Bikecentennial
Encyclopedia
Bikecentennial '76 was a bicycle tour across the United States in the summer of 1976, in commemoration of the bicentennial
of America's Declaration of Independence
. The route crossed ten states and 112 counties in either direction between Reedsport, OR
, and Yorktown, VA
, a distance of about 4250 miles (6,839.7 km). The route was chosen to include many historic sites, but avoid the Great Basin
desert, major highways, high-traffic zones and big cities. This route is still in use as the TransAmerica Trail and U.S. Bicycle Route 76
. Astoria, OR
, was an alternate western terminus, with four additional counties.
The 4,100 riders who participated represented all fifty states, and ~10% were from foreign countries. Just over 2000 cyclists rode the entire length of the trail. Some rode alone, others rode in groups. The riders were essentially self-contained, i.e., they carried all their gear in pannier
s on their bicycles. Some riders may have provided their own support vehicles, and some sponsors' vans (including Shimano
) patrolled parts of the course.
The riders stayed overnight in motels, campgrounds and even private homes along the way, but also had access to Bike Inns. The Bike Inns were usually school gymnasia, church basements or college dormitories, used for indoor camping. Sheldon High School in Eugene, OR; YMCA
in Baker City, OR; Bethel College
in Newton, KS; Southern Illinois University
in Carbondale, IL; Buford School
in Charlottesville, VA; and Randolph-Macon College
in Ashland, VA, all served as Bike Inns.
article at the time. June Siple coined the name Bikecentennial a few months later as the Hemistour progressed through Mexico. Many of the initial contacts made by the Hemistour group to promote their idea came from Greg and Dan's participation in the Tour of the Scioto River Valley (TOSRV)
in Ohio, founded by Siple and his father in 1962. Several more people joined the informal organization over the next three years. Lynn Kessler designed the Bikecentennial logo and promotional graphics, including the map above.
The route crosses the Continental Divide
nine times, in Colorado, Wyoming and Montana.
in the late 1970s. The Bikecentennial newsletter, BikeReport, became Adventure Cyclist magazine in 1994.
The success of the 1976 event led the Adventure Cycling Association to map several additional bicycle routes across the United States and Canada, in addition to the TransAmerica Trail. Among them are:
The Great Divide and L&C routes intersect or coincide with the Bikecentennial/TransAmerica Trail in several places.
United States Bicentennial
The United States Bicentennial was a series of celebrations and observances during the mid-1970s that paid tribute to the historical events leading up to the creation of the United States as an independent republic...
of America's Declaration of Independence
United States Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which announced that the thirteen American colonies then at war with Great Britain regarded themselves as independent states, and no longer a part of the British Empire. John Adams put forth a...
. The route crossed ten states and 112 counties in either direction between Reedsport, OR
Reedsport, Oregon
Reedsport is a city in Douglas County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 4,154.- History :Reedsport was established on the estuary of the Umpqua River on January 7, 1852. It was named for a local settler, Alfred W. Reed, who founded the city in 1912...
, and Yorktown, VA
Yorktown, Virginia
Yorktown is a census-designated place in York County, Virginia, United States. The population was 220 in the 2000 census. It is the county seat of York County, one of the eight original shires formed in colonial Virginia in 1634....
, a distance of about 4250 miles (6,839.7 km). The route was chosen to include many historic sites, but avoid the Great Basin
Great Basin
The Great Basin is the largest area of contiguous endorheic watersheds in North America and is noted for its arid conditions and Basin and Range topography that varies from the North American low point at Badwater Basin to the highest point of the contiguous United States, less than away at the...
desert, major highways, high-traffic zones and big cities. This route is still in use as the TransAmerica Trail and U.S. Bicycle Route 76
U.S. Bicycle Route 76
U.S. Bicycle Route 76 is a cross-country bicycle route east of the Mississippi River in the United States. It is one of the two original U.S. Bicycle Routes, the other being U.S. Bicycle Route 1. U.S. Bicycle Route 76 runs from the midwestern state of Illinois to the eastern seaboard state of...
. Astoria, OR
Astoria, Oregon
Astoria is the county seat of Clatsop County, Oregon, United States. Situated near the mouth of the Columbia River, the city was named after the American investor John Jacob Astor. His American Fur Company founded Fort Astoria at the site in 1811...
, was an alternate western terminus, with four additional counties.
The 4,100 riders who participated represented all fifty states, and ~10% were from foreign countries. Just over 2000 cyclists rode the entire length of the trail. Some rode alone, others rode in groups. The riders were essentially self-contained, i.e., they carried all their gear in pannier
Pannier
A pannier is a basket, bag, box, or similar container, carried in pairs either slung over the back of a beast of burden, or attached to the sides of a bicycle or motorcycle. The term derives from the Old French, from Classical Latin, word for bread basket....
s on their bicycles. Some riders may have provided their own support vehicles, and some sponsors' vans (including Shimano
Shimano
Shimano, Inc. is a Japanese multinational manufacturer of cycling components, fishing tackle, and rowing equipment.In 2005, the company had net sales of US $1.4 billion. Bicycle components provided 75% of its sales income...
) patrolled parts of the course.
The riders stayed overnight in motels, campgrounds and even private homes along the way, but also had access to Bike Inns. The Bike Inns were usually school gymnasia, church basements or college dormitories, used for indoor camping. Sheldon High School in Eugene, OR; YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
in Baker City, OR; Bethel College
Bethel College (Kansas)
Bethel College is a private college affiliated with Mennonite Church USA. The college is located on the edge of the Flint Hills and the vast wheat fields of south central Kansas in the town of North Newton...
in Newton, KS; Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University is a state university system based in Carbondale, Illinois, in the Southern Illinois region of the state, with multiple campuses...
in Carbondale, IL; Buford School
Buford Middle School
Buford Middle School is a school in Charlottesville, Virginia.The school is named in honor of Florence Buford, a Charlottesville educator, and first opened its doors in August 1966. In 1988, Buford became the city’s only middle school. Currently, 612 students are enrolled. The current principal,...
in Charlottesville, VA; and Randolph-Macon College
Randolph-Macon College
Randolph–Macon College is a private, co-educational liberal arts college located in Ashland, Virginia, United States, near the capital city of Richmond. Founded in 1830, the school has an enrollment of over 1,200 students...
in Ashland, VA, all served as Bike Inns.
Origin
A 1976 bicycle tour across the USA was conceived by Greg Siple in California in 1972. Siple, his wife June, and Dan and Lys Burden were riding an 18,000-mile Hemistour from Anchorage, Alaska, to Tierra del Fuego for a National GeographicNational Geographic Society
The National Geographic Society , headquartered in Washington, D.C. in the United States, is one of the largest non-profit scientific and educational institutions in the world. Its interests include geography, archaeology and natural science, the promotion of environmental and historical...
article at the time. June Siple coined the name Bikecentennial a few months later as the Hemistour progressed through Mexico. Many of the initial contacts made by the Hemistour group to promote their idea came from Greg and Dan's participation in the Tour of the Scioto River Valley (TOSRV)
TOSRV
The two-day bicycle Tour of the Scioto River Valley is better known by its acronym, TOSRV. It began as a father-and-son outing in 1962 before quickly growing into the nation’s largest bicycle touring weekend...
in Ohio, founded by Siple and his father in 1962. Several more people joined the informal organization over the next three years. Lynn Kessler designed the Bikecentennial logo and promotional graphics, including the map above.
The route
| State | Cities and Landmarks | Summits |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia | Yorktown, Williamsburg Williamsburg, Virginia Williamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city... , Richmond Richmond, Virginia Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area... suburbs, Charlottesville Charlottesville, Virginia Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for... (4th largest city), Lexington, Roanoke suburbs, Wytheville, Appalachian Trail Appalachian Trail The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the AT, is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. It is approximately long... , Damascus, Breaks Interstate Park Breaks Interstate Park Breaks Interstate Park, also referred as the "Grand Canyon of the South", is located in southeastern Kentucky and southwestern Virginia at the northeastern terminus of Pine Mountain... |
Blue Ridge Parkway Blue Ridge Parkway The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and All-American Road in the United States, noted for its scenic beauty. It runs for 469 miles , mostly along the famous Blue Ridge, a major mountain chain that is part of the Appalachian Mountains... , Appalachian Appalachian Mountains The Appalachian Mountains #Whether the stressed vowel is or ,#Whether the "ch" is pronounced as a fricative or an affricate , and#Whether the final vowel is the monophthong or the diphthong .), often called the Appalachians, are a system of mountains in eastern North America. The Appalachians... ridges |
| Kentucky | Begins in Elkhorn City, Hazard, Berea, Bardstown, Lincoln's birthplace, Rough River Dam SP Rough River Dam State Resort Park Rough River Dam State Resort Park is a park located in parts of Breckinridge, Hardin, and Grayson counties in Kentucky. The park encompasses . Rough River Dam, stretching across and high, creates Rough River Lake, a recreational lake of approximately... , Sebree, Marion, Ohio River Ohio River The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream... |
Appalachian and Cumberland Plateau Cumberland Plateau The Cumberland Plateau is the southern part of the Appalachian Plateau. It includes much of eastern Kentucky and western West Virginia, part of Tennessee, and a small portion of northern Alabama and northwest Georgia . The terms "Allegheny Plateau" and the "Cumberland Plateau" both refer to the... ridges |
| Illinois | Cave in Rock SP Cave-in-Rock State Park Cave-in-Rock State Park is an Illinois state park on in Hardin County, Illinois in the United States. The state park contains the historic Cave-in-Rock, a landmark of the Ohio River... , Carbondale, Chester, Popeye Popeye Popeye the Sailor is a cartoon fictional character created by Elzie Crisler Segar, who has appeared in comic strips and animated cartoons in the cinema as well as on television. He first appeared in the daily King Features comic strip Thimble Theatre on January 17, 1929... statue, Mississippi River Mississippi River The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains... |
|
| Missouri | Farmington, Johnson's Shut-Ins SP Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park is a Missouri state park on the East Fork Black River consisting of in Reynolds County. The park is jointly administered with adjoining Taum Sauk Mountain State Park, and together the two parks cover in the St... , Ozark NSR Ozark National Scenic Riverways The Ozark National Scenic Riverways is a national park in the Ozarks of southern Missouri in the U.S..The park was created by an Act of Congress in 1964 to protect the Current and Jacks Fork rivers, and it was formally dedicated in 1971. The park's are used for many forms of recreation and are... , Eminence, Marshfield |
Ozark Plateau The Ozarks The Ozarks are a physiographic and geologic highland region of the central United States. It covers much of the southern half of Missouri and an extensive portion of northwestern and north central Arkansas... ridges |
| Kansas | Pittsburg, Eureka, Newton, Hutchinson suburbs, Quivira NWR Quivira National Wildlife Refuge Quivira National Wildlife Refuge is located in south central Kansas near the town of Stafford. It lies mostly in northeastern Stafford County, but small parts extend into southwestern Rice and northwestern Reno Counties. Its proximity to the Central Flyway migration route and the salt marshes on... , Larned, Ness City, Tribune |
|
| Colorado | Eads, Pueblo Pueblo, Colorado Pueblo is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Pueblo County, Colorado, United States. The population was 106,595 in 2010 census, making it the 246th most populous city in the United States.... (~midpoint & 2nd largest city), Cañon City, Royal Gorge Royal Gorge The Royal Gorge is a canyon on the Arkansas River near Cañon City, Colorado. With a width of at its base and a few hundred feet at its top, and a depth of in places, the 10-mile-long canyon is a narrow, steep gorge through the granite of Fremont Peak... , South Park South Park (Colorado basin) South Park is a high intermontane grassland basin, approximately 10,000 ft in elevation, in the Rocky Mountains of central Colorado. It encompasses approximately 1,000 square miles around the headwaters of the South Platte River in Park County approximately 60 mi southwest of Denver... , Breckenridge, Kremmling, Walden |
Hoosier Pass Hoosier Pass Hoosier Pass elevation is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of central Colorado in the United States.The pass is located on the Continental Divide at the northern end of the Mosquito Range, in a gap between Mount Lincoln and Hoosier Ridge... (highest pt, 11541 feet (3,517.7 m)), Willow Creek Pass |
| Wyoming | Saratoga, Rawlins, Great Divide Basin Great Divide Basin The Great Divide Basin is a drainage basin of the Continental Divide of the Americas. The basin is between the Green River watershed on the west and the Medicine Bow River watershed on the east . From the northwest, the basin begins in the "Wind River Range ..... , Lander, Wind River Reservation Wind River Indian Reservation Wind River Indian Reservation is an Indian reservation shared by the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes of Native Americans in the central western portion of the U.S. state of Wyoming... , Grave of Sacagawea Sacagawea Sacagawea ; was a Lemhi Shoshone woman, who accompanied the Lewis and Clark Expedition, acting as an interpreter and guide, in their exploration of the Western United States... , Grand Teton NP Grand Teton National Park Grand Teton National Park is a United States National Park located in northwestern Wyoming, U.S. The Park consists of approximately and includes the major peaks of the long Teton Range as well as most of the northern sections of the valley known as Jackson Hole. Only south of Yellowstone... , Yellowstone NP Yellowstone National Park Yellowstone National Park, established by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872, is a national park located primarily in the U.S. state of Wyoming, although it also extends into Montana and Idaho... |
Muddy Gap, Togwotee Pass Togwotee Pass Togwotee Pass is a mountain pass located on the continental divide in the Absaroka Mountains of the United States, between the towns of Dubois and Moran Junction, Wyoming in the Jackson Hole valley.... , Craig Pass Craig Pass Craig Pass , is a mountain pass located on the Continental Divide in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. The Grand Loop Road crosses the pass approximately east of Old Faithful Geyser.... |
| Montana | West Yellowstone, Quake Lake Quake Lake Quake Lake is a lake in southwestern Montana, United States. It was created after a massive earthquake struck on August 17, 1959, which killed 27 people. Today, Quake Lake is 190 feet deep and six miles long... , Virginia City, Dillon, Big Hole National Battlefield Big Hole National Battlefield Big Hole National Battlefield is a memorial located in Montana, United States. The Nez Percé, under Chief Joseph Big Hole National Battlefield is a memorial located in Montana, United States. The Nez Percé, under Chief Joseph Big Hole National Battlefield is a memorial located in Montana, United... , Hamilton, Missoula Missoula, Montana Missoula is a city located in western Montana and is the county seat of Missoula County. The 2010 Census put the population of Missoula at 66,788 and the population of Missoula County at 109,299. Missoula is the principal city of the Missoula Metropolitan Area... (Bikecentennial HQ and 3rd largest city) |
Badger Pass Badger Pass (Montana) Badger Pass is a high mountain pass in Montana. It is traversed by Montana State Route 278.... , Big Hole Pass Big Hole Pass Big Hole Pass is a high mountain pass on Montana State Route 278.-References:*... , Chief Joseph Pass Chief Joseph Pass Chief Joseph Pass is a mountain pass on the continental divide of the Rocky Mountains in the northwestern United States, between the states of Idaho and Montana... , Lost Trail Pass Lost Trail Pass Lost Trail Pass is a mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of the United States, on the border of Idaho and Montana in the Bitterroot Mountains. The pass is at an elevation of 7014 feet above sea level and is traversed by U.S. Highway 93... , Lolo Pass Lolo Pass (Idaho-Montana) Lolo Pass, elevation , is a mountain pass in the United States, in the Bitterroot Range of the northern Rocky Mountains. It is on the border between the states of Montana and Idaho, approximately west-southwest of Missoula, Montana.... |
| Idaho | Lochsa River, Nez Perce Reservation and NHP, Grangeville, Council, Brownlee Dam, Hells Canyon Hells Canyon Hells Canyon is a wide canyon located along the border of eastern Oregon and western Idaho in the United States. It is North America's deepest river gorge at and part of the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area.... |
White Bird Summit |
| Oregon | Baker City, John Day, Prineville, Eugene Eugene, Oregon Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S... (largest city), Reedsport, or Corvallis, Dallas, Otis, Astoria |
Flagstaff Hill, Tipton Summit, Dixie Pass, Ochoco Summit, McKenzie Pass |
The route crosses the Continental Divide
Continental Divide
The Continental Divide of the Americas, or merely the Continental Gulf of Division or Great Divide, is the name given to the principal, and largely mountainous, hydrological divide of the Americas that separates the watersheds that drain into the Pacific Ocean from those river systems that drain...
nine times, in Colorado, Wyoming and Montana.
Legacy
Bikecentennial '76 Inc. evolved into the Adventure Cycling AssociationAdventure Cycling Association
The Adventure Cycling Association is a national cycling association in the United States which provides services for cycle-tourists, publishes maps and campaigns for better cycling facilities. Its headquarters are in Missoula, Montana...
in the late 1970s. The Bikecentennial newsletter, BikeReport, became Adventure Cyclist magazine in 1994.
The success of the 1976 event led the Adventure Cycling Association to map several additional bicycle routes across the United States and Canada, in addition to the TransAmerica Trail. Among them are:
- Atlantic Coast Bicycle RouteAtlantic Coast Bicycle RouteThe Adventure Cycling Association Atlantic Coast Bicycle Route is divided into two segments. The route is a total of 2535 miles that hugs the Atlantic coast of the United States for roughly 60% of its length, heading inland to avoid major metropolitan areas and where cycling conditions along the...
, 2673 miles (4,301.8 km): Bar Harbor, ME ←→ Key West, FL - Great Divide Mountain Bike RouteGreat Divide Mountain Bike RouteThe Great Divide Mountain Bike Route is a continuous long distance cycling route from Banff, Alberta, Canada to Antelope Wells, New Mexico, USA. As of 2010, the route is 2745 miles long; its length is likely to change over time as the GDMBR is continually being refined to improve it...
, 2711 miles (4,362.9 km): Banff, AB ←→ Antelope Wells, NM - Great Rivers Bicycle Route, 1327 miles (2,135.6 km): Muscatine, IA ←→ St. Francisville, LA
- Lewis & Clark Trail Bicycle RouteLewis & Clark Trail Bicycle RouteThe Adventure Cycling Association Lewis & Clark Trail Bicycle Route is a US Cycle route divided into multiple route segments/side routes. The route is a total of...
, 3253 miles (5,235.2 km): Seaside, OR ←→ Hartford, IL - Northern Tier Bicycle Route, 4300 miles (6,920.2 km): Anacortes, WA ←→ Bar Harbor, ME
- Pacific Coast Bicycle Route, 1856 miles (2,986.9 km): Vancouver, BC ←→ Imperial Beach, CA
- Southern Tier Bicycle Route, 3100 miles (4,989 km): San Diego, CA ←→ St. Augustine, FL
- Underground Railroad Bicycle Route, 2058 miles (3,312 km): Owen Sound, ON ←→ Mobile, AL
- Western Express Bicycle RouteWestern Express Bicycle RouteThe Western Express Bicycle Route is a 1579 mile bicycle touring route that connects San Francisco, California, to the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail in Pueblo, Colorado, traveling through California, Nevada, Utah, and Colorado. The route is mapped by the Adventure Cycling Association...
, 1585 miles (2,550.8 km): San Francisco, CA ←→ Pueblo, CO
The Great Divide and L&C routes intersect or coincide with the Bikecentennial/TransAmerica Trail in several places.
Dated brands
Many of the bicycle-touring brands, designs and styles that were popular in 1976 are seldom seen in the 21st century, or have disappeared completely. These include:- Bicycles: Azuki, CrescentNymanbolagenNymanbolagen was a Swedish bicycle, moped, and motorcycle manufacturing company in Uppsala, Sweden.In 1947 Nymans Verkstäder in Uppsala, Lindblads Verkstäder in Stockholm and some minor bicycle companies, formed Nymanbolagen AB, situated in Uppsala, Sweden.Nymans also manufactured small two cycle...
, FalconFalcon CyclesFalcon Cycles is an English bicycle manufacturer based in Brigg, North Lincolnshire. The company can trace its history back over 125 years.In addition to producing bikes under its own name, Falcon produces bicycles under several brand names including Falcon, British Eagle, Coventry Eagle, Townsend,...
, Frejus, GitaneGitaneGitane is a French manufacturer of bicycles based in Machecoul, France; the name "Gitane" means gypsy woman. The brand was synonymous with French bicycle racing from the 1960s through the mid-1980s, sponsoring riders such as Jacques Anquetil , Lucien Van Impe , Bernard Hinault , Laurent Fignon ,...
, LeJeune, Masi, Mercier, Mondia, MotobécaneMotobécaneMotobécane was a French manufacturer of bicycles, mopeds, motorcycles, and other small vehicles, established in 1923. "Motobécane" is a compound of "moto", slang for motorcycle; "bécane" is slang for "bike."...
, NishikiNishiki (bicycle)Nishiki was a brand of bicycles designed, specified, marketed and distributed by West Coast Cycle in the United States, initially manufactured by Kawamura Cyles in Kobe, Japan and subsequently by Giant of Taiwan. The bicycles were first marketed under the American Eagle brand beginning in 1965 and...
, Olmo, PeugeotCycles PeugeotPeugeot was a manufacturer in the French bicycle industry through the 20th century.-History:Peugeot was a French manufacturer of bicycles founded by Jean Pequignot Peugeot who, in the 19th century, made water mills...
, Windsor, Zeus - Camping: Alpine Designs, Gerry, HolubarHolubar MountaineeringHolubar Mountaineering, established in 1946, designed and sold modern, innovative mountaineering equipment. The company pioneered the use of lightweight down sleeping bags made with nylon fabric, which became popular in the 1960s. Holubar manufactured many of its own products and offered high...
, Frostline - Clothing: Cool Gear, Detto Pietro, Sergal, Skid-Lid, Weyless
- Components: AtomFrench bicycle industryThe french bicycle industry and the history of the bicycle are intertwined. Spanning the last century and a half, the industry has seen two booms, and continues into the 21st century, albeit less dominant today.-Invention:...
, Christophe, CLB, Dia-Compe, Everest, Fiamme, Galli Ti, GB, Huret, Ideale, Lyotard, MafacMafacMAFAC, or Manufacture Arvernoise de Freins et Accessoires pour Cycles , was a French manufacturer of bicycle brakes and tool kits. MAFAC was founded in post-war France under the name "Securité", which changed to MAFAC in Fall 1947. Initially MAFAC made cantilever brakes, brake levers, and tool kits...
, Maillard, Milremo, Nervar, Nervex, Normandy, Phil Wood, Pivo, Regina, Sachs, SchwinnSchwinn Bicycle CompanyThe Schwinn Bicycle Company was founded by German-born mechanical engineer Ignaz Schwinn in Chicago in 1895. It became the dominant manufacturer of American bicycles through most of the 20th century and today it is a sub-brand of Pacific Cycle, owned by the multi-national conglomerate, Dorel...
-approved, SimplexLucien JuyLucien Charles Hippolyte Juy was a French industrialist who made derailleur gears. He is credited with making the first derailleur with a collapsible parallelogram . A hinged frame swung in and out from the frame and fed the chain to one of a number of sprockets attached to the hub...
, SR, Stronglight, Sugino, SuntourSunTourSunTour or SR Suntour is a manufacturer of bicycle components. It was Japanese owned and managed, based in Osaka, until the mid 1990s when its name was sold to a Taiwan conglomerate. Its products ranged from suspension forks to derailleurs...
, Super ChampionSuper ChampionSuper Champion was a brand of very high quality French bicycle rims. Super Champion was eventually purchased by tire manufacturer Wolber. In the 1980s Super Champion's line of rims included:...
, TA, Unica Nitor, Universal, Vitus, Weinmann, Weyless, Zeus - Designs: center-pull brakesBicycle brake systemsA bicycle brake is used to slow down or stop a bicycle. There have been various types of brake used throughout history, and several are still in use today...
, extension levers for brakes, freewheelFreewheelthumb|Freewheel mechanismIn mechanical or automotive engineering, a freewheel or overrunning clutch is a device in a transmission that disengages the driveshaft from the driven shaft when the driven shaft rotates faster than the driveshaft...
s, lugged–brazed framesLugged steel frame constructionLugged steel frame construction is a method of building bicycle frames using steel tubing and sockets, called lugs. For most of bicycle's history steel has been the primary material for bicycle frames, with lugged construction the primary assembling method...
, 10-speeds, toe clipsBicycle pedalA bicycle pedal is the part of a bicycle that the rider pushes with their foot to propel the bicycle. It provides the connection between the cyclist's foot or shoe and the crank allowing the leg to turn the bottom bracket spindle and propel the bicycle's wheels... - Panniers: Bellwether, CannondaleCannondale Bicycle CorporationThe Cannondale Bicycle Corporation, is an American bicycle manufacturer, headquartered in Bethel, Connecticut with manufacturing and assembly facilities in Taichung, Taiwan...
, Frostline, Kirtland, Touring Cyclist, Velocipac - Tools: Artisan, VAR
Further reading and external links
- Stephanie Ager Kirz, Bicycling the TransAm Trail: Virginia to Oregon/Washington, 2nd Edition, White Dog Press Ltd., 2003, ISBN 978-0974102719.
- Dan D'Ambrosio, "Our History," Adventure Cycling Association, 1997.
- Derek L. Jensen, Mad Dogs and an Englishman, Pivo Publishing Corp., 2007, ISBN 141209415-1. Author Jensen was one of the ~2000 (and 10% foreigners) who rode the entire Bikecentennial Trail in 1976. MD&E includes a detailed account of the event from west to east.