On day two of our overnight shakedown, we went on a nice hike up Bass Creek, where Astro was expected to carry his own gear. Then we rode into Stevensville, about a 15 mile round trip, for burgers and beer and to pick-up groceries for dinner and the next morning's breakfast. 

Later that day, we hunkered down in the shade and rested. Astro got tired of the flies and got up and walked over to our tent and looked back and me, and waited. So I got up to see what he wanted, and let him in the tent. He got in the tent, laid down, then looked at me as if to say "close the screen and keep the flies out!" He hung out on his own for about 2 hours. He's so funny. 

The next day we got up early, packed up, and headed back to Missoula. My colleague Arlen seemed a little impressed at how well I handled the hills with all the weight. That's because I'm so awesome. And so is Astro. 

I was very worried about the weight I'd be pulling around. My bicycle without gear probably weighs somewhere between 15-20 lbs. I carry 15-20 lbs of gear, not including the weight of the trailer. The trailer weighs 22.1lbs. Astro weighs 55 lbs. And I weigh 160. That's 272 lbs that I have to push/pedal up hills and across many, many miles. Needless to say, I was feeling a bit trepidatious. 

I'm a little disappointed in myself for doubting my own strength as a cyclist. We got over the set of hills just as easily as when I ride with no gear. Coming into Lolo, I wondered if I'd see any other loaded touring cyclists on the road, and, as if in magical response, a voice from behind me said 'hello'. A young man was traveling the TransAm headed toward Seattle. We stopped in Lolo and chatted with him for a few minutes. Of course, as we chatted, a motorist stopped by to talk about bicycle touring with us, as he had done the TransAm a few years ago. There's something about this crazy thing called bicycle touring that we do that seems to fascinate people and draw them to us. 

As we left Lolo, with the temperature cooled off a bit, I decided to let Astro burn off some energy and hooked him up to the side of my bike via the Springer. He ran full force (giving me a break and pulling us all) for about two miles, then slowed down and we worked together for another 3. After a break to rehydrate the pup, I offered him the opportunity to ride in the trailer some more, which he eagerly accepted. 

Even though I had friends meeting me at the campsite with food, etc., we still wanted to simulate being out on our own. So in Florence I stopped into an IGA and bought supplies to make dinner. Then a few miles later we hit the steep incline Bass Creek Road, which is a tough two-mile climb--and I'm fully-loaded, to the campsite. So I let Astro out of the trailer and said "Let's hook up!" Astro immediately stood next to the Springer hook-up, and together we pulled our rig up the hill. 

It's been a busy day, as you can see by this pic of Astro, who has fallen asleep on his frisbee. 

We've been busy pulling together our gear, making adjustments and repairs to GoFast, testing out the set-up with the trailer and the Springer, grocery shopping, etc. Somehow I even managed to fit in a nap and a 6 mile run. 

The U.S. Bicycle Route System was officially established in 1978, and AASHTO (the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials) recognized two routes in 1982: east-west U.S. Bicycle Route (USBR) 76, through Virginia, Kentucky, and Illinois, and north-south USBR 1, through North Carolina and Virginia. Six new routes were approved in May 2011: USBR 1 in Maine and New Hampshire, USBR 20 in Michigan, and USBR 8, 95, 97, and 87 in Alaska. And just last week, AASHTO approved 2 more routes: USBR 35 in Michigan and USBR 45 in Minnesota. All thanks to the efforts of Adventure Cycling Association and partner nonprofits and state organizations.

My goal is to raise $500 by May 31st. (My original goal was $250, but since some of my friends have been very generous, I have been able to increase that goal since I still have time to raise funds before the campaign ends.)

Adventure Cycling Association (the lead nonprofit on the US Bicycle Route System project) is trying to raise $50,000 by May 31st to support the development of the U.S. Bicycle Route System. We are very close to $40,000 right now, and have nearly one week to raise the last $10,000. Adventure Cycling has provided all the staff support for the project since 2005 and has coordinated all the state efforts, route research and planning, and supervised states on the application process for route designation. 

Donate today and your gift will be matched 1:1 by business sponsor Giant AND you can win cool prizes like a gift pack from Planet Bike. 

Please consider donating $10 or more today to help me build the U.S. Bicycle Route System. You can check out my campaign page and more information here: http://www.razoo.com/story/Amanda-Lipsey-Build-The-Usbrs. 

Thank you for helping me create  a more bicycle-friendly America,
Amanda 

Sigh, Astro doesn't look too happy does he? Well, while his dejected look is because he is not a big fan of his Burley Tail Wagon (YET!), I'm feeling dejected because of the weather forecasts for Memorial Day weekend. 

Astro and I have been planning our first bike overnight, or sub-24-hour (S24O) trip this weekend. I am really excited about this trip because I've got the trailer, I've figured out the gear set-up, and I've chosen a route that only has a few miles that are a little tight with traffic. In fact, about 15 miles of the route is on a dedicated bike path, and I can hook Astro up to the Springer and let him run (pull) beside me. 

When it rains in Missoula, typically it rains for a little while then the clouds move on. So the forecast could call for rain, but that doesn't mean it will rain ALL day or even ON me. So I have to continue to prepare like we are going and just wait to check the weather forecast (and the weather itself) on Saturday morning. 

Preparing to travel by bike with a pet like Astro--50lb border collie--is definitely an undertaking. After conferring with colleagues, I discovered a few routes and destinations within 40 miles that would be suitable for us to travel on our first time out. 

Bike touring with Astro makes me very excited for the continued development of the U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS), which I am proud to work on as part of my position at Adventure Cycling Association. Someday my four-legged friend and I might even be able to  ride (pull) cross-country together. I look forward to a day when I can look at a road atlas of America for bicyclists, and Astro and I can easily traverse the country together--it's one thing to brave the roads by yourself; it's quite another to do so with another being dependent on you, like your dog or, sure, maybe your kids too.  

My dreams of bicycle travel with my furry partner in crime are just one reason I'm raising money to help develop the U.S. Bicycle Route System. Certainly providing access to bicycle travel for all Americans is a big motivator. Also, doesn't it seem sort of disappointing that the U.S. doesn't have a national bicycle route network? I mean, England has one, Germany has one, even in Canada, Quebec Province has a state-wide network. I don't mean to get all patriotic on you, but it's Memorial Day, and I'm feeling a little "Yay! America!" Shouldn't we have the best cycling network and conditions in the world? 

Okay, before I go too far on that tangent, consider a donation to support the further development of an official U.S. Bicycle Route System. Donating just $10 can go a long way to making progress in designating more routes, just like the two that were designated last week--USBR 35 in Michigan and USBR 45 in Minnesota.

On my bicycle commute to work the other day, I realized the truth in the equation: bikes = smiles. And like Santa and his sleigh, a cyclist can spread the joy of the daily commute simply with a smile and a "good morning" or a smile and a nod or just a smile. 

Unlike my commute to work in LA, in which I shared the road with drivers, my commute to work in Missoula takes place mostly on a multi-use trail that follows the Clark Fork River. It's amazing for a few reasons:

1. There are only a few places where I have to cross an actual street, and, for the most part, auto drivers are very courteous, patient, and polite. 
2. Because it's a multi-use trail with very few street crossings, I can go as fast as I want. I can make it into work in 10 minutes (beating the bus) if I really want. Usually I enjoy a slower pace and take in the scenery and remind myself of all the wonderful things surrounding me--the mountains I get to hike after work, the sound of birds instead of cars, and, of course, the great feeling of just being on my bicycle. 
3. It follows the windy Clark Fork River, and I always marvel at how I'm on my way to work and surrounded by nature, not pavement.
4. So many people joining me in bicycling as transportation...in LA, the cycling community feels small and large at the same time, but, as cyclists, we're definitely an anomaly. In Missoula, and with the university being such a center in the community, so many people bike to work and school like it's nothing. Cycling around town is just a no-brainer. (I mean, hell, the town is only like 5 miles wide.) I've never been to Amsterdam or Copenhagen, but coming from a place where the "war" between bikes and automobiles is so heated, Missoula really does feel like a cyclist's heaven. 

So riding my bike makes me smile. It's just fun. And I'm a little bit of an introverted person. I'm kind of loner and don't mind doing things on my own. (Yeah, I know that's hard for you all to believe, but it's true.) So I don't typically say "hi" to people I don't know. Except, when I'm on my bike, that tends to change. As I pass a pedestrian, with their head down and trudging along the trail, I ring my bell and pass on a "good morning!" as I ride by. Their face lights up as they smile, nod, maybe wave, sometimes even give a "good morning!" back at me. This happens all along the trail on the way to work. People running and looking miserable, people staring at their cell phones, the guy in a motorized wheel chair--I'm like Santa Clause, except instead of bringing gifts, I spread smiles. Smiles that started with a bike. And maybe, just maybe, I brightened that person's day and it didn't go to waste. 

So here's my equation:

BIKES = SMILES;
MORE BIKES = MORE SMILES;
MORE SMILES = MORE HAPPY PEOPLE;
MORE HAPPY PEOPLE = MORE HAPPY COMMUNITIES;
MORE HAPPY COMMUNITIES = MORE HAPPY COUNTRIES;
MORE HAPPY COUNTRIES = WORLD PEACE;

THEREFORE...

BIKES = WORLD PEACE.

Not everyone has such an inspiring ride to work though. And that's one reason I'm working to raise funds to support the U.S. Bicycle Route System. The tagline of the campaign is: Build It. Bike It. Be a Part of It.  

I won't go into all the details about what a U.S. Bicycle Route System is, but essentially it's a national network of bicycle routes--using existing infrastructure--that fills the gaps between cities, destinations like national and state parks, and connect state-to-state bicycle infrastructure. The goal is for routes to be designated by number by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and be signed, maintained, and even upgraded to accommodate bicyclist use. 

My goal is to raise $250, and I need your help to get there. Please consider donating just $10 today. AND, if you donate $25 or more by Sunday, you could win a sweet set of panniers from Ortlieb. Tell me that's not awesome. 

So yeah, lots of fun over in Idaho. Hope you enjoy all the pics of my smiling face.