Just like the Wright Brothers' first airplane that sits in the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum in Washington DC, some transportation marvels deserve recognition.
So it is with the triple tandem built by bicycling advocate and enthusiast Bill Bliss.
The bicycle carried Bill and his two daughters, Shannon, 8, and Heather, 7, on a 4,200-mile TransAmerica bike ride in 1976 to commemorate the nation's Bicentennial. It now adorns the entryway to the Adventure Cycling Association headquarters in Missoula, Montana.
The Bicecentennial cross-country bike rides carried the same name as the group that created the maps, Bikecentennial. It later changed its name to the nonprofit Adventure Cycling Association. Executive director Jim Sayer:
“We are extremely pleased to have Bill's extraordinary bike in Missoula. Bill was a legend in the world of bicycle travel and we are honored to host this icon from his family's participation in our founding event.”
Bliss was a bicycle advocate and commuter in San Jose, California, back in the days when that was rare. Noteworthy among his bicycle travels was his participation in the 366-day, 20,000-plus mile Odyssey Tour around the world that celebrated the millennium.
While on a bicycle tour in Colorado in 2005, Bliss was struck and killed by a motorist later convicted of negligent driving. The off-duty police officer received a light sentence without jail time.
Bill Bliss's wife, Bonnie, accompanied her family on a single bike in 1976. She said the triple was mounted on the living room wall of their home for about 30 years. Through Adventure Cycling, Bonnie said:
“I am delighted the triple tandem has arrived and will be on prominent display in America's mecca of bicycle travel.”
Adventure Cycling has a collection of other touring bicycles and memorabilia worthy of note at its main offices at 150 E. Pine St., in downtown Missoula. Hours at 8 to 5 Monday through Friday and 9-1 on Saturdays in the summer. Also, you can see more pictures of the Bliss bicycle at Adventure Cycling's flickr.com photo gallery.
If you're traveling by bicycle, Greg Siple will take your picture if you stop by.
Note to ACA: My Fuji Dynamic 10 that I rode cross-country on my 1984 TransAmerica bike tour is mounted on the wall of my garage. Although probably not worth shipping to Missoula, I believe it is worthy of “landmark” status.
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