CC's bike touring experts share their best tips

Century Cycles' staff boasts several cyclists who have thousands of miles of experience on extensive bicycle tours throughout North and Central America. They're sharing all their best tips -- as well as their packing lists, travel journals and their own bike rigs -- at our Bike Touring 101 Clinic on February 7.

Whether you're planning a bike adventure around Ohio or around the world (or just dreaming about it one day), you don't want to miss this clinic to help you get a sense of what such an endeavor entails and how to prepare yourself, your bike, and your route for self-supported bike touring.

Your expert instructors are:

In Rocky River: Krista McNamee and Ray Query
For three weeks late last summer, Krista biked a 900-mile self-supported tour of Nova Scotia, where she is pictured above. Krista has also biked the Southern Tier Bicycle Route and the Great Allegheny Passage/C&O Canal Towpath between Pittsburgh, PA and Washington, DC. Her co-instructor, Ray, is a car-free guy who bikes all year 'round. He has also biked from Cleveland to Costa Rica in 2008 and from Anchorage, Alaska, to Cleveland in 2001.

In Medina: Neil Adams
Neil was one of Krista's riding compatriots for the Nova Scotia tour and is already planning his next tour.

In Peninsula: Kevin Madzia
Kevin biked to Central America with Ray, on a memorable Pan-American Ride in 2008 that was a successful fundraiser for the Melanoma Research Foundation and during which Kevin biked to Guatamala. He also biked Coast to Coast in 2004 and did a 9-day self-supported bike tour of New Mexico in 2007.

The agenda for the Bike Touring 101 clinic includes: Choosing a route, touring bikes, panniers vs. trailers, what to pack (with a take-home packing list), getting your bike there and back, and much more. The clinic begins at 6:30 p.m. simultaneously at all three Century Cycles stores on Tuesday, February 7. It is free and open to all. Light refreshments will be served and all clinic attendees receive a 15% discount on all bicycle accessories and parts immediately after the clinic. To RSVP, call the store location you'd like to attend or email info@centurycycles.com. To view or share the event on Facebook with your friend, go to http://on.fb.me/xoRzOw.