WAYPOINTS 8 MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE 56 OPEN ROAD GALLERY 63 ADVENTURE CYCLIST GO THE DISTANCE. APRIL 2011 WWW.ADVentURecYCLing.ORG $4.95 The Second Annual Cyclists’ Travel Guide INSIDE: 2011 TOURING BIKE BUYEr’s GUIDE | KEEPING THE KIDS HAPPY GPS AND E-MAPPING | THE MIRROR LEGEND SHARE THE JOY GET A CHANCE TO WIN Spread the joy of cycling and get a chance to win cool prizes n For every cyclist you sign up through a gift membersip or who joins through your referral, you score one entry to win a Novara Verita (rei.com/ product/807242) valued at over $1,100. The winner will be drawn from all eligible members in January of 2012. n Recruit the most new members in 2011, and you’ll win a $500 Adventure Cycling shopping spree. n Each month we’ll draw a mini-prize winner who will receive gifts from companies like Old Man Mountain, Cascade Designs, Showers Pass, and others. n The more new members you sign up, the more chances you have to win! Adventure Cycling Association adventurecycling.org/joy Adventure Cycling Corporate Members Adventure Cycling’s business partners play a significant level of support. These corporate membership funds go toward role in the success of our nonprofit organization. Our Corporate special projects and the creation of new programs. To learn more Membership Program is designed to spotlight these key support- about how your business can become a corporate supporter of ers. Corporate Members are companies that believe in what we Adventure Cycling, go to www.adventurecycling.org/corporate or do and wish to provide additional assistance through a higher call (800) 755-2453. TITANIUM GOLD SILVER BRONZE 3G Mobility Hike & Bike Italy Rocky Mountain Print Solutions Anderson ZurMuehlen & Co. PC 2 ADVENTURE CYCLIST april 2011 ADVENTURECYCLING.ORG ADVENTURE CYCLIST april 2011 ADVENTURECYCLING.ORG 3 4:2011 contents April 2011 · Volume 38 Number 3 · www.adventurecycling.org ADVENTURE CYCLIST is published nine times each year by the Adventure Cycling Association, a nonprofit service organization for recreational bicyclists. Individual membership costs $40 yearly to U.S. addresses and includes a subscrip- tion to Adventure Cyclist and dis- counts on Adventure Cycling maps. The entire contents of Adventure Cyclist are copyrighted by Adventure Cyclist and may not be reproduced in whole or in part without written LF permission from Adventure Cyclist. All rights reserved. METCA AC M OUR COVER Touring cyclists meet up with a roadie in Montana’s Mission Valley. 10 FIND YOUR WAY TO THE PERFECT TOURING BICYCLE by Stephen Lord Photo by Chuck Haney. Adventure Cyclist’s annual guide to finding the right touring bike for you. (left) The Metcalfe clan takes a break on the side of the road. FROM COMMUTER TO TOURIST by Brendan Leonard 18 One man’s journey from utility cycling to the freedom of bicycle travel. MISSION The mission of Adventure Cycling Association is to inspire people of all BICYCLING WITH CHILDREN by Mac Metcalfe ages to travel by bicycle. We help 24 cyclists explore the landscapes and A bike-traveler recalls the many memorable experiences he’s had while touring with family. history of America for fitness, fun, and self-discovery. CHECKING OUT GPS by Tim Perrin 32 Global Positioning System, e-mapping, and how they relate to traveling by bicycle. CAMPAIGNS Our strategic plan includes three major campaigns: THE MIRROR MAN OF GAMBIER by Greg Siple Creating Bike Routes for America 40 Adventure Cycling’s art director tells the tale of the legendary mirror maker. Getting Americans Bicycling Supporting Bicycling Communities How to Reach Us DEPARTMENTS LETTERS To join, change your address, or ask questions about membership, visit us online at www.adventurecycling.org 07 companions wanted 04 LETTER from the ediTOR or call (800) 755-2453 or (406) 721-1776 email: 08 waypoints 05 LETTERS from the readers [email protected] Subscription Address: from the 38 road test – Voodoo NAKisi 06 LETTER DIRECTOR Adventure Cycling Association P.O. Box 8308 48 geared up COLUMNS Missoula, MT 59807 Headquarters: MARKETPLACE/CLASSIFIEDS cyclists’ kitchen / Nancy Clark Adventure Cycling Association 58 36 150 E. Pine St. Protein and cyclists: How much do you need? Missoula, MT 59802 63 OPEN ROAD GALLERY 46 curves in the road / Jill Homer Comparing different ways to carry your gear 56 mechanical advantage / Jan Heine Types of brakes and their implementation 2 ADVENTURE CYCLIST april 2011 ADVENTURECYCLING.ORG ADVENTURE CYCLIST april 2011 ADVENTURECYCLING.ORG 3 ADVENTURE Letter from the Editor CYCLIST SECOND TIME AROUND April 2011 volume 38 number 3 Another crack at the Cyclists’ Travel Guide WWW.ADVENTURECYCLING.ORG EDITOR michael deme mdeme@ adventur ecycling.org ART DIRECTOR greg si ple When we made the decision to quit publish- gsiple@ adventurecycling.org TECHNICAL EDITOR ing a book version of the Cyclists’ Yellow Pages john schubert schubley@ aol.com in 2009, we felt like we had to create a vehicle FIELD EDITOR michael mccoy for what we fondly call service pieces, by which we mean mmccoy@ adventurecycli ng.org CONTRIbuTING WRITERS they offer practical information, advice, and resources. With dan d'ambrosio nancy c lark willie weir joe kurmaskie that in mind, last year story of how he finally jan heine we published our first became a convert to COPY EDITOR phyllis picklesimer Cyclists’ Travel Guide: bike touring after many EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Bikes, Resources, and years as a commuter, dan schwartzman ADVERTISING DIRECTOR How-To, the lead article something I hope hap- rick bruner of which was the annual pens to many more from 509.493.4930 advertising@ adventurecycling.org “Touring Bike Buyer’s the urban cycling set. Guide,” and that’s the Mac Metcalf relates STAFF plan going forward, to his many years of bike EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR jim sayer lead this nuts-and-bolts travel with family and jsayer@ adventurecycling.org issue with our annual friends, focusing on CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER sheila snyder, cpa look at what bikes are how to keep the chil- MEMBERSHIP & DEVELOPMENT available for traveling cyclists. It seems to dren and young adults involved without julie huck amy corbin thomas bassett joshua tack me that the options for cyclotourists are causing a backlash against the very form MEDIA greater than at any time since I’ve been of travel they’re being involved in. winona bateman michael mccoy involved with Adventure Cyclist, yet still, Tim Perrin adds a discussion of GPS PubLICATIONS michael d eme greg siple for every bike sold for practical and com- and a roundup of some of the models derek gallagher fortable extended travel, there’s probably available to bicycle travelers. This is a IT DEPARTMENT john sieber richard darne 50 super-delicate road bikes purchased. subject that many have requested we matt sheils This year’s buyer’s guide is written by cover over the past few years and one TOURS rod kramer mo mislive ts Stephen Lord, author of The Adventure that will continue to be important going sam hall paul hansbarger Cycle-Touring Handbook published by forward as electronic devices and ser- ROUTES AND MAPPING carla majernik jennifer milyko Trailblazer. I owe Stephen a great debt vices are being embraced in every facet virginia sullivan kevin mcmanigal as he stepped in and wrote this guide of human life. casey greene nathan taylor SALES AND MARKETING on very short notice and did a very nice Also included, there’s a road test of teri maloughney job, especially considering the time con- the Voodoo Nakisi by Patrick O’Grady, CYCLOSOURCE straints he was under. If you’d like to the first of many to come during the ted bowman sarah r az OffICE MANAGER get deeper into what makes bike travel remainder of the 2011 editorial volume, beth petersen such a great activity, you should pick a discussion about cyclists and their pro- BOARD OF DIRECTORS up a copy of his book, which you can tein needs by Nancy Clark, a compari- PRESIDENT purchase from our online store (www. son of panniers and frame packs by Jill carol york adventurecycling.org/store). Part 1 covers Homer, and much more. VICE PRESIDENT jennifer garst the practicalities of long-distance bicycle Now that the 2011 version is in the SECRETARY travel; Part 2 popular and challenging books we’ll start planning for 2012 so if andy baur TREASURER world-wide routes; and Part 3 consists of there are subjects you’d like to see cov- andy huppert 10 first-hand accounts of bike trips from ered don’t be shy. BOARD MEMBERS all over the world by various bicycle- jason boucher todd copley george mendes jeff miller travel luminaries. Michael Deme donna o'neal wally werner In addition to the “Touring Bike Editor, Adventure Cyclist Buyer’s Guide,” Brendan Leonard tells the [email protected] 4 ADVENTURE CYCLIST april 2011 ADVENTURECYCLING.ORG ADVENTURE CYCLIST april 2011 ADVENTURECYCLING.ORG 5 Letters from our Readers Keep the flame alive, Florida Keys deserve better in favor of bright colors Mr. Hostelling trail for the length of the Florida Keys, Screaming Yellow jerseys that fill our clos- I enjoyed reading “Bill Nelson: Mr. and that 60 percent is now completed? A et provide a measure of safety in traffic Hosteling” by June J. Siple in the bicycle trip along the Keys will provide by attracting attention from motorists. We February issue. As teenagers vaguely the riders opportunities to experience, have been told so many times by members aware of Bikecentennial in the summer of historical sites, wonderful parks, beauti- of the public that we meet on rides. They 1976, two friends and I loaded our bikes ful vistas, interesting stores, and diverse have often thank us for being so visible.