Bike Across America this summer with Teen Treks!

Biked across America with Teen Treks this past summer. What an incredible experience!!!  I learned so much about myself, my bike, and my country over my eight weeks of biking.  I loved my experience this summer and would definitely recommend it.  It's hard work (with fun), but if you want to push yourself and do something so amazing that you can tell stories about it for the rest of your life -- go for it!! 

 Daniel, Across America Trekker, 2012

Welcome to our toughest trip!

Ride 3,800 miles across the U.S. over 8 amazing weeks -- this trek is truly an accomplishment and always a life-changing experience.

Your trip begins in Oregon, where you'll dip your wheels in the Pacific Ocean on a cool, misty beach. Then it's out toward deep forests and the wide-open plains, the Rocky Mountains, Chicago, and so much more!

You'll bike through Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and along the Great Lakes to Niagara Falls. Then, follow the Erie Canal bike route across NY state to the Hudson River for a short 150 miles into NYC, ending the trip at Coney Island.  Along the way, you'll camp, hike, and swim, stop in picturesque town squares and ride past some of the world’s tallest skyscrapers.

Across America’s northern route lets our bikers enjoy their summer travel experience, compared to (much, much hotter) southern cross-country routes. But don’t kid yourself -- you will bike close to 100 miles, some days, so you’ll need to be in good shape.

When you travel by bike, you get to know the world better.  You get the flavor of the culture in the small towns and rural areas, and you see cities differently, too.

America is full of quirky -- and kind of amazing! -- independent art, friendly small-town diners, and beautiful vista after beautiful vista.  See it all with us this summer!

Even George Washington wants to come -- we just need to find him a bike!

We're running two Across America trips this summer, for teens entering grades 10 and up:

• June 25 - August 18
• June 29 - August 22

Apply now to reserve your place on this one-of-a-kind experience!  Or sign up for one of our other super trips: New York City - Montreal, Pacific Northwest, California Coast, New England Shore, European Phantom, Maine Coast -- and more!

New Trek for 2014: 1000 Mile Challenge

Maybe you’d love to bike Across America, but you can’t get away for long enough this summer.  Maybe you feel like you could handle the New York-Montreal route or the California Coast, but you want to push yourself a little.  Or maybe you’d love to see Chicago, New York, and the stretch of America between them.   If that sounds like you, check out our new 30-day 1000 Mile Challenge Trek!

Cycle just over 1000 miles, starting in Chicago.

See the Great Lakes and miles of beautiful farm country through Indiana and Ohio.

Visit the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, OH, and eat chicken wings in Buffalo, NY, where they were invented.

Visit Niagara Falls before cruising through New York’s lake country and heading into NYC.

Ride along the Hudson River into Manhattan and Coney Island, where your trek ends.

 Camp with your fellow trekkers some nights, and on others, stay in clean, friendly hostels.

Make friendships that will last your whole life!

This challenging ride (50-100 miles per day) will take you through Chicago, Ft. Wayne, Toledo, Cleveland, Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Ithaca, New York -- and everything in between.  It's suited for high schoolers entering grades 10 through 12. We’ll be running 1000 Mile Challenge June 27 - July 26 (trip code 1000-JN27) and July 11 - Aug 9 (trip code 1000-J11).

Visit TeenTreks.com to apply to bike the 1000 Mile Challenge with us, or sign up for one of our other super trips: Across America, Pacific Northwest, European Phantom, California Coast, New England Shore, Amsterdam-Paris, New York-Montreal -- and more!

Across America's time in Chicago

All of the long days and centuries were worth it for the time off in Chicago!  The group stayed in a suburb with some of Monique's family, and they had plenty of time to unwind and do some urban exploring.  The group had a great time, with stops all along the downtown area. 

More, please!

One of the Leaders, Julian, was lucky and won a ticket to Lollapalooza, a festival, that takes place in Grant Park over three days.  The sold out music festival attracts some major bands, so the group decided to share the wristband to take turns watching Mumford and Sons' performance.  

Festival Entrance

A shot from Mumford and Sons' set

The canals and beautiful architecture were favorites of the group

The Trekkers loved Chicago, especially because they have spent the past month or so in small cities and on rural roads.  The food was good and sleeping in was better, and it was amazing to get off the bikes and hang out.  Overall, Chicago was great!

Starting on Sunday, the group headed through Indiana and into Michigan, and stayed in New Buffalo, which sits on Lake Michigan.  Upon an early rise in New Buffalo, some locals took interest in the travelers and offered fresh coffee and food; kindness that the Trekkers were very grateful for!

New Buffalo, Michigan

The group continued past Sturgis, Michigan and finished yesterday somewhere in the middle of the state.  The group is set to enter Canada in the next day, and will be in Buffalo/Teen Treks' headquarters this weekend.  From there the group will cut across New York State to the Big Apple.  The group is continuing with days of high mileage (70-85 miles daily), and have decided that the more they ride, the more they can eat out...

Across America..Somewhere in Iowa

The Across America gang is doing a fantastic job in cycling high miles, and have done a few centuries in the past week (except for a day or two where there were bike issues). 
The group has found a new motivation-getting to Chicago, where they will stay with Monique's Aunt, who lives in nearby Wheaton, IL.  The thought of a day off in a big city (seems like ages ago that the Trekkers have been in a busting metropolitan area) is keeping the crew pushing on through the corn fields.  
The group has spent the weekend along Route 7, which they are loving because of the back roads and mile after mile of flat farm-filled land.  Originally, they were following Route 20, but found that the tiny/non existent shoulders was unsafe.  The group asked around and spoke with some locals and tweaked their route to much better roads.  And If the group is in need of a break, they have an activity called  "corn running", or simply running down the rows of corn.  Seems to be a big hit with the boys, who do this a few times a day.  The group has been happy and healthy, and have been enjoying many a stir fry and rotisserie chicken.  And the weather?  Contrary to a typical Iowa summer, they are actually in a much appreciated cool spell.  This means that is actually is cold in the morning to the point of wearing a few layers, but then warms to somewhere in the 70's during the day.  
At the group's current pace, they are set to arrive in Chicago on Wednesday night, taking Thursday as an off day.