Hey it’s the direct download link for The Pedalshift Project 394: Florida Coast Part 1.

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Pedalshift 400 Live

Hold the date… Pedalshift 400 Live will be Friday April 11th at 8pm ET – 5pm PT. Check out Pedlashift on YouTube or pedalshift.net/live for more. Ask Me Anything for sure, the rest is a surprise maybe to me as well?

Florida Coast Part 1

Statistics

Miles bikes 52.5

Miles ferried .3

Towns with beach in the name 7

Regrets for not stopping for a cuban coffee 1

Flats 0

Hey it’s the direct download link for The Pedalshift Project 392: eBike Range Test Takeaways.

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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

Florida Coast Preview

The ride

Jacksonville to WDW over 4 days!

East Coast Greenway!

A ferry!

Mostly coastal riding with the ocean over my left shoulder (who knew?)

Revisting the Florida Coast to Coast Trail

Riding all the way to my finish line resort at WDW (no Lyfts at the end this time!)

The gear

Brompton

3 days of camping

Backpack mode with front pannier (same as last year)

Keeping things minimal as the camping gear takes up some room

No stove

Details

JAX-St. Augustine

St. Augustine – Daytona

Daytona – Lake Monroe

Lake Monroe – WDW

Highlights

Day 1 St. Johns ferry and St Augustine

Day 2 All coastal riding to Daytona

Day 3 Reuniting with the FLC2C trail and camping at the free Lake Monroe campground

Day 4 Eff it we’re doing it live! Another thrilling ride into the belly of the beast errr Mouse and then celebrating by flying the Falcon and drinking blue milk and hitting the cantina

Potential issues

I need this trip more than I’ve ever needed a bike adventure so there’s a lot of mental energy riding on this one… so you just KNOW shit will go sideways!

Have not gotten the Brompton checked and likely won’t have an opportunity as I have only a day or two in DC before I fly down to JAX. What could possibly go wrong?

Tour Journal episodes start… next week, AND this gets us almost all the way to episode 400. Stay tuned for a live show announcement for mid-April!

Hey it’s the direct download link for The Pedalshift Project 392: eBike Range Test Takeaways.

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

eBike Range Test Takeaways

75ish miles is pretty great with a little top off… that’s amazing for the C&O and other reasonably flat terrain!

1.Battery Management is Key

•The ride underscored the importance of efficient battery use. Keeping the e-bike battery between 20% and 80% for everyday use is recommended, but for extended trips, charging to 100% proved essential. However, overuse of higher pedal-assist levels (like Level 3) quickly drained the battery, emphasizing the need to stick to lower levels (1 or 2) to maximize range.

2.Comfort Adjustments are Ongoing

•Experimentation with the saddle and handlebars revealed that finding the right configuration for long rides is a process. While the new saddle and bar extensions offered some comfort, they weren’t perfect, suggesting that further adjustments or a different saddle type (like a Brooks) may be needed for better ergonomics.

3.Weather and Trail Conditions Impact Performance

•The dry, cool weather and improved trail conditions (like the newly paved Western Maryland Rail Trail) enhanced the ride experience. However, headwinds were a challenge, requiring adjustments in effort and assist levels to maintain speed.

4.Range and Effort Balance

•The ride confirmed that the e-bike could cover about 70-75 miles on a single charge, with minimal hills and strategic use of pedal assist. This opens possibilities for long-distance touring with the addition of a second battery but highlighted that even with assist, significant physical effort is still required, particularly on longer rides.

5.Preparation and Redundancy are Crucial

•While the ride was successful, minor issues like forgetting a bike lock, misplacing microphone components, and underestimating hydration needs pointed to the importance of thorough preparation. Carrying a spare battery, hydration supplies, and tools for adjustments proved beneficial.

The ebike is absolutely in my plans for some adventures

– Train and bike to/from DC – really anyplace but emphasis on east coast

– Circumnavigation of Lake Ontario

– More east coast greenway riding

– Another segment of the cross country ride

Hey it’s the direct download link for The Pedalshift Project 391: eBike Range Test Part 1.

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

 eBike Range Test Part 1

75 miles on one battery charge with a little top off! Next week, takeaways!

Hey it’s the direct download link for The Pedalshift Project 390: eBike Range Test Preview.

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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

 eBike Range Test Preview

The ride

Cabin to Cumberland, road and trail

1 day, 1 charge*

eBike!

The idea

Can I stretch the battery enough to get me 75.1 miles from cabin to Cumberland?

Learning about range

Learning about methods to conserve power

Can I pedal this bike comfortably without pedal assist? Will I have to?

The weather

We haven’t had rain in the region for a month, so of course we are forecast for rain the night before the ride

BUT it should be dry day of, with a cold start and low 60s as a high

The gear

No camping this trip… doing a hotel in Cumberland and taking the train back

No camping? A lot less gear! 

Bringing two emptyish panniers 

Charger

Clothes for next day

May bring my sleeping bag for emergency’s sake

Extra chain and tools

The plan

A chilly start after sunrise

Ride to Hancock

Hour break to get a few more miles of charge

Pedal assist level 1 or maybe level 2 on the C&O to keep pace up but conserve battery

Assessing battery in Paw Paw (may have an opportunity to top up)

Will turn off pedal assist as necessary… or keep it up to improve pace

What is success?

2x speed 1/2 effort!

Knowing the range in real world conditions

Giving the bike its longest test yet

Feeling out the comfort situation – do I need to do more?

Next week… the ride!

Hey it’s the direct download link for The Pedalshift Project 389: 2025 Bicycling Goals.

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2025 Bicycling Goals

2014’s trip was a shout out to my grandmother and 2025 now has to be the same for my dad, who passed away at his home in NY just before Christmas. So, what are we doing by bike to celebrate his life and all sorts of other things?

Celebrating plans already made, and taking care of yourself – yes, I’m in western NY for a few weeks this winter but I’m taking some time to ride my ride in Florida. Familiar trip to be sure… the finish line is the same, but the route is so much more. Details in a few weeks!

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.

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.

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

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

Next week… I ran out of 2024! How about another tour journal to catch up?

Hey it’s the direct download link for The Pedalshift Project 388: Pedalshift Holiday Spectacular 2024.

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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

Pedalshift Holiday Spectacular 2024

Shifty Saves the Holidays

[Opening Scene: Sound of jingle bells and whooshing wind. The faint clinking of tools as Shifty the Elf tinkers with a magical sleigh in the background.]

Shifty (excited):

Duuuuuude! Tim told me this would be the year to shine, and what better way than saving the holidays with some pedal-powered magic? But uh… (pauses, worried) I kinda sorta misplaced the holiday cheer for Pedalshift’s big celebration. You know, the joy, the warmth, the… fuzzies. Without it, the show might as well be a flat tire in a snowstorm!

Luckily, I’ve got my trusty time-traveling sleigh. We’re off to relive the best Pedalshift moments of the year and find that missing cheer. Hop aboard, folks! Giddy up Rudolph… you slacker. Duuuude.

[Sound: A sleigh bell rings, followed by the roar of wind as the sleigh launches.]

[Scene 1: January, Pedalshift 349 – Daniel Troia’s interview.]

Shifty:

First stop, January! Ah, here we are—Daniel Troia, talking about his incredible documentary, We Are All in This Together. Imagine pedaling across the country and relying on nothing but kindness. Let’s tune in.

[Audio Clip: Daniel Troia shares an inspiring story of human connection.]

Shifty:

Did you hear that? Strangers becoming friends, the simple act of sharing—that’s holiday cheer if I’ve ever seen it! One ingredient found. Onward!

[Scene 2: February, Pedalshift 352-357 – Space Coast Loop Ride.]

Shifty:

Zipping ahead to February… Florida’s Space Coast! Look at that trail—Winter Garden to Disney World? That’s a dream ride. And Disney at the end? That’s pure magic.

[Audio Clip: Tim describes the journey, including sights along the Florida Coast to Coast Trail.]

Shifty:

Magic and adventure, folks. Two more ingredients for holiday cheer. Let’s keep rolling.

[Scene 3: May, Pedalshift 362-365 – Mindful C&O Canal Towpath Tour.]

Shifty:

May brings us to the C&O Canal Towpath. Tim’s riding slow and soaking in the scenery.

[Audio Clip: Tim reflects on the mindful pace of the journey.]

Shifty:

Mindfulness—slowing down to enjoy the moment. That’s what the holidays are all about. Add it to the list!

[Scene 4: June, Pedalshift 366 – 10-Year Anniversary Live Show.]

Shifty:

And here we are in June! Ten years of Pedalshift—what a milestone. Let’s peek into the celebration.

[Audio Clip: Audience laughter and Tim reflecting on a decade of podcasting.]

Shifty:

Laughter and community? Oh yeah, that’s the good stuff. Let’s rev this sleigh up for our next stop!

[Scene 5: July, Pedalshift 369-376 – Oregon Coast Tour with Mysterious James.]

Shifty:

The Oregon Coast with Mysterious James… a classic route with a remix twist. Let’s listen in.

[Audio Clip: Tim and James share banter about the trip and campsite memories.]

Shifty:

Friendship and nostalgia—check and check!

[Scene 6: Fall, Pedalshift 377-380 – E-Bike Build and WV Ride.]

Shifty:

Oh, here’s a fun one—building an e-bike and giving it a shakedown ride. DIY spirit meets adventure.

[Audio Clip: Tim narrates the first ride from the cabin to Hancock, MD.]

Shifty:

Creativity and perseverance—two more ingredients for our holiday recipe.

[Scene 7: October, Pedalshift 381-386 – North Dakota Adventure.]

Shifty:

October! North Dakota, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, and… bison! Watch out, Tim!

[Audio Clip: Tim recounts a close encounter with a bison.]

Shifty (laughing):

Courage in the face of giant animals. That’s definitely some holiday magic right there.

[Scene 8: December, Pedalshift 387 – Live Show with Mysterious James.]

Shifty:

Finally, December! Tim and James answer listener questions live. What a way to wrap up the year.

[Audio Clip: A funny or heartwarming exchange from the live show.]

Shifty:

And there we have it—joy, laughter, connection, and all the good stuff that makes this season sparkle.

[Closing Scene: The sound of sleigh bells slows as Shifty returns home.]

Shifty:

Phew! What a ride. We found all the cheer we needed, and Pedalshift’s holiday spirit is back on track. Thanks for coming along, everyone. Happy holidays—and keep the rubber side down!