Up Close and Intense

If I had to choose one photo I've taken that captures the view of the world you get when you travel by bicycle, this is it.

Up close and intense.

It's 1995. Nelson Mandela has been president for less than a year. I'm on a five-month bike trip in South Africa, where I'm told by dozens, no, hundreds of people that if I travel in the former homelands that I'm a dead man. Period.

I go anyway. I'm afraid.

I come across a school. Someone notices the bike traveler and a mob of students comes charging down the hill.

My first reaction is to flee. But instead of taunts and shouts of anger, I hear laughter.

The kids surround my bicycle and I take out my camera and snap a few shots.

I look back at this photo and wonder about the lives of these students, now adults in their twenties. I look at the smiles. The intensity and zeal. I hope that life has treated them well.

None of them knows the gift they gave to this traveler that day. The anxiety that had been welling up in me for weeks melted away in an instant. I continued my journey with their smiles etched in my memory ... a potent remedy to prejudice and fear.

Photos: South Africa 1995 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 will inspire you to hit the road and just might change the way you approach bicycle travel. He lives in Seattle with his wife Kat. You can read about their local adventures and life without a car at http://YellowTentAdventures.com/.

Corporate Supporter Spotlight: Cascade Huts

This post is part of a new series that spotlights Adventure Cycling's corporate supporters. These companies support our mission and programs, and do some pretty cool things of their own. We decided to ask them some questions and, as a result, have learned some really interesting things. The answers below are direct from the companies. We hope that this gives you the chance to get to know them a little better, too.

Cascade Huts is currently a Silver-Level Corporate Member. They have been members for three years, supporting our programs and mission. Co-owners James Koski and Don Bain took some time to answer our questions and tell us more about their small but fascinating business.

Adventure Cycling: Tell us a little bit about your company.
James and Don: Cascade Huts partners with the US Forest Service to manage huts in the Mt. Hood National Forest in Oregon. The huts provide bicyclists, snowshoers, and backcountry skiers from around the world a convenient and affordable way to enjoy the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest.

Adventure Cycling: Talk about what services or products you provide for bicycle travelers.
James and Don: We currently operate three huts in the Mt Hood National Forest and offer a three-day, four-night, 137-mile Mt. Hood Loop bike trip. This epic ride circumnavigates Oregon’s iconic mountain along backcountry forest roads, with stunning views and thrilling singletrack options. Our huts are fully stocked with supplies and provisions to lighten your load and allow you to focus on the fun.

James and Don at Trillium Lake

Adventure Cycling: Why do you support Adventure Cycling through corporate membership?
James and Don: Adventure Cycling, through its advocacy efforts and riding resources, provides opportunities for bicyclists to have memorable lifetime experiences. Cascade Huts is trying to do the same, so it just makes sense. 


Adventure Cycling: What are your five favorite cycling related things right now?
James and Don: You can’t prepare for epic trips if you don’t have safe and convenient facilities to ride where you live, so it’s fantastic to see what’s happening in urban areas.

1. Bike lanes now connect the White House to the Capitol in Washington, DC!
2. The Gateway Green project in Portland, Oregon. A 35 acre swath of land surround by a freeway interchange is being turned into a recreational jewel.
3. Bike sharing programs, which open up an entire transportation network and you don’t even have to own a bike – see Washington, DC and Paris.
4. The I-5 Colonnade Mountain Bike Park in Seattle, Washington, transformed a dead space under a freeway into prime technical mountain bike trails in the heart of the city.

When it’s time to get out of the city it’s great to see the partnership going on between bike advocates and public lands to build new facilities.

5. The Sandy Ridge Trail. A fantastic new trail less than an hour from Portland

Adventure Cycling: What is your favorite service or program that Adventure Cycling offers?
James and Don: The route network and maps, which help bicyclists create their own adventures.


Adventure Cycling: If your headquarters staff could relocate to any place in the world, where would they choose?
James and Don: Government Camp, Oregon, is a perfect nexus for summer and winter activities at the base of Mt. Hood. It’s a small town with friendly people, great beer and food, and easy access to hiking, biking, camping, and skiing.

Cyclists take advantage of the hut on Surveyor's Ridge, the first night's stop on the Mt. Hood Loop.

Adventure Cycling: Have any of your staff ridden Adventure Cycling’s mapped routes? If so, which ones?
James and Don: Segments near Mt. Hood, in the Columbia River Gorge, along the Oregon Coast, and the Continental Divide in Colorado and Wyoming.


Adventure Cycling: Is there anything else about your company that you really want to share with our readers?
James and Don: We are continuing to work with the US Forest Service to place more huts and create more multi-day bike trips in one of the most beautiful areas of the world. Be sure to check our website and become a friend on our Facebook page so you can be the first to hear about the routes as they become available!


Thanks to James and Don for taking some time to share their company with us! Cascade Huts is offering a special for our readers. Their huts on the Mt Hood Loop can host up to eight visitors at a time. If reservations are made for six riders, the seventh and eighth can ride for free! Simply mention Adventure Cycling when making your reservation.

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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.

The Kindle for Maps?

Friedel Grant's guest post last week - The Kindle: Perfect for Bike Touring - generated some good conversation about using the Amazon device as a way to bring books to read while on tour. In addition to its intended purpose of reading, it was also suggested as a way to view maps. A commenter recommended the resource KindleMap.net.

KindleMap.net is a map browser optimized for the Kindle platform. You can view a street map of a city as well as get directions for travel between two addresses. There is a search function allowing you to look for specific kinds of businesses. It appears to be a handy tool for someone on the road, especially if they didn't bring a GPS unit or were out of cell phone coverage, rendering smartphones useless. All you need is a wi-fi connection.

An example of using the 'get directions' function of KindleMap.net

What about the Kindle as a navigation device? As a result of the comments from my post on Mobile Maps in our Future, it seemed clear that traveling cyclists weren't terribly interested in using a Kindle for that purpose. However, a Kindle can read pdf files and, as such, any of our downloadable maps could be viewed. To test this scenario, I asked a Kindle user to load up the Green Mountains Loop on his to see what he thought.

The photo to the left shows the map at 100 percent. It would have to be scaled down in order to fit an entire map panel and its narrative on the screen. This is not really a viable solution at this time, as the type gets too small. We would have to reformat our pdf files to make them more legibly viewable on the Kindle screen. Also, the map would have no locationally aware features, making it no more useful than the paper map in that regard.

All that being said, we are going to keep an eye on this tool and see what develops down the road. Who knows? Maybe one day you will navigate the TransAmerica Trail on your Kindle.


Top photo by Derek Gallagher. Second photo courtesy of Steve Spindler.

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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.

AASHTO Withdraws Recommendation Regarding USDOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Guidance

Last Friday, I received an email with an information alert from John Horsley, executive director of AASHTO (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials). Since the U.S. Bicycle Route System is an AASHTO project for which Adventure Cycling offers technical expertise and staff support, I took careful note.

The alert explained that the President of AASHTO's Board of Directors has directed AASHTO to withdraw their recent reccomendation that the Federal Highway Administration revise its 2010 guidance to State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) on the meaning of "due consideration" of bicycle and pedestrian needs (the FHWA's 2010 guidance essentially directs DOTs from a "shall be" considered to a "must include" condition for bike/ped accommodations).

Adventure Cycling had, of course, seen the recommendation by AASHTO the week previous and immediately expressed our concern, asking why it was issued. As the League of American Bicyclists and the Alliance for Biking and Walking began asking their supporters to question this recommendation, BikePortland.org and several bloggers took up the effort, too. In addition, the National Center for Biking and Walking issued a written request for retraction.

The power of the bicycle and pedestrian movement was felt, and the AASHTO Board of Directors and staff listened. Their alert contained a letter from Mr. Horsely, explaining why the first recommendation was issued (in the interest of saving money and greater efficiency), why it's being withdrawn (Board of Directors request), and how they will be handling things in the future (via thorough review by members).

For our part, I will participate in the AASHTO meeting on May 19 that Mr. Horsely refers to in his letter, along with other members of the America Bikes board.

There are some real positives that will come out of this process for both the bicycle and pedestrian community and AASHTO. For one, recognition that we need to work cohesively to achieve our goal for a strong and healthy transportation system that includes consideration of all users.

We are extremely appreciative of AASHTO for taking action on this issue so quickly. Our partnership with them has helped move the U.S. Bicycle Route System from a dream to a reality -- with two new U.S. Bicycle Routes slated to be approved at AASHTO's spring meeting on May 2. Look for that announcement in an upcoming post!


Photo of AASHTO headquarters 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.

Postcard from 1974: Hemistour Crosses the Equator

Adventure Cycling was established as Bikecentennial in 1974 by two couples: Dan and Lys Burden, and Greg and June Siple. Simply put, they were visionaries who wished to bring the joy of bicycle travel to more people. Here's a postcard from Hemistour -- mailed 37 years ago -- written as Greg and June crossed the equator in Ecuador, May 7, 1974! (Click on the image to go to the original on Flickr if you need larger type.)

Photo by ddsiple on Flickr

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

Bike Touring Basics: April 28 in Salt Lake City

According to Louis (Lou) Melini, an Adventure Cycling member, U.S. Bicycle Route (USBRS) core supporter, and cycling ambassador, "Bike touring is the most fun anyone can have on a bike." Having just completed my first "bike tour" (a whopping 200 miles around Lake Coeur d'Alene in Idaho), I'm going to have to second that statement.

Averaging about 8,000 miles a year, Lou has been an avid bike traveler since his life-changing ride in 1975. When asked what inspired him to give presentations on travel by bicycle, this was his answer:

"Inspiration for occupations or hobbies comes as an evolution of time. I envisioned the bicycle as a vehicle of transportation in the early 70's, and I took an opportunity to ride across the U.S. in 1975 when Adventure Cycling was forming as Bikecentennial. My friend Jeff and I rode some of the proposed TransAmerica route and gave feedback. The 11 weeks of travel were life altering, so much so that even today I am planning my future to do more travel by bicycle."

Lou, featured in our September 2010 issue of Bike Bits for his involvement in cycling advocacy, has given lectures on commuting by bicycle at the REI store in Salt Lake City for years. On April 28, he will be presenting a free Bike Touring Basics class at the Salt Lake City REI.

Why the shift from commuting to touring? "As I saw less people doing self-supported bike touring and more people doing car-assisted touring, I approached REI to do a bike touring lecture," Lou explains, adding that he has two goals in mind for the event: to provide information about how to bike tour, and to provide enthusiasm for independent bike travel.

Bike Touring Basics will focus on the basics and the details of trip planning from different types of self-supported tours (overnights to months-long adventures), to making the right bike and gear selections. The emphasis is to show that bike touring can be an enjoyable and relaxing experience for those who have never toured, and for the experienced bike traveler; and that it is entirely possible for new and savvy riders to travel together and have a great time.

"It's simpler than you think," Lou says. "My lecture is simply a forum for people to say, 'Yeah, I can do that.'"

In addition to the lecture, Lou and fellow Adventure Cycling member Cheryl Soshnik put on a post-REI class, which they call the Bike Touring 101 Ride: "Since 2007, we [have taken] a group on an overnight bike tour," Lou says. "Four people in that group have since ridden across the U.S. after doing our overnighter."

As if that isn't enough, in the summer months Lou and his wife, Julie, bring cycling advocacy right into their home by hosting cyclists from all over the world via Warmshowers.org, a site dedicated to providing reciprocal hospitality for touring bicyclists.

Adventure Cycling Association's mission is to inspire people of all ages to travel by bicycle. As an ambassador for Adventure Cycling, Lou will be raffling off two free one-year memberships in Adventure Cycling at the event. Lou says his lecture at REI "is just a small way to promote that mission."

Tell us how you promote travel by bicycle in your community, or become involved in Adventure Cycling's mission by becoming a member and/or joining our cycling ambassador program!

Learn more about the Bike Touring Basics event on April 28 in Salt Lake City.



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AMBASSADOR EVENTS are posted by Alison Riley, a poet and aspiring bicyclist, to talk about people who talk about travel by bicycle.

Adventure Cyclists Head to Iowa

That's right, by the time you read this, I'll be far from my beloved Rockies. Instead, gear-reviewer-extraordinaire Josh Tack and I will be deep in the American heartland, visiting Iowa City. We're bringing our bikes, and I can't wait to go riding through a completely different landscape, and to Riverside, Iowa, the future birthplace of Captain James T. Kirk.

I'm also excited to visit all of Josh's favorite boyhood bike shops, The Broken Spoke, 30th Century Bicycle, and World of Bikes.


Also, if any of you are in the area and are fans of bike racing, be sure to check out the Old Capitol Criterium on Sunday, May 1st, in the heart of downtown Iowa City. Look for me and we can both cheer Josh on to victory!

Photo by Tom Robertson

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SHIPPING NEWS is brought to you by Sarah Raz, sales representative/outreach coordinator/lover of all things outdoors. She also wishes Eddy Merckx was her father (sorry Dad!)

A Tour-ific Opportunity

After nearly six years, Adventure Cycling's tours director, Rod Kramer, is stepping down. We wish Rod the very best and now must turn to finding a new director to orchestrate our unique tours program, which includes self-contained and supported tours throughout North America, and a variety of instructional courses.

If you have prior management experience in bike travel and tourism (or know someone who does) and would enjoy living and working in beautiful and bike-friendly Missoula, Montana, check out or pass along this announcement.

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JIM SAYER is the executive director of Adventure Cycling Association

Who Needs a Helmet?

This guy, Mikael Colville-Andersen, is a bicycling advocate who argues against the promotion of bicycle helmet use, saying it fosters a 'culture of fear' that discourages bicycling. And he's not kidding.

These guys contend that helmets don't make you safe in the first place, but they are kidding. Personally, I think they're dummies.

Buick and Robby's hijinks aside, do you think Mr. Colville-Andersen has a point?

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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 40,000 readers worldwide.

Tire Selection for Gravel Roads

Every now and then we receive a question about which tires to run on gravel roads. Maybe your expecting a few miles of gravel here and there on a cross-country trip dominated by paved roads, or perhaps you want to tour some gravel back roads to get away from traffic. Either way, the good news for bicycle tourists is that a basic 700x32 touring tire will likely be good enough for both scenarios.

For the most part, touring tires are built to take a beating, with a thick casing for long miles, and a puncture resistant layer under the casing to help prevent flat tires. As for tread design, unless you are riding dirt roads that have turned to mud after a big rain, you really shouldn't need anything too aggressive (such as a knobby tire). Something such as the Continental Top Contact Winter II, Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tour HS 404, or Freedom Ryder would do just fine.

The common 700x32 tire size provides good stability on gravel, but if you can go wider than that, you can improve your overall comfort slightly when the roads get rough. The only tricky part of gravel riding that can annoy riders in a hurry is a washboard section of the road, which refers to the tightly spaced, and hard packed, ripples in the road that resemble a metal washboard. Best way to avoid these is to keep your head up so you know they are coming, and either slow up, or see if you can ride around them.

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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.

Procession

A policeman stopped our progress through the small town of Manteigas, Portugal. There was no traffic -- no apparent accident or emergency. We parked our bikes and waited.

We heard the music of a marching band long before the processional turned a corner and came into view. It appeared as if the entire town was decked out in ceremonial garb -- women with bright green shoulder capes -- young boys and girls in white and cream robes. Old men with bright red vestments, marched with tall narrow banners attached polls.

Then came the band. Young and old with their shiny instruments and coats with brass buttons and gold rimmed caps. They played somber tunes. No smiles or waves. This processional was in honor of the martyr Saint Sebastian.

I was wishing this crowd would get a move on. We needed to find a place to stay and it was quickly getting late.


But then I began looking closely at the faces that passed by and my anxiety melted away. How long has that man played the tuba in this band? I wonder what the flute player does for a living? Does the band practice weeknights? To they enjoy it? Whose cap is that little kid wearing?


What's it like to grow up in a little village in the mountains in Portugal? How many feet have walked these cobblestones? Is someone actually pulling the rope on the church bell, or is it automated?

My mind pleasantly wandered as the music played on. And by the time the band had disappeared up the hill, I found that I liked this town. I had a connection to it, however small.

Procession in Manteigas, Portugal



A bicycle is a dream machine on which to travel the world. But sometimes it's best to stop and pause ... and literally let life pass you by.

Photos: 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 will inspire you to hit the road and just might change the way you approach bicycle travel. He lives in Seattle with his wife Kat. You can read about their local adventures and life without a car at http://YellowTentAdventures.com/.

One for the Road Interview with Willie Weir

As Missoula slowly transitions into spring, I’ve been sitting on my front steps dreaming of places I would love to explore. Spain and Portugal have been at the top of my list. So the other day, when my steps were soaked from the barrage of rain and hail gracing our valley, I tuned in to Willy Weir’s interview that aired a few months back on One for the Road, a travel radio show hosted by Adventure Cycling’s own, Kevin McManigal on KBGA, Missoula’s college radio station.

Willie is a long time ambassador for bicycle travel and Kevin’s interview with Willie was motivating. Willie talked about his latest adventure with his wife Kat -- traversing Portugal by bike. (And since Portugal is a relatively small country geographically, Willie and Kat crossed the width of Portugal six times!)

Kevin's tales of wild storms, and Willie's stories of bicycling across Portugal, making dinner with new friends, and ferrying a tiny boat across the bay to Spain made me wonder why I was still sitting in my kitchen.

If you visit Willie’s website, you’ll find a blurb that will make you reconsider your life: “Willie Weir and Kat Marriner have explored the world together by bicycle since 1996. Long distance bicycle journeys introduced them to far-off places and a simpler lifestyle. Bringing that adventure home to Seattle, they donated their car and gained new insight on their city living by foot, bicycle, and transit.“

Willie’s stories about Portugal were (as Willie's stories always are) inspiring, and reminded me that I don’t have to cross the ocean to have amazing adventures on my bike. I just need to get on my bike. (Recently, I completed my first ever bike tour on the Trail of Coeur d’Alenes, a small adventure compared to Willie’s, but still really exciting. More on that soon...)

As tempting as it is to re-hash (and probably botch) all of Willie’s stories right here, Willie is the storyteller, so listen to the interview, live it, and enjoy. You can also get more Willie stories right here on our blog, check out his weekly column, Sights and Sounds.

Willie Weir is the author of Travels with Willie and Spokesongs, a columnist for Adventure Cyclist magazine and is known to public radio listeners for his commentaries aired on KUOW in Seattle, Washington. His writings have appeared in newspapers across the country and earned him a gold and bronze Lowell Thomas Award, given by the Society of American Travel Writers. He has cycled over 60,000 miles throughout the world. Check out his website, and visit the blog Willie and Kat write together about their yellow tent adventures!

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AMBASSADOR EVENTS are posted by Alison Riley, a poet and aspiring bicyclist, to talk about people who talk about travel by bicycle.

Pacific Coast Hostel

Last month in Bike Bits (Vol. 13, No. 5), we featured a great sounding hostel located in San Francisco, California, called Adelaide Hostel. The manager of the Adelaide is a traveling cyclist herself, and boy does it sound like she knows cyclists' needs!

First, there's the food. Your overnight fee includes a free breakfast buffet of items such as fresh-cut fruit, fresh-made oatmeal, bagels, croissants, muffins, toast, and never-ending peanut butter, jam, and Nutella. There is also a reasonably priced home-cooked evening meal available, including dessert.

Second, there's the services. You can stash your bike in a locked storage area while you explore the city on a free walking tour, or take in an event at nearby venues. If you're more inclined to spend a little downtime at the hostel, there are comfy sofas and free wi-fi.

Third, there's the location (okay, she probably didn't choose the location, but it's a great one anyway). San Francisco is on our Pacific Coast and Western Express routes. Who wouldn't want to embark on or finish up a great trip in a city like San Francisco?

I don't know how we missed including this great hostel on our maps but it has been added to the addenda, and it will make it's appearance in the service directory the next time those maps are printed.

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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.

Become an Adventure Cycling Ambassador

Quite often, we get calls from clubs or local groups wanting to know more about bicycle travel and Adventure Cycling or, we get contacted by a member that plans to present about their trip and promote Adventure Cycling at the same time.

Both of these cases fit our ambassador program. This program is designed to help spread the word about bike travel and promote our mission through local connections. We supply Adventure Cycling materials and a PowerPoint presentation that the "ambassador" can tailor to fit the group or goals of the get-together.

Take Chuck Harmon, pictured above. Chuck has presented numerous times, talking to trail groups in Ohio and presenting about the Bronx Lab School tour of the Underground Railroad Bicycle Route to the American Library Association.



And when a library in Kentucky wanted someone to talk about bike touring, members Joan and Mike Weingarten (pictured above) came to the rescue.

Sarah Raz handles all the inquiries, which she says add up to about six to seven a month. You can learn more about some of the interesting opportunities from Alison Riley, who now writes Ambassador Events for us on the blog.

What about you? Would you be interested in hosting an ambassador or becoming one yourself? Visit our ambassador info page and let us know!

Top photo of Chuck Harmon by Joaquin David; Photo by Joan and Mike courtesy of the couple.

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

Friday, April 22: Thomas Stevens Day Meets Earth Day

This Friday, April 22, Adventure Cycling's offices will be closed to celebrate a special bike-travel holiday: Thomas Stevens Day (which also happens to land on Earth Day this year as well!).

Thomas Stevens Day is an Adventure Cycling holiday where the Adventure Cycling staff get the chance to reconnect with their bicycles and enjoy what we hope will be a lovely spring riding day (no guarantees on that during April in Montana!).

Learn more about Thomas Stevens, and this special day that we've dedicated to riding, by reading this informative post about the inaugural celebration last year.

And please join us in celebrating on Friday --  out on the road -- whether you're inspired by Thomas Stevens Day, Earth Day, or simply a good day to ride.

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

The Kindle: Perfect For Bike Touring?

Being a bookworm is not the most convenient of bike touring habits.

As wonderful as books are, I have a love-hate relationship with them on a bike tour. I wouldn't be without a book in the tent at night, but at the same time books fill my panniers and literally weigh me down.

They're also expensive to buy when I'm trying to stick to a budget, and sometimes -- depending on where in the world I happen to be -- English-language books are impossible to find.

Amazon's Kindle eBook reader has long seemed like a perfect solution to my book dilemma, and I finally got a Kindle 3 to play with.



Here are my first impressions.

Pros:

• Very light and compact. At just 240g, it weighs less than most paperbacks.
  
• Great battery life; up to 1 month with the wi-fi turned off.
• Can hold up to 3,500 books (great for bike tours where you may not have easy or cheap access to physical books).
• Many classic books are in the public domain, and therefore freely available through sites like Project Gutenberg.
• Also displays PDFs. This seems like the ideal way to carry and access repair manuals for things like stoves and water filters.
  
• Possible to access the internet (although the browser is not the easiest to use).
  

Cons:

• The screen seems a bit fragile. You'll probably want to buy a cover for it (and the covers that Amazon sells seem expensive to us). You could also protect it by wrapping the Kindle in lots of soft clothes and packing it carefully in your panniers.
• Some books aren't available on the Kindle.

Overall, my first impressions of the Kindle are very positive. It will definitely be going in the panniers this summer, and I'll report back after putting it to the bike touring test.

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.

High Visibility

You asked for it! Riders have requested more high visibility wear, so we're carrying more this spring. After all, you can never be too visible on your bike, whether you're riding across the country or riding to work.

Above, Matt sports the Canari P2 Jersey (left), and Ted shows off the Canari Radiator Vest (right).

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. She also wishes Eddy Merckx was her father (sorry Dad!)

Blogging Southern Tier Style

Here in the tours department we have been following the  Arlen Hall's Southern Tier blog and loving it! Arlen -- one of the illustrious leaders of the spring Southern Tier tour -- has been reporting nearly daily about the progress of the group and all their high adventures. Recently the group escaped wildfires near Fort Davis, TX.

Each day is a great adventure, with tasty food, subtle landscapes, and wonderful group camaraderie. (And you're in luck, we're also running a fall Southern Tier!)

I sent Arlen a few questions to find out more about the man not only expertly leading this Adventure Cycling tour group across the country, but also sharing all these wonderful photos and stories with us through his blog.

How did your passion for bikes and bicycling develop?
My passion for bikes and bicycling developed when I was 40 years old (I am 53 now). Yes, I did bike before but it was purely short distances on rail-trails while on vacation. I was really involved with teens in my church's youth group as well as teen sports with my two sons (Chris and Brandon). Our youth group began doing a short 1-week bike trip around New England and I began to get involved in that trip. When the youth leader moved, I became the leader of the group. I soon realized how cycling can be used to have a positive impact on the development of teens as they struggle with identity, peer pressure, and self-confidence.

Over the past 13 years, I have been passionate about working with teens. I use bicycling activities and events to promote fitness, fun, and self-discipline in our young adults ages 11-17. I help kids set and reach goals, teach life skills, promote teamwork and an appreciation of diversity, help others through service projects, and promote environmental awareness through long-distance bicycling.

I have been leading tours for middle school and high school teens since 1998. I have logged more than 40,000 miles with teens. My current project for teens is BIKETERNITY (pronounced Bike Eternity). In addition, I have led and staffed tours for Adventure Cycling since 2005. I have crossed the country on a bicycle 3 times and I'm doing it a fourth time -- this year -- with Adventure Cycling.

In 2007, I was touched by those affected by Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and have turned my cycling abilities to help find treatments and a cure for boys afflicted with DMD.

I love to ride, eat, and have fun. One of my sons also rode across country with me.... twice (at ages 13 & 17).

I now have four bikes; Thelma (my Trek 520) that I am riding on the Southern Tier, Thelma (my Trek 6000 hardtail mountain bike) that I ride on rail-trails, dirt, and trips to the grocery with my BOB Trailer, Thelma (my 1999 Specialized Allex road bike) that I typically use for training in the winter on a trainer indoors, and Thelma (my Co-Motion tandem) that I ride on special trips with my special friend. I am thinking about my next Thelma (a CatTrike) but don't know when she will show up.

I love working with Adventure Cycling Association and its staff. Everyone seems passionate about what they are doing and their impact on the cycling community. The resources Adventure Cycling provides to their leaders, their members, AND the general public is outstanding. They encourage everyone, to dream about an unforgettable riding experience.

What, thus far, has been the most memorable part of Adventure Cycling's spring Southern Tier Tour experience? I have 3 replies to this question:

1) The riders. I have not had a more cohesive group of riders on one tour ... ever. These men and women are outstanding. Everyone is from a different part of the U.S. and world; each brings a desire to ride and share in the experiences. We laugh together, sing some evenings and mornings (Joe has his guitar), and share our life stories. No one begrudges cooking and we have had a varied menu.

2) The ride from Safford, AZ to Buckhorn, NM kicked my butt. The combination of big mileage (78 miles), steep climbs (2 over 2000 ft and 1 over 1000 ft) late in the day, along with a stiff headwind (10-20 mph) all day long, hammered me into the ground. So much so that I had the van (which was at the top of the last climb) pick me up 2 miles from the top and deposit me 15 miles down the road (even skipped the downhill). It has been many years since I have not completed a ride day because I was unable to do so, but that day will be memorable.

3) Scenery. The terrain has been so beautiful out here in the southwest. It seems to change gradually but changes every day. From the pines of California to the cactus laden desserts of Arizona to the huge pine and scrub pines of New Mexico to the open prairies and hills of West Texas, it is all beautiful.

If you could rave about one piece of gear that you have been touring with, what would it be and why?
I LOVE MY TENT. I have a MSR Hubba Hubba (I like to call it Hubba Bubba as it sounds better). At 6'4" it provides ample space for this big body and ample headroom for those cold morning changes into cycling clothes. It has a rectangle base that accommodates all my gear if I choose to put it inside. It has ample vestibule space if desired for those stinky gloves and shoes too. On warm nights (we have had a few) you can leave the fly off and have a 360 degree view of the world (it is of course mostly screen with a little material for the floor). I think that my special friend would even fit inside if we keep gear in the vestibule (I look forward to trying that out).

Describe your biking philosophy.
My friend Dave Points, and fellow Adventure Cycling tour leader, sums it up like this. "No matter how many miles, 10 or 90, Arlen takes the entire day to do them. Never expect him before 5 pm, and always expect a story when he arrives in camp." It is more than just the miles for me. Each ride day is an opportunity to see something, meet someone, eat something, or embrace a challenge that I will never have the opportunity to see, meet, eat, or embrace again. And, to not do any one of them is a disservice to myself.

Favorite food or restaurant discovery, so far, on Adventure Cycling's Southern Tier route?
I have two favorite food discoveries... well 3 since I am a foodie at heart.

1) Hillsboro Cafe in Hillsboro, NM: I had the all-beef hotdog of all things (not my usual order), but it was fantastic. A huge dog on a big roll with sour pickles, onions, spicy brown mustard, and tomatoes. All fresh and ripe. It was served with very crispy fries (my favorite) and homemade ice tea.

2) Four Peaks Brew House in Tempe, AZ: The group decided to spend a little "pad" and celebrate our first weekish on the road. (Of course, the brews were privately paid.) The food was plentiful and outstanding as were the microbrews served. I had a stuff pork tenderloin with ham (I am am not a vegetarian). The side veggies were crisp and a HUGE helping of pork that was perfectly cooked and moist ... all for $10. I was told by others that the beer sampler was awesome.

3) Kiyoe: Not a place but a person. Kiyoe is a participant on the tour and she is originally from Japan. She prepares AWESOME meals with crunchy veggies and all the japanese spicies. We had stir-fry chicken and veggies with a cabbage based salad and sesame seed that was heavenly. I wish she would cook everyday. Rumor has it she will be preparing sushi on her next day to cook.

Our crew for the tour, staging to leave San Diego.
Notice that we are all pointing on the direction we should go!

Thanks again Arlen, I live vicariously through your blog!

We still have Southern Tier opportunities in the fall and a few spots left on the TransAm Van trip. Not ready for an across the country ride quite yet? No worries! Check out all our Adventure Cycling tours, which include fully-supported, van-supported, and self-contained adventures.

Be sure to follow the Southern Tier group as they continue to ride across country, and have even more adventures. And most importantly, dream big, keep riding, and have fun!

Photos courtesy Of Arlen Hall

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

Cycling Bliss

On this coming Friday, April 22, the Palo Alto (California) Public Art Commission will dedicate its newest public art installment. Titled Bliss in the Moment and situated along the popular Bay Trail, it was created by artist James Moore in memory of Bill Bliss (pictured above), a longtime Palo Alto cycling advocate and enthusiastic Adventure Cycling member. Sadly, Bill was killed in Colorado in 2005 while participating in one of our group tours on the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail.

The dedication ceremony takes place at 10:30 a.m. on East Bayshore Road between Embarcadero and San Antonio roads. Attendees are encouraged to bicycle to the event.

Photo by Greg Siple

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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 40,000 readers worldwide.

Touring Bikes Under $1500 (2011 edition)

Last year I wrote a post featuring nine touring bikes for under $1500. Why $1500? It seemed like a good round number that included a lot of cool bikes with great builds at a reasonable price. Today's post is sort of an addendum to that list; it includes some bikes that I missed last year, plus some new bikes for the 2011 season. Here we go!

Marin Four Corners ($999): New for the 2011 season, the Marin Four Corners is one of the most affordable stock touring bikes out there. The steel frame and fork have both cantilever brake bosses and disc mounts, giving you flexibility with your braking options. You also get a third set of water bottle mounts under the downtube, as well as pump pegs under the top tube. The build around the frame is great, with sturdy wheels and tires, as well as bar end shifters matched up to a wide-range 9-speed cassette and triple crankset.

Masi Speciale Randonneur ($1090): This bike was actually on last year's list, but it has seen some good improvements over the past year, which are worth mentioning. One update is that the gear range has been improved by offering a triple crankset, as opposed to the compact double. Also, it has taken on cantilever brake bosses to make room for wider tires. For a cool nostalgic touch, the bar end shifters have been replaced by downtube shifters.

KHS TR-101 ($1099): This is a great bike that will give you the opportunity to hit the ground running with a lot of key accessories, such as a rear rack, full set of fenders, tail light, and pedals. The steel frame has a slightly sloping top tube to lower the standover height, and the steel fork includes low rider eyelets for a front rack. As for the build, the Shimano bar end shifters are efficient and durable, and the 9-speed cassette paired with the triple crankset give you a huge range of gears.

Novara Verita ($1099): New from Novara, this bike uses a nice Reynolds 520 steel for the frame, has a wide wheelbase for stability, and gives you eyelets for a full set of racks and fenders. The brake calipers limit you to a 700x28 tire, so if you like to load up on a ton of gear, you may want to look at the Novara Safari. One of the few touring bikes taking advantage of SRAM's new Apex 10-speed component group with a compact double crankset.

Civia Bryant ($1260): This is a really cool looking touring bike that would be great for lighter loads. The steel frame and fork look great and have some unique features such as a kick stand plate, in addition to a split dropout that makes this bike belt drive compatible, something we don't see a lot of. The 11-32 9-speed cassette and 50/34 compact crankset provide a decent gear range. One limitation is that the brake calipers give you clearance only for up to a 700x28 tire, but that is still great for lighter loads.

Salsa Vaya ($1499): Sneaking into the list by a dollar, the Salsa Vaya starts out with a solid steel frame and fork that offers all of the eyelets you will need for setting up racks and fenders. The top tube is sloped to lower the standover height, making it easier to mount and dismount, and the two smallest sizes (50cm and 52cm) come with 26" wheels to further lower the standover. The build is very modern yet sturdy, with Avid BB5 disc brakes, and SRAM's new Apex 10spd drivetrain.

For more in depth specs on these bikes, check out check out the manufacturer's websites. Also, if you're looking for tips on finding the right bike for you, the upcoming April issue of our Adventure Cyclist magazine will be hitting mailboxes shortly (if not already). It contains our annual Touring Bike Buyer's Guide (check out past Buyer's Guides). The magazine will also feature in-depth touring bike reviews throughout the season, so keep an eye out for future editions, as well!

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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.

Rain Delay

The photos in catalogs of bike rides and tours and special package trips are filled with blue skies and sun-drenched vistas.

But let's pause for a little reality check. Weather happens. Blue skies turn gray. Weather forecasts are often painfully wrong.

Everyone wants a trip with perfect weather, but everyone's best stories and memories are more often than not, centered around less than perfect conditions.

We were pedaling in the perfect location for a romantic birthday celebration for my wife Kat, high above the Douro River in Portugal. The narrow roads wound through endless vineyards and small villages. The options were plentiful -- wine tasting, romantic dinner looking over the river, a tour of a vineyard ... more wine tasting.

Yet the weather had different plans for us. The audio below will fill you in on the details. But I will add that Kat reminds me the only day we didn't spend any money on our bike trip in Portugal ... was on her birthday.

Memorable Birthday



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 will inspire you to hit the road and just might change the way you approach bicycle travel. He lives in Seattle with his wife Kat. You can read about their local adventures and life without a car at http://YellowTentAdventures.com/.

Corporate Supporter Spotlight: WomanTours

This post is part of a new series that spotlights Adventure Cycling's corporate supporters. These companies support our mission and programs and do some pretty cool things of their own. We decided to ask them some questions and as a result, have learned some really interesting things. The answers below are direct from the companies. We hope that this gives you the chance to get to know them a little better, too.


WomanTours is currently a gold-level corporate member. They came on as a supporter last year during our U.S. Bike Route System fundraiser (which is happening again this May). Our relationship with them, however, goes back several years, as they have used our maps for many of their tours. Jackie Marchand, the company's owner, took time to answer some of our questions and tell us more about their unique company.

Adventure Cycling: Tell us a little bit about your company.

Marchand: We are the only all women bicycle touring company in the world.

Adventure Cycling: Talk about what services or products you provide for bicycle tourists.

Marchand: We provide fully-supported inn-to-inn bike tours for women only. Our tours are 4-days to 2-months long, all around the USA and abroad. We conduct flat beginner tours and advanced cross-country trips. We love to introduce cycling to women and then see them come back to do our cross-country tour years later.

Jackie Marchand on tour

Adventure Cycling: Why do you support Adventure Cycling through corporate membership?

Marchand: We depend on your route research and wonderful maps to help us plan our tours.

Adventure Cycling: As your company grows, have you had mainly tailwinds, headwinds or crosswinds? Explain.

Marchand: We've had tailwinds all the way. We have grown every year since I purchased the company from the founder. We grow by listening to our women and working hard to provide them with the tours they want. The majority of the women on our tours are coming back to travel with us again, so we are constantly developing new tours to keep them coming back and bringing their friends.

Jennifer Thompson and Jackie Marchand working a tour

Adventure Cycling: Have any of your staff ridden Adventure Cycling’s mapped routes? Which ones?

Marchand: Yes -- parts of: Pacific Coast, Adirondacks, Southern Tier, Northern Tier, Lewis & Clark, Mississippi River, so far.

Adventure Cycling: What cycling related benefits do you offer your staff?

Marchand: We offer free and reduced price bikes, bicycling accessories, and tours.

A WomanTours bike tour in progress

Adventure Cycling: Is there anything else about your company that you really want to share with our readers?

Marchand: The average age of the women on our trips is 54. It is the women on our tours that make us different from all the other touring companies out there. Something special happens when women who love to bike get together to enjoy their passion. It really is the closest thing to flying without leaving the ground and to be able to share that with other women is really special.

Thanks to Jackie for taking some time to share her company with us!   

WomanTours is offering a special for our readers.  If you sign up for one of their tours before May 15th and mention Adventure Cycling, they will send you a free pair of cycling socks.   

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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.  

Visit to Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Last week at this time I was boarding a plane bound for Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The initial impetus for the travel was to attend the NACIS (North American Cartographic Information Society) spring board meeting. (I am in the last stretch of my two-year board term.) But, as is my habit, I managed to squeeze in a little Adventure Cycling business during my three days there.

It all began with a bang. Shortly after landing in the chilly fog, I found myself in front of a group at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. My hostess and fellow NACIS-ite, Donna, set it up through the GIS Club on campus. We had 15 people show up -- from club members and active cyclists to community advocate Keith Holt. (Keith is working to get the Milwaukee Bike Works group up and running.) Following the presentation I got some great questions, gave away a free membership, and gave away some sample maps for the cartographers to examine more closely.

Later that evening I joined Donna and her friends for trivia night (and a local brew!) at the Oakcrest Tavern.


The next morning I fueled up with an excellent coffee at Alterra Coffee Roasters, and hopped onto the bus to meet with Kevin Hardman at the Bike Federation of Wisconsin (BFW). The BFW is working with the Wisconsin DOT to iron out the final details of U.S. Bike Route 30. It was great to see Kevin's enthusiasm for the project. I also engaged in a conversation with Matt Gissibl about a possible short bike trip when I travel to Madison in October. (It would be great to get a ride in on one of these trips!)

Friday afternoon I joined some fellow NACIS-ites, traveling to Two Rivers (via Manitowoc, which happens to be on Adventure Cycling's North Lakes Route) to see the Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum.


It was amazing to see the labor-intensive process once required to print even the simplest of fliers; on display were prints done by students. The ones featured here (on left and above right) are the two I found most relevant to bicycle travel (going, doing, and eating, being popular activities of a cyclist). And if you're biking through this area, be sure to check out Beernsten's Confectionary in Manitowoc for candy and lunch!


For dinner that evening we ate at the Trocadero Gastrobar. I was quickly entranced by the place as we approached and took in the sign over the patio.

Saturday was the main event -- the NACIS board meeting. It went well, with lots of business handled; it was followed by another excellent meal and winding down for the weekend ... well, sort of winding down. I still had one more bicycle-travel-related conversation on the agenda.

Sunday morning was the most beautiful of the trip. I wandered away from the hotel in the dazzling spring sunshine and found myself another Alterra Coffee Roasters location. Breakfast was followed by a lively conversation with the husband of a fellow NACIS-ite, Bob. Bob is actively involved with the Friends of the Hank Aaron State Trail that has been building, maintaining and promoting that trail system in Milwaukee. They are interested in improving the map in their current brochure. Something that points out the features of it, as well as clear illustrations of access points along the way. It was fun to talk about some of the possibilities of layout and design, what elements to include, what services they could list and who might be able to do the work for them. In the back of my mind, I wished I had the time to do the project myself.

Upon arriving home I was tired, but inspired by the good people of Wisconsin and the opportunities to bike and otherwise relax there. I find I am already looking forward to my trip back in October.

First photo by Greg Latsch, second and third photos by Jenn Milyko, last photo by David Lambert.

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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.

U.S. Bicycle Routes: Criteria Options

Back in 2006, when the U.S. Bicycle Routes Task Force was still working on the vision for "creating a systems level plan for states to use to coordinate U.S. Bicycle Routes," a subcommittee was tasked with creating corridor criteria (pdf), corridors being defined as the general area where a route already existed, or might be developed. In essence, it was a way to guide our decisions on what would become the National Corridor Plan for the U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS). As our group discussed what should be considered when laying out the national template for interstate bike routes, we also talked about what was necessary for route planning. As a result, we created a document, "Specific Route Criteria: Considerations when Choosing Roads and Trails," (pdf) to go along with the corridor criteria.

The route criteria put forth by the task force are broadly defined, and that's on purpose. After all, they need to meet the needs of rural states as well as those more densely populated; they need to work for states that allow cyclists on freeways, as well as those that don't. The criteria also need to provide consistency for both route planners and the cyclists that will later use the system. In their process, states can use the criteria suggested by the task force, their own state criteria (if they have them), other state guidance (such as Wisconsin's rural road methodology - pdf) or Adventure Cycling's route criteria (pdf). While Adventure Cycling's criteria do not specifically recommend connecting urban centers and transportation hubs -- a key feature of what will be the U.S. Bicycle Route System -- they do address many of the factors that make up great rural bicycle routes and could be adapted by states.



Recently, Florida's DOT drew from a variety of sources to complete their draft Florida U.S. Bicycle Route criteria (pdf).

Florida's criteria were initially compiled by Mary Anne Koos and her associates Dennis Scott, Dwight Kingsbury, and others from the Florida DOT. With these in hand, Mary Anne had draft criteria to vet with other transportation officials. Over the course of several months, she gained input from Byron Rushing of Georgia, Tom Huber in Wisconsin, and other states actively working on USBRS implementation, including Minnesota and Michigan.

Eric Weis, of the East Coast Greenway Alliance and I were also involved, as were advocates from Bike Walk Tennessee.

Florida plans are to publish the criteria in their "Plans Preparation Manual" (in the bike, ped, and transit section). Before publishing, they will get a little more input -- sending the draft criteria to the senior designers and local bicycle and pedestrian coordinators for review in May, with plans to have things finalized by July. In the spirit of collaboration, Florida has given me permission to post their draft criteria on our website (see Bike Route Criteria under Implementation Steps) for others to use, adopt, or adapt to their own needs and interests. This will certainly speed up progress for other states.

Many thanks to Mary Anne and all who contributed to the process!

Photo by Jamie Krzeminski and Criteria by Florida 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.