Tag: Adventure Cycling

A 10,000 MILE BIKE RIDE – FOLLOWING THE MONARCH MIGRATION.

Contributed by Sara Dykman

On my old steel mountain bike, dinged with the scars of past adventures, I loaded up all my gear and set off from the forests of central Mexico. My goal was to bike with monarchs, millions of them, from their overwintering forest to their summer range in Canada, and back again. The monarchs would fly because they were butterflies. I would bike because I was the self-proclaimed butterbiker.

It took three weeks for me to pedal from the forest of Mexico to the scrubland of Texas, where the female monarchs search out milkweed plants to lay their eggs. It took another three months to arrive to Canada. By summer, the monarchs had spread out from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean. This vast range meant that there were many routes. To bike with monarchs, I merely needed to pick a road and bike.

Though I was on the route of the monarch migration, I was seeing only a fraction of what the migration had once been. The eastern population of the monarch butterfly has plummeted in recent years because of habitat loss, herbicide use, and climate change. Like getting to know a friend, hearing the monarchs’ story was the first step to saving them.

On my bike ride I visited classrooms and nature centers, recounting my adventures and explaining the migration to over 9,000 people. I spoke of the highway ditches alive and wild, filled with hungry caterpillars munching milkweed. I spoke of the horror of seeing that same habitat mowed down. I spoke of the relief I felt when I met people growing gardens. In this way, my bike ride with butterflies became a bike ride for butterflies.

By pedaling 10,201 miles with the monarchs I gave my voice to them, and helped remind people that just as human travelers need safe places to rest, healthy food to eat, and uninterrupted land for which to traverse, so too do butterfly travelers.

I am the butterbiker, biking to save the butterflies. Luckily there are many ways to help protect the monarchs – planting gardens, spreading the word, protecting wild places. You don’t have to quit your jobs and spend ten months biking with butterflies. But, of course, you can if you want to.

Sara Dykman divides her time between seasonal amphibian research, outdoor education, and education-linked adventures (www.beyondabook.org). She is currently working on a book about her bicycle trip following the monarchs.

We are delighted that Sara chose a Terry saddle to support her through her epic ride – a Liberator X Gel.

December 7, 2019
CYCLING IN DEATH VALLEY ON A CENTURY.

A long way from NYC.

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Contributed by Chris Cady

Chris recently rode Death Valley solo after his friend bailed on the ride. He lives and rides in NYC and is a strong supporter of Terry saddles. Here’s his perspective on his ride through some of the harshest conditions in the world.

Watch out for the desert people…

Desert people? Who are these desert people? Where do they live? Watch out for? Serious advice from unconnected individuals in LA., seemingly well meaning.

I live and ride everyday in Manhattan, I must have seen everything by now.

No advice on what they look like, how to protect yourself, just watch out.

Joshua tree near Vegas.

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We all know it’s fairly straightforward to ride the desert. Make sure you have enough water, sunscreen, food, bars, clothing, tubes.

Check the wind forecast the night before against your route. Bring your extra battery.

Have you noticed that every image that comes in your eyes is new when exploring new places on your bicycle?
You can watch your mind label new things.

Yoga class they are always focused on watching the breath, as it is a barometer of mentally stability in a difficult asana.

Riding isolated areas long distance solo is a meditation.

It gives us an opportunity to observe the mind and naturally allows concentration to rest on the breath. Exactly the Shamata meditation progression, the basic building block of many meditative traditions.

Maybe the new meditation retreats will be long bicycle adventures through isolated sections of the landscape, instead of sitting all day on a cushion in an old cold drafty monastery, I’ll sit on my Terry Century saddle.

Start in Santa Monica, where riders looked like greyhounds, beautiful animals perched and balanced.

City riding in California involves long red lights versus NYC. Plenty of fun pink and blue hair.

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Saddles of a different variety.

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Everyone in Silverlake has a dog which brunches. Stylish. Rt 66. San Gabriel River Trail. Cajon Pass. Victorville. Oro Grande. (Forgotton, but not dead)

I encountered a desert person riding into Barstow. A lone male walking against traffic (no cars to the horizon) who lunged at me while I rode by. His intentions were not friendly. I understood now.

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Wildlife crossing.

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The Mojave scenery is austere, quiet, brightly colored, spacious, and ever changing, even jaw dropping at times.

The mid April air is a pungent bloom of the wildflowers, something people in an 80 mph car probably miss.

Strangely, zero friendly waves from passing cars, perhaps because no one is riding these roads. I’m just a weirdo, all alone in the middle of nowhere. Everything you would expect. Pavement is generally perfect.

Red Rock Canyon near Las Vegas.

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The desert starts in Kramer Junction CA. and continues. Wind became important. Traffic disappears. You can hear a car from half a mile away.

Riding towards and into Death Valley from the CA side is visually stunning, invoking both big climbs and incredible descents.

Think spun out for 20 miles. Travel light, stay in motels, and make the big climbs. The views and sense of accomplishment are worth it.

Coming into Death Valley over Towne Pass is a 5000 foot climb at 9 percent. Hundreds of caterpillars and butterflies makes you look like a drunken sailor weaving slowly around the local inhabitants. Summit temp in April is 42 degrees. Eyes forward, it’s 17 miles downhill to Stovepipe Wells from the Summit of Towne pass.

And into Death Valley. Where the temps are 50 degrees warmer than the summits. It’s the only place you can be still shivering while looking at the thermometer saying 90.

Leaving Death Valley is a 3 hour climb from -190 below sea level to 4000 feet above, and a smooth quiet road headed toward Death Valley Junction. The temps drop quickly as you climb, which is a natural air conditioning effect.

As you crest the summit and leave Death Valley you see hundreds of miles in every direction. Snow capped peaks, valley floors, stretching 50 miles across.

The desolate scenery is the prized possession of this ride are the areas close to Death Valley are the place to remember. You are riding without a net.

I ride Terry saddles exclusively, both in NYC (Raven) and on long road rides (Century). They are tested and durable. They are comfortable and designed to keep going when your friends bail on a ride.

May 9, 2019
TERRY CYCLING GEAR: TROPICAL TEST

Putting Terry Cycling Gear to the Test in Tahiti

Cindy rocks the Terry Breakaway Mesh in Moulin Rouge, on Bora Bora

Terry customer and brand ambassador, Cindy Wienkers, took a selection of Terry cycling gear on her trip to French Polynesia, where she put it through its paces in demanding conditions: high heat and humidity, with varied terrain and daily rides, often of quite high mileage.

She and her husband, Kevin, joined a Santana tour of the Polynesian islands, an absolute dream destination. They raced, toured and relaxed by tandem, sailboat, cart and barge, enjoying the wonderful hospitality of the native islanders, along with many other local delights.

Cindy planned her wardrobe carefully for this trip. As she explains:

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What cycling gear did I pack?

Yoga in the bungalow on Moorea

I packed only my Terry Bicycles apparel to wear on the trip. I knew it would be hot and humid and I don’t do well in the heat. It was the first time I decided to forget about dressing like my captain and go for comfort. And let me tell you, I am so glad I did.

Many tandem couples dress alike when biking. I find the unisex jerseys to not be comfortable at all. Over a year ago I was introduced to the Terry Bicycles line of women’s apparel. The fit and fabrics are amazing. I am an avid seamstress, and I appreciate the feel and appearance of really nice fabrics. Everyone has a different body build of course, so each person has their own favorite Terry pieces. I especially love the Soleil, Breakaway, and Sun Goddess tops. I love the SPF factor, the higher neckline on Soleil that keeps bugs from getting down my shirt (I am allergic to bee stings,) and the unique fabrics/styles.

I have several tops that I wear not only for biking but also for working out at the gym. Many of the 3 pocket jersey styles also have a hole for my headphone cord – great when working out if you are not wireless.

Oh so hot, our boat in the background, tender arriving – Breakaway Mesh in Vendée Jade

Bike Tops for all occasions

I brought various tops along on the trip. The sleeveless because I knew I would be melting (and I wore them every day), the Soleil tank because it is super comfy with a high neck, the short sleeve Soleil which is more of a ¾ length in case I needed some sun protection, and I even brought a couple light colored long sleeve Soleil in case I needed total sun protection on my arms. All of the Terry tops I brought could also be worn for casual wear. I wished I would have had my Sun Goddess tops with me, but I didn’t order them until I returned from the trip, knowing summer would be arriving soon in Green Bay.

Cycling Bottoms galore

The bottoms I packed were the new Chill 7 elastic-free leg short, which I think is great, the Metro Skort, and the Fixie Skort (which I also wore for casual wear, but wouldn’t wear this one for a long cycling day), and Mixie Skort & Liner. Also one pair of knickers, the Breakaway, because they are a light weight and comfy fabric. I never wore the knickers though, as it was just too hot.

Another reason for packing the knicker was in case I started having a recurring knee issue. My brace is more comfortable with fabric between it and my skin.

How did my Terry cycling gear perform on tour?

Besides being comfortable, all of the Terry items I brought along for the trip washed up easily and line dried quickly in our ship’s cabin.

Ready to roll on Taha’a – Breakaway Mesh, Moulin Rouge & Metro Skort

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I had ordered the Metro Skort two piece with removable liner in both medium and large. I preferred the fit of the large, as it sat lower on my hips. The combo worked well, but I did find the waist band on the skirt stretched out and nearly fell off my hips after a pretty long and hot day of riding: hot, muggy and pushing the miles to keep the schedule. On the tandem as the stoker I sometimes have a lot more movement in my saddle than on my single, especially when pushing a little elevation. I sit on my skirt so any forward and back movement along with extreme heat could have caused the band to relax from the tugging on it. Once back home, the Metro skort did return to its original size after washing and line drying. Other ladies on the tour loved the Metro Skort!

The knit charcoal gray Mixie Skirt fit well. I wore it for casual wear, and had it on for the road race (first day of the tour! 55 kilometers, hard, non-stop riding). Not sure if the chamois in the Mixie Liner is different from others, but I could have used more padding for that long ride. It’s probably better suited for shorter rides, commuting etc.

After riding in the heat and humidity, my favorite bottoms for hot weather are now the new Chill 7 short, and the Fixie Skort.

Cycling Gear from Bike to Gym to Store

I justify all of the biking tops I own because I wear them Monday-Friday at the gym. The pockets and cord/headphone access hole are great. They are also great as I can toss on a clean one afterwards, to wear for errands.

Contributed by Cindy Wienkers

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July 5, 2018
NEW ZEALAND ADVENTURE.

Bike (and other) Adventures on New Zealand’s South Island

Make no mistake, there are very few cycle friendly paved roads on the West Coast of South Island. State highways are mountainous as glaciers dip to 300 feet above sea level. They are all single lane and narrow with no shoulders. Tourists unaccustomed to driving on the left side of the road add to the challenge.

But there are a few spectacular quiet road rides:

Hokitika to Hokitika Gorge: @ 90 km round trip. This is flat, even as the road nears the base of the Southern Alps. You earn new visions for what is green and blue as the sheep pasture gives way to rainforest and water upstream becomes thick with glacial milk.
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Haast to Jacksons Bay: (@ 100 km round trip). Park at the Haast Visitor Center. The sealed road meanders along the coast with transitions between sand and rock. Seals and dolphins are abundant on Neal’s Beach. The Cray Pot in Jacksons Bay serves lunch of fresh caught seafood salad and local ginger beer.

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I ended up renting mountain bikes and spent more time on the trail.

Nelson Bradley owns Hokitika Cycle and Sports in downtown Hokitika. An Avanti and Scott dealer, he is the go to shop on the West Coast.
Western Wilderness Trail (Greymouth to Ross): the best sections are Karamura to Hokitika. The trail is rated Grade 1 (easiest), but the climb is serious and includes tight, gravelly hairpin turns. Cowboys Paradise, near the top features great sandwiches and a new dormitory for bike campers. The ride down from Kokatahi to Kaniere is single track through pristine rainforest and along the edge of the cleanest stream you’ll ever know.

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Wanaka seems to be a South Island hub for mountain biking with lake and riverside and cross country trails, along with challenging ridgelines and technical parks. Racer’s Edge rents decent Giant bikes. The terrain is endlessly variable as are the spectacular lake and mountain views. I took the track leaving the village along Lake Wanaka and followed the Clutha River. Spiny Forest is technical single track for only the most capable riders. Another more forgiving trail follows the lakefront to Glendu Bay.

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In rain, Franz Josef offers alternative activities including kayaking and quad biking.
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Waitoto River Safari; Wayne and Ruth take you to places inland with few traces of human imprint.
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February 6, 2018
ASK A TOUR LEADER: TOURING DURING THE OFF SEASON.

At the top of Norris Hill.

For many of us, the days are getting shorter and cooler, and thoughts are turning to things other than bicycle touring. Why not make this the year to try something different and go on an off-season bike trip?

Yes, the days will be shorter and the weather will be tougher. The flip side is the tourists are gone and a bike trip can feel like a real exploration rather than a race from place to place. There’s lots of great clothing available to keep you warm and dry. And an off-season trip is the perfect time to treat yourself. Stay in a nice B&B where a warm fire at night will chase away the day’s chills.

If gutting it out in the cold or wet isn’t your thing, consider going somewhere warm. Many southern states are pleasantly cool during the winter. Some tour companies offer winter trips in the southern states, or for the ultimate trip, try Chile or Australia during the winter.

Staying in shape for a tour in the dead of winter can be a challenge. If you rode a lot during the summer you may still be ready to tour even if you taper off in the fall. Look for good weather days to get out on the bike, or simply accept the fact of riding in bad weather. Use indoor training if it’s available to you. But whatever works for you, think about ways to extend your season and the fun of riding by going off season!

-Joyce Casey, Adventure Cycling Tour Leader

October 7, 2015