Should have left it locked. It was going downhill from the start, and enough is enough. If people actually care about this kid, they could have started a new, more positive thread.

I thought we did just that with this thread.

We had to run away from the thread due to OPs posts and certain BFMs in his first thread.
https://www.bikeforums.net/touring/487428-touring-la-dc-obama-s-inaugaration-january-i-need-some-advice.html
Per post 62 he is expecting skepticism.
Then post 182 opened the flood gates.

The OP of this thread was a supporter and wanted to know how it was going.

Still would like to know how everything is going and hope he is staying warm?

I would like to also vote for this thread being locked again, permanently. FlyinRyan seemed to make it clear that he wouldn't be back here in his original thread, and as such, I don't think it's really fair to leave this thread open to navel-gazing and jaw-wagging at his expense and in his absence (which is really what this thread seems to have come to (IMNSHO)).

If (hopefully when) he comes back, a new thread can be started. Otherwise, *I* see no positive reason to leave this one open anymore. In other words, this thread has become too "meta" and without any real substance.

EDITED to add: Good luck, Ryan, whatever you decide to do.

It seems to me, Tom, that Ryan's 'ride' places a finger on a sensitive spot for Touring posters, namely the value of bicycle touring, and if it's worth doing for its own sake. As other discussions on riding for charities and causes made clear, there are strong opinions on all sides. The matter hasn't been helped by Ryan's behaviors and postings.

If you were going to lock threads, I humbly suggest it would have been best to do so after the first, and as far as I see the only, racial slur was posted. That was by Ryan.

Has anyone contacted the copyright holder to let them know their intellectual property is being stolen? Or am I going to be the first?

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:
https://www.adventurecycling.org/rout...ern_tier_1.gif

Overview:
https://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

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:

https://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!