MISSOULA, MT (BRAIN)—Adventure Cycling Association—North America's largest membership cycling organization—reported strong income numbers for FY09 (ending September 30) with overall growth in its membership, sales, development and tours' programs. Surprisingly, in a year where many tour companies suffered, the big star for Adventure Cycling was its guided cycling tours. Total tours participants were up 9 percent over FY08, with total tours revenue increasing 23 percent. Adventure Cycling offers more than 40 cycling tours each year, including supported trips, self-contained tours and educational trips such as its unique Intro to Road Touring course.

It's never too soon to start planning for a major bike ride next year. Although cross-country bike travel isn't in the cards for me, I started checking into self-contained or fully supported coast-to-coast bike tours that are offered in 2010. Here a a few that I stumbled across that are being offered by non-profits or as fund-raisers for charitable causes. The rides are targeted for everyone from college students to women over 50. I'll update the 2010 Cross-country Bike Travel page for more rides as I come across them.