The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Touring Lifestyle

Shifty Saves the Holidays! It's an annual tradition around here that we celebrate the holidays with my senior executive producer and best buddy Shifty the Elf celebrating the year that has been. This year, in a nearly all elf-driven plot, our guy Shifty finds the magic in 2024 to make the holidays special once again. Happy holidays all, and see you in 2025! 

I’ll admit, I’ve been bikepacking curious for a while. As my touring continues to expand and evolve I’m thinking more about bikepacking options and I thought I’d share the process on the pod. Join me, won’t you? Originally podcast January 28, 2021.

A repodcast of Pedalshift Live from December 6, 2024 featuring special guest Mysterious James and YOUR questions for a big round of Ask Us Anything. Huge shoutout to the folks that came and made this one of the best live shows yet! 1. Top 3 Must-Have Items for Bike Touring • James: Once considered a cook set essential but now tours stoveless. Values minimal gear and adaptability. • Tim: iPhone (multi-use tool), foldable backjack chair, and positive vibes for motivation. 2. Best Place for Car-Free Living with Transit and Nature Access • James: San Francisco for its bikeability, walkability, and access to nature in all directions. • Tim: Portland, Oregon, for its bike-friendly culture, infrastructure, and scenic options for bike tours. 3. Trail Recommendations • Greenbrier River Trail (WV): Tim considers it for future e-bike touring despite challenging accessibility and trail conditions. • Pine Creek Trail (PA): Known but less explored by Tim and James. • Cowboy Trail (NE): On Tim’s radar, but accessibility cha

Back from North Dakota and the bike-adjacent adventures with national parks, bison and Bromptons... I've got some takeaways to share!   Housekeeping  Live Show! Friday December 6 at 9pm ET/6pm PT - topics TBA, and of course it’ll be the pod for the next week if you can’t make it live. Links and more at pedalshift.net/live. Shifty the Elf fans? The Holiday Spectacular returns Dec 26th to close out the year!   Takeaways Folks, North Dakota is worth the trip! When checking a bike, pay attention to all the vulnerable parts that jut out and don’t shirk the corner padding Wild bison are worth seeing in person, but don’t expect them to get out of your way TR NP is an excellent place to bike, but be aware that bison can and do come into the roadway and might scuttle your riding plans The northern tier route is a good place if you want solitude Bike adventures can mean a lot of things Our national parks are treasures worth protecting, but so are our state parks and other public lands

The final day of the NoDak adventure (finally?) explored the beauty of Medora, North Dakota, on bike, reflecting on the unique experience of cycling the Northern Tier Route. Beautiful views of TR NP, offbeat historical tidbits and some reflections and "what ifs" that prevented me from getting there earlier… all part of the adventure!     Housekeeping  We’re shifting the schedule around a bit here as we close out the year… we’re going to delay the final best of for 2024 so we can go straight through to finish the NoDak Adventure with no interruptions. But also… Live Show! Friday December 6 at 9pm ET/6pm PT - topics TBA, and of course it’ll be the pod for the following week if you can’t make it live. Links and more at pedalshift.net/live. Best of will be the week of the 19th, then you Shifty the Elf fans? The Holiday Spectacular returns Dec 26th to close out the year!   Highlights: • Cycling the Northern Tier Route: • A ride along the official Northern Tier Route through Medora, including scenic stops by the Li

A frosty start leads to adventure, navigating through Theodore Roosevelt National Park! From a sub-freezing camping morning to a literal standoff with a bison, listen in as we explore the unique challenges and rewards of fall adventures in one of North Dakota’s most scenic landscapes.   Housekeeping  We’re shifting the schedule around a bit here as we close out the year… we’re going to delay the final best of for 2024 so we can go straight through to finish the NoDak Adventure with no interruptions. But also…   Live Show! Friday December 6 at 9pm ET/6pm PT - topics TBA, and of course it’ll be the pod for the following week if you can’t make it live. Links and more at pedalshift.net/live.   Best of will be the week of the 19th, then you Shifty the Elf fans? The Holiday Spectacular returns Dec 26th to close out the year!   Folks, heads up this episode contains zero biking, but the next one does as temps eventually warmed up. And as you’ll hear… probably for the best it was too cold, because one particular TR NP

Starting from Fargo and driving clear across North Dakota, I had little to prepare me for what awaited on the western edge of the state. But would I see the bison that I low key really wanted to see, and would some discovered damage on the Brompton scuttle the bikey part of this bike adjacent adventure? Housekeeping We’re shifting the schedule around a bit here as we close out the year… we’re going to delay the final best of for 2024 so we can go straight through to finish the NoDak Adventure with no interruptions. But also… Live Show! Friday December 6 at 9pm ET/6pm PT - topics TBA, and of course it’ll be the pod for the following week if you can’t make it live. Links and more at pedalshift.net/live. Best of will be the week of the 19th, then you Shifty the Elf fans? The Holiday Spectacular returns Dec 26th to close out the year! NoDak Northern Tier Adventure Part 2 Driving North Dakota Adventures - Reflections on the landscape: vastness, agriculture, and wildlife sightings along the drive - Observations on

We all want to do the right thing, hopefully, and within any community there’s an unwritten code of conduct for proper behavior so we can all get along. On this episode, we cover some of those rules of bicycle touring etiquette! Originally podcast August 15, 2019.

On this episode, we start the long journey to bike in the badlands of North Dakota… it turns out, perhaps the biggest reason I haven’t had a chance to visit North Dakota before is because it is tucked out of the way in the US northern plains. Maybe its remote nature is a part of its draw? Its largest city of Fargo is the gateway to the adventure… would it surprise me from the start? NoDak Northern Tier Adventure Part 1 Statisitics Miles driven 249 Miles biked 0 States visited 49 Number of campers in camp 1 Number of bikes in camp 1 (Mine!) Dashed expectations for a cowboy bar because Fargo is way more of a city than I expected and really that’s my own fault because I should have done a minimal amount of research into the vibrant community that Fargo clearly is, and for that I’m a bad podcaster and I’m sorry? Wait… is there a number here? 9! Flats 0

I’m going to North Dakota and I am unreasonably excited about it! For years I have been stuck at 48 states visited (and for real, not just airport states) BUT the final two were ND and Alaska, and no disrespect to North Dakota but Alaska needs to be my 50th. But the opportunity to get there was shattered ten years ago when my original ride on the Northern Tier route was scuttled by a heat wave I wasn’t interested in riding through. But now… I’m doing it. With a bike. And buffaloes.   The Adventure   Heavily car aided. Very heavily. Like, mostly. Starting and ending in MSP (there for a work thing) All camping Brompton riding daily Crossing the state TWICE Urban camping in Fargo! Theodore Roosevelt NP! Buffalo! Camping! Riding! Finally getting wheels down on the Northern Tier bicycle route! Rest stop car camping in the very friendly sleep-in rest stops of ND! Did I mention the 49th state visit?   Itinerary    Day 1  Car rental  Camping in Fargo and Lindenwood Campground Biking into town for dinner and all the F

So, the ebike works… and my confidence is up! What were my takeaways from the shakedown ride and what are the kinds of rides I’m considering for 2025 and beyond for my electric wonder?   Housekeeping    Live Show! Friday December 6 at 9pm ET/6pm PT - topics TBA, and of course it’ll be the pod for the following week if you can’t make it live. Links and more at pedalshift.net/live.   We have a new adventure lined up in a totally new to me state! Preview episode next week!   Takeaways   The bike works and I might be a better mechanic than I thought I may have underestimated the range on this battery I may have underestimated the recharge capabilities of the "slow charger" but maybe not I need more hand positions (Jones Bar? Something else?) I really should finish the bike but if I’m cutting cables I want to figure out the handlebars and height first I’m going to buy all the things to outfit this without borrowing from my other bikes   The Future   I considered bringing this bike for my annual Florida ride, then

On this episode, I take my new ebike on its first shakedown ride to test its capabilities, from battery life to chain tension to, well… does this thing work? It’s a 40 mile round trip from my cabin in West Virginia to a campsite outside of Hancock, MD on the C&O towpath complete with terrain, headwinds, hills and riverside overnight!   Housekeeping Lael Wilcox’s ride is weeks old now but shout out to listener and former guest Cyrus Fairivar for not only meeting with Lael, but getting an unnamed shout out on her pod!  Live Show announcement! Friday December 6 at 9pm ET/6pm PT - topics TBA, and of course it’ll be the pod for the following week if you can’t make it live. Links and more at pedalshift.net/live.    eBike Project - Shakedown Ride Bike Setup & Preparation: • Fully charged battery, loaded with two rear panniers, and adjustments for the first e-bike adventure. • Changes from the last ride: added a stove for coffee and packed some food from Maria’s Taqueria.   Ride Experience: • Initial observat

Originally recorded live from Hedgesville, WV, this episode of the Pedalshift Project includes the (semi-doomed) 2018 fall tour reveal and gear tips for your fall bicycle touring. Plus banter with you… because it was live! Originally podcast September 27, 2018.

On this edition, we preview a short but momentous little overnight adventure on my brand new ebike… we’ll discuss goals and strategies, plus recharge options and… hey, we’re getting back on the C&O again! eBike Project - Shakedown Preview The basics ebike full charged battery Two panniers and maybe the sleep kit on the handlebars No food, no stove Sleep clothes only (no additional clothing) Rain gear only if rain ends up being possible extra tools - chain breaker, master link breaker, more The route Road route from cabin to Hancock’s city park, then onto one of the closer campsites on the C&O Returning the second day to Hancock for any additional charge ups necessary and then up the hills back Approx 40 total miles, maybe a bit more if I ride further out on the trail Why so short? Need to keep things close in case we have something happen that requires a vehicle rescue May be a short ride but it has a lot of climbing, long flats where speed is helpful, and more Trying to gauge how much range this bike

In this episode, follow an in-depth, step-by-step journey of transforming a surprisingly decent Ozark Trail mountain bike into the first Pedalshift e-bike (n=3 or 4 if you’re counting). This mega-pod takes you from the initial setup to final tweaks, including component replacements, brake and pedal adjustments, and install of a mid drive motor. I’m hardly a bike mechanic, so will things to go sideways at least once like my typical bike adventures? eBike Project - The Build Hey I got an ebike! Where did I end up? Decided on build over buy - more flexibility Decided on new over used - couldn’t find a good used one that wasn’t $$$ Went with a Bafang middrive motor and a 52v 20Ah frame mounted battery - smaller than Brian’s, but still pretty big. Watched a ton of YouTube videos and bought some tools! This took me several weeks because the bike lived at the cabin and I was back and forth a bit as I built it This was a journey… and the episode is a little long, but definitely brings you along tour journals style f

The remix is in the rear view mirror, but as always I like to look back and discuss takeaways from every trip. On this edition, ten takeaways from the Oregon Coast Remix, celebrating ten years of the pod! Oregon Coast Remix Takeaways Don’t Rush Tent Setup: I experienced a rough night at Bastendorf Beach County Campground due to improper tent setup. I had to get out of the tent at 12:30 AM to stake it properly, improving airflow and reducing internal condensation, which kept me awake as large drops of water hit my forehead. Every Trip Is Unique: James and I reflected on how each of our trips along the Oregon Coast differed. For example, I noted that every time I rode the coast, I used a different bike or setup, which made each journey distinct and memorable. Critical Importance of Food and Hydration: I discovered that my difficulties during the ride were due to dehydration, which affected my overall well-being. I shifted my focus from electrolytes to drinking more regular water, especially after noticing that

In the summer of 2014, I took 6 weeks to ride the Pacific coast from Victoria, BC to the US-Mexico border. I recorded a 2-5 minute audio entry every day for the Tour Journals podcast to share the more detailed aspects of the ride, but always intended to edit and condense it into a more manageable length to share here. Originally podcast December 22, 2014. (Note, I say this hasn't been released in 10 years, but it got some love as a best of in 2019. Management regrets this error and the offending parties have been sacked. Or promoted. Not sure what to do with me.)

Sometimes journeys have distinct ends and sometimes those endings are a little more flexible. In the penultimate episode of the Oregon Coast Remix we mash together my departure from Bandon and my return a week later a few hundred miles south on the Mendocino coast where MJ and I catch up on his ride and reflect on what’s going on with cycling on the Pacific Coast. Oregon Coast Remix - Part 6 Segment 1: Departure from Bandon, Oregon   - Early morning departure, catching the bus to Crescent City.   - The stark contrast between cycling for days and the sudden speed of motorized transport.   - Reflecting on the mixed feelings of leaving the Oregon coast but looking forward to more adventures. Segment 2: Crescent City and Beyond   - Arriving in Crescent City via bus and experiencing the rapid transition south.   - The surreal feeling of covering in minutes what would have taken days by bike.   - Exploration of Crescent City, a quiet yet interesting coastal town with a mix of old and new homes. Segment 3: Journey t

A short but challenging ride up and over the Seven Devils would be the last days of cycling for James and I on this adventure, but the remix theme gave us new things to try… a new brewery, time in a great town I usually skip, and one more new-to-us campground to rate! Oregon Coast Remix - Part 5 Morning Update from Bastendorf Beach County Campground Tim shares challenges with condensation and a disrupted night’s sleep. Discussion on the overall rating of the campsite and amenities. Plans for the day’s ride: Seven Devils Road to Bandon and finally to Bullards Beach State Park. On the Road to the Seven Devils Decision to skip Sunset Bay and head straight to Seven Devils Road. Overview of the route and expected challenges. Reflections on the unique aspects of each trip and the enjoyment of new experiences. Riding the Seven Devils Tim describes the physical challenges of the ride, including dealing with humidity and climbs. Frequent breaks and efforts to maintain hydration and energy levels. Arrival in

If you can’t fuel your cycling, you can’t ride very far. At least that’s what grandma always told me (editors note: she did not). So, waking up in camp without much appetite doesn’t really bode well for making very many miles. But what if the solution were to just get on the bike and go? And would my reward be a night at my least favorite state park campsite? Oregon Coast Remix - Part 4 Morning Update from Honeyman State Park On the Road to Reedsport Riding along Highway 101 Hydration and appetite improving. Reflecting on the camping experience and the tour’s challenges. Arrival in Reedsport Successful lunch, hydration improved. Decision to push for Sunset Bay, despite past unfavorable experiences. Journey to North Bend Planning to reach North Bend, with a potential new campground option. Discussions on the day’s remaining challenges and adjustments. Break at North Bend Safeway Confirmed hiker/biker campsite at Coos County Park. Reflecting on the tour’s modifications and feeling better health-wise.