Month: June 2025

The Pedalshift Project 403: Lake Ontario 2025 – Part 1

Folks, if you’ve followed this pod for any length of time you know my bike adventures usually have a component that goes sideways. But has it ever happened before a single pedal stroke? Can the Lake Ontario adventure survive something like that?


The Pedalshift Project 403: Lake Ontario 2025 - Part 1

Hey it’s the direct download link for The Pedalshift Project 403: Lake Ontario 2025 – Part 1.

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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

Lake Ontario 2025 – Part 1

  • Packing anxiety: two batteries, 90+ mile days, and a lot of unknowns
  • My ride strategy: charging on the go and treating watts like water
  • Leaving from my parents’ home—why this ride had emotional weight
  • First day jitters: range, elevation, and pannier paranoia
  • The moment everything stopped working: my e-bike breakdown in real time
  • How I pivoted the tour and found a way to ride anyway
  • Preview of what’s next: Plan B

Statistics

Miles Biked 0

Borked ebikes 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 this summer’s upcoming bike tour! 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.

Music

You’ve been hearing about Jason Kent and his music for many fine episodes. Jason has a new solo album available NOW. Go listen to JUKEBOX BOY wherever cool music is available! 

The post The Pedalshift Project 403: Lake Ontario 2025 – Part 1 appeared first on Pedalshift.

The Pedalshift Project 402: Lake Ontario 2025 Preview

After years of circling this ride (pun intended) it’s time to do a lap of the lake that I’ve lived near for a big chunk of my early life. Would it have been easier to pick a smaller lake? Sure. But Lake Ontario truly is a Great Lake in the sense it is surrounded by diverse and interesting places we’ll discover together.


The Pedalshift Project 402: Lake Ontario 2025 Preview

Hey it’s the direct download link for The Pedalshift Project 402: Lake Ontario 2025 Preview.

Subscribe/Follow The Pedalshift Project:
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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

Lake Ontario 2025 Preview

The basics

About 540 miles

Two countries, two border crossings

Ferries galore

All roofed lodging

Rural stops and big cities

Driving ebike to WNY that is the beginning and end of the loop

The weather

Warm days and cool nights

Mixed bag for rain and dry

The gear

eBike – biggest ride yet!

Brooks saddle pulled from Brompton for more comfort

Rewrapped my bar end extenders to improve comfort

Batteries and chargers = biggest weight

Riding very light otherwise… 2 days of riding clothes I’ll wash each night plus a set of “civilian” clothes and rain gear

Bringing more tools in to handle bigger ticket issues

Tightening down everything in advance

The highlights

Memorial trip for my dad

Checking off some boxes – new to me, international, cool places

Lakeside lodging in a few places

Multiple ferries, including intl crossing

Toronto island stay – true Lake Ontario vibes with killer views of TO

Niagara Falls (probably!)

Weird Tim tourism: Love Canal! Be ready for history talk of American pollution!

A different route to the Erie Canal towpath

The challenges

Distance – despite the ebike, we’re looking at some 90 mile days and that could be rough?

Time in saddle – haven’t had good long days in the saddle since February 

ebike – can it handle this? Sure? Maybe?

rural spots tough for a bailout

unfamiliar places in Ontario until Toronto and even then… new to me by bike

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 this summer’s upcoming bike tour! 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.

Music

You’ve been hearing about Jason Kent and his music for many fine episodes. Jason has a new solo album available NOW. Go listen to JUKEBOX BOY wherever cool music is available! 

The post The Pedalshift Project 402: Lake Ontario 2025 Preview appeared first on Pedalshift.

The Pedalshift Project 401: LA Metrobike Adventure

What happens when you’ve only got one day in Los Angeles, a conference that demands your physical presence, and a red-eye flight back home? You grab a Metrobike and explore, of course! On this edition, it’s a whirlwind bike share adventure from the hilly streets of Westwood to the iconic Venice Beach boardwalk and a race for that flight home.


The Pedalshift Project 401: LA Metrobike Adventure

Hey it’s the direct download link for The Pedalshift Project 401: LA Metrobike Adventure.

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

Los Angeles Metrobike Adventure

Intro:

•Location: Westwood, California

•Reason: Quick trip for an AI conference

•Game plan: Metrobike adventure from UCLA to Venice Beach and eventually towards LAX

The Plan:

•$5 Metrobike day pass – unlimited rides, 30-minute increments

•The challenge: avoid overage charges by dock hopping

•Route: UCLA → Santa Monica → Venice Beach → Marina Del Rey → Playa Vista

The Adventure:

•First leg: Downhill from UCLA, navigating LA traffic with Google Maps guidance

•Observations:

•Westwood’s hilly terrain

•Santa Monica’s tight bike dock situation

•Smooth greenways mixed with sketchy alley shortcuts

•A visit to the Bad News Bears park and some nostalgic nods

•Quick Trader Joe’s stop for hydration

Beach Time:

•Arrival in Venice Beach—Paddle Tennis, Muscle Beach, and all the usual suspects

•The surprising absence of a convenient bike dock near LAX

•Decision point: Walk or hop on the #3 bus?

•Marina Del Rey and the bougie vibes… plus the quest for fish tacos

The Wrap-Up:

•Arrival back at the Hyatt Regency by LAX

•Final thoughts: A grand adventure squeezed into a single LA day

•Reflections on the joy of exploring with a time crunch and a bike share pass

Statistics

Miles Traveled:  15 

Metrobike Docks: 5 

Elevation Change:  400 feet 

Cost of the Entire Ride: $5

Flats: Zero

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 this summer’s upcoming bike tour! 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.

Music

You’ve been hearing about Jason Kent and his music for many fine episodes. Jason has a new solo album available NOW. Go listen to JUKEBOX BOY wherever cool music is available! 

The post The Pedalshift Project 401: LA Metrobike Adventure appeared first on Pedalshift.