The Adventure Cycling Association 40th Anniversary Salsa Marrakesh
A Fitting Tribute: The Adventure Cycling Association 40th Anniversary Salsa Marrakesh
This year the Adventure Cycling Association celebrates 40 years of showing cyclists all over the world how to best see America from the perch of their saddles. The ACA’s mission “is to inspire and empower people to travel by bicycle.” Established in 1973 as Bikecentennial, they’re the premier bicycle-travel organization in North America, and more than 50,000 cyclists are proud to call themselves members.
Walk into the ACA offices in Missoula, Montana and you are certain be greeted with a welcoming smile…
When the ACA was looking for a way to commemorate this milestone, they reached out to us and asked if we’d be interested in collaborating on a special bike. We thought, what better bike than the Marrakesh? Our world-touring bike, designed for fully loaded, rugged exploration is the perfect home away from home while exploring the ACA’s network of cycling routes that now cover over 45,000 miles! Salsa’s Art Director, Kelly MacWilliams set to work, and we’re pleased to share the result.
“I have always had this romantic idea about moving to Missoula and trying to get a job with ACA,” says MacWilliams. “The work they do to get people on bikes, document routes, and publish the tools for folks to have amazing experiences on a bike is inspiring. Needless to say, we were stoked at the opportunity to collaborate on a special edition Marrakesh to commemorate their 40 years.”
Highlights of this bike are definitely the graphic details. To celebrate ACA, MacWilliams designed a 40th anniversary badge, ACA logos, the Bikecentenial rainbow icon, and the inner chainstay declaration “I am an adventure cyclist.” Other special details like a blue Brooks B17 saddle with Salsa gel bar tape to match provide comfortable touchpoints for the lucky owners of these special bikes.
MacWilliams was able to show off the fruits of her labor this past July. “The whipcream on top of this whole project was being able to ride the anniversary bikes to the 40th anniversary party. From the Amtrak train station in Whitefish, Montana, we rode the ACA route across Montana to the Bikecentennial office in Missoula with many other people we met along the way. Meeting the ACA staff, seeing their iconic building, taking part in the anniversary festivities, and delivering this rig to its rightful location was a special treat indeed.”
The ACA 40th Anniversary Marrakesh Dropbar features the same thoughtful component spec and Alternator 135 Low-Deck rack as our standard models. Throw on some panniers, and you’re set to hit the road. Own a bike that embodies the spirit of traditional touring, and show off your appreciation for the millions of miles the ACA has helped cyclotourists discover and ride!
A few of the countless bicycle tourers who’ve stopped in to visit the ACA while passing through…
The ACA 40th Anniversary Marrakesh Dropbar bike is available now. Our thanks to them for including us in their special celebration.
Click here to learn more about the Adventure Cycling Association
Door handles to the ACA offices remind you that you are among friends…