The Dunes

When I show this photo, it is rare that someone guesses the country of origin correctly.

But if you cycle all the way to the tip of the North Island of New Zealand, you'll discover the Te Paki sand dunes.

I parked my bike at the base and trudged up the dunes, carrying my front handle bar bag loaded with snacks, my camera and some binoculars. I'd heard there were dunes, but was surprised at their size. The climb took a good half hour.

The view at the top was stunning -- a sweeping view of the Tasman Sea to the west, the Pacific Ocean to the east, and nearby Cape Reinga (the actual northwestern tip of the country).

While I was soaking in the view, a tour bus pulled up below. I took out my binoculars and spied six people get off the bus. Five of them lingered outside. Two of them took the opportunity to take a smoke break.

But one man immediately began climbing the dune. He was fast. He was determined--his arms rhythmically pumping as he ascended.

As he got closer I could see that he was an Asian man, probably in his early sixties. He had a camera strapped to his back and was wearing a white dress shirt and khaki shorts.

I watched him get closer, focusing on his efforts through my binoculars and rooting him on.

He was no more than two minutes from reaching me and the summit when I heard two long, loud horn blasts from the bus below.

The gentleman stopped dead in his tracks. I watched his shoulders shrug in a full body sigh. He paused for just a second. We acknowledged each other with a little wave. Then he turned and around and headed back down to his waiting tour bus.

I watched his figure get smaller and smaller as he descended. The others waiting for him boarded the bus, which quickly drove away.

I lingered at the top of the dunes, soaking in the sun and the view ... and relishing the travel freedom and flexibility that a bicycle brings.

photo (Dunes, New Zealand 1993) 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.

What if cycling was your only choice?

Slideshow - Portraits of India on Two-Wheels -- Images by Gregg Bleakney

In 2005, I made a choice to go car-free in favor of using a bicycle as my primary source of mobility. And, every time I saddle up I’m 100% thrilled to be living this two-wheeled lifestyle.

But…what if I didn’t have this choice?

I spent 2.5 months on photojournalism assignments in India earlier this year and discovered there are an estimated 300 million people who ride bicycles because they have no other option. I couldn’t help but wonder, “If cycling was NOT something I did by choice, but was designated by the caste I was born into, would I still love it the same?”

To explore that question, I made 16,000 photos (most of them portraits) of Indian cyclists: brick makers from the untouchable caste, milk deliverymen, paper delivery boys, homeless children, farmers, mystics, popsicle salesmen, slum dwellers, and more.

Please enjoy this slideshow of 40 of my favorites…and keep in mind the one thing all of these people have in common—cycling is their only choice.

Cheers,

Gregg

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GREGG BLEAKNEY is a writer and photographer with a storage unit based in Seattle, WA. www.gBleakney.com / Twitter: gthefish

Coming Soon: Sierra Cascades Bicycle Route

I am knee deep in helping to apply the finishing touches needed to release the Sierra Cascades Bicycle Route, so no real post today. Stay tuned though, the maps are coming soon!

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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. She also wants to remind you that map corrections and comments are always welcome via the online Map Correction Form.

Meet Scott Anderson: Working on USBR 20 in Michigan

Meet Scott Anderson, a volunteer for Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance and a transportation consultant. Scott called me a few years back, anxious to get started on developing U.S. Bicycle Routes in Michigan. His knowledge of transportation and bicycle travel along with his rapport with the local communities has really paid off as he works strategically to develop U.S. Bicycle Route 20. Here's what he has to say about his efforts:

1. How did you first hear about the U.S. Bicycle Route System? I've been working on bike trail and bike route development in Michigan for a while, and four years ago or so I stumbled onto information about the old U.S. Bike Routes from the 1980s, and started asking around as to whether any new ones were planned. So with regard to this current effort -- I sort of heard about it before it even got started.

2. What made you want to get involved? I've been impressed with other countries that have made strides toward providing facilities for long-distance cycling, the Trans Canada Trail for instance, and I always thought something like that would be good for America.

3. How are you involved? What corridor are you working on? Where does it go? I am thought of as the state coordinator for USBR 20 in Michigan, the ferry-to-ferry route, connecting Wisconsin on the Lake Michigan end to Ontario, Canada (and of course the aforementioned Trans Canada Trail). I plan to post maps on the discussion forums from time to time as they change, which they do.

4. How did you get the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) to entrust you with this project? I'm not sure MDOT completely trusts me (smile). I have worked with the MDOT Bike-Ped office for a while on different projects, and I go to the various conferences and meetings, so we all know each other somewhat. I don't think it would have gone as well if I had come out of the clear blue sky and this was the first they'd ever heard of me.

5. What is your long-term hope for this national system? My long term hopes are that much of the system comes to fruition fairly quickly and that this system provides the impetus for long-term, systematic improvement to our secondary road network (specifically, the complete-streets idea).

Learn more about Scott's efforts through our Discussion Forums on USBR 20 and read the article that appeared in The Voice newspaper serving Macomb and St. Claire Counties. Scott also works with our Adventure Cycling volunteer, Kerry Irons on this route. Thanks Scott, keep up the great work!

photo of Scott Anderson and daughter Kate, 12, holding up a sign at the Marine City Commission Meeting
photo courtesy of Jeri Packer of The Voice newspaper

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BUILDING THE U.S. BICYCLE ROUTE SYSTEM is posted by Ginny Sullivan, USBRS coordinator at Adventure Cycling, and features news and updates related to the emerging U.S. Bicycle Route System. The USBRS project is a collaborative effort, spearheaded by a task force under the auspices of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). Members of the task force include officials and staff from state DOTs, the Federal Highway Administration, and nonprofits like the East Coast Greenway Alliance, and Mississippi River Trail, Inc.

The Wild Wild Webs We Weave

This week a wild web of connections emerged between NPR, Ray LaHood, Adventure Cycling's work on the U.S. Bicycle Route System, and Lance Armstrong.

If you haven't listened to NPR's Sunday story about cycling or read Ray LaHood's inspiring blog post on cycling infrastructure in this country, do it now. Yowsa!

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NEWS, NETWORKING, AND NEW MEDIA is written by Winona Bateman, Adventure Cycling's media director, and highlights cool media (articles, videos, photos, etc.) and meet-ups related to Adventure Cycling and bicycle travel. Writing a story about bicycle travel or Adventure Cycling Association? You can contact Winona via press AT adventurecycling DOT org. Visit our media room, view our news releases, or follow us on Twitter.

Meet Sam Hall - New Tours Specialist!

Hello Adventure Cyclists!

This here is Sam Hall and I am the newest addition to the Tours Team here at Adventure Cycling's World Headquarters. I have been given the distinct privilege of taking over our weekly "On The Road" blog posts from the venerated Sarah Raz (read her new column), and I wanted to take this first posting to quickly introduce myself and give a bit of background on my personal and bike related history. This column will typically take a more broad, slightly less self-interested slant, but I thought some background would be a great place to start off!

So, here goes; I was born and raised in Honolulu and have lived mostly in Missoula since 1994. Over the years, I have owned and operated a community oriented retail bicycle shop in Honolulu called The Steady Wrench, and a custom bicycle manufacturing business in Missoula called Ramblumtick Bikes. I had the extremely good fortune of growing up in a cycling family, and have been riding, racing, commuting and touring since I was about 12. My wife and I have a beautiful 18 month old daughter who has absolutely changed our lives for the better, and who has not only precipitated a shift in priorities and perspective, but also created a new and exciting set of eyes with which to view the world. The addition of a third family member has caused a landslide shift in my bicycle riding and bicycle travel opportunities and aspirations that I happily embrace. I find myself seeking and finding satisfaction in shorter cycle trips and rides and looking forward to helping her discover the joys and challenges of bicycles and bicycling on her own.

OK- So now that's out of the way, I wanted to bring our blog back into focus on the Adventure Cycling tours department, by sharing a great blog post from a participant on our freshly completed, Texas Hill Country supported tour. The Texas Hill Country tour ran from 4/10-4/16 and covered some superb riding country in a loop out of Austin, TX. Looks like Geno and friends had a great tour!

Well, that does it for this week. I look forward to future posts and to keeping you up to date on the happenings of the Adventure Cycling tours department.

Have a great week!

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ON THE ROAD is posted each Tuesday by Sam Hall, Adventure Cycling's tours specialist and cross discipline cyclo-enthusiast. The column attempts to shine a personalized spotlight on the daily happenings of the Adventure Cycling tours department.

Rumble Strip Report

A little while ago, our special projects director, Ginny Sullivan, reported on rumble strip mayhem. We were receiving reports from around the country of the indiscriminate application of rumble strips or stripes to secondary roads, often prime cycling roads in the countryside. For example, a popular connecting road between Memphis and the Natchez Trace had been "rumbled." With only a two foot shoulder, it made it nearly impossible for cyclists to navigate the road without going into a high-speed travel lane.

Sparked by these reports, we lept into action. Ginny and our awesome work/study student, Mike Webster, searched for information with the help of dozens of Adventure Cycling members, state Department of Transportation (DOT) officials, and members of groups in the Alliance for Biking & Walking. We also joined with the Alliance and the League of American Bicyclists in writing to Victor Mendez, the Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) (which oversees this issue at the national level) with an urgent request for a meeting and that FHWA send an immediate message to state DOTs to follow best practices in deciding when and how to use rumble stripes/strips. View our current state-by-state matrix of rumble practices and the FHWA letter. As you'll see in the matrix (and it is not yet complete), at least five states -- AR, IA, MS, MO, OH -- could be rumbling thousands of miles of secondary roads and at least another eight are cause for concern. Some of the rumbling will compromise roads on favorite Adventure Cycling routes, like the TransAm and Lewis & Clark, and unfortunately, we know that roads have already been affected on our Great Rivers Route.

Last Friday, while I was in Washington, DC, we were able to secure a meeting with Joe Toole, FHWA's lead administrator for safety, and David Nicol, the head of the Office of Safety Design. (I was joined by Jeff Miller of the Alliance, Walt Finch of the League, and Caron Whitaker of America Bikes.) We emphasized that we were not opposed to rumble strips when properly applied but that the evidence was demonstrating that states and counties were forgetting about the importance of cyclists' safe use of secondary roads -- and the clear guidance provided by many states and the FHWA on how to apply rumbles in a way that respects the needs of all users. The indiscriminate use of rumbles also contradicts the recent directive of U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood that bicycling and walking should be considered as "equal modes" of transportation to motorized vehicles.

Joe and David were cordial, had clearly done their research, and had given a lot of thought to the subject. They promised to follow up with Administrator Mendez and with us, and thought they could provide some form of information to agencies about the proper use and application of rumbles. They also let us know that they are doing an in-depth update of their technical guidance on rumbles, due out later this summer, and asked for our input.

We will certainly provide that input but, with construction season entering full swing, we need to get state DOTs and other agencies to take a deep breath and make sure they're rumbling the right roads in the right way. Already, Arkansas has stepped back from rumbling many miles of roads, after protests from cyclists. They are re-evaluating the situation and limiting rumbles to roads with shoulders that are 4 feet or wider.

What are we doing? We are continuing to update the matrix (your input is welcome), following up with FHWA, and working with advocates and agency officials at the state level.

What can you do? Stay tuned, and if you live in a state mentioned in the matrix as problematic, contact your state DOT and let them know your concern about the use of rumbles on roads that are important to cyclists. We will continue to provide more contacts and information as this story unfolds -- and please keep us posted on what you know at info[at]adventurecycling[dot]org.

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JIM SAYER is the executive director of Adventure Cycling Association.

Rockin' and Rollin' in Wisconsin

When I pedaled most of the way across the United States in 1974 (can you say “bicycling in cut-off jeans and tennis shoes”?), Wisconsin was my favorite state for riding. Rolling hills, paved country roads carrying very little car traffic, farm wives waving us in for lemonade and ice cream … And the Badger State has only gotten better since then.

Going back even farther in time, a major seed was planted for Wisconsin’s future as a great cycling state with the development of the 32-mile Elroy-Sparta State Trail northwest of Madison. It happened after the 1965 sale of the former Chicago-Northwestern Railroad right-of-way to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Elroy-Sparta is widely heralded as one of the first, if not the first, rail-trail conversions in the country. As such, in 2008 it was inducted into the Rail-Trail Hall of Fame.

Then there’s the terrific mountain biking up north, perhaps best exemplified by the CAMBA trail network in the Chequamegon National Forest of the Cable-Hayward area. In 1989, I rode some of these outstanding trails while participating in the Chequamegon Fat Tire 40. Never have I had more fun in the mud. (I would have won it, too, had not several hundred people faster than me shown up on race day—including the overall winner, a guy from Minnesota named Greg Lemond.)

This newspaper story offers a good overview of why Wisconsin is such a great state for cycling today. Read it, and then ride it.

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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. Mac also compiles the organization's twice-monthly e-newsletter Bike Bits, which goes free-of-charge to 38,000 readers worldwide.

The Future's So Bright...

Spring has (finally) sprung here at Adventure Cycling in Western Montana, and in celebration I've gotten my typical early-season sunburn. This morning, as I was rubbing aloe on my lobster-red arms, I decided to write about our Canari UPF Arm Protectors, a product that's been very popular this year for very good reason, apparently.

Next time I want to go on a ride but don't want to slather on a layer of yucky sunscreen, I'll follow Sales Manager Ted Bowman's example (pictured above) and slip on a pair of protectors with my favorite jersey (or plaid shirt). The protectors are made of DriLux fabric, a lightweight derivative of Meryl which is the first hollow core bacteriostatic MICRO fiber nylon. It allows the skin to maintain its natural bacteria level, ensuring hygiene, protection, and moisture management during intense physical activity.

photo by Sarah Raz

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SHIPPING NEWS is brought to you by Sarah Raz, Sales Representative/Outreach Coordinator.

Balanzza Digital Luggage Scale

The Balanzza digital luggage scale is a new addition to our online Cyclosource store, and it's a product I'm pretty excited about.

If you travel by air to get to the starting point of your tour, you may find this handy. Just clip the scale strap to your luggage or bike bag, and lift. Wait for the scale to beep, and set your bag back down. The scale will digitally display the weight of your bag clearly on the screen. I would recommend doing three trials with each bag to make sure you capture an accurate reading. This will help ensure that each luggage item is under the 50 pound airline weight limit, helping you avoid any inflated fees for overweight baggage.

The scale costs $23.95, and runs on two AAA batteries, which are included. The scale has a 100 pound limit, which should be more than enough for any bag you pack. The scale itself weighs only 8 ounces, and is fairly compact, making it easy to pack along on your trip so you can use it while packing back up for your return flight. As for measurements, it can easily be switched between pounds and kilograms.

The biggest advantage that I benefit through all of this, is that it alleviates the need for me to go through the bathroom scale procedure. That old process involves me standing on the scale, taking note of my weight, then wishing I hadn't eaten that box of girl scout cookies so fast, then weighing myself plus my baggage, and subtracting the second reading from the first to obtain the weight of my bags.

photo by http://www.balanzza.com

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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.

Dear Bob--A Journey Through the Deep South--Worlds Apart

"Daddy, you ain't gonna believe this. There's a man in bicycle britches at the door, lookin' for a place to camp."

That had to be my favorite snippet I heard during our bicycle trip across the Deep South. I was the guy in bicycle britches and it was a damp, cold evening. We were probably at the low point of our trip, both physically and emotionally.

The encounter that followed sums up why I (we) choose to travel by bicycle.

DearBob--Worlds Apart



I miss Bob, but these letters bring back memories of a kind, talented and loving friend.

Who's Bob?

audio recording (Worlds Apart) by Willie Weir
photos (Man/Dog, Alabama, 2001) 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.

Where's Everyone at Adventure Cycling Association?

Today, the staff of Adventure Cycling Association will be honoring a bicycle travel legend, the amazing Thomas Stevens, by spending the day traveling by bicycle and reconnecting with our mission to inspire others to travel by bicycle for fun, fitness, and self-discovery.

I want to briefly explain why Thomas Stevens is such an important figure in bicycle travel and what a truly amazing adventurer he was. According to multiple sources including Wikipedia and the book "Around the World on a Bicycle" written by Thomas Stevens, on April 22, 1884, Stevens departed San Francisco on his black-enameled Columbia 50-inch Standard model penny-farthing. He traveled eastward, reaching Boston after 3,700 miles to complete the first transcontinental bicycle ride on August 4, 1884.

Passing the winter in New York, Stevens continued his trip on April 9, 1885 aboard the steamer The City of Chicago to Liverpool. He continued his journey around the world through England, France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Slavonia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Rumelia, Turkey. In Constantinople he rested among people who had heard of America, refitted with spare spokes, tires and other high technology parts and a better pistol, waited for reports of banditry to subside, and then pedaled off through Anatolia, Armenia, Kurdistan, Iraq and Iran, where he waited out the winter in Tehran as a guest of the Shah.

He set off again on March 10, 1886 through Afghanistan where he was expelled by local authorities. He took a Russian steamer across the Caspian to Baku; rail to Batoum; steamer to Constantinople and India. He bicycled across India and then another steamer brought him from Calcutta to Hong Kong and southern China. He pedaled to eastern China, encountering great difficulty in asking directions in a language he couldn't pronounce. A Chinese official gave him refuge from rioters who were angry over a war with the French. From the coast he took a steamer to Japan, where he delighted in the calm of that country. The bicycle part of his journey around the world ends December 17, 1886, at Yokohama. His itinerary accounts "DISTANCE ACTUALLY WHEELED, ABOUT 13,500 MILES". Stevens returned by steamer to San Francisco, in January, 1887.

This amazing trip continues to inspire people to travel by bicycle and thus we take this day to honor his memory and his contributions by putting foot to pedal.

We also honor his memory by naming our major donor society the Thomas Stevens Society.

Please join us in remembering his great accomplishments by getting on your bicycle today and rekindling your passion for bicycle travel.

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BICYCLING INSPIRATIONS is posted the second and fourth Friday of each month by Julie Emnett, associate development director, and examines stories that illustrate why and how cyclists support our programs. Learn how you can support Adventure Cycling.

First Rider of 2010

This year's First Rider of the season arrived on Wednesday, April 14, one day earlier than last year's First Rider. David Lawson began his journey with a train ride from Santa Cruz, California, to Portland, Oregon, where he set out on his bike on the Lewis & Clark Bicycle Route. The final destination of his tour will be Boston, Massachusetts, via Atlanta, Georgia. I never did find out why the rather more circuitous route to Boston but I'm sure it was a good one. While he was riding solo when he came into the Adventure Cycling offices, his brother will be meeting him somewhere in South Dakota, "then we will be two," he remarked.

At the completion of his journey, David will return to California and enter graduate school. His ultimate goal is to become an English teacher to non-native speakers. He grew up in a multi-lingual family and now wants to help the expanding population of people for whom English is not their first language.

Something I found particularly interesting about David is the lime green notebook he carried with him. The notebook contained messages and drawings from people he's met along the way. "I won't remember all the details of this trip in ten years but I'll have this to help me." I think this is a great kind of reverse journaling. Before he starts that reminiscing though, he is occupying himself with Wallace Stegner's Angle of Repose while on the road. Of his choice of reading material, he cites the themes of pioneering maturity and family growth as "fitting ... for journeys across America."

The prize package for being the First Rider of 2010 included a map (rumor has it he picked up a Great Rivers Route map), one night at the new Hutchins Hostel, a t-shirt of his choice, a Headsweats mid-cap, a 2-year Adventure Cycling membership, a Big Dipper Ice Cream gift certificate, $20 parts or labor at Hellgate Cyclery, an 8 x 10 print of his gallery photo, a James Bar gift card and the city of Missoula will fill a pothole in his honor! This was the biggest bounty of prizes to date and includes donated items from organizations outside of Adventure Cycling.

Congrats to David! We wish you well on your journey and hope you keep us informed on how it goes.

in this photo: David shows Jenn the route he took when traveling with his brother down the California coast in the summer of 2008
photo by Greg Siple



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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. She also wants to remind you that map corrections and comments are always welcome via the online Map Correction Form.

Meet Mary Anne Koos -- Coordinating U.S. Bicycle Routes in Florida

Meet Mary Anne Koos from the Florida Department of Transportation Roadway Design Office. Mary Anne is the special projects coordinator (which means she's a catch-all leader that works on a wide variety of "things" -- like me!). The state of Florida was one of the first states to get involved in implementation of U.S. Bicycle Routes and Mary Anne is playing a leading role in helping to develop strategies from which other states can benefit.

How did you first hear about the US Bicycle Route System? "Hmm, seems like so long ago now. I’m not sure if it was something I came across on Adventure Cycling’s web site or the interest shared by Florida’s State Roadway Design Engineer, David O’Hagan, who represents Florida on several AASHTO* committees. It was a natural progression from the work we had already been doing trying to upgrade the Adventure Cycling routes that cross Florida with bike lanes and paved shoulders and to find alternate routes for touring cyclists during some of Florida’s recovery efforts after Hurricane Ivan."

What made you want to get involved? "I love to ride my bicycle to places I’ve never been!.. and sometimes when I don’t even know where I’ll end up."

How are you involved? "I chair a working group of bicycle and pedestrian coordinators from the Florida, Georgia and Wisconsin DOT’s together with members of the East Coast Greenway, American Public Works Association, and Adventure Cycling. We are developing route criteria for the U.S. Bicycle Routes. Byron Rushing, with the Georgia DOT, agreed to work with us when we approached him at a training on Pedestrian Safety Audits that FHWA had sponsored. Tom Huber, with the Wisconsin DOT has done such good work on evaluating rural roads, that we thought we’d expand our partnership. Florida and Georgia’s quiet rural roads are some of our most perfect places to ride."

What does your job entail? "I work in the Roadway Design Office of the Florida Department of Transportation, so the majority of my time is spent on developing and refining design criteria, managing research projects on bicycle and pedestrian facilities, training my co-workers, consultants and the public, and responding to questions or suggestions. I also chair Florida’s Vulnerable User’s Emphasis Area of our Strategic Highway Safety Plan, trying to figure out how to make walking and cycling safer and more enjoyable."

What corridors is Florida working on? "We are working on Routes 1 and 15, which connect Florida with Georgia."

Where do they go? "Route 1 follows the Atlantic coast of Florida from the Jacksonville/Fernandina Beach area to Key West. Route 15 follows Florida’s gulf coast, entering Florida near Madison, and following the gulf coast to Tampa Bay and then Miami. Both routes connect with Adventure Cycling’s Southern Tier Route across Florida’s panhandle. We’re also thinking about a cross-state link that could include the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway, and connect Jacksonville to the Tampa Bay area."

How does Florida DOT support you? "They give me the flexibility to work on the US Bicycle Routes, it’s nice to get away from manuals once in a while. Plus there is so much beyond the US Bike Routes that we learn by working across state borders and with non-profits. It’s been a new forum for collaboration."

How does Adventure Cycling Association support your work? "By providing a superb web site that we use and can refer others to when they’d like to learn more about the Routes, serving as a sounding board as we work through issues and especially sharing with us what they’ve learned over the years in developing and supporting long distance cycling routes. Ginny Sullivan is just great to work with, and Adventure Cycling’s Florida tour with Jim Sayer reminded many of us of the good times we’ve had with friends and family on our bikes."

What is your long-term hope for this national system? "For more people to have as much fun as I’ve had on my bike, to share with them the best parts of our country, and to help me keep cycling till I’m 100."

Right on Mary Anne, I hope to be right there with you.

photo courtesy of Mary Anne Koos


*AASHTO is the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

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BUILDING THE U.S. BICYCLE ROUTE SYSTEM is posted by Ginny Sullivan, USBRS coordinator at Adventure Cycling, and features news and updates related to the emerging U.S. Bicycle Route System. The USBRS project is a collaborative effort, spearheaded by a task force under the auspices of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). Members of the task force include officials and staff from state DOTs, the Federal Highway Administration, and nonprofits like the East Coast Greenway Alliance, and Mississippi River Trail, Inc.

Touring On A $100 Bike

It's easy to be lured into spending a lot of money on a shiny new touring bicycle but you don't need a big bank balance to start enjoying bike touring. In fact, I've done my last 1,000km on a $100 bike from the local second-hand shop.

For that price, I got a steel-framed bike with plenty of attachment points for water bottles and racks, Shimano components, a reasonably sturdy back rack and fenders for rainy days. In Holland, where I live, $100 is the minimum price for a bike since high demand keeps prices inflated but in other parts of the world, used bikes can go for much less. (Richard and Amanda Ligato spent less than $50 on bikes for their Southeast Asia bike tour).

Price isn't the only advantage to buying a cheap touring bike. Unlike the custom-built tourer that I took around the world, this bike doesn't look fancy, so I don't worry about it being stolen or making me look like a good target for theft. I also don't fret about the bike getting scratched or left out in the rain. And because it's old, it won't depreciate much, so I can recoup my money by selling it on when I get tired of it. My cheap touring bicycle may not be the most beautiful bike in the world, but it is beautifully worry free.

Here are a few tips if you'd like to find a cheap touring bike:

Buy Second-Hand -- If all you want to spend is $100, you have to buy a used bike. Supermarkets and department stores also have bikes in this price range but the quality is terrible. Sometimes simple things like brakes can't even be properly adjusted. You're much better off checking second-hand shops, garage sales and eBay for used bikes.

Do A Basic Check -- Make sure the bike feels comfortable and that there are no big signs of trouble. The last thing you want is a bargain that turns out to be a money pit once you get it home. If you aren't too familiar with bikes, turn your hunt into a learning experience. If you can, enlist a friend who knows more about bikes to help with your hunt. Key things to watch out for include:

• Dents in the frame
• Gears that don't change smoothly
• Wobbly wheels
• Play in the headset
  

Be Prepared To Make Small Upgrades -- No bike is perfect and you will likely want to make a few small changes. I've spent about a further $100 adding new tires, bar ends and a leather saddle (a 25-year old Brooks that I found in a market for $10). All of these things can be transferred to any new bike I buy in the future.

photo by TravellingTwo.com

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FRIEDEL GRANT gave up life as a journalist for Reuters to ride a bicycle around the world with her husband. They pedaled 48,000km through 30 countries before settling down to ride bikes in The Netherlands. Friedel writes about bike touring on her website, Travelling Two and you can follow her on Twitter (@travellingtwo). She also contributes to Transitions Abroad and has written a chapter for the Adventure Cycle-Touring Handbook.

Minneapolis-area Cyclists! Regional Gathering on April 30

Join us at a special Adventure Cycling regional gathering and party in Bloomington, Minnesota, at the awesome facilities of Quality Bicycle Products (QBP) on Friday, April 30, 2010.

Our executive director, Jim Sayer, will be in town and will be sharing the latest news on bicycle travel and adventures in North America. He’ll be looking to the year ahead, with new routes, trips, and policy and outreach initiatives to improve bicycling and bike travel in the U.S. There will also be time for you to share your thoughts, ideas, and stories. Refreshments will be provided, courtesy of QBP.

Refreshments start at 5:30 (and we’ll do a couple of tours of QBP’s state-of-the-art facility), with a program starting at 6:45 pm. Join us at the LEED-certified headquarters of Quality Bicycle Products for this fun and informative event!

When: Friday, April 30, 2010

Where: Quality Bicycle Products - QBP is located at 6400 W. 105th Street in Bloomington. There is bike parking (of course) and car parking. More info: http://www.qbp.com/contact.html.

RSVP: Please RSVP by April 27 by calling Beth Petersen, at 800-755-2453 x 211 or sending her an email: bpetersen AT adventurecycling DOT org.

Please invite friends or family!

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MEMBERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS is typically posted the 1st and 3rd Friday of the month by Amy Corbin, Membership and Marketing Coordinator. Membership Highlights 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.

Slow Down, You’re Riding Too Fast

Perhaps you’ve heard of the Slow Food movement, a “nonprofit, eco-gastronomic member-supported organization that was founded in 1989 to counteract fast food and fast life, the disappearance of local food traditions, and people’s dwindling interest in the food they eat, where it comes from, how it tastes, and how our food choices affect the rest of the world.” (My, but that’s a mouthful of a mission!)

Well, just yesterday I learned about a two-wheeled kissin' cousin of Slow Food, labeled the Slow Bicycling Movement. Founded in 2008 in that most ‘bicycle’ of cities, Copenhagen, the movement claims more than 3,000 members over at Facebook, where it is written: The time is ripe for Slow Bicycle. We figure the Slow Bicycle Movement is all about the journey, not the destination. The destination is, invariably, a fixed geographical point which isn't going anywhere... [okay, sure, the tectonic plates are in constant movement but they are thankfully even slower than us]... so you're going to get there eventually and anyway … The Slow Bicycle Movement is a celebration of the bicycle. Not as a speed machine or a tool for tribal membership but merely as an enjoyable way to get around.

I like it. And, it seems, the older I get, the more qualified I become to serve as a member in good standing.

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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. Mac also compiles the organization's twice-monthly e-newsletter Bike Bits, which goes free-of-charge to 38,000 readers worldwide.

Coffee for Cyclists

Over the years, coffee has become somewhat of a theme in all of my tours, no matter where in the world they take place. While there are thousands of brands available, I thought it would be fun to bring out some bicycling oriented coffee companies, and accessories.

53x11 Coffee: The 53x11 refers to the hardest gear on a standard road bike, also corresponds to a gear I can't push. They offer four blends cleverly named after bicycling lingo, which are The Big Ring, The Early Break, The Chain Breaker, and The Down Shift Decaf. They use organic, fair trade beans, and have their own line of 53x11 cycling apparel, and coffee mugs.

Jittery Joe's Coffee: Sponsoring a professional cycling team for a decade, Jittery Joe's offers a cycling inspired 'Morning Ride' coffee. They have also partnered with Team in Training, and created a TNT blend to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Wooden Bike Coffee: Using beans from Rwanda, 30% of your purchase goes back to Project Rwanda, an organization spearheaded by frame builder Tom Ritchey. Project Rwanda uses the bicycle as a symbol and as a tool to help improve economic development in Rwanda.

As far as making coffee on tour is concerned, I have been a big fan of the french press mugs by Planetary Designs. They have a small compartment on the base of the mug that can hold enough coffee grounds for a few days, and the removable press will keep you from getting a mouthful of grounds when your enjoying your brew.

photo by Sarah Raz

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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.

Dear Bob--A Journey Through the Deep South--Stereotypes

What pops into your mind when you hear or read "The Deep South?"

Having been raised on the West Coast, my only perspective came from movies and the media. Many of my friends had traveled the world and covered much of America, but all had avoided this area of our country.

Stereotypes breed best when folks have had no contact with the real place or people the stereotypes reference. Real life isn't as black and white as the media would like us to believe.

And just like with any other part of the world, our bicycle journey through the Deep South opened up a beautiful, complex and fascinating region.

Don't read about it ... pedal through it!

DearBob--Stereotypes



Who's Bob?

Next week:
Worlds Apart.

audio recording (stereotypes) by Willie Weir
photos (Dog with flag, 2001) 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.

Corporate Support for Adventure Cycling

Adventure Cycling's Corporate Membership program provides an venue for bicycle-related companies to support the work we do and stay connected to our organization. This recently revamped program offers generous advertising discounts with our magazine, Adventure Cyclist, as well as exposure to Adventure Cycling members and other supporters through the our growing social media communities, and an easy system for participating companies to share Adventure Cycling with their customers, employees, and friends.

Soon after these changes took place, informally in fall 2009, we were excited to welcome our first-ever titanium level member, Quality Bicycle Products (QBP).

Steve Flagg, QBP's founder and president said, "Adventure Cycling promotes a side of cycling that no other organization fully embraces. Touring cycling was big in the 70’s when triple chainrings and half step gearing was the predominant topic in bicycle magazines in that era. Although interest faded among the general population of cyclists, Adventure Cycling always held the vision and took the critical steps towards advancing adventure cycle touring. It is important for Quality Bicycle Products to support the organization that not only creates and stands for a vision of cycle touring across the world but also makes it fun and possible."

Adventure Cycling Corporate Memberships range from the $250 Bronze level to the $5000 Titanium level and feature a range of marketing benefits at all levels. In addition to QBP, current members include BikeFlights.com, Planet Bike, Rawland Cycle, Cascade Huts, ClubExpress, CycloCamping, National Bicycle Dealers Association, and Rentabikenow.com, AdventureCORPS, Inc., Co-Motion Cycles, GuidedCycling.com, Klean Kanteen, Old Man Mountain Products, and TeamEstrogen.com and others.

Thanks to all of our great supporters!

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MEMBERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS is typically posted the 1st and 3rd Friday of the month by Amy Corbin, Membership and Marketing Coordinator. Membership Highlights 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.

Cyclists' Only Lodging: Dalbo, Minnesota

It is so good to be home and back in the saddle of routine. My recent travels through the northwest promoting our new Sierra Cascades Bicycle Route have reinvigorated me. What is not routine, but rather exciting, is news of a cyclists' only lodging that has launched an expansion of their offerings.

In 2005, Donn Olson, a farmer near Dalbo, Minnesota, encountered a couple of traveling cyclists who were dealing with a nasty batch of construction in front of his house. The three got to talking and before long, Donn found himself inviting them in for refreshments and a place to sleep for the night. The two young men introduced Donn to Adventure Cycling and suggested that he offer himself as "cyclists' only lodging" option on the Northern Tier Bicycle Route map. He did, and since then has hosted a number of cyclists on their Northern Tier journey, 25 last year alone.

Over the last two years Donn and his wife, Sherry, have been converting their old barn into an "Bicycle Bunkhouse" including an outhouse and solar shower. The bunkhouse has three separate bunk rooms to accommodate more than one party at a time and is decorated with farm antiques. Donn describes the building as rough but acknowledges that "the best part is that the bicyclist can get out of the 'elements' even if it is only 'dew'." This protection extends to a space for stashing bicycles inside, too. This service is provided free of cost and is available even when Donn is away.

I love Donn's response when asked why he does this for cyclists, "My answer is that when we visit with our guests, we can live our 'dreams' through them and besides it makes us feel good to help others." Thank you Donn and Sherry for extending yourselves in this way! It makes me feel good to know about your generosity.

in this photo: Donn Olson holds the sign that greets cyclists on the highway near his house looking for his cyclists' only lodging.
photo provided by Donn and Sherry Olson

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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. She also wants to remind you that map corrections and comments are always welcome via the online Map Correction Form.

Project Tandem Revisted

You might recall reading in the “Waypoints” section of the May 2009 Adventure Cyclist magazine about two young photographers traveling under the name “Project Tandem,” who were riding 11,000 miles around the U.S. while documenting how Americans feel about the health of the environment. Alan Winslow and Morrigan McCarthy wrapped up their ride in August, and they’ve been spending the past few months editing their photographs, preparing to show them at galleries and public spaces around the country later this year and in 2011. The show opens in July in Rockland, Maine, where the pair’s ride started. They’re currently raising money to help support the show tour by selling limited edition fine art prints, and extending a 15 percent discount to Adventure Cycling supporters and fans as a “thank you” for all the generous support they received while on the road. Check out the prints, most of which were shot along Adventure Cycling routes, (to get 15 percent off your favorite print, enter the code “acaprjcttandem000” during checkout).

To learn more about Alan and Morrigan’s journey, or to offer a suggested venue for the show, check out their website: http://www.projecttandem.org.

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NEWS, NETWORKING, AND NEW MEDIA is written by Winona Bateman, Adventure Cycling's media director, and highlights cool media (articles, videos, photos, etc.) and meet-ups related to Adventure Cycling and bicycle travel. Writing a story about bicycle travel or Adventure Cycling Association? You can contact Winona via press AT adventurecycling DOT org. Visit our media room, view our news releases, or follow us on Twitter.

5 Resources to Help You Become a Touring Cyclist

Just starting out as a bicycle traveler? Here's are 5 resources to help you get started:

1. Check out our Bicycle Touring 101 article.
2. Get advice in our Discussion Forums -- over 6,000 active members!
3. Find a bike you like! Check out our Touring Bike Buyer's Guides from years past and watch for the 2010 edition in the April issue of Adventure Cyclist.
4. Find a friend with whom you can share your adventure! If you're a member of Adventure Cycling you can use our Companions Wanted service, or check out our regional discussion boards in our Forums to connect with cyclists in your area (open to everyone with a free login).
5. Sign up for an Introduction to Road Touring class (being offered this year in Oregon, Virginia, and Wisconsin)  -- a unique course designed for those looking to learn how to tour self-contained.

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ON THE ROAD was written this week by Winona Batemen, media director, filling in for the tours team as they get their new staff up-to-speed.

Sierra Cascades Unveiling Events: Green, Gray, Wet and Awesome

Jenn Milyko (our long-time, talented cartographer) and I just got back from a quick and very fulfilling tour of the Northwest to unveil Adventure Cycling's brand-new Sierra Cascades Bicycle Route. We got to visit with some Adventure Cycling luminaries like legendary tours leader Tom Radley (who is shepherding this year's Cycle Utah and Cycle Washington), bike travel evangelist and Adventure Cyclist columnist Willie Weir, and board members Dan Hungate and Carol York (our current board president).

Despite the mostly gray, wet weather, we had a great time meeting with a host of Adventure Cycling supporters, from our newest life members Donna Sakson and Jonathan Mark (who are big supporters of the very cool Seattle Bike Works program) to Team Estrogen leaders Susan Otcenas and Jeff Mendenhall, as well as Bill Lazar of the Lazar Foundation, which supports our work on the U.S. Bicycle Route System. We had lunch with Oregonian reporter Jeff Mapes, who recently wrote a great chronicle of the urban cycling movement in America, and enjoyed an excellent meeting with Travel Lane County about how to promote bicycle travel (many of our bike routes cut through their beautiful county). (BTW, Travel Lane County set up an overnight stay for us at McKenzie Orchards B&B, a deluxe new retreat eight miles outside of Eugene -- and perched right on the TransAm Trail!)

Another major highlight for me was a tour of the Center for Appropriate Transport in Eugene. Natalie Dreyer, Justin Alpern, and founder Jan Vander Tuin gave me a tour of the facilities of this pioneering group, which builds human-powered vehicles of all kinds. They even loaned me a recumbent trike which I used to tool around Eugene for the afternoon with former Adventure Cycling staffer Paul Adkins. Really, Eugene has to be a top candidate for coolest bike town in America, with its excellent bike network, CAT, and great cycle makers like Co-Motion and Bike Friday.

But of course, the best part of our trip was our regional gatherings. Jenn and I were greeted with overflow crowds (and we apologize to those who were turned away in Portland -- we'll need a bigger room next time, we know). We were stunned to see a crowd of over 250 turn up at REI's flagship store in Seattle (I think REI's CEO, Sally Jewell, was impressed too). As Biking Bis put it, "For the bicycle touring crowd, this is as close as it gets to something like a release party for Apple's iPad."

We heard dozens of stories from avid members about trips taken on existing routes and trips about to be taken on the new Sierra Cascades route. It never ceases to amaze me how many people tell us how their lives have been changed forever (and for the better) by a bike adventure on one of our routes, like a father who told me about recently riding the Northern Tier with his 14-year-old son.

To me, that's the community part of bicycle travel -- and it was evident throughout all three days of our trip. Thanks to the Northwest for your great, green hospitality -- and now it's on to California!

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JIM SAYER is the executive director for Adventure Cycling Association.

Ride the Divide Premieres in Vail

On Friday, April 2, I attended the Vail Film Festival and the world premiere of Ride the Divide -- aptly, in Colorado’s high country. The documentary, which runs about an hour and twenty minutes, focuses on the 2008 Tour Divide, an under-the radar race following Adventure Cycling’s Great Divide Mountain Bike Route from Banff, Alberta, to Antelope Wells, New Mexico.

The cinematography is stunning -- but so too is the terrain traversed by the Great Divide, so special effects were unwarranted and, for the most part, unused. The story homes in on the trials and tribulations of three racers: Mike Dion, the film’s executive producer; Mary Metcalf-Collier, who might have become the first woman to finish the race (I won’t give that away!); and Matthew Lee, the Tour Divide’s organizer, perennial participant, and (as of 2009) four-time winner.

While I would like to have seen a bit more emphasis put on Adventure Cycling’s key role in mapping the route, I realize this was not the theme of the movie, and also that it’s a tall order to whittle some 200 hours of film footage down to less than an hour and a half. My only other concern is that viewers will think riding the Great Divide must be, by nature, a grueling experience. It’s tough by anyone’s measure, true enough, but it doesn't have to be the blister-inducing, knee-wrecking, emotional tear-fest endured by those trying to get from one end to the other ASAP. In fact, riding the route can be quite enjoyable (even by racers, as demonstrated by Lee in the film).

After the movie had shown to an obviously enthusiastic and enraptured audience, I had the pleasure of joining Mike and the rest of the film crew in front of the packed house, with Mike introducing me as the Great Divide’s architect. The next showings are on April 15 and 16 at the Cannery Row IMAX Theatre in Monterey, California, where the film kicks off the Sea Otter Classic bicycle race series. This is predicted to be a big event, with giveaways from the film’s sponsors and other fun stuff. The movie is also part of a great-sounding lineup in the Newport Beach Film Festival’s Action Sports Series on April 29.

Oh, did I mention that Ride the Divide won the "Best Adventure Film" award at the Vail fest? Here’s a huge Congrats! to Mike, Hunter, Anthony, and the rest of the gang.

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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. Mac also compiles the organization's twice-monthly e-newsletter Bike Bits, which goes free-of-charge to 38,000 readers worldwide.

Handlebar Tape

This week I completed my annual task of wrapping new handlebar tape on the front door handles of Adventure Cycling. With that accomplished, it seems like a good time to write about handlebar tape for your bike.

Handlebar is a very simple addition to any road or touring bike that can both increase the comfort of your ride, and add some personalized style to your bike. Any new bike will come stock with bar tape, so it's certainly not necessary to replace it right away, but when the time comes, here are some styles to consider.

Cork Tape: This could be the most readily available tape out there and should be in stock at your local bike shop. It can purchased in a range of solid colors, as well as patterns, and has a soft feel to it that maintains a good grip even in wet conditions, and will last for many miles. Thickness can vary from one company to another, and some models have an extra gel layer for added comfort. Most cork tape will range from $10-$20.

Cloth Tape: For a old-style classic appearance, cloth tape is hard to beat. It is pretty inexpensive, and you will want 2-3 rolls for one handlebar depending on your preference. If you take this route, I highly recommend going the extra mile, and adding a few coats of shellac to the tape once it is wrapped. This will not only add loads of character to your bike, but it will add years of life to your bar tape. Cinelli is one of the leaders in cork handlebar tape.

Leather Tape: Another long lasting tape is leather tape. While it is one of the more expensive tapes out there ($45+ per roll), it has a unique feel, and will wear nicely over time, similarly to a leather bike saddle. Most leather tapes are designed to shed water, so you do not need to treat them with any additional products to stand up to the elements. Wrapping this can be a little tricky since it is a stiffer material, but it will provide a very nice feel once installed. Brooks and Selle An-Atomica are options for leather tape. In you don't have bar end shifters, I'm a fan of plugging the drop bar holes with wine corks.

Textured Tape: This is a newer style of tape that has been cropping up more and more. Often made from polymers or microfibers, this brand of tape has a very tacky feel to it, which provides excellent grip in all conditions. Like cork tape, it can be purchased in a variety of colors, and thicknesses. It does run a little high in price ($30-$40 per roll), but does have a pretty good lifespan. Lizard Skin DSP tape is one example of this.

To apply handlebar tape to your bike, I like to start at the end of the drop bar, and work my way up to the top of the bars near the stem. Once you reach the top, you will need to use a 'finishing' tape to keep the bars from unraveling. Most rolls of handlebar tape will supply a few strips for you, but I have never had any luck with these, and always resort to electrical tape.

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.

Dear Bob--A Journey Through the Deep South--Southern Hospitality

If I could have changed one thing about our bike trip in the Deep South, I would have delayed our departure by a month. We began in February. I just didn't comprehend how cold a humid drizzle could be.

Because we traveled through several cold, damp and dreary days, we more often than not missed out on the porch culture of the southern U.S. People sitting out on their porches, sipping tea, chatting and watching the world go by is my idea of a civilized society. Cycling though any neighborhood or village on the planet is no fun when all you see are empty roads, empty porches and the glow of televisions inside.

But even if you have a beautiful porch, you're not likely to sit out on it when it is 42 degrees Fahrenheit.

When the sun came out, so did the locals. I describe one of our encounters to Bob.

DearBob--Southern Hospitality



Who's Bob?

Next week:
Stereotypes: Travel shakes them up.

audio recording (Southern Hospitality) by Willie Weir
photos (Plains, Georgia, 2001) 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.

My Crystal Ball

I'm not much for making projections, but today I'm going to step out of my comfort zone. After reading about U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood's announcement of the Department's new Bicycle Policy Statement that heralds the end of second-class treatment of cyclists, I'm inspired to view into my crystal ball.

So, what's my projection? Well, let me tell you how it could be in 10 years if we can get projects like the U.S. Bicycle Route System off the ground: After a long slumber (10 years, in fact), I wake up to....quiet...to....quiet. If feels strangely eerie until I get used to the silence. In fact, it's not silence I'm actually hearing. It's the lack of combustion engine noises. And instead, I hear laughter and talking and birds -- I hear birds! I look out my window, and the first thing I see is a mountain range. Funny, I don’t remember being able to see that mountain range from my window -- it was always obscured by the polluted air that filled my city. When I went to sleep, the road outside my home was clogged with vehicles. Now, amazingly, all I see are bicycles and walking people.

Excited by the changes, I find that there is now an amazing network of bicycle routes across the country called the U.S. Bicycle Route System.

As a result of this amazing development, I learn that people are traveling by bicycle in ever larger numbers. Adults and families; young adults discovering who they are while exploring the byways of America. Communities cater to these bicycle travelers and are finding that the economic boon from bicycle travel is an amazing form of economic development. Cities offer special bicycle traveler accommodations including hostels and special camping sites. Traveling by pedal power has become the “green” way to travel and people are happier and healthier for it. People look more slim and fit than I remember.

Oh, and drive up windows are now “bike up windows” and don’t allow cars!

It is very clear that bicycling has helped contribute to a world that is now cleaner, greener, and healthier than when I went to sleep 10 years ago.

So why am I telling you this? As a bicyclist, I want these kinds of changes in my future, and I think with the right kinds of investments and support, this can be our future. Projects like the U.S. Bicycle Route System and support from important public figures like Ray LaHood can create the momentum needed to move in this direction.

Let's keep the momentum going, folks. Support public figures who step out to support bicycle travel. And support efforts like the USBRS that will give us the infrastructure to make our bicycling dreams come true.

photo by Rakmup

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BICYCLING INSPIRATIONS is posted the second and fourth Friday of each month by Julie Emnett, associate development director, and examines stories that illustrate why and how cyclists support our programs. Learn how you can support Adventure Cycling.

Progress in Tennessee: U.S. Bicycle Routes & the Heritage Music Trail

Recently, I sat in on a meeting with bicycle advocates from Bike Walk Tennesse, Outdoor Chattanooga, Elle Colquitt from Mini Adventure Series, transportation consultants from RPM Consultants, and the Tennessee bicycle and pedestrian coordinator, Jessica Wilson, to talk about a myriad of opportunities for Tennessee bicycle routes, including a Music Heritage Bike Trail from Memphis to Nashville. This route lies within the USBR 80 corridor -- which means as a U.S. Bike Route, it will have a double punch.

Luckily, Tennessee is blessed with a great number of state roads that are excellent for cycling. This will make route development much easier as will the work by an extraordinary bike route developer named Bruce Day. Check out his routes which mirror the USBRS National Corridor Plan.

The Tennessee DOT will also be revisiting their state bicycle routes since they don't connect cities. This is the perfect opportunity to engage cycling groups in route development, while using contracted services to evaluate road conditions in order to build on what already exists.

Another state is primed for implementatioin. As they say, "Tennesse is America at its best!"

photo #1 on Pleasant Shade Highway, courtesy of Ed Thomas of Fogbee Cycle Club, Hendersonville, TN

photo #2 Chilhowee Mountain, courtesy of Elle Colquitt

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BUILDING THE U.S. BICYCLE ROUTE SYSTEM is written by Ginny Sullivan, USBRS coordinator at Adventure Cycling, and features news and updates related to the emerging U.S. Bicycle Route System. The USBRS project is a collaborative effort, spearheaded by a task force under the auspices of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). Members of the task force include officials and staff from state DOTs, the Federal Highway Administration, and nonprofits like the East Coast Greenway Alliance, and Mississippi River Trail, Inc.

Freedom: The Tour

In our culture, the word "freedom" is tossed around a lot. We like to talk about "fighting for our freedom" and "the price of freedom" and "our right to our freedoms". (How many of those conversations happen while stuck in traffic I wonder?)

One of the most harrowing freedom fighting chapters in our collective history is the story of the African Americans who fled North before and during the Civil War to seek a life free from slavery. With the creation of the 2,0008-mile Underground Railroad Bicycle Route (UGRR) in 2007, cyclists could actually ride this Road to Freedom, experiencing the Underground Railroad (and its incredible stories) very personally, by cycling through some of its communities, landmarks, and landscapes.

This year, you can explore one of the most historically rich sections of the route through Ohio on our supported, Heart of the UGRR tour. Important landmarks line this storied segment of America's Road to Freedom, and moderate daily distances and full support should ensure time to fully grasp all the social, political, and historical significance that this route offers.

Join us for what promises to be a life-changing tour that pairs the freedom of the open road with the history of unbelievably courageous people who put their lives on the line for a better way for themselves, and us all.

photo courtesy of Adventure Cycling Association on Flickr

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ON THE ROAD was written this week by Winona Batemen, media director, filling in for the tours team as they get their new staff up-to-speed.

Fat Terrain on Skinny Tires

In case you’re not a member of Adventure Cycling Association -- which means you’re not privy to the information and amazing bicycling tales distributed nine times a year in Adventure Cyclist magazine -- I wanted to give you a heads-up about a phenomenon we reported on in the February edition of the magazine.

Under the sub-head ‘Ride Softly and Carry a Big Repair Kit,’ we told readers about the “Return of the Rough Riders” -- which in this case is not a group of volunteer cavalrymen led by Teddy Roosevelt, but a growing bunch of hardy cyclists whose mantra is “Any Bike, Anywhere.” Their leader/organizer is Chris Kostman, the man behind the California-based AdventureCORPS and such events as the Badwater Ultramarathon run and the Furnace Creek 508 bike race, both staged in and around Death Valley.

The Rough Riders could be described as a fresh twist on Great Britain’s 55-year-old Rough Stuff Fellowship. To better understand what they’re all about, consider this from the Alpine Bicycle Club, home of the Colorado Rough Riders, the second Rough Rider chapter to form: “[We are] dedicated to mixed-terrain touring. Touring through the alpine environment here in the Rocky Mountain West requires efficient travel on any surface, from paved road to singletrack. All on the same route, with the same bike. Club membership is free. All skill levels, from novice to professional racer, are welcome. … We even accept mountain bikers. But we will probably give you a hard time until you change out the big fat knobbies.”

The premiere Rough Riders Rally is slated for July 23–25, 2010, in Marin County, California. “We've finalized the main ride route,” Chris said, “and made plans with our host bike shop, and much more … for what will be a truly exciting, memorable, and fun international gathering of Rough Riders.”

Pierre's Hole Rendezvous photo by Michael 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. Mac also compiles the organization's twice-monthly e-newsletter Bike Bits, which goes free-of-charge to 38,000 readers worldwide.

Bicycle Helmets

Love them or hate them, I will always recommend a bicycle helmet for any ride, whether you're out on tour, or building up the miles for a future trip.

There are plenty of reasons why people don't like to wear while on the bike. Some riders like to feel the wind through their hair, others worry about aesthetics, and comfort can also play a role. For me personally, I have two reasons to continue wearing a helmet on every ride: the two broken helmets hanging in my garage.

One important thing to keep in mind is that a helmet is not any indication of your riding ability. A helmet does not indicate that you are a poor bike handler, and maneuvering your bike with expert care is not enough to keep you safe. Your helmet will keep your head protected from unforeseen dangers, such as vehicles, other cyclists, or in some cases even wildlife.

The price and style of helmets, like most touring equipment, can vary wildly. This is great news for you as a rider, providing you with a ton of options from road, commuter, and mountain style helmets, all of which are certified by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission if purchased in the United States (look for the CPSC sticker inside the helmet).

The helmet I recommend above any other is a helmet that fits you right. If you are not familiar with adjusting a helmet, have the sales person at your local shop give you a hand. Ideally, the helmet will fit snug so that it cannot slide around side-to-side or front-to-back on your head, but not so tight that it's leaving imprints on your head. Most helmets will supply additional pads to improve fit and comfort.

Lastly, it's not a bad idea to replace your helmet after a few years. While it may seem in good shape, the padding naturally brakes down over time, becoming brittle, which reduces it's effectiveness.

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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.