You sound like someone defending Kodak's sorry response to the digital revolution. Kodak tried to release digital products: too late, too crap, poor imitation of far more innovative competitors, tried to lean on their legacy patent portfolio which nobody cared about anymore. Eventually went bankrupt.

Have you actually attempted to use the ACA's GPX files as a digital replacement for the maps? I have, once. Never did it again. A waste of money.

They need an interactive online version of their maps, with a modern interface and comprehensive ancillary information, and a downloadable GPX file alongside so both can be used simultaneously in parallel. The GPX file to load onto the GPS unit, and the interactive resource for reference during the ride.

Oh wait, that's exactly what Bikepacking.com offers, which is why Bikepacking.com is eating the ACA's lunch.

Womp womp...


Here's an example: https://bikepacking.com/routes/newfoundland-trailway/

Is there an actual actuary in the house?

Not me. However, I do find it difficult to explain

based on a demographic change argument alone...

I became a member in order to support them making maps. But the maps are irrelevant now.

Statistics is like that.

A lot of this "discussion" reminds me of people "doing their own research" without understanding the underlying data, kind of like people arguing over the efficacy of medicines based on what they found on the internet. I'd be more interested in reading what an actuary would say, after we get a consensus on what questions need to be asked -- something a real actuary could probably help formulate and refine. And the actuary would likely have access to the information needed to answer that question(s).

An actuary is nothing more than a CPA without a personality.

Seriously…More than 11,000 people turn 65 each day. That trend is expected to continue through 2027.

Have a look at the below trend. Cycling is more popular than ever. The fact that they are going under is clear evidence their business model is no longer working out.

If your business model isn't working out, why would you expect things to get better if you change nothing?

That’s been my point all along and all this demographics talk is just a distraction. The ACA failed to adjust and read the room so to speak. They relied on this outdated view of what the members wanted add to that the misc. woke initiatives and other non sport related distractions.

When you see that graph trendline showing cycling is getting more popular, are you assuming the increase is due to more Boomers entering cycling? If that's the case, then obviously yeah, the ACA should revert back.

But I don't think that trend line is due to Boomers. If you think I'm wrong about this, feel free to share why.

When you run a money seeking business, you're just a minion of your customer base. If your customer base turned into all queers and gays, then you'd better be queer and gay too. It is what it is, you can't get around business reality.

I think you need to consider what type of cycling is going on, not simply the overall popularity​​​​, As mentioned, my recent experience on a part of the Trans Am and L&C routes this year was far different from what it had been the previous three times during the same time of year dating back to 2011z. Far fewer people doing loaded, through touring. ACA never catered to people going out for day rides on local trails.

Bikepacking.com is way more woke than the ACA, yet they're kicking the ACA's ass. So perhaps woke isn't the issue?

Check out all these woke articles they run:
https://bikepacking.com/plog/robbie-...und-the-world/
https://bikepacking.com/news/mikah-m...-spaces-video/
https://bikepacking.com/plog/gender-...rances-hacker/
https://bikepacking.com/news/ride-to...ding-partners/

I've just had a quick glance at the ACA website- or as quick as it could be as it's very slow to load. What do you get for the cost of membership? Access to some routes and a magazine? I think in this day and age there are so many other free/cheap options due to online communities such as this one, bikepacking.com, bearbonesbikepacking, Komoot, Strava, Ride with GPS, etc where people openly share their knowledge about different routes around the world, places to stay, places to avoid, must see areas, etc that it isn't necessary. Also, I looked at the cost of some of their organised tours- $1299 for a 6 day self-supported tour? That's insane, and one of the cheaper ones. I spent less than £150 for 5 days away including the train to get me to the start and back. And the UK isn't notorious for cheap trains or campsites.

In the UK, we have a few different cycling organisations- British Cycling which is more race focused, but membership provides 3rd party liability insurance and some other things. Cycling UK is a charity that aims to promote all things cycling in the UK- everything from advocating for safer infrastructure, getting families and beginners cycling, touring, bikepacking, creating routes, etc. They've been putting out new long distance, off-road focused routes for the past several years and they're free. You can purchase a route guide, but the GPXs are readily available on their site. You can become a supporting member for about £4.50/month for an individual and £7.50/month for a family. This includes third party liability, a magazine, discounts places, and some other things.

I don't think the decline in membership is due to companies going woke (because god forbid you celebrate diversity and embrace empathy). I think the way we get information about destinations, routes, etc has changed first and foremost. There are so many resources these days. I mostly use Komoot. The community aspect of it is brilliant as other members can make notes on certain bits of trail (avoid this field when it's been wet or suitable for gravel and mtb, for example) that makes planning routes easy. Google is a great source to find campsites or other accommodation.

Another is that millenials and older Gen Z have less disposable income, less time off (either because they live in the US and there is no guaranteed paid holiday or are having children older so can't go off for as long- I get a cheeky overnight micro-adventure, a long bikepacking weekend with friends, and a long bikepacking weekend with my son for bike related adventures- the rest of my holiday is off the bike or limited to day family rides), and different priorities. I would love to be able to get away for a several week-long trip, it's just not the right time in my life for it.

Many people join to support their mission of promoting bicycle travel and advocacy for safer roads for bicycle touring. After all, many people join Rails to Trails to support trail building, not for material benefits like a quarterly magazine.

I also have participated in their organized tours: I would never had conceived of traveling by bicycle by myself so ACA was an important step for me to get interested in touring. Although other there are other touring companies, they tend to stay in hotels, so don't access locations that can only be reached by camping. Not everybody wants to carry their gear on bicycle tours.

??? Is that above or below average?

From Stephen Potter's very funny book Lifemanship (which teaches "how to be one up on your fellow man without actually cheating"), a recommended casual comment designed to stem the flow of a conversation that you're not dominating:

"I have been ill 114 days in my life."

People will fall silent as they attempt to calculate whether to congratulate or commiserate.

Way above average.

On the topic of ACA - Over a decade ago, I was planning a solo tour in and around Glacier National Park. And I went to the ACA website to see what they had for pertinent maps. I noticed that they had a tour scheduled for about the same time I planned to go out there. Thought about it for a couple days and decided to sign up for the ACA tour instead of doing it on my own. That was in 2012. I chose to do their trip simply because it meant that I did not have to worry about logistics. Mostly stayed in campgrounds, no van support. Officially there were two guides but in practice there was one guide, the guide's wife did not do any of the guiding chores. I had a good trip and do not regret paying for the higher cost. That was my first experience with ACA.

Our first breakfast was indoors, our bikes lined up below:
.


I hated to go that far for only a week and then rush home. I was retired, so I had spare time. I went out several days early, rode solo to the park and camped in a hiker biker site in Glacier for three nights, then rode back to Whitefish to meet the group.

But I did learn that their food group procedure of breaking up into groups to do the cooking, that meant a lot of carb loading. I have diabetes and the high carb, minimal protein played havoc with my blood sugar. That is my main complaint about ACA trips. Other trips I have done with other organizations were much more nutritious because the other tour groups put some effort and money into the food.

I did one more trip with ACA, that one was camping, van supported, same problem with the food.

Other than my food issues with them, I have not had enough interaction with ACA to have had any complaints.

I once read an online post pondering why college kids want to join sororities: you waited all your life to gain independence away from your annoying parents. Why would you immediately make yourself a minion of a bunch of idiot college kids only a couple of years older than yourself?

I feel the same way about guided bike tours. Freedom is 90% of the point. Why even bother.

and at bikepacking.com one also gets a beautiful designed place, very attractive and motivating.

+ if member one gets good discounts at a ton of brands.

"""In addition to our ongoing Collective Reward giveaways, you're eligible for exclusive industry discounts as a Bikepacking Collective member. Find a full list of our current members-only discounts below, and be sure to check back, as we're regularly updating and adding offers as more brands come on board."""

My first ever unsupported tour was their 1999 Northern Tier--Seattle to Bar Harbor. Prior to that, I had only done supported tours across PA where you slept in colleges and universities and had never camped in my life. It was a learning experience to say the least. Perhaps the most important thing I learned was to never go on a long trip with anyone you don't know well.

The organization did a great job replacing our leader in Minneapolis after he didn't work out. His replacement was terrific but could only stay until Booneville, NY. His replacement was equally as good. The following year, I crossed paths with their North Star tour in Glacier while I was riding from Seattle to Cortez, CO. We all camped at Sprague Creek. The leader was a great guy named, believe it or not, Guy. He invited me to join them for dinner. I gave them the skinny on the next day's climb up to Logan Pass, which we had done the year before. As I was on line to fill my bowl with chili, I overheard one tour participant ask Guy if I had "bummed dinner" from them. He politely explained to her that he had invited me. It wouldn't be the first time I, as a single guy in his mid-30s traveling alone, was viewed with suspicion.

In 2010 I did their Cycle Vermont supported camping trip. Aside from the caterer not being carb-focussed, it was well run. Crossed paths with their Cycle Montana tour in 2014 and 2016. Camped with them in 2016 and was invited to breakfast. Seemed to be well run. One of the leaders and three of the participants had been participants on 2010 Vermont trip. One of them was originally from Louisiana and had a loud voice and distinctive accent. She, her husband, and a female friend were real characters. The GF and I referred to them as "The Dream Team". I remember hearing loud talking as I was pitching my tent. I immediately stood up and thought "I know that voice!" Couldn't wait to text the GF.


The night before the start at the Seattle HI.

Rural ND on July 4th.

A few of us ended up talking to school kids somewhere in rural IL.

Not going to defend Kodak. They obviously failed at the transition to digital from film. In their defense, it is difficult for horse whip and buggy manufacturers to transition to internal combustion engines.

That said, you do realize that Kodak invented the digital camera?

Yeah which makes it even more tragic what happened. They had great scientists but terrible executives, it seems. I bike toured through Rochester some years ago and the place is just depressing.

The latest, including the offer for the building which would allow ACA to maintain a “storefront” presence.

https://www.adventurecycling.org/mem...VSjW7RArqjvZwQ

It's called a "sale leaseback", a common structure in real estate transactions.

My prediction: within a few years this money will all be spent. They will then have neither building nor cash, and at that point they will either completely go under or functionally cease to exist (a couple of token staff, no real operations).

I would have advised them to take out a mortgage against the building, and simultaneously lease out the majority of the building floor area for rent. Use the rent income to cover the mortgage payments. This way they get a bunch of cash immediately for their spending needs, and the rent income from their building lets them slowly pay down the mortgage with little risk. The interest on the mortgage is also tax deductible against their non-charity income. Finally, they also get to keep any value appreciation in their building as time passes. Eventually the mortgage will be paid off and they can do this again. Or, if their finances improve, they can choose to pay off the mortgage early.

Virtually every corporate entity that has an opportunity to collect customer information is monetizing that information. Which IMO does not bode well for paid clubs. Screw AARP membership dues.

That’s the reason I won’t sign up for a PetSmart account. The discounts are minimal, and you have to give them your phone number. If they weren’t making money off that information you wouldn’t have to give it. I already get at least 10 spam calls a day from people trying to rip me off. I suspect it’s the result of the huge data breach at UHC.