Discover Teen Treks’ summer bike touring program for teens! Unplug, explore, and embrace adventure with phone-free cycling trips. Build confidence, make friends, and create lifelong memories.
Teen Treks is celebrating it’s 25th season running teen bike tours, marking the occasion with a brand-new website and the release of a new film, “Beyond the Bike: Teen Treks Adventures.”
Muted colors of Fall leaves surround us here in the Northeast, and low temperatures let us know the season is transitioning from those long, hot summer days to the upcoming cold, dreary winter season. This transition time is a great opportunity to reflect on the lively summer days and the teen bike adventures that took place all across the U.S., Canada and Europe. As Teen Treks shuffles through photos, videos, reviews, and recalls countless conversations over the adventures had this summer, we are reminded of the transforming power of traveling to new places from the seat of a bicycle. And we are elated by every story of teens rising to self-sufficiency, personal development and newfound perspectives while creating lasting memories and friendships. Across America Trek Our Across America Trekkers travelled long, arduous days from coast to coast, completing many century rides, meeting hospitable strangers, and learning about the American culture from remote mountain towns out West, to classic Midwestern destinations and bustling northeastern cities. They were welcomed everywhere they went and experienced many kind offerings and interactions from impressed audiences across the country. The Across America group tested their personal limits daily, and for 55-days learned what it was like to work together as a team to accomplish a challenging goal. Their celebration in NYC was one of complete satisfaction at a journey that will empower them in future endeavors and likely never be forgotten. New York City- Montreal New York-Montreal Trekkers faced many rainy days this summer, yet showed resilience as they pitched tarps at their campsites and continuously wore smiles on their faces, looking at every challenge as an opportunity to embrace the spirit of adventure. They experienced beautiful destinations, riding along the Hudson River, camping next to Lake George, scenic Burlington bike paths and explorations around the Montreal City Center. Both Teen Treks’ New York-Montreal groups created tight bonds with their leaders and fellow trekkers, walking away with new adventure buddies and plenty of stories to tell. Amsterdam- Paris Trek Amsterdam-Paris Trekkers experienced the bike-friendly landscape of the Netherlands, Belgium and France, immersed in the youth hostel culture of Europe and visited many interesting museums and historic sights along the way. The Amsterdam- Paris Trek is a great example of how bike trips can be so much more than biking. The group indulged in local cuisine, including Dutch breakfast’s of deli meats, cheeses and bread, Belgian waffles in Bruges, and Dutch apple pie while in Amsterdam. They visited the M.C. Escher Museum at The Hague, slept at a Stayokay Hostel stationed inside a medieval castle and took walking and boat tours in Brugge. They explored the beautiful canals of Ghent, biked to the Palace of Versailles and spent their last couple days enjoying Paris. Cape Cod & New England Shore Cape Cod & New England Shore Trekkers spent many dreamy days along the Atlantic Coast, navigating through scenic rail trails and taking advantage of countless swimming and marine observing opportunities. After travelling from the northern end of Cape Cod, down to Martha’s Vineyard, the groups biked through quaint coastal New England towns with another island hop to Block Island. Being so close to the ocean presented many opportunities for learning about marine life. At the Chatham Fishing Pier, groups witnessed a massive fishing operation. As boat loads of dogfish were swooped onto deck, countless seals stood by for accidental mishaps of fish sliding off the boat and into their mouths. On Block Island, trekkers visited the Block Island Maritime Institute and learned about threatened marine species and local watershed concerns. Being surrounded by boats along this trip, a must-see stop along the Cape Cod & New England Shore Trek is the Mystic Seaport Museum in Mystic, CT, where 19-acres of maritime history captivated trekkers for hours. All in all, it was a fun, educational, challenging and rewarding summer. After 22 years running self-supported bike trips for teenagers, our post-summer reflections always remind us of this very unique role bike tours play in teenager’s lives. Not everyone can go back to school and say they spent the summer relying on their bike as a form of transportation, learning to maintain their bike and problem-solve away from modern convenience. Not many teens can say they pedaled their way to incredible new experiences that taught them something new about themselves and the world they live in. We hope that these experiences leave lasting marks on every teen who participated in Teen Treks bike adventures this summer. As you set off into the school year, we encourage each trekker to continuously stroke those embers of curiosity and exploration. Let’s see what other adventurous sparks your future may ignite!
West Coast, best coast? Join us on an unforgettable journey along the Pacific Coastal Bike Route from Seattle to San Diego. Experience stunning ocean views, challenging climbs, and the laid-back vibe that attracts bikers worldwide. We’ve been re-scouting Teen Treks’ West Coast trips, revealing hidden gems and must-do experiences. With incredible weather and diverse scenery—from the Redwood National Forest to Venice Beach—this adventure will be spectacular. Curious if the West Coast reigns supreme? Stay tuned for our insights and photos!
Is there a bike adventurist in your family who you are never sure how to shop for? We are here to be your guide for the perfect gift, anytime, for that bike touring enthusiast in your family. It can take a while to acquire all the equipment essential for bike touring and this can be a barrier for someone trying to live out their bike traveling dreams. I’ve put together a gift list of some of my favorite bike touring gear items that have been a game-changer in my riding experience. As a self-contained bike traveler, working for one of the largest self-supported bike touring organizations leading trips for teenagers, I have gained a lot of experience dialing down essential and innovative bike touring gear and have learned what other bike tourists alike are using out on the road. Here’s some gift ideas to help equip the bike tourist in your family! Abus Bordo Lite 6055K Bike Lock, The Bike Hub- $89.99 When touring, you are on and off your bike often. Having quick access to a lock is important. In an ideal world, we would all carry steel U-Locks, however, they are big and bulky and not easy to carry. A cable lock is a lot lighter but it stands no chance to a bike thief. I found this lightweight folding bike lock to be the best of all around for bike touring. You can strap it directly on your top tube, quickly unfold it and lock up without worrying about getting your bike stolen. That way you can tour a museum or make a grocery store run without being nervous about your bike’s safety. This is currently my favorite bike touring gear items to take on trips, and I must say, I get asked about it all the time from other cyclists. I would NOT get a mini size, get the full size… you’ll need the extra space to be able to lock anywhere you go. Topeak Road Morph Pump with Guage, REI- $54.95 I’ve been using this portable bike pump for a long time, it has everything you want to get you out of a roadside flat. A small footstand, a retractable handle, a PSI gauge, and a high PSI range of up to 160! The latter is my favorite part. I’ve had many hand pumps in the past that never seemed to get enough air in my tires. Without having access to a full-size pump on the road, it’s very important to have a portable pump that can get your tires aired up just as much as a floor pump would. Otherwise, you’re dealing with lots of unwanted flats, waisted time and resources when you’d much rather be focused on riding your bike! Ortlieb Ultimate Six Classic Handelbar Bag, Bikes Direct- $80.75 OK, so this was a recent purchase for me before biking the Pacific Coast Highway this Fall and expecting plenty of rain. Over the years, I have had a handlebar bag that is not waterproof. When it would rain, all my tools, headlamp, and maps would get soaked and overtime my tools would start to rust. I finally said no more and bought an Ortlieb Waterproof Handlebar bag. And wow… it’s a game changer. Not sure why I didn’t make this purchase before. I know us Ortlieb users can seem like snobs but honestly, there is not a better touring bag company out there. There is a reason why every time I go on a bike tour, all other tourists are sporting Ortlieb gear. What I love the most about this bag (besides it keeping my tools dry) is that it has a plastic cover on top where you can keep your map dry. You can even put your phone in the sleeve to keep dry while still using your phone’s maps for directions. Ortlieb products are super durable and I see no reason to ever have another handlebar bag! Bonai Portable Charger 3000mAh, Amazon- $33.99 I brag about this charger all the time, and often find myself using it even when I am not on a bike trip, as it is much faster than my wall charger. I have Iphone 13, and though the description says this power bank will provide up to 5 charges for my model, I have gotten up to 7 charges out of a full battery. It’s fast, high capacity, and uses a 4-USB output which enables it to be universal for multiple input ports. It is a bit on the heavy side, but I find it’s a good tradeoff for a trusted battery bank while biking in remote places! Greerride Rechargeable Bike Helmet Light, Amazon- $29.95 As a cyclist, often sharing the road with other motorist, we’re always looking for ways to be as visible as possible. On a recent bike trip, I found myself riding at dusk more often with day light savings causing it to get dark much earlier. I found the Greerride bike helmet light to be a great solution, in addition to the front and back lights on my bicycle. I love that it sits on top of the helmet, giving a higher vantage point to be seen by vehicles. I find it unique that this helmet light doubles as a front headlamp as well. This means you can point light directly where you are looking, making you feel extra safe during night riding! Mizatto Bike Cup Holder, Amazon- $9.99 for 1, $11.99 for 2. Extra water bottle holder, a place to store some road snacks, quick access to tools, this bag does it all. This low-price cup holder bag is totally worth the purchase in order to have extra accessible handlebar storage. The drawstring features allows you to tuck items away safely, too. My favorite thing to do with this bag is to fill it with trail mix and snack away while biking. It’s not waterproof, but as long as your important storage bags are waterproof, it’s not essential for this bag to serve …
You have a choice between two offices for the summer. On your left is a lovely corner model, fully furnished and climate controlled. Its expansive 16×24 window offers breathtaking views of industrial carapace, with HVAC vents shimmering in the summer heat. On your right is a “rolling office“. It can be packed in a box, shipped anywhere, then set up in minutes. While this model comes with a higher likelihood of chafing, its views are unparalleled, and every moment is a Rubiks cube of unknowns and surprises, from within and without. Which would you choose? Desk shackles or bike chains. Here are a dozen reasons to consider leading bike trips as a summer job. Community Our culture and time is starved for community. Each bike trip builds instant community, where every link in the chain matters. Depending on the conditions, you become a pod of dolphins, a flamboyance of flamingos, a barrel of monkeys, a murmuration of starlings… You move together, eat together, work together, and overcome together. You cross the finish line together, and share a bond together, for the rest of your life. Decision Making, Problem Solving Leading bike trips will put you in situations where decisions need to be made quickly, and problems need to be solved with what’s on hand. You’ll have that opportunity every day, and you’ll get better at it. Those skills won’t leave you. Freedom Freedom to be yourself. To grow. To explore who you are and who you want to be. To think, plan, and dream. To break custom and old patterns. Freedom to breathe fresh air and feel rain and sun on your skin. Mentorship You will have the chance to become a role model and mentor for others at a critical point in their lives while leading bike trips. You may inspire your trekkers to pursue a passion, overcome negative emotions, or look at the world with new eyes. As you pass from town to town, you might do the same for your cashier, or someone you meet on the side of the road, showing them that risks are worth taking, and challenges are worth overcoming. Unplug It’s not a life hack to spend time away from your phone and in nature. It is what our minds and bodies are conditioned to, and crave. These trips eschew the phones in favor of paper maps and engagement with fellow country folk. Memes are better when they come from real bumpkins and fogeys with electrical outlet shocked hair. Your relationship to screens and social media will improve. You’ll finish a book. Laughter Laughter on a bike trip is like beans. A healthy, essential nutrient which comes in many flavors. Some of the tastiest varieties you’ll encounter include laughter via absurdity, exhilaration, and slapstick. Often they’re all rolled into one big patty. Trip memories will pop in to your head daily, eliciting chortles and chuckles. Strength First your body will strengthen. Then your mind. You will be challenged, but you won’t be alone, and you will come out the other side more capable. You and every member of your team will gain flexibility of mind, something you can return at any point with future biking and apply to any aspect of life. Life Experience The most common regrets of centenarians are a lack of quality time spent with friends and family, and a lack of experience — places traveled, senses engaged, boundaries pushed. Leading bike trips brings friends which feel like family, and turns you into a walking colander, straining all sorts of experience through your noodle holes to be digested for years to come. Kindness of Strangers During a bike trip, at some point, a stranger is going to blow your mind. With kindness. They might offer you a ride when you’ve got a flat in the rain, fresh baked tamales when you’re making a pit stop, a place to stay, bike equipment, cash, or even invite you to a 4th of July party. Changing Scenery On a bike, you are going to see beautiful nature, beautiful humans, beautiful animals, sunsets, sunrises, architecture… You’ll see the terrain change and feel it. Compared to drywall and a framed photo of three-time Masters Champion Sir Nicholas Faldo, which do you think will lead to higher neurogenesis and plasticity? Realizing What You Are Capable Of Leaders are not immune to challenges, and receiving help from others. Strangers will help you. Teens will surprise you with what they teach you, and inspire you with their approach to life. Together you will lift each other up and towards your goal. When you’re done, you’ll look back in awe at how you pushed your boundaries and overcame discomfort to achieve an awesome goal. Fluid Living Every single member of your bike trip will learn to let go, to float instead of struggle, and live in the present. You will become Zen masters with ice cream fixations. In a world of prepackaged prescription and handholding, finding your own way is an invaluable skill to have, and leading a trip is the single best opportunity to do so I have found within a work environment. Written by Teen Treks leader, James Dykstra
We offer 17 bike adventures across the U.S., Canada and Europe. Self-contained biking groups including two leaders and up to ten teenagers who will camp and hostel on their way to completing regional and cross-country bike trips.
