Glossary

Adventure Cycling Assoc. (n.)

a nonprofit based in Missoula, MT, that advocates for bicycle tourers

bivy sack (n.)

also, bivy. A minimal tent for a single sleeper. Enough coverage to lie down and... that's all. I brought it as a lighter alternative to a full blown tent. The size and shape of a sleeping bag. Really just an insulating layer around a sleeping bag

bonk (v.)

to neglect to eat the right amount at the right time and subsequently run entirely out of enery (usu.) when going up a hill

lugged bike frame (n.)

an apparently appealing feature of old bike frames. i was unaware of what this was until it was pointed out to me maybe a dozen times that my bike had it

pork chop sandwich (n.)

delicious meal invented in Montana

recumbent bike (n.)

a funky bike; favored by weird old dudes; its use in the TABR is not controversia

tabr (n.)

an annual race where a bunch of lunatics ride the TransAm trail as fast as they can, carrying little, hardly sleeping, finishing the route in as fast as 16 days

TransAmerica Bicycle Trail (n.)

a bike route from Astoria, OR, to Yorktown, VA, developed in 1976 by a bunch of hippies for the "bikecentennial"

velomobile (n.)

a funky bike; its use in the TABR is mildly controversial

Wisconsin Dells, the (n.)

Wisconsin Hells, the

zero day (n.)

when you put in zero miles for a day; sometimes for rest, sometimes to spend time in a fun place; usu. the former