We had the tornado sirens going off in the Lafayette, Indiana area tonight. (Well, it's after midnight, so yesterday evening.). May 30, at about 7:00 PM or so, the National Weather Service issued a Tornado Warning for Lafayette and the surrounding region. The Storm tracked through Battleground, Indiana. I was able to get video footage of the storm as it passed to the north. I believe I may have gotten a tornado on the ground briefly, or at the least a very strong downburst.
It was a wild ride, though, watching this and I'm afraid I got the wwife a bit mad at me that I was out there getting footage rather than hiding in the tub, but it was too good an opportunity to miss.
WLFI-TV did also pick up a small amount of my video footage for the 11:00 Weather Report. The above is my footage post edit to assemble it. I left the audio raw. This same storm front apparently also dropped a strong tornado on Indianapolis and nearly leveled 300 apartments at 38th and Mithoffer. Wild night in Indiana tonight!
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Update: Tour de Cure and Video
Well, here's the deal.......
Tour de Cure is about 3 weeks away and I'm $35.00 from my goal. It's looking good though. I will be making the attempt at the Century, in spite of my crash.I have about 65% of my shoulder mobility back and am rehabbing it religiously. If you want to help me meet my goal, here is my Tour Page
As to how I handle it? Who knows? I'll see when I'm in it. Pain is weakness leaving the body after all. I'll be resuming riding after Memorial day weekend, though, and I'll only have 2 weeks to train for a 100 mile ride after a crash.
All you really have to remember is that ultimately, you set your own limits arbitrarily, and are far more capable than you believe. Take control of your life, use whatever tools that you need to and you have a far greater chance of achieving your goals than if you only dream and never act. Take charge and commit.
Now, for the update on my progress after 3 years since my surgery.
Tour de Cure is about 3 weeks away and I'm $35.00 from my goal. It's looking good though. I will be making the attempt at the Century, in spite of my crash.I have about 65% of my shoulder mobility back and am rehabbing it religiously. If you want to help me meet my goal, here is my Tour Page
As to how I handle it? Who knows? I'll see when I'm in it. Pain is weakness leaving the body after all. I'll be resuming riding after Memorial day weekend, though, and I'll only have 2 weeks to train for a 100 mile ride after a crash.
All you really have to remember is that ultimately, you set your own limits arbitrarily, and are far more capable than you believe. Take control of your life, use whatever tools that you need to and you have a far greater chance of achieving your goals than if you only dream and never act. Take charge and commit.
Now, for the update on my progress after 3 years since my surgery.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
48 Year Olds Don't Bounce! : Ride and Crash Report
Holy Cow! I thought I was hurting when I got home last night. This morning, my wife had to help me out of bed. What happened is last night, I crashed on a training ride.
Damnedest thing, I was banging along, getting a really good sprint, got a little squirrelly feeling in the back, and next thing I know, me and my bicycle were on the pavement. I really don't remember much more than that. I hit the pavement at something over 25 MPH, though.
This brings me to my helmet. It was a Bell Solar, and frankly, the Dr tells me if I hadn't been wearing it, there's a real good chance I'd be either dead or comatose from the impact area and damage to the helmet. The helmet is absolutely trashed, but it did it's job well.....it absorbed the energy of the impact.
As to my injuries, a pranged up my shoulder and right hip and have sore ribs. The shoulder is deep muscle bruising in the trapezoids, and the hip is impact bruising as well. My noggin is fine, though, but I have a really sore neck as well from the impact. I have some significant road rash on my right leg as well, and I'm generally VERY stiff and sore.
I learned a few things though. First, I need a better light, I was on a night ride, and didn't see the pavement problem that caused me to crash. Coincidentally, my light is trashed as well, so hey....opportunity to upgrade. Second, I've occasionally taken a few short rides without a helmet......NEVER AGAIN! If I hadn't been wearing it, I wouldn't be making this post. Third: 48 year old men hurt more after a crash. Who'da thunk! I'm having to use a cane to move around the house right now, and my arm is in a sling.
I uploaded some pics of the helmet core and road rash, etc, and I really wish I'd had my video camera rolling. It would have been awesome video!
Damnedest thing, I was banging along, getting a really good sprint, got a little squirrelly feeling in the back, and next thing I know, me and my bicycle were on the pavement. I really don't remember much more than that. I hit the pavement at something over 25 MPH, though.
This brings me to my helmet. It was a Bell Solar, and frankly, the Dr tells me if I hadn't been wearing it, there's a real good chance I'd be either dead or comatose from the impact area and damage to the helmet. The helmet is absolutely trashed, but it did it's job well.....it absorbed the energy of the impact.
As to my injuries, a pranged up my shoulder and right hip and have sore ribs. The shoulder is deep muscle bruising in the trapezoids, and the hip is impact bruising as well. My noggin is fine, though, but I have a really sore neck as well from the impact. I have some significant road rash on my right leg as well, and I'm generally VERY stiff and sore.
I learned a few things though. First, I need a better light, I was on a night ride, and didn't see the pavement problem that caused me to crash. Coincidentally, my light is trashed as well, so hey....opportunity to upgrade. Second, I've occasionally taken a few short rides without a helmet......NEVER AGAIN! If I hadn't been wearing it, I wouldn't be making this post. Third: 48 year old men hurt more after a crash. Who'da thunk! I'm having to use a cane to move around the house right now, and my arm is in a sling.
I uploaded some pics of the helmet core and road rash, etc, and I really wish I'd had my video camera rolling. It would have been awesome video!
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Press Release: There's a New Site on the Net!
Free listings on TheCyclePeople.com!
During the month of May, bike shops, tour operators, and accommodation owners that link their site to TheCyclePeople.com will get free listings for the remainder of 2008.
Manufacturers have already uploaded thousands of products to the site's database, making it easy to search for the latest cycling gear. And over 7,000 US and UK bike shops are listed as well. Shop owners that take advantage of this opportunity will get an enhanced listing for their shop, complete with details on the product lines they carry. Tour operators and accommodation owners can upload photos and detailed descriptions of their offerings as well.
It's a completely risk-free way to gain exposure to over 1.5 million cyclists this year, on a site dedicated to becoming the one-stop site for cyclists around the world. Businesses wishing to take advantage of this offer should visit www.TheCyclePeople.com/Advertise - offer closes May 30th 2008.
About TheCyclePeople.com: The portal for cycling enthusiasts allows users to search by product (more added weekly), to search for a bike shop anywhere in the US and UK (expanding to other countries) to find cycling holidays and accommodation worldwide, and to access the forums (link) for interacting with other cyclists. Over 20,000 businesses are currently featured. For more details about TheCyclePeople.com or the May Free Listings Offer, please contact info@thecyclepeople.com
Monday, May 05, 2008
Commencing on Commencement!
Well, it's been a busy couple of weeks for me. I graduated Sunday. I finished up my Associates Degree and am moving on the a 4 year in the Fall. I actually have one presentation to do for my Sociology Class, but have that whipped very nicely.
So, on to the pics.
Been a rough week for riding though. For the first time since I was hurt, I got less than 10 miles in on the bike this wee. I did have a good excuse though.
So, on to the pics.
Been a rough week for riding though. For the first time since I was hurt, I got less than 10 miles in on the bike this wee. I did have a good excuse though.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Well, I am Doing triathlon, FOR SURE!
Above is a very rough approximation of the course for the cycling section. Looks like a roller, and if the weather cooperates, should be a nice ride! All I have to do is run and swim as well. Imagine, I was in a wheelchair three years ago this time of the year, and here I am, committed to doing a sprint Triathlon.....who'da thunk!
Well, I suppose I ought to put that bike of mine to the purpose it was intended for.....racing! Actually, I don't care where I place, but I will finish it. Wish me luck! Here is the actual map of the race.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Midwestern Earthquake!
Image from USGS
Yep, we had an earthquake this morning. 5.4 on the Richter Scale. It woke me up from a dead sleep at 5:38 AM Eastern Time. No damage here, other than some pictures knocked askew and a couple fell off the walls.
This quake was interesting in that we're about 208 miles from the epicenter in New Salem, Illinois, which is about 22 miles SW of Vincennes, Indiana. Apparently, from what I gather, the quake was felt as far away as Northern Florida. You don't normally think of Central Indiana or the Midwest as an earthquake zone, but it is!
The New Madrid fault, which runs up along the Mississippi River valley is relatively near. We're also on the edge of the Wabash Valley Seismic Zone. The epicenter of the earthquake is very
near the large red dot near the Indiana/Illinois Border. More aftershocks are occurring as we speak. It's going to be an interesting day.
Homeland Security has their earthquake preparedness plan in action, and INDOT are currently out checking Bridges and overpasses.
Further information about Indiana Earthquakes is available here.
Now, the good news! We have a gorgeous day today and I'm going to go ride my bike!
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
New Cycling Technology: Power assist for a recumbent trike
Well, there's a new breakthrough in Trike Technology.....the Ion Assisted Trike.
This new technology will increase the efficiency or trike usege and provide reliable high speed transportation at minimal energy costs./ Fuel mileage is estimated at 1200 miles/gram of Deuterium in it's miniaturized TOKAMAK fusion reactor. This powers a high thrust Ion Thrust unit.
This new technology makes for a fun and fast recumbent trike. The Concept is developed by Stormcrowe Engineering, and will be available in the near future....just as soon as we address that tendency to lift to orbit if the rider allows the steer wheel to rise at speed.
This trike will revolutionize touring as well as cycle commuting.
This new technology will increase the efficiency or trike usege and provide reliable high speed transportation at minimal energy costs./ Fuel mileage is estimated at 1200 miles/gram of Deuterium in it's miniaturized TOKAMAK fusion reactor. This powers a high thrust Ion Thrust unit.
This new technology makes for a fun and fast recumbent trike. The Concept is developed by Stormcrowe Engineering, and will be available in the near future....just as soon as we address that tendency to lift to orbit if the rider allows the steer wheel to rise at speed.
This trike will revolutionize touring as well as cycle commuting.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Sorry about the infrequency of posts
As a lot of you know, I'm a student, studying Psychology. I've had a very busy couple of semesters between training time, homework and other aspects of my life. In my quest to reinvent myself, and maintain the weight loss, I have to spend a lot of time. Often, I'll multitask, for example and read assignments while on the trainer. I'm planned several papers this way. It's interesting, but the exercise allows me to narrow my focus to pedaling, breathing and assimilating the information in the assignment.
Other than that, to me, cycling is a meditative time as well. On a ride, I fall down inside myself and all the pressures recede. My world is simplified to the simple concepts of breathing and patterns around me from the traffic. Time goes away, and so does pain and stress. It's a very Zen thing. That's a large part of what keeps me motivated as well.
I'm still running the Spinner Saturday Program, by the way, I've just hosted it online at Google for now. I'm currently working on a better version in full database form (LAMP or other) though and expect to hopefully have a Beta release on line under my own hosting at some point.
As to my cycling, that's a permanent life change. I'm happy to say that I'll ride til I die, or as long as I have even the capability to ride a trike even.
I'm pleased to announce that Team Stormcrowe is sitting in the number one slot for fundraising for the Indianapolis event on June 14th.
Other than that, to me, cycling is a meditative time as well. On a ride, I fall down inside myself and all the pressures recede. My world is simplified to the simple concepts of breathing and patterns around me from the traffic. Time goes away, and so does pain and stress. It's a very Zen thing. That's a large part of what keeps me motivated as well.
I'm still running the Spinner Saturday Program, by the way, I've just hosted it online at Google for now. I'm currently working on a better version in full database form (LAMP or other) though and expect to hopefully have a Beta release on line under my own hosting at some point.
As to my cycling, that's a permanent life change. I'm happy to say that I'll ride til I die, or as long as I have even the capability to ride a trike even.
On another News Front: Tour de Cure
I'm pleased to announce that Team Stormcrowe is sitting in the number one slot for fundraising for the Indianapolis event on June 14th.
Monday, March 17, 2008
What I did on Vacation, a Ride Report!
Well, as you know, I did two rides over Spring Break....one unofficial, a 34 mile ride in Chattanooga and up Lookout Mountain.
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1698556
The Lookout Ride was a killer for this Indiana Flatlander, with 1800 feet of HARD climb! I was still hurting from it when I started Tour de Pike. Chattanooga, though, is turning into a Cycle Friendly town, it looks like.
There are even sensors for bikes in the Tunnels on Brainerd Rad that activate flashers and tell auto drivers to move to the left lane and not crowd a cyclist.
And off to Georgia we go. I met up with ModoVincere for the ride, a fellow BFer.
Tour de Pike kicked off with a bagpiper, by the way. He's also one of the local lawyers. Not a bad Piper either
All in all, it was a nice ride! I thoroughly enjoyed it and hope to be able to go again next year! Now, here's some better video from the ride.
Any of you Clyde's and Athena's in the southlands might want to join me next year!
PS: As an after thought.....the dirt roads are the roads that Google Maps routed us in to Barnesville on (Where we were staying for the ride....closest motel!) The Country Hearth Inn in Barnesville also is the only public access Internet in the area with their High Speed Wireless.
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1698556
The Lookout Ride was a killer for this Indiana Flatlander, with 1800 feet of HARD climb! I was still hurting from it when I started Tour de Pike. Chattanooga, though, is turning into a Cycle Friendly town, it looks like.
There are even sensors for bikes in the Tunnels on Brainerd Rad that activate flashers and tell auto drivers to move to the left lane and not crowd a cyclist.And off to Georgia we go. I met up with ModoVincere for the ride, a fellow BFer.
Tour de Pike kicked off with a bagpiper, by the way. He's also one of the local lawyers.
Not a bad Piper either All in all, it was a nice ride! I thoroughly enjoyed it and hope to be able to go again next year! Now, here's some better video from the ride.
Any of you Clyde's and Athena's in the southlands might want to join me next year!
PS: As an after thought.....the dirt roads are the roads that Google Maps routed us in to Barnesville on (Where we were staying for the ride....closest motel!) The Country Hearth Inn in Barnesville also is the only public access Internet in the area with their High Speed Wireless.
Saturday, March 01, 2008
Looking like Georgia on my Mind!
I think I'm going to go to Georgia for Spring Break, and ride the Tour de Pike I mentioned in my last post. I need a break from the winter weather and Georgia sounds like a great place....early enough it won't be beastly hot, and warm enough for jersey and shorts.
Speaking of jerseys, I just had one arrive! My Mom got me a really nice jersey. It surprised me, and is quite cool!
How do you think it'll be received down in Pike County, Georgia?
Speaking of jerseys, I just had one arrive! My Mom got me a really nice jersey. It surprised me, and is quite cool!
Reproduction of the 1980 Soviet Union Olympic Cycling Team Jersey
How do you think it'll be received down in Pike County, Georgia?
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Spring Break is Coming Up!
I'm looking for ideas for the break that aren't too terribly far from home and involving Cycling. Somewhere in the Indiana, Illinois, Michigan area would be great, or Kentucky. I have some other ideas as well.
Tour de Pike, down in Georgia is a possibility, for example. The only drawback is the 650 mile drive home Sunday and return to class on Monday.
In other News, I hit goal this weekend for Tour de Cure! $820.00 with the goal of $800! Yeehaw! On that note, let's see how high we can drive it up over goal!
Here's my donation page for Tour de Cure.
The Redmond, Washington Tour de Cure has a new rider, Eric Salinas. Here's a little bit about him.
Help him make his goal as well.
Tour de Pike, down in Georgia is a possibility, for example. The only drawback is the 650 mile drive home Sunday and return to class on Monday.
Tour De Cure Update
In other News, I hit goal this weekend for Tour de Cure! $820.00 with the goal of $800! Yeehaw! On that note, let's see how high we can drive it up over goal!
Here's my donation page for Tour de Cure.
Additional Tour de Cure info.
New Rider for the Washington State Event
New Rider for the Washington State Event
The Redmond, Washington Tour de Cure has a new rider, Eric Salinas. Here's a little bit about him.
My name is Eric Salinas and I just returned to cycling last year after being on the sidelines for years due to a severe back injury. I am 46 years old with three children and have been married to my wife Jennie for 20 great years. Jennie is a type two diabetic and is the #1 reason for riding. She is a 911 dispatch supervisor and gives so much of herself to so many, it is time to give something back. So again, I dedicate this years Tour de Cure to my wife Jennie.-Eric Salinas
Help him make his goal as well.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Off Season Cycling Workouts
Here's a great little workout using body weight. No equipment necessary, and this workout will wreck you, believe me! Circuit training is a 20 minute workout at your maximum capability.
This will improve your strength and if you want to burn fat, there's nothing better. Your bike will say thank you for doing these, until you get enough strength built to make that bike whimper that you're pedaling it too hard.
This will improve your strength and if you want to burn fat, there's nothing better. Your bike will say thank you for doing these, until you get enough strength built to make that bike whimper that you're pedaling it too hard.
Monday, February 04, 2008
Sheldon Brown: Off to the Next Adventure
Sheldon Brown, a passionate and dedicated member of the cycling community has passed away. I had occasion to interact with Sheldon in the Clydesdale's/Athena's forum at Bike Forums, as well as other subforums there. He was a genuinely helpful man and is going to be greatly missed.
He left behind him a gigantic treasure trove of information at his various websites as a legacy to cyclists everywhere. He covered bike maintenance to Touring. He will be truly missed.
Sheldon Brown, 1944-2008, off to the next adventure.
He left behind him a gigantic treasure trove of information at his various websites as a legacy to cyclists everywhere. He covered bike maintenance to Touring. He will be truly missed.
Sheldon Brown, 1944-2008, off to the next adventure.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Final Correctioln on the Spinner Saturday totals:
100,288.28 miles, now that all the final miles are in. Not a bad effort everyone!
What is Spinner Saturday?
It's a program I started to track miles for a few friends and me to see what we did in a year on a bike. We're up to 71 members now, and next years goal is another 100,000 miles by bicycle.
Monday, December 31, 2007
It's the End of the Year:Totals
Well, we had a banner year with Spinner Saturday, I must say. We had originally set a goal of 50,000, then upped it to 80,000, and then 100,000 miles for the group for the year. We almost made the 100K!
Jan 186
Feb 230
Mar 524
Apr 365.76
May 454
Jun 619
Jul 530
Aug 676
Sep 75
Oct 142.2
Nov 604.3
Dec 355
Total 4761.26 Average 396.771666666667
Other News
I got several very nice items for Christmas, and enjoyed the last ride of the year on my bike yesterday. The weather today was too cold and tonight, it's going to be too bad for me to ride across midnight.
Items I got:
An Oregon Scientific ATC2K Action Camera. I got my first video up yesterday from it. It's pretty cool! I need to find a better mounting spot than the end of my aerobars though.
Video here
and some stills of me on the bike with the aerobars
Photography E. Leonard
So, on to a Happy and Prosperous 2008. Keep pedaling and stay alive!
Personal totals:
Tom Stormcrowe totals AverageJan 186
Feb 230
Mar 524
Apr 365.76
May 454
Jun 619
Jul 530
Aug 676
Sep 75
Oct 142.2
Nov 604.3
Dec 355
Total 4761.26 Average 396.771666666667
Group Totals
997,006 miles by bicycle!***
There were a couple of late reporters, so I had to edit the total
997,006 miles by bicycle!***
There were a couple of late reporters, so I had to edit the total
Other News
I got several very nice items for Christmas, and enjoyed the last ride of the year on my bike yesterday. The weather today was too cold and tonight, it's going to be too bad for me to ride across midnight.
Items I got:
An Oregon Scientific ATC2K Action Camera. I got my first video up yesterday from it. It's pretty cool! I need to find a better mounting spot than the end of my aerobars though.
Video here
and some stills of me on the bike with the aerobars
Photography E. Leonard
So, on to a Happy and Prosperous 2008. Keep pedaling and stay alive!
Friday, December 28, 2007
Only a few days left of 2007! Get your donation in to take advantage of the deduction!
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Welcome to My Tour de Cure Web Page!
Support Me in Tour de Cure! I'll be riding 100 miles doing laps at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the Tour de Cure. I am diabetic myself and so is my wife. This is a cause that directly affects my life. I was morbidly obese and wheelchair bound in March, 2005. Since then I have lost 362 pounds and my diabetes is in remission and controlled through diet and exercise. Others haven't had my good fortune though and are still dependent on medication to stay alive. Let's got pedaling down that road to a cure! Help Make a Difference! Pedal power works! I just bumped the goal by $100 Each time I hit this goal, I'll continue to bump it again, as necessary. Let's see how far we can push that total up. If you think this page contains objectionable content, please inform the system administrator.
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Monday, December 17, 2007
Local News: Mountain Bike Trail Advocacy in Tippecanoe County
Here in Lafayette and West Lafayette, we have only two trails to ride Mountain Bikes on. Murdock Park, which is an "Unofficial" trail, and McCormick Woods, which is owned by Purdue University. Now, I ride skinny tire road bikes, so you might wonder why I even care.
I care because I support cycling and any effort to improve cycling for our riders in Tippecanoe County. Down at Hodson's Bay, one of the Local Bike Shops in Tippecanoe County, there is a sign up sheet/petition to the local governmental bodies such as the County Parks Dept. Drop in and sign this, and show the County Parks Dept that mountain biking is more than just kids, and that we take care of the trails we ride. Sign up for trail maintenance as well, make a commitment to improving existing trails as well as building new ones, as we get them authorized.
I care because I support cycling and any effort to improve cycling for our riders in Tippecanoe County. Down at Hodson's Bay, one of the Local Bike Shops in Tippecanoe County, there is a sign up sheet/petition to the local governmental bodies such as the County Parks Dept. Drop in and sign this, and show the County Parks Dept that mountain biking is more than just kids, and that we take care of the trails we ride. Sign up for trail maintenance as well, make a commitment to improving existing trails as well as building new ones, as we get them authorized.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
well, I was released to ride, but:
The weather isn't being really cooperative! I no longer have a fat tire bike, it has moved on to another home. I never rode it and nothing worse than a bike that just sits around doing nothing. I was going to ship it to my brother, but it was going to cost almost $600.00 to ship it overseas to SE Asia! It wasn't an expensive bike, only a Royce Union, so shipping a bike worth $25-$50.00 would have been ridiculous!
Well, here are some weather shots from tonight. It's a wee bit on the nasty side. It's just a bit on the snowy side. No riding for me, and it figures.....I was just released to ride! Stuck on the trainer, I guess! We have about 8" on the ground right now, give or take, and are expecting probably another 4-6". If we get it, there'll be over a foot of snow on the ground and the wind is going to be whipping up to around 30-40 mph tomorrow. Snowdrift city!
As you can see, I have a good reason to ride the trainer! What kind of trainer do I use, you ask? Well, the answer is easy: The Kurt Kinetic Road Machine Fluid trainer! Quiet, reliable and gives a great workout!
Well, here are some weather shots from tonight. It's a wee bit on the nasty side. It's just a bit on the snowy side. No riding for me, and it figures.....I was just released to ride! Stuck on the trainer, I guess! We have about 8" on the ground right now, give or take, and are expecting probably another 4-6". If we get it, there'll be over a foot of snow on the ground and the wind is going to be whipping up to around 30-40 mph tomorrow. Snowdrift city!
Look at that snow in the air!
Slowly getting buried
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
As you can see, I have a good reason to ride the trainer! What kind of trainer do I use, you ask? Well, the answer is easy: The Kurt Kinetic Road Machine Fluid trainer! Quiet, reliable and gives a great workout!
Saturday, December 08, 2007
I Miss Cycling!
What with my injury, and all, I can't ride right now, or lift weights, either! I'm in full blown Cycling Withdrawal! On another note, sorry about the lack of articles or writing, it's been a busy semester! One week to go and it's Christmas Break!
On a better note: I have a Dr appointment next week and I'm going to talk to him about some limited riding on the trainer, presuming my butt will stand it. I have to do something! Maybe I'll steal my wife's recumbent trike for a bit, no pressure in sensitive areas........
On a better note: I have a Dr appointment next week and I'm going to talk to him about some limited riding on the trainer, presuming my butt will stand it. I have to do something! Maybe I'll steal my wife's recumbent trike for a bit, no pressure in sensitive areas........
News Release
Adventure Cycling Releases 2008 Tour Lineup
Adventure Cycling Releases 2008 Tour Lineup
www.adventurecycling.org/tours
Missoula, Mont.—Adventure Cycling Association, North America's largest bicycle travel organization, has unveiled its schedule of guided group rides for 2008. With 36 distinct tours and events, along with seven education courses, it is the most comprehensive ride roster in the organization's 32-year history.
"The hallmarks of Adventure Cycling rides are our seasoned leaders, affordable prices, and relatively small group sizes," said tours director Rod Kramer. "Beyond that, the rides take place in a wide array of formats, spectacular places, and seasons.
"We're particularly excited to be offering a greater number of early season rides than ever before," Kramer said. "These include the weeklong California ‘Winter Warmer' event ride beginning in San Diego on February 16, another weeklong ride in southern Arizona beginning March 8, and a self-contained tour across the country on the Southern Tier beginning March 22. Come April, we'll also be running weeklong event rides in Virginia and the Texas Hill Country."
Each of Adventure Cycling's 36 tours falls into one of two categories of travel, explained tours team leader John Weyhrich: either self-contained or supported. Each category offers a wide variety of great variation in locations, durations, riding surfaces, and more.
"For instance," Weyhrich said, "our self-contained trips include rides as relatively tame as a 10-day spin through the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and as wild and wooly as our 10th edition Great Divide expedition." This 82-day adventure follows dirt roads from Banff, Alberta, to the Mexico border through some of the most remote and magnificent landscapes in the West. The Great Divide route, developed by Adventure Cycling in the 1990s, is considered the longest mountain bike route in the world at just over 2,700 miles.
"The supported tours also provide an incredible amount of variety," Weyhrich added. "Several of them — Cycle Utah and the Sierra Sampler, for instance — are weeklong event rides serving from 40 to as many as 120 cyclists. Others offer a more personalized level of service and are limited to just 14 participants — notably, the 15-day Great Parks South trip and our first-ever van-supported, 76-day ride across the country on the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail. That tour will give seasoned cyclists a chance to cross the U.S. without having to haul anything but their bikes and their bodies."
Finally, Adventure Cycling's education courses are aimed at two categories of riders: those wishing to learn the ins and outs of bicycle travel, and those who want to lead tours for groups of adults or young people. Of special note is the first-ever Pedal Pioneers training to help youth group leaders develop tours for youth in the middle-school and high school age ranges. The course will be based on the acclaimed curriculum developed by Adventure Cycling in 2006 (available at www.adventurecycling.org/outreach/pedalpioneers.cfm).
To learn more about these courses and all of Adventure Cycling's tours and events, visit www.adventurecycling.org/tours or call or email to request a copy of the 2008 tours catalog. The Tours Department can be reached at 800/755-2453 x3 or tours@adventurecycling.org.
Adventure Cycling Association is the largest bicycle membership organization in North America, with more than 42,500 members. Its mission is to inspire people of all ages to travel by bicycle. The nonprofit organization researches routes and creates maps for cycling in North America and publishes the best bicycle travel information available, including Adventure Cyclist magazine and The Cyclists' Yellow Pages.
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Digix Consulting's Cranky T's
Cardinal Greenway
What a day to ride!