This is the 429th issue of Bike Bits, Adventure Cycling’s twice-monthly bicycle bulletin. Bike Bits is delivered to you, and 67,355 other readers, because you’ve signed up for it at the Adventure Cycling Association website. We want to inspire you to dream and to live your own bicycle adventures.

“I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.”

Susan Sontag

Another Community Boosted by Bike Travel

How did Ovando win the 2018 Montana Community of the Year award? By catering to traveling cyclists. Read more

Be a Member for Life

The Adventure Cycling Life Membership fund was established 30 years ago when longtime Tour of the Scioto River Valley (TOSRV) Director Charlie Pace became Life Member #1. Since then, 2,850 cyclists have joined the ranks by becoming life members and helping the organization build a strong foundation for the future. Read more about some of these life members and join the ranks. Read more

Outspoken for Science

This summer, a team of seven Stanford students will ride from San Francisco to Washington, DC, stopping at schools and public libraries along the way to teach science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) to underprivileged communities. Read more

America’s Quietest Routes

If you like having the road all to yourself, then you’ll love this map. Read more 

Nothing’s Better than Free Shipping

We heard you! Starting May 1, Adventure Cycling is offering free shipping to members in the contiguous U.S. Find the gear you need, support bike travel, and get free shipping — a win-win for everyone! Read more

BBQ by Bike

Forget your beloved camp stove. What you need is a portable grill mounted to your handlebars! (For safety, always wear a helmet while riding and grilling.) Read more

Celebrating his 30th in Central Asia

Battling thirst, hunger, and debilitating illness on the Pamir Highway — solo. Read more

Corporate Members Are People, Too

Do you own or work for a company that believes in the power of bicycle travel? The Adventure Cycling Corporate Membership Program is designed to help companies like yours create a more direct connection to Adventure Cycling members while providing a number of perks like advertising discounts and other promotional tools. Sign up today! Read more

1,000 Miles of Portraits –– in Alaska 

Last summer, Annalisa van den Bergh rode the TransAm and took portraits of the characters she met in a series that has become a celebration of the ways the bicycle brings people together. This July, she’s teaming up with Erik Douds to take the project on a 1,000-mile ride through Alaska. Read more

Bloggin’ the TransAm

Want to know what it’s like to ride across the country? Follow an Adventure Cycling tour along the TransAmerica Trail. Read more

Until next time, click here for vicarious adventures in Germany.

Adventure Cycling Association is North America’s premier nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring and empowering people to travel by bicycle. 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 46,846 miles. To join, go here.

Illustrations by Greg Siple