Conference noted::bicycle

    They send out a newsletter.
    
    They organize groups for group tours of various types
    from self contained camping to "we carry your stuff and you bike".
    
    I have heard both good and bad reports about their tour guides.
    
    They sell very good route maps for several routes, cross country
    and north-south.  They have undertaken a third transcon route,
    San Diego to Jacksonville which is now complete from SD to Austin.
    The routes are, on the whole, very good but they do have some
    shortcomings.  Local roads get changed from time to time and
    Bikecentennial does not have the resources of a AAA.
    
    They have begun working the Forest Service mapping and consulting on
    the mapping of ATB routes in Lolo National Forest.  The idea being
    to have bike trails that do not conflict with hiking trails and horse
    trails.  This is a pilot project which may first grow to cover the NW
    region and then the nation.
    
    ed

    I was  a member, and took one of their tours. I quit the day after
    I  got  back.  Their  routes  are  pretty  good,  and  their  maps
    reasonable as a start.

    They can't run a tour at all. We had one of their more experienced
    leaders.  He  couldn't cook (the "chain cleaner stew" he made when
    it  was  his  turn  to  cook  is the best laxative I've ever had),
    couldn't do simple bike repairs (He tried to convince me to turn a
    freewheel  clockwise  to  loosen  it  when  I  was helping someone
    replace  a spoke), and had no concept of contingency plans. We hit
    some really awful weather and he was unwilling to stay in a hotel,
    even  though we had the money (maybe the weather will improve). We
    had  4  cases of hypothermia in a group of 12. This leader was one
    of the people who trained their other leaders.

    There also  wasn't  enough money budgeted for food. Bikecentennial
    headquarters  took  over half the money we paid as overhead, so we
    never  had  enough  food. Lunch was suposed to be provided, but we
    had  to  buy  it  on  the road (not always easy when you're in the
    middle of nowhere.  Stores could be 20 miles apart.)

    The trip  was  through wonderful country, and I'd love to go back,
    but I won't have anything to do with Bikecentennial.

    I did  write  them telling them why I was quitting, and got back a
    letter  that  didn't answer my complaints, so I doubt that they've
    changed anything.

--David

I'm sorry to hear (yet again) that Wittenberg doesn't like BikeCentennial.

Nevertheless, I know a number of people who've been on BikeCentennial trips and
actually enjoyed them.

BikeCentennial is primarily a long-distance touring organization, rather than
a political one, although they do some advocacy, as opposed to outright lobbying.
They produce useful maps, and if you like group camping, they also have tours.

I joined in 1975, and am still a member.

    I have been a member since 1980. Their maps and touring information
    are good. They dont have the resources to update maps,etc every year
    but for the cost of membership (non profit) it is definitely worth
    it. Their newsletter is a delightful alternative to all of the heavy
    duty bicycle mags that tend to concentrate on racing and high tech.
    
    Overall they get my vote.
    
    Harry
    
    

RE .3

    Let me  strengthen "doesn't like". I think that the leader for our
    group was a serious hazard to the safety (and lives) of our group.
    We  were told that he is one of their most experienced leaders. We
    had  a case of hypothermia so bad that the guy couldn't figure out
    how  to  turn  a door knob, and the leader wanted to camp out that
    night.  Luckily  a group of us took him to a hotel and dropped him
    in  a  hot  bath.  I've done a lot of winter backpacking, and I've
    never  had  a  case  of hypothermia in my group. Four cases on one
    trip  clearly  shows  a  lack of preparedness, and an inability to
    change plans when necessary.

    Bikecentennial leaders may be acceptable in normal conditions, but
    the  one  we  had was completely unable to handle extreme weather,
    and utterly unwilling to change plans in the face of an emergency.

    Their routes  are  reasonably  well  thought  out,  and their maps
    describe  the routes well. I would carry another set of maps for a
    little more information on possible detours, and in case I got off
    their route.

--David

Have been a Bikecentennial member for some time; some observations:

Reports on tours have been very mixed, have heard a number of horror 
stories, especially on longer trips.

Maps are generally ok, but are useless once you get lost, and you 
will get lost.  Moral, also have good general local area maps.

Legislative, advocacy and many other programs are lower quality 
copy-cat substitutes for League of American Wheelmen programs.
For almost all programs other than specific maps and tours, I'd 
recommend the League.

(The L.A.W. has been around for over a hundred years; Bikecentennial 
was formed as part of 1976 activities and has been searching for a 
mission ever since (editorial comment)).

	~Mike

    
    
    Ive been a member for a couple of years, I love the maps and you
    get a discount on em if you join...if your ever in missula MT, stop
    by the headquarters and the youth hostel. some real helpful people
    who bring together a focus on bike touring.
    
    Rob

    Is there an 800 number to call for info/membership?
    
    Marc H.

    All I could find was 406 721 1726