June 8, 2006

Ditty Bops on Bikes: Nation’s Largest Cycling Organization Supports Music Group on Cross-Country Ride

Missoula, Montana – Putting a new spin on the rock-and-roll lifestyle, the Adventure Cycling Association is jazzed to be helping Amanda Barrett and Abby DeWald of the rock band the Ditty Bops as they roll across the United States on bicycles. Along the way they’ll be playing live shows at theaters, music halls, bike shops, and old barns (Nebraska farmers get ready) in support of their new album Moon Over the Freeway, recently released on Warner Bros. Records.

“We decided to do the tour this way to promote not only our album, but also cycling and cleaner air,” says DeWald, who left Los Angeles with Barrett on May 25. “If we can ride our bikes across the country and play music, we hope others will be inspired to ride their bikes more often.”

Adventure Cycling, the largest cycling organization in North America and a leading expert on bicycle travel, is providing the Ditty Bops with route and technical expertise. Whenever possible the Ditty Bops are following Adventure Cycling’s 34,000-mile National Bicycle Route Network. Adventure Cycling’s maps for the network show the best, safest, and most scenic routes as well as bike shops and places to stay, camp, and eat.

When the Ditty Bops’ ride takes them off the NBRN, Adventure Cycling used The Cyclists’ Yellow Pages — their definitive bicycle trip planning guide available in an annual print version and online at www.adventurecycling.org/cyp — to locate other routes, maps, and cycling resources. For example, in Missouri they’ll ride the 220-mile Katy Trail, in Illinois they’ll follow the Route 66 Bicycle Route (recently developed by the League of Illinois Bicyclists), and in Cleveland they’ll ride bicycle routes mapped by Columbus Outdoor Pursuits — all resources found in The Cyclists’ Yellow Page’s.

Before they started training for their trip, neither Barrett or DeWald had ridden more than 50 miles at a time. Now, thanks to Adventure Cycling’s know-how and their own thirst for adventure, they’re riding their bikes across America.

“Adventure Cycling has been amazing,” said Barrett. “We couldn’t have done this trip without them.”

As they ride, The Ditty Bops are raising money for Adventure Cycling’s efforts to inspire people to travel by bike (www.adventurecycling.org/dittybops). As a nonprofit, all donations are tax-deductible. They’ll also be spreading the good word about bicycle travel by giving out Adventure Cycling flyers at their shows.

Adventure Cycling also helped to connect the Ditty Bops with great companies in the bicycling and outdoor industries. Together with New Belgium Brewing and Surly, they equipped Barrett and DeWald with cross-country suitable Surly Cross-Checks. Terry donated woman’s cycling attire and Clif Bar is providing caloric support.

You can check out the Ditty Bops blog at www.thedittybopsbiketour.blogspot.com, where besides daily ride and show updates, they keep a running tally of everything they eat and all the roadkill they pedal past. (coincidence? Or are they getting really, really hungry out there?)

The Adventure Cycling Association is a 501(c)(3) 43,000-member, non-profit in Missoula, Montana dedicated to inspiring people of all ages to travel by bicycle. For more information please visit www.adventurecycling.org. To learn more about the Ditty Bops or request an Adventure Cycling press kit, contact Aaron Teasdale, Media Liaison, at 800-755-2453 x237 or ateasdale@adventurecycling.org.