Adventure Cycling has since 1976 moved thousands upon thousands of cyclists across a great number of back roads, up and down both coasts, from one ocean to another, even on much of the remote riding that stands in between. They have done this through extensive research that has resulted in cutting edge bicycle maps as well as through training those guides who lead their group tours. They even publish their own magazine, "Adventure Cyclist".

The NBG stands in awe of their efforts and will be incorporating their bicycle throughways into the master overlay we foresee. As such we will be bridging the gap that stands between Adventure Cycling's roads and America's population centers. And it is here that our two mission differ.

We are not an organization focused primarily on accentuating the recreational aspects of cycling. We will be combining recreation with transportation. In addition to our aligning with those other trails, paths and bike roads already in place in the more remote parts of America, much of our focus will be in getting the cyclist in, out and through the more congested riding found in cities.

In 1990, under the aegis of the American Hiking Society and "Backpacker" magazine, Ellen Dudley and Eric Seaborg set out on an eight-month, 4000-plus mile journey seeking links between long-distance trails on public lands across 12 states. Part of a small team that varied throughout, they hiked, biked, canoed and horseback rode from one coast to the other. Their story can be found in the book "American Discoveries: Scouting the First Coast-to-Coast Recreational Trail". In turning their detailed notes and other research into a contiguous coast to coast trail, the American Discover Trail (ADT) was formed.

Like Adventure Cycling, however, the major focus of the ADT is recreation and not that of getting bike riders out of populous areas so they can enjoy these more remote areas. Nor does bike riding stand at the core of the ADT effort. Unfortunately there are many parts of the ADT that are unnavigable for bike riders. Several rivers and creeks must be traveled and a few sheer precipices must be scaled. Other areas are covered in rocks and gravel. And yet wherever the ADT can get a trailer towing bicycle safely across any of the lands it moves through, the NBG will work to connect with them.