With half of the nation covered in snow in mid-February, perhaps this is a good time to start dreaming about warm weather pursuits, like an overnight bike ride this summer.
The Adventure Cycling Association wants to inspire such a trip during Bike Travel Weekend on June 1-3.
This is the third year that the nonprofit has offered encouragement for solo or group bicycle tours to close-by campgrounds, hotels, or B&Bs.
In the first two years, some 20,000 folks have participated in 1,800 bike trips during Bike Travel Weekend in all 50 states and more than 20 countries. Washington, Oregon, and California had the most participation.
Adventure Cycling offers free trip planning services in advance of Bike Travel Weekend for those who want to ride independently or bike clubs or advocacy groups that want to organize a ride.
Bike travel on the Snoqualmie Valley Trail in WA
Organizers are asking participants to register so they can get a head count and learn where people are headed. The tours are tracked on an interactive map, where you can find tours to join.
Also by registering by May 27, 2018, you’re eligible to win a Co-Motion Cycles Divide bike and Amtrak tickets to Glacier National Park. Everyone will get a Bike Travel Weekend sticker in the mail, and the first 250 people who register will receive a 3-ounce bag of Black Coffee Roasting coffee in the mail.
The reasons for Bike Travel Weekend are obvious: to inspire people to discover the joy of bicycle touring. More than a third of the participants the past two years were taking their first overnight bike ride, and the majority of them planned to take another.
Bike campers in Iron Horse State Park, WA
Adventure Cycling offers some online assistance to those planning a trip:
- Advisors — Volunteers who have agreed to share their experiences and knowledge about bike travel in your area;
- Find a bike ride — A list of Bike Travel Weekend outings that are open to others;
- Ideas — Suggestions on where to go, what to do, what to carry, how to prepare;
- Promotion — How to share your upcoming ride with others, if you’re looking for company;
- Registration — How to register your ride for swag and prizes.
Now that you’re ready for your first bicycling adventure of the summer, you might want to look into the upcoming Bike Your Park Day coming up Sept. 30, 2018.
By the way, Adventure Cycling has produced a report on the accomplishments of the past two Bike Travel Weekends. (Download Bike Travel Weekend report 2017)
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