November 28, 2006

Adventure Cycling Association Announces New Trips for 2007
America’s largest cycling group unveils slate of guided bicycle adventures.

Missoula, Montana —Adventure Cycling Association, America’s largest cycling organization, is pleased to announce its 2007 lineup of bicycle adventures. With interest in bicycle travel rising — from veteran riders looking for cycling's "next level," to active travelers looking for more adventurous and environmentally sound journeys — Adventure Cycling has crafted a diverse selection of trips for 2007 that showcases every facet of velo-adventure.

Along with venerable multi-month classics like the TransAmerica and Great Divide Route expeditions, Adventure Cycling is offering a host of innovative rides on new routes (like the Underground Railroad), with new themes (like organic farms in Northern California), and two trips designed especially for parents and children. Plus, dirt-lovers can choose from a host of pioneering mountain bike rides, and veteran cyclists should check out the instructional course on the emerging trend of ultralight multi-day cycling.

As a nonprofit, Adventure Cycling’s rides are some of the most affordable in the industry and all net proceeds go back into their efforts to make the world a better place to ride via advocacy, outreach, and the creation of new cycling routes.

To see the full lineup of trips, with photos and descriptions, go to: www.adventurecycling.org/tours

Some highlights from the upcoming season:

Mountain Bike the Grand Canyon. In recent years, the remote and little-traveled North Rim of the canyon has become a popular place for mountain bike tours. But rather than shuttle people to day-rides in a van, Adventure Cycling has conducted extensive on-the-ground research and is pioneering a six-day, self-contained loop ride that maximizes singletrack, hits the most scenic jeep roads, and camps on the canyon rim.

Learn Ultralight Bicycle Travel from the Pros. Cyclists looking to learn about the latest breakthroughs in next-level ultralight riding strategies and other advanced touring techniques should check out the new Advanced Bicycle Travel Seminar. Held at Adventure Cycling headquarters in Missoula, Montana, the course will feature such innovators and luminaries as cycling legend John Stamsted, two-time Great Divide Race-winner Matthew Lee, and writer/adventurer Willie Weir among others.

Pedal the Underground Railroad. Ride through history on Adventure Cycling's Underground Railroad Bicycle Route (due to be completed in early '07) on this 48-day, self-contained road epic that starts in the Deep South and covers the Route's entire 2,100 miles to southern Ontario. The UGRR is breaking new ground with its rich historical context and outreach to the African-American community. There is also a separate 7-day trip on the final leg of the route that ends at the 145th Emancipation Celebration in Owen Sound on the shore of Lake Huron.

Canada's Great Divide Route. The Great Divide Route has earned a reputation as the most scenic and challenging long-distance mountain bike route in the world and this eight-day mountain bike ride takes in the Route's new 221-mile Canadian extension, from Banff to the U.S. border on backcountry jeep roads. Many riders claim it’s even more spectacular than the American section.

The World of Organic Food. The new “Farm Fresh” tour explores organic farms and vineyards in Northern California on a 13-day, fully-supported road ride. Riders start and finish in San Francisco and explore Sonoma and Napa valleys, the Coast Range, and the Sierra Nevada foothills, with plenty of time for culinary exploration and wine tasting along the way.

Ride the Uber-Kokopelli. The Colorado Canyon Country ride takes adventurous riders along the famed and popular Kokopelli Trail, but rather than stopping there, it continues on to the equally incredible and less traveled Paradox and Tabequache trails for an eight-day, van-supported loop ride through some of Colorado and Utah’s most remote country. A true mountain bike extravaganza.

Pedaling with Paul Bunyan. Bring the urchins on Adventure Cycling's new “Family Fun” bicycle trips, five- and six-day trundles specially designed for parents with children ages eight and up. One follows bike paths in Colorado's Summit County, the other uses the new Paul Bunyan Trail in the Northwoods of Minnesota.

Since 1976, Adventure Cycling has been the leading voice of bicycle travel and has led tens of thousands of people on guided velo-adventures to every corner of the United States. To learn more about their 2007 offerings — including how-to rides for beginners, more road rides in the Sierra Nevada, a week-long spin in Texas Hill Country, and a “black and tan” (dirt and pavement) ride in Idaho — visit: www.adventurecycling.org/tours.

Adventure Cycling Association is a 501(c)(3), 43,000-member, nonprofit in Missoula, Montana dedicated to inspiring people of all ages to travel by bicycle. For more information, please visit http://www.adventurecycling.org. To request an Adventure Cycling press kit, contact Aaron Teasdale, media liaison, at 800-755-2453 x237 or ateasdale@adventurecycling.org.