Bicycle Costumes for Halloween

Halloween is a day away, but it's not too late to late to get a cycling oriented costume together. Here are some ideas that you could have fun with:

Pee Wee's Big Adventure: The tricky part will be tracking down an old red cruiser bike. After you have that, you can spice it up as much as you can with streamers, or a lion's head on the handlebars. From there, find a grey suit, bow tie, white shoes, and some styling gel.

ET: This may be one you will have to hold off on until next year, but if you can find an old BMX bike, add a basket to it, and find something that resembles ET to stick in it, all you need from there is a hoodie sweatshirt and some jeans.

Breaking Away: This one is super easy. Grab a white t-shirt and letter 'CUTTERS' across the front of it, and then ride around on an old steel road bike while greeting people with 'buon giorno!'

Creedence Clearwater Cosmo's Factory Album: This is pretty obscure, but sometimes that can be fun. Try and dig up some red sweatpants, and a yellow tank top over a grey t-shirt while riding around on an old 70's road bike. If you can pull off the hair style, even better.

Paperboy: One of my favorite video games, I went with this costume a while back. Attach a front basket to a mountain or bmx bike, and fill it up with newspapers. As for attire, a blue jacket, jeans, and yellow hat is all you need. Keep in mind though, throwing papers through the windows of non-subscribers will not get you bonus points on Halloween night.

Famous Names in Cycling: There are a lot of famous cycling icons, but the ones that are the most fun to emulate are the ones with easily identifiable features. Some good picks would be Laurent Fignon, or Mario Cipollini from road racing fame. As for a touring twist, I've been playing around with the idea of dressing up as one of our founders, Greg Siple, based on photos from his tour from Alaska to Argentina in the 70s.

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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.

Sharing the Road

I am always one to look for a route with as little traffic as possible. Dealing with the noise and safety issues of lots of cars and trucks really can bring my travel spirits down.

Portugal has been amazing. Kat and I have been pedaling the mostly back roads of this scenic country for over a month now. Because we are traveling off season, we have had many roads to ourselves.

A narrow winding road with no shoulder and little or no traffic can be perfect. But take that same road and add traffic and trucks and the fun is over and the danger element kicks in.

There have been times on this trip that we've found ourselves on tiny roads, that the big trucks use as well. I still don't like the noise, but not a single time have we had a motorist or a trucker honk at us in anger. We've heard the brakes squeal behind us as a large truck slows way down, waiting for a safe moment to pass. This can be quit a distance on a winding road. But no honking. No shaking fists or yells to get off the road. Just a wave of acknowledgment and sometimes even a thumbs up.

I'm not used to this. I like it, but I'm not used to it. And you know what? The more often I'm treated this way, the more likely I am to find a place where I can pull over so a truck can pass me without having to wait.

We've felt the same way in the cities of Portugal as pedestrians. Cars, buses, and trucks actually stop for us at crosswalks.

Sharing the road is more than a bumper sticker. It's an attitude of mutual respect. And one that more Americans (cyclists and drivers) need work on.

Photo: Portugal 2010) by Willie Weir


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

Adventure Cycling is Headed to Wisconsin!

On Wednesday, November 3, grab your cycling buddies, friends, and family, and join Adventure Cycling Association for a special regional gathering and party in Fox Point at the Wheel and Sprocket North Shore Store from 6:00 to 8:30 pm. 

Adventure Cycling’s executive director, Jim Sayer, will be sharing the latest news on bicycle travel and adventures in North America (and perhaps beyond!). 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., including an update on the emerging U.S. Bicycle Route System. There will also be time for you to share your thoughts, ideas, and stories. Refreshments and snacks will be provided, courtesy of Wheel and Sprocket. 

Join us at the North Shore Store of Wheel and Sprocket for this fun and informative event. The shop is located at 6940 N. Santa Monica Blvd in Fox Point. For directions, visit their website.

Refreshments start at 6:00. There will be a brief (and optional) safety workshop at 6:30, followed by the program with Jim Sayer at 7:00 pm.

Please RSVP for this event by calling Sarah Raz at 800-755-2453 x 210 or emailing her at sraz@adventurecycling.org.

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MEMBERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS is typically posted on Fridays 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.

Mobile Maps in our Future?

I think I'm about to ask a loaded question. It stems from a presentation I attended a couple of weeks ago at the NACIS Annual Meeting (North American Cartographic Information Society). It's about maps and mobile devices. Are you ready? (Am I ready for your answers?) Here goes:

What kind of features would you like to see in a map that would live on your mobile device while on a bicycle tour?

Other questions that flow logically after this one:

• First and foremost, do you want this kind of map/application for the road?
• What device would you want it to be on? Your phone? (Android or iPhone?) Your GPS unit? (Garmin?) An iPad? Your ebook reader? (Kindle? Nook?) Something else?
• Do you want it to be a live application that knows where you are in that moment?
• Would a static digital map be helpful on the road? Or only for planning purposes?
• Would you enter feedback about the contents of the map if you could?

While we believe that paper maps are a long way from falling entirely out of fashion, and we're not alone in that belief according to this article, "Don't Throw Away Your Paper Maps Just Yet," we know that eventually our maps will be available electronically. The road to getting there is unclear and not on the immediate agenda but it is time to start thinking seriously about what you -- the users of our maps -- want and what it would take for us to make it available to you. Let us know what you are thinking and we'll begin compiling your input for this future development.

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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.

Missouri Forging Ahead to Designate USBR 76

A couple weeks ago, I had the opportunity to visit Saint Louis, Missouri, to meet with the Missouri Department of Transportation (MODOT) and the bicycle community about the U.S. Bicycle Route System.

You can see a few of us above after a wonderful lunch at Pi Pizzeria; from left, Virginia Blaine, avid supporter of the TransAmerica Trail in Farmington, MO (a top-notch bike friendly community and home to the TransAm Inn - a bike hostel); Patty Vinyard, St. Louis bicycle advocate extraordinaire and board member of the Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation; me, and then Joe Torrisi, teacher, chair of the Federation and contributor to Adventure Cycling's Pedal Pioneers: A Guide to Bicycle Travel with Kids; Melissa Anderson, bicycle and pedestrian coordinator for MODOT; and Todd Antoine, deputy director of Great Rivers Greenway.

Melissa Anderson will manage the implementation of the U.S. Bike Route 76 (USBR 76) and the state will use Adventure Cycling's TransAmerica Trail as their proposed route. Our meeting involved a video conference with five of the DOT districts.

Dawn Gardner, of the Springfield district, was ready to get to work, saying, "There is a vast interest in the Springfield area to have this route signed. I consistently receive calls from the City of Lebanon requesting a TransAmerica Trail 'spur' be considered so TransAm cyclists will have the option to travel to Lebanon on Historic Route 66. Whatever needs to be done to get the TransAmerica route designated through Missouri, I am willing to assist, coordinate."

Some of the districts aren't as far along with the outreach process and will work with their communities along the route, seeking input and support. Each district will work with Melissa on the appropriate strategy to get their sections of the route ready for application to AASHTO (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials) by next fall.

While I was in St. Louis, I also took time to find out what else is going on in the region. Attending an open house in honor of the release of the St. Louis Bike Master Plan, I learned an incredible amount about the bicycle, greenway, and trail happenings for the whole St. Louis region. I also met a host of bike celebrities including Jennifer Toole of Toole Design Group, and Paul L. Wojciechowski of CH2M Hill, contractors for the plan; Todd Antoine, Carey Bundy (pictured above with Joe Torrisi and me) and Susan Trautman, executive director of Great Rivers Greenway. I attended the event with my dear new friend Dana Gray (thanks for the incredible hospitality Dana!) and saw Trail Net staff including John Cameron and Cindy Mense.

Great things are happening for bicycling and active living in the home of the Gateway Arch -- and I can't wait to come back and see even more of this beautiful state -- possibly cycling along the newly designated U.S. Bike Route 76!

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.

Fitting Bags for Trails

There was a time when most bikepackers were literally backpackers with bikes, hoisting top-heavy, backbreaking loads on their shoulders while riding mountain bikes through the woods. These days, mountain bikers have several different options for hauling camping gear, from traditional racks and panniers to trailers.

However, racks and panniers are more difficult to adapt to suspension systems on mountain bikes, and also increase the profile of the bike, which can make it more difficult to maneuver through tight singletrack and heavily forested trails. Trailers are more versatile, but also add another layer of difficulty and weight to technical terrain. Also, as with any mechanical component, racks and trailers are just another thing that can break or otherwise fail — a problem you want to avoid when traveling far away from civilization.

Among ultralight bikepackers, there is a growing trend to use custom bags that are engineered to fit the contours of the bike, adding packing space without significantly increasing the profile or weight on the bike. The two leaders in the custom bike bag industry are Carousel Design Works and Revelate Designs, two independent companies that design and custom-build innovative seat post bags, frame bags, and handlebar harnesses.

Frame bags are the best place to start when acquiring a bikepacking kit. The frame triangle is the most under-used space in any bicycle. It’s literally the core of your bike — low-profile, centered and has the space to hold a fair amount of gear, even on some full-suspension mountain bikes. Full-size frame bags are a great, highly accessible place to store heavier items such as food, batteries, repair kits and other accessories.

Great additions to custom frame bags are top tube bags such as the Epic Designs gas tank and Carousel Design Works top tube pack. This can be used with or without a frame bag, and utilizes an often overlooked space on the frame. Similar to a gas tank on a motorcycle, the position of these bags makes them a convenient and readily accessible place to store snacks for fueling on the go.

The two companies also offer seatpost bags that are engineered to hold vast quantities of gear in a sturdy but flexible position above the rear wheel. Revelate Designs offers both water-resistant and waterproof versions. These are superior to a rear rack because they’re not only much lighter, but also provide rear-carrying capacity on full-suspension bikes. A well-designed strap system keeps the bag from rubbing the tire, but these often need to be packed to their full capacity to achieve the intended shape.

Finally, various front harness and handlebar bag systems can accommodate everything from a sleeping bag to a tent to a full-size winter sleeping bag. The drawback to handlebar bags is a change in the bike’s handling, but it’s often no worse than the addition of front panniers.

I’ve been using Revelate Designs bags ever since the company first launched, as Epic Designs, in 2007. A combination of quality materials, durable zippers, and brilliant craftsmanship keeps me coming back for more, and I’ve fully outfitted my snow bike and mountain bike for year-round bikepacking. I’ve become such a big fan of these bags that I even use them on my pavement tours these days, despite a full set of panniers and racks that now sit unused in my shed. I like the lightness and simplicity of Revelate Designs bags, and also the limited space that forces me to take only the gear I really need.

I don’t have any personal experience with Carousel Design Works, but have a number of friends who attest to the bags’ quality. They’re a great place to start for any mountain biker who wants to take their riding even farther.

Photos courtesy Revelate Designs

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BIKEPACKER is written by Jill Homer, deputy editor for Adventure Cyclist magazine. It appears the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month.

Riding Alone

Recently I've been riding by myself more. This is unusual for me. It's not that I'm really afraid to ride alone, it's just that I'm a little out of my element. I've gone on long backpacking trips alone, and I feel confident. I mean, I know what to do if a tent stake breaks, or if I get off trail a bit. But the risk of mechanical error seems so much greater on bikes sometimes, and the higher travel speed seems to leave me more open for injury, so I used to opt to cycle with a buddy. Hopefully, a buddy who was good a fixing flats and dealing with mechanical mishaps. But as I've grown as a rider I've started to get out on long rides alone and I find I really enjoy it. I can push myself in ways I wouldn't feel comfortable with friends around, and, alternately, I can really relax when I feel like it.


Of course, it's necessary to carry a few things if you're planning on being out by yourself. It's a good idea to have a cell phone with you. Carry at the minimum, a spare tube, pump and multi-tool. Bring water, snacks, and a few dollars for an emergency. Do any of you savvy ride-aloners have more thoughts?

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.

House Calls

I was a young kid in the 1950s, long enough ago that I can recall — when I wasn't feeling well —seeing our family doctor come walking through my bedroom door, his big black bag in hand. I wasn’t particularly crazy about having to stick out my tongue and say “Ahhhhhh” as he jammed that flat stick down my throat, but it was a lot better than getting drug downtown to his office while suffering a sore throat and 101-degree temperature.

I have an ongoing debate with my wife about this. I contend that the state of health care would be better all around if doctors began making their rounds by visiting patients’ homes again, like they did in the good-old days. She has a hundred reasons why it won’t happen: modern physicians can’t afford it, physicals today require too much sophisticated equipment, etc. etc. In response, I'll sometimes say smart-aleck things like, “Yeah, you’re probably right. If they didn’t cram sick people into waiting rooms, the flu and other ailments wouldn’t spread as widely, and the doctors would have less to do.”

Well, Nancy’s probably right; house calls, for the most part, are just a quaint piece of the past. But even as I admit it, imagine how elated I felt when I ran across this story about a Bellingham, Washington, nurse practitioner (the next best thing to an M.D. in terms of where they can poke you and what they can prescribe). She not only makes house calls, but does them by bicycle … Wow! What if Jody Hoppis, ARNP started even a mini-trend?

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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.

Why Adventure Cycling Thrives

A toast! Adventure Cycling concluded its 2010 fiscal year on September 30 and we just issued a news release on the results. In short, it was a spectacular year -- and spectacular may be an understatement, especially at a time when the economy is just beginning to rebound. Memberships were up, map sales were up, tour participation and donations were up. Best of all, our program activity was way up, with the release of the new Sierra Cascades Bicycle Route, the involvement of 27 states and the District of Columbia in implementing official U.S. Bicycle Routes, and more activity at the state and federal levels to promote and improve bicycling in North America.

Why the success? I see four reasons: our members and donors; the undeniable appeal of bicycling and bicycle travel; our staff and volunteers; and our instinct to look and plan ahead.

Members and donors: Simply put, Adventure Cycling is here because of our incredibly devoted members. At a time when many non-profits are shrinking, we saw an (albeit small) increase in our overall member count and a big jump in our life members. Even more amazing? Donations in support of our program work grew by 30%. As I said in the news release, we were "humbled and energized" by this generosity. Thank you!

Beautiful bicycling: Interest in cycling and active travel of all kinds is growing. I learned this at Interbike in Las Vegas, and the Adventure Travel World Summit in Scotland, and, most importantly, in Missoula, Montana, where we set a new record for cycling visitors (1,096 during business hours -- click on our Flickr slide show to see some smiling cycling faces). Bike travel is surging because it's joyful, authentic, fulfilling and because it builds community. We are fortunate to be promoting an activity that is inherently so wonderful.

Good people: We're also fortunate to have a talented and hard-working staff (pictured below) who love our mission and enjoy working together for our members and anyone interested in bike travel. And we're blessed to have a growing cadre of volunteers, interns, and work/study students who magnify the impact of our work. Thank you!

The long view: I really like how our organization is open to new ideas and change. We're not afraid to try new things. We've created one of the most active social media presences of any cycling group, we've diversified our tours to reach all types of cyclists, we've begun branding our routes with decals (and continued to create new ones), and we've expanded our advocacy work and built innovative new partnerships (for example, with the Center for Minority Health). We still have more to do, especially on bringing our maps and publications into the online era -- but we're working on that too. This long view happens because our staff and board of directors are always thinking ahead but also because of the regular and creative feedback we get from our members.

Which brings it back to you, our members, supporters, donors, and social media participants. Together, we are a growing community dedicated to inspiring people of all ages to travel by bicycle. Let's keep broadening and energizing our community -- and have an even more successful 2011!

Captions: (top) Pacific Coast riders Lucy, Samantha and Keilan at the Santa Barbara Fiesta in August 2010' (bottom) Adventure Cycling's staff circa October 2010, photo by Tom Robertson.

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JIM SAYER is executive director of Adventure Cycling Association.

Mountain Bike for Road Touring?

At least once a week, I receive an email or phone call from someone asking if its okay to ride a mountain bike for their tour, whether it be a weekend trip or a cross-country tour. The quick answer to the question is absolutely, but here are some reasons behind the answer, and ways you can go about making it happen.

First off, not all riders have the privilege of owning multiple bikes, so if a mountain bike is all you have, it may be the best, and most realistic option available. Fortunately, the geometry of a mountain bike is pretty good for long distance touring, with a more upright riding position, and clearance for fenders and wider tires. Older mountain bikes often have long chain stays, which is great for keeping your heels clear of your rear panniers, however, newer race oriented mountain bikes are starting to shorten up the chain stays, which is claimed to improve traction when climbing. This may not create an issue, but something to be aware of, especially with smaller frame sizes. Most mountain bikes also have a very durable construction to hold up against the rigors of off-road riding.

There are a few aspects of a mountain bike that often make people second guess whether or not it can be suited for road riding. The first is that mountain bikes are usually setup with knobby tires. This is a quick and inexpensive fix, as there are a plethora of slick tire options available that will give you a quiet ride on the road with low rolling resistance.

As for hauling your load along, disc brakes can sometimes cause headaches when installing racks. If you have disc brakes and want to use racks, make sure you search out a disc specific touring rack for your wheel size (26" or 29er). Some examples would be the Old Man Mountain Cold Springs racks, as well as Topeak Tubular Explorer racks. If you don't want to take this route, you can always go with a trailer, but again, make sure that you choose a trailer with the proper wheel clearance.

Another mountain bike component that can cause some second guessing is the suspension fork. When riding on the road, front and/or rear suspension really isn't going to help you much, but it probably won't ruin your ride either. If you have a relatively newer suspension fork, you might be able to lock it out for a more rigid ride. Steel rigid forks are also fairly inexpensive, and can be quickly swapped out by your local shop.

As far as handlebars are concerned, sticking with flat bars can give you a more stable riding position, but can also limit the amount of potential hand positions available when compared to drop bars. There's no reason you can't swap drop bars for your flat bars, but this often means that you will have to find a new set of shifters and brake levers.

If your mountain bike has 26" wheels, don't in any way feel inferior to 700c road wheels. Depending on how the wheel is laced up, 26" wheels can offer great durability with their shorter spokes and wider rims. In fact, there are a fair amount of road touring bikes that have played around with smaller 26" and 650B wheel sizes to take advantage of their benefits in strength.

In the end, I'm not trying to insinuate that you should go out and purchase a new mountain bike for your next road tour. This is aimed at riders who currently have a mountain bike, and don't want to invest in a second bike for their upcoming trip.

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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.

Phases of Friendship

The moon and I have an on-again off-again relationship. When I'm at home in the city, weeks can go by without us even acknowledging each other. I don't know where the moon is or what phase it's in. I catch a glimpse of it every once in a while … when it's not cloudy or raining.

But on a bicycle trip, we're buddies.

I can always tell you the phase the moon is in while I'm on the road. The moon is my light source to pitch a tent, or a sliver of beauty against a clear blue sky.

We are cycling in Portugal right now. The moon is a waxing gibbous, which means it will be a lantern for camping for the next week or so. Then it will begin to rise later and later after the sunset. But that will have benefits too. Less ambient light to gaze at the stars.

I won't go to bed with the moon glow on our tent, but I will say hello to my friend in the morning and throughout the day.

Sadly, our trip will end. I'll head back to the city and the moon and I will go back to being acquaintances, rather than the best of friends.

Photo: Portugal 2010) 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.

Share the Joy Winners for Fall

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 August winner was Richard Young, a 6-year member from Mt. Sterling, Illinois. Richard won a Canari Radiator Vest.

Our September prize, a Therm-A-Rest Prolite Plus sleeping pad from Cascade Designs, went to Kevin Whited, a 10-year member, from Indianapolis, Indiana.

Congratulations to our winners! Upcoming prizes include a set of Ortlieb Sport Packer Panniers to be given away in October and a Detours Toocan Carrier in November.

In December, we will select our 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 that we do. Please consider supporting these great sponsors as you gear up for the 2011 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.

Scenes from St. Pete

 I just returned from my NACIS meeting in St. Petersburg, Florida. I'm still processing all the great information I took in over those 3 full days of networking, listening, talking, eating, walking, and reveling in the October sunshine and gulf breezes. Below are a few snapshots of my experience.

The program included a panel on producing bike maps. While we didn't directly participate in that session, we were well represented. Joy Santee spoke about how she used the Underground Railroad Bicycle Route maps in her dissertation. Steve Spindler, who is an enthusiastic life member, participates in the routes & mapping technology working group and is a recent graduate of our Leadership Training Course.

The banquet Friday night apparently gave Kevin pause. Actually, he was probably figuring out who he still wanted to talk to before the event was over and the opportunity was gone until next year.

I saw this bike outside the back door of the hotel. I would guess it belonged to an employee who took advantage of the mild Florida climate and commuted to work by bike. Got to love those panniers!

I was happy to note the many facilities available for cyclists throughout the city. In addition to a fair number of bike racks -- many of them in use -- I also spied this two-way cycle track.

The lush bushes all over the city support a small legion of these little guys.

Once the official NACIS events were over, I made a visit to Bicycle Outfitters in Seminole, a short distance away. They were the 2007 Sam Braxton Bicycle Shop award winners. I'll have more on my visit there in a future blog post.

Photos by Jenn Milyko

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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.

Update on U.S. Bicycle Routes through Michigan

Here's a quick update on what's going on in Michigan with U.S. Bicycle Routes:

The committee that is working on developing U.S. Bike Route (USBR) 35 along the Lake Michigan shoreline is looking for volunteers to help them seek input and eventually gain support from local road authorities for the draft route. If you would be interested in helping with this effort and live in western Michigan, please answer this brief survey.

And now, let me share a bit of great news -- U.S. Bicycle Route 20 through the state of Michigan has completed a very important step on its way to becoming a U.S. Bicycle Route. Volunteers Scott Anderson and Kerry Irons have secured all the local agency resolutions of support that they need for the Michigan State Department of Transportation (DOT) to submit an application to AASHTO (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials) for national designation of this route. (You may remember from the U.S. Bicycle Route System 101 blog post, that AASHTO is the organization charged with assigning interstate route numbers to highways and bicycle routes.)

Now, with these resolutions in hand, the Michigan DOT can begin on-the-ground review, documentation of turn-by-turn details, and mapping of the proposed USBR 20 for the AASHTO application.

One caveat to this process, the application states: "U.S. Bicycle Routes must connect two or more states, a State and an international border, or other U.S. Bicycle Routes." Normally, a State would have to partner with a neighboring state to submit the application or connect to one of the two existing U.S. Bicycle Routes (USBR 1 and USBR 76), however, Michigan is connecting their section of USBR 20 into Ontario, Canada -- therefore meeting the application requirements.

A heart-felt thanks goes out to Scott and Kerry for their hard work, the Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance for their organizational support, and to the Michigan Department of Transportation, especially Josh DeBruyn, the bicycle and pedestrian coordinator, for taking on this challenge.

Map image by Michigan Department of Transportation.

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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.

Dreaming of a Tour? Don't Dream too Long!

Some of you may remember that last year I hesitated in signing up for our super deluxe Cycle Divide, MT tour and was crushed to discover that my slight hesitation landed me and my husband 5th and 6th place on the trip's waiting list!

I'm not saying that every one of our tours fills as quickly, I'm just saying.

Our 2011 tours are up. Don't get caught waiting.

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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.

Recycle Your Touring Bike

If there's one thing I enjoy as much as bike touring, it's taking old things and turning them into something new.

So, when I found myself with an old bicycle wheel recently, I couldn't bear to throw it out. Instead, I turned my mind to creative ways to use it. I considered turning it into a bicycle wheel pot rack, or a bit of modern bicycle art, before finally deciding to mount it on the wall.

This is now a place for postcards, photos, and other bicycle-themed things we manage to collect. It's also just plain satisfying to spin the wheel as we walk past, even more so when it's one that was fitted to your bike!

Next, I'm planning a bicycle gear clock for that upper right corner of the wall, and a coffee sleeve for my morning cup of coffee, made out of an old inner tube. Maybe you also have some good ideas for all those bicycle parts you've worn out on tour?

Photo by Friedel Grant

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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.

Be Seen!

I don't want to sound like your mom here, but if where you live is anything like where I live, it's about that time I like to call Blinky Light Time. You know, that time where you wake up and ride to work in the dark, ride to the gym after work in the dark, maybe go for a lunchtime ride with your friend (and it's light, but amazingly, still sort of gray). Yes, indeedy, it's that Blinky Light Time of the year, and by Blinky Light I don't mean a blinky light necessarily, but something that will ensure that you'll be seen by vehicular traffic, cyclists, and pedestrians.


Some ideas to get you started: the Princeton Tec Swerve (pictured above) the Planet Bike Spot, and the Planet Bike Blinky. Our Cyclist's Safety Pack includes a reflective vest, lime legbands, helmet and bike reflective stick-ons, and a safety triangle. I highly recommend gathering a group of friends with lights together and having everyone switch the setting on to blinky. Disco!

Photo by Princeton Tec

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

Dreaming of Glacier Country

One of the projects I’ve been toiling away on in the non-Adventure Cycling half of my work life is a sixth-edition rewrite of the Insiders’ Guide to Glacier National Park (the book also encompasses the greater Flathead Valley and surroundings). I’m not the original author, but the Globe Pequot Press asked if I’d be interested in doing the revision after the book’s original writers opted out.

Most of my research visits for the update have been virtual, although I have spent a lot of time over the years in Glacier Park, the valley of the North Fork of the Flathead, the main Flathead Valley, and other parts of the region. As I dream myself back to these and other places for the book revision, what I most vividly recall is the great bicycling Glacier Country offers.

Way back in the mid-1980s, Bikecentennial (it was before the name change to Adventure Cycling) offered its first-ever mountain bike trip. It took place in the North Fork, where we based out of the North Fork Hostel in Polebridge. My wife and myself — I was the Tours Director at the time — led the trip, which visited sites like spectacular Kintla Lake and the refurbished 1922 Hornet Lookout.

Then, of course, the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route passes through the heart of the Flathead, going from north of Whitefish to Columbia Falls and on south down rural back roads to Swan River and Ferndale, from which point it climbs high above Swan Lake into the Flathead National Forest. (You can sample this portion of the Great Divide on next year’s self-contained Cycle Divide MT, slated for July 10 through 16.)

The area dishes up great road riding, too. Some of my favorites (although it’s often windy over there) are east of the Continental Divide on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation.

Then there’s Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park, which IMHO should be on every serious cyclist’s “to-ride” list. It was the subject of a popular poster that Bikecentennial commissioned Missoula artist Monte Dolack to create in 1986 or ’87. The stunning poster, which celebrates both the historic road and bicycle travel, was used as a premium for contributors and as a sales item.

The rides I mention barely scratch the surface of Glacier Country cycling. The place to go for route information, either in person or on the Internet, is Glacier Cyclery in Whitefish, owned and operated by Adventure Cycling’s longtime friends Ron and Jan Brunk.

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 more than 39,000 readers worldwide.

Join Our Team!

Adventure Cycling Association is currently hiring for the following three positions:

Development Director

Systems Administrator/Developer

Tours Specialist – Customer Support

These positions are based in our national headquarters located in Missoula, Montana. We have a wonderful office in downtown Missoula, with a friendly and committed staff. Adventure Cycling Association is an equal opportunity employer.

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Posted by WINONA BATEMAN, media director.

Cantiliver Touring Brakes

Purchasing new rim brakes for your touring bike isn't something you will need to do very often. More likely, you will blow through a few sets of brake pads before the thought of new brakes even enters your mind. However, sooner or later the day will come when your brakes aren't putting out the stopping power they once did, which is often due to worn out springs.

The vast majority of touring bikes are built with cantilever brake bosses, which as the name suggests, are designed to take cantilever style brakes. The reason for this style is that they allow you to run wider tires, and provide a lot of space for fenders.

As far as cantilever brakes go, there are two styles available, and this is where you want to be careful. Cross cantilever brakes are often found on cyclocross bikes, and offer a lot of braking power. Over the past few years, they have rapidly increased in availability, but aren't always the best choice for touring bikes. While their braking power is certainly appealing, their brake arms are positioned almost parallel to the ground, which can easily interfere with front and rear racks. To get an idea of what I'm talking about, check out the Paul Neo Retro brakes.

For a more upright brake that doesn't get crowded out by your rack, and is also easy to reach for service, there are other traditional cantilever brakes available that provide more than enough braking power for loaded touring; some examples include Paul's Touring Canti, the Tektro Oryx (Pictured above), and Avid's Shorty 4. These will all give you great stopping power, provide room for wide touring tires, and space for fenders.

For the easiest replacement route, if you liked what you had before, stick with it.

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.

Cafe Culture--The Perfect Breakfast

Do cyclists eat to ride or ride to eat. All I know is that stopping at a cafe or bakery is an essential part of any ride. A cafe follows a bicycle ride as naturally as "c" follows "b" in the alphabet.

Kat and I pedaled into a little town in the mountains of Colombia. We spied a local cafe and ordered a cup of coffee. Many of the cafes have the large, old, stunningly beautiful Italian espresso machines.

We ordered an egg dish to go along with our coffee and I watched the woman break on egg into the same cup used for coffee and then gently cook the egg with the steam from the nozzle of this grand old espresso machine.

What she brought to the table was a masterpiece that we still dream about to this day.

Photo Colombia 2010) 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.

A fond farewell!

Today is my last day at Adventure Cycling Association.

For more than 5 years, I've been involved in building Adventure Cycling's development program and supported its mission to inspire people to travel by bicycle. I've given people a way to help support their passion for bicycle travel through such great Adventure Cycling projects as the U.S. Bicycle Route System, the Sierra Cascades Bicycle Route, the Underground Railroad Route and many other projects that help inspire people to travel by bicycle.

Thank you everyone for making this such a great experience.

I won't be moving far -- just across the street to a local nonprofit called Child Care Resources. I'll be the development director there and will be working to build a stronger development program that supports families and child care providers.

By the way, if you know of anyone who might be interested in the job I'm vacating, be sure to send them the position announcement.

All the best to everyone and thanks for all the great memories.

Keep on riding!

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BICYCLING INSPIRATIONS was 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.

2011 Tours Announced!

Our 2011 tours line-up features more than 45 bike tours that run in practically every corner of the U.S., and at a great value. We’re offering self-contained* tours (including our popular inn-to-inn trips) and supported** tours, small group and big event options, epic and weeklong trips — so you’re sure to find something just your speed! Here are some highlights:

CROSS-COUNTRY TOURS
Make 2011 your year to cross America by bicycle! Sign up for one of our classic, self-contained rides across the U.S. on the TransAmerica or Southern Tier routes. Or, go light! Join our TransAm Van or Southern Tier Van trips and enjoy van support as you and your fellow cycling enthusiasts experience America like never before.

COASTAL ADVENTURES
This year we’re running our first-ever, self-contained Atlantic Coast tour, which will wend through early American battlefields and the natural beauty of the eastern U.S., and a brand new Pacific Coast Van trip, a van-supported tour promising world class cycling mixed with towering redwoods and shimmering blue coast. Of course, our self-contained version of the Pacific Coast tour is a perennial favorite and it’s back again by popular demand. Tight on vacation time? You can still get to the coast! Try our fully-supported, weeklong Oregon Coastal Odyssey, or our new, self-contained Florida Keys tour.

RELAXED TOURS
Our relaxed tours are great trips for anyone looking for a low-key vacation with lots of off-bike attractions. Check out this year’s lineup: Great Lakes Relaxed and Katy Trail Relaxed.

MOUNTAIN VIEWS
We offer trips of all kinds in some of America’s most gorgeous mountain ranges. Try one of our short, self-contained loop tours in the east: the stunning Adirondack Loop or our new Allegheny Loop trip. You can tackle the mountains lightly loaded on one of our popular weeklong, inn-to-inn tours; choose from our Black Hills trip or our (quick-filling!) Cycle Divide MT. Perhaps the Cascades are calling you? Try our brand new, self-contained Cascadian Traverse tour. What about the Rockies? Dive in wheels-first! Sign up for our spectacular Selkirk Splendor trip, the self-contained Tetons-Yellowstone tour (or Tetons-Yellowstone Van), our mountains-to-coast Tetons to Tides adventure, or check out our challenging, van-supported Pueblos to Peaks ride. You could also head further west and discover John Muir’s beloved “range of light” on the sublime Sierra Sampler tour.

FAMILY TRIPS
Our family bike trips are famous for smiles, ice cream, and TV-free fun! These weeklong, fully-supported adventures are an inspiring way to share your love of bicycle travel with the next generation of cyclists. So bring your child, grandchild, niece, nephew or sibling and join the fun! Check out this year’s family trips on the storied Katy Trail and the wonderful, car-free C&O Canal Towpath!

There are lots more trips to explore! With more than 45 cycling tours, check out our complete 2011 tours line-up now.


*Traditional self-contained tours have around 14 participants who share cooking duties and camp for the vast majority of overnights. On inn-to-inn self-contained trips, riders carry their gear, but there’s a lot less of it because participants stay in hotels and eat in restaurants every night (no camping or group cooking gear needs to be carried). There is NO sag support on any self-contained tour. Learn more.


**Supported tours — where all personal and group gear is transported by van for you each day — also vary in format: fully-supported events are larger groups (typically between 40 and 120 riders) who will camp together and enjoy catered meals. Van-supported tours have an average of 13 riders who camp on most nights and share rotating cooking duties, akin to a self-contained trip but with the security of van support. Learn more.

Photo by Tom Robertson

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Posted by WINONA BATEMAN, media director.

Trip Planning Weather Resources

As I packed for my trip to St. Petersburg, I wanted to keep in mind the weather conditions I might encounter. Though most of my days are being spent indoors, attending sessions at the fabulous NACIS annual meeting, I like to get out for bits during the day. The resources I used to discover this information are the same ones I might use for planning a bicycle-based tour.

To start, I checked the 10-day forecast on weather.com, more importantly I also took a look at their historical data for the city. Once the page for St. Petersburg loaded, I found this information by scrolling down about halfway to the "Today's Averages & Records" box on the right. By clicking on the Historical Data link nestled next to it, I could view the monthly average high and low temperatures as well as average precipitation.

The one piece of information I would find really helpful in addition to temperature and precipitation, especially for Florida, is expected humidity levels. The higher the humidity, the lower my energy levels in general, which could impact the number of miles per day I would schedule myself to ride if I were planning a tour.

A good source for this kind of information for Canada exists at The Weather Network. If you want to get more specific, they even have a tool for choosing a specific date range to find the average temperature and precipitation information. Wind and humidity data are also available, a real plus.

Other resources for gathering weather information for a future tour include (in no particular order): weatherbase, AccuWeather, World Climate, NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), and Environment Canada. Some of these sites even have applications for your mobile phone so you can access this information on the road and plan accordingly if need be.

What resources do you use when planning what to pack based on weather considerations?

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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.

What's Happening with the U.S. Bicycle Route System in Your State?

Have you been wondering if progress is being made on the U.S. Bicycle Route System in your state?

Now is the time to find out. You can read this state-by-state Status Report (pdf) to find out what's happening all over the country. With 27 states and the District of Columbia now engaged in some level of planning and implementation of U.S. Bicycle Routes, there's a lot to tell.

Be sure to visit the U.S. Bicycle Route System web page and our Facebook page for periodic updates -- more states are joining up and making progress every week.

Image by Casey Greene, Adventure Cycling Association

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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.

Go Light, Go Long

For decades, climbers and backpackers have embraced “ultralight” as a strategy for moving faster and farther on difficult terrain.

And while cyclists are constantly trying to shave grams, bicycle travelers have been much slower to jump on the lightweight bandwagon. This could be because many of us don’t really care that our extra-large air mattresses and portable espresso makers are slowing us down on the hills when it means a comfy night’s sleep and energized morning. But for others, the image of a loaded cyclist laboring up a hill, face strained beyond recognition beneath the weight of four bulging panniers and a trailer, is daunting enough to discourage the idea of a multi-day ride. Add technical terrain, such as singletrack trails, rocky jeep roads, and muddy logging routes to the mix, and it’s no wonder that mountain biking has long been a single-day affair.

That’s all changing with the growing trend of “bikepacking,” whose enthusiasts understand that one can’t clear the gnarly stuff with a trailer swinging from their rear wheel, but they can pare their belongings down to a manageable size. Bikepackers have taken all of the classic ultralight camping gear that backpackers have long used, and developed bike-fitted bags that maximize space while minimizing profile. The end result is an overnight kit that’s hardly more bulky than some of the packs day riders often use, but allow mountain bikers to extend their trail rides days and even weeks at a time.

In the coming weeks, this column will explore bikes, gear, tips and trails for the ultimate bikepacking experience. The obvious place to start is the ever-present question: “Which bike should I use?” The simplest answer is “your bike.” Bikepacking doesn’t require a particular type of mountain bike, at least not in the same way road touring usually calls for a “touring bicycle.” Any bike designed for off-road and trail use can be taken on an overnight off-road and trail trip. Most mountain bikes are sturdy enough to handle larger loads, and already have comfortable geometry for longer rides. While hardtail mountain bikes offer more versatility of space (and a few less parts to potentially destroy), even full-suspension bikes can make room for camping gear.

Marshall Bird of Woodland Park, Colorado, has a few tips for what makes the best multi-day bike from a “purely practical point of view.” Bird is an veteran mountain bike traveler, with experience on both the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route and the singletrack-heavy Colorado Trail. Here are Bird’s tips:

Wheel size: “29 inches. A shallower angle of attack has many benefits for the multi-day rider. It smooths out the bumps more than a smaller wheel, works better in the sand and a 29er in the front means a tired rider is less likely to 'endo' on steep descents with large drop-offs.”

Tires: “It’s a personal choice but should be suitable for the chosen route and should be run tubeless to avoid wasted time with unnecessary flats.”

Frame material: “Titanium is best because it is: 1) Durable; 2) Has the best damping characteristics; 3) Light. No other material can offer all three; steel comes in second.”

Frame design: “Hardtail (or soft tail) with full main triangle. A full main triangle allows for a full frame bag or a large bag plus a water bottle. This is important to the multi-day rider so as to remove as much weight as possible from the backpack and also to ensure good weight distribution and handling.”

Front Suspension: “There is no technical or ‘reliability’ reason to use a rigid fork with today’s offerings of durable, lightweight front suspension forks.”

Drivetrain: “Standard 9-speed in the rear, with one, two or three rings in the front depending on intended multi-day route.”

Brakes: Disc.

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BIKEPACKER is written by Jill Homer, deputy editor for Adventure Cyclist magazine. It appears the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month.

There Are Signs Everywhere

No, this is not a post about an M. Night Shyamnalan movie. It's about the United Kingdom's National Cycle Network (NCN), at least the part I experienced in the Scottish Highlands and Edinburgh. It was amazing how pervasive the signage was for the NCN, thanks to the hard work of Sustrans, which deploys thousands of volunteer "rangers" to monitor and improve segments of the (currently) 12,600-mile network. This may be a model for Adventure Cycling Association and states to emulate as we implement and sign routes in an official U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS).

For starters, here I was in the faraway little town of Aviemore and just two blocks from my guest house was extensive signage for NCN Route 7 (see below). The signs are clear, colorful and informative -- and they're even topped by a medallion!


When I got to Edinburgh, the signage was more ubiquitous. I did a 40 mile ride around this beautiful city on a patchwork of routes, including a mix of roads, rail-trails, parking lots, and promenades. Throughout, I found either substantial signs like the ones above, or stickers, which are a pretty ingenious way to guide cyclists. After all, since bicyclists aren't zooming along (most of the time), they often need only small indicators to steer them the right way. Below is another sign post with a sample sticker -- but often these stickers are by themselves on lamp or fence posts. Those small blue indicators definitely helped me stay on course. (By the way, I like this photo because the route numbers are the same as Adventure Cycling's TransAmerica Trail [USBR 76] and Atlantic Coast Route [USBR 1]).


One other cool sign I found was lower on several posts in the heart of urban Edinburgh -- they reminded you that you're on the North Sea Cycle Network, a fairly new international route network that spans 6,000 km and seven countries. Check out the sign below. I love signage that tells you that you have 1-mile to the next town and that you're part of a much grander network!


I traveled from Edinburgh to London where I've seen stickers and signs for NCN Route 4, though more usually, I'm seeing signs for London's city bike system, which is becoming better over time. I had the chance to visit with Carl Pittam, the Greater London director for Sustrans (pictured below), and he described for me how they are linking together a system of urban, suburban, and rural greenway facilities -- not dissimilar from what we'd like to see with the USBRS. (Of course, they are also tapping into significant community improvement funds derived from the upcoming London Olympics -- ah, we can dream.) I had the chance to ride around the heart of London and I encourage you to do the same if you make your way to this island nation -- the signs (and the growing number of cyclists) are truly positive!

Photo captions: Signs galore plus (at bottom) Jim with Carl Pittam in a "field of bikes" outside Sustrans' London office. Photos courtesy of Jim Sayer.

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JIM SAYER is executive director of Adventure Cycling Association

(Still) California Dreaming

I'm looking out the window right now and it's gray and raining and I can't stop thinking about about my last week in California, riding on the Farm Fresh Tour. I know this isn't a forum to gush about our vacations, but it was so, so fun! The food was seriously amazing, I don't think I saw a cloud in the sky, and the scenery was incredible. We started off with wineries, then swept through the Russian rivers and did some hiking in the Redwoods, and finished off pedaling along the coast. Thanks to a great director, staff, and Adventure Cycling's tours department, I'm now totally sold on supported touring. (A ginormous bottle of olive oil and more bottles of wine than it's appropriate to mention? Don't mind if I do!)

One item that I wished I had along with me was a map case. It wasn't necessary by any stretch, my friend and I kept ours wadded up in our jersey pockets and consulted it at intersections, but mine ended up flying away at some point and her's was sweat-soaked and blurry by the end. I think it would have made life easier, and I'll probably get one next time.

Photo caption: Lily stops for a treat. Photo by Sarah Raz.

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