Adventure Cycling Association - Bike Bits

Bike Bits Vol. 14, No. 10, May 16, 2012

Michael McCoy — Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 MST

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Bike Bits Vol. 14, No. 10, May 16, 2012
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This is the 286th issue of Bike Bits, Adventure Cycling's twice-monthly
bicycle bulletin. Bike Bits is delivered to you -- and 45,158 other
readers -- because you've signed up for it at the Adventure Cycling
Association website, http://www.adventurecycling.org.
Bike Bits arrives
in text-only format for quick download and includes links for more
information. We want to inspire you to dream and to live your own
bicycle adventures.

************************************************************

"Think of bicycles as rideable art that can just about save the world."   
-- Grant Petersen 


*******


PHOTOGRAPHING TRANSPORT
Spotted on the website of the American Association of State Highway
and Transportation Officials (AASHTO): "For the first time in its
eight-year history, the Faces of Transportation photo contest is
being opened to the general public ? Sponsored by AASHTO, this year's
theme is 'Framing the Benefits of Transportation.' AASHTO strongly
encourages every submission to prominently feature people designing,
constructing, using, and enjoying the transportation system of their
state." Now wouldn't it be great to see photos of people bicycling
(and utilizing other people-powered modes of transportation) pouring
in at such a rate that it overwhelms the judges? Cash prizes will be
awarded -- so spread the word and/or enter the competition yourself.
July 31 is the deadline for submissions. 
http://www.aashtojournal.org/Pages/041312faces.aspx



*******

U.S. BICYCLE ROUTE SYSTEM CAMPAIGN KICKS INTO HIGH GEAR
Do you love to bike? Do you wish that your friends would have
the gumption to join you in your bicycle-travel adventures? Adventure
Cycling is working with a number of other organizations to build a
national network of bicycle routes, known collectively as the U.S.
Bicycle Route System (USBRS). These routes would be signed, numbered,
approved by State Departments of Transportation, and easily accessible
for both road-weathered and newbie cyclists. Our May fundraiser to
help build the USBRS is in high gear; so far we've raised over $20,000! But
we have a long way to go before hitting our $50,000 goal by May 31.
Without your help, we cannot make this project a reality. We need your
donation today, so we're sweetening the deal! If you give $25 or more
to help build the U.S. Bicycle Route System by Sunday, May 20, you
might win a set of special-edition Ortlieb panniers. Donate $100 or
more and you'll receive a Walz cycling cap designed especially for
the USBRS campaign, while supplies last. Click the link below to donate now:
http://www.razoo.com/p/usbrs2012
Want to help spread the word? Learn how to get involved:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/beapartofit


*******


A TALE OF TRAGEDY AND TRIUMPH 
Noel Pederson wrote Bike Bits with this inspirational tale: "In
2007, something went terribly wrong with Mark Stephan's bike during
a weekend bike ride. His front wheel unexpectedly disengaged from
the bicycle, catapulting Mark over the handlebars and onto the
ground, paralyzing him from the neck down. The accident left him a
quadriplegic, and doctors were blunt: life in a wheelchair was the
best he could expect. Shattering all expectations, Mark left the
hospital less than five months after his accident -- walking under
his own power. Two years after the accident, he climbed 103 floors
to the top of the tallest building in North America. While doctors,
family, and friends were puzzled and shocked that this was possible,
Mark had already set his sights on a new adventure: a
3,129-mile bike ride across the United States. On April 15th, the
journey began! With each mile on the bike, Mark is transforming a
story of tragedy into one of perseverance and the power of the human
spirit." Learn more about the Stephan Challenge here:  
http://www.stephanchallenge.com



*******


BIKING FOR BANFF 
Sylvie Froncek wrote recently to tell us about another long-distance
ride. Sylvie and her friends are embarking on a tour of the West
Coast this month; all students at or graduates of Pitzer College in
Claremont, California, the four will ride self-supported, no SAG,
"just full panniers and helmet cameras" as they follow the Pacific
Coast Bicycle Route from Seattle to Los Angeles. Why the helmet cams?
"Our ride is unique in that we will be filming it and submitting our
final product to the Banff Mountain Film Festival, The Bike Film
Festival, and the Adventure Film Festival," Sylvie wrote. The group
would like to invite Bike Bits readers to follow their blog, which
Sylvie promises will be "hilarious as well as informative." It can
be found here: 
http://www.bikeslave.blogspot.com



*******


SINGING "DEAD SKUNK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD" 
If you're heading out on a road trip yourself this summer -- or even
if you just commute to work by bicycle -- you can help the Adventurers
and Scientists for Conservation collect data on roadkill along our
highways and byways. Cyclists are obviously ideal participants in
such a project, as they see (and smell) much more than do those
travelers encased in fast-moving automobiles. Go to the following
link to learn more:
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/05/bike-roadkill-count



*******


HIGH ON FRYE 
Russ Frye, a member of our self-contained TransAm tour group that
departed from Williamsburg, Virginia, earlier this month, is posting
on his blog as he goes. A retired teacher, Russ now works part time
for a company that manages the hiring process for large corporations.
And, as you will quickly realize if you tap into "Tailwindz," he also
has a sense of humor. We think it's going to be worthwhile to follow
Russ' blog as he goes, joining him and his group-mates on a vicarious
velo-adventure across America. 
http://talewindz.wordpress.com



*******


TRANSAM AUSSIE
It's the time of year for launching cross-country rides, alright. An
Adventure Cycling member from Australia, 60-year-old Alasdair Sinclair,
is pedaling across America to raise money for the children's medical
charity, Operation Smile. "I've only been to America once before," he
said, "and that was 25 years ago. On that trip, I saw only cities. This
time, I look forward to discovering the heart of the country." Alasdair
added that he's looking forward to dropping in at the Missoula
headquarters of Adventure Cycling when he reaches Montana. "I look
forward to meeting friendly people and having a wonderful experience,
while raising money to help children in developing countries who suffer
from cleft lip or cleft palate," he said. To read more about Alasdair's
journey, click here: 
http://aldernath2012.blogspot.com.au



*******


BICYCLES + BARNS = BEAUTIFUL
Not often do we run across a bicycle-touring event sponsored by an
historical association and designed around an historical theme. But
we sure like it when we do, and that's exactly what the Bicycle
Barnstorming Tour is -- a tour organized by the Utah Heritage
Foundation, focused on the complementary activity of visiting and
documenting historic barns. Taking place in the downright gorgeous
landscapes of the Sevier Valley and the Little Denmark/Sanpete County
area of south-central Utah, the ride happens June 10 through 13. "The
purpose of the event is to begin updating and expanding an outdated barn
guide, while promoting cycling and heritage tourism on the backroads
and in the rural communities of the Mormon Pioneer National Heritage
Area." Read more about the event by clicking the link below:
http://bit.ly/J6OYCO



*******


SALSA DANCING
Have a gander at Salsa Cycle's short film: "So Far to Go -- Part
One." The video documents the early parts of Brett Davis and Sean
Mailen's 2011 adventure on Adventure Cycling's Great Divide Mountain
Bike Route. Enjoy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8QhMxNIdrU&feature=player_embedded



*******


Until next time ... click on http://bit.ly/HBwKZp
to get yourself
some kicks on New Mexico's claim to Route 66. Oh, and thanks to
Robert from Deerfield Beach, Florida, for becoming the 45,000th
Bike Bits subscriber!


--------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2012 Adventure Cycling Association. See what we are doing
at: http://www.adventurecycling.org

If you like Bike Bits, please forward it to your cycling friends!

To subscribe, visit: http://www.adventurecycling.org/bikebits/subscribe.cfm

To update your subscription or unsubscribe, visit:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/bikebits/manage.cfm

News for Bike Bits? Please email bikebits@adventurecycling.org

Looking for past issues of Bike Bits? Visit the publications
archive: http://www.adventurecycling.org/library/index.cfm

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Read our blog: http://blog.adventurecycling.org

Find us on:

Facebook:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/facebook

Twitter:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/twitter

Flickr:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/flickr

YouTube:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/youtube

Adventure Cycling Association is North America's premier nonprofit
organization dedicated to bicycle travel. Membership is open to anyone
and includes a one-year subscription to Adventure Cyclist magazine and
discounted pricing on maps from our Adventure Cycling Route Network,
which now includes 41,399 miles. To join, go to:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/membership/membership.cfm

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Bike Bits Vol. 14, No. 9, May 2, 2012

Michael McCoy — Wed, 02 May 2012 00:00:00 MST

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Bike Bits Vol. 14, No. 9, May 2, 2012
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the 285th issue of Bike Bits, Adventure Cycling's twice-monthly
bicycle bulletin. Bike Bits is delivered to you -- and 44,907 other
readers -- because you've signed up for it at the Adventure Cycling
Association website, http://www.adventurecycling.org.
Bike Bits arrives
in text-only format for quick download and includes links for more
information. We want to inspire you to dream and to live your own
bicycle adventures.

************************************************************

"I feel that I am entitled to my share of lightheartedness and there
is nothing wrong with enjoying one's self simply, like a boy."
--Leo Tolstoy, in response to criticism for learning to ride a bicycle
at age 67


*******


ANOTHER 67-YEAR-OLD GOES FOR A RIDE
Despite his heart condition and his age -- or maybe because of them
 -- Andy Hazen is planning to race in this summer's Tour Divide, the
2,700-mile mountain-bike race following the Great Divide Mountain Bike
Route from Banff, Alberta, to Antelope Wells, New Mexico. The retired
beer brewer (Andrew's Brewing Company of Lincolnville, Maine) isn't
planning on dogging it, either. "I can't win this thing," he told
reporter Deirdre Fleming of the The Portland Press Herald, "but they
give males 27 days to finish it and women 30. I want to do it in 22
days. That's 120 miles a day. And I think it's a doable goal." Andy's
story, which you can read in full at the following link, is terrifically
inspiring. We wish him the best of luck in his endeavor.
http://bit.ly/HOTX7v


*******


BUILDING A NATIONAL CYCLING ROUTE NETWORK
Yesterday marked the first day of our "Build It. Bike It. Be a Part
of It." month-long fundraising campaign for the U.S. Bicycle Route
System (USBRS). The creation of this national network of bicycle
routes will mean better bicycling conditions for everyone in the
United States, and an overall brighter future for cycling. There are
two ways you can help the USBRS become a reality: 1) Go online and
donate to support the cause -- all gifts made today are matched 1:1
by Sun Bicycles and Origin-8; and 2) Join us as a Core Supporter,
leveraging your own social network to raise funds for the U.S. Bicycle
Route System project (Core Supporters can also earn rewards for
fundraising). Click on the links below to learn more, and thanks in
advance for supporting bicycling in America!
http://www.razoo.com/p/usbrs2012
http://www.adventurecycling.org/coresupporter


*******


BOOKING IT ALONG THE AMAZON WITH LON
Ever since he "reluctantly agreed" to accompany his father on an
Amazonian luxury bird-watching cruise almost a decade ago, Race Across
America (RAAM) cycling legend-turned-philanthropist Lon Haldeman has
been traveling to Peru on a regular basis. There he leads rides, builds
schools, delivers books, feeds orphans, and works with local female
cyclists hoping to compete in the 2016 Olympic Games. You can view a
90-second trailer of Lon's latest fundraising DVD (shot and produced
by Lynette Chiang) highlighting these projects by clicking here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cO5JlCZpK58
More stories, links, and info on how to participate in the tours
(cycling, sightseeing, assisting, or all three) can be found here:
http://bit.ly/IDedh8


*******


TEAM LAUGHING DOG DOES IT AGAIN
Speaking of RAAM, longtime Adventure Cycling member Mel Dick of
Sandpoint, Idaho, wrote to tell us that Team Laughing Dog, of which he
is a member, is raising funds and awareness for Northern Idaho families
dealing with autism. For this year's RAAM, Team Laughing Dog is entering
an all-female team of four. "There are only two female teams competing
in RAAM," Mel wrote, "to think that a small community like Sandpoint,
population 8,000, can field teams back to back is pretty amazing [the
2011 team was all male]. We have a great bicycling community here, which
gives back to the greater Sandpoint community." Mel added that autism is
growing at an alarming rate in the U.S. To learn more about Team Laughing
Dog and its good works, click here:
http://www.teamlaughingdog.com


*******


SIERRA CASCADES EARNS EDITORIAL HONORS
The April 2012 edition of Outside Magazine contained "The Wander List,"
a roundup of what the editors consider the best new adventures and
destinations in the world. Runner-up in the category of "Best New
Biking Trip" was Adventure Cycling's own Sierra Cascades Bicycle Route.
"Tracing the Pacific Crest Trail through a greatest hits of western
scenery," goes the write-up, "riders see the volcanoes of the Cascades,
groves of sequoias, Lake Tahoe, the Sierra Nevada, and beautifully
desolate stretches of the Mojave Desert." Read the entire upbeat report
here, then get ready to ride:
http://bit.ly/zX0Gix


*******


TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT BIKE BITS
Did you notice at the top that the intro says we now have 44,907
subscribers? That's getting awfully close to 45,000. Please tell others
about the newsletter so that we may reach that magic number before the
May 16 edition. As a little added incentive, membership director Julie
Huck has promised a free membership to the 45,000th subscriber! Simply
pass this link along to your cycling friends and family:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/bikebits/index.cfm


*******


RAIN OR SHINE, HE'LL BE RIDING
Adventure Cycling board member Jeffrey Miller, who in his day job
serves as president and CEO of the Alliance for Biking & Walking, plans
to participate in this summer's Climate Ride. "Three weeks from now,
on May 19 through 23, I'll be biking 300 miles from New York City to
Washington, D.C.," Jeff wrote. "I will join hundreds of cyclists pedaling
for five days to raise money for several organizations, including the
Alliance for Biking & Walking, which are leading the nation in climate
-change awareness, green-energy development, sustainability, and bicycle
advocacy." You can learn more at the website below, where you'll also
find a "rider search" function if you're interested in making a
contribution.
http://www.ClimateRide.org


*******


FILM FEST COMING UP SOON
The 3rd Annual Ciclismo Classico Bike Travel Film Festival, self-
described as "the only film festival in the USA that focuses
specifically on bicycle travel," is coming up May 17th at the Regent
Theatre in Arlington, Massachusetts. Held during Bay State Bike Week,
the festival's films will take viewers from Mongolia to India, from
Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, and to and through Egypt during the Arab
Spring. "I am certain it is also the only film festival to feature a
Cookie Showcase of Arlington's best bakeries," said spokesperson
Karin Turer. "That's what happens when event planners have a sweet
tooth. Plus, one lucky attendee will win a free cycling vacation
courtesy of title sponsor Ciclismo Classico."  Click on the following
link to learn more about the festival, which is a benefit for MassBike.
http://www.ciclismoclassico.com/filmfest


*******


NATIONAL BIKE MONTH + NATIONAL BIKE CHALLENGE
May is National Bike Month. Sponsored by the League of American
Bicyclists, National Bike Month is an opportunity to celebrate the
unique power of the bicycle and why we ride. For whatever reason(s)
you bicycle -- for fitness, fun, travel, or commuting -- consider
getting involved in your city or state, and help get more people riding.
http://www.bikeleague.org/bikemonth
Also kicking off in May, the new National Bike Challenge is
an online initiative aiming to unite 50,000 bicyclists to ride 10 million
miles this summer. Wow! Sign up as an individual or as a team and start
logging your miles for a chance to win monthly prizes, as well as a
grand prize Trek Travel trip. Learn more here:
http://www.nationalbikechallenge.org


*******


THAT DARN DICK
Richard Darne, our affable database administrator, has worked at Adventure
Cycling since 2004. Richard's father is -- well, he's a character. The
72-year-old retired pipefitter, who lives west of Missoula in Alberton,
Montana, is a bicycle fixer and gifter, bluegrass musician, and sometimes
newspaper columnist. "I had [one] guy say that my article wasn't fit to
line a bird cage," Dick Darne told Missoulian reporter Kim Briggeman. "So
I wrote another and made the case that it WAS fit to line a bird cage."
Click on the link below to read Briggeman's outstanding profile of the man,
titled "Making bikes available to the populace just one of Dick Darne's
passions." (Incidentally, Dick's fellow band member Ron Snyder, who's
mentioned in the story, is the husband of Adventure Cycling's chief
operations officer, Sheila Snyder.)
http://bit.ly/InGHKH


*******


PIANO MAN LOSES JOB, GOES BICYCLING
Did we mention characters? Bike Bits recently received a missive
explaining that after 88 years of operation, New York City's landmark
saloon and piano bar, Bill's Gay 90s, has closed. "The owners of the
historic 54th Street building refused to renegotiate the lease with
Bill's owner, Barbara Bart," the news release said. "She has promised
to re-open in the fall in a new location, she hopes not far from the
original." So, Bart's piano man, Brian "Bugs" Moran, is taking the
opportunity to head out on his refitted Schwinn Voyageur and tour
sections of three Adventure Cycling routes, celebrating both his 60th
birthday and newfound unemployment. Leaving Mobile, Alabama, on April
11, Bugs planned to head north along the Underground Railroad Bicycle
Route, turn east onto the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail "somewhere in
western Kentucky," and then turn north again, following the Atlantic
Coast Bicycle Route most of the way back to Manhattan. Bugs is a
veteran of solo crossings of Australia (2001) and America (Southern
Tier, 2007), and of numerous other rides. Attention piano bars along
the routes: he will play for you! Below are links to Bugs' profile site
and a story about the closing of the venerable watering hole.
http://bugsmoran.phanfare.com/2055871
http://nyti.ms/H5l28r


*******

Until next time... click on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-akkbNyiXE
to view a video that is very French and -- how shall we put it? --
quite interesting.


--------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2012 Adventure Cycling Association. See what we are doing at:
http://www.adventurecycling.org

If you like Bike Bits, please forward it to your cycling friends!

To subscribe, visit:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/bikebits/subscribe.cfm

To update your subscription or unsubscribe, visit:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/bikebits/manage.cfm

News for Bike Bits? Please email bikebits@adventurecycling.org

Looking for past issues of Bike Bits? Visit the publications archive:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/library/index.cfm

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Read our blog: http://blog.adventurecycling.org

Find us on:

Facebook:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/facebook

Twitter:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/twitter

Flickr:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/flickr

YouTube:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/youtube

Adventure Cycling Association is North America's premier nonprofit
organization dedicated to bicycle travel. Membership is open to anyone
and includes a one-year subscription to Adventure Cyclist magazine
and discounted pricing on maps from our Adventure Cycling Route
Network, which now includes 41,399 miles. To join, go to:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/membership/membership.cfm

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Bike Bits Vol. 14, No. 8, April 18, 2012

Michael McCoy — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 00:00:00 MST

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bike Bits Vol. 14, No. 8, April 18, 2012
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the 284th issue of Bike Bits, Adventure Cycling's twice-monthly
bicycle bulletin. Bike Bits is delivered to you -- and 44,662 other
readers -- because you've signed up for it at the Adventure Cycling
Association website, http://www.adventurecycling.org.
Bike Bits arrives
in text-only format for quick download and includes links for more
information. We want to inspire you to dream and to live your own
bicycle adventures.

************************************************************

"You want to ride like silk gliding on soft air."
--Hank Barlow, mountain-biking writer


*******


CONNECT YOUR FRIENDS AND CONNECT THE U.S. (WITH BIKE
ROUTES, THAT IS)
"Build it. Bike it. Be a part of it." That's the slogan for our 3rd
Annual U.S. Bicycle Route System campaign, and you can join us this
May as we raise funds to help build the world's largest official
bicycle route network. The U.S. Bicycle Route System is a huge
undertaking, and its success hinges on the support of a broad network
of supporters and advocates. You can leverage your social influence by
becoming a Core Supporter -- an advocate for the U.S. Bicycle Route
System who recruits friends as donors and helps us spread awareness
for this project beyond our normal circle of influence. For more
information about the U.S. Bicycle Route System, and/or about
becoming a Core Supporter, visit the links below.
http://www.adventurecycling.org/usbrs
http://www.adventurecycling.org/coresupporter


*******


FARM BOYS CHOOSE CYCLING OVER PLANTING
"Just a note to tell you about some boys who are doing an amazing
thing," began an email that Bike Bits received a few days ago. "You
might want to check them out ? Our friend's three boys are biking from
Alaska to Argentina. Quite an adventure. We were told they will do
anything to get out of planting crops this spring." The brothers, who
all grew up on the family farm in North Dakota, somewhere along the
line also learned how to take really good photos. Check this out and
you'll see what we mean:
http://www.boundsouth.org


*******


ROOM TO RIDE OREGON
Cycle Oregon, the annual weeklong mass ride around/across the Beaver
State, sold out its 2,200 available spots in record time this year.
To be precise, they sold out 31 minutes after online registration
opened on February 7. If you're still pining to pedal in Oregon, be
aware that open spaces remain on Adventure Cycling's pair of 2012
Oregon tours, the Cascadian Traverse and the Oregon Coastal Odyssey.
The Cascadian Traverse is a 10-day (August 4-14) self-contained
camping trip beginning in Portland and taking in the Columbia River
Gorge, the Mount Hood region, and the dry side of the Cascades in
the Bend-Sisters area, wrapping up at spectacular Crater Lake (with
a shuttle back to Portland). The Oregon Coastal Odyssey is a 7-day
(August 18-24) supported camping trip following what is arguably the
most beautiful shoreline in America. It begins in Eugene, hits the
coast around Lincoln City, and continues south to Florence before
heading back inland to Eugene to complete one amazing loop ride. You
can learn more about the two tours at these links:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/tours/tourdetail.cfm?t=SC12&id=290&p=1
http://www.adventurecycling.org/tours/tourdetail.cfm?t=EV12&id=324&p=1


*******


VIRGINIA IS FOR (BICYCLE) LOVERS
We got word last week of a new policy put into effect by the Virginia
State Park System that ensures touring cyclists will always find a
place to pitch their tent in the state parks, even when a park is
technically full. Click on the following link to read an April 12 blog
post by cartographer Jenn Milyko, who has in effect launched a campaign
to get more state park systems aboard the bicycle-camp wagon. And be
sure to check out the comments following Jenn's post for more
information.
http://bit.ly/IqyW7b


*******


NEW OVERNIGHT OPTION IN BOSTON: CHEAP AND GREEN
"With a nod to sustainability and the modern budget traveler,
Hostelling International USA (HI-USA) will officially open its new
Boston hostel this June as the first LEED-certified accommodations
in the city." So begins an email alert issued last week by HI-USA,
which added that the facility is aiming to be the first LEED Gold
hostel in the country. (LEED, a system for rating the relative
sustainability of buildings and neighborhoods, is an acronym for
"Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design"). The new hostel,
situated in the heart of downtown Boston, will feature 480 beds and
overnight prices starting at $29. "And gone are the uncomfortable
communal-style bathrooms of the past, as guests will enjoy 100
private bathrooms," the message continues. Sounds great to us! Take
a virtual hard-hat tour by clicking here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5C0wPP5EZz4&feature=youtu.be


*******


FAT TIRES IN THE PARKS
The link below will take you to an intriguing and informative story
from the National Parks Conservation Association about the history
of, and controversy surrounding, mountain-bike use in the national
parks.
http://bit.ly/GSjZIY


*******


GET ON TRACK WITH MAC
Mac Sullivan, the almost 17-year-old son of Adventure Cycling Special
Projects Director Ginny Sullivan, will be riding his bike across the
country this summer. He and his best friend Drew are doing it for their
senior projects and to raise money and awareness for Duchenne Muscular
Dystrophy (DMD). Mac and Drew are riding in honor of Cory Stalling, a
young friend of theirs from Missoula who suffers from the inherited
disorder. "This is an exciting and daunting adventure," Ginny said.
"Both the Gottman family and our family have decided it is the chance
of a lifetime for our sons -- but it doesn't come without a lot of
nerves. We're doing everything we can to ensure the boys' trip is
amazing and safe, and that they do their best to represent Cory and the
effort to fight DMD." Read all about it at Ginny's April 4 blog post,
where you'll also find links to the young men's website, Facebook page,
and more.
http://bit.ly/H8ypBT
Mac and Drew also recently appeared on Missoula, Montana's KECI TV to
talk up their trip.
http://www.nbcmontana.com/video/30873529/index.html


*******


TOURING LOWS AND HIGHS
Chris Figuerida wrote Bike Bits to tell us that for years he's been
planning on cycling from Death Valley to Mt. McKinley (Denali),
climbing the mountain, and then cycling back. In late March, he finally
set off on his ambitious journey, formally known as Cycle for Heart:
California to Alaska and Back. Read about the first leg of his adventure
here:
http://cycleforheart.blogspot.com/2012/03/california-to-alaska-and-back.html


*******


Until next time... click on http://salsacycles.com/culture/finding_my_way
for some mighty fine words and video footage from Jason Boucher,
general manager of Salsa Cycles in Minnesota.


--------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2012 Adventure Cycling Association. See what we are doing at:
http://www.adventurecycling.org

If you like Bike Bits, please forward it to your cycling friends!

To subscribe, visit:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/bikebits/subscribe.cfm

To update your subscription or unsubscribe, visit:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/bikebits/manage.cfm

News for Bike Bits? Please email bikebits@adventurecycling.org

Looking for past issues of Bike Bits? Visit the publications archive:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/library/index.cfm

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Read our blog: http://blog.adventurecycling.org

Find us on:

Facebook:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/facebook

Twitter:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/twitter

Flickr:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/flickr

YouTube:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/youtube

Adventure Cycling Association is North America's premier nonprofit
organization dedicated to bicycle travel. Membership is open to anyone
and includes a one-year subscription to Adventure Cyclist magazine
and discounted pricing on maps from our Adventure Cycling Route
Network, which now includes 41,399 miles. To join, go to:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/membership/membership.cfm

--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Bike Bits Vol. 14, No. 7, April 4, 2012

Michael McCoy — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 00:00:00 MST

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bike Bits Vol. 14, No. 7, April 4, 2012
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the 284th issue of Bike Bits, Adventure Cycling's twice-monthly
bicycle bulletin. Bike Bits is delivered to you -- and 44,524 other
readers -- because you've signed up for it at the Adventure Cycling
Association website, http://www.adventurecycling.org.
Bike Bits arrives
in text-only format for quick download and includes links for more
information. We want to inspire you to dream and to live your own
bicycle adventures.

************************************************************

"There were many steps in the evolution of the mountain bike. There
was no single inventor."
--Joe Breeze


*******


MAJOR EVENT RIDE HAPPENING SOON
Riding season is upon us, a fact underscored by all the organized
ride promotions we've been receiving lately. Take, for instance, the
2012 Major Taylor Mountain Summit, hosted April 18-22 by the Metro
Atlanta Cycling Club and the National Brotherhood of Cyclists. The
route goes through the mountains of north Georgia, skirting
high-elevation lakes and visiting isolated mountain communities.
Evening activities will include things like a screening of "The
Bicycle Corps," a documentary about the Fort Missoula-to-St. Louis
cycling expedition undertaken in 1897 by the all-black 25th
Infantry. And remember: If you have trouble getting into the Major
Taylor ride at this late date, consider it for 2013!
http://www.mtmountainsummit.info


*******


NO TRAIN NO PAIN
This one is still a few months off -- and that's a good thing,
because it definitely sounds like a ride for which you'll want to
train. The 2nd annual Passport to Pain (P2P), taking place September
15th on Vashon Island, Washington, involves some 10,000 feet of
elevation gain over a 76-mile route. Here's how the organizers put it:
"Anyone who's cycled Vashon knows that the island is a series of brutal
hills connected by short sections of ... well, less brutal hills. Face
it, a cross section of any Vashon ride looks like your heartbeat on Alpe
d'Huez. So, what if you strung all these hills together into one
long epic circuit of the island? Crazy? Maybe -- but a fun crazy."
Each participating rider carries a P2P Passport, which is stamped at
as many as 18 strategic checkpoints along the route. The ride is
sponsored by the Vashon Island Rowing Club (and no, that's not a
misprint ? perhaps the waters of Puget Sound are the only flat
training "grounds" around).
http://vashoncrew.com/blog/2012/03/02/2nd-annual-passport-to-pain


*******


JIM MEETS A SINNER WHO'S AN ANGEL
Jim McCracken's relationship with The Fuller Center for Housing began
last year when he read a blurb about it in Bike Bits. The piece
mentioned that the center's bicycle adventure would be
rolling through his neck of the woods, which is Lewiston, Idaho. One
thing led to another, and Jim is now fully engaged with the Christian
-based Fuller Center and its projects, which combine cycling and
providing housing for those in need. Read his story here:
http://bit.ly/HQqsQ3


*******


FAT TIRE FUN
New Belgium Brewing, ever mindful that first and foremost bicycling is
supposed to be fun ? even bicycle advocacy! -- has announced its 2012
Tour de Fat schedule. "Now in its 13th season," begins a news release
issued by New Belgium, "Tour de Fat brings together passionate bike
lovers for a day of two-wheeled revelry while raising money for local
nonprofits." Tour de Fat events include a costumed bicycle parade,
great entertainment, local food, unusual bike contests, and of course
plenty of suds from the Fort Collins, Colorado-based brewer. The event
will visit a total of 15 cities over the coming months, including
new-to-the-tour Atlanta, Georgia, and Washington, D.C. It's expected
that this summer the free-to-attend events will surpass the $2 million
mark for money that they have raised for local nonprofits through beer
and merchandise sales.
http://www.newbelgium.com/events/tour-de-fat.aspx


*******


CAPTURED ON VIDEO: SANTA BARBARA TO L.A. BIKE OVERNIGHT
Soon you'll start finding more and more videos on BikeOvernights.org,
like the one we posted last week starring America ByCycle's Ryan and
Michelle. Hope you like it as much as we do!
http://www.bikeovernights.org/post/video-santa-barbara-to-los-angeles


*******


RAIL-TRAILS PREVAIL
The Great Adirondack Recreational Trail is a grassroots effort aimed
at converting the 91-mile Old Forge to Lake Placid Travel Corridor
into a bike and walking trail. "I was reading about [your] extended
bike tours, and on this potential trail the prospect of developing
this business is very exciting," wrote Scott S. Thompson of Eagle
Bay, New York. At the following link you can read about what steps
the trail organization has taken thus far, and what it envisions
doing in the future to make the dream come true.
http://www.theARTA.org
We received info on another noteworthy rail-trail under development
last week, this one a project of the Simon Kenton Pathfinders in
Ohio. "We have a committee working on [adding] another 15 miles to the
existing Little Miami and Simon Kenton Trail into Logan County," wrote
Doug Chivington of Bellefontaine. "Once this is complete, we will have
a rail-trail from Bellefontaine to Cincinnati, more than a hundred
miles one way!"
http://www.simonkentonpathfinders.org


*******


FROM WORST TO FIRST
More advocacy news, this time it's from the Sunshine State. Mike Lasche
of Florida Walks and Bikes contacted Bike Bits to tell us that while his
organization recognizes Florida is at the bottom of the heap regarding
its safety record for walking and bicycling, it also sees great
potential for the state to become a leader in this realm. As such,
Florida Walks and Bikes has adopted the slogan of "Taking Florida
from Worst to First." To read about some of the work the organization
has been doing to influence bicycle/pedestrian legislation, click on
this link:
http://floridawalksandbikes.wordpress.com/category/state/legislative



*******


PAUL'S WALLETS = PAULLETS?
When Paul Hansbarger isn't working his day job as one of Adventure
Cycling's trio of friendly and hardworking tours specialists, he often
moonlights with his sewing machine. "I got into sewing a few years
ago through my old employer, Visual Arts Center of Richmond," he says.
"It's an art community center in Virginia that does adult art/craft
classes. As employees, we were able to take two courses a year there,
and I chose to take an intro to sewing class. For my big project, I
made a frame bag for my old Surly Cross-Check commuter." Paul has
honed his skills, both sewing and entrepreneurial, considerably since
then. Among the products he produces and offers for sale at his
website are wallets and smart-phone cases made from out-of-date
Adventure Cycling maps. They're slick, functional, and fun. Have a look
at 'em here:
http://hansbagworks.bigcartel.com


*******


INSTILLING A LOVE OF CYCLING
"I rode the TransAm self-contained trip in 2007," began a note from
Sheri Hanna. "Influenced by a love of touring, for the past three years
I have volunteered and organized a multi-day fundraising ride to
benefit Neighborhood Bike Works (NBW), a Philadelphia-based youth
nonprofit. Every year we train some of the older youth and they do the
trip with us. Although I care about raising money for NBW programs, I
most enjoy instilling a sense of bicycle-powered adventure into these
urban kids." Sheri included information about the 3rd Annual
Neighborhood Bike Works Ride of Dreams, coming up in late July. Those
on the fundraising ride will leave Philadelphia on a four-day loop,
covering 250 miles through the Poconos and the picturesque valley of
the Delaware River. Last year's ride raised over $25,000 for NBW
programs. Visit this link to learn more:
http://www.rideofdreams.org


*******


Until next time... click on http://www.eurovelo.org/routes
and then
just dream of the possibilities.


--------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2012 Adventure Cycling Association. See what we are doing at:
http://www.adventurecycling.org

If you like Bike Bits, please forward it to your cycling friends!

To subscribe, visit:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/bikebits/subscribe.cfm

To update your subscription or unsubscribe, visit:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/bikebits/manage.cfm

News for Bike Bits? Please email bikebits@adventurecycling.org

Looking for past issues of Bike Bits? Visit the publications archive:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/library/index.cfm

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Read our blog: http://blog.adventurecycling.org

Find us on:

Facebook:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/facebook

Twitter:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/twitter

Flickr:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/flickr

YouTube:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/youtube

Adventure Cycling Association is North America's premier nonprofit
organization dedicated to bicycle travel. Membership is open to anyone
and includes a one-year subscription to Adventure Cyclist magazine
and discounted pricing on maps from our Adventure Cycling Route
Network, which now includes 41,399 miles. To join, go to:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/membership/membership.cfm

--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Bike Bits Vol. 14, No. 4, February 15, 2012

Michael McCoy — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:00:00 MST

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bike Bits Vol. 14, No. 4, February 15, 2012
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the 281st issue of Bike Bits, Adventure Cycling's twice-monthly
bicycle bulletin. Bike Bits is delivered to you -- and 44,021 other
readers -- because you've signed up for it at the Adventure Cycling
Association website, http://www.adventurecycling.org.
Bike Bits arrives
in text-only format for quick download and includes links for more
information. We want to inspire you to dream and to live your own
bicycle adventures.

************************************************************

"If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion, and
avoid the people, you might better stay home."
-- James A. Michener, 1907-1997

*******


MAJOR TAYLOR REDUX
In honor of Black History Month (February), have a look at the website
of the Major Taylor Association. The organization exists to keep alive
the story and the spirit of Marshall W. "Major" Taylor, the African-
American cyclist who broke through the color barrier in bicycle racing
around the turn of the 20th century. Among other things, the association
has funded the creation of a Major Taylor statue that resides at the
public library in Worcester, Mass., where Taylor lived and trained
during his glory years. To read some terrific stories about the
"Worcester Whirlwind," go to this link and click on the "Major Taylor"
tab at the upper left of the page:
http://www.majortaylorassociation.org
Note that later during Black History Month, Adventure Cycling Executive
Director Jim Sayer will be paying visits to Cleveland and Oberlin,
Ohio, to celebrate the unveiling of the Underground Railroad Detroit
Alternate Bicycle Route. Here's a piece about his upcoming visit at
LorainCounty.com:
http://www.loraincounty.com/entertainment/feature.shtml?f=26339
Jim is also coming to Detroit, Toledo, Columbus, and Pittsburgh in
February. See his full schedule here:
http://bit.ly/zbuQr0


*******


UNDERGROUND DETROIT
The maps for Section 2 of the above-mentioned Detroit Alternate
(Sombra to Owen Sound, Ontario) arrived back from the printer just
last week. Now it is possible to leave the main Underground Railroad
Bicycle Route (UGRR) at Oberlin, Ohio, and ride around the opposite,
west end of Lake Erie (the main route goes around the east end of the
lake, in the Buffalo-Niagara area). Of particular interest to UGRR
history buffs is the Windsor Option of the Detroit Alternate, which
takes in Buxton, Chatham, and Dresden, communities that served
important roles during the days of the Underground Railroad. Check
out the map details of Section 2 here:
http://bit.ly/yj6XUk
Also be aware that throughout February we're posting special stories
on our blog adapted from the Detroit Alternate Field Notes. Below are
the links to parts one and two; part three will post February 16, and
part four, February 23.
http://bit.ly/w1Fu59
http://bit.ly/zCwQv8


*******


ALL THE ROUTE'S A STAGE
A reader named Glen, from Florida, wrote to tell us that he'd had the
pleasure this past winter of helping a young man buy and outfit his
Surly Long Haul Trucker for a most ambitious project. "Ralf Jean-Pierre
is a Shakespearean actor," Glen wrote. "He is leaving Monday, January
30, from Tampa, and plans to bicycle to San Diego on the Southern Tier
Route, north to Washington on the Pacific Coast Route, and then east
to New York, mostly on the Northern Tier." Ralf, aka the 'Speare
Bearer, is performing impromptu Shakespeare as he goes; click on the
link below to read about "one man's lunatic quest to monger the
feverish splendor of Shakespeare across the USA on his bike."
http://thespearebearer.tumblr.com


*******


TOURS FOR TEACHERS
Julie Horton wrote to Bike Bits on behalf of Colorado-based ExperiencePlus!
Bicycle Tours (a corporate member of Adventure Cycling), informing us
that the company's owners are "proud to announce the return of our
popular Send A Teacher Traveling (S.A.T.T.) Award, designed to
recognize outstanding public school teachers throughout the United
States. We believe that public school teachers (K-12) are the
nation's most important human resource. We further believe that by
encouraging teachers to participate in educational, active travel
opportunities, like those offered by ExperiencePlus!, countless
students who come into contact with those teachers will benefit."
Julie went on to say that since the program began in 1996, the company
has given away more than 20 free bicycle tours across Europe and Latin
America. Any public school teacher employed at least half time in the
United States is eligible to apply. The deadline for application is
March 30; see the rest of the rules here:
http://bit.ly/xc6k9Z


*******


DIVING IN
The road proved to be a great teacher for Khara and Emir Plicanic, who
pedaled cross country to peddle Khara's book, "Your Camera Loves You:
Learn to Love it Back." Along the way, the couple learned a lot,
including how to avoid dogs on the chase and how to ride in the rain.
And not only did they learn on their "UNtour," they also taught -- Khara
did, at least, conducting free photography seminars in eight cities. She
explains it in a video embedded at the bottom of this story about their
adventure:
http://bit.ly/z8h1r2


*******


ATTENTION MEMBERS!
We want and need your input, which you can provide by taking the Adventure
Cycling Association Annual Member Survey. Go to this page to begin the
process:
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22EM9HNXA7J
You're not a member? You can easily remedy this situation by visiting
the following link, clicking on "New Membership sign-up," providing
the requested information, and then clicking on "Complete."
http://www.adventurecycling.org/membership/membership.cfm?r=SM-CM


*******


TRANSAM TRYST
Longtime member Ruthie Knox is the author of a new romance novel set
on the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail. Titled "Ride with Me," the book
came out on Monday, and Ruthie wrote a guest piece for the Adventure
Cycling blog that posted yesterday (not coincidentally, Valentine's Day).
There she provides the backstory:  "How cool would it be, I thought, to
write a book where the hero and heroine met through Companions Wanted
[in Adventure Cyclist magazine] and then rode across the country together?
What if the heroine was expecting a sort of typical middle-aged married
male rider, and instead she got somebody too young, too good-looking, and
way too grumpy to suit her? What if they hated each other but were stuck
together for a 4,200-mile trip across the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail?"
Ruthie had to find out, she says, so she wrote the book! Click on the
link below to read her guest post, as well as to check out the book's
cover, sporting the romance-novel-obligatory bare-chested hunk.
http://blog.adventurecycling.org/2012/02/romancing-road.html


*******


LITERATURE ON THE GREAT DIVIDE
Speaking of books, here's one you may be interested in helping to write.
Editor Paul Howard is seeking contributions for volume three of "The
Cordillera," the literary journal inspired by the Tour Divide, the
world's longest mountain bike race. The book will also "draw inspiration
from the landscape and the places through which the race passes, and
from the Great Divide community in general," reads the call for
submissions. "Founded in 2010 by race veteran Eric Bruntjen, in two
years 'The Cordillera' has become a practical reference for participants
new and old as well as a place for reflection on the event and the
places it passes through. It has contributed to the increased awareness
of the race itself, of the natural beauty of its route, and the
hospitality and generosity of those who live there. It has also raised
over $9,000 for worthwhile causes, including the college fund of Linnaea
Blumenthal, daughter of late Tour Divide racer Dave Blumenthal." Editor
Howard, also a race veteran, is the British author of "Eat, Sleep, Ride:
How I Braved Bears, Badlands, and Big Breakfasts in My Quest to Cycle
the Tour Divide." The deadline for submissions is April 20. Learn more
here:
http://www.thecordillera.org


*******


Until next time... click on http://vimeo.com/35927275
to view a most
interesting three-minute video about a guy who lived on his bike in
Montreal for over a year -- apparently very little of that time with
his hands on the handlebars.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2012 Adventure Cycling Association. See what we are doing at:
http://www.adventurecycling.org

If you like Bike Bits, please forward it to your cycling friends!

To subscribe, visit:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/bikebits/subscribe.cfm

To update your subscription or unsubscribe, visit:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/bikebits/manage.cfm

News for Bike Bits? Please email bikebits@adventurecycling.org

Looking for past issues of Bike Bits? Visit the publications archive:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/library/index.cfm

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Read our blog: http://blog.adventurecycling.org

Find us on:

Facebook:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/facebook

Twitter:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/twitter

Flickr:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/flickr

YouTube:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/youtube

Adventure Cycling Association is North America's premier nonprofit
organization dedicated to bicycle travel. Membership is open to anyone
and includes a one-year subscription to Adventure Cyclist magazine and
discounted pricing on maps from our Adventure Cycling Route Network,
which now includes 40,974 miles. To join, go to:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/membership/membership.cfm

--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Bike Bits Vol. 14, No. 3, February 1, 2012

Michael McCoy — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 MST

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bike Bits Vol. 14, No. 3, February 1, 2012
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the 280th issue of Bike Bits, Adventure Cycling's twice-monthly
bicycle bulletin. Bike Bits is delivered to you -- and 43,772 other
readers -- because you've signed up for it at the Adventure Cycling
Association website, http://www.adventurecycling.org.
Bike Bits arrives
in text-only format for quick download and includes links for more
information. We want to inspire you to dream and to live your own
bicycle adventures.

************************************************************

"Travel teaches toleration."
Benjamin Disraeli

*******


CAPITOL HILL ALERT
Tomorrow, the transportation committee of the U.S. House of
Representatives is set to vote on a long-term transportation bill,
which would eliminate all federal programs dedicated to supporting
biking and walking. A bipartisan group of Representatives is
planning to amend the bill to reinstate a modest and revised
version of these programs, which have made a huge difference over
the last 20 years in boosting bicycling and bicycle travel in
America. Please take a moment to click on the link below and find
out if your Representative is on the committee, and urge him or her
to support biking and walking in the transportation bill. If your
Representative is not on the committee, keep an eye peeled for more
alerts about when the legislation goes to the full House of
Representatives later in February -- hopefully, it will include bike
facility investment for America's future!
http://americabikes.org/take-action


*******


THE WORLD ON WHEELS: CICLISMO CLASSICO FILM FEST
The 3rd Annual Ciclismo Classico Bike Travel Film Festival, a benefit
for MassBike, is set to take place at the Regent Theatre in Arlington,
Massachusetts, on Thursday, May 17. The festival's mission is to
"inspire attendees to explore by bicycle. ? The festival will increase
awareness and appreciation for bicycle travel by showcasing independent
films that depict the adventure, humor, and growth inherent in
two-wheeled journeys. We seek films that portray a broad range of
experiences -- destinations ranging from small African villages to a
campground 30 miles from home; solo travel or a family reunion on
bicycles; an organized tour from inn to inn or a shoestring jaunt
with tent and sleeping bag." Professional and amateur filmmakers alike
are invited to submit appropriate films ranging from three to sixty
minutes in length; the entry deadline is April 1. Learn more here:
http://www.ciclismoclassico.com/filmfest


*******


BIKEPACKRAFTING IN SCOTLAND
Speaking of bike travel films, have a look at this great little video
of a combined bikepacking/packrafting solo trip made in Scotland last
summer. There are also some outstanding still photos accompanying Nik's
written account; all told, it is guaranteed to make you want to hit
the Highlands on two wheels.
http://niksbikingblog.blogspot.com


*******


LIFE MEMBERSHIP: GOOD FOR YOU, GOOD FOR US
More than 1,650 individuals have made the ultimate commitment to
Adventure Cycling Association by becoming life members. A Life
Membership gives you a lifetime of benefits --and no renewal notices!
-- including a lifetime subscription to Adventure Cyclist magazine,
while providing the organization with a sound financial foundation.
Funds from Life Memberships can be used only for long-term support for
Adventure Cycling. In the past, the funds have helped us purchase our
headquarters building, saving the organization and its membership
thousands of dollars in interest payments. (This year, the funds are
being used for our building expansion.) Money saved on interest
payments goes into programs such as route mapping and reaching out to
potential new members. Learn more at this link:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/membership/life.cfm


*******


NEWS FROM THE MOTHER ROAD
The following link will take you to an outstanding story from
Smithsonian Magazine about historic Route 66, which is the focus of
Adventure Cycling's newest routing project. In fact, there's this
mention mid-article: "A Montana-based nonprofit, Adventure Cycling,
which produces detailed maps for long-distance cyclists, has begun a
Route 66 project. ?People have contacted us for years, from all over
the world, asking, "Why don't you have a [map for] Route 66?" Now,
we're going to,' says Ginny Sullivan, special projects manager for
the group." (And Ginny would like to add this postscript directly to
Bike Bits readers: Bicycle Route 66 marks the first time we've
developed a new route that simultaneously will be a component of the
new U.S. Bicycle Route System.)
http://bit.ly/wZx5Si
Perhaps not incidentally, the Smithsonian story's author, David Lamb,
has written articles for Adventure Cyclist in the past, such as this
one (PDF):
http://www.adventurecycling.org/resources/smalltowns.pdf


*******


SIDETRACKED ON THE GREAT DIVIDE
Sidetracked Magazine is an online journal featuring a collection of
personal stories of travel, journeys, and expeditions. One of those
personal stories that recently came to our attention is by Michiel
Kroese, who writes of a trip he and his companion Soraya (they "used
to live in the Netherlands but are now currently traveling all over
and have neither a home nor house") made up the Great Divide Mountain
Bike Route, from the bottom of New Mexico to Banff, Alberta. "The trail
became so much a part of us that we felt as if it was ours," Michiel
writes. If you tap into the story (link below), be sure to scroll down
and have a look at the photo of the two bicycles and one person
silhouetted against the sky. The bike in the foreground has at least
two features we would like to know more about: a kickstand mounted in
the vicinity of the rear hub and a pull-behind wheel that appears to
support not a trailer, but a pair of panniers. (He does mention early
on that they were aboard Koga bikes with Rohloff hubs.)
http://www.sidetracked.co.uk/edition-04/greatdivide.php


*******


REACHING FOR BENCHMARKS
"Bicycling and Walking in the United States: 2012 Benchmarking Report"
was released last week by the Alliance for Biking & Walking. In the
report, you can learn how your city and/or state fares compared to
others when it comes to bicycling and walking. Data from all 50 states
is included, along with stats for the 51 largest U.S. cities in the
country. According to a press release issued by the Alliance, the report
"is an essential resource and tool for government officials, advocates,
and those working to promote bicycling and walking, including data
tables and graphs that show how your state or city stacks up and
providing unprecedented statistics to help support your case for
increasing safe bicycling and walking in your community." At the website
below you can download the report for free or order a hard copy for
$37.95.
http://www.peoplepoweredmovement.org/benchmarking


*******


SOUTH POLE CYCLING
Perhaps you read or heard about British TV personality Helen Skelton
and her attempt to reach the South Pole by snow bike, kite ski, and
cross-country skis. The 28-year-old Skelton did indeed pull up to the
South Pole on January 22 -- accompanied "only" by Norwegian explorer
Niklas Norman, a small BBC team, and a logistics crew. Of particular
interest are the specially designed bicycles they rode, featuring
tubeless tires 20 inches in diameter, eight inches wide, and weighing
nearly eight pounds each. At the following link you'll find pictures
of the bicycles, as well as an embedded video showing Skelton and her
companion riding up to the South Pole -- and it really is a pole!
http://bit.ly/xNHywZ


*******


Until next time... click on http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_19268746
to read about a company in Denver whose carbon-fiber belt system could
replace the timeworn bicycle chain.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2012 Adventure Cycling Association. See what we are doing at:
http://www.adventurecycling.org

If you like Bike Bits, please forward it to your cycling friends!

To subscribe, visit:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/bikebits/subscribe.cfm

To update your subscription or unsubscribe, visit:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/bikebits/manage.cfm

News for Bike Bits? Please email bikebits@adventurecycling.org

Looking for past issues of Bike Bits? Visit the publications archive:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/library/index.cfm

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Read our blog: http://blog.adventurecycling.org

Find us on:

Facebook:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/facebook

Twitter:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/twitter

Flickr:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/flickr

YouTube:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/youtube

Adventure Cycling Association is North America's premier nonprofit
organization dedicated to bicycle travel. Membership is open to anyone
and includes a one-year subscription to Adventure Cyclist magazine and
discounted pricing on maps from our Adventure Cycling Route Network,
which now includes 40,974 miles. To join, go to:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/membership/membership.cfm

--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Bike Bits Vol. 14, No. 2, January 18, 2012

Michael McCoy — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:00:00 MST

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bike Bits Vol. 14, No. 2, January 18, 2012
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the 279th issue of Bike Bits, Adventure Cycling's twice-monthly
bicycle bulletin. Bike Bits is delivered to you -- and 43,685 other
readers -- because you've signed up for it at the Adventure Cycling
Association website, http://www.adventurecycling.org.
Bike Bits arrives
in text-only format for quick download and includes links for more
information. We want to inspire you to dream and to live your own
bicycle adventures.

************************************************************

"It is one thing to read about the world, but quite another to see
and hear for oneself."
-- Mary Travers, 1936-2009

*******


THERE THEY GO!
"While a Swiss boy called Adi was eating nice cheese and being on
time for appointments, an English girl called Amy was discussing the
intricacies of British weather with alcoholics on buses... Through
a series of small events and mutual friends, the Swiss boy and the
English girl met. They spent many days dancing, eating, drinking, and
laughing together and they knew from then on that they were going to
have lots and lots of adventures! Suddenly Amy had an unexpected
desire to try really nice cheese and be on time for things, so it was
only natural that their first adventure should be to Switzerland..."
So goes the backstory leading to the creation of Adi and Amy's
website, "And Off They Went." Some compelling stories are told
therein, accompanied by plenty of tempting photographs.
http://www.andofftheywent.com


*******


TOUR DIVIDE EAST?
We were intrigued to happen across the following link, which takes
you to a blog promoting a Tour Divide-type race -- a bikepacking
adventure, that is, with no entry fees, no prizes, and no support --
following Adventure Cycling's 400-mile Allegheny Mountains Loop. You
have plenty of time to train; the race doesn't begin until 8:00 a.m.
on Friday, October 5th. The man behind the event is an airline pilot
from Danville, Virginia, who calls himself The Bike Pedaler.
http://bit.ly/wDzUy9


*******


THE CUCAMONGA KID RIDES AGAIN
Though his August 2, 2010, interview with NBC Los Angeles' Fred Roggin
starts out a little rocky, Joseph Machado's story is one that's
definitely worth delving into. He was thirteen when he rode cross-
country to raise money for disabled children.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krv5ZFzId7Y&sns=fb


*******


SLEEPLESS
Bike Bits received a note last week from Adventure Cycling cartographer
and blogger Jenn Milyko. "I have been corresponding with a Scottish
fellow, Graham, for over a year now as he planned and then rode his
Northern Tier trip this past summer," Jenn wrote. "He is a filmmaker by
trade and took lots of footage of his trip with the intent of making a
documentary. What I've seen of his initial cuts is great and quite
engaging." Read all about it in Jenn's GeoPoints Bulletin post from
Thursday, January 12:
http://bit.ly/wUWRmC


*******


CARLESS
Speaking of Adventure Cycling staffers, here's a link to a terrific
story from the December 23 edition of the daily Missoulian about Ginny
Sullivan, our special projects director, and her family's newly adopted
car-free lifestyle in Montana's Garden City. "The lifestyle change
hasn't been insurmountable for the Sullivans, who already did much
walking and biking to get around town," writes reporter Keila Szpaller.
"[Sixteen-year-old] Mac would prefer to have a car for trips to places
like Target, but he believes the family will be able to sustain the
transition despite some obstacles. 'I think that we can pull it off,
but when we need to go out to get dog food, it's quite a challenge,'
Mac said." Read the rest of the story here:
http://bit.ly/uh9szG


*******


CAUTION CAN KILL: JUST DO IT -- AND POOTLE!
Anyway that's the message Les Woodland wanted to impart in his essay
from a 2000 issue of Bycycle Magazine. Woodland writes that Anne
Mustoe, in her book 'Lone Traveler,' talks of people " 'who would
dearly love to go on an adventure, but teeter on the brink, full of
self-doubt.' They talk themselves out of it. They forget the fun is
in the adventure, the who-knows-what-nextness of casual travel. 'You
don't have to be twenty, male and an ace mechanic,' [Mustoe] says.
'I've cycled around the world twice now. I'm not young, I'm not
sporty, I never train, I appreciate good food and wine, and I still
can't tell a sprocket from a chain ring or mend a puncture!'" Some
sound advice here:
http://ht.ly/8oDcS
A good time and place to try your hand and foot at pootling is on a
bike overnight. Check out this recent post, for instance, about a
quick ride from McCall to Burgdorf Hot Springs, Idaho:
http://www.bikeovernights.org/post/mccall-to-burgdorf-hot-springs-idaho


*******


SUMMITING COLORADO
No, we're not talking about climbing one of the state's famous 14er
mountain peaks. What we are getting at is the 2nd annual Colorado
Bicycle Summit, taking place in downtown Denver on February 6 and
7. The summit will attract advocates, industry leaders, touring
cyclists, mountain bikers, commuters, and elected officials and staff
from across the state -- basically anyone interested in seeing
improvement in the state's bicycling conditions. Job creation,
tourism growth, transportation planning and design, and mountain
bike trails and land preservation will all be discussed. Organizer
and host Bicycle Colorado reports that the 2011 summit sold out to
rave reviews, so you'll want to be sure and register early for the
2012 confab.
http://bicyclecolo.org/articles/colorado-bicycle-summit-2012-pg1233.htm
No doubt one topic of discussion will be the infamous bike ban in the
historic mining town (and modern casino town) of Black Hawk.
http://bicyclecolo.org/articles/black-hawk-bike-ban-pg1118.htm


*******


WARM SHOWERS ON COOL ROUTES
Warmshowers.org, if you haven't heard, is a hospitality site made up
of a community of bicycle travelers. An addition they made to their
website some time ago features several Adventure Cycling routes
overlaid on the map of places to stay. To explore it, click on the
link below and then check the box next to "Load US Adventure Cycling
Routes." The feature will no doubt improve with time, but it's already
a good start. Warmshowers also now has a Facebook group and a recently
launched Twitter handle, @warmshowers.
http://www.warmshowers.org/map


*******


Until next time... click on http://www.bike-santabarbara.org
to have
a look at a cool new cycling website for Santa Barbara crafted by
Ralph Fertig, manager of Bike Santa Barbara County (and longtime
Adventure Cycling member).

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2012 Adventure Cycling Association. See what we are doing at:
http://www.adventurecycling.org

If you like Bike Bits, please forward it to your cycling friends!

To subscribe, visit:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/bikebits/subscribe.cfm

To update your subscription or unsubscribe, visit:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/bikebits/manage.cfm

News for Bike Bits? Please email bikebits@adventurecycling.org

Looking for past issues of Bike Bits? Visit the publications archive:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/library/index.cfm

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Read our blog: http://blog.adventurecycling.org

Find us on:

Facebook:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/facebook

Twitter:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/twitter

Flickr:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/flickr

YouTube:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/youtube

Adventure Cycling Association is North America's premier nonprofit
organization dedicated to bicycle travel. Membership is open to anyone
and includes a one-year subscription to Adventure Cyclist magazine and
discounted pricing on maps from our Adventure Cycling Route Network,
which now includes 40,974 miles. To join, go to:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/membership/membership.cfm

--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Bike Bits Vol. 14, No. 1, January 4, 2012

Michael McCoy — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:00:00 MST

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bike Bits Vol. 14, No. 1, January 4, 2012
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the 278th issue of Bike Bits, Adventure Cycling's twice-monthly
bicycle bulletin. Bike Bits is delivered to you -- and 43,556 other
readers -- because you've signed up for it at the Adventure Cycling
Association website, http://www.adventurecycling.org.
Bike Bits arrives
in text-only format for quick download and includes links for more
information. We want to inspire you to dream and to live your own
bicycle adventures.

************************************************************

"Bring imagination, will, reason, memory, grit, zest, optimism,
curiosity, social intelligence, self-control, gratitude, and some
extra cash."
--1976 TransAm veteran Bob Brown's advice to those preparing for a
cross-country ride

*******


TOURS: SPRING WARMUPS
Happy New Year! That was fun, now let's dream of spring bike touring.
Adventure Cycling is offering two terrific spring tours to work out
those winter doldrums: a wonderful Arizona Road Adventure and the newly
revamped Texas Hill Country tour. Check out the Arizona Road Adventure
(March 10-16) for a cactus-studded desert spin sure to wake up your
spring touring legs. Cycling beneath clear Arizona skies, the group will
also have the chance to visit places like Tombstone's O.K. Corral, while
enjoying plenty of time for more civilized pursuits, such as bird
watching, gallery hopping, and wine tasting.
http://www.adventurecycling.org/tours/tourdetail.cfm?t=EV12&id=276&p=1
The Texas Hill Country tour (April 7-13) begins and ends in New
Braunfels, a small town deep in the heart of Hill Country. On this trip,
you'll make your way on quiet farm and ranch roads through a region of
Texas celebrated for its dazzling displays of spring wildflowers -- most
notably bluebonnets, which grow so thickly that they sometimes appear
to be lakes on the distant horizon. This is a tour that has always sold
out, and is not to be missed!
http://www.adventurecycling.org/tours/tourdetail.cfm?t=EV12&id=282&p=1
Both of these great spring rides offer luggage transport and catered
meals.


*******


PEER-TO-PEER BIKE SHARING
According to the website Co.Exist ("World Changing Ideas and
Innovation"), a new company called Spinlister wants "everyone to
post their bike online, choose a price, and then let the collaborative
economy commence. Those who want to see their bike roam free can post
a profile, and accept any bidder who sends in their price and preferred
time... a 'system of reviews, Facebook Connect, and renter credit cards'
are on file allowing Spinlister to investigate any theft or foul play.
Common sense applies: If you break it, fix it, and late fees apply if
you're running behind." Spinlister founder Will Dennis told Co.Exist
that pilot programs will be launched soon in Los Angeles and Santa
Monica, with plans for other cities in the works.
http://bit.ly/uFBZZd


*******


TRAVELING VS. MUSEUM-HOPPING
Watch and listen to world traveler Gary Phillips of Washington State
talk about bicycling in China, and why two wheels is such a good way
to go. (Thanks to reader Steven Foreman of MethowTV, who produced
this piece and sent us the link.)
http://bit.ly/wq2G7C


*******


ADOPT A LIBRARY IN 2012
Adventure Cycling Association will cut the subscription cost of Adventure
Cyclist magazine in half when you donate it to a public library or
school. This means that for $20, you can put a year's worth of bicycle
inspiration and excitement in the school or library in your neighborhood
and help inspire a new generation of traveling cyclists. The last time
we included this fab offer in Bike Bits, we received a dozen new library
adopters. Let's double that number this time!
http://www.adventurecycling.org/membership/adopt.cfm


*******


WORK OUT AT WORK
Only occasionally do we feature a product in Bike Bits, but the FitDesk
Pedal Desk really grabbed our attention. Billed as an innovative product
that permits the user to exercise on a stationary bike while working on
a laptop computer, the FitDesk Pedal Desk can help users lose weight while
building strength and stamina. "My invention came to me when I was
preparing to ride my bicycle 100 miles as part of a leukemia fundraiser,"
says FitDesk inventor Steve Ferrusi. "With the event date coming closer
every week, I was not getting in many rides. However, I was spending
lots of time on my new computer, planning business ideas, reading emails,
etc. ? Then I had my Aha! moment, and the FitDesk Pedal Desk was born."
You can watch a video of the gizmo in action at the link below. (Perhaps
in the product's next generation, the person's pedaling will power the
computer.) The company also offers the FitDesk PRO, designed to adapt
to any bicycle handlebars, for those who already own an indoor trainer
or stationary bike.
http://www.fitdesk.net


*******


BRRRR BIKING
Here are some basic but sound tips on winter riding courtesy of The Gear
Junkie, by way of the Spokane Spokesman-Review. The writer has ridden
year-round in his home state of Minnesota, so he knows whereof he speaks.
http://bit.ly/wLPDp9


*******


RIDING WITH THE MAYOR
Speaking of winter riding, Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard invited his
townsfolk to join him on January 2 for the 12.2-mile Polar Bear Pedal.
The idea was to bring in the New Year by celebrating the city's growing
network of interconnected bikeways. It sounds as if Ballard has been
a real friend to cycling since his election in 2007, as detailed in
this story:
http://exm.nr/v1TtwM
And this just in -- despite a snowstorm, the show went on:
http://indy.st/vZGEwK


*******


FOR ADVENTURE CYCLING MEMBERS
If you're a current Adventure Cycling member, you can cast your vote
for nominated candidates to serve on the organization's Board of
Directors. Starting tomorrow (Thursday, January 5) look in your
email in-box for your voting opportunity. Also, Adventure Cycling
will soon be hosting a short annual member meeting in Missoula to
confirm the final vote for the Board and to talk about the expansion
of our headquarters building. The meeting will take place at
5:00 p.m. MST on Thursday, January 26, at Adventure Cycling's office
at 150 E. Pine Street. If you have questions about the balloting or
the meeting, send them via email to info@adventurecycling.org.


*******


OVER THE TOP
Or maybe that should that be "Around the Bottom." Whichever, BBC
television host Helen Skelton set out January 1 on her attempt to
reach the South Pole via bicycle, skis, and kite. "Don't let her good
looks fool you," it is written at The Province, a blog of Canada.com;
"she is one tough adventurer. Skelton is not new to completing extreme
challenges that have never been done. In 2010 she kayaked over 2,000
miles along the Amazon River collecting donations for a charity
called Sport Relief." Read more here:
http://bit.ly/ygzNbZ
You can also watch this interview with Helen, in which she admits
"I didn't really think this one through."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-16161062


*******


Until next time... click on http://bit.ly/sxDmzm
to listen to a terrific
interview with our main man Jim Sayer, courtesy of NPR's "Here & Now"
daily news magazine. BTW, Jim swears he's not responsible for choosing
the Queen song that wraps up the segment. And on that note, we can't
resist: for a blogfest of great bike songs, click on the links below.
http://blog.adventurecycling.org/2009/11/rock-bike.html
http://blog.adventurecycling.org/2009/12/bicycle-beat-goes-on.html

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2012 Adventure Cycling Association. See what we are doing at:
http://www.adventurecycling.org

If you like Bike Bits, please forward it to your cycling friends!

To subscribe, visit:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/bikebits/subscribe.cfm

To update your subscription or unsubscribe, visit:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/bikebits/manage.cfm

News for Bike Bits? Please email bikebits@adventurecycling.org

Looking for past issues of Bike Bits? Visit the publications archive:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/library/index.cfm

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Read our blog: http://blog.adventurecycling.org

Find us on:

Facebook:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/facebook

Twitter:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/twitter

Flickr:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/flickr

YouTube:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/youtube

Adventure Cycling Association is North America's premier nonprofit
organization dedicated to bicycle travel. Membership is open to anyone
and includes a one-year subscription to Adventure Cyclist magazine and
discounted pricing on maps from our Adventure Cycling Route Network,
which now includes 40,974 miles. To join, go to:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/membership/membership.cfm

--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Bike Bits Vol. 13, No. 24, December 21, 2011

Michael McCoy — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:00:00 MST

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bike Bits Vol. 13, No. 24, December 21, 2011
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the 277th issue of Bike Bits, Adventure Cycling's twice-monthly
bicycle bulletin. Bike Bits is delivered to you--and 43,299 other
readers--because you've signed up for it at the Adventure Cycling
Association website, http://www.adventurecycling.org.
Bike Bits arrives
in text-only format for quick download and includes links for more
information. We want to inspire you to dream and to live your own
bicycle adventures.

************************************************************

"One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in
the living room on Christmas day. Don't clean it up too quickly."
--Andy Rooney

*******


24
No, not the Fox Network cliffhanger "24" that ran for eight seasons,
but Bike Bits #24. We've reached that magic number yet again--as you
may have noticed above--which means this is the final semimonthly
e-newsletter of the year 2011. It also means 2012 is getting very
close (other things have reminded us of this fact, as well). A lot
of people get a kick out of Bike Bits--including Adventure Cycling
members Sharon and Jim Guenther, who wrote a few days ago to tell us
they look forward to reading each edition. "Your 'bit' about story
ideas and angles on bike travel prompted me to write to you," Sharon
wrote, "because I think we have a story that readers would find
interesting, and maybe even inspiring. The things we learned about our
country, about the kindness of strangers, about our own adaptability,
and about what is really important in life have compelled me to want
to share these things with others. I am compiling what I hope will
turn out to be book on our travels, and how what we learned continues
to inform our lives as we invent a new life in Denver." She invites
you to learn more about their story by clicking here:
http://www.jimandsharonsbigadventure.com


*******


NOT YOUR EVERYDAY ADVENTURE JOURNAL
Though Kolby Kirt, aka The Hike Guy, was hiking the Pacific Crest
Trail and not bicycling the Sierra Cascades Bicycle Route when he put
his journal together, we think you'll enjoy having a look at a few
pages from it. You can click on the individual spreads to enlarge them.
http://www.coldsplinters.com/2011/11/pct-moleskins


*******


ADVENTURE CYCLING TOURS SURVEY
Tours Director Arlen Hall, along with the rest of his tours team,
would like to invite you to participate in an important survey that
will assist Adventure Cycling in enhancing our existing bicycle tour
offerings and help us develop new ones. As Arlen points out, your
responses will be helpful whether or not you have toured with us in
the past. The survey will take about ten minutes to complete, and
responses will remain confidential and anonymous. We value your
feedback! Click on this link to be directed to the survey:
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/U2LSPTTLW6UJ


*******


NEW ZEALAND FOR THE NEW YEAR
The Kiwi Chronicles is the most recent project of Russ Roca and Laura
Crawford of The Path Less Pedaled fame. They recently hit the shores
of New Zealand and you can follow their journey--scoping out the
best in New Zealand bike travel--via video dispatches posted to our
blog.
http://blog.adventurecycling.org/search/label/Kiwi%20Chronicles


*******


MISERLY TRAVEL
Apparently playing off Stanley and Danko's 1998 bestseller "The
Millionaire Next Door," Jeff Yeager has authored a book wearing the
intriguing title of "The Cheapskate Next Door." It's his second
cheapskate-based book. "My first book, 'The Ultimate Cheapskate's
Road Map to True Riches,' came out in 2008," he writes. "I'll always
remember 2008 as the year I slept in some mighty strange places. I
hit the road in early January, shortly after 'Road Map' was released,
on a series of book-tours-by-bicycle, cleverly dubbed the 'Tour de
Cheapskate.' I bicycled nearly 3,000 miles on those trips (bringing
my lifetime pedaling total to more than 85,000 miles)... I convinced
my publisher to let me travel on the cheap, not just bicycling but
staying in the homes of fellow cheapskates and other total strangers
I found through CouchSurfing.com." Read more here:
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/45655536/ns/today-books


*******


HEARTFELT ADVICE FROM THE AMA
"Ride no faster than 12 kilometers an hour [and] as far as possible
guard against the desire to ride any faster. It is very difficult not
to give way to the 'delirium of swiftness.' With a light machine on
a good road an amateur may easily make 25 kilometers an hour. This is
too much, for the pulse is increased to 150, even at 14 and 16
kilometers per hour." And this is just one piece of advice offered to
bicyclists through JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical
Association--116 years ago.
http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/274/16/1320.1.full.pdf+html


*******


LONDON TO LONDON THE LONG WAY
Sarah Outen is a young Englishwoman in the midst of a most ambitious
adventure. "Two boats, one bike, two oceans, three continents. I am
the engine--this is human power all the way. And I invite you to join
my journey." Continuing to go by the numbers, she predicts the
following: 11 months at sea, 20,000 miles by bike, 500 miles by kayak,
up to 8,000 calories a day consumed and burned, a few world records,
one little tent, and a to-be-determined amount of chocolate. You can
take Sarah up on her invitation to join her by way of her brilliant
and very colourful London 2 London (L2L) website:
http://www.sarahouten.com


*******


HOLIDAY SPIRIT PROVIDES FUN AND FREEDOM TO KIDS
Last week, employees at Parker Hannifin Corporation's headquarters in
Mayfield Heights, Ohio, loaded more than 400 bicycles into a pair of
FedEx trucks for delivery through the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys
for Tots program. The bikes will be distributed to kids in the surrounding
counties of Summit, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, and Ashtabula.
http://bit.ly/t8yViN
Learn more about the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation here:
http://www.toysfortots.org/default.asp


*******


Until next time... click on http://bit.ly/rL3iTU
to get the latest
exciting update from our 2011 Holiday Campaign. It's been a great year
for bicycle travel!

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2011 Adventure Cycling Association. See what we are doing at:
http://www.adventurecycling.org

If you like Bike Bits, please forward it to your cycling friends!

To subscribe, visit:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/bikebits/subscribe.cfm

To update your subscription or unsubscribe, visit:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/bikebits/manage.cfm

News for Bike Bits? Please email bikebits@adventurecycling.org

Looking for past issues of Bike Bits? Visit the publications archive:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/library/index.cfm

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Read our blog: http://blog.adventurecycling.org

Find us on:

Facebook:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/facebook

Twitter:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/twitter

Flickr:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/flickr

YouTube:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/youtube

Adventure Cycling Association is North America's premier nonprofit
organization dedicated to bicycle travel. Membership is open to anyone
and includes a one-year subscription to Adventure Cyclist magazine and
discounted pricing on maps from our Adventure Cycling Route Network,
which now includes 40,974 miles. To join, go to:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/membership/membership.cfm

--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Bike Bits Vol. 13, No. 23, December 7, 2011

Michael McCoy — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 00:00:00 MST

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bike Bits Vol. 13, No. 23, December 7, 2011
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the 276th issue of Bike Bits, Adventure Cycling's twice-monthly
bicycle bulletin. Bike Bits is delivered to you--and 43,153 other
readers--because you've signed up for it at the Adventure Cycling
Association website, http://www.adventurecycling.org.
Bike Bits arrives
in text-only format for quick download and includes links for more
information. We want to inspire you to dream and to live your own
bicycle adventures.

************************************************************

"A big lie is that frame material is the most important factor in
determining how a bike rides. That's not true. Frame design is most
important. You can get almost any material to do anything."
--Grant Petersen, founder of Rivendell Bicycle Works

*******


HOLIDAY FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN RAFFLE ? AND MORE!
It's holiday time here at Adventure Cycling, and we've launched our
first Holiday Fundraising Campaign. Two generous donors are matching
gifts 1:1, up to $50,000 (if you're a member there's a special 2:1
offer, just check your mailbox or email from 11/30). If you donate
$10 or more online by midnight PST tomorrow (Thursday) you will be
entered into a drawing to win an Adventure Cycling gift basket (valued
at $115). You can donate here:
http://www.razoo.com/story/Holidaycampaign2011
You might also want to consider giving gift memberships in Adventure
Cycling this holiday season. By doing so, you'll provide folks with
inspiration, great reading, world-class resources (both printed and
online), potential new friends and riding partners, and possibly
even what they need to get on the road to fitness and adventure.
We're happy once again to extend our Holiday Gift Offer, providing
you the opportunity to present gift memberships for half the regular
rate. Simply join or renew your own membership, and you can give as
many gift memberships as you want for just $20 each. Join at the
Patron level ($60) or higher, and we'll send you our gorgeous
Adventure Cycling 2012 calendar. See the details here:
https://www.adventurecycling.org/membership/holiday.cfm?show
You can also directly purchase the calendars, which make great gifts
in themselves:
http://bit.ly/uabpQs


*******


THE SPROCKET ROCKET CHRONICLES
It probably goes without saying, but we'll say it anyway: Do NOT try
this at home:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vs5hjz9qFjk&feature=feedu



*******


IS THIS GUY TURNED AROUND, OR WHAT?
Paul, a member from up Canada way, alerted us to a most ambitious
journey being undertaken by a fellow named Brek Boughton. Brek set
out riding north on November 19 (of all times) from Vancouver, B.C.
(of all places), expecting to end the first leg of his trip on
around December 16th at Tuktoyatuk on the Beaufort Sea. And if you
don't know where that is, let's just say it's pretty far north. When
last we checked, Brek was somewhere north of Jasper, Alberta. On
arriving at the Arctic Ocean, he plans to turn around and ride
back to Vancouver via a more westerly route. Cycling--aboard a
Surly Big Dummy--into the dark, indeed: The winter solstice, the
day of least daylight, is coming up in just two weeks.
http://cyclingintothedark.com


*******


RUMBLE RUMBLINGS
Check out the latest blog post from Adventure Cycling's executive
director, Jim Sayer, to read some good news about the ongoing rumble
strip controversy. It's a wonderful example of how the whole of
national groups, working together, can become greater than the sum of
their parts for better biking.
http://blog.adventurecycling.org/2011/11/good-news-on-rumble-strips.html


*******


WHO'S YOUR FAVORITE ADVOCATE?
The deadline is fast approaching for nominations in the Alliance for
Biking & Walking's 2012 Advocacy Awards program. This from them: "What
individuals, organizations, or businesses are making your city or
state a better place to walk and bike? Honor leaders in your community
by nominating them for a 2012 Advocacy Award from the Alliance for
Biking & Walking. Each year the Alliance recognizes those who show
exceptional leadership in advancing the bicycle and pedestrian movement
in categories like Advocacy Organization of the Year and Advocate of
the Year." Submit your nominations by December 18, 2011; winners will
be announced during a reception at the 2012 National Bike Summit. You
can learn more here:
http://www.peoplepoweredmovement.org/awards


*******


GRANT AND SHIRLEY GO BICYCLING
Boy, do they ever. Here's what Shirley Adams had to say in a recent
correspondence to Bike Bits: "My husband and I are doing the Southern
Tier Route at this time. We are 69 and have done the Northern and Mid
[TransAm] routes. On the Mid route we raised awareness and $30,000 (it
was matched) for safe water projects in Africa. We are four weeks into
our trip and often see [Adventure Cycling leader] Ray Hanson and his
gang. He suggested that I contacted you. We so appreciate your maps."
Though Shirley wrote this note while on the road, she and Grant
finished up in St. Augustine on November 21st.
http://grantandshirley.wordpress.com


*******


BLUE RIDGE BLUES?
If you've ridden Adventure Cycling's Blue Ridge Bliss tour, or biked
the Blue Ridge Parkway on your own or with another group, you know
what a cycling gem it is. Now you have an opportunity to provide
important feedback on a draft plan and environmental impact statement
that will help guide the future of the parkway. Comments are being
sought through December 16 on the Blue Ridge Parkway's 20-year plan.
Though designated as a national park in 1936, the parkway has never
had a general management plan. The draft plan is posted here (and
there is a link to a form for submitting comments):
http://bit.ly/uGiNOE
You can read about the critical components of the plan and concerns
for the cycling community by visiting this link:
http://www.vabike.org/new-blue-ridge-pkwy-plan-happy-motoring-only/


*******


CYCLING IN AFRICA, THROUGH THE LENS
Stan Engelbrecht from Cape Town, South Africa, sent this intriguing
message to Bike Bits last week: "Hi Adventure Cycling! I was just
looking around at a few bicycle blogs and I came across your site again.
I always love spending a bit of time on it. I especially love your
archive of old portraits of cyclists with their bikes. So, I thought
you might enjoy a project myself and a good friend have been working
on for the last two years, called 'Bicycle Portraits.' Our
6,000-kilometer journey [was meant] to be a photographic study of South
African commuter culture (something that is nearly non-existent here),
but it's turned into a portrait of a nation through the bicycles that
[its people] own and ride every day, revealing all manner of social,
historical, class, and cultural nuances never imagined. We are about
to publish the best 165 portraits, from over 500 photographed, in book
form, accompanied by six essays and beautiful watercolor maps for each
portrait indicating where it was photographed." You can view the
project online at this link:
http://www.dayonepublications.com/Bicycle_Portraits/Home.html


*******


Until next time... click on http://bit.ly/tK0Wxe
to read about a legally
blind couple setting out on the ride of their lives.



--------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2011 Adventure Cycling Association. See what we are doing at:
http://www.adventurecycling.org

If you like Bike Bits, please forward it to your cycling friends!

To subscribe, visit:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/bikebits/subscribe.cfm

To update your subscription or unsubscribe, visit:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/bikebits/manage.cfm

News for Bike Bits? Please email bikebits@adventurecycling.org

Looking for past issues of Bike Bits? Visit the publications archive:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/library/index.cfm

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Read our blog: http://blog.adventurecycling.org

Find us on:

Facebook:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/facebook

Twitter:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/twitter

Flickr:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/flickr

YouTube:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/youtube

Adventure Cycling Association is North America's premier nonprofit
organization dedicated to bicycle travel. Membership is open to anyone
and includes a one-year subscription to Adventure Cyclist magazine and
discounted pricing on maps from our Adventure Cycling Route Network,
which now includes 40,974 miles. To join, go to:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/membership/membership.cfm

--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Bike Bits Vol. 13, No. 22, November 16, 2011

Michael McCoy — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 00:00:00 MST

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bike Bits Vol. 13, No. 22, November 16, 2011
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the 275th issue of Bike Bits, Adventure Cycling's twice-monthly
bicycle bulletin. Bike Bits is delivered to you--and 42,981 other
readers--because you've signed up for it at the Adventure Cycling
Association website, http://www.adventurecycling.org.
Bike Bits
arrives in text-only format for quick download and includes links
for more information. We want to inspire you to dream and to live your
own bicycle adventures.

************************************************************

"The bicycle, the bicycle surely, should always be the vehicle of
novelists and poets."
--Christopher Morley

*******

2012 BICYCLE TRAVEL PHOTO CONTEST
As detailed in Graphic Designer Rachel Stevens' November 4 blog post, the
November 30 deadline is looming for submissions in Adventure Cycling's
3rd Annual Bicycle Travel Photo Contest. You can read about it at Rachel's
post, where you'll also find a direct link to instructions on how to
upload your submission(s).
http://blog.adventurecycling.org/2011/10/sitting-at-my-computer-researching.html

Some of the finest examples of photography entered in last year's contest
can now adorn your wall, in the form of the Adventure Cycling 2012 Calendar.
The calendar is available in limited quantities; you can get one by
purchasing it directly (what a great holiday gift idea!), or earn one for
free by joining or renewing your membership at the Patron, Supporting, or
Benefactor level, or by signing up as a Life Member. All of these options
are possible via this link:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/calendar

*******

CAR LOST, LIFE SAVED
While driving along the 405 in Southern California one day, Russ Roca heard
his truck make "the most god-awful racket I had ever heard come from a car." He
knew his vehicle's days were numbered, and it presented him with a conundrum:
whether or not to fix or replace the truck, or to sample the car-free life for
a while. He chose the latter, and it wound up being a decision that has shaped
his life in many ways.
http://pathlesspedaled.com/2011/11/how-losing-my-car-saved-my-life

*******

CAJUN FUN IN DECEMBER
Terry Eastin, executive director of Mississippi River Trail, Inc., wrote asking
us to share the following invitation to CycleOrange 2011: "This is a first-time
event for Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. They are working to introduce new forms
of tourism in the parish, and have chosen bicycling as a premiere opportunity. The
$20 fee is for an official ride T-shirt. A road bike will be given away at the
conclusion of the ride! The 60-mile, round-trip ride takes you to the southernmost
tip of Louisiana and back. The Orange Festival will be occurring in conjunction
with the ride, promising lots of beer, events, Cajun music, and a really good
Louisiana celebration." The ride and festivities convene December 3rd at Historic
Fort Jackson on the Mississippi River, near the mouth of the Gulf of Mexico. You
can sign up here:
http://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1992464

*******

WHO INSPIRES YOU?
? to get up and enjoy the outdoors? What programs or people are breaking new
ground in getting people active in outdoor pursuits? Tell your story at the
website of the Outdoor Industry Association, and help the OIA recognize
outstanding people, groups, and companies. Last year's winners in the Outdoor
Inspiration Awards included our good friends at REI--a company which, praises
the OIA, has "built a successful business engaging consumers in the outdoors."
Read the nomination guidelines at the following link, then click on "Submit your
nomination" to do just that:
http://www.outdoorindustry.org/events.inspirationawards.guidelines.html

*******

UTAH THIEF PICKS WRONG BIKE TO STEAL
When Shawn Bradley's custom Trek bicycle was made off with, the former NBA
center had a hunch it would turn back up. After all, there aren't too many
bicycles around that were built to fit a 7-foot-6 rider boasting a 44-inch
inseam. Just imagine the height of that top tube!
http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/7217076/former-nba-center-shawn-bradley-stolen-custom-bicycle-found

*******

PEDAL-EMPOWERED
"Can a woman bike 2,275 miles solo and self-contained from Phoenix, Arizona,
to St. Augustine, Florida? Yes, it is possible, and I urge every woman to
realize it is possible." So states Linda Gould, executive director of the
Bike-Walk Alliance of New Hampshire, who goes on to explain that she
accomplished just such a ride this past spring, "? and no flats! My Trek 520
touring bike carried my 40-plus pounds of gear as I rode from 25 to 65 miles
per day. The Adventure Cycling route maps provided all the information I
needed to find my way and my accommodations ? one third camping, one third
motels, and one third at homes either of complete strangers or through the
organization called Warm Showers." You can read more about Linda's ride, and
view some iPhone photos from her adventure, by going to this link and then
clicking on "Biking the U.S. Southern Tier--alone!"
http://www.bwanh.org

*******

RECOMMENDED READING
We know there are a lot of Bike Bits readers who are not members of Adventure
Cycling Association. That's cool; not everyone wants to join. But what you
may not know--if you are one of those non-members--is just what you are
missing. What most members tell us is their number-one benefit for joining is
the copy of Adventure Cyclist magazine that arrives in their mailbox nine
times a year. Time and again we hear from readers that it's their very favorite
magazine (and not just their favorite cycling magazine). If bicycle travel and
adventure is your thing, then you're going to love this publication. Join and
get it.
http://www.adventurecycling.org/join

*******

BICYCLING'S POPULARITY EXPLODES ? IN 1936
You say you like bicycles and enjoy history? Then you're going to love this
story from the July 1936 Popular Science Monthly. It tells about a then-current
renaissance in bicycling's popularity, when "factories turned out 750,000
machines, nearly equaling the peak production of the gay nineties." The photos
alone are worth the price of admission, such as the one containing this
caption: "? 300 girl cyclists are waiting for the gun to start them off on a
recent ten-mile race in California." Thanks to TBD.com--tagline "All Over
Washington"--for bringing this article to our attention. (Note: This is a
Google Books version of the entire issue of the magazine; to read all of the
story described be sure to click on "Continued on page 108" at the end of the
article's second page.)
http://books.google.com/books?id=wCgDAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA40&pg=PA40#v=onepage&q&f=true

Speaking of the gay nineties, you might also get a kick out of poring over this
"Map of California Roads for Cyclers" from 1896. What an adventure it must have
been!
http://www.bigmapblog.com/2011/blums-map-of-california-roads-for-cyclers-1896

*******

Until next time...
click on http://blog.adventurecycling.org/2011/11/roanoke-mountain-campground-open-or.html
to read a blog post by our own Jenn Milyko about a vital-to-touring-cyclists campground
near the Blue Ridge Parkway that's in danger of being closed by the National Park Service.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2011 Adventure Cycling Association.
See what we are doing at: http://www.adventurecycling.org

If you like Bike Bits, please forward it to your cycling friends!

To subscribe, visit:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/bikebits/subscribe.cfm

To update your subscription or unsubscribe, visit:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/bikebits/manage.cfm

News for Bike Bits? Please email bikebits@adventurecycling.org

Looking for past issues of Bike Bits? Visit the publications archive:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/library/index.cfm

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Read our blog: http://blog.adventurecycling.org

Find us on:

Facebook:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/facebook

Twitter:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/twitter

Flickr:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/flickr

YouTube:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/youtube

Adventure Cycling Association is North America's premier nonprofit
organization dedicated to bicycle travel. Membership is open to
anyone and includes a one-year subscription to Adventure Cyclist
magazine and discounted pricing on maps from our Adventure Cycling
Route Network, which now includes 40,974 miles. To join, go to:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/membership/membership.cfm

--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Bike Bits Vol. 13, No. 21, November 2, 2011

Michael McCoy — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:00 MST

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bike Bits Vol. 13, No. 21, November 2, 2011
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the 274th issue of Bike Bits, Adventure Cycling's twice-monthly
bicycle bulletin. Bike Bits is delivered to you--and 42,899 other
readers--because you've signed up for it at the Adventure Cycling
Association website, http://www.adventurecycling.org.
Bike Bits arrives
in text-only format for quick download and includes links for more
information. We want to inspire you to dream and to live your own
bicycle adventures.

************************************************************

"Tens of thousands who could never afford to own, feed, and stable a
horse, had by this bright invention enjoyed the swiftness of motion
which is perhaps the most fascinating feature of material life."
--Francis Willard, "How I Learned to Ride the Bicycle" (1895)

*******


GREAT BALLS OF FIRE: TOURS FILLING FAST!
Tours director Arlen Hall reports that the first Florida Leadership
Training Course (January 12-15) filled quickly and the recently
added, second Florida LTC filled just as fast! Our two
scheduled weeklong Death Valley Loop tours (beginning March 10 and
March 17) are also full, so we?ve added a third Death Valley Loop,
running March 24-30. If you?re interested, do not dawdle! Arlen also
reports that the following trips are already about 50 percent full:
Florida Keys Winter Escape self-contained (beginning January 17),
Southern Tier van-supported (March 12), Outer Banks inn-to-inn
(April 22), Sierra Cascades self-contained (May 26), TransAm self-
contained (May 4), TransAm van-supported (May 19), LTC Minnesota
(June 7), both Grand Canyon van-supported rides (September 8 and
September 16), Pacific Coast van-supported (September 25), and Big
Bend Loop van-supported (October 20). Check out these and other
2012 tour offerings here:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/tours/index.cfm


*******


MADISON ON TWO WHEELS
Seth Kugel, The New York Times' Frugal Traveler, invited his readers
by way of popular vote to make his recent vacation travel plans for
him. Out of all the other destination possibilities--New Orleans,
Montreal, Charleston, Nashville, and Burlington, Vermont--the winner
was Madison, Wisconsin, which garnered an overwhelming 40 percent of
the votes. Likewise, bicycling grabbed 41 percent of the votes as the
way for Seth to get himself around Madtown, crushing rental car, public
transportation, foot, scooter--and, yes, private helicopter. "Madison
is the only gold-certified Bicycle Friendly Community east of the
Mississippi," Seth writes, "so perhaps I shouldn't have been amazed
that almost my entire route to and from the Parsonage [bed and
breakfast] was on bike trails or roads with separate cycling lanes."
Click on the link to read the rest of his beer-and-burger powered,
college-football-enriched trip to the Wisconsin capital city.
http://nyti.ms/upcuaF


*******


A MAN, A BIKE AND 4,100 MILES
Here's a story from another New York Times writer who undertook
something a little more serious than a burger-and-brewpub tour of
Madison. This was Bruce Weber's second cross-country ride, and his
journals make great reading.
http://nyti.ms/owhNag


*******


FAST-GROWING BAMBOO
Not only is bamboo a fast-growing grass; it's growing fast as a material
out of which to fashion bicycle frames. Here, for instance, is a story
from The Christian Science Monitor about a company in Zambia that's
building badly needed bikes as well as providing equally vital jobs to
locals. 
http://bit.ly/pIBV6m
Now for a real bamboozler, check out the Ajiro Bamboo Velobike (and also
be aware that several links below the two photos lead to further
bamboo-bike discoveries):
http://bit.ly/qyxQBf


*******


AND THE WINNERS ARE...
Donn Olson, Kevin Cashman, Jim Peters, and Leslie Wills. We're talking,
of course, about the annual National Bicycle Travel Awards, aka the
June Curry Trail Angel Award, the Pacesetter Bicycle Travel Award, the
Sam Braxton Bike Shop Award, and the Adventure Cycling Volunteer of
the Year Award. To read a press release about who won what and why,
click here:
http://blog.adventurecycling.org/2011/10/award-winners-announced.html


*******


A CENTURY-PLUS OF DOWN UNDER BICYCLING
"Forget about the wild scenes of public adulation for Cadel Evans
following his Tour de France triumph... Ignore the visible upsurge in
cycling activity around annual Ride to Work days. And ignore the
prevalence of lycra-clad, middle-aged cyclists clogging up the roads
every weekend. Australian society is unlikely to ever reach the
heights of the bicycle craze that swept the nation more than a century
ago." So begins a terrific tale by Rob Hess, who writes at The
Conversation, an independent source of information, analysis, and
commentary from the Australian university and research sector.
http://bit.ly/q4gS4h


*******


FILMED BY BIKE
The 10th Anniversary Filmed by Bike festival is slated for April 13-15,
2012, at the Clinton Street Theater in Portland, Oregon (tickets go
on sale in February). The film festival screens bicycle-themed movies,
of eight minutes or less, from around the world. A panel of nine jury
members goes through the submissions and chooses winners. Deadline for
entries: January 20, 2012. There is no fee to submit a movie. You can
check out a trailer/teaser at Momentum Magazine online:
http://momentumplanet.com/videos/filmed-by-bike-10th-anniversary-trailer


*******


THE CYCLE DIARIES
Londoners Matt McDonald and Andy Madely are in the midst of a 13,000-mile
bicycle adventure from London to Sydney, Australia, and posting at The
Telegraph online as they go. Writes Matt: "There is a sense of ironic
symmetry to riding a bicycle over mountains, particularly a heavily
laden touring bike. It is like experiencing the perfect ying and yang.
First, there is a long, sweaty, strained struggle to the summit. There
are false dawns along the way, when you think the climb (and your own
strength) is nearly at an end, only to discover another long incline
ahead which is even steeper than the last." Read more here: 
http://tgr.ph/nrvnCb
You can also check out Matt and Andy's own website, The Cycle Diaries:
World Adventure Biking:
http://www.thecyclediaries.com


*******


OREGON LOVES CYCLISTS
Alexandra Phillips with the Oregon Parks & Recreation Department wrote
Bike Bits to tell us about some exciting cycling news in her state.
The Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission has unanimously voted
to designate five new state scenic bikeways: the Sisters to Smith Rock
State Park, Metolius River Loops, McKenzie Pass, Blue Mountain Century,
and Old West scenic bikeways. "A section of the Old West overlaps with
the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail," Alexandra said. "We're the only state
in the country to officially designate scenic bikeways. Oregon is a
pioneer in fusing recreation, transportation, and the economic benefits
of this kind of tourism." The bikeway program is a partnership involving
Cycle Oregon, Travel Oregon, the Oregon Department of Transportation,
and Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. Learn more at this link:
http://www.oregonscenicbikeways.org


*******


Until next time... click on http://bit.ly/oYUkZk
to read a great story
from the daily Missoulian about the current state of affairs at your
favorite bicycling organization.


--------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2011 Adventure Cycling Association. See what we are doing at:
http://www.adventurecycling.org

If you like Bike Bits, please forward it to your cycling friends!

To subscribe, visit:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/bikebits/subscribe.cfm

To update your subscription or unsubscribe, visit:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/bikebits/manage.cfm

News for Bike Bits? Please email bikebits@adventurecycling.org

Looking for past issues of Bike Bits? Visit the publications archive:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/library/index.cfm

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Read our blog: http://blog.adventurecycling.org

Find us on:

Facebook:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/facebook

Twitter:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/twitter

Flickr:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/flickr

YouTube:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/youtube

Adventure Cycling Association is North America's premier nonprofit
organization dedicated to bicycle travel. Membership is open to
anyone and includes a one-year subscription to Adventure Cyclist
magazine and discounted pricing on maps from our Adventure Cycling
Route Network, which now includes 40,699 miles. To join, go to:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/membership/membership.cfm

--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Bike Bits Vol. 13, No. 20, October 19, 2011

Michael McCoy — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 00:00:00 MST

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bike Bits Vol. 13, No. 20, October 19, 2011
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the 273rd issue of Bike Bits, Adventure Cycling's twice-monthly
bicycle bulletin. Bike Bits is delivered to you--and 42,672 other
readers--because you've signed up for it at the Adventure Cycling
Association website, http://www.adventurecycling.org.
Bike Bits arrives
in text-only format for quick download and includes links for more
information. We want to inspire you to dream and to live your own
bicycle adventures.

************************************************************


"I read a study that measured the efficiency of locomotion for
various species on the planet. The condor used the least energy to
move a kilometer. Humans came in with a rather unimpressive showing
about a third of the way down the list. ... then someone at
Scientific American had the insight to test the efficiency of
locomotion for a man on a bicycle, [who] blew the condor away.
That's what a computer is to me... the most remarkable tool that
we've ever come up with. It's the equivalent of a bicycle for our
minds."
--Steve Jobs, in a 1990 interview


*******


ANNOUNCING ADVENTURE CYCLING'S 2012 TOURS SLATE
Last week we rolled out our 2012 dream list of 56 tours, aimed at
bicycle travelers of all types. From a weeklong supported family
getaway on Missouri's (flat) Katy Trail to a 90-day self-contained
epic adventure on the (not flat) TransAmerica Bicycle Trail--and a
whole lot in between the two extremes--you're guaranteed to find
something that'll match your interests. Check it out and sign up
today--already some of our tours are full and some of the epic tours
are more than half full!
http://www.adventurecycling.org/tours
By the way, click into Tours Director Arlen Hall's blog post "Creating
Memories of a Lifetime." Arlen relates how bicycle travel has impacted
his life in so many positive ways, and how it can do the same for you. 
http://bit.ly/n4QRTy


*******


BICYCLES = FREEDOM
Bicycling Magazine editor-at-large Bill Strickland appeared on NPR's
"Talk of the Nation" last week, with host Neal Conan inviting
listeners to call in with stories about the bicycle rides of their
lives. (Bicycling has published essays on the subject in its November
2011 edition, in celebration of their 50th anniversary.) Sixteen-plus
minutes of good stuff here, including at least one mention of what
sounds like an Adventure Cycling route:
http://n.pr/pYgc6g
More, this time from Wisconsin Public Radio. Sam, from Spring Green
in that state, sent this link, saying, "This engaging interview had
me conspiring to leave work early for a long autumn ride." It's a
rebroadcast of an interview with Robert Penn, who in his book "It's
All about the Bike: The Pursuit of Happiness on Two Wheels," explains
how the bicycle continues to change our world.
http://wpr.org/hereonearth/archive_110927k.cfm


*******


A CENTURY OF GOTHAM GLORY 
Perhaps this 100+ miler in the Big Apple was the ride of writer Tom
Vanderbilt's life.
http://bit.ly/qU1B2v


*******


SHARE THE JOY 
Are you already a member of Adventure Cycling Association? If you
are, by way of the link below you can recommend Adventure Cycling to
your friends, and get a chance at winning a sweet Novara Verita
bicycle from REI and other prizes.
http://adventurecycling.org/joy
And if you aren't a member, why not? Adventure Cyclist magazine
alone is more than worth the price of admission and if you join,
you'll find it in your mailbox nine times a year. Check it out here
--you can even get a complimentary issue of the magazine by clicking
on "free sample issue" located toward the bottom of the right-hand
sidebar:
http://adventurecycling.org/membership/membership.cfm


*******


NEW MUSEUM IN SPACE CITY
A reader named George from the Lone Star State wrote to tell Bike Bits
about a new bicycle museum under development in Texas' largest city.
"Houston is in the process of building a bike museum with a mission
of displaying collections of antique and classic bicycles," George
wrote, "as well as exhibiting cycle-related memorabilia. The museum
will cover the spectrum of cycling, by beginning at its infancy in
the mid-1850s and chronicling its evolution through to the most
sophisticated [bikes] of today. The museum will provide an informative
and educational glimpse of how the bicycle and cycling has influenced
our transportation, leisure activities, culture, society, our lives...
It'll also include info on cycle travel."  More info can be found here:
http://www.houstonbicyclemuseum.org/index.php


*******


WILLIE WEIR TURNS 100
Turns 100 blog posts, that is. For the past two years, wandering
Willie been writing a column for the Adventure Cycling Association
blog titled "Sights and Sounds," where he digs through his deep
archives of photographs and audio recordings from bicycle travels
across the globe. To see and hear some examples, go to the link
below and click on any photo that intrigues you. "It will take you
on a little mini-adventure," Willie says. "You could find yourself
on the dramatic coast of Portugal or up in the highlands of Lesotho.
You could end up listening to an impromptu violin concert or the
final seconds of a rugby match. And you just might find yourself
dreaming of your own travels."
http://bit.ly/ohOh2P


*******


PEDAL STROKE: ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY
Karin Linner was 34 years old, in the best shape of her life, and
living and training in New York City for an Ironman triathlon when
she suffered a debilitating stroke. Now residing in Boulder, Colorado,
Karin wrote the following words to Bike Bits about a very special
ride she has planned for next year: "As a stroke survivor, I am
working on a documentary about stroke, and in the spring of 2012 I
am riding my bicycle from Boulder to New York City to ask Americans
what they know about stroke. We will be filming the adventure and
also meeting with other stroke survivors and medical personnel along
the way." Check out her website, where you'll find a trailer for the
film:
http://www.pedalstrokedocumentary.com


*******


GOING GREEN IN CANADA
The Route Verte in Quebec has made quite an impact in that province.
"Inaugurated in 2007, it connects over 4,000 kilometres of bike routes
linking the many regions of Quebec: from Gatineau to Gaspé, and from
the south of Montreal to as [far] north as Val-d'Or, Lac-Saint-Jean,
and Baie-Comeau." That's according to Michael Sabelli, who in The
Dominion--a monthly paper published by a network of independent
journalists in Canada--writes about his experiences riding the Route
Verte last summer.
http://www.dominionpaper.ca/articles/4197


*******


NOW FOR A LITTLE NOSTALGIA
The link below will take you to a 14-minute video of the Great American
Bike Tour, a 1975 cross-country ride sponsored by JC Penney. A dozen
college kids were hired by the department-store chain to ride from New
York City to San Francisco, promoting bicycle safety as well as a new
disc brake from Huffy as they went. The music and kaleidoscopic effects
are GROOVY, baby!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k10233DdFi0


*******


CAN YOU HELP GENEVIEVE?
Late last week we received this plea for assistance, which we'll now
pass along to you, our faithful readers: "Hello! My name is Genevieve R.
Cochran and I am a student at Salish Kootenai College in Pablo, Montana.
I am doing a research paper on cyclists who ride from coast to coast
along Highway 2 [the Northern Tier Route], mainly in Montana. I was
wondering if the staff at Adventure Cycling could direct me to
individuals who have completed the travel and would be able to help me
with my research. I am very interested in this and always have been; I
grew up right on Highway 2 in Harlem, Montana, and have deep respect for
bikers. I would like to learn some individual stories, reasons,
testimonies, etc. Any help or information would be greatly appreciated!"
Northern Tier veterans, you can contact Genevieve at this email address:
genevievecochran@student.skc.edu 


*******


Until next time... click on http://bit.ly/ojfg0X
to read about how
certain gas stations in Copenhagen are performing double duty as
bicycle repair stations.


--------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2011 Adventure Cycling Association. See what we are doing at:
http://www.adventurecycling.org

If you like Bike Bits, please forward it to your cycling friends!

To subscribe, visit:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/bikebits/subscribe.cfm

To update your subscription or unsubscribe, visit:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/bikebits/manage.cfm

News for Bike Bits? Please email bikebits@adventurecycling.org 

Looking for past issues of Bike Bits? Visit the publications archive:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/library/index.cfm

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Read our blog: http://blog.adventurecycling.org

Find us on:

Facebook:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/facebook

Twitter:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/twitter

Flickr:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/flickr

YouTube:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/youtube

Adventure Cycling Association is North America's premier nonprofit
organization dedicated to bicycle travel. Membership is open to
anyone and includes a one-year subscription to Adventure Cyclist
magazine and discounted pricing on maps from our Adventure Cycling
Route Network, which now includes 40,699 miles. To join, go to:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/membership/membership.cfm

--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Bike Bits Vol. 13, No. 18, September 21, 2011

Michael McCoy — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 00:00:00 MST

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bike Bits Vol. 13, No. 18, September 21, 2011
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the 271st issue of Bike Bits, Adventure Cycling's twice-monthly
bicycle bulletin. Bike Bits is delivered to you--and 42,523 other
readers--because you've signed up for it at the Adventure Cycling
Association website, http://www.adventurecycling.org.
Bike Bits arrives
in text-only format for quick download and includes links for more
information. We want to inspire you to dream and to live your own
bicycle adventures.

************************************************************

"It is the unknown around the corner that turns my wheels." 
--Heinz Stucke, who's been bicycle touring for half a century straight


*******


ATTENTION EARLY BIRDS!
Adventure Cycling has just announced that it is offering a couple of
extra-special early season tours next year. The Florida Keys Winter
Escape, an 11-day self-contained ride running January 17 through 27,
follows portions of the Atlantic Coast Bicycle Route and the Florida
Connector. Beginning and ending in Fort Lauderdale, the extraordinary
loop takes in some of the best of the Sunshine State's attractions,
both rural and urban. Meanwhile, a few states to the north, the
weeklong Outer Banks Inn-to-Inn trip will take place April 22 through
29. This inaugural, self-contained tour of North Carolina will visit
some of the most heralded beach destinations on the East Coast,
including Ocracoke Island, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Nags
Head, and Kill Devil Hills. At front and center are crashing waves,
lofty lighthouses, forgotten shipwrecks, Wright Brothers' flight
history... and spectacular bicycle riding. Check out these and other
early season Adventure Cycling tours for 2012 at this link:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/tours/index.cfm


*******


'TIS THE SEASON TO THINK FAT
Autumn, with its cooler temperatures and brilliant colors, makes a
great time to hit the trails on a mountain bike. A couple of upcoming
events can spice up the season even more by adding a huge dollop of
fat-tire fellowship. First up: the Sisters Mountain Bike Festival,
slated for next weekend in Sisters, Oregon, a vibrant village situated
along the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail at the eastern foot of the
Cascades. Outings on tap range from a 40-mile epic ride to "Nothing
to Prove" guided rides.
http://sistersmountainbikefestival.com
Next, in early October, comes southeast Utah's answer to the Interbike
trade show (held last week in Las Vegas): Outerbike. It's a chance
test ride next year's bikes this year, and on the heralded roads and
trails around Moab. "For three days, the world's best bike manufacturers
will be set up at the Outerbike Expo site. You can walk through and
see next year's innovations, pick a bike you'd like to try, and take
it for a ride. Repeat as needed."
http://www.outerbike.com


*******


REMINDER: BID TO WIN AND SUPPORT OUR NONPROFIT WORK
As Development Director Amanda Lipsey explains in the blog post to
which the link below takes you, we've received a pair of bids on our
auction of a 10-night home stay in North Holmwood, England, during
the 2012 Olympics. The current bid is $1,600; the next minimum bid
is $1,700. This is a singular opportunity to treat yourself to an
experience of a lifetime, while helping to support Adventure Cycling's
mission and far-reaching programs--toward which all proceeds from
the auction will go. The auction is open to all Adventure Cycling
members.
http://blog.adventurecycling.org/2011/09/2012-olympics-auction-update.html


*******


GREAT ALLENGHEY PHOTOS
Rob from Fisherville, Kentucky, wrote Bike Bits last week to tell us
that he and his riding partner have ridden the Great Allegheny Passage
many times, and that he thought he would share some of his trip photos.
Click the link below and you'll discover some great images of the
GAP, backed by some terrific musical accompaniment. You'll also find
well-worth-watching slide shows of Missouri's KATY Trail and Ohio's
Little Miami Trail. All three of these excellent trails are used in
various Adventure Cycling routes and/or tours.
http://www.edge8.com/ride


*******


AHEAD OF THEIR TIME
"The Cycling Eight," a blog post by former Adventure Cycling intern
Heather Andrews, tells a most touching and amazing story, via a short
video and the written word. Norma Gilmore is the star of the show, and
her love of the basic bicycle is something to behold. Have a look, and
enjoy!
http://blog.adventurecycling.org/2011/09/cycling-eight.html


*******


ESPECIALLY FOR THE BERLIN-BOUND
Shing Mon Chung, online marketing executive for an outfit called
HostelBookers.com, wrote us a couple of weeks ago to rave about a new
hostel in Berlin, Germany, called the Three Little Pigs. We're not
sure about the derivation of the name, but it may allude to the fact
that there's no way the Big Bad Wolf could blow down this sound
structure, a former 19th century convent. The hostel has received
high marks from past customers for its atmosphere, location,
cleanliness, friendly staff, and more.
http://www.hostelbookers.com/hostels/germany/berlin/31502


*******


ADOPT A LIBRARY AND SPREAD THE WORD
Have you ever seen Adventure Cyclist magazine adorning the rack at your
local public library? No, you say? Then here's your chance to remedy
the situation. For $20--that's half the regular individual membership
cost of $40--you can put Adventure Cyclist into a school or community
library near you. Your adopted library will receive nine issues, or one
year's worth, of the magazine. Who knows how many new bicycle travelers
have been motivated by a happenstance encounter with a copy of Adventure
Cyclist at a library after leafing through its pages full of inspiring
words and beautiful images? And who knows how many more will be in the
future? Help make it happen!
http://www.adventurecycling.org/membership/adopt.cfm


*******


ALASKANS DO THE BIG MUDDY 
Mandy and Tom Hale of Palmer, Alaska, recently traveled to the lower
48 with the mission of getting up close and personal with the
Mississippi River--2,300 miles of it, all by bicycle. As they go,
they're writing about their adventures for the Turnagain Times, which
serves the Alaska communities of Indian, Bird, Girdwood, Portage,
Whittier, Hope, Cooper Landing, and Moose Pass. (Love those northern
names!) Here are links to their first two installments.
http://bit.ly/qnTwCj
http://bit.ly/obrNi2


*******


DISCIPLES OF CYCLING
The link below will take you to a story from the Helena (Montana)
Independent Record about the recent installation at that city's Holter
Museum of Art of "Bicycle Eclectic," a collection of black-and-white
portraits shot over the past three decades by Adventure Cycling
co-founder and art director Greg Siple. The show displays some of
Greg's favorites from the more than 4,000 photographs he has shot,
documenting the amazing parade of pedalers who have visited our
Missoula headquarters since 1982. It hangs at the Holter through the
end of September.
http://bit.ly/r87Omg


*******

Until next time... click on http://bit.ly/rjg5os
to watch a video of
the Camping Wind Turbine. Blow me down!


--------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2011 Adventure Cycling Association. See what we are doing at:
http://www.adventurecycling.org

If you like Bike Bits, please forward it to your cycling friends!

To subscribe, visit:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/bikebits/subscribe.cfm

To update your subscription or unsubscribe, visit:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/bikebits/manage.cfm

News for Bike Bits? Please email bikebits@adventurecycling.org 

Looking for past issues of Bike Bits? Visit the publications archive:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/library/index.cfm

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Read our blog: http://blog.adventurecycling.org

Find us on:

Facebook:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/facebook

Twitter:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/twitter

Flickr:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/flickr

YouTube:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/youtube

Adventure Cycling Association is North America's premier nonprofit
organization dedicated to bicycle travel. Membership is open to anyone
and includes a one-year subscription to Adventure Cyclist magazine and
discounted pricing on maps from our Adventure Cycling Route Network,
which now includes 40,699 miles. To join, go to:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/membership/membership.cfm


--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Bike Bits Vol. 13, No. 17, September 7, 2011

Michael McCoy — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 00:00:00 MST

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bike Bits Vol. 13, No. 17, September 7, 2011
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the 270th issue of Bike Bits, Adventure Cycling's twice-monthly
bicycle bulletin. Bike Bits is delivered to you--and 42,317 other
readers--because you've signed up for it at the Adventure Cycling
Association website, http://www.adventurecycling.org.
Bike Bits arrives
in text-only format for quick download and includes links for more
information. We want to inspire you to dream and to live your own
bicycle adventures.

************************************************************

"Things look different from the seat of a bike carrying a sleeping
bag with a cold beer tucked inside."
-- Jim Malusa

*******


OLYMPIC-CALIBRE ACCOMMODATIONS COULD BE YOURS
"Earlier this summer, I was approached by two longtime Adventure
Cycling members, currently residing in North Holmwood, England, who
wanted to do something special for Adventure Cycling." So begins
Adventure Cycling development director Amanda Lipsey in a special
blog post she published on September 1st. "They proposed opening up
their home--Arlington Cottage, built in 1880--and escorting two
Adventure Cycling guests to the Olympic road cycling races in July
2012 for a ten-night stay (with flexibility on the exact dates).
Needless to say, we were happy to bring such an offer, in the form
of an auction, to our members." Be aware that 'members' is the
operative word; you must be a current member of Adventure Cycling
to participate in the auction, with bids accepted through September
30. Learn more about this very cool offer here:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/olympics


*******


GOT THEM OLD CHICAGO BLUES
Illinoisans and other interested parties, mark your calendars for
November 5th. That's when the "Bridges & Blues" benefit to build the
32-mile Calumet-Sag Trail takes place at Gaelic Park in Oak Forest
(about 20 miles southwest of Chicago). There'll be plenty of beer on
tap, along with fabulous items for sale and live music provided by
Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials (the Boston Globe called them "The
world's #1 houserocking blues band"). The bash is presented by Friends
of the Calumet-Sag Trail, which hopes to see their pet project come
to fruition by 2014. According to the group's website, the trail will
connect cyclists and pedestrians "to regional trails, transit systems,
retail areas, parks, forest preserves, marinas, nature centers, as
well as the legacies of Big Steel, immigrant communities, and the
Underground Railroad. Trail users will see barges. They will see
bridges. They will see factories, and dams, and purple cone flowers
and deer. They will see each other." Learn more about the fundraiser
here:
http://bridgesandblues.calsagtrail.org/BridgesandBlues/Information.html


*******


EARLY OR EPIC, TAKE YOUR PICK
Our new tours director, Arlen Hall, is pleased as punch to publicly
proclaim part one of Adventure Cycling 2012 tour offerings. "We'll be
running van-supported tours on all three of our cross-country routes
next year," Arlen said. "And that includes the Northern Tier, marking
our first vehicle-supported trip on that route." Other highlights
include self-contained trips on the TransAm, Atlantic Coast, Southern
Tier, and Sierra Cascades (another first). Click on the following link
to learn about these and other offerings, including early season
supported tours in Arizona, California, and Texas.
http://www.adventurecycling.org/tours


*******


BIKE BITS LOVES THE BROTHERS HOOKER!
About a year ago, we received this brief message from reader Alex
Hooker: "I love Bike Bits! The link below will take you to my brother
Jesse's and my recent bike trip to Iceland. A must for cycle
touring." The Brothers Hooker completed a 1,300-mile circumnavigation
of that starkly stunning country, and their photo gallery provides
truly vivid glimpses of what it's like to bicycle there.
http://bit.ly/qcnQvy


*******


PHOTOS, WE WANT PHOTOS
Speaking of photographs, we at Adventure Cycling would like to invite
you to submit your best shots showcasing the splendor and adventure
of bicycle travel in our 3rd Annual Bicycle Travel Photo Contest.
"We're looking for beautiful photography representing the diversity
and spirit of bike touring," says membership and marketing assistant
Amy Corbin. "Your original images in digital format, capturing all
aspects of bike travel, are eligible for the competition." We hope to
receive entries covering the spectrum of bicycle-travel possibilities,
from rural road and dirt riding to pedaling along urban pathways,
encompassing the scenery, people, and emotions of it all. Learn more
here:
https://www.adventurecycling.org/photocontest


*******


WHO'S IN CHARGE OF THE WILDERNESS?
According to attorney Ted Stroll--the subject of a story from the Yakima
Herald-Republic that the link below will take you to--Congress never
intended to exclude bicycles from wilderness when it passed the
Wilderness Act of 1964. In fact, bicycling in wilderness areas was
perfectly legal until 1977, Stroll says, when the USDA Forest Service
explicitly banned bicycles and hang gliders from wilderness areas the
agency manages. Writes reporter Scott Sandsberry: "That legislators
didn't intend to exclude bicyclists ? seems to be borne out by the
Rattlesnake National Recreation Area and Wilderness Act of 1980. Its
wording declared that area of Montana [adjacent to Adventure Cycling's
hometown of Missoula] 'has long been used as a wilderness' valued as a
source of 'primitive recreation, to include such activities as hiking,
camping, backpacking, hunting, fishing, horse riding, and bicycling.'"
Interesting article on a controversial subject--what do you think?
http://sportsyakima.com/2011/08/spinning-their-wheels


*******


CELEBRATING GENEROSITY
Don't forget, annually we present four awards that honor individuals'
and groups' efforts to make North America a better place for bicycle
travelers. These awards are: the Pacesetter Bicycle Travel Award, the
June Curry Trail Angel Award, the Sam Braxton Bicycle Shop Award, and
the Adventure Cycling Volunteer of the Year Award. We're accepting
nominations through September 30, and the honorees will be announced
later in the year. Click on the following link to learn about the
nomination process.
http://www.adventurecycling.org/outreach/awards/index.cfm


*******


BARK-N-RIDE 
We seldom feature products in Bike Bits, but this one is too good to
pass up... particularly applicable to those wanting to do a little Lab
work or shepherd in a unique weight-loss program.
http://www.dogpoweredscooter.com


*******


Until next time (since we're on the subject of pets and pedaling)...
click on http://rivercitybikevet.com/about
to learn about Portland,
Oregon's own velo-veterinarian.


--------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2011 Adventure Cycling Association. See what we are doing at:
http://www.adventurecycling.org

If you like Bike Bits, please forward it to your cycling friends!

To subscribe, visit:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/bikebits/subscribe.cfm

To update your subscription or unsubscribe, visit:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/bikebits/manage.cfm

News for Bike Bits? Please email bikebits@adventurecycling.org

Looking for past issues of Bike Bits? Visit the publications archive:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/library/index.cfm

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Read our blog: http://blog.adventurecycling.org

Find us on:

Facebook:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/facebook

Twitter:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/twitter

Flickr:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/flickr

YouTube:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/youtube

Adventure Cycling Association is North America's premier nonprofit
organization dedicated to bicycle travel. Membership is open to anyone
and includes a one-year subscription to Adventure Cyclist magazine and
discounted pricing on maps from our Adventure Cycling Route Network,
which now includes 40,699 miles. To join, go to:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/membership/membership.cfm


--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Bike Bits Vol. 13, No. 16, August 17, 2011

Michael McCoy — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 00:00:00 MST

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bike Bits Vol. 13, No. 16, August 17, 2011
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the 269th issue of Bike Bits, Adventure Cycling's twice-monthly
bicycle bulletin. Bike Bits is delivered to you--and 42,110 other
readers--because you've signed up for it at the Adventure Cycling
Association website, http://www.adventurecycling.org.
Bike Bits arrives
in text-only format for quick download and includes links for more
information. We want to inspire you to dream and to live your own
bicycle adventures.

************************************************************

"If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light. Take off all your
envies, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness, and fears."
-- Glenn Clark

*******


PICTURE THIS
Carolyn Szczepanski, communications coordinator at the Alliance for
Biking & Walking in Washington, D.C., wrote Bike Bits to invite all
of you great readers out there to "enter your best photos of biking
and walking in the 2011 People Powered Movement Photo Contest--for
a chance to win great prizes, have your images featured in Momentum
magazine, and help build a free, online library of high-quality
pictures for bike-ped advocates across North America." What's not to
like? You can learn more about the contest and submit your photos
here:
http://www.peoplepoweredmovement.org/photocontest


*******


HUCKING THE GREAT DIVIDE
Julie Huck, Adventure Cycling's inimitable and longtime membership
director, took a few days last month to pedal a stretch of the Great
Divide Mountain Bike Route in Montana with some friends. (And this
was not her first Great Divide adventure by any means.) On returning,
Julie sent Bike Bits the link to a blog from a couple her group met
on the route between Basin and Butte. "They are on the road for about
a year," Julie said. "Right now they are doing the whole Great Divide
south to north." Their names are Michiel and Soraya, they are from
France and Holland, and they appear to be having a great time.
Regarding Montana, they have this to say at their blog, titled
Bikingcycles: "Since Butte, we have been cycling in a forest which
to us looks like it will never end! An enormous amount of trees,
nature has put here in Montana. It's really beautiful but you're
cycling in a huge tree tunnel."
http://bikingcycles.wordpress.com


*******


RE-RIDE
Bruce Weber recently celebrated his 25th anniversary as a reporter
for the New York Times. He thought this milestone marked a good time
to get out and live a little (particularly considering that for the
past three years he's been on the Times' obituary beat).  Having
ridden across the U.S. in 1993, Weber knew that bicycling cross-country
is a terrific way to attain that goal--so he's doing it again. This
time, he's riding from Portland, Oregon, back to New York City. "I'm
estimating that the trip will take three months," he writes, "which
will bring me back to New York in time for the World Series." So, he's
planning on catching the fast train to Boston, or what?
http://nyti.ms/pKhrMP


*******


SOUTHERN TIER ROUTE CHANGE
Director Carla Majernik of the Adventure Cycling Routes and Mapping
Department asked Bike Bits to send out these words from her about an
important Southern Tier route change. "This is to alert everyone
that there is a new end-point city on the newest version of map section
#5 of the Southern Tier. This map section now ends in New Roads,
Louisiana, instead of St. Francisville. The change results from the
fact that last May, a Mississippi River ferry crossing closed
permanently. A new bridge was built about three miles downriver from
where the ferry was located and the route no longer can go through
St. Francisville." Carla also noted that it will be a year-plus before
map section #6 is updated and reprinted to reflect the same change.
"Addenda for both section #5 and section #6 have information telling
cyclists how to travel from one section to the next," Carla said, "so
that's where folks should go if they have questions." You can do that
by clicking the following link, and selecting "Southern Tier" and the
appropriate map sections from the drop down menu:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/routes/addenda2.cfm


*******


FIGHTING PAIN, ONE PEDAL STROKE AT A TIME
A reader name Tai Lee from Oregon contacted us recently to share
information about an upcoming charity ride on her state's beautiful
coastline. "I am writing on behalf of the Arthritis Foundation," Tai
began, "[about our] fundraiser for the Arthritis Foundation, which
raises money and awareness to improve lives for 50 million adults and
300,000 children currently living with arthritis in the U.S." The
Amgen People's Coast Classic is the name of the event, and it's a
fully-supported ride of two, four, or six days--your choice--taking
place between September 11 and 16. If you do the entire thing, you'll
ride all the way from Astoria, located at the top of Oregon, to
Brookings, situated at the bottom. Visit the link below to learn more.
http://www.thepeoplescoastclassic.org


*******


A FRANK CONVERSATION
Here's a nifty story about a man who has been commuting to work since
long before it was considered cool and green to do so. "It's a beautiful
way to see the world," Frank Krygowski told Todd Franko, editor of the
The Vindicator (Youngstown, Ohio). "It's environmentally beneficial, it
keeps me in shape, and I think we relate to each other better as people
if we're out and engaged instead of sealed tightly in our cars." You
said it, man!
http://bit.ly/r0juw4


*******


COLLEGIATE BIKE SHARING
Some time back, Bike Bits heard from an Adventure Cycling life member
in Silver Spring, Maryland, who had at the time recently attended an
event at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of
Business, Center for Social Value Creation. "At the event, a group of
young people were there to advertise themselves," she wrote. "I was
immediately drawn to them because they had a huge sign that said,
'weBike, do you?' And I loved their T-shirts! They are setting up a
slightly different type of bike sharing at the U of MD and hope to
move forward at other colleges, as well. ? They were quite interesting
and very excited about this new business venture." A recent visit to
the group's website revealed that WeBike: Collegiate Bike Sharing is
indeed still up and riding. Go to the link below and click on "News"
to read about some of their more recent activities.
http://webikedoyou.com


*******


SEND US YOUR CANDID CANDIDATES
We began this edition of Bike Bits with a blurb about submitting your
favorite photos, so we'll end with one, too. In case you're not already
aware of it (or even if you are), a special section of the Adventure
Cycling website is devoted to displaying the Photo of the Week. Here
you can view some truly beautiful and inspiring shots--and, perhaps,
earn the motivation to submit your own best cycling photos.
http://www.adventurecycling.org/weeklyphoto/index.cfm


*******


Until next time... click on 
http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2011/08/indian_man_rolls_into_birmingh.html
to read about a man from India who has ridden a reported 31,000 miles
in the past 19 months. (Warning: In the accompanying photo, Avijit
Chakraborty's helmet is not where it should be.)


--------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2011 Adventure Cycling Association. See what we are doing at:
http://www.adventurecycling.org

If you like Bike Bits, please forward it to your cycling friends!

To subscribe, visit:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/bikebits/subscribe.cfm

To update your subscription or unsubscribe, visit:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/bikebits/manage.cfm

News for Bike Bits? Please email bikebits@adventurecycling.org

Looking for past issues of Bike Bits? Visit the publications archive:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/library/index.cfm

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Read our blog: http://blog.adventurecycling.org

Find us on:

Facebook:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/facebook

Twitter:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/twitter

Flickr:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/flickr

YouTube:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/youtube

Adventure Cycling Association is North America's premier nonprofit
organization dedicated to bicycle travel. Membership is open to anyone
and includes a one-year subscription to Adventure Cyclist magazine and
discounted pricing on maps from our Adventure Cycling Route Network,
which now includes 40,699 miles. To join, go to:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/membership/membership.cfm


--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Bike Bits Vol. 13, No. 15, August 3, 2011

Michael McCoy — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 00:00:00 MST

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bike Bits Vol. 13, No. 15, August 3, 2011
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the 269th issue of Bike Bits, Adventure Cycling's twice-monthly
bicycle bulletin. Bike Bits is delivered to you--and 41,830 other
readers--because you've signed up for it at the Adventure Cycling
Association website, http://www.adventurecycling.org.
Bike Bits arrives
in text-only format for quick download and includes links for more
information. We want to inspire you to dream and to live your own
bicycle adventures.

************************************************************

"I have wandered all my life, and I have also traveled; the difference
between the two being this, that we wander for distraction, but we
travel for fulfillment."
-- Joseph Hilaire Pierre Rene Belloc, 1870-1953


*******


GET READY TO RUMBLE
"While there have been many positive trends for cycling in America,
there are serious signs of slippage among policy makers at the
national level. Bicyclists are fighting hard in the U.S. Congress
to retain dedicated funding for bicycle facility investment [and],
just as important, the Federal Highway Administration recently
issued a new Technical Advisory (TA) on rumble strip applications.
It's horrible on two counts." So begins a recent blog post by
Adventure Cycling Executive Director Jim Sayer, who goes on to
explain how federal agencies ignored vital input from Adventure
Cycling and other national bicycling groups when putting together
the TA, and where we plan to go from here. Read Jim's post here: 
http://blog.adventurecycling.org/2011/08/rumble-strips-awry.html
We are also asking riders to send in reports of inappropriate
rumble-strip application to Special Projects Director Ginny
Sullivan, at gsullivanATadventurecyclingDOTorg. Stories like this
one from Media Specialist Michael McCoy, who last month rode from
Grant, Montana, to Steamboat Springs, Colorado: "I never again want
to ride anything like the 9-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 20 in
Montana, from Targhee Pass on the Idaho border into West
Yellowstone. It features a potentially ideal shoulder that's
absolutely bifurcated by a wide, unrideable rumble strip (and I
was on a fat-tired Salsa Fargo). Riding either to the left or right
of the rumbles was dangerous, scary, and no fun at all, particularly
with the gusty side winds buffeting my BOB trailer. I've never been
happier to get off a roadway." You can read about some of Mac's more
positive experiences here:
http://bit.ly/ow1r6V


*******


SWEAT-FREE CYCLING: HOW SLOW CAN YOU GO?
Here's a fun little story from the San Francisco Chronicle about
certain cyclists who forgo speed and spandex in order to celebrate
the joys of bicycling in the slow lane.
http://bit.ly/qzkF7E


*******


RAGBRAIS TO RICHES
Approximately 10,000 bicyclists rolled through a string of dot-on-the-
map towns in Iowa last week, in the 39th rendition of the Register's
Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI). With a route that
changes every year, the ride makes a great economic--not to mention
social--impact on a different bunch of small towns, especially those
designated as official overnights. A lot of people in Iowa would
like to see that impact continue, albeit at a smoother and more
sustainable pace, through times of the year other than the one big
week in July. And if the folks in the Des Moines Bicycle Collective
have anything to say about it, it will eventually happen. They've
produced Cycle Central Iowa, "a new map and guide [that] promotes 18
well-tested routes incorporating our network of trails and low-traffic
county roads in eleven counties. We believe this is Iowa's first
region-wide effort to promote bike tourism." Read more about it here:
http://bit.ly/rhsAXr


*******


50 STATES X 2
Max McManus of Reno, Nevada, is currently in the middle of Freedom
50/50, a bicycle ride of approximately 7,500 miles on which he's
attempting to connect, on one continuous route, all 50 states in just
50 days' time. Max plans to end his tribute ride at Ground Zero in New
York City on the 10th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist
attacks. He's dedicating his journey to the fallen and wounded soldiers
of the subsequent wars, and donating all net proceeds to the 9-11
HelpAmerica Foundation.
http://www.freedom5050.com
Following a different route, but with a similar goal, Adam and Christy
Coppola of Madison, Connecticut, are giving themselves a full year to
accomplish the task of bicycling in all 50 states. In their case,
they're raising funds for a pair of charities, World Bicycle Relief and
Achilles International. Photography is the Coppolas' specialty, and
they're capturing some wonderful images as they go. Have a gander by
clicking here:
http://giveabike.blogspot.com/2011/07/oh-mountains-where-art-thou.html


*******


GETTING BACK TO THE LAND
You've no doubt heard of Nature Deficit Disorder (NDD), a term coined
by Richard Louv in his 2005 book "Last Child in the Woods." This
human/natural-world disconnect is typically thought of as an affliction
in children, but it seems that a disproportionately large number of
African-American adults suffer from NDD, as well. A group called
OutdoorAfro--founded by Rue Mapp of Oakland, California--is out to
change the status quo. Read how, why, and where in this story from
The Chattanoogan.
http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_205827.asp


*******


JUDGING A BOCK BY ITS COVER
Wolverine Farm Publishing and New Belgium Brewing, both based in Fort
Collins, Colorado, have teamed up to create a book about New Belgium's
popular Tour de Fat event series, which this summer is expected to
surpass, since its inception, $2 million raised for bike advocacy. "Tour
de Fat rises above every other summer festival in its commitment to
artistic integrity ? and complete worship of the bicycle," says
publisher and editor Todd Simmons, "and this book is merely an extension
of that--a wildly flung tale of the last eleven years." The book is
available online at this link:
http://bit.ly/mVCNDG


*******


WHOSE RIVER?
Nancy Maier wrote Bike Bits from New England a few days ago to say
this: "I hope some Adventure Cycling members will join us for the annual
Hoosic River Ride in Bennington, Vermont, on August 20th. The ride
benefits the education, research, and advocacy programs for the Hoosic
River Watershed Association. This is the river that creates the
incredible scenery for cycling in the Berkshires and southern Vermont."
Nancy went on to explain that the ride features four route options: "The
8-mile route is perfect for families and first-time cyclists, while the
28-, 50-, and 75-mile routes are great for cyclists who enjoy hills,
covered bridges, and spectacular rural cycling." Learn more about the
ride, on which you can expect well-stocked aid stations and readily
accessible mechanical support, by clicking here:
http://hoorwa.org/programs/upcoming-events/82011-hoosic-river-ride/


*******


DUELLING DOCUMENTARIES
On July 24, University of Wyoming graduate student Mark Pedri embarked
on an unsupported, 700-mile mountain bike ride through Wyoming and
Utah, intending to document his trip on video. In the film, Mark plans
to take an unbiased look at six of our major energy sources: coal,
wind, hydro, solar, nuclear, and natural gas. Beginning in Pinedale,
Wyoming (where the Great Divide Route passes through), he proceeded
over the mineral-abundant mesa south of town and onward to locations
including the Flaming Gorge Dam, and the major coal mines near Rock
Springs.
http://burningtorchproductions.wordpress.com
Meantime, on the other side of the big pond, Sven Prince and Jorrit
Spoelstra are working to create a full-length documentary film called
"Genre de Vie." Jorrit wrote Bike Bits to explain the project: "In
short, we will research the relationship between man and the living
environment--the city--with the bicycle as the discovering function.
This will partially be done by interviews with architects, city planners,
and people in control at the local governments, [and partially with]
the people who create the urban bike culture, the cyclists in these
cities." Learn more at this link:
http://www.genredevie.com


*******


A LIVING LAB
One of Adventure Cycling's main men in Ohio, Chuck Harmon, knows the
Buckeye State's segment of the Underground Railroad Bicycle Route very
well. He should; after all, he researched and mapped it. But four years
ago, when asked to lead a group of inner-city kids on a tour of the
route, Chuck wasn't so sure. It was way outside of his experience and
comfort zone, he says, and his inclination was to say "no." But instead
he said "yes," and he's glad he did: He's still at it, and the trips have
evolved into some of the most positive experiences of his life. Read
about it here:
http://bit.ly/mWnIX3


*******


Until next time... click on http://on.fb.me/nFEKwb
to access a Facebook
page containing a most amazing story, written by a Portuguese woman
named Ana.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2011 Adventure Cycling Association. See what we are doing at:
http://www.adventurecycling.org

If you like Bike Bits, please forward it to your cycling friends!

To subscribe, visit:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/bikebits/subscribe.cfm

To update your subscription or unsubscribe, visit:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/bikebits/manage.cfm

News for Bike Bits? Please email bikebits@adventurecycling.org

Looking for past issues of Bike Bits? Visit the publications archive:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/library/index.cfm

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Read our blog: http://blog.adventurecycling.org

Find us on:

Facebook:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/facebook

Twitter:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/twitter

Flickr:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/flickr

YouTube:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/youtube

Adventure Cycling Association is North America's premier nonprofit
organization dedicated to bicycle travel. Membership is open to anyone
and includes a one-year subscription to Adventure Cyclist magazine and
discounted pricing on maps from our Adventure Cycling Route Network,
which now includes 40,699 miles. To join, go to:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/membership/membership.cfm


--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Bike Bits Vol. 13, No. 14, July 20, 2011

Michael McCoy — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 00:00:00 MST

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bike Bits Vol. 13, No. 14, July 20, 2011
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the 268th issue of Bike Bits, Adventure Cycling's twice-monthly
bicycle bulletin. Bike Bits is delivered to you--and 41,745 other
readers--because you've signed up for it at the Adventure Cycling
Association website, http://www.adventurecycling.org.
Bike Bits arrives
in text-only format for quick download and includes links for more
information. We want to inspire you to dream and to live your own
bicycle adventures.

************************************************************

"If constellations had been named in the 20th century, I suppose we
would see bicycles."
-- Carl Sagan

*******


SING ALONG WITH BRIAN
"I am a musician, currently cycling America coast to coast. As I
cycle through your great country, I would like to share authentic
music and stories of Ireland with the people in the communities I
pass through." So begins a correspondence from Brian McIntyre, who
says he believes music is a way of building community and enriching
lives. As he goes, Brian is also raising funds for a kids' music
charity in Ireland. You can keep up with him at this link:
http://singsongcycle.wordpress.com


*******


FIRE WATCH
Every year, it seems that a few routes in the Adventure Cycling Route
Network are affected by forest fires, usually when smoke reduces
visibility to the point where authorities close the roads. That's
why we at headquarters have created a new resource, which we've
dubbed the Adventure Cycling Association Fire Map. Linked at the
temporary road closures page, this new tool utilizes a Google map
overlaid with the entire route network; additionally, the map is
linked to the U.S. Forest Service GeoMAC fire incident database. The
perimeters of every fire in the U.S. are updated daily and displayed
on the map with our routes. Riders can easily zoom in on fires near
their route and click on the fire icon to get more information. The
link in the balloon will direct users to a website with the latest
status of the fire. If there is a closure on the intended route,
contact information can be utilized to call local agencies for
detour information. There's also information on wind direction and
speed, which can be used to estimate smoke coverage. This new
resource should help cyclists plan ahead and avoid delays imposed
by wildfire. We hope to add flood, weather, and snow-depth overlays
in the future, making the map even more useful. Please give it a
try and let us know what you think!
http://www.adventurecycling.org/routes/forestfires/



*******


CLUB & SHOP MEMBERSHIP
By becoming a Member Club or Member Shop with Adventure Cycling, you'll
have a connection to the nearly 45,000 members of North America's
largest recreational cycling association (and largest cycling non-
profit of any kind). Our members are not just cyclists, but some of
the most dedicated and active users of two-wheeled transportation in
America. They also tend to be pretty darn nice, fun-loving people.
Member Club info:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/membership/clubs.cfm
Member Shop info:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/membership/shops.cfm


*******


WRIGHT ON
Michael Herpy, an architect from Willoughby, Ohio, wrote to tell us
that he just wrapped up a bicycle tour from Cleveland, Ohio, to
Wyoming. "My goal [was] to align a study of Frank Lloyd Wright's
 work, particularly his Usonian Houses," he wrote, "reflecting on how
various details may potentially improve the minimal dwelling units
provided by Constru Casa in Antigua, Guatemala." Ultimately, Michael
hopes to raise enough money for the construction of three houses with
Constru Casa, a non-profit organization offering basic housing to
families living in extreme poverty.
http://www.mherpy.blogspot.com
http://www.construcasa.org


*******


BRIDGING THE GAP
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood recently helped dedicate
a new bicycle and pedestrian bridge in Little Rock, Arkansas. After
sitting on the drawing and dreaming boards for some 40 years, the
newly constructed bridge connects 17 miles of trails webbing both
shores of the Arkansas River. Check it out virtually at the following
link, then plan to check it out in person someday soon:
http://bit.ly/pMGons


*******


HALL MONITOR
It was with great pleasure last week that executive director Jim
Sayer announced Adventure Cycling's new tours director: Arlen Hall,
who is moving to Missoula from Connecticut to take the job. "I know
that some of you already know Arlen from his prior service as a tours
leader and staffer for Adventure Cycling," Jim said. "Arlen has an
incredibly varied background. He has worked as a software developer
and owned his own software company. He has worked for larger
corporations, yet also has his own bike tour company, and has run
charity rides involving young people." Arlen has also taken the
Adventure Cycling Leadership Training Course and has led or staffed
every style of tour we offer. This past spring he led our Southern
Tier Van cross-country ride. "When I offered him the post," Jim
added, "Arlen said that the offer ?made my day, made my year...
probably made my life!'" He will begin his duties full-time on August
15. In the meantime, check out the 2011 tours that still have coveted
spots available:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/tours/index.cfm


*******


BOOMERS ON BICYCLES, PART II
Back in the June 1 edition we reported that the daily Missoulian
wanted to interview baby-boomer cyclists about their passion and
motivation for bike touring and their current summer adventure. The
results are in!
http://bit.ly/ovSsvZ


*******


MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR
"Maybe Bike Bits readers would like to see this," wrote Bike Bits
reader and renowned adventurer (not to mention professor of biology
and mathematics) Roman Dial of Anchorage, Alaska. "It's a video of
five cyclists with fat bikes and packrafts on Alaska's wildest
coastline, where they dealt with glaciers, bears, whales, and miles
and miles of beach riding." The group took ten days to cycle 135
miles, packraft 65 miles, and push and carry bikes the remaining 25
miles. Amazing stuff, indeed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2cf1fF1i2E


*******


TRAIN AND RIDE, 1950s STYLE
Here's a ride that looks a bit more, ahem, civilized. Thanks to Bike
Bits reader Mike Thomas for sending us this link to a video of cycle
touring in Britain in 1955. As for the early clips of the two-part,
15-minute video: Oh how we would love to see the trains of today in
the U.S.A. cater to cyclists like this!
http://www.wendmag.com/blog/2011/06/30/cycle-touring-circa-1955


*******


Until next time ... Click this link to read about this past weekend's
#flightvsbike Carmaggedon challenge in which a team of cyclists bested
Jet Blue in LA:
http://www.slate.com/id/2299432/


--------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2011 Adventure Cycling Association. See what we are doing at:
http://www.adventurecycling.org

If you like Bike Bits, please forward it to your cycling friends!

To subscribe, visit:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/bikebits/subscribe.cfm

To update your subscription or unsubscribe, visit:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/bikebits/manage.cfm

News for Bike Bits? Please email bikebits@adventurecycling.org

Looking for past issues of Bike Bits? Visit the publications archive:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/library/index.cfm

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Read our blog: http://blog.adventurecycling.org

Find us on:

Facebook:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/facebook

Twitter:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/twitter

Flickr:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/flickr

YouTube:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/youtube

Adventure Cycling Association is North America's premier nonprofit
organization dedicated to bicycle travel. Membership is open to anyone
and includes a one-year subscription to Adventure Cyclist magazine and
discounted pricing on maps from our Adventure Cycling Route Network,
which now includes 40,699 miles. To join, go to:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/membership/membership.cfm


--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Bike Bits Vol. 13, No. 13, July 6, 2011

Michael McCoy — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 00:00:00 MST

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bike Bits Vol. 13, No. 13, July 6, 2011
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the 267th issue of Bike Bits, Adventure Cycling's twice-monthly
bicycle bulletin. Bike Bits is delivered to you--and 41,538 other
readers--because you've signed up for it at the Adventure Cycling
Association website, http://www.adventurecycling.org.
Bike Bits arrives
in text-only format for quick download and includes links for more
information. We want to inspire you to dream and to live your own
bicycle adventures.

************************************************************

"All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is
unaware." -- Martin Buber

*******


WHO'S YOUR HERO?
The nomination period for the 2011 Bicycle Travel Awards opened July
1, and will continue through September 30. Those awards are: the June
Curry Trail Angel Award, the Pacesetter Award, the Sam Braxton Bicycle
Shop Award, and the Volunteer of the Year Award. All are open to
nominations from anyone, except for the Volunteer of the Year Award,
which is internal to the staff of Adventure Cycling. So, nominate
your favorite trail angel, pacesetter, or bike shop today!
http://www.adventurecycling.org/awards


*******


CURING NATURE-DEFICIT DISORDER, ONE KID AT A TIME
Outdoor Nation, an initiative of the Outdoor Foundation, held a
groundbreaking summit in 2010 that brought together more than 500
outdoorsy youth in New York City's Central Park. Building on that
foundation, this year the organization is hosting five regional
summits, designed for young people between the ages of 18 and 26, to
further their discussions on the worrisome disconnect between kids
and the natural world, and what to do about it. The summits take
place in New York (already happened, June 24-26), Atlanta (July 8-10),
Minneapolis (July 15-17), Denver (July 22-24), and San Francisco
(July 29-31). Additionally, just prior to the Denver summit a
"tailgate" get-together will happen at southeast Wyoming's splendid
Curt Gowdy State Park, where the hiking and mountain biking trails
are top-notch.
http://www.outdoornation.org/page/about-2


*******


OVERNIGHT SENSATIONS
New, from the organization that brought you the 90-overnight
TransAmerica Bicycle Trail (that would be Adventure Cycling): Bike
Overnights, a fab new resource designed to get people out of their
homes and onto the open road for two or three days of bicycle
travel. "Bike overnights can be camping trips, or they can be
getaways to a local inn, hostel, or B&B," it is written at the Bike
Overnights website. "For those of us who love to bike tour, but
don't always have the time or money, bike overnights are a great
option. For riders interested in touring but inexperienced or
concerned about what touring requires, bike overnights provide an
easy way to test the waters before heading out on an extended
adventure." Outings posted thus far include a ride from Dallas to
Mineral Wells, Texas; Bike Camping the Clackamas (Oregon); Chequamegon
Northwoods Overnight; and many, many more.
http://www.bikeovernights.org


*******


MUSIC TO OUR GEARS
Western Montana's 2nd annual Cycle for the Symphony tunes up and
heads out on Saturday, August 20. Also known as the Flint Creek Ramble,
the tour offers distances of 25, 57, 85, and 119 miles, and closes
registration after just 300 lucky riders have signed on the dotted
line. The event benefits the Missoula Symphony Association, which has
been making beautiful music in Adventure Cycling's hometown for more
than half a century.
http://www.missoulasymphony.org/c4s


*******


PUTTING THEIR MONEY WHEN THEIR MOUTH IS 
The Atlantic Canadian Organic Regional Network, or ACORN (we love it!),
is a nonprofit organization that promotes organic agriculture and
education in the Maritime Provinces. ACORN recently received a $10,000
award from Stonyfield's Profit for the Planet fund, which they are using
to develop a series of one-day bicycle tours to organic farms in the
region. Each "Meet Your Farmer" bike ride showcases an array of farms
situated along scenic routes accessible by all levels of riders,
including families with kids. According to a press release, "These
agriculture-inspired bike tours will be the first of their kind in
Atlantic Canada, and ACORN believes the idea could inspire similar events
across North America." The rides, which will include food samplings and
guided farm tours, will be documented by video for presentation at
ACORN's November conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia. They're slated for
August 7 in Summerville, Nova Scotia, and August 14 in Bouctouche, New
Brunswick; the time and location for the third one, taking place
somewhere on Prince Edward Island, are yet to be announced.
http://www.acornorganic.org


*******


PACKING YOUR PANNIERS
Check out this new, sub-three-minute video titled "Packing Your
Panniers." While interning at the Adventure Cycling offices, Luke
Regan helped out in the media department, and in his spare time
created this animation based on our standard how-to article, "What to
Take and How to Pack." That silken voice you'll hear in the narration
belongs to none other than Adventure Cyclist editor Mike Deme.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1GqmcDivGM


*******


MISSISSIPPI INJUSTICE
We know that it can be hazardous riding in parts of the U.S., and we
get stories regularly about car-cycle altercations, but this report in
Bike Portland really caught our attention. Jan Morgan, an avid cyclist
and bike store owner from Starkville, MS, was hit from behind and run
over -- not once but twice! -- by a driver apparently on a cell phone.
It looked like the driver was going to be let off with a "slap-on-the-
wrist" citation but because of the public outcry, the local district
attorney, Forrest Allgood, is re-examining the case. Check out these
posts -- the first with background on the case and the second with the
recent update on the local DA. Along with her family and friends, we're
pulling for Jan's recovery -- and also a clear signal from Mississippi
officials that they're working on behalf of cyclists' safety.
http://bit.ly/mLq3Jf
http://bit.ly/jBtS2T
Concerned cyclists and supporters in Mississippi can learn about ways
to support positive change in their state by visiting Bike Walk
Mississippi's website:
http://www.bikewalkmississippi.org/BWMS/?p=596




*******


NEITHER AUTHORITATIVE NOR CONCISE
We heard last week from Eric Swanson, proud uncle of 28-year-old Melanie
Swanson, who, Eric wrote, "is a cycle tourist currently heading back to
North America (and a northern crossing back to Seattle) after cycling
through Southeast Asia and Europe. She kept a journal of her travels in
Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam that is full of interesting
observations on the countries and on bike touring. I've included a link
to a website that includes an interview with Melanie and a copy of her
handwritten and hand-drawn journal. I think you'll find it entertaining
and well worth mentioning." It's titled "The Neither Authoritative Nor
Concise Guide to Riding Bikes in Southeast Asia," and we did indeed find
it both entertaining and worth sharing.
http://bit.ly/imSEhB


*******


CYCLING SOLDIERS
We've dedicated a lot of pixels and ink over the years to the 25th Infantry
Bicycle Corps, the "buffalo soldiers" who made a pioneering bicycle ride
from Fort Missoula to St. Louis in 1897. Largely escaping our attention
has been information on the subsequent military uses of bicycles. For
example, check out the link below, part of a comprehensive site put together
by a man named Johan in Belgium. Here you can view an intriguing array of
images of U.S. Army bicycles that were put to various transportation,
recreation, and rehabilitation uses during World War II.
http://www.theliberator.be/militarybicycles.htm


*******


Until next time... click on http://bit.ly/iR9aUf
to read U.S. Secretary
of Transportation Ray LaHood's recent "Fast Lane" blog post about the
U.S. Bicycle Route System and Adventure Cycling's key involvement in
this exciting project.


--------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2011 Adventure Cycling Association. See what we are doing at:
http://www.adventurecycling.org

If you like Bike Bits, please forward it to your cycling friends!

To subscribe, visit:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/bikebits/subscribe.cfm

To update your subscription or unsubscribe, visit:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/bikebits/manage.cfm

News for Bike Bits? Please email bikebits@adventurecycling.org

Looking for past issues of Bike Bits? Visit the publications archive:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/library/index.cfm

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Read our blog: http://blog.adventurecycling.org

Find us on:

Facebook:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/facebook

Twitter:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/twitter

Flickr:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/flickr

YouTube:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/youtube

Adventure Cycling Association is North America's premier nonprofit
organization dedicated to bicycle travel. Membership is open to anyone
and includes a one-year subscription to Adventure Cyclist magazine and
discounted pricing on maps from our Adventure Cycling Route Network,
which now includes 40,699 miles. To join, go to:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/membership/membership.cfm


--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Bike Bits Vol. 13, No. 12, June 15, 2011

Michael McCoy — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 00:00:00 MST

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bike Bits Vol. 13, No. 12, June 15, 2011
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the 266th issue of Bike Bits, Adventure Cycling's twice-monthly
bicycle bulletin. Bike Bits is delivered to you--and 41,436 other
readers--because you've signed up for it at the Adventure Cycling
Association website, http://www.adventurecycling.org.
Bike Bits arrives
in text-only format for quick download and includes links for more
information. We want to inspire you to dream and to live your own
bicycle adventures.

************************************************************

"When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your
money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money." -- Susan Heller


*******


RECYCLING CYCLES FOR THE HOMELESS
Bicycles for the Homeless is a nonprofit group working in the area
of Sarasota-Bradenton, Florida. They accept bicycles donated by the
public, fix them up, add lights so they are legal for night riding,
attach a basket or rack--and throw in a secure lock to deter
theft--and then give the bikes to social service organizations to
provide to their homeless clients. Seems like a worthwhile project
that other communities might want to consider emulating.
http://www.bicyclesforthehomeless.org


*******


LOOKOUT: CASEY CLIMBS HIGH
Last summer, Adventure Cycling cartographer Casey Greene pedaled his
mountain bike to eight different lofty fire lookouts in northern Idaho
and northwestern Montana, in just ten days' time. Last week, Steve
Casimiro of Adventure Journal picked up on Casey's Flickr photo stream
from the journey, which you'll find a link to here:
http://www.adventure-journal.com/2011/06/the-daily-bike-june-9-2011


*******


COORDINATE TRAILS FOR A LIVING
The vision of the East Coast Greenway Alliance (ECGA) is to create a
long-distance, shared-use trail system linking 25 major cities along
the Eastern Seaboard, from Calais, Maine, to Key West, Florida. They
need a little help from their friends in working toward that goal. Last
week we heard from Eric Weis, trail program coordinator for the
organization, who had this to say: "The ECGA seeks a regional trail
coordinator for the mid-Atlantic region. This position carries
region-wide responsibilities for all aspects of ECGA involvement in
trail implementation and route refinement, and more. Location within
the mid-Atlantic region is somewhat flexible. The closing date for
applications is June 20." Here's the link to the full job description:
http://www.greenway.org/employment.aspx


*******


QUELL THE QUANDARY
You say you can't decide whether to go running or riding? Then by all
means, have at it and do both--at the same time!
http://www.elliptigo.com


*******


TIME FOR TOURING
There's no getting around it. A great leader is an important part of a
memorable guided bike tour.  We've heard from tour participants that our
leaders are some of the best (check out the testimonials). For fun, we
thought we'd highlight two much-loved leaders. This spring, Arlen Hall
won rave reviews leading our van-supported trip on the Southern Tier, a
journey he chronicled on his blog:
http://bit.ly/hPTvg6
In September you can join Arlen on our seven-day Sierra Sampler tour
(which includes a segment around Lake Tahoe used in this year's Tour of
California):
http://bit.ly/l1AR9o
Or follow Arlen's pedals, by signing up for our self-contained Southern
Tier fall tour:
http://bit.ly/kihvra
This season, Tom Radley--a legendary leader who has worked with us since
1997-- will celebrate having led more than 50 Adventure Cycling tours!
http://bit.ly/gkjjUK
In July, Tom will head up our newly routed Cycle the Gorge tour and,
luckily, there are a few spots still available:
http://bit.ly/l47pNX
We've got more tours this summer and fall, featuring lots of great
leaders, all here:
http://bit.ly/4WY8d


*******


THIS GAL WILL NEED A LOT OF CALORIES
The School Food Bicycle Tour is a project of Oregon State University
grad Sara Salo, MPH (that stands for Masters of Public Health, not
miles per hour). According to her website, Sara is "dedicated to
integrating daily wholesome meals into the lives of today's youth.
She has a diverse background that includes working with youth in
the fields of athletics, health, and nutrition. ? She has also been
involved in the cycling industry for many years and strongly believes
encouraging more people to ride bikes for both recreation and
transport can make a powerful impact on the world." Sara, who lives
in Bend, Oregon, plans to hit the road in August, riding 6,000 miles
self-supported: first down the West Coast, then across the bottom of
the U.S., and finally up through eastern states all the way to
Michigan. She also plans to conduct classroom sessions, make farm
visits, and ride with community members as she goes.
http://schoolfoodtour.org


*******


INSPIRATION, MAPS, AND MORE
Click on the link below to listen to a great series of short audio
segments from Missoula's radio station Trail 103.3. (Adventure Cycling
was featured on the station in May as its "nonprofit of the month.")
You'll hear Bikecentennial/Adventure Cycling co-founder and art
director Greg Siple talk about the origins and growth of the
organization, membership director Julie Huck reveal why cycling makes
her smile, and executive director Jim Sayer discuss the economic and
emotional power of bicycle travel--both nationally and at the local
level. Listen all the way through and you'll even hear sales
department guru and self-described gear head Sarah Raz waxing poetic
about maps and equipment.
http://bit.ly/meQAVi


*******


CLIMB AND COAST FOR THE CLIMATE
Returning this October 2 through 6, the Brita Climate Ride California
will once again see hundreds of cyclists pedaling 320 miles along
stunning coastline, beneath towering redwood trees, and through
beautifully bucolic wine country. The grand finale is a spin across
the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco. A "climate conference on
wheels," the fully-supported adventure raises funds for a collection
of eight nonprofits, including the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, 1% for
the Planet, and Climate Counts. The event, which is the original
multi-day, multi-city charitable bicycle ride addressing climate
change, showcases bicycling as a viable, carbon-free mode of travel.
(Climate Ride NYC-DC happened May 13-17; the 2012 dates for that one
will be announced later this summer.) More information:
http://www.climateride.org


*******


MAPPING HELENA
The first version of the Helena (Montana) Area Trails Viewer is now
available, providing fat-tire cyclists and other trail users with
updated maps of the area's non-motorized trails. The free, web-based
map helps recreationists plan trips and discover new places and new
views. Depicted on the topographical base map are hundreds of trails
managed by the City of Helena, Prickly Pear Land Trust, the Helena
National Forest, and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Also shown are
trailheads, along with city streets and bike routes.  Included is the
Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, which enters Montana's capital city
from the northwest and exits it going southwest. The many partners
involved are quick to point out that this beta-release map may contain
errors or omissions, and users are encouraged to send in comments or
corrections. This is one neat map!
http://helenamontanamaps.org/trails


*******


Until next time... click on http://www.boyonhisbike.com
to learn about
Jason Woodhouse's attempt to break a world record by cycling around
the globe--no fewer than 18,000 miles--in approximately 140 days.


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