Spotlight : Tom Radley

I recently sent a set of questions to the illustrious Tom Radley, who has been leading tours with Adventure Cycling since 1997! Tom will be guiding participants this year on both Cycle Utah and Cycle the Gorge, and, of course, he will continue to build his legendary status.

Tom was part of the group of pioneering tour leaders to develop Adventure Cycling's fully-supported, event type tours. Typically these tours are a week long, have a large number of participants, are fully catered, and group gear is transported for you each day to your next campsite. Basically, a magical blend of comfort and style, not to mention the gorgeous, well thought-out routes. Well, and yes, the dedicated and inspiring leaders such as Tom.

Describe your history with Adventure Cycling Association? In 1993, I sold my company and retired. My wife, however, was ready to pursue a career, so I became Mr. Mom. I was looking for activities that would fit into my new schedule and a cross-state fundraising bicycle ride with my local Rotary Club happened to fit the bill. This ride was called Red-Spoke and the group ventured from Redmond to Spokane, WA. Adventure Cycling Association caught wind of this event and had also recently started Cycle Montana, their first fully-supported event type tour. Adventure Cycling was looking to expand opportunities for these kind of tours and they hired me in 1997 as the leader of their Cascade Peaks tour. On that tour, I had many challenges, including a freak rain storm climbing Washington Pass, temperatures that dropped into the low thirties, and 40 riders in the early stages of hypothermia. Also, that evening, our campground lost its water pump. When I returned home, my wife tried to console me, saying that in retirement I would have to try different activities until I found something that fit. I told her that I had the time of my life and that at 53 years old I had found what I was suppose to do when I grew up. It has now been 15 years and about 50 tours later.

I hear you have a nickname of Ranger Tommy? I'm intrigued, what is the story behind the name? I was leading Cycle Utah and we were headed to Bryce Canyon National Park. I visited the park the day before to scout out opportunities for participants to explore within the park. There was a full moon the next night and the park rangers were leading a moonlight hike in the canyon. I thought that that was a great idea for our riders. I tried to sign-up all 80 of us, but the ranger said that they only allowed 20 people and it was already full. So, I tried to get a separate hike just for us and they said no. I offered to pay, they said no. I offered to make a donation to the Friends of Bryce Canyon, they accused me of trying to bribe a Federal Official. I headed back to the campground very disappointed.

On the drive back, I thought, if I could lead this group on a bike tour then I could certainly lead them on a moonlight hike, so I set up my own hike. At the map meeting before the hike a rider and his wife offered a new suggestion. They said that they had approached the park ranger to see if I was 'qualified' to lead this hike. After much discussion -- the rangers actually involved President Clinton in these discussions -- and he said that it would be okay if I was deputized. They signed me up as a Junior Ranger and presented me with a badge and certificate. It was a great joke and everyone loved it. I thought that it was great and I bought a ranger hat and wore it in succeeding years when I made my presentation on Bryce Canyon.

Can you describe the moment when you fell in love with bicycle touring? In 1982, my wife and I and some friends rode down the Washington and Oregon Coast to California, and it was love at first sight. When we returned, my wife said that she loved it almost as much as I did, but she didn't know anyone that loved it as much me. She said that she would go anytime, anywhere, as long as I followed these rules: no camping, only B&Bs or motels; no more than 50 miles/day (due to the amount of weight that we carried); and every fifth day was a day off. I have never broken these rules and we are still touring.

How have you shared your passion for bicycle touring with your family? We have three children and bicycle touring was always a family affair. I bought a tandem with a raised rear crank and a Burly trailer to accommodate taking everyone along. The kids had to ride their own bike when they were 12. But, because my boys were very close in age, there was a period when we pulled the trailer with the tandem. This set-up was 12-feet-long. I was in the best shape of my life and I remember these trips as some of the best times of my life. We are going to have our first two grandchildren in 2011 and I can't wait until they are old enough to bike.

What tour are you currently dreaming about or planning to take? I want to go to New Zealand, Maine, and the Canadian Maritime Provinces. This year we are planning trips on the C&O trail, from Washington DC to Pittsburgh, and the Natchez Trace.

After a long day in the saddle, what is your favorite recovery meal and/or beverage? Right after the ride it's a cold draft beer, nachos, and Advil. Dinner is salad, pasta, pizza, huckleberry crisp, red wine, and Advil.

What is your favorite rest day activity while on tour? I like to hike or kayak.

Thanks Ranger Tommy for entertaining us with your wonderful stories! Sounds like you're gearing up for another adventurous year!

Enjoy this parting shot of the tandem, Burly, Radley Train, simply awesome.

Photos courtesy of Tom Radley, top photo is of Tom and Jan, married 42 years!

-- Mo Mislivets

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ON THE ROAD is written by Paul Hansbarger and Mo Mislivets, tours specialists and intrepid bicyclists, covering all things related to Adventure Cycling's tours department. Check out our 2011 guided tours today.

My First Bike Trip (Part 2 of 4)

I ended last week's post by writing that Nancy and I had “… nothing before us but the open road.” I neglected to mention that over the next 50 miles the open road climbed from sea level to Stevens Pass, elevation 4,061 feet. Neither of us had ever bicycled over a mountain; moreover, had we even been familiar with the concept of spinning the pedals at a high cadence, doing so would not have been feasible. The combination of our lack of training and our Peugeot UO-8 10-speeds’ lack of suitable low gears wouldn't have permitted it to happen.

But make it to the top we did, though I admit to walking from time to time. And, on the flip side, we had never before coasted down a mountain pass. Rocketing into Leavenworth was an eye-opening blast — sort of like a gravitational gratuity for all that work we did getting to the top.

Relatively speaking, the next five days along U.S. Highway 2 to Spokane were a breeze. We arrived just in time for day two of the city's Expo ’74, 24 hours after President Richard Nixon had made an appearance. We were excited to attend a world’s fair celebrating “the birth of America’s fresh new environment,” and then very let down to learn that no secure bicycle parking was available. We ended up stashing our bikes and gear in a nearby convent, whose nuns were more than accommodating.

Making like Lewis and Clark, we proceeded on, finding our way to the panhandle of Idaho. Throughout our ensuing trip, it was common to have locals invite us into their homes for a night or longer; this first happened in Sandpoint, where a retired logger and his wife adopted us. Far from affluent themselves, this gracious man and woman wouldn’t hear of letting us us pay for a thing during our stay. They fed us and put us up outside in their travel trailer while we spent a week planting trees for the Forest Service. The lady of the house even sent us into the woods each day with sack lunches! They were some of the most generous people I’ve ever met, and even then I understood that our bicycles were the means to their hearts.

Planting trees was backbreaking work; bicycling seemed a lark by comparison. So, we were off again, pedaling north to Bonners Ferry and onward to the Canadian border ... where we were turned back for a lack of adequate cash. (Credit cards were unheard of in 1974, at least by Nancy and me.) The humorless border guard feared we would look for work in Canada (he was right) and supplant out-of-work Canadians (he probably was wrong).

“Well, heck, then we’ll just ride across our own country,” I proclaimed, suddenly feeling very red, white, and blue. Nancy agreed.

We followed the wide, shimmering Clark Fork River upstream for much of the way to Missoula, Montana, where we camped tentless off Brooks Street beneath a sprawling spruce in Rose Memorial Park. The tree’s broad canopy did not provide quite the degree of protection we'd expected, and we got drenched at around 4:00 a.m. when the automatic sprinklers sprayed to life.

Back then, even in Missoula — now the Bicycle Touring Capital of the Free World — cyclotourists were an uncommon thing to see, and someone reported a sighting of us to a local TV station. A reporter tracked us down, and during our interview we made an on-camera plea for odd jobs, but no offers came our way.

Little did we know that less than two years later fate would bring us back to Missoula ... for jobs.


Next time: In Deer Lodge, Montana, we learn about a Missoula-based grassroots effort aimed at organizing a mass bicycle ride across the U.S. for the 1976 Bicentennial celebration. We also pedal through a nearly deserted Yellowstone National Park and paint fire hydrants in western South Dakota.


Photo caption: This Navy recruiter in Missoula took us out to breakfast, and didn’t even give us the Anchors Aweigh sales pitch. Note Nancy's bike flag in the upper right-hand corner. 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 some 40,000 readers worldwide.

Behold the Tallac Behold

For years, I've noticed people using their water bottle cages to carry tools and other miscellaneous gear on day rides, as well as on tours. The most common carrying technique I have seen is cutting off the narrow neck near the top of an old water bottle, cramming gear into it, and stuffing the top with something like an old sock to keep items from rattling out. This gets the job done, but it isn't super elegant and it knocks your water carrying capacity down by one bottle.

Tallac Design offers a pretty cool alternative with an item they call the Behold. It consists of a water-resistant nylon pouch that fits into a cage mounted between your frame and water bottle cage. The pouch attaches to the cage with Velcro, so you don't have to worry about it bouncing out on rough roads.

Installation is simple. Just bolt the cage to water bottle mounts, and then bolt your water bottle cage on top of the Behold cage. A warning: the Behold cage does lift your water bottle holder about 1.6 inches away from the frame, and about 0.6 inches up the frame. This might create some space issues if you have a small frame with two bottle cages. So, before you order a Behold, it's a good idea to check and see if your bottle cage can reach this far without bumping into your second cage.

Tallac Design claims that you can fit into the pouch a 700c road tube, 16 gram CO2 cartridge with refill head, and two tires levers. I was happy to learn that this is true, even when running a wide 700x32 touring tire. Properly organized, there's even a little space left over for a small patch kit and some road money, though it's a snug fit.

Going this route can either replace or complement a saddle bag. One nice thing is that the pouch can quickly be removed from its cage and tossed into your pocket for time away from the bike.

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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.

Bottle Exchange

One of the few racing cyclists I met while I was in Cuba was a young man named Alexie. He came over to chat with me in a small town in the province of Pinar del Rio (west of Havana).

I thought he was interested in my bike. It was a Rodriguez, which is a common surname in Cuba. But I later found out he wasn’t interested in the frame or the brakes or the tires. He was interested in one of my water bottles.

He explained that he dreamed of painting his bike white and blue. But the water bottle he owned was yellow. Water bottles in Cuba, like everything else, were in short supply. He had searched for months and couldn’t find one to match his dream bike.

It just so happened that I had the coveted white-and-blue water bottle.

He held up his old, yellow water bottle with the black cap next to mine … assuring me that they both carried the same amount of liquid. Then he asked if I would be willing to trade.

I didn't hesitate. I just handed it over.

Alexie beamed. And I thought, "What an easy goodwill gesture."

Soon after, I learned that there is a difference between drinking from a white-and-blue bottle versus a yellow one ... especially if the yellow one is filled with rum.

I took a huge swallow and almost passed out from the unexpected rush of alcohol.

Alexie and his friends couldn’t stop laughing. I laughed, too, once I’d caught my breath and wiped the tears from my eyes.

That journey was a dozen years ago — and to this day, if I hold that yellow water bottle up to my nose, I get the faintest whiff of Cuban rum.

I imagine a bike racer in the hot Cuban sun, pedaling in cadence with a pace line. He reaches down and grabs an old white-and-blue water bottle.

And I smile.

Photo: 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 http://yellowtentadventures.com/.

Updating in Session

The routes and mapping crew is in the midst of a map reprinting and updating session. This time around my piece of the pie includes the North Lakes Route Sections 2 & 3, which cover the distance between Conover, Wisconsin, and Monroeville, Indiana.

Update sessions like these are helpful to me for reacquainting myself with parts of our Route Network. For instance, when paired with the Lake Erie Connector, the North Lakes Route is a nice option off the Northern Tier if you have a hankering to include the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and get a closer look at some Great Lakes scenery on your trip. You can even include a ferry crossing of Lake Michigan if you choose to follow the Manitowoc Alternate. To make map selection simple for this routing, last year we began offering a Northern Tier + North Lakes map set.

I've also rediscovered that the Michigan Department of Transportation has some great bicycle touring resources available online, including maps and tips and hints on navigating bridges, parks, and ferries in the state. Be sure to check them out.

Map cover image by Adventure Cycling Association

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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.

Follow Up: Virginia's U.S. Bicycle Routes

On January 14, this lively group gathered in Ashland, VA, to discuss the short-term and long-term strategies for making Virginia's U.S. Bicycle Routes better (they were originially established in 1982).

The attendees included local and state bicycle advocates representing the East Coast Greenway Alliance, Fairfax Adocates for Better Bicycling, Richmond Area Bicycle Association, and Virginia Bicycle Federation, along with state staff representing the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR).

The short of it: VDOT will continue to make adaptations to U.S. Bike Route 1 (USBR 1) north of Richmond that ensure the route is open to bicycle travel and will take advantage of new bike lanes and infrastructure.

The long of it: the bicycle advocates, VDOT and DCR will work together to make broader changes that will improve both USBR 1 and USBR 76 across Virginia. This longer-term strategy will mean doing more in-depth outreach with the National Park Service, county agencies and local communities; eventually, having jurisdictional agreements in place for VDOT to change the route officially with AASHTO. This process may take a few years and will happen in several phases, but it is a necessary process so that changes can be mapped, promoted and signed. Adventure Cycling will look to adopt these changes for our own TransAmerica Bicycle Trail and Atlantic Coast Bicycle Route once the route is finalized.

The process may seem complicated (and it is), but it will help ensure the comfort and safety of bicycle travelers as they pass through Virginia on their way to their final destinations, whereever they may be.

Many thanks go to the town of Ashland (the "Center of the Universe" and crossroads of the TransAm/USBR 76 and Atlantic Coast/USBR 1 routes) for hosting this meeting at their town hall!

Photo 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.

Off-road and Online

Who makes the smallest pack-size solo tent?

If you're traveling lightweight and only carrying two pairs of shorts maximum, how do you prevent saddle sores?

What's the weather like on the Colorado Trail in August?

If you have a question about mountain bike touring, you're likely to receive an answer from the large community at bikepacking.net. The online forum launched in 2008 under the direction of Scott Morris, an Arizona mountain biker and founder of the mapping software company topofusion.com. Morris formed the site to offer a comprehensive bicycle travel guide with a focus on off-road touring, from singletrack tours to fully loaded dirt road touring (e.g. on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route).

Besides a question and answer forum, the site offers gear reviews, lists of personal bikepacking setups, trip reports and classified ads. For the more competitive side of multi-day mountain biking, the site also includes ultra-racing records, race tracking and discussion. The forum has more than 4,000 members and nearly 15,000 posts on hundreds of topics.

"My idea for the site actually came while doing research for my latest trip on the (Continental Divide Trail)," Morris wrote when introducing the new site. "I was digging through Backpacker magazine's site, trying to find GPS data for the trail. I asked myself, why isn't there a bikepacking site?"

Morris' passion for multi-day mountain bike touring began long before he formed an online gathering place for the small but dedicated community.

"I've been riding mountain bikes since I was 12, more or less daily since 14. As time went on the rides got longer and longer, until I realized the only limitation was a fundamental one: Daylight," Morris wrote. "I had some experience backpacking, including working as a wilderness ranger for the Forest Service. It seemed only natural to try to combine the two."

The site invites members to become contributors, offering an array of entertaining reports and clever suggestions for gear, routes and trailside repairs. If you're interested in taking your bike travel off-road, bikepacking.net is a great resource to start the learning process.

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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.

Happiness?

"Happiness is essentially a state of going somewhere, wholeheartedly, one-directionally, without regret or reservation” -- William H. Sheldon

“Happiness is different from pleasure. Happiness has something to do with struggling and enduring and accomplishing” -- George Sheehan

The whole morning we struggled to push our bicycles up the steep mountain pass.

Finally…the top! Stopping to rest, we looked out over a completely new landscape filled with barren brown desert and Berber villages clinging to the mountain sides. As we descended I just thought, “This is happiness!”

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PAUL JEURISSEN is a photographer who met his wife Grace on an Adventure Cycling trip. Together they are now bicycling around the world in search of inspiring cycle images.

Ted Bowman: UNMASKED

Ted Bowman is the sales manager at Adventure Cycling -- and, incidentally, my (super) boss. But what is he really like? Who is that man behind the mask? Join me as I attempt to find out.

1. What is your favorite song?
For the past few years, it's been "King Harvest" by The Band. That song just always sounds good. Classic Americana, although I'm pretty sure almost all of the members are from Canada.

2. Dream bicycle?
This week? I'd go for a Soulcraft Dirtbomb, in black and orange.

3. What tours are you cooking up for 2011?
I'd like to do something on the Atlantic Coast this year; maybe from Charleston, SC, to Brunswick, GA. I'm also pretty tempted by Adventure Cycling's Sierra Sampler -- I haven't been to California in a while!  

4. It's a well known fact around here that you play hockey. What position do you play?
Ever since I moved to Missoula I've been playing defense.

5. What's your favorite part of your job?
Definitely the Adventure Cycling work environment. It's a great place to work in a great town. We get to meet cyclists all summer long.

6. We're about to roll out the Spring Cyclosource: What new gear are you most excited about?
We're going to be carrying some handlebars, and I'm really looking forward to seeing how they do. We're historically known as a touring company, so I think we should carry more touring components. I'm very interested to see if these move out the door. We're kind of testing the component waters!


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.

Planet Blog

About 1.25 moons ago I stood at the end of my driveway and watched clouds slowly part away from a silvery-orange moon. It was December 21, 2010, and I was witnessing a total lunar eclipse on the winter solstice. The last time these two events occurred simultaneously was in 1638. Wow! This prompted me to think a little bit too much about the 17th century, the Scientific Revolution, and the crazy colonization of this land. I felt compelled to share the moment, but no one else was at home. So, I phoned a friend, despite the fact that it was 12:45 a.m.

Unfortunately, my friend was not amazed, amused, or into sharing anything about the 17th or the 21st century in the middle of the night. However, once he'd forgiven me a few days later for interrupting his beauty sleep, he offered me this idea for a future blog post: On which of the 2011 Adventure Cycling tours can you share celestial happenings with your fellow cyclists?

A great idea, and here's the list! You have plenty of time to plan and issue a heads-up to your prospective tent mate as to when you will be jolting them from sleep to take in one or more of these amazing celestial happenings:


On April 3, Saturn, the ringed planet, will be at its closest approach to Earth. Also, the Lyrids Meteor Shower will be strongest on April 21 and 22, with showers possibly visible from April 15 through the 25th. Look for meteors radiating from the constellation of Lyra after midnight. The following tours coincide with these events: Texas Hill Country and the Southern Tier Spring- Van.

Perseids Meteor Shower. The Perseids is one of the best meteor showers to observe, producing up to 60 meteors per hour at the peak! That usually occurs on August 13 and 14, but you may be able to see some meteors anytime from July 23 through August 22. The radiant point for this shower will be in the constellation Perseus. Look to the northeast after midnight. The following tours coincide:
TransAM-Van
TransAM-Self-Contained
Adirondack Loop
Tetons to Tides
Selkirk Splendor
Cascadian Traverse
Tetons-Yellowstone Loop-Van
Cycle Vermont
Oregon Coastal Odyssey
Colorado Wild Flowers and Rivers
Atlantic Coast

On October 29, Jupiter will be at Opposition; that is, this giant planet will be at its closest approach to Earth. This is the best time to view and photograph Jupiter and its moons. The following tours coincide:
Southern Tier Fall -- van
Southern Tier Fall -- self-contained
Pacific Coast-Van


On November 17 and 18 the Leonids Meteor Shower will reach its peak, producing an average of 40 meteors per hour! This is one of the better meteor showers to observe. The shower itself has a cyclic peak year once every 33 years, when hundreds of meteors can be seen each hour. The most recent of these cyclic peaks occurred in 2001. You may see some meteors from November 13 through the 20th. Look for the shower radiating from the constellation Leo after midnight. The following tours coincide:
Southern Tier Fall -- van
Southern Tier Fall -- self contained
Florida Keys

I've intentionally left out a few other meteor showers and several other planets that will creep relatively close to our very own blue orb. After all, you do have to get some sleep in order to be in cycling shape for those daylight hours. But for the ones I have included: warn, and then wake up your fellow cyclist so you may enjoy the celestial shows together.

Photo by 123 RF

-- Mo Mislivets

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ON THE ROAD is written by Paul Hansbarger and Mo Mislivets, tours specialists and intrepid bicyclists, covering all things related to Adventure Cycling's tours department. Check out our 2011 guided tours today.

My First Bike Trip (Part 1)

Like yesterday, today will be a scorcher, so we’ve hit the road unusually early. A faint glow in the east hints at the approaching sunrise, and the endless plains of northeastern Wyoming sprawl before us in the half-light. In the distance, a pack of coyotes -- it sounds like a hundred of 'em -- yip-yammer their high-pitched exuberance for the day. From somewhere much closer pulses an incongruous, rhythmic drumming, and I think for a second that a rock band is jamming behind the fantastic sandstone formation off to our left. Then I recognized it as the sound of an oil well, pump-pump-pumping black gold from deep within the bowels of the Cowboy State. The only other sound is that of our narrow rubber tires purring over the prairie pavement. I’m convinced we’re the only humans for a hundred miles around. “This is great,” I say to Nancy.

It seems like yesterday, but it was 37 years ago. While ski-bumming at Grand Targhee Resort the year after graduating from the University of Wyoming, I’d met a girl from the Seattle area who was also working at the resort for the winter. We immediately hit it off (and got married three years later). After we’d had too much of a good thing -- snow, that is -- Nancy and I began thumbing through a spring REI catalog, dreaming about fun summery outdoor things to do. “That looks like fun!” she exclaimed, eyeing a picture of a pair of cyclotourists.

“Yeah!” I agreed. “Let’s bicycle across the country this summer!”

That was it. Inside of 24 hours, we rang up Redmond Cyclery, near Nancy’s home in the Seattle suburb of Bellevue, and ordered a pair of Peugeot U-8 10-speeds to go (about $130 each, if I remember right). Two weeks later, in late April, we pulled up to the shop, where we picked up the bikes after having rear racks installed. Then we drove into Seattle to REI world headquarters, where we procured most everything else needed: sleeping bags, Svea cookstove, patch kits, pots and pans … Next, at another downtown store called Sportscaster, we purchased two rudimentary, one-piece, two-sided rear panniers, one for each bike.

Our “training” consisted of a fully loaded, 30-mile ride around Lake Sammamish, the farthest either of us had ever pedaled in a stint. But heck, we were young and our legs were strong from a winter of alpine skiing. We were good to go!

As neither of us was independently wealthy, we had agreed to combine the small nest eggs we’d accumulated during a virtually expense-free winter of working for $1.85 an hour, and supplement that by taking odd jobs as we pedaled across the U.S. and Canada (or so we thought, regarding our neighbor to the north). Dressed in cut-off Levis, T-shirts, and tennis shoes -- and no helmets, of course -- we rolled out of Bellevue on May 1, waving a misty-eyed farewell to Nancy’s folks and my dog (her parents were extremely generous). Through then-rural -- but now suburban -- Redmond we rolled, and into the bucolic farmscapes that spilled off the timbered flanks of the Cascade Range. We had nothing before us but the open road.

Next time: We miss seeing President Richard Nixon at Spokane’s environmentally themed Expo ’74 by one day, plant trees in northern Idaho, and become minor celebrities in Missoula, Montana.

Photo caption: With all the heavy gear over the back tires, it wasn't long before spokes were popping like popcorn. Photo by Nancy McCullough.

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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 some 40,000 readers worldwide.

Touring Aboard a Cyclocross Bike

The other day I received a great question over the phone from a cyclist who said she could really take on just one bike. She wants it primarily for fast-paced road riding, but she'd also like it to be worthy of loaded touring. Having been in a similar situation in the past myself, I suggested the route I chose: a cyclocross bike.

Cyclocross bikes have been growing rapidly in popularity over the past few years, so their availability and selection are strong. Their geometry lies somewhere between that of a touring bike and a road bike. However, when trying to make a single bike work well for two very different disciplines (quick and light road riding and loaded touring), you're bound to run into a few issues that need some tweaking. Here are some things to keep in mind.

1. Heel Clearance: Cyclocross bikes have longer and wider chainstays than road bikes, which makes them great for running wider tires, as well as providing plenty of space for fenders. At the same time, the chainstays are shorter than those found on touring bikes, so heel clearance can be an issue with rear-mounted panniers -- depending on how far back you're able to position the panniers on your rear rack. This problem can often be solved by using smaller front panniers on the rear, but it is a compromise.

2. Gearing: Some cyclocross bikes come stock with a triple crankset, but the majority have compact double cranksets. Depending on your preferences, a compact double may not offer low enough gearing, in which case an upgrade to a triple would be in order. Also pay attention to the rear derailleur. Short-cage road derailleurs allow a maximum cog of around 27 teeth; swapping out for a long-cage derailleur to make room for a wider range cassette isn't a bad idea.

3. Bottom Bracket Height: Traditionally, cyclocross bikes have a high bottom bracket, which will raise your center of gravity a bit. This may or may not be of concern to you, but it's a good thing to keep in mind. Newer cyclocross bikes are coming with a lower bottom bracket height, more in line with road bikes, so this may be an issue that's going away.

4. Wheelset: Since cyclocross bikes are aimed at a specific sport and style of riding, they often come stocked with a sporty wheelset that may or may not be ideal for touring. If you're interested in fast-paced road riding in addition to touring, you can always use the stock wheelset for your road riding, and then purchase a second wheelset for touring.

5. Rack Eyelets: As the sport of cyclocross becomes more specialized, you're seeing a lot of racing bike features that often exclude fender and rack eyelets. At the entry level, however, you can still find bikes with rear rack eyelets. The Cannondale CAADX and Redline Conquest are a couple of bikes that will give you rear rack eyelets, while the Bianchi Volpe has both full front and rear rack eyelets.

These issues will involve some cost, but a cyclocross bike may still be a better, more economical option than purchasing two specialized bikes. If it all seems too complicated, there's nothing wrong with purchasing the speedy road bike you want, and hitching a trailer to it for touring.

Photo by Josh Tack


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

The Siren Song of the Road

What is it about the above photo that beckons me to hop on my bike and travel?

Perhaps it is the road sign in a foreign language — the seemingly unending lane lined with towering bamboo. Where is the road going? And what is around the next bend?

I quickly glanced at the image and thought, "I'd like to go there."

Then I looked a little closer and it dawned on me: Wait, I've been there. That's me! The image was taken by my wife while we traveled in Thailand in 2005.

What troubles me is that we just returned from a three-month trip. We've barely finished unpacking all our panniers, washing the tent, and filing away the passports. Normally, it would be months before the siren song of the road rang loudly in my ears.

But there I was, gazing at a picture ... dreaming of future journeys.

Photo: Thailand 2005 by Kat Marriner


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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 http://yellowtentadventures.com/.

Black Hawk, Colorado - January 2011 Update

Last summer we were alerted to a bike ban in Black Hawk, Colorado. Since our Great Parks South Bicycle Route travels through Black Hawk, we were particularly concerned by this ban and posted further information about how to deal with it and navigate one's way around the town.

The restriction was actively enforced and soon three cyclists, who had been given $68 tickets for riding through town, took their tickets to court. The outcome was not in the cyclists' favor, but it did serve to keep the issue at the forefront.

In response to the situation, two Colorado state legislators,
Representative Andy Kerr and Senator Greg Brophy, are introducing the Open Roads Act in the upcoming 2011 session. This bill would require local authorities to provide nearby alternative routes if they choose to restrict bicycling on designated roadways.

If you wish to support Representative Kerr and Senator Brophy on this bill, please contact them directly. Comments from both residents and non-residents of Colorado are welcome.

State Representative Andy Kerr
Andykerrhouse26@earthlink.net
(720) 979-4515

Senator Greg Brophy
(970) 332-5766

In photo: On SR 279 facing east from Central City toward Black Hawk.

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GEOPOINTS BULLETIN is written by Jennifer 'Jenn' Milyko, an Adventure Cycling cartographer, and appears weekly, highlighting curious facts, figures and persons from Adventure Cycling's Route Network with tips and hints for personal route creation thrown in for good measure. She also wants to remind you that map corrections and comments are always welcome via the online Map Correction Form.

Meet Ken Chichester: Working on Oregon's U.S. Bicycle Routes

You might remember a blog I wrote last year, "On the Hunt in Oregon" where I expressed my desire to find a leader to take on U.S. Bicycle Route development in the state of Oregon.

I knew I'd find someone, being that Oregon is extremely progressive in terms of everything bicycling related, and also based upon the support I received from the Oregon Dept. of Transportation (ODOT), Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, Cycle Oregon, Parks and Recreation's Scenic Bikeways Program, and the Bicycle Transportation Alliance. Yes, I knew we would eventually find a champion.

Now I'd like to introduce you to Ken Chichester (who says he has no photos of himself!). After meeting Ken in person in November, I knew the U.S. Bicycle Route System in Oregon was in good hands. Learn for yourself.

How did you first hear about the U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS)?

I first heard about USBRS a few years ago through some bicyling publications, but didn't really know how extensive the concept was at that time.

What made you want to get involved?

I was asked to become involved because of my experience in designing routes for Cycle Oregon. From that experience, and job-related experience in interacting with city, county, federal, and state road authorities, it made some sense to become involved in establishing Oregon routes in Oregon that will interface with adjoining states.

How are you involved?

I haven't been involved very long, but have had conversations with affected Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) personnel about Oregon's involvement in USBRS. From those discussions, it appears I will be doing a lot of the initial review of potential routes to present to ODOT for final adoption. I also expect to be interacting with city and county officials and state transportation departments of adjoining states.


What do you think is Oregon's best opportunities for the USBRS?

Oregon has had the Pacific Coast Bike Route for a number of years, which is relatively heavily used by cyclists to travel along the Pacific Ocean between Washington and California. This will be the first USBR that is proposed to ODOT. Probably the second route will be from the Pacific Ocean to the Idaho border, potentially involving some roadways in the state of Washington.

Why do you think communities would want to be on a US Bike Route? What are the advantages for them?

Exposure of communities by visitors who wouldn't normally make a visit seems to be the biggest advantage. Not only the initial visit by a cyclist, but the potential of subsequent visits by families or friends of the cyclist will have an economic benefit to communities along a USBR. I also hope that a fully functional USBRS will highlight to community residents along a USBRS the physical benefits of cycling in addressing the obesity and lack of physical exercise rampant in our society.

Tell us about the organization you work for/represent and how you plan to work with the state DOT.

I am involved in Cycle Oregon, which is a non-profit organization that has been sponsoring a weeklong bicycle ride throughout Oregon (and at times adjacent states) for the past twenty-four years. I was first a rider, then a member of the Cycle Oregon Board of Directors for about fourteen years, and am now a part-time employee of Cycle Oregon. This year I will participate in Cycle Oregon as a rider for the 20th consecutive year.

I live in Salem, which fortunately is also the location of ODOT's headquarters, and also the locale of administrative heads of all other state agencies. This gives me the opportunity to work closely with ODOT. I've initiated discussions of essentially being identified as a volunteer of ODOT to enhance the perception of the significance of the USBRS with local and county road authorities.

What is your long-term hope for this national system?

It would be really great if people could have the potential to ride a bicycle nationwide on identified bicycle routes, even if a majority of cyclists may not be interested in actually riding coast-to-coast.

Photo by Ginny Sullivan of Cape Fowl Weather on the Pacific Coast Bicycle Route

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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.

Where You've Been

Ben Sollee's shooting a cycle-centric music video and needs your help!

Sollee, musician and passionate touring cyclist, is looking for video footage that shows “where you’ve been” on your most picturesque rides (namely, footage of the "most awesome, idiosyncratic, and dramatic ride-by scenery known to humankind"). He plans to feature some of the best of the best in an upcoming music video.

We wrote about Ben this past fall when he launched what was likely the first coast-to-coast music tour by bicycle. 

Learn more about submitting your best bike footage now!

Photo courtesy of Embry Rucker


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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.

The Art Of (Not) Planning For A Bike Tour

We get a lot of questions about planning through our Travelling Two bike touring blog, and every time someone emails us to ask which panniers are best or how many T-shirts they need to pack, I think of Lee.


We literally ran into Lee in the middle of a sandstorm on a long and lonely stretch of road in Turkmenistan. We were going east. Lee was going west. Since we were the only bike tourists either of us had seen in weeks and we somehow had the good fortune to meet each another outside the only cafe for 100km, it seemed only right to stop and have a drink together.

Over a glass of soda, Lee told us that he was from China and he'd been cycling for 14 years. When we asked exactly where he was going, Lee wasn't sure. He held out his hand and waved it roughly towards the west. Iran, perhaps. Or maybe Armenia.

Lee's bike was as haphazard as his route. Everything on it was a wreck. The panniers in particular stand out in our minds to this day. They were faded, crumpled bits of fabric. Every zipper on them was broken; split wide open. Inside, Lee had crammed his bags full of photo albums. We aren't sure if he had any of the cycling "essentials" like a tent, stove, or rain jacket. Somehow, Lee struck us as the kind of man who just might manage without.

In spite of this stunning lack of planning, limited equipment, and basic bicycle, Lee had managed to bike through 100 countries. Clearly he was not the kind of man to let something as trivial as knackered bicycle, bureaucratic hassles, or a lack of technical equipment get in the way of a good time.

This encounter made us think that most of us probably plan too much. We can spend months before a trip sketching out every last inch of a route and buying endless pieces of gear. We set out on bike tours and big adventures because we want to get away from the routine, and yet we try to plan for every unexpected moment and make our adventure as predictable as possible.

It's not that a bit of planning doesn't make things easier or more comfortable, but it's equally easy to lose sight of the fact that the most important thing is to get on the bike -- any bike that's still capable of moving -- and ride. Nothing more. Nothing less. Just pedal.

Photo by Friedel Grant

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FRIEDEL GRANT launched into bike touring with a tour 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.

New Year's Resolution: Drop Some Weight

No, no, not that kind. I'm not looking to pull a creepy-like Natalie Portman in Black Swan.

I'm going to bring less stuff on my bicycle tours.

I've always been an incredibly ... thorough packer. I just don't want to forget anything! I bring several pairs of shoes (what if I want to go running? and wouldn't it be nice to have sandals?), changes of clothes, books (crosswords! fiction! poetry!), plenty of snacks (after all, who wants to get hungry?), enough sunscreen to shield an entire fair-skinned kindergarten class at the local pool, and ... well, you get the point.


Recently, though, I've been doing some research on frame bags, and checking out options like the Escape Pod Saddle Pack. I've been thinking of doing a portion of the Great Divide Route this summer, and the idea of being hugely weighted is starting to sound less appealing. Although I'll probably still bring along a couple of books.

Jill Homer looking super-awesome at the start of her Tour Divide. Photo by Aaron Teasdale.

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

Don't Miss the Boat

We have had some amazing sign-up numbers for our 2011 tours. Death Valley, Southern Tier-Spring, Texas Hill Country, Trans-Am Self-Contained, Teton-Yellowstone Loop-Van, Cycle the Divide, Grand Canyon, and Great Lakes- Inn to Inn, are all currently full! WOW!

So don't miss the boat! If your heart is set on a nice, long tour check out: Southern Tier Fall, Trans-Am Van Supported (filling fast!), Pacific Coast Van, and Atlantic Coast (a new tour!).

Also, you can still enjoy some of the spectacular national parks with plenty of space remaining on Teton-Yellowstone Loop Self-Contained and Tetons to Tides, also self-contained!

But hang on: Don't forget to have a look at some of our fantastic early riding in southern Arizona, with our fully supported (think comfort and style) Southern Arizona Road Adventure, which offers tons of great riding!

Okay, okay, if you really did have your heart set on the tours that are currently full, there's no harm in getting your name on the wait list, as there is still time for movement to occur. So, get your name in the hat by going online and signing up for the tour, even though it's full. You'll be placed in the queue, and you never know!

Some of the tours I've been eying:
Cycle Utah
Katy Trail Relaxed
Cycle Vermont

Ahhh, so many choices. Start your vacation planning soon and have fun dreaming about all the great options!


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ON THE ROAD is written by Mo Mislivets, tours specialist and intrepid cyclocross maven, covering all things related to Adventure Cycling's tours department. Check out our 2011 guided tours today.

Beer + Bikes (continued)

You’ve heard of Adventure Cycling maps, you’ve heard of DeLorme maps, and you’ve heard of Google maps. But have you heard of PubQuest maps? I hadn’t until I received a message a few months back from a cyclist named Julie, who is with the San Diego-based PubQuest company (or, quite possibly, she is the company).

“Hi!” Julie wrote. “I just wanted to let you know about the BeerCyclist. I will be joining him in New York City this fall to bike from craft brewery to craft brewery on the way to Washington, D.C. — using PubQuest mapping. We’d love to have folks join us for a bike ride and/or a beer along the way.”

Hmmm. Beer and cycling. A common pairing. And inquiring minds want to know more.

PubQuest (subtitled “Putting craft beer on the map”), it turns out, is a craft brewery and brewpub locator. Go to the site, enter a city or zip code, and Presto! — it shows a map of the area and the location of any nearby breweries and/or brewpubs. Do the same for a whole bunch of towns and cities in a region where you'd like to cycle, and you can plan your tour around sudsy afternoons and hop-full evenings.

Meanwhile, BeerCycling (“Getting you from pint A to pint B” and home of the BeerCyclist) is an outdoor adventure company that specializes in “bicycle touring with a beer-centric focus.” They offer trips in beer-iffic places like northern Belgium, the Colorado Rockies, and Portland, Oregon (where a PubQuest search turns up almost too many breweries to count).

It all reminds me of the four-part blog “Wild Bill” Schneider wrote for Adventure Cycling last May and June, titled Beers & Gears. Over the course of a few days, Bill and his partner sipped and cycled the best southwestern Montana has to offer.

Inspiration at its best.


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 some 40,000 readers worldwide.

Purchasing a Used Touring Bike

Quite often, I receive questions about purchasing a touring bike for an upcoming trip. This is a love/hate question for me, because while buying a new bike can be fun and exciting, it can also be very intimidating when you start looking at $900 price tags before you even start adding in racks, panniers, and other touring equipment. This isn't always in an individual's desirable price range, especially when they are just trying to get their feet in the door.

If a new bike starts to seem unrealistic for you, the next step might be to look toward a used bike, but a lot of people seem pretty apprehensive about taking a used bike on an extended tour in terms of reliability. This a completely legitimate worry, especially considering the circumstances it could leave you in if it failed you miles from neither here nor there. To help ease your mind about purchasing a used bike, here are some good things to key in on.

1. Frame and Fork: This is the base of your bike, which everything is built upon; if this fails, it can often be nearly as expensive to replace just a frame and fork as it is to purchase a complete bike. Take a careful look at the frame and fork and be certain there are no dents, cracks or rust buildup, especially in the case of steel bikes. If the frame is dirty, give it a quick wipe down with a rag, which will help you see any major blemishes. It may go without saying, but you also want to make sure the bike fits you well. If possible, give it a spin around the block.

2. Drivetrain: If a cassette, chain, or shift lever needs to be replaced while you're on the road, it is nice if the parts you need are readily available in most bike shops. I'm a big fan of a Shimano 9-speed drivetrain. Nine speed components have really come down in price over the years, and they are plenty durable and easy to find. It is always worth checking with the seller to see how many miles have been put on the current chain and cassette. Anything over a few thousand miles will need to be replaced pretty quickly. If you do need to replace the chain, it's a good idea to replace the cassette with it; to give you an idea on price, a good 9-speed chain and cassette will run in the ballpark of $70.

3. Wheels: As far as the wheels are concerned, make sure there are no cracks in the rims, and that the wheels don't wobble from side to side when you spin them. You may also want to give the spokes a quick check, by plucking them. If any of the spokes feel quite a bit looser or tighter than the surrounding spokes, it can indicate that the wheel was once badly knocked out of true, and could create some problems down the road.

4: Tires: The last thing you need when trying to save money is a bunch of flats on your first few rides, so give the tires a good inspection. You don't want to see any cracking on the sidewalls, or any visible punctures on the tread. As for wear, if the top of the tire starts to look flat, it is probably reaching the end of its life. Some tires have a wear indicator, which is a colored belt under the tread that appears when the tire needs to be replaced. If you see this, it's time for the tire to be replaced. A good set of touring tires can run around $35 per tire, so a newer set of tires out of the gate is always a bonus.

5. Brakes: Be sure there is some life left in the brake pads. These are inexpensive to replace, but little things add up. Some brake pads have a wear indicator line, while others you just have to judge for yourself. If you hear any metal on metal scraping when you brake, the pads are done for.

If these parts are in good working order, you should be in great shape. As long as you have a good sturdy frame that fits you well, you can always upgrade components as you become more involved in cycling and more specific with your personal needs and preferences. It can be a lot of fun to see a bike evolve over the years to become unique to the rider.

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

The Old Road

The holiday season has passed and left many of us with new stuff -- new clothes, new equipment, new cameras and smart phones. In the world of retail, "new" is what it's all about.

But in the world of bicycle travel, "old" has appeal, especially when it comes to roads. New roads are big and wide and usually blast their way through the countryside. Old roads are more often narrow and follow the contour of the land. They meander. Sure, they aren't as smooth as a brand new road, but I'll take an old, bumpy scenic road any day.

On our journey in Venezuela, we were headed to the town of Trujillo in the Andes. There appeared to be only one option. But a closer look at our map revealed a thin black squiggly line ... the old road to Trujillo.

It was rough and parts were unpaved, but the views took our breath away. The air was so thin and the day so still, you could hear farmers talking miles away. And we had this road completely to ourselves because every last car and truck had opted for the new road.

Give me a new set of bike tires, but I'll want to ride them on an old road.

Photo: Venezuela 2008 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.

Photo Inspiration

Take a look at those smiling faces! Not a care in the world, just the anticipation of adventure sure to be around the next corner and the company of good friends with which to share it. Images like this one from the Northern Tier Route are what keep me going through the winter months.

When I take a spin through our Flickr photo groups, peruse our Forums, or offer route planning advice, I am instantly reconnected to our mission and our members. Often, I become inspired myself and the hours spent updating maps and online addenda are worth it. A smile breaks on my face as I am warmed by the thought that someone will pick up this map and set off on a trip of a lifetime.

Photo from brotherM's Flickr photostream

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GEOPOINTS BULLETIN is written by Jennifer 'Jenn' Milyko, an Adventure Cycling cartographer, and appears weekly, highlighting curious facts, figures and persons from Adventure Cycling's Route Network with tips and hints for personal route creation thrown in for good measure. She also wants to remind you that map corrections and comments are always welcome via the online Map Correction Form.

Meet Kent Peterson: Working on U.S. Bicycle Routes in Washington

Meet Kent Peterson, aka "Mountain Turtle" -- a devoted cycling advocate, route researcher, Tour Divide racer, blogger, and all around great guy from the beautiful state of Washington.

I met Kent last February when I first approached state stakeholders about getting involved in developing U.S. Bicycle Routes (USBR). Now that Washington is ready to move forward (thanks to Barbara Culp and WS DOT), Kent has stepped up as a volunteer for the Bicycle Alliance of Washington. Kent's long time commitment to bicycling make him the perfect candidate to nurture along route development and outreach for the U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS). 

How did you first hear about the U.S. Bicycle Route System?
I read about it in Adventure Cyclist or maybe I saw it on the Adventure Cycling website. 

What made you want to get involved?
I've long been an advocate of getting around by bike and I first started touring back in 1977. I learned early on how important picking a good route is and a project creating a network of good routes all around the country would help a lot of people get out on their bikes. 

How are you involved?
I'm working with the Bicycle Alliance of Washington as the Route Coordinator for Washington State. A few years ago, as part of my work with the Alliance, I rode around Washington, meeting with people, seeing first hand the riding conditions and learning about the various cycling issues in the different parts of our state. It turned out that that gave me a real good base of understanding for mapping good routes in Washington, and helped me connect with a whole bunch of local cyclists in various places. 

What do you think is Washington's best opportunities for USBRs?
In my (somewhat biased!) opinion, we have some of the most beautiful roads in the country. The North Cascades Highway is already part of Adventure Cycling's popular Northern Tier Route, so we will definitely leverage that in developing our first East-West route, For the initial North-South connection we have both the Pacific Coast and Sierra Cascades routes to draw upon. While we are certainly not limiting ourselves to these routes, the work done by Adventure Cycling in mapping these routes give us good resources to build upon. 

Why do you think communities would want to be on a U.S. Bike Route?
Cyclists spend money! We eat food, we stay in motels and campgrounds, we take pictures and inspire other people to visit places. This past summer, I was the only person checked into a little motel in a tiny town (Jeffrey City, WY). I told the clerk I was "glad to contribute to the local economy." He replied, "Heck, today you are the local economy!" 

Tell us about the organization you work for/represent and how you plan to work with the state DOT?
I'm working with my pals at the Bicycle Alliance of Washington. The Alliance is an education and advocacy group with more than 3,000 members across Washington state, so we have a wealth of local riders who can provide us with good first-hand information about the various communities the routes will pass through.

The Alliance also has worked with the state DOT on a variety of projects and committees over the years, so we have existing relationships at the state level. As a volunteer coordinator I'll be working to make sure everyone understands how the pieces fit together and what a valuable network this will be. 

What is your long-term hope for this national system?
More people riding bikes across this great land. My favorite trips have all been by bicycle and as this network connects more places, I think more people will recognize that the journey really is the reward when you are traveling by bike.


Thanks Kent. We certainly look forward to working with you on U.S. Bicycle Routes in Washington.

Photo by Kent Peterso


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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.

Bikepacking Routes East of the Rockies

Last week, we examined the top 10 bikepacking routes in the American West. While the Rocky Mountains and West Coast have a greater range of possibilities for long-distance trail rides than other regions, there also are good options for dirt touring with mountain bikes in the Midwest and eastern United States. The following list details five routes to get off the highway and into a new adventure.

Trans-North Georgia: TNG is a 350-mile mountain-bike-specific route through the mountains of North Georgia on trails, forest roads, and paved roads. The challenging route doles out a punishing 56,000 feet of climbing as it travels from the South Carolina border east of Clayton, Georgia, to the Alabama border near Rome, Georgia. A GPS track, cue sheet, and maps are available at www.firstworks.com/tnga/route.html.

Trans-Wisconsin: Created as a 540-mile dual-sport route across the Dairy State, the TransWisconsin Adventure Trail offers a scenic off-road route from the Illinois border near Galena to the Apostle Islands on Lake Superior. The route includes gravel roads, ATV trails and some pavement. There are several campgrounds and other services along the way, although a lack of cycling-specific maps necessitates prior planning. The route is not marked, but a GPS file is available at www.lonewolfexpeditions.com/twat.html. The Trans-Wisconsin also has a Facebook page with regular updates.

Trans-Minnesota: Another dual-sport route, the Trans-Minnesota Adventure Trail stretches from Iowa to Canada on a mixture of county highways, gravel roads and dirt ATV trails. This is another do-it-yourself route created by motorcycle enthusiasts, so camping possibilities and services for the slower-paced traveler will need to be researched ahead of time. Maps, written directions, and a GPS track are available online at minneadv.info/about-the-trail.

C&O Canal Towpath: This 184.5-mile trail follows the path of the historic Chesapeake & Ohio Canal along the north bank of the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. to Cumberland, Maryland. The surface is typically clay and crushed stone, but the smooth nature of the trail makes it a fun, car-free option for families and beginning mountain bikers. For more information, visit www.bikewashington.org/canal. Adventure Cycling Association also offers a supported tour on the C&O Canal / GAP (Great Allegheny Passage) as well as a C&O Family Fun tour.

Katy Trail: The Katy Trail is a 225-mile path stretching across the state of Missouri. More than half of the trail follows the famous Lewis & Clark route. America’s longest “rails-to-trails” project is fairly flat with a crushed limestone surface that can accommodate all kinds of bikes, although is better suited to mountain bikes and hybrid bicycles. For more information, visit www.bikekatytrail.com. Adventure Cycling is offering two tours on the Katy Trail this year, a Katy Trail Relaxed trip and a Katy Trail Family Fun tour.


Photo: The view from the Trans-Wisconsin Adventure Trail. Photo courtesy of Michael Meiser.


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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.