Summer Travels 2010

My summer travels took me to Albuquerque in early June for the National Bike Rally; late July to the panhandle of Idaho for Adventure Cycling’s Idaho Family Fun Tour; in early August to the southeast corner of New Mexico for the Hobbs s 2010 Roll for the Cure Ride; and in mid August to the middle Rio Grande Valley to meet cyclists in Alb. and talk with the newest BCNM LCI Team in Santa Fe.


The National Bike Rally, held in Alb. June 4 - 6 was a fun filled week for me of guest attending the LCI Seminar, riding with the New Mexico Touring Society to Belen and back on the NM Railrunner Train, riding part of the Alb Century, and catching up with old friends and meeting new friends. Saturday night at the banquet we were entertained by the Black Tie Cyclists (a.k.a. LCI Coach, Craig Degenhardt) and the Gal from Down Under (a.k.a. Lynette Chiang). I especially enjoyed Lynette’s movie about her bike tour on Route 66. Lynette films from the saddle of her Bike Friday which impresses the heck out of me. I have a new helmet cam that has me mystified, but I’m learning how to use it! To learn more about Lynette Chiang check out www.galfromdownunder.com.


Off to run the Idaho Family Fun Tour late July. It was a fun filled week for the little and big campers alike. The weather held and the riding was excellent. I actually had the opportunity to ride one day due to participant, Bob Westgate, bringing me a loaner bike. The two highlights of the tour are the indoor Water Park at Silver Mountain Resort in Kellogg, ID and the day we spend on the Trail of the Hiawatha just over the Montana state line. The panhandle of Idaho, while like anyplace has its problems, is beautiful place to ride your bike on a multi-use path that’s used almost exclusively by cyclists. To learn more about the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes and the Route of the Hiawatha visit www.friendsofcdatrails.org. .


Back in NM a few weeks from Idaho and I was off to Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Los Alamos. In Albuquerque the New Mexico Touring Society invited me to give a presentation on the Bicycle Coalition of New Mexico’s Train the Trainer Program and a presentation on the bike trip I did with several friends last Sept. from the border of NM/CO to the south border of NM/TX at Anthony NM/TX. It was great meeting members from the NMTS and their friends. In Santa Fe I met with BCNM’s newest LCI Team that grew from 1 to 5 members since the Alb LCI Seminar. A great group of people that are eager to offer quality bike education to the citizens of Santa Fe. Finally I did a quick dinner drive from Santa Fe to the Atomic City of Los Alamos to visit with LCI Khal and his wife Meena about bike education in Los Alamos. What a beautiful drive as I remember riding my bike this direction last Sept. going to Bandlier NM. It’s up, up, up for awhile there and it kind of takes your breath away even driving a vehicle. Check out the New Mexico Touring Society at www.nmts.org. And more about the Train the Trainer Program visit www.BikeNM.org.


Home for now until I take off again, this time on my loaded touring bike to visit southwestern NM and a route called The Gila Inner Loop. My friends Kathy, Tom and Cindy will join me on what’s sure to be a mini adventure starting/ending from our own front porches in Las Cruces. Stay tuned….