Hi, I'm Michael Smiley.

I am a lifelong touring bicyclist. I took my first self-supported multi-day bicycle tour when I was 14, in the early '60s, when words like "bicycle-friendly roadways" were unknown. Over the years, I've taken epic journeys by bicycle throughout the US and across portions of three continents. For the last 40+ years, I have also had a stimulating and rewarding career as an urban designer, landscape architect and land planner.

I ride epic jouneys by bicycle because I love landscape, cities and towns. And what better way to experience the amazing diversity of these places than by bicycle?

The Great Central Valley Bicycle Route (GCVBR) was conceived in 2017 when I was living in Nevada City, California, a small historic community in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, with easy access to rides among the high Sierra peaks and the Central Valley lowlands. While much is written about the beauty and history of the Sierra Nevada and the coast, the Great Central Valley is often overlooked, a “fly-over” between coast and mountains.

I longed to explore the great valley, its landscape, communities, and history, by bicycle. But no mapped route to undertake such a journey in relative safety had ever been identified. The Great Central Valley Bicycle Route was born.

Acknowledgements

The journey to create the route has been a long one, over three years, with input from over 70 individuals, bicycle organizations and public agencies throughout the length of the Valley. A few of these deserve special mention for the many hours of assistance they have provided through numerous Zoom meetings, phone calls, shared meals and test rides. These people were instrumental in making the Great Central Valley Bicycle Route the great ride that it is. When you’re riding through, please reach out and thank them.

• Debra Banks, Executive Director, Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates
• Roberto Brady, Principal Regional Planner, Tulare County Association of Governments
• Craig Erickson, Chico
• Zach Griffin, Bakersfield
• Tom Hotham, Education and Outreach Coordinator, Merced Bicycle Coalition
• Anthony Molina, Chair, Fresno County Bicycle Coalition
• John Pearson, Executive Director, Chico Velo
• Jeff Pell, Routes Director, Bike Lodi
• Tina Sumner, Advocacy Coordinator, Fresno Cycling Club
• Anne Thomas, Executive Director, Shasta Living Streets, Redding
• Mark Wall, Advocacy Director, Southern Sierra Cyclists, Visalia
• Brian Zahra, Fun Sport Bikes, Modesto

In addition, the following provided important information and support for the effort:

• Kerry Irons, Route Planner, Adventure Cycling Association
• Eleanor Mahoney PhD, Mellon Humanities Fellow, National Parks Service
• Pedro Ramirez, Associate Transportation Planner, Caltrans District 6, Fresno
• Dave Snyder, Executive Director, CalBike, Sacramento

Enjoy your tour of the landscape and towns of California's Great Central Valley. And when you've completed all, or a portion, of the Great Central Valley Bicycle Route, I'd like to hear from you, too.