I will nominate the saddle above as the most uncomfortable bike seat I've ever encountered. The bike was parked among several hundred other single speed bikes in downtown Havana.

We've met with many states over the past couple of years about the U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS). As we move from awareness building to the implementation process, it's become exceedingly important that states and their partners understand the vision as well as the "how to" of getting it done.

On a mountain bike, space is often at a premium. One of the most effective places to cut both space and weight on a bicycle camping trip is your shelter. Even light solo tents usually weigh two to three pounds and take up quite a bit of space. Bivy sacks can feel claustrophobic and don't always provide the best protection from the weather. A great method is to use a SilNylon or polyethylene "tarp," rope, and stakes to construct a barrier from the elements.

Instead of adult runners fleeing from thousands of pounds of angry bovines — you get scores of giggling kids running from realistic bull replicas rolling along on a bicycle tire.

If you've ever used an Adventure Cycling map you already know that they include a very valuable tool called the Service Directory. We've never told the businesses we list there that they are on our maps; we've never asked these businesses if they are enjoying having cyclists at their stores and in their communities. And we've never talked to those businesses to let them know what they can do to be more bike-travel friendly. What does this have to do with those images at the tops of our maps?

Even when you're out on tour, you may find yourself riding around town in the dark. Maybe you're heading to the store to stock up on food, or checking out the nightlife away from camp. In such cases, it's a good idea to make sure you are visible to traffic. While headlights and tail lights are great for this, you also want to be seen from the side, especially at intersections. Spoke reflectors are certainly helpful, but they aren't a lot of fun. If you really want to make your presence known, the Bike Glow is worth taking a look at.

Where do you want to travel? It is a simple question that I find many people don't ask themselves. What are your travel dreams? Pedaling across the U.S.? Your own state? Alaska to Tierra del Fuego? A grand world tour?

Valentine's Day is coming up, and I'm lucky to be spending it again this year with Josh, who you may know from his fabulous gear reviews. Or maybe you were lucky and called in to renew your membership and got to talk to him. Anyway, he's an all-around great guy: fun to have adventures with, watch movies with, eat cookies with — and I'm sure he's looking forward to spending Valentine's Day with me, too. Of course, I know, in my heart of hearts, there's 'someone' he'd rather be with.

In the hot afternoon sun in northern Laos, Kat and I took a break mid-span on a bridge crossing a river. The river was smooth. Barely a ripple. And the water was slate gray/green in color.

We heard laughter upriver and saw something floating toward us.