Leadership Advice and Recipes from the Bikecentennial Archives

Did you know that this summer marks the 35th anniversary of the event that kick-started Adventure Cycling Association, Bikecentennial '76? We're not making too much of a fuss about it (coral jewelry gets lost so easily on bike tours!), but there have been exciting ideas rumbling around the office for our 40th anniversary in 2016.

To start getting our members and fans all warmed up for our big 4-0, we've uncovered a couple of early Bikecentennial books! These should be of interest to cyclists from veteran Bikecentennial riders to those about to embark on their first bike overnight. In fact, we love these titles so much we want to share them, which is why we're making them available to our community in PDF format!

Bikecentennial Leader's Manual -- 1975 (PDF)
This guide was provided to all group leaders in preparation for Bikecentennial '76. A fundamental document, it has since evolved into Adventure Cycling's Leadership Training Course, which all of our tour leaders are required to take today.

The Bicycle Tourist's Cookbook -- 1979 (PDF)
A great beginner's guide to feeding yourself -- and nine other cyclists -- while on the road. Provides logistical advice, nutritious recipes, and reminders of simple things you may have forgotten about, such as "the bicyclist's friend," GORP! (Good Old Raisins and Peanuts)

In their original printed format, both books are lightweight and shaped to fit easily into a back pocket or handlebar bag. Extremely utilitarian. Important in bike touring, the books are space conscious, but there's still room to have a little fun, as demonstrated by quirky illustrations by Greg Siple that pepper the text.

Not only are these books interesting as a glimpse into life in the 1970s (hamburger is used a lot more in the cookbook than I think it would be today), they're also educational! Consider this inspirational section about leadership found in the Bikecentennial Leaders' Manual:

"Leadership and rapport are almost synonymous. It is through talking and listening that problems come to the surface and are solved, fears are dispelled, emergency situations avoided, and information conveyed ... It is the leader's task to bring individuals together so that they are working as a team and recognize group needs as well as their own."

We hope you enjoy these reads as much as we have. And let us know if you have any suggestions on what we should do for our 40th anniversary!

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BACKSTORIES is written by Heather Andrews, publications intern. By sifting through the Adventure Cycling archives, in this series Heather presents interesting and unusual documents that illuminate the organization's history.

Source: http://blog.adventurecycling.org/2011/07/leadership-advice-and-recipes-from.html

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