June 27, 2007

Adventure Cycling Seeks Award Nominations for 2007

Missoula, Montana – Adventure Cycling Association, the nation’s premier bicycle travel organization, is accepting nominations for recipients of its four annual bicycle travel awards. Celebrating the heroes of bicycle travel in America, they include the Pacesetter Bicycle Travel Award, the June Curry Trail Angel Award, the Sam Braxton Bike Shop Award, and the Adventure Cycling Volunteer of the Year Award.

“The Pacesetter Bicycle Travel Award recognizes and applauds the efforts of those who, through extraordinary efforts, have contributed to the success of individuals’ bicycle travels in the U.S.,” said Becky Douglas, Adventure Cycling’s outreach and education coordinator. “Their achievements could include such things as mapping new bicycle-touring routes, shepherding a rail-trail from conception to completion, or leading physically challenged youth on multi-day cycling adventures.” The award is named in honor of Charlie Pace of Columbus, Ohio, who has spent over 40 years creating and supporting bicycle travel opportunities. “Charlie was a key promoter and supporter of both the Tour of Scioto River Valley [TOSRV] in Ohio and Bikecentennial/Adventure Cycling Association,” Douglas said. “A retired banker, he has devoted much of his adult life to sharing his passion for bicycle touring.
 
“The June Curry Trail Angel Award goes to individuals who have gone out of their way to help touring cyclists,” Douglas said. “The award is named in honor of June Curry, the famous ‘Cookie Lady,’ who for 30 years has been hosting cyclists traveling through her hometown of Afton, Virginia, on the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail. We were very pleased to present June with the first-ever Trail Angel Award in 2003, because her selfless actions truly exemplify the spirit of this award.”

The Braxton Bike Shop Award honors a shop that goes above and beyond the call of duty in providing service to bicycle travelers. Douglas explained that the award was inspired by its namesake, the Braxton Bike Shop in Missoula, Montana, which for many years lived up to its motto, “An Oasis for the Cycletourist.”

“Finally,” Douglas said, “the Adventure Cycling Volunteer of the Year Award is our way of saying ‘thank you’ each year to a volunteer who has helped the organization further its goal of inspiring people of all ages to travel by bicycle. Last year’s recipient was Wally Werner of Centennial, Colorado. A life member of the organization who is also a founding member of Adventure Cycling’s leadership development team, Wally has contributed countless hours of his time over the past few years to inspire others to travel by bicycle. He truly sets the standard for future Volunteer of the Year Award recipients.”

Nominations for 2007 awards will be accepted through September 30. For further details visit www.adventurecycling.org/awards or contact Douglas at (406) 721-1776 ext. 235, or bdouglas@adventurecycling.org.

Adventure Cycling, a 501(c)(3), 42,000-member nonprofit, is America’s largest cycling organization. Dedicated to inspiring people of all ages to travel by bicycle, Adventure Cycling’s services include bicycle-route development and mapping, periodical publishing (Adventure Cyclist magazine and The Cyclists’ Yellow Pages resource directory), and a guided bicycle-travel program. Adventure Cycling’s National Bicycle Route Network comprises 34,061 miles of mapped, on- and off-road bicycle routes. For more information visit www.adventurecycling.org.

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