Month: April 2020

The Pedalshift Project 203: Social Distancing Tour Takeaways and What’s Next

My five takeaways from social distance bike touring in the age of coronavirus and what I can figure out is the near term future for bike touring in 2020.

http://traffic.libsyn.com/pedalshift/psp203.mp3

The Pedalshift Project 203: Social Distancing Tour Takeaways and What's Next

Hey it’s the direct download link for  The Pedalshift Project 203: Social Distancing Tour Takeaways and What’s Next (mp3).

Subscribe/Follow The Pedalshift Project:
RSS – iTunes – Overcast – Android – Google Podcasts – Stitcher – TuneIn – IHeartRadio – Spotify

Reach out to the show via email, Twitter and Instagram. Don’t forget to join the newsletter too.

Have some bike touring or overnight stories to share? Send your pics, audio or a quick tweet – all welcome. Email the show at pedalshift@pedalshift.net or call the lightly-used Pedalshift voicemail line at (202) 930-1109

Tour Journal: Social Distancing on the C&O Towpath

This was a no-contact, self-supported, self-contained ride of the C&O that didn’t stick to plan, had a low point or two, and if I’m being honest probably won’t end up on my list of all time tours… but I have to wonder if it won’t be amongst the most memorable.

Check out Pedalshift 199 for the initial plan (spoiler: I did not stick to it),  Pedalshift 200 for Day 1, and Pedalshift 201 for Day 2, and Pedalshift 202 for Day 3.

5 Takeaways

Expectations are hard to shake
 
Bike touring is more mental than physical
 
I like familiar tours but I’m missing new routes
 
I think backcountry rules are pretty easy to add on to a typical tour mindset
 
More and more I’m liking less and less mileage per day
 

What’s next for the rest of spring?

I think bike touring can happen, maybe soon? Maybe not. 
 
My personal choice: zero or very low contact touring until conditions change. At the moment, with campgrounds closed on the C&O and (I think?) the GAP, I’m on touring pause. For now.
 
I’m also not planning a tour just yet. I assume the first one available will be a C&O or GAP tour, but who knows? 
 
I’m also intrigued with the possibility of getting a more backcountry bike and (finally) doing some bikepacking. But that’s all TBD.
 
For the pod? I’ll confess… after 203 episodes I am finally out of things to talk about (for the moment). Just so happens though, that I have a bunch of audio journals I haven’t shared yet… so I think for the near future… until things get a little more figured out, we’re going to replay those here with some 2020 commentary from me laid on top. 
 
Adventure is taking a bit of a pause, but if you’re anything like me, it’s on the mind!

As always we like to close out the show with a special shoutout to the Pedalshift Society! Because of support from listeners like you, Pedalshift is a weekly bicycle touring podcast with a global community, expanding into live shows and covering new tours like The Kessel Run and The Missing Link bike tours! If you like what you hear, you can support the show for 5 bucks, 2 bucks or even a buck a month. And there’s one-shot and annual options if you’re not into the small monthly thing. Check it all out at pedalshift.net/society.

Kimberly Wilson
Caleb Jenkinson
Cameron Lien
Andrew MacGregor
Michael Hart
Keith Nagel
Brock Dittus
Thomas Skadow
Marco Lo
Terrance Manson
Harry Telgadas
Chris Barron
Mark Van Raam
Brad Hipwell
Stuart Buchan
Mr. T
Nathan Poulton
Stephen Dickerson
Vince LoGreco
Cody Floerchinger
Tom Benenati
Greg Braithwaite
Sandy Pizzio
Jeff Muster
Seth Pollack
Joseph Quinn
Drue Porter
Byron Paterson
Joachim Raber
Ray Jackson
Jeff Frey
Kenny Mikey
Lisa Hart
John Denkler
Steve Hankel
Miguel Quinones
Alejandro Avilés-Reyes
Keith Spangler
Greg Towner
Dan Gebhart
Jody Dzuranin
Lucas Barwick
Michael Baker
Brian Bechtol
Reinhart Bigl
Greg Middlemis
Connie Moore
William Gothmann
Brian Benton
Joan Churchill
Mike Bender
Rick Weinberg
Billy Crafton
Gary Matushak
Greg L’Etoile-Lopes
James Sloan
Jonathan Dillard
John Funk
Tom Bilcze
Ronald Piroli
Dave Roll
Brian Hafner
Misha LeBlanc
Ari Messinger
David Gratke
Todd Groesbeck
Wally Estrella
Sue Reinert
John Leko
Stephen Granata
Phillip Mueller
Kevan Olhausen
Robert Lackey
Dominic Carol
Jacqi McCulloch
John Hickman
Carl Presseault

Music

You’ve been hearing about Jason Kent and his music for many fine episodes. Sunfields’ latest album may be their best yet. Go get it.

The post The Pedalshift Project 203: Social Distancing Tour Takeaways and What’s Next appeared first on Pedalshift.

The Pedalshift Project 202: Social Distancing on the C&O, Day 3

This episode covers my third day riding the C&O on my no-contact, self-supported, self-contained ride. After a night of thunderstorms would a soggy trail slow me down on my return trip home or did I get my biking legs back?
http://traffic.libsyn.com/pedalshift/psp202.mp3

The Pedalshift Project 202: Social Distancing on the C&O, Day 3

Hey it’s the direct download link for  The Pedalshift Project #202: Social Distancing on the C&O, Day 3 (mp3).

Subscribe/Follow The Pedalshift Project:
RSS – iTunes – Overcast – Android – Google Podcasts – Stitcher – TuneIn – IHeartRadio – Spotify

Reach out to the show via email, Twitter and Instagram. Don’t forget to join the newsletter too.

Have some bike touring or overnight stories to share? Send your pics, audio or a quick tweet – all welcome. Email the show at pedalshift@pedalshift.net or call the lightly-used Pedalshift voicemail line at (202) 930-1109

Tour Journal: Social Distancing on the C&O Towpath

This was a no-contact, self-supported, self-contained ride of the C&O that didn’t stick to plan, had a low point or two, and if I’m being honest probably won’t end up on my list of all time tours… but I have to wonder if it won’t be amongst the most memorable.

Check out Pedalshift 199 for the initial plan (spoiler: I did not stick to it),  Pedalshift 200 for Day 1, and Pedalshift 201 for Day 2.

This covers my third day riding the C&O on my no-contact, self-supported, self-contained ride. A few things I want to mention at the top of the show:

  • At the time I was on the C&O, the campsites were officially open even though the water pumps and bathrooms were all closed (indeed strapped shut!). Since then, the Park Service has closed the campsites. Please do not camp the C&O until that closure has been lifted. I know I will not.
  • As I sit here toward the middle end of April, there’s a lot of mixed messages I’m receiving  on what 2020 feels like for bike touring. I know the pod will continue and I have some older tour journals that have never been featured  on the pod. So one way or the other, you’re stuck with listening to me talk bike touring! Next week… takeaways and thoughts on   bike touring this spring, this summer and beyond 
  • Hey, the SprocketShift happy hours continue! We’ve done four live shows and the date of there next one is posted at pedalshift.net/happyhour. Check it out… a tight 40 minutes on one topic and we always get kicked off Zoom in a comical way.

Statistics – Day 3

Miles ridden  64
Functional water fountains in Brunswick, MD 0
Functional vending machines in Whites Ferry, MD 1
Road routes considered then rejected 1
Beavers 0
Slow leaks 1

As always we like to close out the show with a special shoutout to the Pedalshift Society! Because of support from listeners like you, Pedalshift is a weekly bicycle touring podcast with a global community, expanding into live shows and covering new tours like The Kessel Run and The Missing Link bike tours! If you like what you hear, you can support the show for 5 bucks, 2 bucks or even a buck a month. And there’s one-shot and annual options if you’re not into the small monthly thing. Check it all out at pedalshift.net/society.

Kimberly Wilson
Caleb Jenkinson
Cameron Lien
Andrew MacGregor
Michael Hart
Keith Nagel
Brock Dittus
Thomas Skadow
Marco Lo
Terrance Manson
Harry Telgadas
Chris Barron
Mark Van Raam
Brad Hipwell
Stuart Buchan
Mr. T
Nathan Poulton
Stephen Dickerson
Vince LoGreco
Cody Floerchinger
Tom Benenati
Greg Braithwaite
Sandy Pizzio
Jeff Muster
Seth Pollack
Joseph Quinn
Drue Porter
Byron Paterson
Joachim Raber
Ray Jackson
Jeff Frey
Kenny Mikey
Lisa Hart
John Denkler
Steve Hankel
Miguel Quinones
Alejandro Avilés-Reyes
Keith Spangler
Greg Towner
Dan Gebhart
Jody Dzuranin
Lucas Barwick
Michael Baker
Brian Bechtol
Reinhart Bigl
Greg Middlemis
Connie Moore
William Gothmann
Brian Benton
Joan Churchill
Mike Bender
Rick Weinberg
Billy Crafton
Gary Matushak
Greg L’Etoile-Lopes
James Sloan
Jonathan Dillard
John Funk
Tom Bilcze
Ronald Piroli
Dave Roll
Brian Hafner
Misha LeBlanc
Ari Messinger
David Gratke
Todd Groesbeck
Wally Estrella
Sue Reinert
John Leko
Stephen Granata
Phillip Mueller
Kevan Olhausen
Robert Lackey
Dominic Carol
Jacqi McCulloch
John Hickman

Music

You’ve been hearing about Jason Kent and his music for many fine episodes. Sunfields’ latest album may be their best yet. Go get it.

The post The Pedalshift Project 202: Social Distancing on the C&O, Day 3 appeared first on Pedalshift.

The Pedalshift Project 201: Social Distancing on the C&O, Day 2

This episode covers my second day riding the C&O on my no-contact, self-supported, self-contained ride. This was a weirdly rough day of riding for me. Solitude was fleeting and it took making an early camp to get that and I think it made things a lot better.
http://traffic.libsyn.com/pedalshift/psp201.mp3

Hey it’s the direct download link for  The Pedalshift Project #201: Social Distancing on the C&O, Day 2 (mp3).

Subscribe/Follow The Pedalshift Project:
RSS – iTunes – Overcast – Android – Google Podcasts – Stitcher – TuneIn – IHeartRadio – Spotify

Reach out to the show via email, Twitter and Instagram. Don’t forget to join the newsletter too.

Have some bike touring or overnight stories to share? Send your pics, audio or a quick tweet – all welcome. Email the show at pedalshift@pedalshift.net or call the lightly-used Pedalshift voicemail line at (202) 930-1109

Tour Journal: Social Distancing on the C&O Towpath

This was a no-contact, self-supported, self-contained ride of the C&O that didn’t stick to plan, had a low point or two, and if I’m being honest probably won’t end up on my list of all time tours… but I have to wonder if it won’t be amongst the most memorable.

Check out Pedalshift 199 for the initial plan (spoiler: I did not stick to it) and Pedalshift 200 for Day 1.

This covers my second day riding the C&O on my no-contact, self-supported, self-contained ride. A few things I want to mention at the top of the show:

  • At the time I was on the C&O, the campsites were officially open even though the water pumps and bathrooms were all closed (indeed strapped shut!). Since then, the Park Service has closed the campsites. Please do not camp the C&O until that closure has been lifted. I know I will not.
  • The first segment of the journal here has some oddball audio artifacts I couldn’t scrub out, so bear with it a bit. For the journals I try to leave in as much ambient noise as I can with these so you can hear what I was hearing out there, so that’s the trade off. Thanks for understanding!
  • This was a weirdly rough day of riding for me, but I don’t think it comes across in the entries all that much. Solitude was fleeting and it took making an early camp to get that and I think it made things a lot better.

Statistics – Day 2

Miles ridden  27 (what!?)
Fires lit 1
Soft rants against passive aggressive bell ringers 1
Beavers 0
Mistaken classifications of turtles as amphibians (quickly corrected) 1
Flats 0

As always we like to close out the show with a special shoutout to the Pedalshift Society! Because of support from listeners like you, Pedalshift is a weekly bicycle touring podcast with a global community, expanding into live shows and covering new tours like The Kessel Run and The Missing Link bike tours! If you like what you hear, you can support the show for 5 bucks, 2 bucks or even a buck a month. And there’s one-shot and annual options if you’re not into the small monthly thing. Check it all out at pedalshift.net/society.

Kimberly Wilson
Caleb Jenkinson
Cameron Lien
Andrew MacGregor
Michael Hart
Keith Nagel
Brock Dittus
Thomas Skadow
Marco Lo
Terrance Manson
Harry Telgadas
Chris Barron
Mark Van Raam
Brad Hipwell
Stuart Buchan
Mr. T
Nathan Poulton
Stephen Dickerson
Vince LoGreco
Cody Floerchinger
Tom Benenati
Greg Braithwaite
Sandy Pizzio
Jeff Muster
Seth Pollack
Joseph Quinn
Drue Porter
Byron Paterson
Joachim Raber
Ray Jackson
Jeff Frey
Kenny Mikey
Lisa Hart
John Denkler
Steve Hankel
Miguel Quinones
Alejandro Avilés-Reyes
Keith Spangler
Greg Towner
Dan Gebhart
Jody Dzuranin
Lucas Barwick
Michael Baker
Brian Bechtol
Reinhart Bigl
Greg Middlemis
Connie Moore
William Gothmann
Brian Benton
Joan Churchill
Mike Bender
Rick Weinberg
Billy Crafton
Gary Matushak
Greg L’Etoile-Lopes
James Sloan
Jonathan Dillard
John Funk
Tom Bilcze
Ronald Piroli
Dave Roll
Brian Hafner
Misha LeBlanc
Ari Messinger
David Gratke
Todd Groesbeck
Wally Estrella
Sue Reinert
John Leko
Stephen Granata
Phillip Mueller
Kevan Olhausen
Robert Lackey
Dominic Carol
Jacqi McCulloch
John Hickman

Music

You’ve been hearing about Jason Kent and his music for many fine episodes. Sunfields’ latest album may be their best yet. Go get it.

The post The Pedalshift Project 201: Social Distancing on the C&O, Day 2 appeared first on Pedalshift.

The Pedalshift Project #200: Social Distancing on the C&O, Day 1

Welcome to the Bicentennial edition of the Pedalshift Project. Whether this is your 200th listening or your first, THANK YOU for being a part of this adventure. I cannot think of a better way to celebrate 200 episodes than by kicking off an extra long first part to a new tour journal. I ended up calling this Social Distancing on the C&O for all the obvious reasons.

http://traffic.libsyn.com/pedalshift/psp200.mp3

Social Distancing on the C&O

Hey it’s the direct download link for  The Pedalshift Project #200: Social Distancing on the C&O, Day 1 (mp3).

Subscribe/Follow The Pedalshift Project:
RSS – iTunes – Overcast – Android – Google Podcasts – Stitcher – TuneIn – IHeartRadio – Spotify

Reach out to the show via email, Twitter and Instagram. Don’t forget to join the newsletter too.

Have some bike touring or overnight stories to share? Send your pics, audio or a quick tweet – all welcome. Email the show at pedalshift@pedalshift.net or call the lightly-used Pedalshift voicemail line at (202) 930-1109

SprocketShift Happy Hour

Hey, let’s have a drink together! The next SprocketShift Happy Hour is Friday April 10 at 9pm ET. More information on how to join here and watch the last two we’ve done.

Tour Journal: Social Distancing on the C&O Towpath

I cannot think of a better way to celebrate 200 episodes than by kicking off an extra long first part to a new tour journal. I ended up calling this Social Distancing on the C&O for all the obvious reasons. As I go to the mic now, we’re entering a difficult and dark time in the US and I hope these episodes give a little bit of a break from all of that (although I obviously mention the pandemic as part of the context of this ride). 
 
This was a no-contact, self-supported, self-contained ride of the C&O that didn’t stick to plan, had a low point or two, and if I’m being honest probably won’t end up on my list of all time tours… but I have to wonder if it won’t be amongst the most memorable.
 
Check out Pedalshift 199 for the initial plan. Spoiler: I did not stick to it.
 

Statistics – Day 1

Miles ridden  42
Fires lit 1
Muddy ruts dude, 50?
Beavers 1
Chains dirtied 1
Flats 0

 

As always we like to close out the show with a special shoutout to the Pedalshift Society! Because of support from listeners like you, Pedalshift is a weekly bicycle touring podcast with a global community, expanding into live shows and covering new tours like The Kessel Run and The Missing Link bike tours! If you like what you hear, you can support the show for 5 bucks, 2 bucks or even a buck a month. And there’s one-shot and annual options if you’re not into the small monthly thing. Check it all out at pedalshift.net/society.

Kimberly Wilson
Caleb Jenkinson
Cameron Lien
Andrew MacGregor
Michael Hart
Keith Nagel
Brock Dittus
Thomas Skadow
Marco Lo
Terrance Manson
Harry Telgadas
Chris Barron
Mark Van Raam
Brad Hipwell
Stuart Buchan
Mr. T
Nathan Poulton
Stephen Dickerson
Vince LoGreco
Cody Floerchinger
Tom Benenati
Greg Braithwaite
Sandy Pizzio
Jeff Muster
Seth Pollack
Joseph Quinn
Drue Porter
Byron Paterson
Joachim Raber
Ray Jackson
Jeff Frey
Kenny Mikey
Lisa Hart
John Denkler
Steve Hankel
Miguel Quinones
Alejandro Avilés-Reyes
Keith Spangler
Greg Towner
Dan Gebhart
Jody Dzuranin
Lucas Barwick
Michael Baker
Brian Bechtol
Reinhart Bigl
Greg Middlemis
Connie Moore
William Gothmann
Brian Benton
Joan Churchill
Mike Bender
Rick Weinberg
Billy Crafton
Gary Matushak
Greg L’Etoile-Lopes
James Sloan
Jonathan Dillard
John Funk
Tom Bilcze
Ronald Piroli
Dave Roll
Brian Hafner
Misha LeBlanc
Ari Messinger
David Gratke
Todd Groesbeck
Wally Estrella
Sue Reinert
John Leko
Stephen Granata
Phillip Mueller
Kevan Olhausen
Robert Lackey
Dominic Carol
Jacqi McCulloch
John Hickman

Music

You’ve been hearing about Jason Kent and his music for many fine episodes. Sunfields’ latest album may be their best yet. Go get it.

The post The Pedalshift Project #200: Social Distancing on the C&O, Day 1 appeared first on Pedalshift.