I did two ACA trips, first was 2012, second in 2017. Thus, got their magazine for a year each time. I was not that impressed.

The first one in 2012 was the Glacier Waterton loop. That was close to their office so one of their staff came to meet us and chat with us. I had mentioned that I had done two REI Travel trips, he was more interested in my experience with that than anything else I had to say, they were a competitor in putting on trips and he wanted to know as much as he could about the competition.

If they really are a bike advocate organization, I have not seen any evidence of that. But that does not mean much because I am unaware of that sort of thing. They could be quite active and I would not know about it.

I am not doing any more ACA trips. Both of the ones I did were the group meal plan where groups are formed to prepare meals. Of all the the camping trips I have done in the past decade and a half, those two trips were the ones where I had the biggest problem getting my blood sugar under control after the trip, they seem to promote carbs with minimal protein which really messes with my diabetes. I even had to skip some of their meals they were so carb heavy, and skipping meals on a bike tour is not a good idea. I even brought some of my own food from home on the second trip, they told me they would have extra cooking gear in the van I could use for my own food prep, which was not accurate. Trips that I have done with catered or restaurant fare always have a better balance of foods that work well for me, I have no trouble at all with other organizations that use catering or organization planed menus.

I do put the ACA triangle on the back of my bike on my own tours, I think it is a nice safety add-on, even though I am subtly advertising for a group I have no plans to support in the future.



Above photo from this past June. I was on a solo trip (not an ACA trip or route), I think using the triangle makes me a bit safer.