The last tour has wrapped up for 2014! Another tour season complete, oh the adventures people had and the stories that people took away. The Tours Department has much to be thankful for  In no way is this list complete, so if you want to add to our thankful list, feel free to comment at the bottom.  

Bike touring, like all touring, requires the need to carry gear. Yes, we have bags and panniers designed to hold most everything, but inevitably there will be that extra piece of gear that must ride on top. It’s crucial that those extra items, which tend to be strapped on last minute, are secured and able to withstand miles of bouncing around. Rok Straps has the ultimate solution.

In your bike travels, what is the oddest critter or creature that has hitched a ride on your bike or in your panniers? My bike has transported all sorts of caterpillars, butterflies, amphibians, and insects for dozens, if not hundreds of miles.

From the moment in November 2012 when we first announced the timeline for our next big route, Bicycle Route 66, we have been working to create a world-class bicycle route following the legendary Route 66 travel corridor. Over the course of doing route research, a trouble spot was uncovered in California where we had hoped to use the National Trails Highway (NTH).

Whether you work to improve conditions in your local community, develop bicycle events and tour opportunities, are building trails or mountain bike parks or just like to get out and ride, the National Bicycle Tourism Conference in San Diego packs a powerful story and has valuable ideas. We’re going back to San Diego next year; I hope you can join us because we’re just getting started and have many more lessons to share. 

Whatever your dreams for 2015 may be, Adventure Cycling has a tour designed with you in mind.

I was first introduced to the Polar Bottle in the mid-90’s at Interbike, the industry trade show.  Since then I have used the bottles to stay hydrated and to promote Adventure Cycling.

Adventure Cyclist is the premier magazine on bicycle travel and adventure. Each issue delivers exciting tales from the road, from exotic cycling expeditions to weeklong jaunts in your own backyard. You will also find reviews on the latest gear and technology in bicycle travel, how-to articles, and the latest news in bicycle travel. It's everything you need to become inspired to jumpstart your next adventure.

Over the last year, Adventure Cycling has been recommending people consider purchasing travel insurance with their tour, and many people have started asking questions about it. Hopefully the information provided in this post will help you make an informed decision. 

The issue at hand for the entire Cat Ears product line is the sound created by wind passing over one’s ear cavity as well as any additional noise created by the chin strap as it passes in front of the ear. This sound can inhibit one’s ability to distinguish traffic noise, often a first line of defense, particularly in an urban setting.

Exploring cities throughout the world is just getting better and better. With a swipe of a credit card, you can have access to a bike in New York City, Minneapolis, Montreal, and hundreds of other cities throughout the world.

As 2014 winds down, bicycle tourism and travel continue to zoom upward – and around the planet. In its third biennial survey, Adventure Cycling Association has found that the bicycle tourism sector in the U.S., and globally, is becoming more prominent, more lucrative, and is changing to meet consumer demands.

As bicycle tourism grows in popularity around the U.S., we’re hearing from more and more communities who want to know, “How do we get there from here?” In this guest post, the Path Less Pedaled shares their knowledge of the two key components to successful bicycle tourism: Community Development and Destination Marketing.

In late October, I had the opportunity to leave Missoula for a week and head back east to Maine to do some route research on one of our new tours in 2015, Intro to Dirt Touring – Maine. The route is one that I created back in April of this year, and one that I’m very excited about offering in 2015.