Cycling Sojourner is the only dynamic bike travel guidebook in the market. It contains superior route information for multi-day Oregon bicycle tours and every travel detail a budding or experienced cycle tourist needs. Beyond facts, maps, cue sheets and lodging and camping information, the book reads like a friend giving you advice over a beer and is a muse to all who might have even the dustiest thought that a bike journey might lead them down a strange and wonderful road.
This guide opens the door to a complete experience of Oregon from the saddle. It gives the lowdown on microbreweries, yoga studios, the best coffee shops, outdoor festivals, dinosaur museums, restaurant hot spots, hiking trails, fishing spots, cowboys hangouts, pinot noir tastings, and Crater Lake National Park. The routes explore ranges of snow-capped extinct volcanoes, river valleys laced with vineyards, wild rivers teeming with salmon and cities with some of the best cycling culture and infrastructure in the country.
The Smithsonian includes Cycling Sojourner in their "Off the Road" Great Reads list. The Oregonian - Laurie Robinson
Thalheimer's new book, "Cycling Sojourner: A Guide to the Best Multi-Day Tours in Oregon," is full of tidbits beyond route descriptions. (The route descriptions are notable, though, for being on perforated paper, with the map on the other side, so you can easily tear them out to take on the road.)Thalheimer covers both ends of the spectrum from free BLM campgrounds to hotels with bike valet parking and pillow menus (i.e. the Oxford Hotel in Bend, where you get to choose what kind of pillow you like). She includes eight multiday routes, from a beginner-friendly route through Willamette Valley wine country to the lung-buster up Steens Mountain in southeast Oregon.
Smithsonian - Alastair Bland
Ellee Thalheimer, a yoga instructor and writer...has been laboring by pedal and pen to promote the thrilling and rewarding experience of bicycle touring...To extol the virtues of her home state as seen from a bicycle and to encourage others ("who might be on the fence about bike touring," she says) to get on their own bikes and go, Thalheimer is now wrapping up a guidebook about cycle touring in Oregon, a project she's been researching for years. The book is due out this spring. Asked whether she's at all reluctant to tell the world about her favorite places, she said, "I love seeing other cyclists when I'm traveling. When two cycle tourists meet somewhere in the middle of nowhere, you immediately have something in common with that person, and you connect in a way that you never could in an urban area. Anyway, if we ever had a glut of cycle tourists in remote areas, I think the world would be a better place."
1859 Magazine Bound to motivate even the most seasoned cyclists. Author Ellee Thalheimer, freelance writer and master of everything bike-related, provides readers with a helpful tool for touring Oregon on two wheels."
Heidi Swift - Editor at Large,
Peloton MagazineThalheimer's outright love for cyclo-touring is palpable throughout this superbly researched book. Aside from the usual practical information you'd expect, it's packed with geographical and historical insights and sprinkled with bits of philosophical reflection that get at the why of touring, as well as the how. Cycling Sojourner captures the essence of Oregon's most breathtaking two-wheeled adventures while providing rock-solid route information that takes the guesswork out of heading to the hills. Finally, Oregon has the cyclo-touring bible that it so deserves.
Celeste Brash - Long-time contributor to
Lonely Planet guidebooks and contributing author in Lonely Planet's Pacific Northwest guide.
Cycling Sojourner provides stellar nuts and bolts information to help you explore one of the most beautiful statesin the country in the best way possible: by bike. What's more it's a great read with a tone that feels like Thalheimer is giving you advice over a post-ride beer. After the hills, the fixed flats and nights under starry mountain skies, you'll feel like she's your good friend . . . at which point you'll probably want to go and get her other excellent book on cycling Oregon.
Jonathan Mauss -
BikePortland Another reason I'm excited for this book is because it caters to the two types of bike travelers -- those on a budget, and those seeking a more luxurious experience. I also love how it's chock-full of insider tips about where to camp, eat, and other "extracurricular activities." Oh, and did I mention Thalheimer's research and writing of the book were sponsored by Cycle Oregon and Travel Oregon?
Earl Blumenauer, Oregon Representative, U.S. CongressEllee Thalheimer's love of bicycle touring is evident in her acute observations and useful information on Oregon's varied landscapes, towns, attractions, and surprises. This book makes a compelling case for discovering the beauty and grandeur of Oregon on two wheels.
Jim Sayer, Executive Director of the
Adventure Cycling AssociationI have biked all over the great state of Washington and it is truly a cyclist's paradise, from the San Juan Islands to the Cascades to the wide open vistas of the Palouse. Thalheimer provides a uniquely useful guide to all the opportunities that await you -- and better yet, she acts as a convivial, detail-oriented bike concierge who gives you insight into the best multi-day loop tours in the state, local culture, and the most delicious places to eat, drink, and see the sights.
Elly Blue - author of
Everyday Bicycling and Bike EconomicsCycling Sojourner sets a new, high bar for travel guide books. This series will change your life and help you change the world at the same time. If you can ride a bicycle, you can go on a bike tour--and you'll likely find it to be an unmatched pleasure. Get out there and ride!
Laura Crawford and Russ Roca -
Path Less PedaledLike a secret handshake, Cycling Sojourner Washington unlocks the best inside knowledge, inviting you to explore the kinds of landscapes and communities that make bike touring the best way to travel.
Matt Picio, Founder and President of
Cycle WildCycling Sojourner is possibly the best non-how-to cycle touring book I've ever seen. Good tone, excellent info, great routes. Thalheimer really did her research. If you want some great tours in Oregon, whether in a tent or in a hotel or B&B, you WANT a copy of this book.
Jerry Norquist, Executive Director of
Cycle OregonOregon has some of the best bike rides in the world and Cycling Sojourner provides us with a way to enjoy them. In a world filled with great cycling, I keep coming back to Oregon's superior routes. Ellee's new book will expose these jewels to a world audience. Thanks, Ellee!
Peter Zheutlin - author of
Around the World on Two Wheels: Annie Londonderry's Extraordinary RideIf you're planning a bike trip anywhere in Oregon there are only three things you absolutely, positively must have besides your wheels: a well-equipped tool kit, a positive attitude and Ellee Thalheimer's meticulously assembled
Cycling Sojourner.
Ryan Ver Berkmoes - longtime author,
Lonely Planet PublicationsThe next best thing to riding with Ellee is riding with her in this fabulous book! She explores every beautiful corner of Oregon and gives the advice nobody else dares to give.
Chris Horner -
professional racer for UCI Continental teamOregon is a great place to ride a bike, with fantastic scenery, wonderful roads, and friendly people. Everyone who lives here or comes to visit, quickly learns that this is an amazing place to be a cyclist, and Cycling Sojourner will be a very useful tool for riders looking for the inside scoop on some of Oregon's great cycling routes.
Dave Guettler - owner at
River City Bicycles Cycling Sojourner produces the desired effect: after reading it, I'm planning a family bike tour of Southern Oregon for this summer. The book makes it easy to do either camping tours or our family favorite, credit card touring.
Josh Cohen -
The Bicycle StoryThalheimer has done her research and never seems to skip out on the details. Each route gets almost 30 pages devoted to it. The chapters are teaming with URLs that provide the reader with most everything they could need while riding. Her tips and tricks range from safety conscious-where to find cell coverage and when to stock up on extra water-to fun and luxurious-where to rent a kayak and how to successfully navigate a wine tasting.
AdventureJunkiesEllee points out the simple truth, if you have a bicycle and know how to ride it, you are ready to start preparing for a tour. From the adventurous beginner to the "epically inclined," there is a tour for everyone in this book. The routes have been categorized to help you choose the best ones for your riding level, the season and length of your tour.
Russ Roca and Laura Crawford -
The Path Less PedaledCycling Sojourner is like bike touring with a witty fellow bike nerd who is full of enough lively anecdotes to keep you entertained but enough information to keep you from getting lost. Whether you're planning a weekend bicycle get away or a multi-day fully loaded tour, Ellee's book is worth the weight in your pannier! Cycling Sojourner has set the bar high for other bike touring guides and it will no doubt join the ranks of other seminal bike touring books. Save yourself the hours of researching about bike touring in Oregon and get this book and start pedaling!
Travelling Two"We liked a lot of things about this book. For the person who wants detailed route advice, there are good maps and turn-by-turn cue sheets.The friendly, easy-going tone is also a plus. It's helpful without being preachy and includes plenty of handy and inspiring tips for bike touring newbies.Oregon was already a great bike touring destination before this book came out. Now, a few more of its secrets and most attractive rides are even easier to access. Nice work, Ellee!
The Adventure BlogCycling Sojourner is definitely a must read for anyone planning a cycling trip through Oregon, which is obviously who this book is going to appeal to the most. But there is also quite a bit of good practical advice for cycling in general here as well. If you're planning a long distance bike trip, you can still find some good information to aid you along on your journey as well."
