Press Kit

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The Cowboy outside his bike rack at Powell's - Portland

Seach the
Metal Cowboy site

Rolling Roads Bicycle & Active Sport Vacations!

Metal Cowboy & Family 2007
Trans-Canada Bicycle Adventure

2007 Trans-Canada Family Bicycle Adventure

Statement

In 2005 best selling author Joe "Metal Cowboy" Kurmaskie took sons Quinn and Enzo (then age 7 & 5) on a 2 month, 4000+ mile long bicycle adventure across America from Portland, OR to Washington DC. The trip was featured as a cover story for Bicycling magazine. Joe rode on a standard touring bicycle with a trail-a-bike attached to his rear rack and a trailer attached to the trail-a-bike, the rig was over 14' long and weighed over 400 lbs!

This time around the Metal Cowboy and sons Quinn and Enzo (now 9 & 7) will be joined by wife and mom Beth and toddler Mateo (who turned one during the first week of the trip) on their latest epic Family Cycling Adventure. Again, It’s all part of an upcoming Bicycle Magazine feature Article called "Off of the couch and into the saddle".

They will be riding up Vancouver Island, catching a ferry through the Inner Passage, hopping off at Prince Rupert, pedaling their way across BC to Calgary, taking a train to avoid the heat and black flies of the prairies, then putting rubber to the road again all the way to Nova Scotia. There will be no back up or support vehicle of any kind, they will be fully self supported carrying everything they need on the bike.

The reason for such a trip? The Metal Cowboy believes that kids spend way to much time indoors and in front of a TV or computer, "We are on this quest to show all parents that you can have a great outdoor family vacation regardless of age or ability. You don't have to ride across Canada like we are but you can absolutely enjoy a weekend of riding and camping, even if it's only 10 miles a day. And on such a trip your family will grow closer and stronger. And you get to know your kids again!"
Joe "Metal Cowboy" Kurmaskie

The Metal Cowboy is determined to find a cure for what he calls X-Box Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and is starting a summer camp for kids called Camp Creative, an Arts and Expedition (primarily bicycle expeditions) Summer Camp based in the Columbia Gorge Area of Oregon. As well Joe and partner Gary Hancq are offering Rolling Roads Bicycle Tours as a way for adults and families to go on their own similar Grand Adventure.

"Some folks are intimidated by the idea of going on a solo grand adventure by bicycle, it does take a considerable amount of planning and a certain amount of know-how. At Rolling Roads we take care of the equipment, planning and preparation for these types of adventures so our guests can simply enjoy the ride, the scenery and the outdoors."
Gary Hancq - President, Rolling Roads
*All proceeds from Rolling Roads tours benefit and support Camp Creative.

Notes:
They Family originally started out on a 3 seat tandem bicycle (see below left) pulling a trial-a-bike with a trailer attached behind that! However they soon decided that they needed to downsize the 3 seat tandem (see below right) for safety reasons.

Have a look at the monstrosity they will be pedaling Across Canada! Click on a picture for a larger image

Original Triple Tandem with Trail-a-bike and trailer	Downsized Tandem with Trail-a-bike and Trailer.	Beth’s New Wheels! (Note the panniers)

Media Resources

Overview
Biographic information, images, video, book excerpts and up to date blog entries are among the various media resources available on this web site for media use. If you need any additional information please use the following contacts:

Joe Kurmaskie
Tel: 503-239-6985 (USA)
email: mtcowboy@teleport.com
email 2: webmaster@metalcowboy.com (for use when Joe is on the road)

Books:


Metal Cowboy (Best seller)	Riding between the lines	Momentum is your friend (Best Seller)

Metal Cowboy General Pages
Bio - Joe's Biography
Excerpts - Excerpts and samples from Joe's Books and Articles
Blog - Metal Cowboy Mayhem Blog
Contest Page - Trans-Canada Contest (Sponsored by Bicycling Magazine and Rolling Roads Bicycle Vacations)
Camp Creative - Camp Creative Page
Rolling Roads - Rolling Roads Metal Cowboy Signature Vacations

2007 Trans-Canada Family Bicycle Adventure pages
Video - NBC Video interview from KGW TV Portland, OR
Blog - Metal Cowboy Mayhem Blog (in depth coverage of the adventure)
Location - Where are they now page
Photos - Trans-Canadian Photo Gallery (Metal Cowboy photos)
Contest Photos - Trans-Canadian Photo Contest Gallery (fan contest photos)

What the press and others say about the Metal Cowboy

Media Comments
"Give Huck Finn a bicycle, give Armstrong a sense of humor and Kerouac a good editor and you have Joe Kurmaskie's latest road trip."
-Tom Lang, author of Coffee and Mrs. Claus

"An infectious celebration of life."
-The Boston Globe

"Kurmaskie rolls with a keen sense of comedy and a big heart."
-Christopher Moore, author of Lamb and A Dirty Job

"David Sedaris trapped in the body of Lance Armstrong."
- The Arizona Star

Live Performances
"As good as it gets in the author presentation business."
Judith Chandler, Third Place Books, Seattle

"Brought the room to its feet."
Books Etc. - Portland, Maine

"Hands down the best performance of the year. Lively, thoughtful. People laughed to the point of tears. I'd like to have the cowboy back as soon as possible."
Tom Gerald - University of Oregon events

"Inspired and funny is something we rarely have come together in one presenter."
Jefferson High School

"The Cowboy rides high above your typical pack of performers."
Dave Shaw - Seattle Bike Expo director

"We need to have the cowboy saddle up and speak on our main stage every year."
Cheryl Nagoni, Organizer, Cycle Oregon (weeklong cross state ride/tour)

"The most entertaining & inspiring live theatrical show in ages. The Metal Cowboy makes our bestseller list on the strength of his performance alone."
Powells Books

Camp Creative

Performance Events

February 2010

Sunday Feb 28 10am-3pm
Northwest Trail alliance Bike Swap
Sandbox Studios Portland, oregon
http://nw-trail.org/

March 2010

Friday March 12th noon
Amazon Headquarters
Fishbowl Performance

Friday March 12 3pm to 8pm
Booksigning
REI flagship Store Downtown Seattle

Seattle Bike Expo
Saturday, March 13, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday, March 14, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Smith Cove Cruise Terminal 91
Booksigning at Seattle Bicycle Paper Booth all weekend
Performance on Main Stage
Sunday 12:30 p.m.
www.cascade.org/eandr/expo/index.cfm

April 2010

Friday April 9, 6 p.m.
CPAH Twelfth Annual “HomeWord Bound” Charity Event
Tualatin Country Club 9145 S.W. Tualatin Road, Tualatin, OR 97062.
Featured Author
http://www.cpahinc.org/hwbound2010.html

Saturday, April 10, 2010 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday, April 11, 2010 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Bicycle Show
Oregon Convention Center Portland, Oregon
Booth and Performance/booksigning
Performance, Saturday at 4pm and Sunday at 2pm
http://pedalnationevents.com/

NWTA Banquet
Thursday April 22nd
Speaker/booksigning
Time TBA
http://nw-trail.org/

Saturday April 24 Sunday April 25
9am to 5pm
Kidfest
Portland Expo Center
Metal Cowboy Performances all weekend
Adventure Dad Depot
Booksigning: Bart King and Joe Kurmaskie in One Booth!
www.kidfestnw.com/

Tuesday April 27th 6:30 pm
Salem Bike Club
Performance and booksigning
First Methodist United Church
Salem, Oregon
www.salembicycleclub.org/index.plx

May 2010

Wednesday May 12th 6pm
Vancouver Bike Club
Performance and signing
Bortolami’s Aero Room
In the building behind Bortolami’s Pizzeria
9901 NE 7th Avenue
2nd floor, Room A201
Vancouver, WA
Corner of 99th Street & 7th Avenue in Hazel Dell
http://vbc-usa.com/

Sunday, May 16th 2pm
Hillsboro Library
Hillsboro, Oregon
Performance and booksigning

Sunday May 23 10 to 4pm Sunday Parkway
Booth booksigning

May 18th thru May 27th
Seattle washington /Kings County Library and School Tour
Crystal Springs Elementary (Bothell) – Tuesday, May 18 – 2:15-3:15pm
Cascade View Elementary (Tukwila)- Wednesday, May 19th, 2 to 3pm;
Des Moines Library â€“ Wednesday, May 19th, 7pm;
Maywood Hills Elementary (Bothell) â€“ Thursday,Â May 20th, 1 to 2pm
Bothell Library, Thursday, May 20th, 7pm
Pacific Middle School (Des Moines) Tuesday, May 25th, 8:15 to 9:15am;
Covington Library, Wednesday, May 26th, 7pm;
Bear Creek Elementary (Woodinville), Thursday, May 27th, 9:15am;
Redmond Library, Thursday, May 27th, 7pm

June 2010

Brown Bag Lunch Transportation Series
Thursday June 17th, Noon PSU Campus
Portland, Oregon

June 27th
Sunday Parkways 10am to 4pm
North Portland
Book and booksigning
Front of Metal Cowboy’s House 2820Â Willamette Blvd
Portland, Oregon

July 2010

July 18th Sunday Parkways
Location TBA
10am to 4pm

July 31 Saturday
Tour de Cure
Hillsboro Stadium
Hillsboro, Oregon
Performance/booksigning
http://tour.diabetes.org/site/TR/TourdeCure/TDC460018030?pg=entry&fr_id=7041

August 2010

Sunday August 15th
Sunday Parkways
10am to 4pm
Location TBA
booth and booksigning

Saturday August 21st
10th Annual Wine Ride
Newberg, Oregon
Performance Booksigning
www.vienride.com

Metal Cowboy & Family 2007 Trans-Canada Bicycle Adventure