Hey it’s the direct download link for The Pedalshift Project 422: Is Bicycle Touring in Decline?.

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Is Bicycle Touring in Decline? 

What the ACA Letter Tells Us

• Recent email to ACA membership on a vote regarding selling their building in Missoula
  • Membership down from almost 40,000 in 2023 to about 18,000 today.
  • Donations down.
  • Demand for guided tours has softened.
  • Sales of maps/routes have dropped with free digital tools and GPS routes everywhere.
• Their diagnosis
  • Members aging out of cycling.
  • Some people don’t feel enough value in a paid membership.
  • Travel patterns are changing; inflation and costs are up; maybe fewer people committing to long guided tours.
• The building sale piece:
  • ACA can sell their big, underutilized Missoula headquarters for ~$2.55M, then lease back just the space they need.
  • The goal is to buy a “runway” of a few years to rebuild membership and modernize programs (digital experience, routes, tours, events).
• This is serious—membership halving in a couple of years is not a blip.
• But this is one institution. It’s a single data point, not the whole story.

Is ACA’s Crisis Proof That Touring Is Dying?

• Possible “touring is in trouble” interpretation:
  • If the biggest U.S. touring org is shrinking, maybe demand really is falling.
  • Fewer people willing to pay for routes, maps, and guided tours could indicate less interest in traditional loaded touring.
• Alternative explanations:
  • Value perception problem:
  • If you can download GPX routes for free, people might not feel like they need a membership.
  • Younger riders may not connect with a membership model or a print magazine in the same way.
• Business model problem vs. touring problem:
  • Guided tours and paper maps are specific products. Those can decline even if DIY touring thrives.
  • If a streaming-era kid doesn’t buy DVDs, it doesn’t mean movies are dead—just that the business model changed. Same question here: is ACA Blockbuster, or are movies in trouble?

The Aging Out Effect

• The ACA explicitly mentions aging out of cycling.
• Talk through generational dynamics:
  • A lot of classic touring energy came from the boomers and older Gen X.
  • Long, multi-week tours require time, health, and often retirement or very flexible work.
• People aging out doesn’t necessarily mean the activity is dying, but:
  • If younger generations aren’t replacing those numbers, you get a visible decline.
• Touring can look intimidating: expensive gear, big time commitments, safety fears.
• Possible barriers for younger riders:
  • Student debt, unstable housing, fewer long chunks of vacation, higher baseline anxiety around traffic and climate disasters (heat, smoke, extreme weather).

The Rise of Bikepacking and Off-Road Travel

• Ttouring may just be changing costume:
  • More folks are drawn to bikepacking and gravel: lighter gear, off-road routes, “adventure” branding.
  • Social media and brands push a certain aesthetic: frame bags, dirt roads, epic photography.
• Contrast vibes:
  • Classic touring: fenders, racks, panniers, highways, small towns, campgrounds.
  • Bikepacking: singletrack/doubletrack, BLM land, forest roads, more “expedition-y”, often shorter but punchier trips.
• If someone is out for five days with bags on their bike, sleeping outside and moving every day… and we’re calling that bikepacking instead of touring… did touring really decline, or did it just get relabeled?
• Is bikepacking now the umbrella term for bike adventuring?

Is It Just a (pardon the pun) Cycle? 

• Historical perspective:
  • There was a big touring boom in the 1970s and again mini-waves around the early 2000s . 
  • We thought the 2020 COVID bike boom would impact things, but did it?
  • Outdoor sports often rise and fall with the economy, culture, and media stories.
• Economic cycle:
  • High inflation, higher travel costs, and general uncertainty can make long trips harder.
  • At the same time, travel has become more fragmented: people take 3-day trips instead of 3-week odysseys.
• Cultural cycle:
  • Right now, gravel and ultra-events (Unbound, etc.) get the headlines. Touring is slow and unsexy by comparison.
  • Slow unsexy things tend to look “dead” for a while… until the next backlash against all the hype and burnout.
• We might be in the hangover phase after the COVID bike boom and a big cultural swing toward short, ‘epic’ experiences.

Other Factors That Make Touring Feel Smaller

• Safety and traffic fears: distracted driving, speed, road rage, social media amplifying every horror story.
• Climate and weather extremes: heat domes, wildfire smoke, storms—touring has always danced with weather, but now the dice feel loaded.
• Information overload: paradoxically, infinite online info can make people freeze and not choose any tour.
• Shift to micro-touring: overnighters, weekend campouts, credit-card touring instead of epic cross-country runs. That looks less visible on the ACA radar but might be the real growth area.

What ACA’s Plan Signals About the Future

• Positive outlook: Selling an underused building to buy time to modernize could be a good sign. It’s a choice to adapt instead of slowly bleed out.
• They’re explicitly planning to invest in:
  • More routes and route updates
  • Digital and website improvements
  • Stronger advocacy tools
  • Expanded tours and member events
• The big question:
  • Can an organization built around old touring models reinvent itself for a world of bikepacking, GPS, and dispersed, remote communities?
  • Will they pivot toward being the hub for all forms of bike travel, not just pannier touring?

Final Take: Is Touring Actually in Decline?

Yes, in the classic sense.

• Fewer people paying for memberships, maps, and guided pannier tours.
• The touring demographic that built ACA is shrinking and aging.

No, if you widen the definition.

• Bikepacking, mixed-surface, overnighters, and “ride-to-your-Airbnb” trips are essentially touring by another name.
• People are still traveling by bicycle; they’re just doing it with different gear and routes.

Mostly, it’s in a messy transition.

• Legacy institutions and business models are under intense pressure.
• New formats (digital communities, route-sharing platforms, YouTube, social media) are where a lot of the energy lives now.
• The story isn’t “touring is dying”—it’s “touring is migrating.”

• Go on any kind of bike trip—overnight, credit-card, dirt, paved, doesn’t matter.
• Support whichever orgs, creators, or communities actually help them get out the door (ACA, local groups, creators, etc.).
• If you’re an ACA member, vote on the building sale by November 24. Whatever side you land on it seems like this will likely define things for ACA for the next several years.

•Bike touring has always been a niche. The question isn’t whether the niche survives—it’s what form it takes for the next generation. And we all get to shape that.

Hey it’s the direct download link for The Pedalshift Project 421: Bike Adventure Goals Scorecard.

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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

2025 Bike Adventure Goals Scorecard

Celebrating plans already made, and taking care of yourself

Sort of?

A big ebike trip – maybe two. Taking the bike on a ride only the ebike can do… extra distance per day? Twice as fast? Looking at a push west and maybe north too.

Points for trying with the Lake Ontario trip.

Something international – you non-US folks have been very patient with this America-centric pod. We’ll see if we can get wheels down someplace I need a passport.

Check! Helllloooo Canada!

I also got to do off-pod adventures in Ireland, Northern Ireland and Belgium… no biking but a lot of walking and exploring.

West coast – what, you thought I wouldn’t hit the Pacific coast? Pffft… find another podcast! Probably summer.

Check! Mysterious Oregon trip!

More bike adjacent adventures – exploring someplace where I ride, a bike gets used, but it’s not necessarily the full focus.

Europe trip was an adventure but not bike-adjacent. But I have a small one coming up in a few weeks that is absolutely out of left field in terms of location, but wholeheartedly checks the box, so CHECK. Shall we do a preview? (You’ll have to listen to get that one!)

Hey it’s the direct download link for The Pedalshift Project 420: The Ultralight Challenge.

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The Ultralight Challenge

• “What if you could tour with just what fits in your handlebar bag? No panniers. No rack. Just the essentials.”
• Why: curiosity, simplicity, nimble handling, testing limits for overnighters or credit card touring.
• Rules: one mid-size drybag (say 10–12L). No extra frame or seat bags.
• Trip assumptions: 1–2 nights, shoulder season, mild weather but possible cool nights.
• Riding style: paved/mixed surfaces, moderate daily mileage.

Shelter

Options to debate:

Tarp + bivy sack (light, cheap, minimal bug protection).

Minimal trekking pole tarp (if you carry a pole or can use the bike).

Emergency bivy + bug net (super small but spartan).

UL single-wall tent (if you can compress to fit — ~1lb tents exist).

Hammock

Where I land:

Shelter Zpacks Hexamid Pocket Tarp 5.2 oz Dyneema, no floor; packs to fist size

Groundsheet Polycryo sheet (cut to size) 1.5 oz Cheap and super compact

Bug Net Sea to Summit Nano Pyramid (solo) 2.9 oz Optional if mosquitoes likely

Stakes 6 titanium shepherd hooks 2 oz Can share with tarp

Guyline 2 mm reflective cord 1 oz Multipurpose (also for repairs)

Total Shelter Weight: ~12 oz (340 g)

Sleep Kit

Pad: short closed-cell foam (Z-lite cut down) vs ultralight inflatable (NeoAir Uberlite).

Quilt: 40°F down quilt packs to a grapefruit.

Sleep Clothing layering: puffy jacket + base layers to extend quilt rating.

pillow (there are some ultralight inflatables too)

Where I land:

Sleep Pad Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite (small) 6 oz Packs smaller than a soda can

Quilt Enlightened Equipment Enigma 40°F 13 oz Compresses to a grapefruit

Pillow Exped Air UL pillow (small) 1.6 oz Optional luxury

Sleep Clothes Lightweight merino top + boxer briefs 6 oz Doubles as camp wear

Total Sleep Weight: ~27 oz (765 g)

Cooking vs. No-Cook

No-cook: bars, wraps, cold soak jar.

Minimal cook: Esbit/solid fuel stove + titanium mug.

Coffee strategy: instant packets vs small UL brewer.

Space/weight trade-off: ditch cook kit for luxury (camera, extra clothes).

Where I land:

Cold Soak System Plastic PB jar 2oz

UtensilLong Ti spoon0.5 oz

Mug (if separate) MSR Titan 2.4 oz

Food for 2 daysWraps, instant oatmeal, nuts, bars, jerky, instant coffee~24 oz

Water 1 L Smartwater bottle (frame-mounted)

Total Cooking/Food Weight (excluding water): ~29 oz (820 g)

Clothing & Tools

No change of clothes on this one… one base layer, puffy jacket layer.

Rain shell  = big payoff for little space.

Simple wool hat

Micro tool kit: multi-tool, chain link, tiny pump, patch kit instead of spare tube.

hygiene: Dr Bronner’s in smallest travel bottle, small camp towel, travel toothbrush.

Where I land:

Rain Shell Patagonia Houdini or OR Helium 6 oz Ultralight but reliable

Insulation Layer Montbell Plasma 1000 puffy 5 oz Packs to palm size

Extra Base Layer / socks Wool top + socks 5 oz For camp

Toiletries Toothbrush, mini paste, Bronner’s, wet wipes 3 oz Minimalist hygiene

Headlamp Nitecore NU25 1 oz USB rechargeable

Total Clothing/Personal Weight: ~20 oz (570 g)

Multitool Lezyne RAP II-12 3 oz Compact essentials

Mini Pump Lezyne Pocket Drive 3 oz Mount to frame if possible

Chain link / tape / zip ties / patch kit Small zip bag 1 oz Field repairs

Phone + powerbank 10 000 mAh Anker 6 oz Also powers headlamp

Map / ID / Credit Card — negligible “Ultralight credit card touring” insurance

Total Tools/Misc Weight: ~13 oz (370 g)

Packing Tetris

Bottom: sleep system (quilt/compressed pad).

Middle: shelter/tarp.

Top: food/clothing.

Outside: light rain shell/camp shoes?

Safety & Bail Out Options

Emergency bail plan: credit card, rideshare, motel.

Weather veto: if forecast turns ugly, change trip.

My Packed Total

Category Weight

Shelter 12 oz

Sleep 27 oz

Cooking/Food 29 oz

Clothing/Personal 20 oz

Tools/Misc 13 oz

Total ~6.31 lb (2.86 kg) inside dry bag

Conclusion

• Who this works for: weekenders, credit card tourists, fair-weather minimalists.
• Who it doesn’t: long winter trips, remote routes with no services, the comfort-oriented
• The psychological side of going this minimal: what you gain (freedom, simplicity) vs. what you lose (comfort, margin).

Hey it’s the direct download link for The Pedalshift Project 419: A Game of Chance Revisited.

Subscribe/Follow The Pedalshift Project:
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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

A Game of Chance Revisited

• Revisiting the “Game of Chance” touring experiment from 2021

• Using randomness to pick routes across ACA’s national network

• Riding (and re-riding) the Pacific Coast, Northern Tier, Lewis & Clark, TransAm, and more

• Ferry crossings, backcountry climbs, and surprise state detours

• How randomness can spark new route ideas and winter planning inspiration

Mentioned:

• Adventure Cycling Association

• Pacific Coast Route

• Lewis & Clark Trail

• Northern Tier

• TransAmerica Trail

• Great Divide, Great Parks, Lake Erie Connector

The Route (as determined by chance):

Segment	Route(s)	Start → End
1	Pacific Coast	Anacortes, WA → Westport, OR
2	Lewis & Clark	Westport, OR → Cascade Locks, OR
3	Sierra Cascades (North)	Cascade Locks, OR → Twisp, WA
4	Northern Tier	Twisp, WA → Eureka, MT
5	Great Parks North	Eureka, MT → Missoula, MT
6	TransAm	Missoula, MT → Walden, CO
7	TransAm (continued)	Walden, CO → Springfield, MO
8	Bicycle Route 66	Springfield, MO → St. Louis, MO
9	Eastern Express Connector	St. Louis, MO → Indianapolis, IN
10	Chicago–NYC + North Lakes	Indianapolis, IN → Northern MI
11	Lake Erie Connector	Sandusky, OH → Buffalo, NY (via Ontario)
12	Northern Tier	Buffalo, NY → Bar Harbor, ME

 

Hey it’s the direct download link for The Pedalshift Project 418: Mysterious Oregon Coast 2025 Takeaways.

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Mysterious Oregon Coast 2025 Takeaways

• Bike prep is key — but stuff still breaks. Even a tiny crank arm pin can end a day. Know shops and backup transport.
• Have Plans A–F ready. Flexibility and quick pivots kept the ride alive when mechanicals hit.
• Buses & rideshares save tours. Coastal transit and surprise Ubers kept us moving.
• Greatest hits still feel fresh. Cape Lookout, South Beach, Newport — new vibes, upgrades, and slower pacing.
• Weather’s shifting. Got one classic foggy Yachats day, but most were sunnier/warmer — pack for both.
• Shorter mileage = more joy. 30–40 mi days let us linger in towns and stay energized.
• Hydrate & fuel early/often. Morning “camel up,” steady snacks, and Red Bulls beat last year’s bonk.
• Hotel nights reset morale. Lincoln City, Yachats, Florence stays turned stress into mini-vacations.
• Logistics flexibility saves cash. Mid-trip flight/car/hotel changes avoided big losses.
• Ditch the perfect plan. Embracing detours and improvisation brought back the adventure and fun

Hey it’s the direct download link for The Pedalshift Project 417: Mysterious Oregon Coast 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

Mysterious Oregon Coast 2025 Part 6

Key Highlights

• South Beach State Park downgrade – Charging lockers removed, replaced with non-charging metal versions
• Classic Oregon coast weather returns – Fog, cool temperatures, and the riding conditions that originally attracted them
• Yachats exploration – First real visit to Tim’s long-desired coast town (population: 800)
• Cape Perpetua finale – Tackling one of the coast’s most challenging and scenic climbs
• Tire crisis intensifies – James’s rear tire split worsens but limps to the finish
• Eugene revelation – $5 bus ride opens new coast access possibilities

Route Details

Day 1: South Beach to Yachats

• Short, rolling ride through Waldport and Seal Rock
• Classic foggy conditions with seagull air-surfing entertainment
• Hotel night in Yachats for town exploration

Day 2: Yachats to Florence

• 25-mile challenge over Cape Perpetua
• Multiple climbs through “the windiest part of the Oregon coast”
• Cape Creek Tunnel navigation
• Final descent to Florence via Sea Lion Caves

Yachats Assessment

• Population: 800 residents
• Vibe: Full spectrum from blue collar to “bougie-est of bougie”
• Tim’s verdict: “Punches above its weight” for a small coastal town
• Accommodation: Ocean view hotel with perfect fog viewing

Mechanical Drama Final Act

• James’s tubeless tire split progressively worsens
• Tube begins protruding through tire damage
• Bike shop in Florence (Bicycles 101) permanently closed
• Tire successfully limps final 52 miles to completion
• Post-ride tire replacement arranged in Eugene

Transportation Victory

• Florence to Eugene bus: Only $5 (compared to $17-20 Portland routes)
• Bus rack accommodates James’s 29+ tire width with minor deflation
• Direct connection to Eugene’s Amtrak station and airport
• Opens new coast access strategies for future tours

Cultural Observations

• South Beach platforms: Composite decking mystery continues
• Book club continuation: Tim’s author criticism ongoing
• Charging infrastructure: State park downgrades noted
• Coast tourism patterns: More cyclists spotted this year vs. last

Food & Fuel Strategy

• Yachats: Fresh fish and chips (James’s rare fish consumption)
• Cape Perpetua prep: High-calorie loading for big climbs
• Florence finale: Safeway provisions for final night
• Eugene heat preparation: Dramamine procurement

Eugene Transition

• 89-90°F heat shock after cool coast weather
• Travel Lodge fan so impressive Tim orders same model for cabin
• Cold Fire Brewing pit stop with brisket and low-alcohol beers
• Hotel early check-in for heat recovery

Statistics

• Miles Biked Day 1: 25 
• Miles Biked Day 2: 25 
• Total tour mileage: ~52% of original plan
• Florence to Eugene bus cost: $5 
• Eugene temperature: 90°F 
• Flats: Zero

Hey it’s the direct download link for The Pedalshift Project 415: Mysterious Oregon Coast 2025 Part 4.

Subscribe/Follow The Pedalshift Project:
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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

Mysterious Oregon Coast 2025 Part 4

Key Highlights

• Perfect weather conditions – cloudy and cool, exactly what Tim and James prefer for cycling
• Hydration revelation continues – Tim credits proper hydration for yesterday’s success and focuses on “cameling up” each morning
• Pacific City pit stop – Tim’s favorite Oregon coast town, featuring Stimulus Coffee House for snacks and wifi
• Mechanical troubles return – James’s borrowed bike proves problematic again with rear tire issues
• Strategic retreat – Quick pivot from camping at Devil’s Lake to a tiki-themed hotel in Lincoln City
• Planning paralysis – Original trip itinerary officially in question with multiple options on the table

Route Details

• Departed Cape Lookout State Park early morning
• Stopped at Stimulus Coffee House in Pacific City (quarter-way point)
• Break at Neskowin Market before the big Lincoln City climb
• Final destination: Lincoln City hotel instead of planned Devil’s Lake camping

Bike Performance Notes

• Tim’s bike performing excellently with great rolling and shifting
• Occasional gear hopping suggests minor tune-up needed
• Mostly riding in middle and first chainrings
• James’s borrowed bike continuing to present challenges

Food & Fuel Strategy

• Morning: Hydration focus plus caffeine
• Pacific City: Egg burrito repeat from successful Day 3 strategy
• Mid-ride: Red Bull for energy boost
• Lincoln City: Local Mexican restaurant meal (lunch/dinner hybrid)

Decision Point Analysis

• Short day option: Devil’s Lake camping (~40+ miles)
• Original plan: Beverly Beach (would have required 20 more miles plus significant climbing)
• Actual choice: Lincoln City hotel night for recovery and planning

Statistics

• Miles Biked: ~40+ miles (shorter day due to mechanical issues)
• Hotel theme: Tiki (delightfully not high-end but perfectly located)
• Bird species that defeat earplugs: 1 (mystery frequency specialist)

••Flats: Zero