The Cycling Dude

The LA Times Travel Show

Imagine a TV commercial...

A bicyclist, with a bulging backpack slung over his shoulders, is about to ride away from the Long Beach Convention Center into the night...

A voice-over, sounding suspiciously like that voice in a certain commercial at the end of the Super Bowl, and World Series, enthusiastically asks...

"Hey, Cycling Dude! Your day was a resounding success, so where are you headed off to now?"

A tired, but happy, Cycling Blogger looks into the camera, smiles, and loudly proclaims...

"I'm going to Hooters!!!"

And so I did...

Buns, boobs, babes, and beer, what an experience!

But 1st let me tell you about my day at the Travel Show...

Between 10am, and 5pm, I walked 3 1/2 miles according to my pedometer, and by the time the show ended I was lugging around 4 huge plastic bags of literature, and joking with some of my compatriates who were having difficulty dealing with 2.

Thank God for the good folks at the Hong Kong booth because, without their bags I would NOT have survived forgetting to bring along my shopping cart, like many others DID remember to do.

Apparently not as many exhibitors showed up this year, the shows 5th, so I was able to stop at all the booths by exactly 5pm, with no time to spare, and therefore decided there was no reason to return.

More than 40 countries were represented, as were more than 100 cities, and 8 states of the good ol' US of A.

Visitor bureaus, tourism boards, resort and tour companies, and air carriers, were all there to dispense information, and sign people up for this and that.

There were expected to be 12,000 travellers, and 900 Travel Agents from all over the world, loitering about the place over the 2 days.

Oh, and a couple of gambling tables set up by those enterprising folks from Vegas!

What no-one expected was to encounter a blogger.

Most folks I talked to had absolutely no clue what a blog even was.

They grasped the concept, and my purpose for being there, quite quickly though, and were absolutely, wonderfully co-operative, and helpful.

I didn't attend any of the seminars, instead focusing on going booth to booth looking for info, and passing out my "business card" to a couple of hundred people.

About the card:

It was my 1st Professional looking one, and caught everyones attention as I hung 1, in a badge holder, from my shirt pocket for all to see.

In the center of the card is a bicycle, and under that the name of this blog, and its URL.

Across the top of the card is the slogan "Putting the ING in ROAD CYCLING Since 2003".

On the bottom left 2 lines are my name and the word "Publisher".

On the bottom right 2 lines are my e-mail, and "Costa Mesa, Ca.".

The  raised letters, and logo, are blue.

There were many speakers, and seminars, and though I wish I could have attended at least 1, it was more important to collect literature.

The same with the entertainment stages: what I glimpsed, and heard was interesting, and entertaining, but I didn't linger.

The floor plan had everyone grouped by region, or service, in neat rows, with wide isles to walk in: Greece, China, Asia, Mexico, Central and South America, International, South pacific, Caribbean, Canada, Europe, USA ( except for Mackinac Island and Cape Cod, it was all western states ), Hawaii, Las Vegas, California, Cruises, and Adventure Travel.

I was just as suprised by what foreign countries were there, as by who was not, or was pitifully under respresented.

The French had a booth for Provence, but that was it.

The Germans had a booth with a wider range of offerings.

The Italians had a good selection.

The Greeks were out in force.

The Brits, Spaniards, and Russians were conspicious by their absence.

China, Japan, Asia, Mexico, and Latin America were out in force, as was Northern California, and our neighbors from the bordering states up the coast, and to our inland borders, all the way to Idaho, and Utah.

The funniest sight was watching everyone flock to the booth set up by the folks at Onederwear Disposable Travel Underwear.

Their ad, in the Times Travel Show Supplement, proclaims:

"No more traveling with dirty underwear!"

"The chore of washing your knickers in the hotel sink is a thing of the past!"

Who knew that so many people's priortiies, at this show, were focused below the belt ( Women's briefs, bikini briefs, and THONGS! Men's briefs, and boxers, but, sadly NO thongs. And socks! Can't forget those!  All on sale for under $10 for a pack of 5. All 100% Cotton for that soft, sexy, feel against your travel weary Ass, and Footsies! ).

And NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT! I didn't buy any of it!

I came with a mission: To avoid the Hotel, and tour company, information, and focus on searching out the Tourism and Visitor Bureau booths, and literature.

That was where I felt I would find the information most useful to this blogs audience: Information related to opportunities for road bicycling, and touring, and maps, maps, and more maps.

Travel Guides, and brochures, were plentiful.

On the map front I struck gold, not just with Bike Trail maps, but city, county, province, state, and country maps just as useful for tourists to plot out their own itenerary for bike excursions of any length.

There were even 2 booths set up by Bicycle Touring outfits , 1 in Holland, and 1 American.

As I went from booth to booth I would introduce myself, hand out a card, or 2, explain what a blog was, what my blog was all about, and why I was at the show.

When they learned about what type of site Dude was, what goals I envisioned for it, the types of link collections I am building, and the types of information I was looking for people were quite helpful.

Among the few folks who knew what blogs were there was some suprise at what mine was about.

Among the few cyclists I encountered there was also suprise, but intrigue at the the concept of a cycling blogger.

Many people I gave my card to promised to send me more info by e-mail, and I also arranged to get some info by snail mail as well.

I have so many additional e-mails, and addresses, I can contact for info, and so much material on hand to read, that I'll not be short of writing ideas for the rest of the year.

The highlight of the day was a startling, though brief, encounter with a Documentary filmmaker, and nationally syndicated ( NPR ) radio show host, whose focus is environmental issues.

I was at a booth talking about my blog, when a lady came up to offer copies of her documentaries to the booth operator, and I asked, with a laugh, if there was any coverage of bicycling in those works.

There wasn't but I ended up briefly talking up my blog, and giving her a card.

She then startled me by giving me HERS, and suggesting that since she works out of Santa Ana I get in contact with her about the possibility of an interview for her RADIO SHOW.

I laughed, and told her I'd consider it, but not until I add some more link sources to my blog, which is a project I'm working on.

I mean, I said, if I end up doing such a thing I'd want my site to look it's best for any resulting visitors.

Just thinking about taking her up on her offer is intimidating, as I know just how little I actually know about bicycling, and bicycling issues, despite being a life long cyclist.

Doing this blog is not only a way for me to share my passion for bicycling, but to learn more about all aspects of it, and share what I learn with my readers, many of whom, I'm sure, are just like me in the knowledge department.

Half way through the day I, and many others I'm sure, were looking with envy on those intrepid folks smart enough to bring  little shopping baskets  for toss their bags of loot into for convenient carrying around.

With my sense of humor It was all quite amusing to me even as my hands were getting sore, and my arms, and shoulders were getting a work out.

I had initially started out with 3 of the large plastic bags the Times provided attendees, but within 45 minues realized that dealing with even one of those would be difficult when stuffed to the gills. There was a very real risk of breakage of the handles.

Having noticed the Hong Kong bags, with their plastic handles, I grabbed one, and emptied my growing haul into it.

Then I snuck back around and, nonchalantly, grabbed 3 more when no-one was looking.

Imagine thousands of people staggering from booth, to booth, with 2, 3, or 4 bags full of literature, happy as clams to reach the next booth, sit their stash down around their ankles for a few minutes while they flexed their fingers, talked to exhibitors, grabbed more stuff, caught their 2nd wind, and then stagger onward.

Suprisingly everyone took this more or less in stride, as being part of the show going ritual, and I wasn't the only person who found all this a tad amusing, especially the exhibitors, our suppliers, themselves.

My fellow show goers were of all ages, though I saw very few children.

Most of the folks there who were travellers were people with the income to go on vacations, sometimes frequently, and knew what they wanted and what questions to ask.

Many of the people manning the booths were from the countries, states, or cities they represented.

At long last 5pm arrived and we all had to leave.

10 minutes after the 1st announcement another was given  in an effort to shoo us on our way, and I made some folks laugh when I chimed in with a more descriptive version that interpreted the real meaning of the announcement:

"All right people, get a move-on, get yer asses in gear, and shoo, scram! You got what ya came for, and we don't want to see you until tommorrow, so git!"

So git we got!

Some slower than others, being weighed down by 4 bags worth of stuff, and all.

Up the escalater to the main floor, out the door, and down a couple of short flights of stairs to the street outside I went, and made it to the nearest bus stop without incident.

I was tired, but exhilirated, and in the mood to celebrate.

So I set off in search of the Hooters i knew had to be up the street somewhere near 1st and Pine.

When the bus passed the place, and I got off, I had to stagger 2 long blocks back to its doors.

Once inside, and safely seated, my loot on the floor around my feet, I proceeded to order grub, and liquor, from the friendly, buxom babe with the oversized boobs, and shapely buns of steel whose glorious appearing at my table signalled that dinner was about to be served and all was right in my little world.

So what did I order, and how much did I spend on this little celebration?

1 bowl of New England Style Clam Chowder = $3.99

2 small bowls of Cole Slaw at 99cents ea. = $1.98

1 small bowl of Potato Salad = 99cents

3 large glasses ( I think she said they were Pints ) of Coors Lite at $3 ea. = $9

Total bill, including tax = over $17.

Feeling of fullness, and contentment = PRICELESS!

Even with the drunk, from the next table over, who decided to abandon his companions, and invite himself over for a chat just as I was about to leave.

He sat there, beer in hand, looking longingly at me as if I was a long lost busom buddy, and was sorely disapointed when I made to leave.

A relatively sober yours truly, asked the guy how many he'd downed and when he perked up and said proudly, "only 2", I laughed, and said, "yeah right", and bid him good night.

It was another 2 blocks to the bus stop, and 3 busses, and 3 hours later, I was home.

Welcome Travel Show visitors

This week The Cycling Dude welcomed its 10,000th visitor!

This place currently averages 50 visitors a day, and that number will surely grow.

When I began this blog in January 2003 I had big plans, and no idea if anyone would even read the blog.

By the Fall I had put it on hiatus.

After months of thought, and re-evaluation, I re-opened for business in the Spring of 2004, and never looked back.

The response has been gatifying as people have read, and commented, and e-mailed me looking for Ca. cycling info, or to suggest websites to check out.

Other bloggers, whose blogs have a frequent focus on Cycling, or are totally devotd to their cycling, have linked to this site, and while the general Bloggerverse has yet to take note in their Blogrolls, or many posts, hope springs eternal, as I know that many bloggers are cyclists, though they don't showcase this fact to any degree on their blogs.

This weekend I am attending the LA TIMES TRAVEL SHOW in Long Beach,California, today, and Sunday.

My intent is 2 fold:

1. To cover it from the perspective of a Recreational Road Cyclist.

2. To spread the word about The Cycling Dude by passing out newly designed "Business" Cards advertising this site.

Without further ado I'd like to welcome all those folks who decided to stop by for a look see, and to say Please explore the monthly, and Category archives, and feel free to comment to your hearts content.

I hope you like what you find, and decide to return on a regular basis.

Although I've been riding since childhood, I am not the most expert person on bicycles, bicycling, or bicycling issues, but I am slowly learning, and wish to use this site as a way to share what I discover with a wider audience.

While educating myself, I can help to educate others.

Being an informed Cyclist is important.

I ride for fun, and am a commuter as well, and have even shared a few pictures on this site ( some of the pictures need to be returned to their places after my recent blog move, and I will take care of that, I promise! ).

Anyway welcome to my world!

Let me know what you think of it!

February brings new links to Dude

You may have noticed the new adition to the links: Ca. Tourist and Visitor Bureaus.

I'll be adding a page full of similar links for the State Tourism offices of each state in the USA.

By the end of the month the CYCLE USA collection will have representatives from all 50 states.

This is a priority for me now that things have settled down, and is an important component of the links area.

Anyone reading this who knows of city, and state, organizations that I might consider adding please send the links to me in an e-mail.

The same with International groups for the International Advocacy section.

Another list I'd like to add to is the Bicycle Shops: The Elderstatesmen [ And Women! ] list.

If you know of any Bike shop ( or chain of shops ) that have been in continued existence since before 1941, AND HAVE A WEBSITE, please e-mail me the link, and I will pay them a visit for consideration to be added to the Honor Roll.

Gwadzilla on riding attire

I KNEW I had this guy on my blogroll for a reason!

If you read my last post, on the riding attire story, you may have read the wonderful contribution made by Gwadzilla in a lengthy comment.

By the time he had exhausted his brain cells, only temporarily it turns out, he had decided to expand on his thoughts over at his place.

What he did was go on to recommend 3 websites/companies and the attire they offer.

Comments to Cycling Dude.

Dressing to pedal

John Aeby, writing for the The Register-Guard in Eugene, Or., wrote a great column on appropriate attire to wear while cycling, especially in Winter.

What brought this on was remembering an encounter he, and his son, had with a fog bank while cycling.

They thought they would soon pass beyond it:

As it turned out, "soon" wasn't soon enough. Within seconds we were drenched to the core and the chilling wind generated by our speed was turning that moisture icy cold and driving us toward hypothermia. A half-mile into the fog we did a 180 and headed back toward sunlight.

Riding a bike in Western Oregon in winter can be a dicey experience. Regardless of how good the weather looks in one place or time, it's best to be prepared for something worse down the road.

The resulting article brings up several good bits of information.

Discussions with various people in the field brought to light the following:

1. "The typical advice that gets us through our variable weather is layering. Wearing several layers of clothing allows you to put on or take off clothing as needed to stay comfortable."

2. Being highly exposed to the weather, cyclists need to cover up a lot, especially the extremities. My usual wintertime outfit includes: full gloves (I prefer the rather inexpensive rag wool kind that stay warm even when wet); a skull cap or headband (that fits under a helmet and still keeps my ears warm); leg warmers (that also provide important protection against the cold for the knee joints); and shoe covers (I prefer a neoprene toe cover because it's usually not cold enough for fully insulated cycling booties that completely enclose the shoe and ankles).

3. For core warmth and protection from wet weather, there's nothing like a good jacket. 

"That's the paradox for wet-weather cycling clothes. Cyclists need clothes that will allow moisture to escape and still keep the rain out."

4. Because a cyclist's front surfaces take most of the wind and wet, that portion has to be well-designed to repel water, and the seams must be well-sealed. The back, however, can function well with more ventilation, and, as most cyclists know, a longer tail to protect your backside from the road spray.

The full piece is here: 12/23/04-- Proper attire can take the edge off winter cycling.

California tourist and visitor bureau list

Are you a Ca. native, or a tourist from some other state, or country?
Are you a Bicyclist, looking for places to ride, and for information on those places?
Well, this collection of links to some of the California tourist, visitor bureaus should be a big help in your planning:

California Welcome Centers- Official State Visitor Centers across the State.

Amador County Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau: 1
Anaheim/Orange County Visitor and Convention Bureau: 2
(Greater) Bakersfield Convention and Visitors Bureau: 3
Barstow Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau: 4
Berkeley Convention and Visitors Bureau: 5
Beverly Hills Conference and Visitors Bureau: 6
Big Bear Chamber of Commerce: 7
Big Bear Lake Resort Assn.: 8
Big Sur Chamber of Commerce: 9
Bishop Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau: 10

Calaveras Visitors Bureau: 11
California Delta Chambers and Visitors Bureau: 12
Carlsbad Convention and Visitors Bureau: 13
Carmel Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center: 14
Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau: 15
Central Valley Tourism Assn.: 16
Coronado Visitor Center: 17
Costa Mesa Conference and Visitors Bureau: 18
Crescent City-Del Norte County Chamber of Commerce: 19
Dana Point Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center: 20
Eastern Sierra Interagency Visitor Center: 21
El Dorado County Visitors Authority: 22
Fresno City and County Convention and Visitors Bureau: 23
Goleta Valley Chamber of Commerce: 24
Grass Valley (Nevada County) Chamber of Commerce: 25
Half Moon Bay Coastside Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau: 26
Hermosa Beach Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau: 27
Humboldt County Convention and Visitors Bureau: 28
Huntington Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau: 29
Idyllwild Chamber of Commerce: 30
Julian Chamber of Commerce: 31
Kern County Board of Trade: 32
Laguna Beach Visitors and Conference Bureau: 33
Lake Arrowhead Communities Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center: 34
Lake County Visitor Information Center: 35
(North) Lake Tahoe Resort Assn.: 36
Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority: 37
Lassen County Chamber of Commerce: 38
Long Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau: 39
Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau: 40
Mammoth Lakes Visitors Bureau: 41
Marin County Visitors Bureau: 42
Mariposa County Chamber of Commerce: 43
Merced Conference and Visitors Bureau: 44
Mendocino Coast Chamber of Commerce: 45
Mendocino County Alliance: 46
Modesto Convention and Visitors Bureau: 47
Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau: 48
Morro Bay Visitors Center and Chamber of Commerce: 49
Mt. Shasta Chamber of Commerce and Visitors' Bureau: 50
Napa Valley Conference and Visitors Bureau: 51
Newport Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau: 52
Oakland Convention and Visitors Bureau: 53
Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau: 54
Ontario Convention and Visitors Bureau: 55
Oxnard Convention and Visitors Bureau: 56
Palm Springs Desert Resorts Convention and Visitors Authority: 57
Pasadena Convention and Visitors Bureau: 58
Pismo Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau: 59 and 60
Plumas County Visitors Bureau: 61
Red Bluff-Tehama County Chamber of Commerce: 62
Redding Convention and Visitors Bureau: 63
Ridgecrest Area Convention and Visitors Bureau: 64
Riverside Convention and Visitors Bureau: 65
Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau: 66
San Bernardino Convention and Visitors Bureau: 67
San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau: 68
San Diego (County) North Convention and Visitors Bureau: 69
San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau: 70
San Jose Convention and Visitors Bureau: 71
San Luis Obispo County Visitors and Conference Bureau: 72
San Mateo County Convention and Visitors Bureau: 73
Santa Barbara Conference and Visitors Bureau and Film Commission: 74
Santa Cruz County Conference and Visitor Council: 75
Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitor and Convention Bureau: 76
Santa Monica Convention and Visitors Bureau: 77
Shasta Cascade Wonderland Assn.: 78
Sierra County Chamber of Commerce: 79
Siskiyou County Visitors' Bureau: 80
Solvang Conference and Visitors Bureau: 81
Sonoma County Tourism Program: 82
Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau: 83
(Greater) Stockton Chamber of Commerce and Department of Tourism: 84
Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce: 85
Trinity County Chamber of Commerce: 86
Truckee Donner Chamber of Commerce: 87
Tuolumne County Visitors Bureau: 88
Vallejo Convention and Visitors Bureau: 89
Ventura Visitors and Convention Bureau: 90
Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau: 91
Yuba-Sutter Chamber of Commerce: 92

Around the world on 2 wheels

One mans journey of personal discovery involved leaving his life in America behind to pedal a bike around the world, vowing "not to stop until I was happy with my life".

Scott Stoll did an amazing thing in my book, and this story just barely touches the surface.

In his mid-20s, full of angst, unsure of where life in advertising was taking him or whether he really wanted to go there, Stoll asked himself a question back in 1996.

"If I could do anything in the world, what would I do?"

Pedal, he told himself. Maybe even bicycle around the world...

After bicycling 40,220 kilometers (nearly 25,000 miles, just longer than the equatorial circumference of the world) through 48 countries over 37 months, Stoll finally stopped pedaling.

His trip ended in October, and he returned to the US in December.

It was an exhausting yet exhilarating trip filled with both human kindness and treachery, with nature's beauty, challenge and danger.

It was a trip that initially involved only the US but, years later, turned into a decision to traipse around the world.

So, with a friend, he started off a new, in 2001.

The friend eventually returned home, and he continued on his own.

The farther they went, into Central and South America, the more they realized that world events didn't seem a barrier to their travels. He said, "We didn't have any problems until Europe," their next stop after a trans-Atlantic flight.

Europeans he encountered viewed Americans as fat and lazy and untraveled - stereotypes that made him angry and defensive.

"I felt I was the bicycling ambassador of my country," he said. "I'm aware that America has mucked around a lot, but I don't agree with anyone that 9-11 was what we deserved."

They avoided parts of the Middle East because of the war, but ventured into Egypt and found some residents particularly unfriendly and even threatening.

In Nepal, Stoll stayed discreetly inside a store while protesters burned President Bush in effigy during a protest on the street.

An often interesting, frequently dangerous, journey where he was sometimes afraid, but frequently touched by the people he encountered, led him eventually to the happiness he craved.

You can read some of his adventures here: The Argonauts.

The stories, and photos, give a fascinating glimpe into various parts of the world, and one mans ( 2, actually, if you count the stories of his friend ) personal journey.

Do like I have done, and save the link to the site so you can spend time, at your leisure, enjoying the adventure. ( It's gonna take me a while to make it through it all, trust me! )

Full News story-- MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL: Covering globe on 2 wheels by Laurel Walker.

Cycling Dude to cover local Travel Show

Next weekend, in my capacity as reporter for The Cycling Dude, I'm gonna be hanging out for 2 days at the Los Angeles Times Travel Show. ( may require free registration )

It is being held at the Long Beach Convention Center on the 29th and 30th.

I thought it would be interesting to traipse around the premises scouting out any cycling related events, booths, information, and discussions, and then reporting back here about the Show, and what I learned.

As part of my run up to the event I will be posting, here, several collections of websites of interest to anyone looking to take vacations, locally, nationally, or internationally, and doing some Road Cycling ( or even Mtn. Biking ) as part of their fun.

The collections will end up as part of this Archive: Have Bicycle Will Travel

Don't be a Dim Bulb: Light up your bike!

Folks in Cambridge, England, have in the last year been promoting the use of front, and rear, lights on bicycles when riding at night, but apparently some work still needs to be done to increase awareness.

This story comes from December:

A COMMUNITY leader is demanding action against cyclists who risk their lives and flout the law by riding without lights on their bicycles.

Kevin Francis, chairman of the Three Trees Residents Association, said the cyclists are endangering themselves by cycling on dark nights without lights.

Mr Francis, who heads the association covering Maple Close, Oak Tree Avenue and Laburnum Close in Cambridge, said: "I think about nine out of 10 cyclists don't have lights on their bikes. If you go down Mill Road at 4.30pm you will see no end of them.

"If I knock someone off their push bike with no lights I would be the person in the courts and in the newspaper, not the cyclist. I would be deemed the bad person even though I didn't see them.

"I feel very strongly about this. The sheer amount of bikes in Cambridge means something must be done."

It frustrates me no end, when I ride at night, to see so many people without lights.

And then they compound their stupidity by riding on the sidewalk!

Ann Marie Bailey, Cambridgeshire County Council's road safety team leader, said: "It's not just the hours of darkness when it's important for cyclists to be seen, they have to think about times of poor visibility in daylight hours.

"It's important to have the correct front and rear lights, in good working order, and a rear reflector. It is also sensible to have spoke reflectors."

The newspaper did an investigation last year, that led to a popular "Get a Light" campaign, but apparently some folks still are not getting the message.

Cambridge News: A dim view of cyclists.

Critical Mass wins one in NYC court

Regular readers will be familiar with my report on the CM ride at the Republican National Convention.

Well, local cops began, soon after, to start giving tickets to CM riders, and confiscating bikes, and particpants in rides took exception for various reasons, and went to court.

And won a round last month....

A federal judge tossed out the New York City's demand that CM events get permits from the city.

I agree with the cyclists  when say they have as much right to the streets as other people, but when they break the law they should be ticketed.

The ride has taken place, every month, for 10 yrs. ,and often has political overtones, but making them get a permit for the regular Friday rides is something that should not be neccessary.

Permits for rides at events like the RNC, make sense, but apparently not to this Judge.