Our mission is to
inspire people of all
ages to travel by bicycle.
We help cyclists explore
the landscapes and history
of America for fitness,
fun, and self-discovery.
More About Us.
2010 Tours are here!
Our 2010 tours line-up is ready! This coming year we're offering more than 40 bicycle tours that run from five days to three months in practically every corner of the U.S., and at 2009 prices! There is something for everyone: relaxed trips, epic adventures, family fun, national park tours, and more. Check out this year's tours slate!
First off. If you haven't been there, you need to put Turkey on your travel list. I've never met a globe trotting traveler (or cyclist) who didn't love Turkey.
Great food. Amazing history. Hospitality that rivals any country on earth. And lots of hills and mountain passes to climb (and descend).
Your trip will more than likely begin in Istanbul. For those looking to travel with frequent flier miles, Istanbul is in the "Europe" category and is probably the best frequent flier bargain around.
Kat and I stayed in the old city and the heavily visited Blue Mosque was a fifteen minute walk from our hotel. It was mobbed during the day, with hundreds of tourists waiting to get in and locals arriving to pray.
A friend of mine who had visited the year prior gave me a tip. "Go to the last call to prayer. The tourists will be in bed and you'll find that the mosque changes from hectic to reverent."
Wow, was he right. There were not more than 25 people there to pray. The imams chants echoed off the 400 year-old marble walls. We heard these prayers so many times over the following three months of our journey in Turkey. But they never sounded as beautiful as that late night in the Blue Mosque.
audio recording (Blue Mosque--Last Call to Prayer) by Willie Weir photo (Blue Mosque 2002) by Willie Weir
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SIGHTS AND SOUNDS appears on Friday afternoons. Willie Weir is a columnist for Adventure Cyclist magazine. His latest book Travels with Willie: Adventure Cyclist compiles his favorite writings over the last twelve years. He lives in Seattle with his wife Kat. You can read about their local adventures and life without a car at www.yellowtentadventures.com.
Here are the latest and final election results. Trust me. There will be no charges of mudslinging or requests for recounts.
I'm talking about the results from the Bicycle Travel Award contest hosted by Adventure Cycling Association, the nonprofit that has developed 38,000 miles of bike routes criss-crossing the US.
The folks named below were nominated by some of you. The individuals were chosen for making the on-the-road lives of bike travelers easier and their work in furthering the enjoyment of bicycle touring.
When Daniel Penner and Anona Whitley yearned for a change of scenery, they didn't just hop on a plane and head some place warm. Instead, the two former Champaign Cycle employees decided to move to Portland, Ore., and experience all the scenery along the way from the top of their bicycles.
Neither of the 23-year-old biking enthusiasts owns a car and they were attracted to the bike-friendly atmosphere of Portland.
Advertisement Ladies Night 2009
"We've chosen not to own cars," Penner said. "If you're going to do that, Portland is the place to be."
As they were contemplating the best route to take cross country, they found a map from the Adventure Cycling Association that followed the Lewis and Clark trail from Missouri to Oregon. Eureka, they had a plan!
