Highlights from the Member & Community Webinar

Oct 13th, 2025

    Here’s what you need to know about our current situation, building sale, new leadership, and 50th anniversary celebration.

    Dear Adventure Cycling Members,

    Thank you to the 200 members who joined us for last week’s webinar. For those who couldn’t attend, we wanted to share the key updates about where we are as an organization and where we’re headed as we approach our 50th anniversary. You can also watch the recorded webinar here.

    Being Transparent About Our Challenges

    Adventure Cycling has faced significant headwinds over the past few years. Our membership has declined from 40,000 members in 2023 to approximately 22,000 today. As our membership has aged, we have missed opportunities to attract new members through adaptations of our programming. This, together with the soft demand and rising costs in Tours, created a substantial revenue problem in 2024.

    The board took decisive action in October 2024, reducing our 2025 budget by over $1 million while protecting the three program areas that make us unique: routes, inspiration (magazine and blog), and guided tours that help individuals have adventures and gain skills. Nonetheless, in 2025 we will still operate at a significant deficit.

    As part of our financial recovery plan, the board listed our Missoula headquarters building for sale in June. This difficult decision provides a financial backstop as we work to organically rebuild membership and diversify our revenue. If we receive an offer, members will have the opportunity to vote on acceptance; these are your rights as a member organization, and we will honor them.

    Outlook for membership in 2026 continues to be an issue. So, we are modifying our programming, systems, and value to do a better job of retaining longtime members and recruiting new ones. We are improving the sophistication of our sponsorship and legacy support programs, and we are returning to stronger advocacy, especially in conjunction with other cycling nonprofits to make our voices heard and deepen organizational giving. Our financial recovery depends on rebuilding membership and strengthening programs to appeal to a balanced cross section of adventure riders.

    But this will be a multi-year journey, and we must plan our cash flow carefully. As we enter our 50th year, I think Adventure Cycling — as a concept and an organization with its three unique offerings — is more relevant than at any time in our history. We’re pleased to have Andy Williamson as our new Executive Director to steer us onto a more sustainable path.

    Welcoming Andy Williamson as Executive Director

    Andy brings exactly the leadership we need at this pivotal moment. A lifelong cyclist and father of two from Bentonville, Arkansas, Andy has experienced firsthand how bicycle travel transforms people and places, from his early rides on the GAP and C&O Canal to adventures in Telluride, Moab, and Pisgah.

    Andy’s career spans leading outdoor programs, building cycling infrastructure, advocating for public lands access, and leveraging outdoor recreation for community and economic development. His experience includes leadership roles at IMBA, board chair of Bikepacking Roots, and leading outdoor economic development organizations.

    Andy sees Adventure Cycling’s unique combination of Routes, Tours (Experiences), and Inspiration through storytelling as our greatest strength. He’s committed to making Adventure Cycling a “big tent” that reflects how people ride bikes today — on pavement, gravel, mountain bikes, and rail trails — while using our collective voice to advocate for road safety, public lands access, and bicycle infrastructure.

    Celebrating 50 Years with Exciting New Offerings

    As we enter our 50th year, we have the chance to build incredible momentum. We want to share what we’re working on and get you involved, both as participants and as members contributing to the improvement of our programs.

    New Routes:

    • Vancouver Crossing Loop – Launched in September! Our first fully international route, nearly 80% on separated paths and trails, completable in about a week with stunning landscapes and ferry rides
    • Golden Gravel Trail – Rolling out for our 50th anniversary, an experience that will rival the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (did you follow along with Sarah Swallow’s preview ride?)
    • Klamath Mountains Loop – Launching in December, a challenging adventure in Southern Oregon/Northern California
    • We’re releasing all three of these digital routes for free as part of our 50th anniversary celebration!

    Guided Tours:

    • Our 2026 tour offerings are now live, and the response has been great. TransAm Express is already full, and Epic Great Divide is almost full.
    • Register before January 1 to save money; prices increase in 2026.

    50th Anniversary Events:

    • Jubilee in the Desert – a 4-day event, full of rides, hikes, group meals, BBQs, and more. Registration is almost full!
    • Drop-in Rides – Ride one of three iconic routes at your own pace and on your own timeline in 2026, solo, with friends, or with another rider you find through Companions Wanted, and we’ll support you with bike and gear giveaways and helpful tips on how to ride the routes. The three routes represent the past, present and future of Adventure Cycling: TransAm, Great Divide, and Golden Gravel Trail. More info and registration launch at the end of October!
    • Companions Wanted relaunch – a cherished member benefit is back thanks to your feedback; post your ride and find a companion to join you.
    • Portrait Collection Digitization – we’re digitizing all 5,200 photos from the National Bicycle Touring Portrait Gallery (which some of you may know as Open Road Gallery from the magazine) so we can share them online and inspire thousands of others to ride. Current completion trajectory: May 2026.
    • Adventure Cycling is Everywhere – We’re collecting stories, photos, and videos that capture the spirit of adventure cycling from your unique perspective. By sharing your story, you’re helping build a stronger, more connected community.

    How You Can Help

    We believe there’s a clear path forward. Our combination of routes, tours, and storytelling is unique in the cycling world and relevant to every type of adventurer. Our recovery depends on rebuilding a balanced, contemporary membership that reflects today’s diverse cycling community.

    Here’s how you can support Adventure Cycling:

    1. Support us with a donation
    2. Join a 50th Anniversary event or program
    3. Share your story in our Adventure Cycling is Everywhere campaign
    4. Tell us how you would like to build the “big tent” of Adventure Cycling

    If what we’re working on now excites you as much as it does us, please give us your support. If you’re still unsure and have questions, we completely understand; we just ask that you give us a chance and keep in touch.

    Thank you for being part of this community. Bicycle travel transforms people and places, and together, we’ll ensure Adventure Cycling continues this mission for the next 50 years.

    Onward,

    John McDermott
    Board Chair

    Questions? Reach out to us at memberships@adventurecycling.org.