What to Wear?

I'm inspired to write this post because I'm helping one of my girlfriends suit up for a tour and she feels bummed by her lack of real choice in attractive and functional ladies cycling wear. Also, one of my favorite writers, Heidi Swift, is leading a discussion on her blog about what women really want in cycling apparel. I'm the type of girl who's always been content to wear guy's clothing a size smaller, but it made me wonder: could it be better? What could cycle-apparel companies do for women tourists to make them feel more comfortable, confident, and, of, course, stylin'?


So let's get it all started with what I want. I'll lay it on the table by saying I'm not that crazy about the current fuchsia-tinted-everything for females. I can't count the number of times I've checked out a jersey or jacket, to find that the ladies version was available only in pink. Also, for me, functionality is the bottom line. I want high-quality pads in my bibs, and clothing made to fit well. Due to the exceptionally long hours cyclo-tourists spend on bicycles, I find high-quality bottoms to be constantly on my wish list...and, as much as I'd like to, I can't always wear running shorts and a tee shirt when I ride.

Tell me. What would you like to wear?

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SHIPPING NEWS is brought to you by Sarah Raz, Sales representative/outreach coordinator/lover of all things outdoors.

Two-Tiered Efforts

We get tons of emails at Adventure Cycling about riders' various adventures around the world — upcoming, in-progress, and "it's a wrap" alike. Below I'll share four examples of what I'm talking about, all of them involving one of our mapped cross-country routes.

Last week John Fischer of Brunswick, Maine, wrote to say this: "Hello. I'm not sure whether you're aware of this, [but] this is my third Northern Tier ride with Adventure Cycling Association to raise money for the American Lung Association. It is also my fourth transcontinental ride with Adventure Cycling that I have used as a fundraising vehicle. In total, I've done six Adventure Cycling rides to raise money for the ALA." John's group is slated to finish in his home state on September 7. (Thanks for all you're doing, John!)

Also relating to the Northern Tier, and to the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail, earlier this summer we heard from Joelle Buffa, who passed along this great story: "In 1990, [Clyde and I] rode our bikes on the Northern Tier Route for our honeymoon. In lieu of wedding gifts, we offered that our friends and family could choose to 'sponsor' us for a certain dollar or cents amount per mile. We ended up raising over $3,000, which we donated to Conservation International for the purchase of land adjacent to a Biosphere Reserve in Guatemala. Now, to celebrate our 20th anniversary, we are riding the TransAm route from Neskowin, Oregon, to our home in Greenbackville, Virginia." A look at the couple’s photo-abundant website reveals that they are getting very close to the end of their journey. (Scroll all the way to the bottom and you'll get to hear Neil Sedaka singing "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" — and Joelle and Clyde should know!)

Now, down to the bottom of the country and the Southern Tier. There we had Stephane and Sheri Marchiori, who incorporated that popular route into their around-the-world tour that lasted five years. The Southern Tier was the final leg of their trip, and one of their favorites. You can read why in an interview with the couple at Travelling Two: Bike Touring Inspiration.

Finally, for something a little different, this note from John MacTaggart of North Liberty, Iowa, which we received last June: "Howdy folks. Next month we'll be doing something that has never been done before: sailing and cycling across the country! The street-legal Pterosail combines sailing, cycling, and solar and regenerative technologies into one." John did indeed sail and cycle the Southern Tier, finishing up in St. Augustine, Florida, on August 12.

And that's a tough one to beat, so I'll sign off for the time being.

John MacTaggert reaches the beaches of St. Augustine. Photo courtesy of John MacTaggert.

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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 more than 39,000 readers worldwide.

El Fin: From Peace Park to Border Patrol

On a sunny Friday the 13th, my family and I finished our grand trek on Adventure Cycling's Pacific Coast Bicycle Route, from the Canadian to the Mexican border. I'll share some thoughts about the experience in future posts, but to be brief, the end was exhilarating, sad, and surreal.

We couldn't believe we had ridden 1,854 miles, carrying our own gear, climbing probably more than 100,000 feet in elevation -- and after two months of day-in, day-out bike adventure, it was done, just like that!

We had started on the spacious, mellow grounds of the U.S.-Canada Peace Park -- and ended in the deserted, car-free, somewhat eerie but beautiful Border Fields State Park, with noisy Border Patrol helicopters hovering above. The girls and I slipped our arms through the fence and touched Mexican sand -- then we rode seven miles east to San Ysidro, a major border crossing on I-5, and caught the trolley north to San Diego.

We're still adjusting to life back in Montana, but the memories are becoming more burnished as the days roll by. My twin daughters, who had their fair share of complaints along the way, are already telling us how much they miss life on the road, with new places, people, and vistas every day.

In truth, they were having a great experience much of the time. If you want 20 minutes of bike travel amusement, listen to this radio interview that all three of my daughters and I did with Amanda Eichstaedt at KWMR, the community radio station for West Marin County. It's filled with laughter, love and wonder, plus a little homesickness -- the stuff of many a great bicycle adventure.



Captions: (above) Samantha and Lucy Sayer at the Mexican border fence; (below) Samantha, Lucy and Keilan Sayer enjoying 20 minutes of fame during their interview on KWMR/West Marin. Photos by Wendy Calvert and Jim Sayer

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JIM SAYER is executive director of Adventure Cycling Association.

Cycling with a Backpack

While you can usually fit all of your touring gear in panniers, or a trailer, we see many people adding a small backpack into the mix. For some riders, this incorporates a hydration bladder that either replaces water bottles, or adds some hydration range between refill stops. For others, it can sometimes replace a set of panniers, if you're in between the need for two and four panniers. I like to haul a small pack along to keep some small items on hand for quick, off-the-bike excursions, such as my camera, wallet, some food, maps, and a book.

Whatever your reason for a backpack may be, there are some good features and techniques to be aware of that can make hauling it around a little easier. In the area where the pack comes in contact with your back, it can be really nice to have a built-in mesh frame that holds the pack an inch or so from your back, allowing air to circulate across your back, keeping you cooler, and preventing a great deal of sweat buildup.

Having a lot of adjustment options is also very important when cycling with a backpack. This will help you fine tune the fit to distribute the weight properly over your shoulders and back. Look for straps to adjust the height of the bag on your shoulders, as well as hip and chest straps.

Your riding position too can play a large role in your overall comfort, and this is an area where touring bikes have a great advantage. The lower your back on the bike, the heavier the pack will feel, so having a more upright position on a touring bike can help increase comfort. If you are experiencing back pain, perhaps you need to raise your handlebars.

As far as weight is concerned: know your own personal limits, and then knock a few pounds off of that.

If you're interested in looking into some brands, I have had great luck with CamelBak, Osprey, and Deuter packs.

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.

Bicycle Camping #8--Tennessee

It was a Sunday evening and it was time to get off the road. Fast.

The two-lane Tennessee highway had been lovely. But now every resident in Memphis with a truck, trailer and boat was screaming back to the city after a weekend at the state park.

The homes along the highway were spread apart with plenty of land. We knocked on a door and an older woman peered at us through the barred screen door.

We explained our plight. There was a campground several miles down the road, but we didn't feel safe on the road. We asked if we could pitch our tent on her land.

She pondered a bit and then nodded "yes". She pointed out back.

We found a rather idyllic campsite overlooking a small lake.



We thought perhaps that was the last we would see of our hostess. But she wandered up later to see how we'd managed.

Her name was Francis.

After awhile she invited us inside for some sweet tea.

She regaled us with stories. She'd worked as a beautician for thirty-five years and had been deputized by none other than Buford Pusser, the legendary Tennessee lawman, known as the subject of the Hollywood movie Walking Tall.

We later asked her what was the most important invention that had come along during her lifetime? She didn't even pause.

"Air conditioning!"

Photos (Tennessee 1999) 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 Early & Epic 2011 Tours

Part of my job as media director is to help roll out our tours web pages as early as possible so that our members can grab a spot on one of our guided cycling trips.

Over the last few years, it has become tradition to announce our early and epic tours first. So, here they are! Check out our 2011 early season and cross-country adventures below, and watch this space for the announcement of our complete tours roster in October.

(We also recommend that you sign up early, we saw record numbers of riders during the 2010 season with more than 1,100 cyclists joining us on tour!)

BRAND NEW TRIPS!
Atlantic Coast — August 20 – October 19, 2011
Traveling from Bar Harbor, Maine, to Key West, Florida, this first-of-its-kind, self-contained grand tour of the Atlantic Coast will take us through the “best of the East.” We’ll ride past battlefields and other reminders of the American Revolution and the Civil War, explore bustling cultural centers such as Philadelphia and Washington, DC, and enjoy the character and charm of southern communities like Charleston, SC. We’ll also pedal through beautiful landscapes, including quiet farm country, lush state parks, and refuges teeming with wildlife. Join us and experience the history and natural beauty of the Atlantic Coast as never before.

Pacific Coast Supported — September 25 – November 4, 2011
This year we’re offering an exciting new take on an old favorite: an opportunity to ride from Canada to Mexico, unencumbered by traditional touring gear, along one of America’s premier cycling routes: the gorgeous Pacific Coast. Sign up now for an extraordinarily rich cycling adventure where you’ll have a chance to encounter miles of pristine coastline, sea lions, and towering redwoods.

EARLY SEASON SUPPORTED TOURS
California Kick Start — February 26 – March 4, 2011
A late winter/early spring bike tour along the sun-dappled roads in Southern California may be just the thing to get the jump on your new cycling season. Boasting a wealth of training opportunities, this weeklong supported ride will leave you feeling well prepared. Plus, this trip now features two new nights of indoor lodging! Sign up today for this unforgettable pre-spring tune-up.

Death Valley Loop I & II — March 5 – March 11, 2011 and March 12 – March 18, 2011
Death Valley is a wonderful and mysterious place that supports nearly 1,000 native plant species on only two inches of rain a year. Desert winds whisper through the valley floor 282 feet below sea level and yet, 15 miles west, the 11,000-foot Telescope Peak remains shrouded in snow and ice until late spring. All this is yours to discover by bicycle on Adventure Cycling’s Death Valley Loop, departing March 5 or March 12, 2011. This 13 person ride filled quickly last year so sign up today!

Southern Arizona Road Adventure — March 12 – March 18, 2011
Get an early taste of spring and summer on this memorable bike tour through the high Sonoran Desert. The luggage support, catered meals, two nights of indoor lodging and moderate daily mileages (ranging from 23 to 54 miles) will help us ease gently back into the spin of things, as we pedal free and easy beneath clear blue Arizona sky. Leave the winter chill behind and join us for a week of first-class bike touring in the Desert Southwest.

Texas Hill Country — April 9 – April 15, 2011
This supported cycling adventure begins and ends in Austin, "Live Music Capital of the World." Along with an intimate group of approximately 50 riders, you'll find your way along quiet farm and ranch roads through this region of Texas celebrated for its dazzling displays of spring wildflowers, German-style biergartens, Texas barbecue, and Tex-Mex specialties. If you’ve been led to believe that all of the Lone Star State is pancake flat, this weeklong bike tour through the beautiful, rolling Texas Hill Country will inspire your imagination.

SUPPORTED CROSS-COUNTRY TOURS
Southern Tier Supported — March 20 – May 16, 2011
Prepare for a southern-style ride on this, our shortest, most accessible transcontinental trip. To make this popular tour even better, we’ll enjoy the relative luxury of having the Adventure Cycling van tote our gear to and from each overnight location. We’ll be free to enjoy the pleasures of pedaling from the West Coast, across deserts, over mountains, past prairies, beyond bayous, through citrus groves, all the way to sunny Florida.

TransAm Supported — May 21 – August 10, 2011
Here's your opportunity to cover the 4,253-mile TransAmerica Bicycle Trail while going light and easy! Join your fellow cyclists and Adventure Cycling's seasoned leaders for the adventure of a lifetime on the "granddaddy of all bicycle routes."

Pacific Coast Supported — September 25 – November 4, 2011
Brand new trip! See description above.


SELF-CONTAINED CROSS-COUNTRY TOURS
TransAm — May 4 – August 4, 2011
Make 2011 your year to take this classic, cross-country adventure and peer into the heart of our grand nation with its incredible landscapes, fabulous food, and generous communities. Heed the advice of Rick Wojciak, who completed our TransAm tour in 2008: "There will be other trips, but I don't think they will be able to top this one ... If you have a sense of adventure and are thinking of doing this ride someday, don't wait!"

Atlantic Coast — August 20 – October 19, 2011
Brand new trip! See description above.

Pacific Coast — September 7 – October 21, 2011
This new-and-improved version of a perennial favorite provides the rare opportunity to lose yourself day after day in a maritime feast for the senses as you bicycle tour through places where land and sea collide in a crescendo of sun, blue waves, and invigorating salt air. Join us for what promises to be an incredible journey along one of the most popular cycling routes in North America!

Southern Tier — September 18 – November 21, 2011
On this very popular self-contained adventure, we'll experience a parade of cultures and the delicious cuisines associated with each of them, from enchiladas to Texas barbecue and alligator po' boys to Southern grits. As one past participant put it, "This trip lends new meaning to the phrase 'eating up the miles.'"

Stay tuned, the complete 2011 tours schedule — more than 45 trips total — will be announced in October!

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NEWS, NETWORKING, AND NEW MEDIA is posted 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 pressATadventurecyclingDOTorg. Visit our media room, view our news releases, or follow us on Twitter.

More Charging from the Road

Holy social media! You might remember a couple of weeks ago I posted on how to keep a charge on your electronic equipment while on the road. It turned out to be one of the most commented on entries for that week. While there were only three comments on the Adventure Cycling blog itself, there were an additional 14 in two spots on our Facebook page many with great suggestions for handling this task. (Oddly, I didn't see a single tweet at @acaroutes with suggestions though.)

The best of the links and tips are found below:

• E-WERK - The Mobile Energy Supply Marvel from Busch & Müller
• Power Monkey available in Basic and Solar Charger battery charging options
• Brunton SolarRoll chargers that might ride on hydration packs and tops of racks
• Ultralast Green Sol Charger for AA batteries
• Solio Classic for charging devices

What works for you? Comment here, on Facebook or send me a tweet @acaroutes. I'd love to hear how you stay charged on your cycling tour.

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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 fromAdventure 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.

Mass Map Interactive, Complete Streets, U.S. Bicycle Routes and East Coast Greenway Tour of Boston

Greetings all! Just back from a fast-paced week in Boston where I met with numerous members, organizations, and agencies to talk about U.S. Bicycle Routes in Massachusetts.

Pictured above, you see me standing with Josh Lehman, bicycle and pedestrian coordinator for MASS DOT. Josh brought together numerous agency staff and partners to hear my proposal on bringing U.S. Bicycle Routes to Massachusetts. We discussed the opportunities that exist for Massachusetts, including the state's existing interest in developing cross-state bicycle routes. A highlight of the meeting was the DOT's presentation on a new mapping program that takes the Bay State Greenway (also known as their state bike plan) from concept to map.

Here a couple tips to know about using this dynamic map:

• On the map, you'll see the overview of the Bay State Greenway plan, click on the magnify tool to see the roads and trails underlying the corridors.
• This map is interactive. You can post comments about the chosen and proposed routes and trails. The department is hoping the cycling community will help them refine the proposed routes. For example, as a cyclist you might know the conditions: Are there shoulders? Is there high traffic volume? Is there truck traffic? Are there challenges that need to be addressed, such as poor pavement conditions or narrow bridges? Input from you will greatly increase the DOT's ability to make route choices as they work toward USBRS designation and their goal of establishing seven cross-state routes that lie within the Bay State Greenway plan.
• Print the map in sections and use them to plan your next trip.
• You can view the routes using the Google tool to access satellite and street view features.

I also had the fabulous opportunity to get better acquainted with Barbara McCann, executive director of the Complete Streets Coalition. She and I were joint presenters at the American Public Works Association National Congress (an annual conference with around 10,000 attendees). Our session was well attended and well received. Afterward, I took the time to sit down with Barbara to learn how the Complete Streets effort and the U.S. Bicycle Route System might compliment each other by working with similar organizations at the national and local level (we already are to a large degree). I also wanted to gain insight, as Barbara and the Coalition have mastered the art of letting Complete Streets be a movement, not controlled through strict guidelines. The Complete Streets model promotes a general concept that is implemented community by community.

Later in the week, I met with Eric Weis (picture above on far right) from the East Coast Greenway Alliance. Eric led a few of us on a tour of the good and bad situations the ECGA faces in developing their coastal route through Boston. Along for the ride was my home-stay host/Adventure Cycling member, Lou Graham (center in yellow), Debbie Hale (not pictured) from Monterey County, California and Gary Briere (far left), Director of Recreation, Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Gary is a Adventure Cycling member and director of the vast MA park system. While we all enjoyed a beautiful Boston day, we also discussed best options for developing U.S. Bike Route 1. The DOT and DCR work closely together and with Josh, Gary, and Eric's support, Massachusetts will move forward in developing U.S. Bicycle Routes.

Photos by Ginny Sullivan

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BUILDING THE U.S. BICYCLE ROUTE SYSTEM (USBRS) 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.

Ditch the Van Tour 2010 -- Chapter 1

Check out this first video from Ben Sollee's national Ditch the Van Tour 2010. Best wishes to Ben and crew as they head up the Pacific Coast on the first leg of the tour!


Ditch the Van Bike Tour - Chapter 1 from marty benson on Vimeo. Check tour dates in your area.

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NEWS, NETWORKING, AND NEW MEDIA is posted 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 pressATadventurecyclingDOTorg. Visit our media room, view our news releases, or follow us on Twitter.

Celebrate America: Ride the TransAm & Get Pie at Cooky’s

In December this last year, I made an offhand comment about riding from Eugene, Oregon, to Washington, D.C. Less than a month later, the plan moved off my “joke” list onto my “actively pursuing” list, coupled with a research project on bicycle tourism as an economic development vehicle for rural communities. Then, Adventure Cycling Association offered me an opportunity to hand deliver window decals to businesses along the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail as a way to bring awareness to the route, and to provide me with a way to engage community businesses.

In Golden City, Missouri, I stopped at Cooky’s Café on a recommendation from a friendly man in a truck who took my picture at the Missouri state line.

Cooky’s stands as an institution for hungry cyclists. As I looked through the cyclists’ logbook (Cooky’s has an archive of these logs going back more than 20 years), one entry caught my attention, “Here I thought I was the only one who ever rode a bike across the country.” We think that, don’t we, until we get out on the road and the trail and encounter other cyclists every day.

At some point the Cooky's crew came to understand that cyclists went through their town, cyclists like to eat, and cyclists talk to other cyclists. Now, you may be climbing Lolo Pass in Idaho (on your way to Yorktown, Virginia), but the cyclists you encounter on the road will not only offer you a break from the climb, they'll tell you specifically, “When you cross into Missouri, go to Cooky’s Café in Golden City. They have the best pie on the whole route.” You just have to ride to Missouri to get it.

I had one route decal left. Cooky’s needed it.

I left Cooky’s pleased to bursting. The decal glowed in the morning light, its red, white, and blue reminding me again that the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail celebrates America. Riding the trail has a unique way of bringing us home to our country. We find it by being out in our country -- on a bike. We find it in a place like Cooky’s.

Top photo of Heidi with TransAm route decals courtesy of Greg Siple. TransAmerican Bicycle Trail window decal image courtesy of Adventure Cycling Association. Bottom photo of Cooky's Cafe courtesy of Heidi Beierle.

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GUEST POST by Heidi Beierle

I Just Called to Say I Love You

I generally blog about Cyclosource items, but I'd like to take this opportunity to mention one of the things that keeps me inspired. I'll admit that I have it good at Adventure Cycling: cool bikes to look at, neat people to laugh with, and a freezer full of ice-cream around ALL SUMMER! (I know it's not for me, be who can be that good, seriously?)

When I'm looking for inspiration, it's never far off. Visiting cyclists, an abundance of articles and advocacy, and your telephone calls. When you call me to order your maps & gear, I generally get to chat with you a little about your upcoming bicycle adventures, leaving me interested, excited, and with more ideas for my own travels!

Photo by Josh Tack

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SHIPPING NEWS is brought to you by Sarah Raz, Sales Representative/Outreach Coordinator/lover of all things outdoors.

Biking to See What’s Biting

The Japanese multinational company Shimano, Inc. is one of the (if not the) world’s largest producers of bicycle components and fishing gear. While some might think this an odd combination, there are others who would contend that it’s an altogether natural pairing.

Consider this paragraph I found tucked into a story about the Falling Spring Greenway in Franklin County, Pennsylvania: “Trails and greenways provide ‘wonderful opportunities for anglers,’ says Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission aquatic resources planning coordinator Tom Ford. He tells of a day he spent on the Youghiogheny River hiking/biking trail. ‘About 50 percent of the use of the trail I saw that day was anglers, bicycling with fishing rods,’ he says.”

Now throw eating into the mix, lots and lots of eating. Both the Hungry Cyclist (John Pilkington) and the Epicurean Cyclist (Russ Roca) have posted information on fishing at their sites. Pilkington writes about the Shimano spinning rod and Shakespeare reel he carries, while Roca gives a rundown on what he considers to be the best fly rods to carry while bicycle touring.

Would you believe there’s even an organization called the Bicycle Fishermen of America? It’s small, no doubt, and has been lying dormant since 1993. But Rollie Link, of Ames, Iowa (where recently, unfortunately, one could fish just about anywhere in town), vows to get it going again.

Didn't Gloria Steinem famously say, "A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle"? We may need to rethink just exactly what that means.

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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 more than 39,00 readers worldwide.

Varieties of Handlebars

Changing handlebar styles can significantly change the character of your bike. Sometimes a change is needed for comfort, while other times you simply want to spice up your ride a bit. Here's a brief look at four of the most common handlebar styles that we see roll through the Adventure Cycling office -- might give you some ideas for any upcoming retrofits to your touring bike.

Drop Bars: These are by far the most common handlebar for road/touring bikes. They even pop up on mountain bikes, such as the Salsa Fargo, and Co-Motion Pangea. The big benefit with drop bars is that they give you a lot of different riding positions. Putting your hands on the tops of the bars will give you a more upright position, you can stretch out by riding on the brake hoods, or move to a lower position in the drops to fight headwinds. As the most common style of handlebar, they have taken on a number of slight modifications, which include ergonomic bends, and 'randonee bends,' which flare out a little more in the drops to give you some additional stability.

Flat Bars: Most commonly found on mountain and commuter bikes, these offer a very stable handling platform, generally in a more upright position depending the height and length of your stem. Some flat bars are bowed towards the rider a bit, which helps reduce pressure on the wrists, and if you want to be in a more upright riding position, you can get 'riser bars,' which raise the handlebar position an inch or so, depending on the model.

Butterfly Bars: More common over in Europe, the Butterfly bars are also referred to as Tour or Trekking handlebars. They have a figure eight shape to them which gives you a good variety of hand positions while keeping your body more upright. It's rare to see these on stock bikes, but the Novara Safari is one bike you can find these on.

Moustache Bars: I really believe that these handlebars make your ride more enjoyable, and they always make me loathe the day I sold my Bridgestone XO-1. They are ideally suited for bar end shifters, and give you a wide hand position for great handling in a more upright position. They provide quick access to shifting and braking, and are a fun retrofit for any touring bike, on or off-road.

These are the most common bars we see for touring, but you certainly aren't limited to this list. Whichever handlebar you choose, the most important thing is that they give you proper control of the bike first, and comfort a close second.

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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.

Bicycle Camping #7--New Zealand

New Zealand is an outdoor person's dream come true. I spent the first three weeks traveling with a childhood buddy and the remaining four months pedaling solo.

My bike and my gear had never been heavier. But I didn't mind. Inside of my rear panniers were hiking boots and a full-sized backpack in a compression sack.

This allowed me not only to pedal the "land of the long white cloud", but to tramp around it as well. I would pedal my bike, with 7-10 days worth of food and supplies, out to a trail head ... lock my bike to a tree ... and take off for a hiking excursion.

My most memorable camping experience was not in a tent, but in a hut.

New Zealand has an amazing hut system in their trail network. These huts allow hikers to tramp lightly. No need to carry a tent, knowing shelter is down the trail.

I hiked two of the more popular trails on the south island, the Kepler Track and the Abel Tasman. But I also hiked the lesser known Wangapeka Track.

At Kings Creek there is a large hut that sleeps several hikers. But not far away is old Kings Creek hut.



It was built in 1934 by a miner named Cecil King. A small modest cedar slab hut--two bunk beds, an old fireplace with stone work along the mantle, and a couple of small pieces of wooden furniture.

Cecil used it until he died at the age of 77.

Now here is the thing that blew me away. Cecil's friends and the Department of Conservation preserved it and opened it up for trail hikers. I slept in the hut, surrounded by Cecil's things ... his bible, his mining tools.



The hut book, filled with entries from hikers who had stayed the night had this statement printed on the front, "Cecil isn't here at present. It you stay here--please look after his things."

Cecil had died six year prior. But that night as the wind and rain beat against that old hut (the river level raised six feet), I kept expecting Cecil to walk through the door. I wish he had. I would have gladly made him a cup of tea and sat back and listened to the old gold miner's tales.

Photos (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.

More Share the Joy Winners

Our Share the Joy program continues and we have some more winners to share. The program offers members the chance to win fabulous prizes when they purchase a gift membership or successfully encourage a friend to join Adventure Cycling Association.

Our June winner was Michael Gridley, a 14-year member from Coeur D`Alene, Idaho. Michael won an Club Pro Jacket from Showers Pass.

Our July prize, a set of Sportpacker panniers from Ortlieb, went to Richard Kovner, a 3-year member, from Delray Beach, Florida.

Congratulations to our winners! Upcoming prizes include a gift from Canari to be given away in August and a Therm-A-Rest Prolite Plus sleeping pad from Cascade Designs in September.

At the end of the year, we will select two grand prize winners. The person who recruits the most new members will win a $500 Adventure Cycling shopping spree, and another lucky winner, drawn randomly from all entries, will win a Drakkar bicycle from Rawland Cycles, valued at $2500.

Visit the contest page to learn about all of the ways that you can get entered to win.

All of our prizes were generously donated by these businesses because they believe in the mission of Adventure Cycling and support the work we do. Please consider supporting these great sponsors as you gear up for the 2010 touring season. Many of these brands can be found in the Adventure Cycling Cyclosource store.

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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.

Reroute in Owensboro, Kentucky on Underground Railroad

One of the best resources we have for keeping our maps up-to-date (and routes the best they can be) is people -- often locals, cyclists on the road, or cycling advocates -- who are willing to take the time to send us feedback. This is invaluable to us.

This spring, Donnie Mayton the Routes Chairman for the Bicycle Owensboro Steering Committee, suggested an improvement in the routing through his town on the Underground Railroad Bicycle Route. The new routing "would not only allow transit of our city entirely on bike path and shared routes but would take cyclists near needed services." This was music to our ears.

After more closely reviewing Donnie's suggestions, we decided it would be a worthwhile reroute. Unfortunately, the map sections that this change would affect -- Underground Railroad #2 and #3 -- are not on the schedule for reprinting yet. This was a disappointing realization so we looked for a way to get the information to UGRR travelers in the meantime.

Generally speaking, reroutes such as this one that involve a lot of turns and/or road changes are not amenable to inclusion as an addenda item. A map is really needed for navigation. In this case however, Donnie and his committee had provided within their suggestion a MapMyRide link. Aha, a map that fits nicely on an addendum! (For those not familiar with MapMyRide, the link takes a person to the site with the route drawn on a map.) As an experiment, we have decided to distribute the Owensboro route change to cyclists via the MapMyRide link as an addenda item. Let us know what you think of this method.

If you have suggestions for reroutes, we'd enjoy receiving them. You can easily send them via online Map Correction Form.

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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 fromAdventure 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.

Vote for the U.S. Bicycle Route System Campaign

I'm going to ask for your help today.... it's painless, don't worry.

We've entered the Paperless Choice Challenge in hopes of winning $5,000 to support the U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS) and we need your vote to win. (You will need to create a simple log in to vote.)

What's this all about?

You probably remember that great fundraising campaign in May where we asked people to support the creation of an official U.S. Bicycle Route System. A quick review: Using Facebook's Causes page and Change.org, we put together a month-long campaign that raised more than $26,000 for the U.S. Bicycle Route System.

The Paperless Choice Challenge is a national contest for nonprofits to discover and reward creative digital fundraising techniques and campaigns.We think our USBRS campaign was successful and helped us find ways to raise money without sending all that paper.

If you think so too, vote now for the U.S. Bicycle Route System project and help us win $5,000 to support this important project.

The contest ends September 15, 2010, so we need your vote today.

Thanks for your support!

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BICYCLING INSPIRATIONS is usually 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.

One Year on the Road

Check out this inspiring slide show from our friends Russ and Laura from their first year traveling by bicycle around the U.S.

Follow them at PathLessPedaled.com or on Twitter @pathlesspedaled.

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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 pressATadventurecyclingDOTorg. Visit our media room, view our news releases, or follow us on Twitter.

Glass Half Full

Does it seem to you like every single post lately has been about drinking beer? Maybe it has to with summertime, or the full onset of baseball season, but for whatever reason, it seems like a worthy time to point out that Cyclosource offers Adventure Cycling Pint Glasses; perfect for your post- ride beverage of choice. The snazzy blue print logo leaves no question about who your favorite bicycle travel nonprofit really is. So, what will you drink out of your glass? A quick office poll suggests that the obvious favorite Pint-Glass-Filler is a local micro-brew, while Josh favors Orange Juice, Teri goes for a Diet Mountain Dew, and Elliot and I favor Chocolate Milk.

Photo by Adventure Cycling

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SHIPPING NEWS is brought to you by Sarah Raz, Sales Representative/Outreach Coordinator/lover of all things outdoors.

Conflict in Colorado

Does anyone else find it ironic that Colorado has been making the news recently for certain anti-bicycle things happening there? I say ironic because historically Colorado has been one of the best states for cycling, and in my experience maintains a more bicycle-friendly atmosphere than many others I’ve ridden in (a view supported by the League of American Bicyclists’ 2010 Bicycle Friendly America ranking for the state).

First we had the bicycle ban in the gaming town of Blackhawk, which my colleague Jenn Milyko followed here at the Adventure Cycling blog. That case will apparently move to court soon.

Then the organizers of the Heaven Fest Colorado Christian Music Festival outside Longmont announced in advance that they would ban walking and cycling to the event. Instead, they recommended travel only by motorized vehicles, in the interest of keeping things moving along smoothly on Highway 119. (But wait a minute, wouldn’t more bikes mean less congestion?)

And now we have Dan Maes, a front-runner for the Republican nomination in the state governor’s race, insinuating that the likely Democratic nominee, Denver mayor John Hickenlooper — because of his B-Cycle initiative, which provides bicycles for rent around the city — is part of a plot to “rein in American cities under a United Nations treaty.”

I don’t claim to have the inside track on this story, and there is no doubt more to Mr. Maes’ stance than what’s reported at this link. But still — what’s going on here?

I met John Hickenlooper in late 2001, before he was mayor and when he was still manning the taps at the ultra-popular Wynkoop Brewing Company he founded in downtown Denver. (Woops, there we go again: bicycles and beer.) Nice guy, and not someone I would associate with United Nations takeover plots. However, in the interest of full disclosure, I must tell you this: I have a soft spot in my heart for Hickenlooper, because I was working on a piece for a National Geographic travel book about Front Range breweries at the time, and he treated my party of four to dinner and brewskis. (He has since sold his interest in the brewery, by the way.)

Any Colorado readers out there? I’d love to hear your take on all of this. Is it just random zaniness, or is there something more sinister afoot for cyclists in the Centennial State?

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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 38,800 readers worldwide.

Custom Footwear

Contact points on the bicycle (handlebars, saddle, and pedals) are areas that can often lead to discomfort when riding long distances, or stringing multiple days together. To some extent there is a natural break-in period, for both your equipment and your body, and only way to work through this period is to put in the time and miles. I have had good luck with saddles in the past, but for the feet, I have always found myself drifting towards a quicker fix, as hot spots while riding has been an issue for me over the years.

There are a lot of generic athletic insoles available, but if you are experiencing enough discomfort with your current insoles, it's a good idea to skip the guess work, and look into a custom insole. I have had good luck with the Superfeet Custom inserts, specifically the Custom Black model that is designed to work well with tight fitting athletic shoes. They are heated, and then vacuum sealed to your foot by authorized custom Superfeet dealers. At $80, these are pretty good for the price, and hold up well against odor, and abuse. For a higher level of custom detail and durability, I have had my best luck with a quick visit to my local physical therapist for a medical grade custom insole. This ran me $140, but has stood up to tens of thousands of miles over the past five years.

The growing popularity of full custom shoe manufacturers like D2 and Rocket7 forced the bigger names in cycling footwear to up their game in the custom arena. Bont, Lake, and Shimano are a few of these shoe manufactures that have semi-custom shoes available, which are purchased in stock sizes, and then heat molded to your foot for a glove-like fit. These can be pretty pricey, rising above $250.

How far you're willing to go to address your foot problems depends heavily on the severity of your issue. I will always suggest insoles over a custom shoe, as they can be transferred from one shoe to another, giving you more flexibility, and more spending money.

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.

Bicycle Camping #6--Cuba

Cuba. The beach. A resort hotel. At $75 a night, not a bad choice, especially when the package deal includes meals and drinks.

Then there is the frugal cyclist's alternative. A tent. Pitched not far from the resort hotel. Cost? Free.



Same view. Same ocean.

The difference? Flexible transportation.

Kat and I talked with folks who had been vacationing at the above resort for over 15 years. They had never been more than 5 miles beyond their tourist encampment. They flew into Havana and were bussed out to their vacation resort.

Their experience and views of Cuba were very different than ours. We used local currency. Ate local food. Stayed with locals (or camped near their homes).

I know for a fact that the beds at the resort were more comfortable than our sleeping pads. But I also know that we connected with the people and culture of Cuba in a more real, intense and visceral way than any package tour could ever provide.



Photos (Cuba 1998) 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.

The Bicycle Traveler's Thankful List

As you may know by reading my last blog post, I had an amazing trip on Adventure Cycling's Cycle Washington tour. All the factors were aligned to create this amazing adventure -- Ranger Tommy was leading the tour, Kathy and her gang were feeding us, the scenery was simply out of this world, and the support staff went above and beyond to make sure we had a great time.

Today I want to talk about other things that I'm thankful for and I imagine that many cyclists who travel by bicycle -- be it 50 miles or 5,000 miles -- will likely be thankful for them too.

I'm thankful for the Adventure Cycling Route Network, an amazing array of routes that crisscross North America. These routes tend to run on out of the way roads that have fewer cars on them than the norm. The roads often are chosen because they are scenic and feature an amazing diversity of services and places to visit. The Cycle Washington tour route -- a portion of which follows our Washington Parks Loop and the Pacific Coast Route -- would go hardly more than a mile before seeing a winery, a redwood forest, an organic cheese farm, an orchard or a great place to have a milkshake. Not to mention the many, many amazing scenic vistas. Funny I had time to ride! And no wonder I gained weight.... grrrrrr.

Anyway, join me in helping support these great routes. Your donation not only goes toward creating new routes (more than 40,000 miles so far!) but also helps keep our existing routes up to date. Our amazing routes and mapping team is always on the alert for new services, new campgrounds, new bike shops and other services important to traveling cyclists. They also keep track of businesses that have closed and necessary route changes. In short, they babysit more than 40,000 miles of routes so you don't have to worry about where your next meal is coming from or where you are going to put head to pillow.

And that's an amazing thing to support.

Photo Caption: The author basking in the spray of a cool waterfall on a hot, uphill day on Cycle Washington. Photo by Devin Emnett

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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.

Comfort on the Southern Tier, West Texas Style

A couple of weeks ago Simon and Alia from Sydney, Australia, popped into our office. They were traveling north to south on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR) incorporating some deviations -- as was evidenced by their appearance in Missoula -- since we are not on the GDMBR. Looking at the calendar, they realized they were going to have extra time before returning to Sydney and were curious about options for extending their ride in Texas. Simon had already toured part of the Southern Tier Route so was looking for a new experience. I was excited to tell them about the growing movement in far west Texas to court traveling cyclists.

I first learned about TexasMountainTrail.com and Beth Nobles in an email from our friends Russ and Laura at PathLessPedaled.com. They crossed paths in February as Russ and Laura began their journey across Texas. As Regional Coordinator, Beth and the other folks at Texas Mountain Trail, promote heritage tourism as a means to bring greater economic prosperity to the the communities in west Texas, especially the rural ones. "Beth helped us out a lot going through there and since then, she's been working with some of the smaller communities to provide services for touring cyclists!" wrote Russ.

The rural nature of west Texas lends itself to great touring vistas, but few services are readily available so some coordination is required to bring these two interests together. "We are learning new things every day from touring cyclists like Russ and Laura and will continue to work on making our region easier and safer for touring cyclists. In the coming year, we are going to require our cycle-friendly hotels to have bike pumps and extra copies of the Southern Tier map at their front desk," Beth wrote in further correspondence. Services now being offered range from free wi-fi, indoor bicycle parking, cyclist-friendly accommodations and camping, filtered water, and bathrooms.

A recent example of a community extending a hand bicycle travelers is Valentine, TX, population 197. Their City Council voted to open the Community Building for touring cyclists to use as a place of refreshment and overnight stays. All they ask is a day or two notice (though a donation is also greatly appreciated) so the doors can be opened.

I later stumbled across an article about more hospitality in Alpine, TX. Liz Rogers has been supporting traveling cyclists since 2006 by opening her home to them. Be sure to check out the article, "A good Samaritan for traveling bicyclists" on WarmShowers.org to read her story.

A bounty of information about west Texas towns, services, routes and events can be found at the Texas Mountain Trail website.

And, of course, you can learn more about Russ and Laura's travels in west Texas, and beyond, on their journal at PathLessPedaled.com. See last February and March entries for stories and pictures specifically about Texas.

In top photo: Scene along Hwy. 54 on the Texas Mountain Trail, the 55 mile ride from Van Horn, Texas, to the Guadalupe Mountains National Park in Far West Texas.

In second photo: Winter cyclist on Hwy. 54.

Photos courtesy of Texas Mountain Trail

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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.

Beantown - Here I Come! - Join me on August 19th

For the past several weeks, I have been planning a trip east to one of my favorite cities -- Boston. I can hardly wait to visit old haunts like Faneuil Hall, Beacon Hill, Harvard Square, and Fenway Park. I practically lived in Boston in the late 1980's (Hartford's sort of a suburb, right?) and I haven't been back since.

The purpose of this trip is to attend the American Public Works Association (APWA) National Congress and I will be there in wonderful company such as U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS) supporters Sue Hann and Debbie Hale. I'll also be accompanied by Barbara McCann, executive director of the National Complete Streets Coalition -- a movement that helps transportation planners think about all road users as streets and roads are designed and operated.

So, while I hope to revisit some of my favorite places, there just might not be time! After a couple of days networking, presenting, and learning about public works issues during the conference, I will be heading to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MA DOT) for a packed meeting to discuss state opportunities for implementing U.S. Bicycle Routes. Josh Lehman, the bicycle and pedestrian coordinator for MA DOT has a great sense of what's possible. After all, he's bike toured extensively and been involved with Adventure Cycling Association for over 20 years. What a gift! He's put together a great invitation list for this meeting, including various agencies as well as bicycle and trail organizations. Can't wait!

I also hope to squeeze in some meaningful, one-on-one meetings with a few Adventure Cycling life members and major donors.  The steadfast financial support of these wonderful individuals and families helps Adventure Cycling to continue its work on projects such as the U.S. Bicycle Route System and advocate for better conditions for all cyclists.

On Thursday morning (August 19th), my friend and colleague, Eric Weis is taking Debbie Hale and various assorted "who's who" in bicycling on a Beantown bike tour, including sections of the East Coast Greenway.

Thursday evening, the public is invited to join me for a very special regional gathering at the  Jamaica Plain Public Library. I will share news about Adventure Cycling's programs and projects, as well as give an update on the U.S. Bicycle Route System. There will also be time to share your thoughts and ideas, and to swap stories with other cycling enthusiasts! Again, this event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided.

If you live in the Boston area and have an interest in bike travel or learning about progress on building the U.S. Bicycle Route System, please join me on August 19th!

Event Details:
What? Adventure Cycling regional gathering 

Who? Ginny Sullivan, special projects director, will share the latest news on bicycle travel and adventures in North America, highlight Adventure Cycling’s newest cycling route (the Sierra Cascades Bicycle Route) and discuss some of the Association’s major program initiatives, including the emerging U.S. Bicycle Route System.

Where? Jamaica Plain Public Library, 12 Sedgwick Street, Jamaica Plain, MA
When? August 19th, 6 p.m.
Cost? Free and open to the public

Please RSVP by August 15, 2010, by emailing bpetersen[AT]adventurecycling[DOT]org or calling Beth Petersen at 800-755-2453 x 211.

Photo of Dr. Paul Dudley White Charles River Bike Path nestled between Storrow Dr & the Charles River, with Harvard University, Cambridge across the river; courtesy of the East Coast Greenway Alliance.


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BUILDING THE U.S. BICYCLE ROUTE SYSTEM (USBRS) 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.

Ben Sollee Kicks Off National Music Tour by Bicycle

On August 18, 2010, musician Ben Sollee will launch his Ditch the Van Tour 2010 in San Diego, CA, officially kicking off what is likely the first-ever coast-to-coast music tour by bicycle.

Linking together four regional tours to create a transcontinental itinerary, Sollee will perform and engage with local cycling advocacy along the way, as well as raise awareness about national efforts to improve cycling in America, including Adventure Cycling Association’s work on the emerging U.S. Bicycle Route System and the League of American Bicyclists’ Bicycle Friendly America program.

“We’ve teamed up with the Adventure Cycling Association to promote improved bicycling infrastructure in communities and on the roads that connect them," said Sollee. "Safe, clean bike lanes and pedestrian ways help communities to be more livable. We can see and feel the difference from our saddles and the stage. Communities that support livability initiatives also tend to support the arts and the people come out to the shows.”

The Ditch the Van Tour is a reaction to the massive carbon footprint that many music tours leave behind — imagine a long caravan of semi-trailers toting enormous stages and huge amounts of gear — but for Sollee, it is also an effort to slow down to the pace of life, which he described as a “beautiful limitation” in a recent National Geographic interview:

"It's about pace of life and re-localizing. I've spent nearly ten years on the road now and the expectations of the industry are enormous. When you get a call the night before to play late-night TV the next day on the other side of the country, you do it. If there's a good money gig but it's 300 miles the other way, you do it. But not if you're on a bicycle. It's a beautiful limitation, because all the reasons you once thought of to avoid these small towns go out the window, and the communities become really valuable to us."

In 2009 Sollee embarked on two regional pedal-powered music tours, trucking all gear, luggage, merchandise, and camera equipment on utility and touring bikes. From those tours Sollee and his team gained a passion for bicycle advocacy on both the community and national levels.

What’s the 2010 itinerary? From San Diego, Sollee and his road crew will ride up the Pacific Coast, with performances scheduled in Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Santa Barbara, Salinas, and San Francisco. Then, in early September, they will board a train for Denver and perform at Tour de Fat in Fort Collins, CO. A three-days drive (there are only 4 days of driving on the entire 3-month tour schedule) will then shuttle the group to Maryland to launch a month of shows that include dates in Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. At the end of September, a quick 1-day van shuttle to Louisville, Kentucky, will land Sollee back in home territory for the national tour’s final weeks. His Kentucky dates also include a September 30 speaking engagement at the 10th annual Idea Festival on “Beautiful Limitations: Bicycles, Music, and Community-Based Touring.”

Cycling advocates are invited to get involved — through cross-promotional efforts such as tabling at shows, joining the Sollee crew on a group ride through town, membership drive incentives, and more — contact Katie Benson of Fits Productions at katieb[AT]iftheshoe[DOT]com.

“We hope to pedal with all the enthusiasts and fans we can along the way,” added Sollee.

Adventure Cycling Association, the League of American Bicyclists, and Kentucky Coffeetree Café are proud sponsors of Ben Sollee’s Ditch the Van Tour 2010.

For a complete list of tour dates, visit http://bensollee.com/tour.html.

Top photo courtesy of Savannah Morning News. Second photo courtesy of The State Journal.

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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 pressATadventurecyclingDOTorg. Visit our media room, view our news releases, or follow us on Twitter.

TJRs (Total Joy Rides)

My family and I have made it nearly 1,600 miles into our Pacific Coast bicycle adventure. We're staying with cycling friends Robert and Brigitta in beautiful Santa Barbara and enjoyed a great event with the Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition (amusing article here). I realized that in all my posts, I haven't written at all about the riding -- but let's change that.

The Pacific Coast is full of beautiful and challenging riding and scenery, some of the best in the world -- but truthfully, a fair bit of it is not too peaceful. During the summer, there is a lot of vacation traffic. Most motorists are courteous but you have to stay alert and not drift along the road. (My wife semi-jokes that she is the "enforcer", making sure we ride on the right.) But there have been some places where the traffic has been lighter, the riding conditions sublime, and the scenery unparalleled -- the perfect conditions for what I call TJRs (Total Joy Rides).

Probably my favorite has been the 40+ mile stretch between Fort Bragg, CA, and Manchester, CA. For some reason, this stretch of the Mendocino coast was low on traffic and high on roller coaster fun, with swooping downhills and wild uphills (including a 19 percent grade just south of Elk -- steepest on the Pacific Coast route). The craggy coast, filled with arches and crashing waves, was euphoria-inducing eye candy (or maybe it was just the coffee at Headlands Coffeehouse in Fort Bragg -- 17 kinds of richly flavored coffee on tap!).


Another wonderful place is the little-known Newton Drury Parkway which slices through redwood country just south of Crescent City, CA. There was one 5-mile steady downhill that I enjoyed with my daughter Lucy -- we experienced that unmatchable feeling of gliding at cycle speed (about 20 mph) in the great wide open, among towering redwoods, with nary a car around us. Nirvana. We had a similar feeling at times during our ride along Avenue of the Giants south of Eureka -- and also along the Oregon coastline around Cape Heceta and the section of Highway 1 near Tomales, CA.

Have you got some favorite spots along the Pacific -- or any other TJRs you'd like to share?

Captions: (top) TJR symptom -- a big smile; (middle) for caffeine addicts, TJRs can be enhanced by places like the Headlands Coffeehouse in Fort Bragg, CA.


Photos courtesy of Jim Sayer

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Jim Sayer is executive director of Adventure Cycling Association.

Beer + Bikes = Fun

It’s no secret that beer and bicycling go together like, well, like soup and sandwich … like Simon and Garfunkel ... like sand and surf. And, as anyone who’s been following the Adventure Cycling blog over the past few months knows, the pairing of brews and bicycle touring has been a popular topic of discussion here. Consider, for example, “Wild Bill” Schneider’s account of his 10-day Beers & Gears tour of Montana late last spring, or executive director Jim Sayer’s recent posting from the California coast entitled Food for 5, Beer for 1.

There are so many beer-bike tie-ins I could talk about. A couple of years ago, for instance, Traitor Cycles of Ferndale, Washington, built a limited edition Pabst Blue Ribbon fixed-gear city bike. And just recently I ran across this Bud Light neon sign depicting a downhill mountain biker.

Then we have outfits like Fort Collins, Colorado-based New Belgium Brewing, a company that was inspired by the founder’s 1989 bike tour of Europe. The company has gone on to great success brewing the unofficial official beer of mountain biking, Fat Tire Amber Ale, and also stages its ultra-popular Tour de Fat event series in cities throughout the West each summer.

I have to say, however, that the Hopworks Urban Brewery (HUB) of Portland, Oregon, has taken the pairing of beer and biking to a whole new level. To see what I mean, have a look at their Hopworks Beer Bike. I probably don't need to elaborate, since the photos do the Beer Bike justice. But in case you want to know more, you'll find a good story about it at BikePortland.org.

An American still life: Red Cannondale, white geraniums, and Blue Ribbon Beer. 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 38,800 readers worldwide.