At the risk of having this kicked to P&R, which is kind of okay with me, the following is a portion of the email I received from Adventure Cycling, of which I have been a member for 20 years. I had decided not to renew after my last trip with them. The social situation was less than pleasant. Plus, about 75% of cyclists and staff got sick on both ends. I didn't eat with the group after day three, caught an Uber, and bugged out on Day 4.

I guess 18,000 other members may have felt the same way.

It is what it is.
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Dear Adventure Cycling Members, Thank you to the 200 members who joined us for last week's webinar. For those who couldn't attend, we wanted to share the key updates about where we are as an organization and where we're headed as we approach our 50th anniversary.

Being Transparent About Our Challenges

Adventure Cycling has faced significant headwinds over the past few years. Our membership has declined from 40,000 members in 2023 to approximately 22,000 today. As our membership has aged, we have missed opportunities to attract new members through adaptations of our programming. This, together with the soft demand and rising costs in Tours, created a substantial revenue problem in 2024.

The board took decisive action in October 2024, reducing our 2025 budget by over $1 million while protecting the three program areas that make us unique: routes, inspiration (magazine and blog), and guided tours that help individuals have adventures and gain skills. Nonetheless, in 2025 we will still operate at a significant deficit.

As part of our financial recovery plan, the board listed our Missoula headquarters building for sale in June. This difficult decision provides a financial backstop as we work to organically rebuild membership and diversify our revenue. If we receive an offer, members will have the opportunity to vote on acceptance; these are your rights as a member organization, and we will honor them.

Outlook for membership in 2026 continues to be an issue. So, we are modifying our programming, systems, and value to do a better job of retaining longtime members and recruiting new ones. We are improving the sophistication of our sponsorship and legacy support programs, and we are returning to stronger advocacy, especially in conjunction with other cycling nonprofits to make our voices heard and deepen organizational giving. Our financial recovery depends on rebuilding membership and strengthening programs to appeal to a balanced cross section of adventure riders.

But this will be a multi-year journey, and we must plan our cash flow carefully. As we enter our 50th year, I think Adventure Cycling — as a concept and an organization with its three unique offerings — is more relevant than at any time in our history. We’re pleased to have Andy Williamson as our new Executive Director to steer us onto a more sustainable path.