Tracy Berman is the kind of person who decides to compete in a triathlon without knowing how to swim. She likes biking on sand and through snow. After just a handful of bikecamping overnights, she figured, “why not spend seven days biking home from Traverse City?”

Tracy first bikepacked in 2018 using not much more than her usual commuting rig, and after seven years of throwing herself into challenges just to see how she overcomes them, she’s looking to ride almost 6,000 miles along the Eastern Divide Trail from Newfoundland to Key West. She owes this progress to understanding that the best opportunities to learn are when you try something new and are very bad at it.

Below you’ll find a ton of information she shared with seminar attendees about what to pack, how to pack it, and where to find some great resources for planning routes and finding campsites. We figure that, during Neighborhood Week, one of the best ways to cultivate better relationships with your neighbors is to spend a few days on the road away from them every so often.

Thanks for listening to the Wheelie Good Podcast! Subscribe for free to be notified about new episodes and listen to the many voices of bike advocacy in Washtenaw County.

We also talk about the best gas station garbage, biking up Mt. Everest to fetch used oxygen tanks, and how not to get eaten by bears.

Other links:

* Follow Tracy on Instagram

* Planet Bike’s Super Commuter for Spring 2023

* The Colorado Trail Race, 540 miles from Durango to Denver

* The Caldera 500 bikepacking race

* The Crusher EX in Marquette

* The Rivalry Ride, a fundraiser for Active Against ALS

* Barry-Roubaix (which has a fall fundraiser on October 12)

* Cyclocross by the Ann Arbor Velo Club

* Tour Divide (2,745 miles of ultra-endurance bikepacking from Banff to New Mexico)

* Sic Transit overnight on October 4-5

* Leaf Pile Pedal on October 9-12

* The “vicious world” of competitive yoga

* Other episodes referenced:

Bikepacking Resources

* Local trip suggestions

* Blind Lake Rustic Campground (gravel/dirt outbound route)

* Route starts from the Park & Ride lot at Meijer on Jackson & Zeeb

* You may leave a vehicle overnight; well-stocked gas station at mile 18

* Vault toilets, hand pump for water, posts for hanging hammocks at some sites

* Green Lake Rustic Campground (paved outbound route)

* Several stop options in Dexter and Chelsea

* Vault toilets, hand pump for water

* What do you need?

* A well functioning bike (ABC quick check — air, brakes, and chain)

* A GPS navigation system is handy

* At least one spare tube and/or patch kit (or designated driver for rescue)

* Tracy’s example multi-day packing list

* Check out this gear packing list by the Radical Adventure Riders

* Camp stove (or pre-made food if you don’t like cooking)

* Fire-building supplies (optional)

* Where to borrow gear:

* Friends!

* Common Cycle Femme/trans/women/nonbinary group (contact [email protected])

* Rec Sports Adventure center (availability/hours look limited this semester)

* Where to find lower-cost gear:

* ShareHouse or other local thrift shops

* Sierra Trading Co

* REI resupply

* How to carry stuff on your bike

* Planning Destination trips:

* bikepacking.com/bikepacking-routes/

* bikepackingroots.org/ride/

* adventurecycling.org/routes-and-maps/

* ridewithgps.com

* Additional resources/references:

* https://bikepacking.com/bikepacking-101/

* https://blog.otsocycles.com/2023/05/introduction-to-bikepacking-tips-tricks-and-pack-list/ (written by Sarah Swallow, who has a lot of excellent resources)

* Tips and notes:

* Give yourself ample time to set up your bike and gear; it will take longer than you expect

* Go on a “shakedown” ride to make sure everything is secure and that you feel comfortable handling the bike

* The extra weight slows you down quite a bit; expect to go slower and plan to cover less distance than you normally do

* “Make it so easy you want to do it again.” - Dave Cotner

* Have a bail-out plan

* Commutes can be a great opportunity to test inclement weather gear

* Might want to protect frame paint from bag straps with helicopter or silicone tape

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bicycleallianceofwashtenaw.substack.com

Garret Potter lived in 20 homes—in nine states and in Tokyo—before he graduated from high school, and one of the few constants in almost all of those places was building bike jumps. The mental therapy of cycling takes many forms, and in Garret’s case it involves hours of sweaty labor—shoveling and tamping and wayfinding—so that more jumping enthusiasts can catch filthy air.

Garret gave up jumping after a massive crash when he was just 18 years old, and he abstained for 18 more out of longer-term concern for his health and mobility. Being cleared to return was one of those watershed moments you never forget, and he hasn’t looked back (mostly because all the protective gear he wears makes it difficult to move your neck).

Garret got involved with Ann Arbor Parks soon after he settled here in 2013, and he is quick to thank all of the volunteers, like Thomas Hosford, who help and precede him. As is the case with most local bike advocacy, maintaining the bike parks relies heavily on the people who give their time and energy to maintain them. Garret shows his appreciation by engaging with his team often and staying vigilant for signs of burnout. And judging by the record attendance at their latest Summer Jam last weekend, that effort seems to be paying off.

Thanks for listening to the Wheelie Good Podcast! Subscribe for free to be notified about new episodes and listen to the many voices of bike advocacy in Washtenaw County.

We also talk about learning about BMX from his dad, his halcyon days as a performing poet living out of his car, and why permanent sheds help phase out the need for Ren Faire cosplay.

Other links:

* Follow Ann Arbor Bike Parks on Instagram and Facebook

* Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation Open Space (PROS) Plan

* Read the Bicycle Recreation Advocacy Group’s Development Proposal …

* … and this shout-out to the many volunteer advocates

* Considering a trip to Tübingen, Germany?

* The Lucille Ball statues in Celoron, NY

* All about the DTE Trail

* Read an excerpt of Hide and Seek: A Poet’s Memoir

* Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

* The Give 365 Volunteer Program

* How to Adopt A Park

* The Potawatomi Mountain Biking Association

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bicycleallianceofwashtenaw.substack.com

Molly Kleinman arrived in Ann Arbor in 2005 and never expected to stay past graduate school. But after she bolted up a few ladders of engagement, she landed on the Transportation Commission and was elected president of the Ann Arbor District Library Board of Trustees.

Another factor that pulled her into the Treetown Vortex was the bike lanes that heralded Ann Arbor’s emerging bike culture. When her late husband Pieter Kleymeer (another trained librarian!) decided that the town needed a bike co-op, they used a $5,000 Kickstarter to assemble the team of itinerant bike mechanics into what became Common Cycle.

In her library leadership role, she’s been making the rounds in support of Propositions A and B, which will decide whether the AADL will get the chance to build a new downtown branch with an expanded footprint over the Library Lane Parking Structure. She’s also co-hosted two podcast episodes about it: one with AADL Director Eli Neiburger, and a follow-up ”squee”-fest.

Absentee ballots for the election, which ends August 5, have been sent out, and early in-person voting will run from July 30 to August 3. For more information, you can check out more details here and look here for ways to get involved.

Thanks for listening to the Wheelie Good Podcast! Subscribe for free to be notified about new episodes and listen to the many voices of bike advocacy in Washtenaw County.

We also talk about bike and barge tours in the Netherlands, the breakfast cereal that best compares to human cat food, and why Packard Road needs a “full Dutchification.”

Other links:

* Eli = Eli Neiburger, Director of the Ann Arbor District Library

* HEH = Human Electric Hybrids (aka Urban Rider Cargo Bikes, which helps run the Borrow A Cargo Bike A2 program)

* Bakfiets cargo bikes

* Bryn Mawr College

* The World Bike Polo championships

* Episodes mentioned:

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bicycleallianceofwashtenaw.substack.com

Bike riders and coffee drinkers are each an energetic bunch, and at the center of that sizable overlap is John Roos, founder and chief trike-pedaler at RoosRoast. John has been a devoted bike guy since he was a young kid growing up on East Jefferson St., and much of his penchant for coloring outside the lines was formed while riding headlong into obstacles.

Winning races helped John affirm a few early decisions and helped him learn that what might seem like a wrong step can easily be a right one, as long as you keep pushing yourself to try and build and cook and brew new things. Which makes you think that, despite the zigs and zags, bike-powered coffee entrepreneurship was something he was always destined to do.

Thanks for listening to the Wheelie Good Podcast! Subscribe for free to be notified about new episodes and listen to the many voices of bike advocacy in Washtenaw County.

At this point, you can basically distill John’s worldview into three core principles: keep making stuff, communicate with each other, and check your tire pressure. We also hash out a lot of ideas for celebrating non-mechanized movement in town, including Tours de Teacher, a new skate park for kids, and Festifools on (Two) Wheels.

Other links:

* Follow RoosRoast on Instagram

* Vision Zero aimed for zero deaths from traffic crashes by 2025

* The Five Boro Bike Tour in New York City

* Congestion pricing in Manhattan

* Sacha Baron Cohen talks about playing Ali G

* Common Cycle and Bikeapalooza

* George Motz and his Hamburger America

* How to ride in the rain, part 1 and part 2

* Other episodes referenced:

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bicycleallianceofwashtenaw.substack.com

Patria Vandermark is a study in contrasts. She doesn’t much care for cold weather, but she loves camping in the snow. Her latest passion is for ultra-endurance fat biking, but her Instagram handle is skinnytires. And although she grew up mostly indifferent to cycling, she quit her engineering career to “build her life” around the sport, as both a ride organizer and a sales rep for Seven Cycles.

Patria is coming to Ann Arbor for fitmi’s 10th anniversary celebration on Sunday, June 15, which will begin with the 30-mile Gravel Mi ride and end with food, drinks, and après-bike festivity at Lowertown. She’s also bringing several rider-ready bikes to test-ride (sign-up required) — including the new, limited Gravel 747 specifically designed for the dirt and gravel roads of southern Michigan.

Patria has amassed a ton of knowledge during her 14 years at Seven, which has custom-built more than 35,000 bike frames in its history. Once you spend just a few minutes chatting with her about down tubes and mullet setups and countless other minutiae that factor into the optimal cycling experience, you’ll know why she and Maxine have been friends for so long.

Thanks for listening to the Wheelie Good Podcast! Subscribe for free to be notified about new episodes and listen to the many voices of bike advocacy in Washtenaw County.

We also talk about how cycle production might evolve in the near term, what U.S. races can learn from the European experience, and why every race is worth it if you get enough wine and pasta afterward.

Other links:

* Follow Seven Cycles and New England Expedition Riders on Instagram

* Check out the Gravel Mi ride route

* How to outsmart goat head thorns on your mountain bike

* The better the Champagne, the more velvety the perlage

* Does “The Dark Side of the Moon” really sync up with “The Wizard of Oz”?

* Nova Colli and Maratona dles Dolomites gran fondos

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bicycleallianceofwashtenaw.substack.com

If you ask Missy Stults for some encouraging statistics toward Ann Arbor’s carbon neutrality goals, she’s ready to reel off a few dozen off the top of her head. As the director of the Office of Sustainability and Innovation (and an avid bike commuter), Missy is gearing up for the fifth annual A2ZERO Week with a full head of steam and a lot of advice for cyclists to help keep the momentum going.

The fight for environmental sustainability is daunting and nonlinear, so the primary purpose of events like A2ZERO Week and Green Fair is to celebrate progress and inspire behavioral shifts with visibility and fun. They also remind us to keep pushing and remember that environmental laws are written by people who can be persuaded to re-write them.

Cycling will be a big part of Ann Arbor’s Comprehensive Plan, which aspires to improve sustainability by persuading more Ann Arborites to leave their cars at home. But that won’t happen without viable alternatives, brought about with a combined effort from the public and private sectors. If we can somehow acknowledge and achieve our collective goals, who knows? We might one day be half as happy as Scandinavians.

Thanks for listening to the Wheelie Good Podcast! Subscribe for free to be notified about new episodes and listen to the many voices of bike advocacy in Washtenaw County.

We trade some world-class aphorisms, like “Make no small plans, for they cannot stir the heart of man,” and “A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit.” We also talk about the metrics the world uses to assess a carbon footprint, seeing the ocean for the first time after years of study in Michiana, and her multiple connections to Jerry Seinfeld.

Other links:

* Follow A2ZERO 2030 on Instagram

* The Cargo Bike Rally kicks off A2ZERO Week at 3pm on June 1

* Ann Arbor wants to build its own renewable-energy grid

* The genius behind Jason Alexander’s whale monologue …

* … and the Goddard Institute of Space Studies sits above a certain diner.

* Bicycle Alliance co-founder Nate Phipps speaks about the SA2T Grant …

* … which was used to help launch the Borrow A Cargo Bike A2 program.

* The University of New England in Biddeford, Maine

* How Copenhagen cleaned up

* How Walmart turned Bentonville into a biking epicenter

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bicycleallianceofwashtenaw.substack.com

Christopher Becker is not a doctor. He’s not a lawyer, an urban planner, or even a state legislator. But he is an avid cyclist who damaged his knee badly in a crash with a delivery truck, and during these years of recovery he has learned a ton about how to fight within the legal system and get his life back to normal.

Ann Arbor’s Vision Zero goal has not only failed, the numbers of traffic injuries and fatalities are trending upward. There are many things that safety advocates can do — such as protesting unsafe roads, proposing more infrastructure, and fighting for local control of state-owned roads. But as long as crashes happen, every cyclist should know the best procedures to follow in pursuit of justice.

We discuss, for example, that personal journals are admissible during any legal proceedings. Start as comprehensive a paper trail as possible, as soon as possible. And above all, dismiss any instinct you might have to resist confrontation and assume the situation will resolve itself. The fight can be stressful, but it’s necessary.

Thanks for listening to the Wheelie Good Podcast! Subscribe for free to be notified about new episodes and listen to the many voices of bike advocacy in Washtenaw County.

Thankfully, most of Christopher’s functionality has returned, and he loves to ride because visibility helps normalize proper road-sharing and combats the misinformation about cyclists that is too commonly spread. We also talk about verb endings in Slavic languages, how the Soviet Union inspired his banjo, and the enduring influence of Dildo Man.

Other links:

* San Francisco Critical Mass

* Working at Factsheet Five

* Story times at the Ann Arbor District Library

* Collisions along Huron Street on April 30 and May 5

* Bike the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP)

* Sinas Dramis handled Christopher’s case

* Bike and Trail Advocacy Day in Lansing, May 13

* Bike to Wherever Day, May 14

* Sign up for the getDowntown Commuter Challenge

* A2 Bike Party has a new home

Other episodes mentioned:

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bicycleallianceofwashtenaw.substack.com

Kari Alsager has been racing the clock since she asked her mom to time her heats through the obstacle course at her fifth birthday party. She’s a career athlete who has played all the sports and raced all the races, and she started bike commuting along the B2B Trail when she and her doctorate in physical therapy moved to Michigan Medicine in 2013.

Right around that time, Kari joined the Ann Arbor Velo Club to meet racers and find races to race them in. And now, in her third year as its president, she still thinks it’s hard to beat the physical and mental benefits of flying down a dirt road — and later mopping a lot of that road off your forehead.

Since the mid-70s, the AAVC’s mission has been to facilitate cycling for as large and diverse a community as possible. Need a bike? Borrow one for a year. Looking for instruction? Join the Spring Training Series, which runs for three Sundays starting on April 27 (you can register here on BikeReg). Ready to pedal hard and get dirty? Come to a weekly ride, sign up for a club event, or just use the Slack chat to schedule a pop-up jaunt with whoever’s around.

Thanks for listening to the Wheelie Good Podcast! Subscribe for free to be notified about new episodes and listen to the many voices of bike advocacy in Washtenaw County.

She believes your bike is your way to access the world, and building a little bit more strength and confidence is the best way to make that world open up. We also talk about children’s triathlons, avoiding skinnies, and how she spent lockdown learning how to turn her ride into a work of art.

Other links:

* Follow AAVC on Instagram and Facebook

* Kari the baby sitter spells her name

* Symptoms and treatment for torticollis

* Michigan’s Coast-to-Coast Gravel Grinder

* If You Give A Mouse A Cookie, you might end up replacing your drivetrain

* The home of Zwift community racing

* Referenced in the episode:

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bicycleallianceofwashtenaw.substack.com

May 7 is Bike & Roll to School Day, when children all over the country ride to school in a bike bus shepherded by volunteer neighbors and parents. Andy Burkhardt started one at his daughter’s elementary school last year (you can, too), and despite no prior knowledge and minimal expectations, 60 people saddled up.

The benefits are everywhere: The kids love the vibe and the exercise, the parents build community, the dropoff runs more smoothly, less gasoline gets burned, and Justin Timberlake might show up. And whether you’re officially participating or just low-key trying it out, the recipe is pretty simple: approach other parents, pick a date, map your route, get the word out, and make it fun—maybe with a music playlist booming from your speaker system.

Thanks for listening to the Wheelie Good Podcast! Subscribe for free to be notified about new episodes and listen to the many voices of bike advocacy in Washtenaw County.

If you’d like to learn more, Andy has posted his notes on family biking from his Bike Summit presentation on our newly-redesigned website. We also talk about the Great Hinckley Fire (and its museum), librarians in love, and why the best long-term bike trips end in ice cream.

Other links:

* Champlain College in Burlington, VT

* Sylvie Burkhardt, before her new teeth arrived

* Follow Coach Balto’s bike bus on Instagram

* Safe Routes to School

* Visit the Lakelands Trail State Park

* IMLS under threat (featuring the husband of Episode 5 guest Dharma Akmon):

* Why we like the idea of Bike Buses with Bubbles:

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bicycleallianceofwashtenaw.substack.com

As the son of two Lansing attorneys, Peter Houk learned early on that looking out for the public good is lodged in his DNA. From his work with Walk Bike Washtenaw to being appointed to Ann Arbor’s transportation commission to opening cases on A2Fixit, Peter advocates for policies that make life safer for vulnerable road users and processes that enforce them actively and equally.

He’s also loves cycling enough to build vacations around it and to monitor bike-related collisions, injuries, and deaths on his Crashes in Ann Arbor blog, a database intended to help the city reach its Vision Zero goal. Sustainability improves when more people leave their cars at home, but that won’t happen until enough people feel safe enough to spend more time on two wheels.

Thanks for listening to the Wheelie Good Podcast! Subscribe for free to be notified about new episodes and listen to the many voices of bike advocacy in Washtenaw County.

We also talk about his three-year battle for a Scio Church sidewalk, the future of safety projects in an adverse funding environment, and the sewer spat that started it all.

Other links:

* Follow Crashes in Ann Arbor on Bluesky

* The League of Michigan Bicyclists’s Shoreline Ride

* Meet now-Councilperson Erica Briggs

* Episodes referenced in the podcast:

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bicycleallianceofwashtenaw.substack.com