I'm not talking about the LAB. I'm thinking outside of the bicycling world, a large national club whose membership has dropped 50% in 5 years. There are larger forces and trends at work here. "Go Woke, Go Broke" is an inaccurate characterization of what's happened at ACA.

Interesting that you mention that. For the longest time they have had a store in the Philly ‘burbs that is readily accessible by car. I’ve even ridden my bike there from the city. Maybe 5 years ago they opened a store not that far away in the King of Prussia Mall, which is huge and full of the sort of stores you describe. I’ve never been to that store, but now I’m wondering what it’s like.

I tried reading that book, but I couldn’t get through the “sociological jargon”, for lack of a better term. I think I still have my copy. Maybe I should try again.

Your opinion and ad hominem is noted, such comments usually being a fallacy of reasoning, a knee jerk reaction, shallow thinking, and you weren’t there.

When I first joined REI, that was long before the internet. Every year I got a mailer asking me to vote for the annual election for board members. It included the candidate bios and a ballot. The bios were interesting reading, It was rare when I read a bio on a board member that had less outdoors experience than I did. These people used the kinds of equipment that REI sold, and they had a lot of experience using that equipment. In addition to selling themselves as avid outdoors people, the candidates always described how their past work experience would be applicable to the board. Back then I read the bios and I voted.

Not sure when they stopped mailing out election ballots.

Now, you have to search pretty hard to actually find anything to do with the board on their website. And when you find mention of their board members, their business background is highlighted and their past outdoors activities are described as an afterthought. Several board members mention walking their dog as one of their outdoor activities.
https://www.rei.com/about-rei/board-of-directors

Thus, I have concluded that the board that runs REI is now a bunch of people that are hoping that being on the board is one more thing that they can put on their resume for moving up in the corporate world.

That helps explain why when I ask an REI sales person a question about their equipment and how it is used on a camping trip, I often find that I have to explain something to the sales person because I know more about the equipment than they do. This year I have only twice bought an item at REI. And also bought a state bicycle trail pass, total of three transactions.

I am getting tired of ACA leadership blaming the aging out of members, changes to touring (ie move to gravel), or COVID for the decrease in membership. ACA made several programmatic decisions the last 5 years that distracted them from their core mission of bicycle travel/advocacy and have found ways to alienate their most loyal members. I know of many life members who have stopped donating because of their dismay with the leadership.

In addition, with the cut in the number of 2026 guided tours, I have spoken to several people who will not renew their membership since they won't be doing any ACA tours next year.

I wish them well, but it's up to the "leaders" of ACA to make the new direction work.

I don't like the way the organization is going, but I cut my ties to ACA a few years back. It does seem ironic that one bunch of hippies* built an organization that lasted almost 50 years, and another group of hipsters may sink that same organization.

*What would you call a bunch of long-haired, bearded people riding bicycles and camping out for months back in 1974-76?

I've been a member of REI since 1972. It has changed very much with most of the changes falling into the negative category. Now, it's just another corporation in marketing, pricing, and ethos despite still being a co-op. I still buy things there when they are on sale, but primarily for the return-for-any-reason-within -year policy.If that goes, so do I.

Yeah. I have their credit card. I typically use my rewards during sales and often for everyday stuff. Waiting for the next sale to restock my winter sock collection.

Has anyone else checked out their 2026 calendar?

https://www.adventurecycling.org/gui...pported-tours/

Never been a member, barely aware this organization exists, no dog in this fight.

But: wouldn't any decline in a bicycle-route-map-selling-and-magazine-publishing membership organization over the last 20-30 years be more plausibly caused by the same forces that eliminated paper maps from your local gas station, and caused the magazine business to basically cease to exist, over that period, than alleged recent "wokeness"?

No one needs to buy bicycle route maps in a word of endless free mapping apps, websites like this one, etc etc. Specialty niche magazines have been going out of business in droves for decades now. The needs that led them to come into being no longer exist.

Sorry for the rant but I cant believe the ACA let this happen to themselves.

It's unfortunate that the ACA leadership, and most importantly, the Board, have been unable to step outside their own little bubble to examine their situation and its probable causes objectively. Most importantly, it's rarely just one thing that causes this kind of decline; instead, it's a Swiss cheese-type situation where an ever-increasing number of holes line up, resulting in the eventual end of the organization.

To begin with, the number of touring cyclists has dropped precipitously, especially in North America, due to its terrible infrastructure and driver culture. In Europe, there is still a very healthy touring community, which can be directly attributed to its excellent infrastructure and driver culture. Rather than mimic the lobbying activities in Europe, the ACA instead focused on woke initiatives and other activities not related to its core purpose. The ease with which cyclists can now travel the world and ride plays into this situation. The world has never been smaller and more accommodating for cycling travel. I traditionally take a minimum of 4 cycling-related vacations a year, and none of them in North America anymore. I felt safer and more supported riding in India than I do in North America. The ultimate insult is that the head of Europe's equivalent to the ACA is an American whose sole purpose and mission is to lobby the EU for funds related to touring and cycling infrastructure, and she is doing an amazing job with incredible success.

Then we get to demographics, which have definitely aged, potentially to our advantage. This group has the most significant accumulation of wealth in history and is the most active in their senior years. This group has totally walked away from the ACA, as they offer nothing. If I knew my donation would lead to tangible improvements in infrastructure and support for cycling, I would definitely contribute. But if they think I am going to donate my life's energy to inefficient and politically correct programs, forget it. Instead, I will book my business class flight to Lyon and ride the Eurovelo 17 down the Rhone. I know 100% will be safe and magically enjoyable.

Now we get the tours. There are numerous competitors in this space which has quickly dominated the premium and fully supported segment of the touring market. From long-distance Trans America tours to shorter Inn to Inn tours, the market has some excellent providers that ACA can't compete with. This left them focusing on the Van Supported Tours, where the riders have so-called camp duties, including meal planning and cooking. To me, this would be the 10th Circle of Dante's Hell. Most of my demographic agree, and the younger, less affluent amongst us would rather just tour independently.

Technology has also played a significant role in where access to what was proprietary information regarding routes and support points has now been liberated by the internet and is available to anyone, more current than the ACA could ever dream of. Not only in North America, but for example I have planned a 14-day tour in South Vietnam online without getting off my couch, the tour was amazing, safe and went off without a issue. Modern route-building software, with all the features we never could have dreamed of, is now available for a low monthly fee. Communication technology, from cell phones to satellite messaging/SOS services, is now ubiquitous, allowing for much safer and confident solo travel. Modern touring bikes and equipment have never been more reliable and lighter making independent touring easier. Its been years since I have had a flat or a mechanical issue riding a modern adventure bike.

In summary, the ACA has flown into a box canyon and will be unable to turn around or climb out of its predicament in time.

For the past 25 years or more, 2/3s to 3/4s of ACA's funds have come from memberships, donations, and bequests.
That would suggest that it is a membership organization - not mapping or magazine one.

Map sales have fallen. I think there are two reasons. 1. The one you mention. If I were a betting man, I’d bet you can find something like the entire Trans Am route on RWGPS or something similar.

2. From what I have seen over the years, as related above and in the locked thread, I don’t think nearly as many people do long tours these days for reasons like age, time, the desire for comfort, and money. Consider this: ACA had at least two unsupported group Trans Am tours when I joined in ‘99. Not one again this year or in 2024 or 2026. It hasn’t run an unsupported Northern Tier tour in a long time. That was my first ever tour. It sold out pretty early in ‘99. There is, however, a $12K+ supported Trans Am tour on the schedule for 2026. That tells me some things.

And look at the inn to inn Vermont trip. It’s $450/day, and that doesn’t include lunches.

That's exactly the reason, but why would you suggest something that makes sense, when you could instead be taking the opportunity to lash out against "woke"?

Went on a family trip in the state I grew up over the summer. We'd planned to stay in a centrally located hotel and just plan out side trips to areas my wife and I wanted our kids to see as we felt like it and time allowed. It was kind of a last minute thing that we found out we'd have time, so we didn't plan much in advance. About halfway into the 12 hour drive to the first hotel, I realized that the car's GPS wasn't really good for trip planning and I wanted something larger than a phone screen. Every gas station we stopped at, I asked if they had state maps for sale. The younger employees looked at me like, "what are you talking about?" and the older ones jus said "we haven't sold any of those in like 10-20 years and the only one we have is this framed one on the wall." Fortunately, the first place we visited had a bookstore and they had last year's rand mcnally road atlas on sale. Not as big/detailed as a good old paper state map, but it did the job and I didn't have to deal with having to try to fix my kids' attempts to "help fold" a paper map.

Long story to say, I miss paper maps. I remember commuting by bike in Boston many years ago and always having a waterpoof one in my pack in case I got lost. Sure, you can just use GPS now, but there's something missing.

I carry a paper map and a compass. Last year my iPhone couldn’t cope with the rain and turned itself off to dry 🧐

I find being on small bike paths that Komoot sends you on can mess with your sense of direction more than being on roads with signposts, especially if the sun isn’t out.

Not sure how a paper map would fare better than a IP68 rated phone. I’ve never had a Garmin device shut down due to weather such as rain. You can easily set your device or software to select more popular road or paved only solutions.

I love the routes Komoot picks. That’s not the problem. The map and compass are just a backup in case my phone breaks down or runs out of battery. I don’t need more electronics such as a Garmin or multiple powerbanks, but more so, I don’t like being totally dependant on electronics, gps, internet etc. Ymmv of course

I joined ACA and REI in the 80's before I was married and had kids. Used them both a lot then.
I dropped ACA more then 15 years ago and have not had any REI activity this century.
I still do some touring every summer BUT now I have money! So I do credit card touring and use a garmin.
ACA and REI are just not relivent to an old semi-retired guy any more.

So do I. I much prefer spreading out a large paper map in front of me when planning a trajectory than trying to squint at a tiny phone screen.

I've printed out 1:50 000 topographical maps (11x17) for the lands around here which are nicely free for download. I used to buy them before going off on an adventure somewhere. They're great for figuring out which roads will have the least hills. Back in service-station map days, you could get a fair idea of the land by looking for rivers or railroad tracks following a road.

I am often also looking at the map for a big picture view of several days worth of riding. But looking at the GPS for routing and navigation. And sometimes I like the looks of a road on a paper map better than the road on my GPS screen, so sometimes don't follow the GPS suggestion.

When I do not have a waterproof cover over my handlebar bag, the map and compass are on top, as below.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3225e9a1bc.jpg

The paper maps usually are state or provincial highway maps.

Most people use a computer or tablet when on a tour and use that for mapping. When doing a longer distance tour it is completely infeasible to bring maps with adequate resolution. Besides there are no maps available to provide the same resolution or scalability of digital mapping solutions. Not to mention the currency of the information.

Paper mapping solutions much like vinyl records are just a relic of the past where a few die hards try to stay connected or can’t remove their bias. Every area where mapping is used regularly has transitioned to digital mapping solutions. Aviation, maritime navigation, commercial transport etc. all have abandoned paper maps.

Just as television and air conditioning changed the way communities interacted -
bringing people inside and rarely going downtown to the Ritz movie theater,
so, also, has digital mapping changed how cyclists interact.

In the past, you often asked people where the library or the laundromat was.
Yes, you had to answer the 10 questions, but you encountered folks in the process.

Also, the screen on a phone or even a tablet rarely gives you the big picture.
I remember in Yellowstone in the 1980s 5 or six cyclists at a picnic table -
A big map of Montana spread out on one side and of Wyoming on the other.
With somebody saying, "You should get off the TransAm and ride east over the Bighorns!"

People did go off route and lived to tell about it.

My cycling buds call me Super Old School. I would carefully study online maps and sometimes Strava routes.
Then write down turn by turn directions on an index card, laminate with clear 3" wide packing tape, and affix to my top tube.
And repeat for each ride day. Generally worked well, with just an occasional hiccup, like a road closure or crappy pavement.