I've been pitching the idea of more S24O stories or tours for the Everyman. "Gate-way tours" to introduce it to the masses but to also give ideas to those that don't have much time or resources to go for extended periods of time. Epic tours are great but so are shorter ones.
One of the greatest bits of advice I got from reading the Rivendell Reader (another great mag...worth the price of membership) was from a story on a tourist that also did RAAM. The most important thing about touring for him was to "just go." You can't wait for the perfect time, the perfect bike or a myriad other factors that have to align before you can go.
Or in other words: Go Small. Go Cheap. Go Now.
I may be able to give a little input in their next volume of the magazine, so to open up the floor for a second. What kinds of stories or topics would like to see in the next volume of Adventure Cyclist Magazine? I'm not making any promises that they'll implement them or anything like that, but I will pass on good suggestions to them.
So let's here it!
5 comments:
Came upon your blog a few days ago and love it! I think that including tips and tricks, as well as stories about S24Os in Adventure Cyclist sounds like a great idea.
Keep it up!
-K
I would like to see fewer stories on exotic tours (anywhere more than 1000 miles from me) and more on great hidden local tours. I also really would like to see more of a full feature magazine; there are a couple of road cycling zines out there and way too many mt bike zines but really nothing toward the bike adventurist. There is Backpacker which has an occasional article scattered tour equipment reviews but there really isn't much for the tourer. A goto magazine with good articles about gear reviews, tour tips and etc. They did a bike review in the last issue but only on one bike that I can remember. I constantly lust for the next issue or any magazine with articles even remotely tour related.
Anyhow I think the time is now for them to dive into the mainstream and really start pushing touring as a way of life.
Their used to be a commuter/tour/utility oriented magazine about 20+ years ago. I don't recall the name, but have the back issues stashed away. It was very well rounded and shied away from the go fast at any cost items. It was more about the nuts and bolts of touring, and how to enjoy the little things.
Great going Russ, this is fast becoming one of the top blogs...and is certainly my favorite.
Aaron
I'd like to see them cover bikes for transportation as a regular item. It seems the time is right, with more new bike commuters than ever before.
Alan
EcoVelo
In addition to stories of S24O type rides, I'd suggest making a regular feature of a suggested S24O or long-weekend (2 night) type tour route. It's probably not that hard to come up with a couple for each major US city. I don't think a turn-by-turn route is necessary, but suggesting a way to string together a few nice roads.
For example, in Seattle, I might suggest going out the Burke to the Sammamish River Trail to the Tolt Pipeline (unpaved trail) to some back roads to the Tolt-McDonald Park where there's a campground (~50ish miles?). From there, there are options to continue on the unpaved Snoqualmie Valley Trail (note: there are some primitive campsites along the SVT) and then come back to Seattle via the I-90 bridge, or come back the way you came.
I think that a slightly more fleshed out version of this, perhaps with a couple of photos and a rough map would provide a very interesting and useful series of articles. And after a few years of these, they could be compiled into a small book.
-Eric
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