70-year-old begins cross-country bike tour

Bill Cook's blog of his upcoming bicycle tour looks like it could be a good read.

Cook is a retired journalist who is leaving Thursday on a 7-week TransAmerica bike tour with 40 other cyclists. At 70, he's the second oldest on the trip; another fella is 73.

The 3,300-mile bicycle tour is organized by Adventure Cycling Association. It's one of those supported rides that tour director Rod Kramer told me about at the Seattle Bike Expo this spring.

While Adventure Cycling (formerly known as Bikecentennial) got its start 30 years ago providing maps and self-supported touring for cyclists, Kramer explained the aging population calls for slightly “kooshier” rides.

That's why this 30th anniversary ride features vans that carry the cyclists' luggage and meals, although the bicyclists will camp out most nights or stay in college dormitories.

Cook told Knight-Ridder that will be riding a recumbent bicycle that he designed. Its low seat and back support provide comfort, and it's more aerodynamic that traditional bicycles.

Cook's Knight-Ridder blog, entitled Cycling Across the USA, has already launched with his impressions of Seattle, his point of departure. I'm sure this will be worth checking into as the summer progresses and he heads east.

Check in on other cross-country bicycling blogs at On the Road Bicycle Tour blogs.