Month: July 2025

The Pedalshift Project 408: Lake Ontario 2025 – Part 6

Transitioning from from the peaceful Toronto Island back into the  urban sprawl of southern Ontario is a bit of a record scratch I’ll more thoroughly experience when I eventually ride this ride, but a fast forward to a stunning Niagara Falls hotel leads to an extensive e-bike exploration of the Niagara River and Falls area. But plans always have a way of changing and this day was no different.


The Pedalshift Project 408: Lake Ontario 2025 - Part 6

Hey it’s the direct download link for The Pedalshift Project 408: Lake Ontario 2025 – Part 6.

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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 6

Toronto Island Farewell 

  • Final morning walk through the quiet island community
  • Observations on the unique housing stock and lifestyle
  • Discussion of waiting lists and the appeal of island living
  • Apple tree sightings continuing the Lake Ontario apple theme

Hotel with a View 

  • Check-in at a dated but perfectly positioned Niagara Falls hotel
  • Room with an “outrageous” view directly overlooking Horseshoe Falls
  • Plans to bring dinner back to the room due to the unbeatable vista
  • Discussion of off-season pricing and business travel perks

Vehicle Talk 

  • Introduction to the new Toyota RAV4 plugin hybrid
  • Upcoming camping drawer system installation
  • Comparison to previous vehicle setups
  • Teasing of a major summer adventure

Navigation Adventures 

  • Challenges finding the proper cycling route to Niagara Parkway
  • Discovery of abandoned rail right-of-way
  • Multiple elevation changes due to the Niagara Escarpment
  • Eventually finding the correct riverside path

Hydroelectric Discovery

  • Learning about the Niagara Tunnel Project – 10.2 km underground tunnel
  • Understanding how power generation works 40 meters below the river surface
  • Observing the transformation from calm upstream waters to rushing rapids
  • Multiple spillways and control structures

Falls Experience 

  • Cycling directly along the Niagara River as it approaches the falls
  • Walking the bike through crowded tourist areas
  • Experiencing mist from both American and Horseshoe Falls
  • International tourism observations
  • Discussion of why this isn’t a national/provincial park

Family Matters

  • Mid-episode phone call requiring attention to family health issues
  • Decision to return home earlier than planned
  • Reflection on how circumstances aligned properly for the situation

Looking Ahead

  • Announcement of a “proper” Day 6 episode
  • Plans to complete the original intended route from mother’s former home to current home
  • Postponement of international border crossing for future adventure

Statistics

Miles biked 6

Number of Superman II references 3

Outrageous parking cost at the hotel 45 CAD

Length in seconds of the full color cycle of the falls lighting at night 69 (nice)

iPod dockable clock radios in the hotel that are so vintage as to be worth way more than the hotel probably thinks 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 408: Lake Ontario 2025 – Part 6 appeared first on Pedalshift.

The Pedalshift Project 407: Lake Ontario 2025 – Part 5

Toronto! The biggest city in Canada beckoned with its record shops, high energy and criminally underrated cycling on the islands off shore. With a basketball arena parking spot and my kind of weather, TO was ready to welcome me with open arms…


The Pedalshift Project 407: Lake Ontario 2025 - Part 5

Hey it’s the direct download link for The Pedalshift Project 407: Lake Ontario 2025 – Part 5.

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

Lake Ontario 2025 – Part 5

🚗 Parking + Arrival in Toronto

•Parking garage setup with EV charging — 24 hours for 24 CAD, prime downtown location.

•Thoughts on Cybertrucks (spoiler: not a fan).

•Quick record shop detour before rolling out.

🚲 Urban E-bike Sprint to the Ferry

•Navigating Toronto traffic to make the ferry in time.

•First glimpses of the Harborfront Trail and ferry terminal success.

🛳 Ferry to the Islands

•On board the William Lingus (insert SNL reference).

•Observations on Toronto Island’s regulars and off-season calm.

🏝 Exploring Toronto Island by E-bike

•Discovering the island’s unique layout — car-lite, license-limited.

•Big marina views and rear-view cityscapes.

•Moody, Oregon Coast-like weather setting the tone.

☕ Cafés, Birds & Black Squirrels

•Coffee shop scouting and parking time calculations.

•Noticing Toronto Island’s charm: cardinals, fire stations, and disc golf.

📸 CN Tower Skyline Shot of the Day

•Photo stop at a postcard-perfect harbor: ducks, loons, and urban backdrop.

•Tangent on the CN Tower’s claim to fame and photographic techniques.

🌧 Light Rain, Green Spaces, and Island Vibes

•Embracing the drizzle in classic bike touring style.

•Pedal-assist set low to savor the scenery and solitude.

•Disc golf, beaches, and lots of benches — the quiet off-season character.

🎡 Amusement Park Detour

•Riding through a closed kiddie amusement park and petting zoo.

•Peacock spotting and the return of Muppet-inspired names (Kermit Fog, anyone?).

•Funnel cake cravings and childhood park nostalgia.

🍕 Center Island + Beer Dreams

•Discovery of the Toronto Island BBQ and Beer Co.

•Harbor views and light snack planning before continuing the ride.

✈ Quest for the Airport

•Meandering west toward Hanlan’s Point and the Billy Bishop City Airport.

•Geeking out over planes, windsocks, and off-limits fencing.

•A side of Toronto most tourists never see.

🏳️‍🌈 Historic Discovery: Canada’s Oldest Queer Space

•Hanlan’s Point signage reveals a legacy of LGBTQ+ community since 1971.

•Reflections on inclusivity, history, and the spirit of the island.

🗺 Full Island Traverse & Wrap-up

•Realization that the “Toronto Islands” are really one big, bikeable park.

•Rain resumes just in time for the ride back.

•Cozy Airbnb vibes: lilac trees, woodland cottages, and coffee-fueled reflection.

🚨 Day 4 Reflections

•Just 10 miles ridden, but packed with discovery and beauty.

•Looking ahead to Niagara Falls and planning the next cycling routes.

Statistics

Miles biked 10

Closed amusement parks featuring obvious IP theft 1

High temperature in Celsius 12

Records purchased 1

Poutineries visited 1 (a solid 8 stars)

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 407: Lake Ontario 2025 – Part 5 appeared first on Pedalshift.

The Pedalshift Project 406: Lake Ontario 2025 – Part 4

This portion of the trip was always going to be a question mark – what kind of biking will there be? Will it be fun? Will I be looking too much ahead to more obviously notable places like Toronto and Niagara Falls? Wolfe Island once again answers the call!


The Pedalshift Project 406: Lake Ontario 2025 - Part 4

Hey it’s the direct download link for The Pedalshift Project 406: Lake Ontario 2025 – Part 4.

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

Lake Ontario 2025 – Part 4

🚲 Ride Overview

•Starting the day from Wolf Island, Ontario

•A late start, but with a scenic route west to Sandy Point

•Focus on a relaxed e-bike ride due to a tight ferry schedule

🌞 Weather & Ride Conditions

•Sunny and pleasantly warm, a bit hotter than ideal

•Wind off the lake keeping things cooler

•Reflections on how the late May weather still feels like early spring in Ontario

🛠 Gear & Tech Check

•E-bike powered up and performing well

•Toolkit left behind—risky move noted

•Ongoing commentary on wide tires, limestone trails, and pedal assist levels

•Big win: no brake issues from frequent wheel removal

📍 Destinations & Detours

•Attempt to visit Big Sandy Bay—blocked by entry fee and bike restrictions

•Scenic return loop around the island

•Stop in Bath, Ontario for a legendary lakeside poutine at Fry 33

🧭 Navigation Notes

•Avoiding Highway 401 in favor of more bike-friendly, scenic backroads

•Provincial Route 33 (aka Loyalist Parkway) praised for good shoulders and low traffic

•Transition from island terrain to mainland cottage country

🛳 Ferry Fun

•Quick ferry crossings as part of the day’s travel

•Love letter to ferries: bike, vehicle, passenger—doesn’t matter, all good

•Plans to use ferries again in future trips (Seattle foreshadowing)

🏠 Accommodations

•Overnight stay in Colborne, Ontario

•Modest Airbnb geared toward truckers, with diner and Tim Hortons nearby

🧠 Reflections & Takeaways

•E-bike confidence fully restored (it was just a magnet issue!)

•Ride offered a mix of natural beauty, tech success, and route experimentation

•Anticipation builds for upcoming Toronto exploration at the “speed of bike”

Statistics

Miles biked 15

Poutine stops 1

Number of stars for the poutine stop 44

Ferries ferried 2

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 406: Lake Ontario 2025 – Part 4 appeared first on Pedalshift.

The Pedalshift Project 405: Lake Ontario 2025 – Part 3

So the ebike is a brick in the back of my RAV4, but it still works like a normal bike, so let’s keep going! But a sudden realization may provide the solution to unlock all the battery goodness, just as another stunning discovery makes me realize, this trip’s Plan B was all meant to be.


The Pedalshift Project 405: Lake Ontario 2025 - Part 3

Hey it’s the direct download link for The Pedalshift Project 405: Lake Ontario 2025 – Part 3.

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

Lake Ontario 2025 – Part 3

Hotel pack-up & quick diagnosis

    • Morning in Oswego, NY. 
    • Realizes the motor cut-off is just a loose brake-lever magnet. Simple electrical/duct-tape fix brings the e-bike back to life.

Route planning & launch

    • Scraps the closed Cape Vincent ferry idea
    • decides to drive the east shore of Lake Ontario, scouting state parks and quieter wildlife areas instead of sticking to busy parks.

Lake-side stops

    • Quick visit to Black Pond Wildlife Management Area (too restricted for bikes).
    • Heads north to Westcott Beach State Park for a short beach walk, photos, and a quick battery test run.

Drive to Canada

    • Long detour to the Thousand Islands bridge (the only open crossing) because the south-end Wolf Island ferry is closed.
    • Smooth Canadian customs stop; grabs ice cream and activates a Canadian eSIM for data.

Kingston → Wolf Island ferry

    • Misses the boat by two cars; 80-minute wait becomes a snack-and-people-watch session.
    • Free ferry ride over; hotel is literally a block from the dock.

Marysville check-in

    • Rustic ground-floor room, lake view, no A/C needed. Drops bags, scopes dinner options (hotel café).

Evening e-bike shake-down

    • 14-mile out-and-back along Route 95 to the shuttered U.S. ferry dock on the south tip.
    • Cruises at ~20 mph, marvels at wind turbines, farmland scenery, and micro-climates.
    • Confirms minimal battery draw and re-affirms “twice the speed, half the effort” mantra.


Wrap-up reflections

    • Happy the brake glitch happened early—it forced a car assist and avoided being stranded.
    • Wolf Island deemed a stellar, low-traffic cycling spot; sets intentions for next day’s ride and keeps an eye on looming Toronto weather.

Statistics

Miles biked 15

Closed ferry terminals visited 2

Open ferry terminals visited 2

Missed ferries 1

Denomination of Canadian currency that may or may not smell like maple syrup unless the bartender was trolling me 50

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 405: Lake Ontario 2025 – Part 3 appeared first on Pedalshift.