The Hungry Cyclist Podcast June 2011 - The White Swan, Hunagrian Restaurant, London

H is for Hungary, and for our eighth visit on our tour of London's global cuisine we headed to the White Swan in North London. To listen to what happened plug in your headphones, find a comfy chair and enjoy.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/typepad/thehungrycyclist/~3/PgiCgRqb01o/the-hungry-cyclist-podcast-june-2011-the-white-swan-hunagrian-restaurant-london.html

craft cycling

Cycling and Health Issues

Comment from Cycling and health ‘that?s a powerful argument for more cycling priority coming into transport policy. So why is it so hard to get authorities to take it seriously? I think health is primarily an individual issue. You have to be responsible for the health of your body – whatever government policy dictates. However, [...]

Source: http://cyclinginfo.co.uk/blog/5487/articles/cycling-and-health-issues/

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How Do You Sandwich?


As I've mentioned on previous posts, I'm still rather new to this bike-touring thing. I've been bitten by the bug, but am only just getting into fully self-contained touring and all the details that come with it:

The difference in the way the bike handles, figuring out how to strap my tent onto my rack, these were things I'd prepared for, but the problem of lunch still stumped me. Are meats okay to be in the heat of my handlebar bag all day? Is there a magical way to keep the tomatoes from making your bread all soggy? I like peanut butter as much as the next girl, but I can't imagine eating it every day. There has to be a solution, right? So I set out on a fact-finding mission, and asked my fellow tours specialists what they wrapped up for lunch on the road.

Mo likes snacks, rather than sandwiches. When she does make sandwiches, she likes a hearty, seedy bread with Italian meat, cheese, and an egg-free spread (hot mayonnaise is basically poisonous) with some sort of greens -- preferably sprouts or spinach. However, jerky, cheese on the side, nuts and chocolate are more her go-to self-contained lunch food.

I emailed Arlen to ask his opinion, and his response was:

"I carry two tupperware containers in my gear. One is for my sandwich/wrap with or without nuts or fruits stuffed around it. The other is for pickles, tomatoes, olives, lettuce or anything else to make the sandwich or wrap better. When not in use I can also use this container for my cereal or oatmeal in the morning, and/or extra fruit or nuts for my ride day.

If I'm worried about heat I wrap my sandwich with my aluminum foil (which I reuse) -- it keeps the cold in and the hot out (for awhile).

I typically pack 1-2 sandwiches or wraps mushed on top of each other in the tupperware container. My lunches typically include:

- PB&B - Peanut Butter and Banana (jelly is too sloppy)
- Cheese and bagels
- Cold cuts with pickles, tomatoes, olives, lettuce (and did I mention pickles?!)
- Hardboiled egg made the night before at the end of dinner.
- Nuts, nuts, and more nuts.
- Fruit

My lunch typically doesn't make it past 11 AM unless I have 2nd breakfasts in which case I eat it by 1 PM. Typically, it isn't hot enough to spoil anything by then."

Want to show off your own amazing sandwich-making skills? Take one of our fall self-contained or van-supported tours and wow your new friends!

Or describe your dream touring sandwich right now!

Maybe we will make a touring sandwich sample table featuring all the sandwiches in the blog and Facebook comments ...  the inventors of the tastiest sandwiches might see a picture of Adventure Cycling Staff eating sandwich inventions on next week's edition of On the Road.

- Madeline

Photo of Mo enjoying a snack on tour by Paul Hansbarger

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ON THE ROAD is written by the tours team -- Mo, Paul, Madeline, and Arlen -- tours specialists and intrepid bicyclists, covering all things related to Adventure Cycling's Tours Department. Find your  Perfect Fall Tour!

Source: http://blog.adventurecycling.org/2012/07/how-do-you-sandwich.html

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Measuring the Kindness Factor


Over the past several days, Adventure Cycling volunteer, Kerry Irons and I have met with various departments of transportation (DOTs) about designating U.S. Bicycle Routes in their state. Each DOT has their own way of moving implementation forward, based on the philosophy of the department (agency culture, if you will) and the approach taken by the individual(s) in charge of bicycle projects and programs. But time after time, the discussion eventually boils down to cost and benefit.

The U.S. Bicycle Route System is a transportation network, which will promote bicycle travel -- whether it be across a county line or across multiple state lines. Tourism is a direct result. Michigan DOT hears this loud and clear -- take it straight from Director Steudle in this blog post and short video


States involved in developing U.S. Bicycle Routes know there are economic, transportation, environmental and health benefits to providing more transportation options to the traveling public. (We're happy to report 41 states are working at some level -- many are at the "planning" stages; and many are making great progress). That said, some agencies are concerned about how designation will affect their project costs now and down the road.

Today, after one such meeting, I tried to retain a sense of purpose. After explaining the benefits of bicycle tourism and the low-to-no cost in USBR designation (staff time is the main cost since the network uses existing roads and trails -- usually in "as is" condition) I realized that as much as Kerry and I could explain these things, there is no substitute to actually experiencing the benefits of bicycle travel up-close and personal. Added to that, we are unable to provide one of the essential reasons why this network is so important to the thousands of cyclists that are anxious to use it. I guess you could call it the "kindness factor."

Huh. How do you explain to non-cyclists (or cyclists that have never toured) how it feels to be really out there -- the bicycle being both your home and your main form of transportation. How do you explain to them how often the kindess of complete strangers will save you from a cold or wet night outside, provide you with vital fluids or nutrition, or offer you money when you can't find an ATM in the middle of nowhere?


It brings me back to why Greg and June Siple, and Dan and Lys Burden started Bikecentennial in the first place. Though Bikecentennial was billed as an event, the essential reason for the route and tour was the desire for people to experience the "real America" in 1976. Today, those who embark by bicycle across the U.S. are looking for that same experience -- and they are getting it. 




Take my son (pictured left) for example. He's 17 years-old and is touring with his best friend, Drew (right) and another young man, Ty. The crew started out in Oregon and were immediately blessed with the kindness of new friends along the route. Before long, they met Neal Fisher, a bike traveler from Connecticut, essentially on the same route and same timeline. The four decided to ride together. Through Idaho, Montana, and North Dakota, the four (and sometimes five when my husband rode too) experienced the kindness of complete strangers -- like Tony Braun, pictured above who paid for their hotel and meal. They were especially blown away by the generosity of people in North Dakota -- Neal calls them "benefactors." 


Watching this bicycle march across the country and hearing story after story from my son each day has lifted my heart. I realize that this is why I love my job; this is why Adventure Cycling has committed resources to seeing this project through; and that this is why cyclists across America follow us on Facebook, Twitter (@USBicycleRoutes) and donate to our campaigns. And while the "kindness factor" is not a measurable outcome and we can't show the cost benefit breakdown, we know it to be an essential element of bicycle travel. 


Top photo by George Schon on Flickr, middle photo by Dan Burden, bottom photo by Neal Fisher.


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BUILDING THE U.S. BICYCLE ROUTE SYSTEM (USBRS) is posted by Ginny Sullivan, USBRS coordinator at Adventure Cycling, and features news and updates related to the emerging U.S. Bicycle Route System. The USBRS project is a collaborative effort, spearheaded by a task force under the auspices of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). Members of the task force include officials and staff from state DOTs, the Federal Highway Administration, and nonprofits like the East Coast Greenway Alliance, and Mississippi River Trail, Inc.

Source: http://blog.adventurecycling.org/2012/07/measuring-kindness-factor.html

cycling forums

3 bike travelers hit by truck in Georgia; 1 dead

Sad news from Georgia where three bicycle touring friends in their 60s were hit by a tractor-trailer rig on Thursday morning. The three were nearing the end of a two-year, 6,000-mile bike adventure from Prudhoe Bay to Key West.

One, Peter Cornell, 64, of Port Charlotte, Fla., was killed in the collision. He was originally …

Continue reading »

Source: http://www.bikingbis.com/2012/07/28/3-bike-travelers-hit-by-truck-in-georgia-1-dead/

2011 tour de france

Klöden, Horner Finish One, Two In Basque Tour

Team RadioShack?s Andreas Klöden (GER) and Chris Horner (USA) finished off a great week of racing in warm and sunny Spain with powerful time trial performances that set them at the top of the general classification after the concluding 6th stage of the Tour of Basque Country today. Klöden fell just shy of winning [...]

Source: http://www.teamradioshack.us/kloden-horner-finish-one-two-in-basque-tour/

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Amgen Tour of California ? The Day After

The only thing bad about the Amgen Tour of California, with it’s beautiful scenery, world-class competition, excellent organization and stage selection, is that every year…it has to come to an end.  For a rabid cycling fan, the worst day of most big stage races is the day after it’s concluded.  You wish it could go [...]

Source: http://www.teamradioshack.us/amgen-tour-of-california-%e2%80%93-the-day-after/

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