Author: timmooney

Best of Pedalshift 128: Must-Carry Tools for Your Next Adventure

If you’re going on a bike adventure, you’re usually confronted with a situation that requires a fix or an adjustment. On this episode of the Best of Pedalshift we explore tools you must carry, what you should bring, and maybe a few things you haven’t thought about. Originally podcast July 19, 2018.

Best of Pedalshift 128: Must-Carry Tools for Your Next Adventure

The post Best of Pedalshift 128: Must-Carry Tools for Your Next Adventure appeared first on Pedalshift.

The Pedalshift Project 234: Route Scouting II: Attack of PA Route S

Hey, it’s still winter… so with snow on the ground and actual touring on hiatus for at least a few more weeks, why don’t we continue scouting Pennsylvania Route S? On this episode, the second edition for four, we hit the road and scout the second day of the ride to New York between Chambersburg and York.


The Pedalshift Project 234: Route Scouting II - Attack of PA Route S

Hey it’s the direct download link for  The Pedalshift Project 234: Route Scouting II: Attack of PA Route S (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

Housekeeping

Hey, new music!

Brock Dittus – Most Important Thing

Sunfields new album Late Bloomers drops 3/12 and the first track – Got Some (But it Ain’t Enough)  is available now…

Scouting Pennsylvania bike route S

  • Part of the route mentioned in Pedalshift 228 
  • Be sure to check out Part 1 from Pedalshift 230 (Episode I: The Phantom Bike Route).
  • We’ll be scouting this route through the next several episodes… some surprises and a lot of insights

Click the map for the PDF… then click on those numbers for links to detailed sections. Source: PA DOT

Penn Bike Route S

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 spring’s DC to Cincinnatti 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.

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
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, RIP
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
Robert Lackey
Dominic Carol
Jacqi McCulloch
John Hickman
Carl Presseault
David Neves
Patty Louise
Terry Fitzgerald
Peter Steinmetz
Timothy Fitzpatrick
Michael Liszewski
Hank O’Donnell
David Zanoni
David Weil
Matthew Sponseller
Scott Angelo
Chad Reno
Daniel Gregor
Spartan Dale

Music

You’ve been hearing about Jason Kent and his music for many fine episodes. Sunfields has a new album in 2021, AND Jason has a new solo album in 2021, AND his first solo album is now streaming on Spotify, including America, the Pedalshift theme. Go listen!

The post The Pedalshift Project 234: Route Scouting II: Attack of PA Route S appeared first on Pedalshift.

The Pedalshift Project 233: Rando Pannier Full of Followups and More

You know how a few days into a tour you have a pannier full of rando things in no particular order? Welcome to the 233rd edition of the pod, then! Odds and ends, followups and a Black History Month recommendation with a bike touring twist!


The Pedalshift Project 233: Rando Pannier Full of Followups and More

Hey it’s the direct download link for The Pedalshift Project 233: Rando Pannier Full of Followups and More (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.

The All Rando Pannier Episode

Odds and ends on my mind, inbcluding follow ups and a suggestion for some Black History month learning with a bike touring twist.

Followup on closures and detours

Hey, Whites Ferry has a chance after all! New owner of the ferry is negotiating with the VA landowners. 
 
Other C&O closure… Paw Paw tunnel is closed (sort of) until next year. I have thoughts. 
 
Highway 1 – road is still closed but CalTrans is on it but there’s no timeline.
 

Followup on bikepacking setup

FOTS Reinhart Bigl… how about replace that fork with a new one with proper brazons and get those fork cages?
 

Followup on the route scouting trip

FOTS Todd Grossbeck brings some knowledge!
 
short rail trail through Chambersburg that you can pick up before you get into downtown Chambersburg (confirmed!)
There are a fair amount of Amish folks on bikes north of Chambersburg, so people expect to see a bicycle on Rt 11.
30 east out of Chambersburg is as rough as I thought it was.  The shoulder appears again one town over in Fayetteville and there is a campground in Caledonia state park (right off of 30), and the park is beautiful.
 
RockWilliam2 does the same…
 
I just listened to your podcast about your DC to NY trip. I live in Mont Alto, Pennsylvania and frequently bike on both route 11 and route 30. I’m sure you have seen this, but if not Maryland 63 might be a “less traveled” route that would still support bikes. By using this you could go from Williamsport MD and connect with route 11 outside of Greencastle PA. This route is mostly rural and avoids riding through the center of Hagerstown.
 
Good luck! Let me know if you need anything when you are up this way!
 

Little Clown Bike love

Aloha Tim, 
Have enjoyed your show and tales of adventure for a few years- especially the fables and foibles of your Brompton upgrades and travels.  I ride a Bike Friday as far as I can…2020 limited me to an island in the pacific. 
Thought you may like to read of a couple that rode from Greenwich and back on their folders!  Great pictures too!   Don’t let anyone say a Brompton  can’t compete with the big wheelers! 
 
Aloha,
Scott Gilbert

Some Black History Month watching and reading

 
The 25th Infantry’s bicycle trip from Missoula, Montana, to St. Louis, Missouri in 1897. 2000 miles on steel tires, averaging about 60 miles per day! The Black infantry was “volunteered” to test a theory that the bicycle would replace the horse in transporting men for the army. Fascinating look at the amazing feat these Black soldiers accomplished, despite the obstacles.
 
Bicycle Corps: America’s Black Army on Wheels (PBS)
 
 

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 spring’s DC to Cincinnatti 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.

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
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, RIP
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
Robert Lackey
Dominic Carol
Jacqi McCulloch
John Hickman
Carl Presseault
David Neves
Patty Louise
Terry Fitzgerald
Peter Steinmetz
Timothy Fitzpatrick
Michael Liszewski
Hank O’Donnell
David Zanoni
David Weil
Matthew Sponseller
Scott Angelo
Chad Reno

Music

You’ve been hearing about Jason Kent and his music for many fine episodes. Sunfields has a new album in 2021, AND Jason has a new solo album in 2021, AND his first solo album is now streaming on Spotify, including America, the Pedalshift theme. Go listen!

The post The Pedalshift Project 233: Rando Pannier Full of Followups and More appeared first on Pedalshift.

The Pedalshift Project 232: Handling Bike Route Detours & Closures

Detours and closures are a part of bike touring, but how do you handle it? On this edition, five things to think about on how to handle bike route detours and closures without losing your cool.


Pedalshift Project 232: Handling Bike Route Detours & Closures

Hey it’s the direct download link for The Pedalshift Project 232: Handling Bike Route Detours & Closures(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.

Handling Bike Route Detours & Closures

Me in the trees in 2016 just south of the outage, then the 2021 outage:

trees off CA Hwy 1
CA Hwy 1 outage

  • The C&O will sometimes have issues (MM52 washout, Big Slackwater)
  • My experience on the OTET near Akron (unannounced detour)
  • This is common. What’s the best bet?

1 – Attitude
Routes are not sacrosanct. They are also subject to evolution, so don’t go into any tour with the feeling that it’s ruined if you can’t roll every single inch the way it’s been done in the past.

2- Your ride is the experience, not the map
Folks who through hike major trails deal with stuff like this all the time. Even if the route deviates from past years, one still is hiking the AT. Fires, floods, etc. make the trail a dynamic thing… think of it that way for bicycle touring too

3 – To prep or not
This gets into philosophies… I prep, others ride what the road gives them. Neither is superior… a preparer may know what the options are ahead of any issue, but a ride what the road gives you type may be more mentally prepared for outages. Embrace who you are!

4 – Ask locals
There may be far better options than what you can tell from a map. Ask folks in the area… you may be surprised at the outcome (better route than you planned… an offer for a fast forward around the outage, etc.)

5 – Keep safe
There may be a temptation to YOLO your way through an outage. That might be ok. Or it might be reckless and a real risk to your safety, and then the first responders’ safety to haul your ass out. Be reasonable and remember outages generally mean you are trespassing if you barrel through them.

Thoughts on the specific outages

C&O

  • not a lot I can recommend for lodging on the MD side
  • look into shuttles to hotels semi-nearby the trail (there might be a lone B&B or Airbnb option nearby?)
  • Consider revamping your miles so your lodging straddles the Leesburg night
  • Hope public pressure gets the VA farm folks to take the money for the easement 😉

Hwy 1

  • CalTrans is on it… more of the road opened recently
  • It will be fixed, just a question of when
  • Pacific Coast route season seems to be narrower than ever… road closures from mud slides in rainy season and then smoke closures from fire season.
  • Be flexible, optimize your options (know your fast forwards, towns with transit options, ability to ship your bike, etc.)

Bottom Line

  • Our next tours are going to have a lot of energy behind them since we had so many plans scuttled due to COVID.
  • Remember outages happen and they are not ruining your trip, just throwing a curveball and maybe making it more memorable

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 spring’s DC to Cincinnatti 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.

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
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, RIP
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
Robert Lackey
Dominic Carol
Jacqi McCulloch
John Hickman
Carl Presseault
David Neves
Patty Louise
Terry Fitzgerald
Peter Steinmetz
Timothy Fitzpatrick
Michael Liszewski
Hank O’Donnell
David Zanoni
David Weil
Matthew Sponseller
Scott Angelo
Chad Reno

Music

You’ve been hearing about Jason Kent and his music for many fine episodes. Sunfields has a new album in 2021, AND Jason has a new solo album in 2021, AND his first solo album is now streaming on Spotify, including America, the Pedalshift theme. Go listen!

The post The Pedalshift Project 232: Handling Bike Route Detours & Closures appeared first on Pedalshift.

Best of Pedalshift 081: Bikepacking Adventures

It only took 81 episodes to finally talk about bikepacking on Pedalshift… better late than never, right? On this best of episode, Rob Knapp joins us and chats about what it was like to pick up bikepacking as a racer and how that informs him in how he bikepacks when not trying to come in first. Originally podcast May 25, 2017.

Best of Pedalshift 081: Bikepacking Adventures

The post Best of Pedalshift 081: Bikepacking Adventures appeared first on Pedalshift.

The Pedalshift Project 231: Exploring Bikepacking in 2021

I’ll admit, I’ve been bikepacking curious for awhile. As my touring continues to expand and evolve I’m thinking more about bikepacking options for 2021 and I thought I’d share the process on the pod. Join me, won’t you?


The Pedalshift Project 231: Exploring Bikepacking in 2021

Hey it’s the direct download link for  The Pedalshift Project 230: (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.

Photo: ECR by Surly.

Exploring bikepacking options

  • Evolving gear – what is touring and what is bikepacking? Does it matter?
  • Expanding gear to suit tours best
  • Slimmer profile
  • Less gear for low or no camping touring
  • More trails and gravel (hi WV!)
Option 1 – modify what I have
  • fork cages + dry bags (10L x2) = 1 ortlieb
    • EXCEPT… new fork doesn’t have brazons
  • handlebar roll
    • EXCEPT current brake cables block ability to tighten
  • dry bag on rear rack or saddle bag
    • This is currently doable
  • Saddle bag?
    • With a rear rack this doesn’t do much.
 
Option 2 – Reduce gear in and get into 2-3 dry bags?
  • Ding ding. An option I’ve done before.
  • Particularly easy for no-camping trips.
  • For camping: Hammock? Bivvy or smaller tent?
Option 3 – New bike?
  • Probably where I’m heading. Surly ECR looks amazing.
  • COVID continues to limit availability, and also Surly has slimmed down its bikepacking line (pour one out for the Ogre, not to mention the non-disc LHT!)
  • Then add bikepacking bags.
  • Build: go all out or frugally? I think my next bike might be more the former, but it really depends. This option gets very expensive, very quickly.
 
Where do I land?
  • I’ve been threatening a new bike for a while, but it’s a big outlay.
  • I would need to justify its purchase by actually using it, or I’ll feel dumb/wasteful.
  • Biggest thing working against this is the substantial overlap between my Safari and the ECR. When I ride one and could use the other, I’ll be thinking of waste.
  • My spring tour is almost certainly on the Safari, it’s just a question of where…  probably close to home again because it seems prudent to wait on the vaccination and summer for a longer ride
  • Much more to think about!

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 spring’s DC to Cincinnatti 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.

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
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, RIP
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
Robert Lackey
Dominic Carol
Jacqi McCulloch
John Hickman
Carl Presseault
David Neves
Patty Louise
Terry Fitzgerald
Peter Steinmetz
Timothy Fitzpatrick
Michael Liszewski
Hank O’Donnell
David Zanoni
David Weil
Matthew Sponseller
Scott Angelo
Chad Reno

Music

You’ve been hearing about Jason Kent and his music for many fine episodes. Sunfields has a new album in 2021, AND Jason has a new solo album in 2021, AND his first solo album is now streaming on Spotify, including America, the Pedalshift theme. Go listen!

The post The Pedalshift Project 231: Exploring Bikepacking in 2021 appeared first on Pedalshift.

The Pedalshift Project 230: Scouting a New Bike Touring Route

A new year, a new bike route! On this episode, we hit the road and scout out a new bike touring route to see if it looks as good in person and it does on the screen.


The Pedalshift Project 230: Scouting a New Bike Touring Route

Hey it’s the direct download link for  The Pedalshift Project 230: (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

Scouting a new bike touring route

 
  • Part of the route mentioned in Pedalshift 228
  • US Highway 11 and US Highway 30
  • Apologies for the rough audio in parts of this!

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 spring’s DC to Cincinnatti 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.

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
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, RIP
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
Robert Lackey
Dominic Carol
Jacqi McCulloch
John Hickman
Carl Presseault
David Neves
Patty Louise
Terry Fitzgerald
Peter Steinmetz
Timothy Fitzpatrick
Michael Liszewski
Hank O’Donnell
David Zanoni
David Weil
Matthew Sponseller
Scott Angelo

Music

You’ve been hearing about Jason Kent and his music for many fine episodes. Sunfields has a new album in 2021, AND Jason has a new solo album in 2021, AND his first solo album is now streaming on Spotify, including America, the Pedalshift theme. Go listen!

The post The Pedalshift Project 230: Scouting a New Bike Touring Route appeared first on Pedalshift.

Best of Pedalshift 126: The Katy Trail

After sitting with it a few weeks since my return from bicycling the Katy Trail, I shared my thoughts on everything about the ride… the heat, the rain, the trail surface, and much more. Where does the Katy Trail stand up to other tour routes in the US? I have some thoughts on that! Originally podcast June 28, 2018.

Best of Pedalshift 126: The Katy Trail

The post Best of Pedalshift 126: The Katy Trail appeared first on Pedalshift.

The Pedalshift Project 229: 2020 End-of-the-Year Holiday Spectacular

On this episode, we continue a tradition like no other, a futile attempt to review the year in podcast form. And since no amount of fictional podcast elves or award shows can possibly out-2020 this year, we have special guests and friends of the show Brock Dittus and Aaron Flores of the Sprocket Podcast to help make sense of this year and the year to come.


Pedalshift 2020 End-of-the-Year Holiday Spectacular

Hey it’s the direct download link for  The Pedalshift Project 228: My Bike Tour Planning Process (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

Pedalshift 2020 End-of-the-Year Holiday Spectacular

 
  • Adventure in 2020 by bike included local service
  • Bikes helped to process everything going on
  • Bicycling during a pandemic
  • Music selection in ID dive bars (surprising twist)
  • Montana adventure (including special defense of small Montana towns)
  • Low on water theory
  • The one true flavor of sports drinks
  • 2021 planning, or not
  • Introversion and misanthropy on tour
  • Bike camping when you’re ready for the kids
  • Staying local vs. traveling afar
  • Access regardless of privilege
  • RIP Dan Gebhart and a shout to our communities

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 spring’s DC to Cincinnatti 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.

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
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, RIP
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
Robert Lackey
Dominic Carol
Jacqi McCulloch
John Hickman
Carl Presseault
David Neves
Patty Louise
Terry Fitzgerald
Peter Steinmetz
Timothy Fitzpatrick
Michael Liszewski
Hank O’Donnell
David Zanoni
David Weil
Matthew Sponseller
Scott Angelo

Music

You’ve been hearing about Jason Kent and his music for many fine episodes. Sunfields has a new album in 2021, AND Jason has a new solo album in 2021, AND his first solo album is now streaming on Spotify, including America, the Pedalshift theme. Go listen!

The post The Pedalshift Project 229: 2020 End-of-the-Year Holiday Spectacular appeared first on Pedalshift.

The Pedalshift Project 228: My Bike Tour Planning Process

It’s the end of the season, but that doesn’t mean we can’t dream up new tours. In this edition, I open up my bike tour planning process and technique for a brand new tour I’m thinking about next year. Once upon a time Snake Plissken escaped from NY… this potential tour turns the tables!


The Pedalshift Project 228: My Bike Tour Planning Process

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The Journal: My Bike Tour Planning Process

More tour wishcasting!

A potential spring 2021 tour to scratch a few itches
A bit of tour planning in lieu of touring
Some insight into how I come up with new tours

How I start

Come up with where to go and from where I’m starting (usually in that order)
Factor in limitations (i.e. money, COVID, time)
Reverse engineer things from there

Destination

I’ve always wanted to find touring on the east coast that satisfies me the same way riding on the west coast does
Might be worth rethinking that… the infrastructure just isn’t the same
But, let’s go with NYC

Starting point

I’ve tried to do a start from DC in planning before and I tend to get frustrated/dissatisfied with the route. New plan: start from the cabin and see how it goes

Resources

C&O, Google Maps, Ride With GPS, message boards and past research

My path

It seems like the C&O is a good gateway to get me east to a point that gives me a good path north
C&O to Williamsport, MD
From there it’s trying to connect north into PA and hit one of its surprisingly robust bike routes

Have I mentioned US highways are GREAT for bike touring? Hwy 101 makes up the bulk of the riding in Oregon and CA, and it has a good to great shoulder for many parts of the ride. 
Turns out, US Hwy 11 is an *excellent* gateway northbound into PA
From there, I go a bit less than 30 miles to Chambersburg to hook up with US Hwy 30 eastbound and PA Bike Route S which takes me essentially all the way to Philly

The lightbulb

That’s when things get great and I realize there’s a resource to tap into… the East Coast Greenway, a route I’ve been meaning to hit for years.
The gap between the end of Route S and Greenway is pretty minimal, and that gets me onto a trail in NJ and on my way through Trenton and then north to New Brunswick as I’d cut across the center of the state before turning north again to Elizabeth, Newark/Jersey City and then a quick ferry or PATH train to Manhattan!

Mileage? Timing?

That’s the next step because that can determine whether this has camping possibilities before I’d have to look at hotels or Airbnbs later in the trip as things get decidedly less wildernessy

Generally, I figure it’s 6 days or so? 
Chambersburg
York
2 days to Trenton
2 days to NYC

Terrain

Mixed bag – lots of up and down hills in parts
Good shoulders when on roads
Some trail riding

Other things

Bike – Almost assuredly the full-sized touring bike, but Brompton isn’t out of the question if I decide not to camp

Camping/Lodging – Not sure – that’s next steps but I suspect the stealth camp option would be pretty compelling

Is this COVID-friendly? Not sure. I’d probably have to consider hotels.
Worst case might be a good one for post-vaccination but too-early-to-consider-flying kind of a tour?

Getting back – Amtrak, one-way car-rental, bus – lots of options, some better than others from a COVID perspective

So… doing this?

I’m pretty interested. I’ve also always wanted to circumnavigate Manhattan as a day tour, so if timing allows, that could be the bonus add-on!

 

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 spring’s DC to Cincinnatti 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.

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, RIP
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
Robert Lackey
Dominic Carol
Jacqi McCulloch
John Hickman
Carl Presseault
David Neves
Patty Louise
Terry Fitzgerald
Peter Steinmetz
Timothy Fitzpatrick
Michael Liszewski
Hank O’Donnell
David Zanoni
David Weil

Music

You’ve been hearing about Jason Kent and his music for many fine episodes. Sunfields has a new album in 2021, AND Jason has a new solo album in 2021, AND his first solo album is now streaming on Spotify, including America, the Pedalshift theme. Go listen!

The post The Pedalshift Project 228: My Bike Tour Planning Process appeared first on Pedalshift.