The White Swan Hungarian Restaurant - Awarded Hungry Cyclist Wheel of Approval

Words by Al Humphries Even as a rookie in the cut-throat world of restaurant reviewing I could tell that this was not beginning well. The address on the post-it note in my hand matched the empty shell of a property...

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/typepad/thehungrycyclist/~3/1Wln4uCz3fw/the-white-swan-hungarian-restaurant-awarded-hungry-cyclist-wheel-of-approval.html

nalini cycling

Highlights from the bicycle film festival

The 2011 Bicycle Film Festival had the usual selection of odd, interesting and eye opening movies. I attended two showings on the Friday and Sunday evenings. On arrival on the Friday evening, the amount of bicycles outside suggested it was going to be a sold out event. There was also the Bicycle Library parked outside [...]

Source: http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/cycling-london/highlights-from-the-bicycle-film-festival/

cycling clubs

Road Report #2: Visiting Massachusetts and the New England Bike Walk Summit


After my trip to Fort Wayne, IN for the Mid American Trails and Greenways Conference, I flew to Boston and had the chance to ride on one of the new Hubway bikes (above), and check out the construction of a new bicycle and pedestrian bridge, called the North Bank Bridge, which sits near the I-93 Zakim Bridge (see the bridge under construction and a rendering of the final product below).


I was really there to meet with the Massachusetts Commissioner of Conservation and Recreation, Ed Lambert, and many of his staff. With the help of Gary Briere, director of recreation, and Eric Weis, trails coordinator for East Coast Greenway Alliance, we were able to explain to Commissioner Lambert the status of U.S. Bicycle Routes in New England and ask for his agency's help in getting things moving forward in Massachusetts. Earlier in the day, Gary and I met with Josh Lehman from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) and explained our ideas and strategies. With all of these important agencies on the same page, I am confident we'll have U.S. Bike Route 1 through Massachusetts within the next two years, and a continuous route from Maine to Florida within five years (did I just set a challenge?)

That's a lot of states to work with -- and I couldn't do this without our partnership with the East Coast Greenway Alliance. Eric does a superb job working to make inroads with bicycle route and trail development along the East Coast. He also is the coordinator of the annual New England Bike Walk Summit, at which I was a session speaker. This was a great opportunity to bring together the New England cycling and trail development community. The session provided me with some great information for potential new corridors across the New England region.


Between meetings in Boston and the New England Bike Walk Summit, Gary and I did a bit of route research. A trip like this wouldn't be complete without a stop for some fried sea food and a ride on the beach in a lifeguard truck ... would it?

And we had a little time to meet some of the locals -- enter Mikey Perkins (in yellow), manufacturer of Sylvan wood composite bicycles. Gary (far left) was showing me a beautiful overlook called Mount Sugarloaf when we ran into Mikey and his photography crew.

Mikey is a geographer by education and bicycle builder by trade. He has toured extensively, so when I introduced myself, he knew Adventure Cycling. I knew I loved his bicycles -- especially the one called, "Adventure." Beautifully constructed, these bikes are built right there in Sunderland, MA.

Back on the road, Gary and I determined that there are some amazing and beautiful roads winding through Massachusetts. Connecting to the emerging trail system will be an added benefit for cyclists and the communities that are building them.

Photo of North Bank Bridge by Karl Haglund, Rendering by Ammann & Whitney. All other Photos by Ginny Sullivan.

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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/2011/10/road-report-2-visiting-massachusetts.html

cycling fans

High on Steens Mountain

Four years ago I read an article in Adventure Cyclist by Chuck Haney about a ride he had done in southeastern Oregon. It was the Steens Mountain loop.

Chuck mentions that the Steens loop sounded great, but he had always kept it on the back burner.

Well. If you like climbing, vistas to die for, glacial gorges, day hikes to mountain lakes, and don't mind pedaling off the pavement ... put this trip on your front burner.

Your window of time to visit is limited (the higher road didn't open until mid-July this year), but it is well worth the planning and the wait.

For mileage hounds, this is one of those trips where less is more. How could anyone want to rush with scenery like this?

Check out Chuck's article (pdf) for more details.


Photo: Steens Mountain, Oregon -- 2011 by Willie Weir

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SIGHTS AND SOUNDS appears on Friday afternoons. Willie Weir is a columnist for Adventure Cyclist magazine. His latest book Travels with Willie: Adventure Cyclist will inspire you to hit the road and just might change the way you approach bicycle travel. He lives in Seattle with his wife Kat. You can read about their local adventures and life without a car at http://YellowTentAdventures.com/.

Source: http://blog.adventurecycling.org/2011/10/high-on-steens-mountain.html

craft cycling

1,000 Miles and Counting

America ByCycle -- a.k.a. Michelle Cassel and Ryan McAfee -- visited Adventure Cycling's headquarters this week, taking a break from the TransAmerica Trail. We've been impressed with their video prowess. As one of us commented after watching this recent video, "They?ve done a really nice job of capturing a sense of motion and some of the spirit and character of bicycle touring." So many great places, people, challenges, moments wrapped up into this piece -- an overview of their first 1,000 miles. Take a minute to enjoy!

Note: A few minutes into the video, there is a wee "f-bomb" so please watch and share responsibly.

1,000 and Counting from America ByCycle on Vimeo.

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NEWS, NETWORKING, AND NEW MEDIA is posted by Winona Bateman, Adventure Cycling's media director, and highlights cool media (articles, videos, photos, etc.) and meet-ups related to Adventure Cycling and bicycle travel. Writing a story about bicycle travel or Adventure Cycling Association? You can contact Winona via email: pressATadventurecyclingDOTorg. Visit our media room, view our news releases, or follow us on Twitter.

Source: http://blog.adventurecycling.org/2011/10/1000-miles-and-counting.html

cycling shops

The Fairness of Bicycle Travel

It's no secret to any of us that life isn't fair. Bad things happen to good people and we don't always get what we want or we think we deserve. As I close in on the last couple of months in my twenties, though, sometimes the reality of things can get me down. We were all raised to believe that if we studied hard and pushed ourselves and did our best we'd be able to get ahead, yet I know many people who are struggling in today's economy--and many of my close friends, well-educated and highly skilled, can't even find jobs. Our parents thought they'd given us every opportunity--and they had--but those were simpler times and now things are harder. The whole game has changed and a college education doesn't mean what it used to.

When I start to feel down in the dumps about what seems like the unfairness of everything these days, it helps me to think about bicycle touring. Everything ultimately evens out in bicycle touring: you pay for it all with your sweat and your sore low back and your strengthened leg muscles. The harshest climbs are rewarded with the sweetest views. A monster headwind results in a tailwind that lasts three days. You work hard and you get stronger, you pedal and you move mountains. Everything is good and just and as it should be.

Photo by Sarah Raz

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SHIPPING NEWS is brought to you by Sarah Raz, sales representative/outreach coordinator/lover of all things outdoors. She also wishes Eddy Merckx was her father (sorry Dad!)

Source: http://blog.adventurecycling.org/2011/10/fairness-of-bicycle-travel.html

nalini cycling