Sent to Adventure Cycling this morning:

Dear Sirs,

The enclosed link is to a website that is republishing Adventure Cycling maps of the Southern Tier and Atlantic Coast routes and advising visitors they can download the maps to their hard drives.

[link removed]

Cordially,
[The Historian]

Narc! :)


Hey Historian, don't you know "Stop the snitichen"!

:)

Sorry, I don't joke about such things.

I think this thread is quite valid and not all that far off track. Yes I started it in hope of a slightly more civil thread than the previous one.

It would be nice if folks could tone down the rhetoric just a notch or two. Criticism is fine and in many ways it is certainly warranted. Those who aren't interested don't need to read or post to the thread and those who do should do so in a reasoned and civil manner.

Personally I have expressed my doubts about some of Ryan's approach and choices along the way. I still wish him success in whatever form that may take for him. Whether the trip succeeds or fails, I hope it winds up being a positive experience for him and a useful example to others. I am rooting for him to get there, but if he doesn't then I hope he is safe and does still salvage some good experiences from this.

I have to say that if we don't hear about some substantial miles traveled pretty soon his original plan is probably toast. That might still leave the possibility of some plan with reduced scope maybe ride from New Orleans or Florida. Barring that if the trip fizzles out I hope for two things. First, I hope he will learn something from it and also still write up the experience. Second, I hope folks here will be gracious and not gloat or be excessively critical.

I hope that much of the previous paragraph is moot because he is doing great and getting back on schedule.

Yes they are copyrighted material, but similarly detailed info is posted on the AC webpage. It might actually be easier to read. Hopefully the webmaster can just post links to those overviews on the AC pages.
Detail of one section:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/rout...ern_tier_1.gif
http://www.adventurecycling.org/rout...ern_tier_1.gif
Overview:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/rout...n_tier_set.gif
http://www.adventurecycling.org/rout...n_tier_set.gif

I think they can legally do this because they would be just pointing to the AC page like I just did.

BTW: They did post a copyright notice that said "all maps ©Adventurecycling.org 2008". It is possible they got permission from AC to do so.

I think in order to have a positive experience one has to be receptive to having a positive experience. And I don't see that happening for Ryan. His approach, as described on his website, is that he's going to 'ride' to "inspire" folks to "become change." I don't see anything from him recognizing that HE is going to be changed by his experiences, if he allows himself to be.

And I think that's why some of us react as strongly against this 'ride.' No, it's not because of his cause or the color of his skin, as some people here seem to think. It's that Ryan wants to inspire rather than be inspired, and that's the sole reason he's 'riding'. And, to put it bluntly, that's arrogant.

Ryan and I have something in common. I've been called "inspirational" at times, and I've been told my touring is "inspirational." I've exchanged emails in the past with the National Scoliosis Foundation about my riding cross country one day. I decided against promoting NSF because I don't ride to inspire others, I ride for myself. I don't ride to change others, I ride to be changed, in some way, by my experiences. In other words, I tour for its own sake, and for my own. Not for the sake of others. Why would I keep myself from learning when there's so much in the world to learn, and so many people to learn from? And why does Ryan choose to do so?

Said copyright notice wasn't there previously. Anyway, the ball is now in ACA's court. Let's see what they do.

FWIW, I think anyone who rides across the US will be changed by it regardless of whether they expect to be and are open to it or not. I agree that being open to it means they will have a better chance for it to be a positive change, but I think that the goodness of the folks you meet is pretty hard to miss or avoid unless you work pretty hard at being negative yourself and I really do not think Ryan will do that.

I hope Ryan finds this to be a positive experience and is changed by it in a positive way. I think that he is likely to whether he completes the whole trip or not.

So You Have Decided to Hotlink and Steal Bandwidth
 

So You Have Decided to Hotlink and Steal Bandwidth

And you decieded to steal even more bandwidth? ;)


Actually, hopefully your browser is caching that URL so only the first one does the damage. But you never know.

Arhhh...sorry!!

It will be interesting to see ACA's reply, but my guess is that they won't care. In fact, they might even appreciate the free advertising. It's more likely that someone will buy the maps based on this exposure rather than decide not to buy the maps that they would have otherwise bought.

This thread takes many strange twists and turns. After we whined endlessly about "why doesn't he post?" (similar to the dreaded "why doesn't he wave?"), we're now moved on to copyright law.

My guess is that they will get more benefit than cost as long as it is clear that they are the source. I don't feel bad at all about hot linking to a site that will likely benefit from the added exposure. If you were so concerned you could have cut it out of your post rather than hot linking again,

Go Ryan!

Were these his most recent posts? Any updates?

I don't think there's been 'discussion' of copyright law at all. The discussion, what little there was, focused on the question of the copyright holder choosing to defend their copyright. As a writer who has gotten people to remove unauthorized reproductions of his intellectual property, I have an interest in the subject.

I hope so. We both know of a fellow who, on the rare occasion he tours, or even rides a bike, finds nothing good to say about anyone. So some folks are immune, especially when the country they tour is the United States.

I do wish there was some kind of update if for no other reason to remove concern over his well being.

I would like to think that what ever a person's feeling toward his possible motives, or agenda, that we would want him to be safe in the endeavor. I hope he makes it, at least a good deal of the way.

Most important is that rookie who has undertaken a large challenge may be out there by himself and we don't know if he is in contact with anyone.

OK, this is getting silly again. And I'm part of the silliness.

The young man's cell phone number is on his blog:

http://www.bikingforobama.com/2008/1...the-following/

Go to the bottom of the post, press the ten digits into your phone, and call him.

I might even do it myself, after I get back from my hike this afternoon/evening.

This thread is wonderfully entertaining and silly. (It almost belongs in Foo more than touring.)

Looking forward to hearing about this one!

I personally feel the standard for locking threads needs to be a little higher than some people don't like what is being posted. For example, I was extremely offended recently by someone's rant on the evils of charities. I didn't whine to the mods, I just told him I disagreed. It is called a discussion group for a reason. If everyone is saying the same thing then we would call it a propaganda group.
The power to quell free speech needs to be used with a great deal of discretion.

Just stop hatin'! :)

I spoke to Ryan. He's near Demming, NM, fixing his second flat of the day. He has tent, sleeping bag, and some other gear. Yesterday he made 80 miles. He says he's sore and his knees are bothering him a little, but he's spinning and getting used to carrying the extra weight. And taking Advil. :)

I didn't keep him on the phone, since the traffic sounds horrible near him, and I didn't want him to be on the shoulder any more than he had to be.

+1

Oh, and he hasn't been able to get to a library, which is why his site isn't updated. Incidentally, I think he knows who I am, and he gave me permission to keep you guys informed. I'll call every couple of days or so, I think.

Thanks for the update!

It's terrific that he is safe and making progress. Sounds like he is having a great adventure, no matter how it ends up.

Do you know whether he is camping or staying in motels?

Here's where he's been so far. Lack of detail is due to lack data. Did I miss any major locations?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3293/...b6a65d89ba.jpg

Seems he's got a looong way to go in the time he has left, and I'm feeling pessimistic about his getting to DC on time. Ryan, if you're reading this, good luck, and please prove me wrong!

(Flickr image here)

I am thinking of riding with him some in Texas.
Thanks for calling him.
Please keep posting his progress.

I didn't ask. He was trying to fix a flat and I had somewhere to go. I'll try again in a day or so. I'm assuming he's camping, since he's broke and has the gear.

Thanks for the update; it would be cool if someone could coordinate BF support for him.