Adventure Cycling Association

Please use this page to submit any private information, such as tax information.

Thank you for your interest in Adventure Cyclist magazine. We accept queries and manuscripts on a rolling basis year-round. However, since our very small staff is primarily focused on producing each Adventure Cyclist, we'll be reviewing them on a roughly quarterly basis. This is a time-consuming process among our many other duties, so please be patient and bear with us. Due to the volume of submissions, we won’t be able to respond to everyone.

Please make sure to thoroughly read our submissions information.

Time Frame: If a story pitch is accepted, the typical period of time until publication is approximately 12-18 months from the time of acceptance.

GUIDELINES FOR CONTRIBUTORS

Adventure Cyclist is a quarterly bicycle-travel magazine published by Adventure Cycling Association, a nonprofit service organization for bicyclists. Adventure Cyclist is dedicated to publishing stories about bicycle travel and other recreational cycling subjects.

Adventure Cyclist generally uses three types of stories from freelancers:

1. Feature-length stories. These should be travelogs about specific rides or reported narratives about important bicycle travel issues. Both must be accompanied by high-quality photos in terms of content, composition, and size.
2. One- to two-page (500 to 1000 word) department stories, focusing on cycling news and reader service (actionable advice, tips, recommendations, etc.)
3. The Final Mile. These are essays less about locale than about a singular experience while on a bicycle trip. These run at 1,200-1,500 words and don't require accompanying photos. Note: we do not buy Final Mile essays based on queries, we want to see the full manuscript.
   
   What we pay is negotiable, but generally ranges from $.30 to $.60 per word, depending on various factors. We buy first rights and will consider simultaneous submissions as long as we are informed of the other publications considering your manuscript.
   
   Photos: Feature submissions should be accompanied by electronic images (300 dpi is standard). Special focus and humor pieces do not require photos, but if you have something good, by all means, send it. And remember, we are always looking for stunning verticals to go on the cover. (See more about photos here). When you send us photos through Submittable, you are only allowed to upload three files, however, if you create a .zip file from your collection, this will only count as one single file. If you don't know how to create a .zip file, use the links below or simply Google it:
   
   4 Ways to Zip a File on a Mac - wikiHow
   
   4 Ways to Compress Large Files - wikiHow
   
   Adventure Cyclist staff does not guarantee that you will receive a response concerning your story nor will we guarantee the return of unsolicited materials.
   
   For further and more detailed information, visit adventurecycling.org/adventure-cyclist/adventure-cyclist-submissions/
   
     Editor-in-Chief, Nicholas Hunt
     magazine@adventurecycling.org
     Adventure Cycling Association
     150 E Pine St
     Missoula, MT 59802

Thank you for being part of the adventure cycling community.

Adventure cycling isn’t confined to one place or one kind of ride — it’s a way of moving through the world wherever cyclists dare to explore. It lives in the packed panniers of a cross-country tourist, the muddy tire tracks on a backwoods trail, the conversations shared over camp stoves, and the stories told long after the journey ends.

Whether it’s a cross-country odyssey or a quick weekend loop, your journey helps inspire the next generation of adventure cyclists and strengthens the community we’re all part of, and we’d love to hear about it.

We’re collecting stories, photos, and videos that capture the spirit of adventure cycling from your unique perspective. By sharing your story, you're helping build a stronger, more connected community.

When you submit, you give Adventure Cycling Association permission to feature your name, story, images, and/or video across our channels, including our website, social media, email, Adventure Cyclist magazine, and beyond.

This is a rolling submission process. Keep an eye out on our channels for your story to be featured!

Story Ideas:

Not sure what to share? Here are just a few themes we love to help get you started. All stories are welcome!

1. A personal story: A ride that challenged you, changed you, or helped you grow.
2. A community connection: A surprising connection, a helping hand, or the magic of meeting someone on the road.
3. A place that stuck with you: A stunning route, a favorite roadside stop, or a town you’ll never forget.
4. An inspiration or legacy: What sparked your love of adventure cycling? How do you hope your story might inspire someone else?

PHOTOS & VIDEO

• You can upload up to 10 photos (grouped into a zip file if needed).
•  Optional video submissions should be 30 seconds to 2 minutes long.
•  We love real, authentic moments — whether it’s a sweeping landscape, a muddy gear repair, or a candid snapshot of you and your crew mid-ride.
  
   Note: If you’re submitting through Submittable, you're limited to three uploaded files but a .zip file counts as one. Need help zipping files? Try these quick tutorials or Google it:
  
  4 Ways to Zip a File on a Mac - wikiHow
  
  4 Ways to Compress Large Files - wikiHow
  
  For more details, visit: adventurecycling.org/adventure-cyclist/adventure-cyclist-submissions/

Follow along and tag us on social — we love seeing your adventures in action:

Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | X (formerly Twitter) | LinkedIn

Attention Adventure Cycling Members!  

Adventure Cyclist magazine needs your help … or more specifically, your advice. To help celebrate our nonprofit's Golden Jubilee in 2026, Adventure Cyclist magazine is rounding up the best bicycle touring tips and tricks from our readers and members. So whether you've been riding for one year or 50, if you have a packing tactic you swear by, a secret camping strategy that’s never failed you, or a motivational mantra that’s seen you up one mountain pass after another, we want to hear about it.

Submit your advice by February 16, 2026, for the chance to see it in print!

To help keep things organized, we've created 5 categories for your advice: 

Before You Go: Your tips and tricks for planning, packing, and preparing for a tour.   

On The Move: Your advice for when you're in the saddle, including things like dealing with traffic and dogs, finding clean public bathrooms, secret snack hacks, and staying motivated to keep pedaling forward.     

Around Camp: Your strategies for everything from drying wet clothes and finding cheap campsites to crowd-pleasing gas-station recipes and sleep hacks for guaranteed ZZZs after a grueling day. 

On An Adventure Cycling Guided Tour: Your recommendations for choosing a route, making friends, cooking for a crowds, and more. 

Misc: Any words of wisdom which don't fall into one of the categories above!   

This submission portal is for use by Adventure Cyclist magazine advertisers only. It is not for story inquiries, submissions, or images. 

PRINT: We only accept advertising creative in PDF or JPEG format. The file should be press-optimized, colorspace set to CMYK (not RGB), and resolution of 300 pixels per inch. Convert all spot colors to CMYK. Please include your company name in the filename. 

NEWSLETTER: Please submit newsletter ads in PNG or JPG format at 728x90 pixels. Files should be 72 dpi and RGB. Include URL with submission.

Once the file is uploaded, you will receive a confirmation email that the file is ready for download by the Adventure Cyclist team.