ROAD TEST 36 FINE TUNED 40 OPEN ROAD GALLERY 47 ADVENTURE CYCLIST GO THE DISTANCE. JUne 2012 WWW.ADVentURecYCLing.ORG $4.95 RIDE WISCONSIN: PLUS: SAGBRAW & BIKE RIDES MADE IN MONTANA the Midwest PROFILE: LIGHTFOOT CYCLES Recumbent Rally RIDING THE IRON CURTAIN Share the Joy GET A CHANCE TO WIN 6:2012 contents Spread the joy of cycling and get a chance to win cool prizes June 2012 · Volume 39 Number 5 · www.adventurecycling.org n For each cyclist you refer to Adventure Cycling, you will ADVENTURE get one chance to win a Giant Rapid 1* valued at over $1,250. The winner will be drawn from all eligible CYCLIST members in January of 2013. is published nine times each year by the Adventure Cycling Association, n Each month, we’ll draw a mini-prize winner who a nonprofit service organization for recreational bicyclists. Individual will receive gifts from Old Man Mountain, Arkel, membership costs $40 yearly to U.S. Ortlieb, and others. addresses and includes a subscrip- tion to Adventure Cyclist and dis- n The more new members you sign up, the more counts on Adventure Cycling maps. chances you have to win! The entire contents of Adventure Cyclist are copyrighted by Adventure Cyclist and may not be reproduced in whole or in part without written * Bicycle model may change with release of new or updated models. permission from Adventure Cyclist. All rights reserved. Adventure Cycling Association adventurecycling.org/joy OUR COVER Cycle Montana riders clip along on their recumbent tandem trike. Photo by Greg Siple. Y (left) A cyclist winds through the HANE forest on the Whitefish Trail in Adventure Cycling Corporate Members K C U Montana. Adventure Cycling’s business partners play a significant level of support. These corporate membership funds go toward CH role in the success of our nonprofit organization. Our Corporate special projects and the creation of new programs. To learn more MISSION Membership Program is designed to spotlight these key support- about how your business can become a corporate supporter of LAID-BACK ADVENTURES IN WISCONSIN by Chet Rideout The mission of Adventure Cycling 10 Two rides in one trip: SAGBRAW and the Midwest Recumbent Rally. Association is to inspire people of all ers. Corporate Members are companies that believe in what we Adventure Cycling, go to www.adventurecycling.org/corporate or ages to travel by bicycle. We help do and wish to provide additional assistance through a higher call (800) 755-2453. cyclists explore the landscapes and LIGHTFOOT CYCLES by Dan D’Ambrosio history of America for fitness, fun, 16 Tucked away in Darby, Montana, Lightfoot builds recumbents, trikes, and quads for and self-discovery. TITANIUM GOLD everyday use. CAMPAIGNS Our strategic plan includes three RIDING THE IRON CURTAIN by Paul Lamarra major campaigns: 22 The boundary area that once defined the Cold War is now an excellent place for a bike tour. • Creating Bike Routes for America • Getting Americans Bicycling • Supporting Bicycling Communities THE LAST BEST PLACE TO RIDE by Chuck Haney 28 Great road and trail riding awaits the ambitious cyclist where big brown bears still roam free. How to Reach Us To join, change your address, or ask questions about membership, visit us online at www.adventurecycling.org DEpaRTMENTS LETTERS or call (800) 755-2453 or (406) 721-1776 email: 05 companions wanted 04 LETTER from the Editor [email protected] Subscription Address: WAYPOINTS LETTER from the DIRECTOR Adventure Cycling Association 08 06 P.O. Box 8308 Missoula, MT 59807 SILVER BRONZE 38 geared up COLUMNS Headquarters: Adventure Cycling Association First Interstate Bank 42 ClassiFieds/MarKetplace 36 road test / Patrick O’Grady 150 E. Pine St. The Bike Friday New World Tourist Select Missoula, MT 59802 Rocky Mountain Print Solutions 47 OPEN ROAD GALLERY Silver Bike Tours/ROW Adventures 40 Fine tuned / Josh Tack Handheld computers keep tourists on track 2 ADVENTURE CYCLIST JUNE 2012 ADVENTURECYCLING.ORG ADVENTURE CYCLIST JUNE 2012 ADVENTURECYCLING.ORG 3 ADVENTURE Letter from the Editor Companions Wanted CYCLIST THE WRATH OF Providing partners for tours, domestic and abroad, since 1978 June 2012 volume 39 number 5 (RECUMBENT CYCLE) CON WWW.ADVENTURECYCLING.ORG If you’re into recumbents, there’s a new cycle show for you EDITOR MICHAEL DEME [email protected] The Balkans Seasoned cycle tourist planning Pacific Coast I’m planning on a two-week, Portland to Vancouver Island to Vancouver, ART DIRECTOR While visiting with Topeak at Interbike last GREG SIPLE two- to three-week B&B trip in the former self-supported bike tour from Vancouver to the British Columbia, but still consider myself pretty [email protected] Yugoslavia, August/September, 2012. I’m seek- Mexico border via Adventure Cycling’s Pacific new to touring. Age and gender doesn’t matter TECHNICAL EDITOR September, I mentioned that some of their JOHN SCHUBERT ing one sociable, energetic companion, age 36 or Coast Route, averaging around 120 miles per day to me, communication and having a good time [email protected] gear seemed like it would work well with over. Will begin in Austria or Germany and ride with stays at motels/hotels and eating out. Start does. Email: [email protected]. FIELD EDITOR MICHAEL MCCOY recumbents. Once said, the Topeak rep (Matt) at the booth lit through Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, and date is a little flexible — somewhere around mid- [email protected] Montenegro. 500 to 700 miles, 45 miles per day dle to end of July. I did this ride last year in two Oldest City to Oldest Brewery 66-year-old male CONTRIBUTING WRITERS up and asked me if I’d heard of Recumbent Cycle-Con, which I at 10 to 12 MPH. Rolling hills to rugged coasts to weeks and had an absolute blast and want to do making first significant trip from St. Augustine, DAN D'AMBROSIO PATRICK O'GRADY WILLIE weir jan HEINE hadn’t (strange, especially bring their own bikes mountains. Lover of the outdoors, historic sites, it again. Email: [email protected]. Florida, to Pottsville, Pennsylvania, via the JUNE SIPLE JOSH TACK NANCY CLARK since my email inbox and start the day with dramatic scenery, local cuisine and brews, and Atlantic Coast Route in August. I’ll be making COPY EDITOR PHYLLIS PICKLESIMER is each and every day an early group ride, languages. DC-area resident preferred. I’d like to Great Divide Mountain Bike Route I’m a happily a side trip to Charleston, South Carolina, with ADVERTISING DIRECTOR bombarded with press selecting from routes meet first to get acquainted and do local rides married 64-year-old male looking for a compan- an alternative route to the Outer Banks and RICK BRUNER 509.493.4930 releases that, at best, that begin and end at together. Email: [email protected]. ion, or companions, to ride the Great Divide in Delmarva. 50 to 100 miles per day, camping [email protected] have barely a tenuous the Fairplex for handy early to mid August. I’m not hard core but have with motels for rest days. Returning to Florida Delivering Smiles I’m a cancer survivor and I’m done a coast-to-coast ride as well as the West via Skyline Drive, Blue Ridge Parkway, and STAFF connection to cycling), so access to the show after EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR he filled me in. He said the ride.” preparing to take a trip around the world by Coast on a road bike. Would like to take a day other as yet undetermined paths. Email: some JIM SAYER he hadn’t been to the It seems to me that bike, starting here in the U.S., representing the off every 7 to 10 days. I’m looking to connect [email protected]. [email protected] 28 million people currently living with cancer. I with others that may be going that route next CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER show but he’d heard a the Recumbent Cycle- SHEILA SNYDER, CPA lot about it from friends, Con has a good chance will be visiting cancer centers around the world, summer. If interested call (218) 444-7258 or email Tacoma, Washington, to Lake Tahoe I plan MEMBERSHIP & DEVELOPMENT delivering smiles and inspiration to survivors [email protected]. on leaving Tacoma during the second week of JULIE HUCK amy corbin so I wrote it down in my to become the trade AMANDA LIPSEY THOMAS BASSETT notes to follow up on when I got back to show for recumbent enthusiasts, but everywhere. I’m doing this on a shoestring bud- August and catching the Sierra Cascades Route ALEX CAMPBELL get. If you are interested in joining me for all or Great Divide Mountain Bike Route I’m look- just south of Mt. Rainier. I hope to ride 50 to MEDIA the office, which I did. keeping trade shows afloat is a tricky WINONA bateman micHAEL MCCOY The 2011 Recumbent Cycle-Con was business and it’ll need all the support part of this adventure, please email me and I can ing for a riding partner for the Great Divide 80 miles per day with one rest day per week. ALISON RILEY give you details. Email: [email protected]. from Banff or Roosville, Montana, to Steamboat Mostly camping but will also stay with friends PUBLICATIONS the first but plans have already been it can get. So if you’re an enthusiast Springs, Colorado. I can only do half of the along the way. Female, 35 years old. If you’re MICHAEL deme greg SIPLE made for the 2012 edition. The event is already, or are thinking about jumping DEREK GALLAGHER RACHEL STEVENS described on their website (recumbent in (see your options on pages 14 and 15), Cross Country Along the Northern U.S.