America By Bicycle

The New England Meander crosses upper New York State through rolling farm country passing Rochester where the Erie Canal leads us into Liverpool. New York provides beautiful vistas along the Mohawk River and some of the best cycling highways of the entire tour. The final few days cross the Appalachian mountain range to Vermont and into Brattleboro...a roller coaster experience to and through New Hampshire on our way to Portsmouth. We celebrate the end of our adventure with a wheel dip in the Atlantic Ocean.

Ride the West - North begins in Astoria OR and after an initial 20 miles inland the ride pops out at the coastal town of Seaside where Lewis and Clark once shared the same views of the beautiful Oregon coast. From there the ride becomes one of the most scenic and diverse rides in America by Bicycle’s inventory providing daily breathtaking scenes as it meanders down the coast. In Oregon, the ride passes through many small coastal communities including the art colony of Cannon Beach, Tillamook - the cheese capital of the world, Old Town Florence, Gold Beach, Ferndale, and Bandon. Not a day passes without sensory overload provided by Mother Nature’s handworks such as Haystack Rock, Heceta Head, Devils Punchbowl, Cape Perpetua, Arch Rock, and Natural Bridge. After six days of riding, the route crosses the state line into California and we pedal into Crescent City.

This 15-day, touring-pace ride averages 85 miles per day and crosses through 3 states and Canada. This amazing figure eight tour of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario features riding into the great city centers of Cleveland, Toronto, and Kingston. You’ll see fabulous vista & views of both lakes and take four scenic ferry rides. It also includes riding past Niagara Falls, Cleveland Brown Stadium, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and many more attractions. Lock your cleats in for the ride of your life.

The ride begins and ends in Charlottesville, a great help with arrival and departure logistics. From there we stay in Harrisonburg, Staunton, Lexington, Peaks of Otter, Natural Bridge, Waynesboro, and Roanoke…each rich in history with ample attractions to keep you occupied when you’re not riding. The ride meanders through the scenic Shenandoah Valley. Plus, you will ride 120 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway…the most scenic mountain range east of the Rockies. Come spend 12 days of great riding, lots of climbing, exhilarating descents, and camaraderie with other ABB riders. This is a great ride!

You will spend two nights at most stops to allow you to explore the area and get to know the town. You won’t ride from point to point every day as there will be a loop ride with various length options on the second day at 3 locations. You can ride or take the day off and do the tourist thing. There is lots to see and do riding by the Shenandoah Caverns, Natural Chimneys Park, historic battlefields, and one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Natural Bridge Caverns. While in Staunton VA, visit the Frontier Culture Museum and learn how early settlers survived and lived in the early settlements. Tour the Statler Brother’s Museum. Take a spooky walking tour suitable for the whole family, if you dare... Or grab the chance to learn the legacy of Woodrow Wilson by visiting his birthplace, museum, and research library, the only presidential library in Virginia. In Lexington VA, visit the Cyrus McCormick Farm, the Virginia Military Institute; the Stonewall Jackson House; or spend an afternoon wine tasting in one of the Rockbridge County wineries. These are but a few of the things to see and do while not riding…but the riding is some of the best in the country.

The Northern Tier Tour traverses the rolling farmland of Minnesota and crosses the Mississippi River at La Crosse WI. Rural Wisconsin provides great cycling on miles of quiet country roads highlighted by the “Cycling Capital of the World’s” Sparta-Elroy Trail. The route from there begins to display more vibrant towns and trees as it meanders to the shore of Lake Michigan where the USS Badger will take the riders on a 4 hour ferry ride from Manitowoc WI to Ludington MI on the 4th rest day.

Now it’s off to cross Michigan. More farmland and quiet country roads will bring the ride to Port Huron where Canada is waiting to welcome us. Many say the highlight of the entire ride is crossing the Blue Water Bridge into Canada where the bridge authority closes this busy 6 lane bridge for ABB to cross...quite a thrill. Farms in Canada will display a variety of crops that are rare in the US and one thing to note about Canadian farm lots...they are immaculate and almost all display the Canadian flag. Finally, as much as we like our neighbors to the north, our time there is short lived as the ride approaches Niagara Falls with lots to see and do.

 This 50-day more moderately paced tour averages 80+ miles per day and crosses through 10 states and just a bit of the Canadian province of Ontario. The 3695 mile route begins with a wheel dip in the Pacific Ocean in Astoria, Oregon and ends with a wheel dip in the Atlantic Ocean near Portsmouth, New Hampshire. In between, meet the challenge of the Cascades, the Rockies, and the Appalachian mountains. Experience the vistas of the high deserts, the rolling high plains, and upper Midwestern farmlands. Across America North is 45 riding days that will treat you to stunning vistas, epic climbs, and return you to “reality” with a whole new appreciation of cycling.

This 23-day fully-supported touring-pace ride averages 65+ miles per day and crosses through 2 states (California is really long!). The 1413 mile route begins in Astoria OR and wends its way south to Costa Mesa, CA. From the beautiful Oregon Coast and the majestic Redwoods of Northern CA, to the spectacular ocean views and inland valley roads of Sonoma Valley, each day will be an adventure you will never forget. Ride the West is a challenging bicycle ride that has something for every cyclist.

Great Northern River Ride is rural and rolling, with many river boats and locks as we stop for a visit in Mark Twain’s home town of Hannibal, MO. From there we meander along the river and cross into Illinois. The riding continues to be scenic, rural small town America. Time is passing and the river is calling. As we cross into Wisconsin, the terrain really rolls up and down along huge bluffs created by the great Glaciers that created the tremendous Mississippi River Valley. The scenery on top of the bluffs is fantastic. You'll find the people as friendly as the views, and you’ll enjoy the reaction when you tell them where you started cycling. After our final overnight in Red Wing, a quaint river town made famous for its shoes and pottery, we tackle the last hills and roll into Eagan a suburb just south of Minneapolis.

Fast America South travels through some of the most beautiful and scenic areas of America averaging 115+ miles per day through 9 states. This is the perfect tour for cyclists who want to increase their cycling ability, learn new skills, see the country in just under a month or train for that special event or triathlon. From the natural beauty of the southern Sierras and Rockies to the terrain and history of America’s deep south, each day is a unique adventure in itself. We depart Orange County, California for an aggressive and very challenging fully-supported ride to Savannah, Georgia, in 27 days and 2,885 miles. See the beauty of America that only a cross country bicycle tour can offer.

Fast America South is the southern version of our fast cross country tours. It is an aggressive and very challenging fully-supported 27-day coast-to-coast bicycle tour that travels from Costa Mesa, California to Savannah, Georgia. From the natural beauty of the southern Sierras and Rockies to the terrain and history of America’s deep south, each day is a unique adventure in itself.

Fast America departs from Costa Mesa, California. We will head over to the Southern California Coast at Newport Beach, dip our rear wheels in the Pacific Ocean and begin the trek across America. The route then heads inland and follows the Santa Ana River to the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. After a little climbing to get over the San Andreas Fault, we will be rewarded with a terrific ride down to the desert floor. We will then roll into Palm Springs for the first overnight. The next day includes substantial climbing up off the desert floor and cross Chiriaco Summit and continues east through the arid southern California desert just south of Joshua Tree National Park. The desert continues as the route crosses the Colorado River, the terrain flattens out and the landscape turns agricultural.

The terrain really becomes mountainous as we cycle up and over Yarnell Pass. Up again, we ride through the Prescott National Forest and down through the town of Prescott. Crossing the Prescott Valley, we tackle the toughest climb of the trip, Mingus Mountain. Get ready for a fast and wild descent back to the desert floor. On the other side of Jerome, the switchbacks straighten out and give way to a nice straight descent. The climbing isn’t over yet as the route winds up through the red rock town of Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon. The ascent is intense but the views and vistas are worth every inch. The climbing ends for a while as we cycle through Flagstaff, gaze at Humphrey’s Peak (12,663’) and get a rewarding descent on the way down to Winslow, Arizona where the Eagles will help you “Take It Easy”!

Next we cross the rural western desert plains where the terrain ranges from flat to intermediate rolling as we gradually descend for a few days. The climbing begins again when we pass the four corners, cross into New Mexico and roll up and over the Continental Divide. We cycle through the Acoma and Laguna Indian Reservations, conquer 10-mile hill, and finally experience an exciting descent into Albuquerque proper to complete our 136 mile day. By the time you reach Albuquerque, you have more than earned your first day off to get a little R&R, explore the city on your own, and get ready for one more day in the mountains.