilderness Act of 1964 as long as the bikes have been around, since about 1980. But the new travel plans will exclude mountain bikers from certain areas where until now they've been permitted to ride — in other words, areas in which they have a history of use.

"Previous to these new travel plans, bicycles were treated a lot like horses or hikers," writes reporter Michael Babcock in the Tribune; "they could go just about anywhere as long it was not in a designated wilderness area — even in wilderness study areas."

Babcock then quotes Region 1 wilderness program leader Chris Ryan, who's stationed at the region's headquarters kitty-corner from Adventure Cycling's offices in Missoula, as saying: "Why would we tell the public we think these areas are the best of the best, the cream of the crop, but continue to allow uses that ultimately will be excluded?"

Babcock writes that the new travel plan for the Beaverhead-Deer Lodge National Forest will exclude mountain bikes from almost 400 miles of singletrack trails they've previously had access to. There's another 23 miles of trails in the Gallatin National Forest near Bozeman, approximately 74 miles in the Bitterroot National Forest south of Missoula, 139 miles in northwest Montana's Kootenai National Forest, and about 79 miles in north Idaho's Clearwater National Forest.

The International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) and the Montana Mountain Bike Alliance have appealed the Beaverhead-Deer Lodge Forest's new plan, which contains the most miles of trails in question.

As far as we've determined, the new travel plans won't affect the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route in Montana, as it predominantly follows unpaved roads, rather than trails.

photo by 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.

Holiday Gift Ideas: Recycled Bicycle Parts!

This year, my plan for holiday gift buying is to ' go green.' For some folks, I plan to buy gifts made from old bike parts, but not just for the bicycle enthusiasts in the family. There are countless items forged from bike parts. It’s inspiring.

• Bike chain segments and spoke nipples can be used to make some great earrings, necklaces, and bracelets.
  

• You can also wear someone’s old bike tubes that needed patching in a great belt, or accent one of your belts with a belt buckle made of an old cassette, such as the creation pictured below by Brian Elling.

• Decorative bowls, picture frames, and other lovely items for the home have been fashioned from bike chains.

• Your boring old lamp can be replaced with one that shows off your love of cycling. Lamps can be created from forks, cassettes, chain rings, you name it. These lamps were made by a former Adventure Cycling employee.

• How about a chair, stool, or bench?

• Bikes can also make great works of art. Adventure Cycling member Kate Wanner created this beautiful stained glass piece.

Researching these items has motivated me to come up with my own bike part creations. I plan to make jewelry made from chain pieces and spoke nipples. Have you been similarly inspired? Let us know about your creations made from recycled bike parts!

top photo by Brian Elling
second photo by Kate Wanner

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GREENCYCLE is posted each Saturday by Kylie Paul, Adventure Cycling’s sales and shipping specialist. With a lifetime commitment to conservation, Kylie hopes to share the many ways that bicycling and Adventure Cycling are helping to improve our planet!

Winter Riding Tips

Winter will be setting in shortly, but that doesn't mean the riding season is coming to an end. While we don't see a lot of people on extended tours through the winter months, there are still plenty of folks hitting the road to stay in riding shape for their early 2010 tours. Here are some tips to help keep you as comfortable as possible while riding outdoors in the cold, and hopefully they will make the winter months seem less intimidating, and get you in the shape you need to be in to make your next tour more enjoyable.

Clothing

While you will likely feel the bite of the cold on your extremities first, it's a good idea to focus on your torso and head. Much of your body heat escapes through your head, so in addition to your helmet, add an insulated helmet cover, or hat that fits under your helmet. I'm a big fan of balaclavas, as they not only handle my head and ears, but they make up for my inability to grow a solid winter beard.

Keeping your torso well insulated will actually help keep your extremities warm as well. Your internal organs are the highest priority (heart, lungs, etc), and when they start to get cold, your internal body heat is focused here, leaving your extremities neglected and cold. No matter how you choose to layer up, make sure your jacket is brightly colored and/or reflective to set you apart from the bland and dreary landscape.

Overdressing can be just as bad as underdressing. Sweating a lot will make you damp, and once your sweat cools off, it will rapidly bring down your body temperature. If you're unsure as to how to go about dressing, stand outside for a few minutes before you jump on your bike. If you're comfortable, you're overdressed, and if you're shivering you're underdressed. Try and find a point where you can stand outside and be mildly chilled. Don't be discouraged if you don't get it right the first time. Keep at it, and you'll be dressing for winter time success in no time.

Bike

Surprisingly, there's not a lot you have to do to your bike for the winter. Tires are important to consider, and involve a pretty simple retrofit. Studded tires are a popular option, especially if you have 700c wheels. Mountain bike tires with a medium tread pattern also work well on the ice and snow. Whatever you choose, be sure they have a strong layer of puncture protection, because there's nothing worse than changing a tube with cold hands.

A good set of front and rear lights is never a bad idea. The days are short, and darkness can sneak up on you quickly. There are also fewer cyclists on the road in the winter, making us further removed from the minds of motorists. The more visible you can make yourself, the better.

Lastly, keep your drivetrain clean and well lubed. The grit and slush on the road will do a number on your chain, derailleurs, cassette, and cables. Fenders will help keep everything protected, but give it all a good wipe down at the end of your ride, and lube your chain when it starts talking to you.

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TOURING GEAR AND TIPS is written by Joshua Tack of 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.

Colorado Member Meetings

Adventure Cycling is headed to Colorado! Adventure Cycling's executive director will be presenting at gatherings in Ft. Collins, Denver, and Colorado Springs during the first week of December. Check out the schedule:

Dec. 1st, Ft. Collins

6:30 to 8:00 pm @ New Belgium Brewing Company, 500 Linden Street;

Dec. 3rd, Denver

7:00 to 8:30 pm @ REI’s flagship store, 1416 Platte St., 3rd floor; If you want to use transit, check out this trip planner from Denver’s RTD web page.

Dec. 4th, Colorado Springs

7:00 to 8:30 pm @ Old Town Bike Shop, 426 S. Tejon St.

At all of these events, Jim will provide the latest news and resources on bicycle travel, including new bike-friendly routes, maps, tours, and policy initiatives at the national level — such as an official U.S. Bicycle Route System, now being considered by Congress. There will be time for Q&A, and for folks to share stories and tips. Whether you’re a bike travel veteran or a newcomer, there will be new insights and inspirations for you. Refreshments will be provided at all three events. Feel free to bring your friends to these free events.

Please RSVP for any of these events (so we know how many people to expect) by emailing Beth Petersen at bpetersen@adventurecycling.org or 800-755-2453 x211, ideally by November 30th.

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MEMBERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS is posted each Friday by Amy Corbin, Membership and Marketing Coordinator. It 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.

Water Break--Racing in the Andes of Venezuela

Colombia is known for its world class cyclists. Venezuela ... not so much. It is hard to promote a non-motorized sport in a country where the gasoline is cheaper than water.

We did, however, discover a thriving cycling culture in and around the small town of Guarico, Venezuela, not far from the major city of Barquisimeto. It just so happened that they were having an annual bike race (all up hill) as we passed through on our heavily loaded touring bikes.

I'd like to say that I dropped my panniers, entered the race, and stood on the winner's podium. Not even close. I volunteered to help at one of the watering stations. No fancy containers of energy drinks or packets of high fructose goo. This was your no-frills station, with small plastic bags of water, tied up like mini water balloons and delivered to exhausted and sometimes wobbly cyclists speeding by.


It was an all ages race. And I hate to admit this, but the kid in the above photo would have probably beaten me to the finish line. It took some practice to get the timing right, and several of my water bags dropped to the roadside. Perhaps due to the fact that I was trying to take photos as well.

This guy sums it up. Passed his prime. Struggling. But still participating with a grand thumbs up!


I've never been a racer, choosing instead to pedal up scenic mountain passes at whatever speed strikes my fancy. But that doesn't mean I can't admire the beauty, the power and the passion of those who fly passed me sans panniers.


photos (Guarico, Venezuela-2007) by Willie Weir (click the top photo for larger image)

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SIGHTS AND SOUNDS appears on Friday afternoons. Willie Weir is a columnist for Adventure Cyclist magazine. His latest book Travels with Willie: Adventure Cyclist compiles his favorite writings over the last twelve years. He lives in Seattle with his wife Kat. You can read about their local adventures and life without a car at www.yellowtentadventures.com.

Twin Bridges Cyclists' Only Campground

I'm so excited about this news, I can hardly sit still! Back in May, we mentioned that Twin Bridges, Montana, was setting up a cyclists only campground. Little did we know (though we did suspect) the impact it would have on this small, rural community.

Bill White, the chief organizer of the campground, reports they had more than 245 cyclists stay overnight and they have determined that those folks brought at least $10,000 into their local economy. Not bad for a town with a population hovering around 400.

Bill went on to say, "The project has to be one of the highlights of my life. I met some wonderful people and am already looking forward to next year. ... The Town Council turned from skeptical to firm believers. There was absolutely NO misuse of the facility by cyclists. Many actually requested cleaning supplies be stocked so they could clean the facility themselves! The donations were surprising. Only a few left nothing...that surprised everyone. Donations ranged from $.76 to $100."

If you are interested in creating something similar, Bill says he's happy to share his experience and help you make it happen. You can contact him through the campground website. Also, remember we have resources available on our website in the Outreach & Education pages. And Amy, our memberships blogger, recently posted about our list of suggestions for helping your town be a bicycle travel friendly destination.

Are you ready to help your community bring a few more dollars and cents into the economy while helping your fellow traveling cyclists on their journey?

photos by Ed Walter

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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.

Your Invitation to "Cycle Through History"

For the past couple months, I have had the opportunity to contribute content for a site devoted to promoting historic and cultural tourism. The site, Heritage Travel, is supported by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and its goal is to help people experience this growing arm of the travel industry in relevant, and sometimes unique ways.

This is your invitation to check out Cycling Through History section which is in a part of the site called, Goziac. The name "Gozaic" is meant to conjure the moziac of cultural and historical experiences that people will find on the site -- the "Go" refers to the ability to use the site to learn, explore, and eventually do them yourself. I write a weekly blog on combining history with bicycle travel and I invite you to read and discuss some of the topics I've posted there.

Along with the blog, Adventure Cycling manages the content for the Cycling Through History section. We have bike touring materials posted as well as links to all sorts of resources: crazyguyonabike, the League of American Bicyclists, and the National Bicycle Tour Directors Association to name a few. In my posts, I add links that are relevant to the topic at hand; such as national parks, state parks, historic trails, museums, historic sites, and so on.

There are two ways I'd love to see adventure cyclists contribute: 1) Join the Cycling Through History Goziac as a member (it's free) and partake in the discussions; 2) Contribute your experience as a guest blogger. If you have a historic or cultural bend to your touring experience -- help me share that with others. Truly, nothing speaks louder than first hand knowledge and your stories can be the inspiration for others to be active travelers.

If you are ready to inspire others, meet me at the Cycling Through History Circle or email me at gsullivan (at) adventurecycling.org and learn how to be a guest contributor.

image courtesy of Goziac.com

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CONNECTIONS is posted twice a month by Ginny Sullivan, Adventure Cycling's special projects director and features the cultural, historical, geographical, and human connections created through bike travel. Find out about our award-winning Underground Railroad Bicycle Route.

The Power of Story: 3 Inspiring Pairs of Bicycle Travelers

For me, stories are at the center of any adventure. They're also the cultural currency we use to share our experiences and inspire each other to test our limits, shift our perspective, and open our hearts. The following bicycle travelers have embraced story as a central mission of their journey. So, gather around the fire...

I have to mention this lovely pair again (a repeat from my August 12th post), Listen to Africa is "a two year bicycle expedition recording African sounds and voices." I love their website, and since August, Huw and Rebecca have posted new recordings and many thoughtful observations about sound. Check out this particularly wonderful post about natural soundscapes, or simply take a few minutes to enjoy their podcasts, such as Soundscape: Life in the Mangroves, recorded "just after dawn in the mangrove forest on the banks of The River Gambia". Gorgeous.

Russ Roca and Laura Crawford are cycling throughout the U.S. (and beyond) with "the goal of connecting with and collecting the stories of people who followed a calling to live their lives in unique ways." Watch their black and white interview with Martina of Swift Industries, a company that produces hand-crafted bicycle panniers and accessories. You can find more stories and photos from Russ and Laura on their website, PathLessPedaled.com.

Nowhere Soon was a sweet find -- a pair of cyclists currently riding down the Pacific Coast chronicling their journey and (you guessed it) collecting stories, then weaving them together and sharing them via podcasts. Their produced recordings are seemingly influenced by This American Life and are peppered with punchy, emo-esque music. I thoroughly enjoyed much of their lengthy, "It's Not About the Bike" episode. The narrative tends to sprawl, but hey, doesn't that often describe travels by bicycle -- adventures comprised of big, beautiful, unpredictable stories?

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NEWS, NETWORKING, AND NEW MEDIA is written by Winona Bateman, Adventure Cycling's media director, and appears weekly, highlighting cool media (articles, videos, photos, etc.) related to Adventure Cycling and bicycle travel. Writing a story about bicycle travel or Adventure Cycling Association? You can contact Winona via our media room or view our news releases.

A Stronger Adventure Cycling, Thanks to You

While most of what we write about on Adventure Cycling’s blog is the “good stuff” -- i.e. trips, places, gear, friends, emotions -- most of what I get to do as executive director is grapple with how Adventure Cycling is performing -- i.e. financially and organizationally. Well, last week, we issued our latest report card on how things are going, and (sigh of relief) it’s good! In fact, given the state of the economy, it’s really good. Despite the national downturn, we saw increased revenues in tours, membership, sales, and development.

Tours, in particular, were impressive, with 9% more participants and 23% more revenue. This coming year, too, we’re seeing major enthusiasm for our tours, with four times as many sign-ups right now as we had at this time last year.

You can read more in the news release, but I bring this up for two reasons. Most important, Adventure Cycling succeeded because of you, our members and supporters. I cannot believe how generous people were this past year in making donations, buying maps, and renewing memberships. We wouldn’t be here without you, so thank you very, very much.

The other reason is that, because of your generosity and Adventure Cycling’s steady performance, there is a lot of exciting bike travel stuff headed your way: new Adventure Cyclist magazines; new routes (the epic Sierra Cascades in April and work beginning on a Michigan spur of the Underground Railroad Bicycle Route); new tours; much more work on the U.S. Bicycle Route System and federal transportation policy; and more resources on how to do “bike overnights.”

So as we head towards Thanksgiving, I just want you to know how much we appreciate all your support and passion for bike travel -- and how hard we’ll keep working to stoke that love. Thanks again and here’s to an even better 2010, for all of us!

photo: Jim Sayer (center) with members Susan Yuen and John Ngai in New York City, photo courtesy of Susan Yuen

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Jim Sayer is Adventure Cycling Association's executive director.

Adventure Cycling Tours Team

You talk to us on the phone. You (maybe) read our web postings. We send you your Before You Go books and discuss logistics. But, unless you’re on a tour that comes through Missoula, Montana, you never actually get to meet the Adventure Cycling Office Tours Team.

So allow me to put faces to the names [clockwise, from top left]: Rod (Tour Director), John (Tours and Outreach Specialist), Sarah and Anthony (Tours Specialists). We all adore cycling and bike adventures, love getting to plan and work with tours, and we all commute to work every day by bicycle! But here are some fun facts.

- When Rod isn’t riding his bike(s) he drives a vintage VW bus. He also loves the Rolling Stones!

- John is a chocolate fiend, and can be bribed to do almost anything for a brownie.

- Anthony moved to Montana from Georgia. He’s cold all winter and wears a down jacket in the balmiest of weather.

- Sarah likes to run as well as ride bikes, and is currently trying for the title of “5K specialist.” She also enjoys writing about herself in the third person.

photo by Sarah Raz

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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.

Where the Tarmac Ends

The Rough Stuff Fellowship is a poetically named organization in Great Britain whose beginnings date to 1955. On the home page of their website, they point at that this was "long before anyone had heard of Marin County."

While that's not literally true, it is a fact that 1955 was approximately 20 years before storied riders like Gary Fisher, Joe Breeze, and Tom Ritchey began bombing down the fire roads of Marin County's Mount Tamalpais on their beefed-up klunker bikes. Many regard those hair-raising rides down Mount Tam as the true roots of fat-tire riding.

Now, going back a lot farther than 1955, consider what sorts of track and trail surfaces the Buffalo Soldiers of the U.S. Army's 25th Infantry had to contend with in 1897 to ride their "safety" bicycles from Fort Missoula, Montana, to St. Louis, Missouri. Amazing!

Returning to the website of the Rough Stuff Fellowship, the organization's chairman, Steve Griffith, has written an interesting piece on what he considers to be the true history of mountain biking. "Until the 1980s, off-road riding was known as rough stuff, or pass storming," he writes. "The origin of the former is in opposition to smooth stuff (i.e., tarmac). Over the years there has been much debate amongst adherents of this type of cycling as to a definition. To my mind the simplest is perhaps the best: Rough stuff begins where the tarmac ends."

Hear hear! It was with influences coming from those boys and girls who stormed down Mount Tam on two wheels in the mid-'70s that we at Adventure Cycling developed the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route 20 years later, in the mid '90s. But our inspiration came from other places, and other times, as well.

Where the tarmac (better known in America as the pavement) ends: that's where the Great Divide began — and begins.


Montana rough-stuff road photo by 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.

We Prefer Green: Our Attempts to Leave a Small Environmental Footprint

Here at Adventure Cycling's headquarters in Missoula, Montana, we work hard to do our part in reducing our footprint on the planet, here's how:

• As an organization, we have a commitment to recycling and reusing what we can. We have a dedicated recycling captain (a.k.a. Greg Siple) who holds us hard and fast to this commitment.


• If you’ve purchased from CycloSource, our online store, you may have noticed that your item shipped in a used cardboard box -- when able, we reuse boxes and packing materials that we receive.


• We send out mailings in envelopes made of recycled paper. While it's currently cost-prohibitive to use recycled paper for our magazine and catalogs, we’re always trying to find ways to make them more environmentally friendly.


• We try to do as much of our printing and purchasing locally as possible. When we need to pick up or send out materials within Missoula, we gladly call upon exCARgo Missoula Bicycle Delivery. They'll haul anything, all by bike and trailer!
  


• At our celebrations and events, we strive to buy local food and refreshments -- heck, it tastes better anyway! Then we collect our food scraps for compost.


• We're looking into purchasing carbon credits that will offset the carbon impact of staff travel.
  

We also provide covered bike parking for Adventure Cycling employees to encourage bicycle commuting. We’ve won Missoula’s annual Commuter Challenge two years in a row, competing against other organizations and businesses for the highest employee commuter participation. These wins are not entirely surprising, since our mission is to inspire people of all ages to travel by bicycle!

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GREENCYCLE is posted each Saturday by Kylie Paul, Adventure Cycling’s sales and shipping specialist. With a lifetime commitment to conservation, Kylie hopes to share the many ways that bicycling and Adventure Cycling are helping to improve our planet!

S & S Couplings

As airline fees for bikes continue to climb, so does the popularity of bike couplings. The most common option right now is the S & S system, which allow the main triangle of your bike to be disassembled at the top tube and downtube by threaded couplings. Through doing this, you can get most bikes to fit in a case that can be checked as regular luggage on a plane.

The S & S couplings themselves are very simple to use, and require no special tools, however, they do require some special attention. First and foremost, avoid cross threading when putting your frame back together. If it seems like the couplings aren't threading smoothly, don't force them through. Back them off, realign the threads, and start over. If they still give you trouble, clean the threads, apply some light grease, and you should be in good shape. You will also want to wrap up the couplings with a rag or sock during transit. When pulling a bike apart, don't forget about cable disconnects, which are basically couplings for your brake and derailleur cables that will save you a great deal of time on setup and breakdown.

While S & S couplings are most commonly found on steel bikes, they are also making appearances on titanium, and carbon bikes as well. Tandems riders are also another target for this design, and some tandems can convert to a triple, or a quad through the coupling system.

If an S & S coupling system is appealing to you, but you don't want to go out and buy another bike, there are some companies out there, such as Bilenky Cycle Works, that will retrofit your steel or titanium bike with couplings.

For you folding bike fans out there, don't worry, I haven't forgotten about you. I'm saving that topic for its own post.

photo by Josh Tack

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TOURING GEAR AND TIPS is written by Joshua Tack of 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.

The Great Intensifier

I often refer to the bicycle as the great intensifier. Unlike travel by car or bus or train or motorcycle ... the bike allows you to experience a place with all of your senses. Because you are also physically active, I'm sure the endorphins and adrenaline also add to the intensity at which cyclists experience the world.

The world has never been more beautiful for me than from the seat of a bicycle.

I cycled into war-torn Croatia and Bosnia in 1996. The only vehicles on the road (other than my bicycle) were the occasional rumblings of United Nation troop trucks and tanks. One of my first encounters was in a small town named Bilisane.

The commentary below originally aired on KUOW. The sounds were recorded in Bilisane. The text was recorded in a small apartment in Sarajevo. Today, I'd have sent the audio file via the internet in ten seconds. Thirteen years ago, I had to send the cassette tape via an express shipping company and then an engineer mixed it in the studio in Seattle. How quickly technology has changed.

And so has the region. Croatia is now one of the world's hot tourist destinations.

But that day I learned the intensity of bicycle travel works both ways. It also relates to the raw, ugly and horrifying scenes this planet has to offer. There was no way to roll up the windows, turn on the stereo and drive quickly away.

Bilisane commentary link



To travel by bicycle is to encounter the world without filters. I wouldn't have it any other way.

audio recording (Bilisane) by Willie Weir
photo (Croatia Coast-1996) by Willie Weir

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SIGHTS AND SOUNDS appears on Friday afternoons. Willie Weir is a columnist for Adventure Cyclist magazine. His latest book Travels with Willie: Adventure Cyclist compiles his favorite writings over the last twelve years. He lives in Seattle with his wife Kat. You can read about their local adventures and life without a car at www.yellowtentadventures.com.

Announcing Our Award Winners!

The 2009 Adventure Cycling Bicycle Travel Awards nominations closed on September 30th. In the past month, our team of staff and board members has reviewed the dozens of nominations, chosen our winners and contacted them to let them know about the honor. All were pleasantly surprised to be honored for doing things that seemed so natural and commonplace to them, things that flowed directly from their passion for cycling, and a desire to help out.

From the couple in North Dakota offering a bunk to traveling cyclists, to the life member in Arizona who has worked tirelessly to help create a national bike route system; from the new member in Montana who simply wanted to meet new people and be a more integral part of the organization through volunteering, to the bike shop in Virginia that goes out of its way to make sure anyone of any ability has a chance to explore their world on a bike, this year's award winners were superb.

A big thanks to Keen Footwear and 53x11 Coffee for providing some fabulous prizes for our winners!

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MEMBERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS is posted each Friday by Amy Corbin, Membership and Marketing Coordinator. It 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.

Packing for a Particular Route

Packing for a bike trip is a very personal project and will vary from destination to destination, and season to season. Riding the Green Mountains Loop in New England to catch the fall colors will require a different packing list than tackling the Great Parks South route in August in order to view the wildflower bloom.

Everyone has their particulars about what are the most important items to bring on the road. Some pack everything but the kitchen sink (and some include the kitchen sink) while others go ultralight. To get an idea of the variety of items brought on tours check out some journals on crazyguyonabike, many of them have equipment lists.

Personally, I like my creature comforts, but I attempt to balance that with my desire to keep it simple. One area of prime importance to me is getting a good night's sleep. I recently discovered that a fellow staffer here at Adventure Cycling likes to bring her down sweater, with its self-packing pocket, and use it as a pillow. She even made a flannel case for it so it would be soft against her face. I think I might have to have one of those sweaters for the
Oregon Coastal Odyssey trip that I want to take next summer.

How does your packing list change based on geography and time of travel?

in this photo a Leadership Training Course instructor explains his system of packing
photo from Adventure Cycling's photostream 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.

On the Hunt in Oregon: Courting Leaders for the U.S. Bicycle Route System

Now, I've never hunted. Having grown up on a ranch, my memories of hunting season equate with early morning phone calls and a haze of faintly familiar faces parading through our front door seeking permission to stalk their prey of choice.

But, for the past couple of weeks, you could say that I have been targeting a kind of prey: leaders for the U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS). It's a friendly game that is actually more courtship than chase -- but it is a pursuit all the same. There are plenty of leaders to pursue -- especially in Oregon, and between Oct 20-24, I had the pleasure to meet and court numerous people and groups in that wonderful, bicycle-loving state.

There is an emerging Scenic Bikeways Program, facilitated through Parks and Recreation (a big thank you to Alex Phillips, coordinator, and Doug Parrow, chairman of the committee, for taking hours of their time to talk about building the USBRS in Oregon).


There's that annual event called Cycle Oregon, which brings thousands of people to rural communities across Oregon, while its foundation supports a diverse number of off-shoot cycling amenities such as RideOregonRide.com, the new Travel Oregon interactive website that makes biking accessible to all types of riders (commuters, mountain, road). Cycle Oregon's ride director, Jerry Norquist is also chair of the Oregon Dept. of Transportation's Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee -- which is another group I had the opportunity to meet.

I also took a couple hours to sit down with Sheila Lyons, the state Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator and talk about roles and responsibilities for implementing these interstate routes, potentially in partnership with an outside, non-government organization.

The good news is that, along with all these great bicycling supporters and activities going on in Oregon, there exists a ton of enthusiasm for the USBRS. Between these groups and the amazing members of Adventure Cycling that I met there, we'll surely hit the mark and find the leader for the USBRS.

in the top photo from left to right: Alex Phillips, Parks & Recreation; Kristin Dahl, Travel Oregon; Doug Parrow, chair Scenic Bikeways Committee and Bicycle Transportation Alliance board member; Mike Cosgrove Scenic Bikeways Committee member and Strawberry Mountain Coop
in the bottom photo: Jerry Norquist, Cycle Oregon
photos by Ginny Sullivan

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BUILDING THE U.S. BICYCLE ROUTE SYSTEM is posted twice per month by Ginny Sullivan, USBRS coordinator, and features news and updates related to the emerging U.S. Bicycle Route System.

Connect with Adventure Cycling and Other Cyclists Online

If you're reading the blog, you're likely familiar with our other social media and networking efforts. Since last January, we've reached thousands of people through Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr, and MySpace. Our special Facebook and Twitter free trail memberships have been snapped up (welcome first-time members!) and hundreds of you have posted to our FB wall, retweeted our tweets, and shared your photos. Twitter is in fact our fastest growing community -- now I just need time to put you all on a list so I can keep better track of your tweets!

Speaking of lists, if this is new to you or you're curious about branching out, we've just posted a new webpage listing the different ways that you can connect with us, and other cycling enthusiasts, on these different sites (including our own web forums): www.adventurecycling.org/connect.

Don't worry, we haven't forgotten the most important element of social networking: riding with other cyclists! It's just that now, with the cold is settling in, we hope that you'll share your stories and images with us from your 2009 season (perhaps in our new photo contest), and of course, dig into planning your adventures for 2010!

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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. Sign up for press updates from Adventure Cycling, or follow us on Twitter.

Family Rides: Have Bikes, Will Travel

I remember very clearly learning to ride a bicycle. I lived at the end of a gravel road, and my little legs had a hard time gathering enough strength to push the wheels of my hand-me-down bicycle forward. My mom would run with me as I pedaled, and as soon as she’d let go I’d continue spinning furiously, make it a few feet, then topple over. I’m not a quitter, though, and I’d practice daily until — at last! — I could make it to the mailbox and back unaided. From there, it was only a matter of time before I could ride to the county store, purchase a pint of chocolate milk, and gulp it down on-site; savoring my new found freedom. I've always wondered if my vivid recollection of my introduction to cycling is unusual: do you remember when you first fell in love with bicycle riding?

I enjoy helping to plan our Family Fun tours, I think, in part because I love the idea of enabling others to share the joy of cycling. It’s great to give families the opportunity to cycle together, enjoying the world around them and the bonds being created. And, hey, if younger folks are given a taste of the chocolate-milk freedom two wheels can bring, even better!

photo courtesy of Adventure Cycling Association on Flickr

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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.

Pedaling + Paddling

When it comes to self-propelled travel, there's no reason to stick to a single mode of getting from point A to point B. Consider, for instance, travel writer and Chicago resident Ted Villaire's recent 10-day trip along the western shores of Michigan, which he made by bicycle and kayak.

Similarly, only much longer in the saddle and with the paddle, this couple from Germany spent five years years exploring the world's roads and waters. In all, they cycled approximately 55,000 miles and paddled some 2,600 miles.

If you'd like to dabble in multi-mode travel, but leave the planning to someone else, certain outfitters can accommodate you. Discover France, for instance, offers a package trip in the Provence region that mixes road cycling, canoeing, hiking, and mountain biking (oh, yeah, and zip-lining).

But a straight cycling adventure is copacetic by you? Me, too. I'm thinking of taking my next one aboard a self-contained unit like this. It may not be the fastest ride around, but can you imagine the camping comfort once you call it a day?

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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.

Bike Fenders

One trait many touring cyclists share is that they are not fair weathered riders. Even in the most predictable of climates, predicting the weather can make fools of us all, and I've been in that camp many times over. While this can seem disheartening to some, you can always be prepared for the worst. Rain jackets, pants, booties, gloves, and pannier covers are all easy choices for protection, while fenders are often forgotten.

One argument against fenders is that with a full front and rear rack, most of the spray is deflected already. Another argument is that if it's already raining, you're going to be wet regardless of what you have on your bike. These are two very good points, and I can respect each of them.

For me, the biggest benefit brought by fenders is protection for your bike. There's no way around it, riding in the rain will result in a wet bike, however, there's a big difference between rain from above, and spray from below. Gritty and/or muddy water from the road or trail is brutal on your drivetrain. While fenders won't keep your bike spotless, they will greatly reduce the amount of gunk and grit that builds up on your chain, cassette, and derailleurs. Another added benefit with fenders is that once installed properly, they are one component of weather protection you don't have to worry about packing.

When buying fenders for your bike, there are a couple things you should look for. First off, full coverage fenders are ideal. These are fenders that encompass roughly the top half of your wheel, and will connect to your frame near the brakes and bottom bracket. You also want to take note of your tire size, as a fender made for skinny road tires will not be effective on large touring or mountain bike tires. One final key item to pay attention to is mounting hardware, which fixes the fender to your frame. Try and find a fender with a metal mounting parts, as it will be much more durable than plastic parts.

Some fenders I have had luck with in the past include Plant Bike Cascadia and SKS City fenders. If you want to spice your bike up with some class, check out Woody's Fenders for a custom wooden option.

photo by Josh Tack

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TOURING GEAR AND TIPS is written by Joshua Tack of 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.

Blue Mosque--Last Call

First off. If you haven't been there, you need to put Turkey on your travel list. I've never met a globe trotting traveler (or cyclist) who didn't love Turkey.

Great food. Amazing history. Hospitality that rivals any country on earth. And lots of hills and mountain passes to climb (and descend).

Your trip will more than likely begin in Istanbul. For those looking to travel with frequent flier miles, Istanbul is in the "Europe" category and is probably the best frequent flier bargain around.

Kat and I stayed in the old city and the heavily visited Blue Mosque was a fifteen minute walk from our hotel. It was mobbed during the day, with hundreds of tourists waiting to get in and locals arriving to pray.

A friend of mine who had visited the year prior gave me a tip. "Go to the last call to prayer. The tourists will be in bed and you'll find that the mosque changes from hectic to reverent."

Wow, was he right. There were not more than 25 people there to pray. The imams chants echoed off the 400 year-old marble walls. We heard these prayers so many times over the following three months of our journey in Turkey. But they never sounded as beautiful as that late night in the Blue Mosque.



audio recording (Blue Mosque--Last Call to Prayer) by Willie Weir
photo (Blue Mosque 2002) by Willie Weir

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SIGHTS AND SOUNDS appears on Friday afternoons. Willie Weir is a columnist for Adventure Cyclist magazine. His latest book Travels with Willie: Adventure Cyclist compiles his favorite writings over the last twelve years. He lives in Seattle with his wife Kat. You can read about their local adventures and life without a car at www.yellowtentadventures.com.

Give the Gift of Cycling, Get a Chance to Win

Looking for that perfect gift for your cycling friends this Holiday Season? If you join Adventure Cycling, or renew your membership now, you can give a Holiday Gift Membership for just $20 (half off our regular rate) through December 31.

You will also be entered into our Share the Cycling Joy campaign, which means that for each Holiday Gift Membership you give, you'll get one chance to win a Bike Friday folding bike, or one of a variety of other prizes.

Later this month, we will feature a few posts on great gifts for cyclists on your list, so stay tuned!

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MEMBERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS is posted each Friday by Amy Corbin, Membership and Marketing Coordinator. It 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.

Intangible service

If you've used our route maps you know they are chock full of useful information. We attempt to include camping, lodging, and food source information in a 10 mile wide corridor (5 miles each side of the route) along with library and bike shop locations. These services are compiled and listed in the Service Directory. Most of these listings are tangible. However, there is one category that is less so, that is, until you need it: law enforcement.

The law enforcement agencies we include span the range from local police departments to county sheriffs and the Royal Mounted Police of Canada. On a first look, it may not be readily apparent why these officers of the law have been listed in the Service Directory. Since sections of our routes run through extremely rural areas, they may be the only point of contact for someone traveling through. As we say in the introduction to each Service Directory, "Law enforcement officers have proved repeatedly to be the cyclists' best allies on our routes." We believe you can't go wrong contacting one of these public servants for help or advice on the road. They usually have all the information you need or know where to direct you to find it.

photo from modmenone's photostream

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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.

Riding the Trail through History -- D.C. to Pittsburgh

If you have a hankering to get off the roads and enjoy a premier, long-distance bicycle trail, might I suggest the combination of the C&O Canal and Great Allegheny Passage (GAP).

One of Adventure Cycling Association’s most popular tour offerings follows these routes. Its been so popular in the past that we’ll be featuring three different kinds of trips on the C&O Canal/GAP in 2010: C&O/GAP Event; C&O Family and the new self-contained tour, Georgetown to Steeltown.

Our 2009 adventure was recently featured in USA Today's article "Cyclists hit the rail trail for a recession-resistant getaway" and, in the accompanying video, our very own tour leader, Larry Brock, elaborates on this amazing 330-mile long bike ride.

Let me entice you with a few of the historic features along this trail: Washington D.C.’s National Mall and Memorials, C&O Canal locks, cable-driven White’s Ferry; the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, Harper’s Ferry, Antietam National Battlefield, C&O Canal National Historic Park, Fort Frederick State Park, Paw Paw Tunnel, abandoned lines of the Western Maryland Railway and Pittsburgh to Lake Erie Railroad, and Fallingwater, a house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

Want to know more? Read Michael “Mac” McCoy’s take on this historic ride in the Adventure Cyclist piece entitled "Off-Road from D.C. to Pittsburgh" (PDF) and be sure to check out “The Scoop” sidebar for sage advice on biking this historic off-road route.

photo of the Paw Paw Tunnel by Bikegeezer on Flickr

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CONNECTIONS is posted twice a month by Ginny Sullivan, Adventure Cycling's special projects director and features the cultural, historical, geographical, and human connections created through bike travel. Find out about our award-winning Underground Railroad Bicycle Route.