About 9 times a year, I get a big dose of biking inspiration when the Adventure Cycling Association magazine hits my mailbox. Island-hopping in Korea, chugging up and down Colombian mountains, receiving blessings from elephants in India – cyclists are all over the globe, pedaling down their dreams.
Now there’s a new long-distance U.S. route to stretch your biking horizons: the Sierra Cascades. The maps are still at the printers, but Adventure Cycling cartographer Jenn Milyko and company are road-tripping to 3 West Coast REI stores this week to unveil the route. (REI kicked in a $10,000 grant to help fund the project.)
The REI Seattle flagship was packed on Monday night with cyclists eager for a sneak peek. Imagine cycling 2,400 on-road miles from Canada to Mexico, paralleling the Pacific Crest Trail. Along the way, you’ll take in Mount Rainier, Crater Lake, Yosemite—and how about a side trip to the Grand Canyon before you kick back with a beer at trail’s end in Tecate, Mexico?
It was enough to spur me to dust off my sturdy Trek for a new season of weekend loops and urban bike commuting. (Best part of my commute: osprey sightings along the Duwamish River south of Seattle. Not-so-great part: cranky motorists.)
What inspires you to get out on your bike? What are your best close-to-home rides and your favorite epic adventures—real or imagined?
Ratings and Comments
Thanks so much for the glowing report on our new route, Sierra Cascades Bicycle Route. It was great to be so warmly received in Seattle at the flagship REI store for the debut! We have been working really hard on these maps and to hear that others are revved up to give it a go makes it all the more worthwhile.
This was my first PR road trip, and wow, good stuff every night. I really appreciated the all the support REI staff and Adventure Cycling volunteers (and staff back in Missoula!) put forward to make this happen so smoothly.
Time to get out there and cycle!
So I guess the US State Department Travel Advisory regarding Mexico is being ignored here?
What does an REI customer do when they come upon a Mexican drug trafficing organization? Show them their library card from Berkeley and think they can just go abouth on their merry way?
So I guess the US State Department Travel Advisory regarding Mexico is being ignored here?
What does an REI customer do when they come upon a Mexican drug trafficing organization? Show them their library card from Berkeley and think they can just go abouth on their merry way?
Hey Tony: The route only goes as far as the border, crossing into Mexico is purely optional (as is any of the routing we offer). It all depends on your personal preferences and tolerances for risk. Check your gut and do what feels best for you.
Hey Tony: The route only goes as far as the border, crossing into Mexico is purely optional (as is any of the routing we offer). It all depends on your personal preferences and tolerances for risk. Check your gut and do what feels best for you.
In regards to Tony Booth's comment, it's all part of the adventure!
Definition of Adventure:
1.a) An undertaking or enterprise of a hazardous nature.
b) An undertaking of a questionable nature, especially one involving intervention in another state's affairs.
2. Participation in hazardous or exciting experiences: the love of adventure.
v. ad·ven·tured, ad·ven·tur·ing, ad·ven·tures
v.tr.
1. To venture upon; undertake or try.
2. To expose to danger or risk; hazard.
v.intr.
1. To take a risk; dare.
2. To proceed despite risks.
Bring it on!!!
Wow! We had 100+ people in our store in Eugene, OR for this presentation (and we're a little store, too - Eugene loves to cycle!). Thanks, Adventure Cycling!
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