A Note from the Board

Dear Members,

Spring is here, cyclists are pedaling, change is in the air, and we have a lot to be grateful for.

Adventure Cycling staff is delivering phenomenal work. The Tucson Jubilee! The Golden Gravel Trail! And our first tour of 2026 in the Florida Keys ended yesterday! Staff did this all while also supporting members and the association through uncertainty.

ACA members are doing their part: sticking with us, caring deeply about ACA, and reaching out with ideas, offers to help, and a desire to be part of what comes next.

At the same time, ACA is facing big questions about the sustainability of our business model, who we are as an organization, and how we best inspire, empower, and connect people to travel by bicycle today and in the future.

The board recognizes that this time calls for reflection and deliberate decisions to move us forward.

In this moment of leadership transition, I’m delighted to share that Maxton Caplanides will step into the Interim Executive Director role. We expect this interim period to last approximately 8-12 months and have structured it to both stabilize operations and support the deep work ahead.

Max comes into this role as VP of Community Engagement. With a decade of service to ACA, he has a close pulse on our membership and its needs, which matters enormously. Max will lead day-to-day operations, while the board, with external support, focuses on strategy and governance, including the work needed to recruit a permanent ED.

We know that 2026 is not a business-as-usual year. As we celebrate our 50th anniversary, we are also, like many organizations, facing important questions about our future.

This hybrid structure — an internal Interim ED paired with board-facing external support — reflects both the scale of the work ahead and the need for clarity in how we approach it. The external role is designed to help the board synthesize the significant work already underway; engage staff, members, and stakeholders in shaping what comes next; and support the development of a clear, actionable, and financially sustainable path forward.

We don’t have all the answers, and we know we are only as strong as our ability to work together and engage directly with the challenges in front of us. Our task is to harness our collective energy, to make real the “big tent” community we believe in. The board is committed to supporting Max, staff, and members as we pedal forward together.

With respect,

Flavia Chen
2026 Board Chair
On behalf of the Adventure Cycling Association Board of Directors

A Note from Our Interim Executive Director

Dear Members,

My story with Adventure Cycling started in 2015 with the purchase of a TransAm map set. In May of that year, I set out on a cross-country journey that no doubt will continue to reverberate through the rest of my life.

It was on that ride that I met my now spouse, Julia, after connecting with her through ACA’s very own Companions Wanted listings. We met along the way at Cave-in-Rock, IL. The long days we rode that summer, the people we met along the way, and the magic we experienced climbing towards each mountain pass will never leave us.

I remember rolling up to the headquarters in Missoula and being in awe that such a benevolent organization existed in a world that can feel so chaotic. The thought that there was a force for good, a group laser-focused on creating experiences like the one we were having, was incredibly inspiring to me.

I was so hooked on bike touring that when we reached Astoria and parted ways, temporarily at least, I turned south and kept riding down the length of the Oregon Coast. When the trip ended, I told myself I wanted to be a part of that organization, and I was lucky to land an entry-level job at ACA the following year.

In the decade since, I’ve had the pleasure of connecting with countless members from all over the world, and those conversations have always reaffirmed the genuine awe I felt that summer. Through my time as the lead fundraiser and VP of Engagement here at Adventure Cycling, I’ve been incredibly proud of the work our team continues to do for riders everywhere.

Stepping into the Interim Executive Director role, I feel both the responsibility and the privilege of this moment. Adventure Cycling is a special organization, and I care deeply about its future. I’m confident that with the continued hard work of our staff and board, the support of our remarkable member community, and a little bit of luck, we’ll see this transitional period through and come out stronger for it.

I’m grateful to be on this journey with all of you and look forward to the year ahead as we celebrate 50 years of bike travel together.

Happy pedaling,

Max Caplanides
Interim Executive Director