Messages

1

General Discussion / Re: Pedal bikes are out. Electric motorcycles are in

« on: July 29, 2026, 05:49:31 pm »

Kids who ride e-bikes will dump them as soon as they get a driver's license.
E-bikes are, in almost every way, the antithesis of cycling.

2

Temporary ACA Route Road Closures / Re: Route 66 Section 1 Chain of Rocks Bridge Closed Summer/Fall 2026

« on: July 08, 2026, 04:06:52 pm »

>> The Mississippi River.

The Eads Bridge - further south - is a historical masterpiece.
It was the first St. Louis bridge across the Mississippi.
It sits on top of its girder arches so you have a panoramic view
of the city and the Gateway Arch. Plus bike lanes.

3

Temporary ACA Route Road Closures / Re: TransAm Section 8 panel 94 road closed, bridge construction - Summer 2026

« on: June 25, 2026, 06:54:19 pm »

Amy -

I did grad work at K.U. And often rode in the Flint Hills.
Minimum maintenance, unpaved county roads can be sand pits when it is dry.
But when they are wet, they are quicksand.
Quicksand that turns into cement when it dries on your chain.
Most of the section line roads are township roads with minimal maintenance.
(All the listed detour roads are township roads)
Improved gravel roads are usually country-maintained.
Huge difference.

I'll see if I can find something different.

John

4

General Discussion / Re: Are The Numbers of Views Authentic ??

« on: June 24, 2026, 08:17:16 am »

Philosophically speaking, authenticity is a complex subject.

5

Building Sale Discussion Area / Re: ACA financials

« on: May 18, 2026, 11:23:17 am »

Ok, just got a survey invite, which I think they sent earlier and I filled it out.   No questions seeking input into how to become stable or have growth.

Matt -

Was this the one that asked questions like:
"How often do you tour?"
"Do you prefer solo or group tours?"
"Are you interested in taking an ACA tour?"

For the past five+ years we have been deluged with marketing and messaging.
I was afraid of that when Jenn O'Dell took over since her background was in marketing
and she had little to no bicycle touring experience.

I have considerable experience in survey design.
Too often, clients request what they want to hear and are unwilling to seek useful responses.
In such cases, members either choose not to respond or give them what they want.

If ACA wants to survive they have a shrinking window of opportunity that came after the 2nd vote.
Just as their rationale for selling the headquarters was prepackaged to fit their position,
ACA's explanation that members simply were "ageing out" was transparently inadequate.

Perhaps it is time for new leadership. Perhaps it is too late.
Perhaps most former members just don't care.

6

Building Sale Discussion Area / Re: ACA financials

« on: May 18, 2026, 11:07:41 am »

BB -

That was my reaction, as well. Not my "Plan B".
It's an ultimatum - much as how the sale of the headquarters was presented.

Other than a general "Mistakes were made" apology by the board chair,
there has been no open process of assessing the errors of the past 5 years.
I believe that part of the problem is the board's insulation from the membership.
The board is, basically, self-selected, not elected by members.

When you lose 2/3s of you members and blow through 2 million in reserves,
then tell the remaining members, "Ante up!" - - -
It's just a recipe for further decline.

Long-distance bicycling tourers are a tiny slice of the population.
Rather than going after people who haven't been on a bike since they were 12,
perhaps it might be wiser to address the reasons why 32,000 known supporters have left??
But, that has not occurred.

Instead, they have used a crucial opportunity to further alienate remaining members.
In the private sector, the entire board and top leadership would resign.

7

Routes / Re: Golden Gravel questions

« on: May 13, 2026, 08:04:35 pm »

Colorado and much of the Intermountain West face unprecedented fire risk this summer.
The past six months have broken records for high temperatures and lack of precipitation.
People in their 90s have never seen such conditions.
It looks like August - in May - in many places.

You should be aware that National Forests in the West implement Stage 3 closures -
closed to all entry - when fire risk is extreme. These closures are expected this summer.

https://insideclimatenews.org/news/06052026/colorado-severe-fire-risk-resources/

Here's a current first risk map of Colorado - for mid-May which is the peak precipitation month btw -
https://co-pub.coloradoforestatlas.org/#/

8

Building Sale Discussion Area / Re: ACA financials

« on: May 12, 2026, 07:15:15 pm »

"Got a mailing or two asking for contributions"

So did I.

And Max said that the "Plan B" was for us to come up with the moolah.
That is not my "Plan B" - nor do I think it is the "Plan B" of many remaining members.

What I have not seen - which I believe has not taken place -
is a thorough retrospective analysis of what went wrong over the past 5 years.
Any good business or nonprofit should do this regularly -
especially one which has lost 2/3s of its members.

Instead, we get upbeat messaging - which seems to be a trend everywhere -
when an honest assessment is needed to avoid simply pouring more money down the drain.
The best source of additional revenue for a membership organization is - - - more members.
And the best place to find new members is among the 32,000 who have left.
ACA is not Sam's Club, its potential members are an extremely small segment of society.
Tossing aside 32,000 seems a poor business model indeed.

I'm waiting, without much confidence, to see a clear report addressing the past 5 years.
I do not expect to see one. Just more happy talk.
Which is likely not to serve ACA well.

PS - Did you notice the expressions of ACA staff and board members during the online meeting?
You would think that the peasants knew better ....

9

General Discussion / Re: Forum is dead.

« on: April 29, 2026, 01:22:27 am »

Westy -

I fear that a lot more than this forum is dead.

10

Alaska/Hawaii / Re: Alaska touring - need advice

« on: April 26, 2026, 02:12:06 pm »

Website wasn't taking photos a couple of days ago.
Nadahini Hilton -

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10238795164050946&set=a.1058641559541

11

Alaska/Hawaii / Re: Alaska touring - need advice

« on: April 22, 2026, 01:13:48 pm »

May I suggest basing out of Juneau instead?
(If you have a passport for travel into Canada)

There is a great scenic triangle to ride.

Ferry Juneau to Skagway - eye-popping scenery
Skagway to Whitehorse to Haines Junction to Haines
Ferry Haines back to Juneau - eye-popping again

Kluane National Park is magnificent

Far nicer riding scenery - way better than north of Anchorage.
The Richardson and Parks Highways have lots and lots of trees.

Rains increase in July near the coast of the Gulf of Alaska.
Much drier in the interior.

All paved.
Great camping and hiking at Kluane.

If you overnight at the Nadahini Hilton there will be zero overnight traffic,
because the border station closes at night.

12

Building Sale Discussion Area / Re: So, now what?

« on: April 07, 2026, 01:20:55 pm »

I do not find what little has taken place since January very encouraging.
There was a window of attention and focus that may have been lost.
Or, some people may have wished for everything simply to blow over.

13

Pacific Northwest / Re: Sierra Cascades in Washington -- St Helens to Hood River FR25

« on: April 03, 2026, 04:38:33 pm »

If you have a RideWithGPS link I could see your route better.
But the main north-south route via FR 25 is 95% paved.
Just one short 4 mile unpaved section, MP 24-28.
There could be other sections with construction.
The surface is quite good for the most part.
But because it's paved, it's not an empty road, either.

YMMV - With severe cuts to forest service budgets
annual road repairs may have been delayed.

Given the traffic - even on weekdays -
you shouldn't have any problem even if you have a breakdown.
I understand that it is riskier for women to accept help.
Wait for women or a couple to help, if you need to.
Cars will be passing by every few minutes.

Can't speak on the issue of cell service.
I turn mine off - intentionally.
Ridgetops have the best service.

14

Pacific Northwest / Re: Sierra Cascades in Washington -- St Helens to Hood River FR25

« on: April 03, 2026, 12:31:58 pm »

Depends on when you do it.
Depends on what you call remote.

I've been caught in a late snowstorm in early June.
Had cold steady rain in mid-August - which is freaky.
But usually from mid-June to mid-Sept conditions are good.
Also, the route you propose stays lower - i.e. warmer.

FR 25 is a main thoroughfare thru the GPNF.
During the summer there will be pretty steady traffic.
There are no cafes or motels - campgrounds have water.
Iron Creek appears to be closed this year.
Eagle Cliff Campground has a camp store.

Campgrounds fill quickly in summer.
Not sure if GPNF has a "No turn away" policy for cyclists.
If you know your overnights for sure, get a reservation.
Otherwise, you can often beg a spot if the campground is full.

Does that sound remote to you?

PS - Takhlakh Lake and Mount Adams are spectacular.
Certainly worth it. Reservations strongly advised.

15

Routes / Re: GDMBR - snow depth Indiana Pass (CO)

« on: March 25, 2026, 10:58:56 am »

Bill -

You could probably start May 1 as bad as the winter has been with almost no snow and little rain further south.
I expect it will be a brutal year for forest fires in the West this year.
Of course, in the Southwest, the monsoon could come early and change things.
On the GDMBR, the monsoon turns the desert caliche clays into sticky cement
(It's always something, isn't it?)

Further north, there could be good spring moisture,
but every indication is that the severe drought will continue.
Many areas of the northern Rockies already are under high fire danger.
Even if you don't have fires in your area, the smoke can be bad.

There have already been some big fires in the West. In March?!?!
And a huge fire in the Nebraska Sandhills.
This year could be a really difficult year.

If you don't have to stick to every single mile of the GDMBR
and are willing to detour - even to pavement (!!!!!) -
then you could do it with only minor to moderate disruptions.

That is my best guess in late March from Wyoming.

Best - J