Category: pedalshift

September 16, 2020

Best of Pedalshift 109: The Path Less Pedaled

Russ Roca joins the Pedalshift Project to talk about his work on The Path Less Pedaled and using photography, video and storytellng to advocate the joys of bicycle travel. Originally podcast March 1, 2018. Also be sure to check out our livestream over on Path Less Pedaled’s YouTube channel live at 8pm 9/16/20 or catch the replay anytime.

Best of Pedalshift 109: The Path Less Pedaled

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September 10, 2020

The Pedalshift Project 218: Filmed by Bike

With our… shall we say… unusual touring season this year, a lot of folks haven’t been able to have as much bike goodness in their life. And ordinarily, a cool bike film festival isn’t plopping down in your living room. But 2020’s edition of Filmed by Bike is! Ayleen Crotty joins us on this edition to chat all things bike fun, plus previews the bike adventure film in this year’s offerings.

The Pedalshift Project 218: Filmed by Bike

Hey it’s the direct download link for The Pedalshift Project 218: Filmed by Bike (mp3).

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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

Image credit: 2020 entry, “I Just Want To Ride – Lael Wilcox and the Tour Divide” Rugile Kaladyte + PEARL iZUMi – Louisville, Colorado

Upcoming Bikey Events

FOTS Analisa van den Burgh is the organizer behind the Cycling With Summit September 18-20. It’s a great lineup of speakers including Pedalshift friend Jasmine Reece. Go check it out at milesofportraits.com/cycling-with

The Interview

The 18th Annual Filmed by Bike is happening virtually this year September 10-13. I’ve wanted to check this out for years but could never coordinate my Portland travels or check out any of the roads shows. But this year, I’m in. Check it out at filmedbybike.org.

On this episode of the pod, I’m excited to chat with Filmed by Bike’s founder Ayleen Crotty. If you’re a bike Portlander, you’ve consumed some of the stuff she’s been in on the ground floor of. Midnight Mystery Ride, Pedalpalooza, Shift to Bikes, the KBOO Bike Radio Show? Yeah Ayleen’s legit.

We chat all about the film festival, including the bike adventurey entry this year plus more about the bike industry, diversity and more.

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
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

Music

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

The post The Pedalshift Project 218: Filmed by Bike appeared first on Pedalshift.

September 3, 2020

The Pedalshift Project 217: GAP 4×44 Loop – Day 4

Day 4 of the 4×44 GAP Loop came too quickly, but featured the ultimate payback for a day and a half of climbing… the giant downhill to the finish line.

The Pedalshift Project 217: GAP 4x44 Loop - Day 4

Hey it’s the direct download link for The Pedalshift Project 217: GAP 4×44 Loop – Day 4 (mp3).

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Upcoming Bikey Events

The GAP 4×44 Loop

It seems hard to believe I hadn’t bike toured on anything except the C&O in six months. SIX months! I love me some C&O, but if you’re like me variety helps keep me sane. So in August 2020, still in the midst of a global pandemic that was sticking around the US longer than any of us wanted, I figured out a safe and responsible way to roll on a different trail…. the Great Allegheny Passage. And due to some lucky happenstance, I could do a loop where each day was a convenient and Syracuse University numerology-friendly 44 milles (#GoOrange).

Check out Day 1.
Check out Day 2.

Check out Day 3.

Day 4 of the 4×44 GAP Loop came too quickly, but featured the ultimate payback for a day and a half of climbing… the giant downhill to the finish line.

Photos

Check out Pedalshift on Instagram!

Statistics

Miles biked 44 (GO ORANGE!)
Bagels eaten like, 6
Food resupplies 0
Rattlesnakes 0
Big ass hills 1
Flats 0

Music

The post The Pedalshift Project 217: GAP 4×44 Loop – Day 4 appeared first on Pedalshift.

August 27, 2020

The Pedalshift Project 216: GAP 4×44 Loop – Day 3

Day 3 was sneakily the toughest of the 4×44 GAP Loop. Sure the hill wasn’t as steep as day 1, but this one was the full 44 miles long. Would the heat get the best of me?

The Pedalshift Project 216: GAP 4x44 Loop - Day 3

Hey it’s the direct download link for The Pedalshift Project 216: GAP 4×44 Loop – Day 3 (mp3).

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Upcoming Bikey Events

The GAP 4×44 Loop

Check out Day 1.

Check out Day 2.

Day 3 was sneakily the toughest of the 4×44 GAP Loop. Sure the hill wasn’t as steep as day 1, but this one was the full 44 miles long. Would the heat get the best of me?

Photos

Check out Pedalshift on Instagram!

Statistics

Miles biked 44 (GO ORANGE!)

Food resupplies 1

Minutes spent with two feet in the Cassellman River 20

Rattlesnakes 0

Less crowded Ohiopyles 1

Arguably semi-chilly beverages at camp earned 2

Flats 0

Music

The post The Pedalshift Project 216: GAP 4×44 Loop – Day 3 appeared first on Pedalshift.

August 20, 2020

The Pedalshift Project 215: GAP 4×44 Loop – Day 2

Day 2 was, at least on paper, the most chill of the 4 segments—all downhill and the coolest of the remaining days. But with an unexpected state of affairs in Ohiopyle, will my chill day become the most stressful of the tour?

The Pedalshift Project 214: GAP 4x44 Loop - Day 2

Hey it’s the direct download link for The Pedalshift Project 215: GAP 4×44 Loop – Day 2 (mp3).

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The GAP 4×44 Loop

Check out Day 1.

Photos

Check out Pedalshift on Instagram!

Statistics

Miles biked 44 (GO ORANGE!)

Food resupplies 1

Ounces of ice cream eaten 16

Rattlesnakes 0

Overcrowded conditions 1

Inactive water fountains 0

Big tunnels 1

Chilly beverages at camp earned 3

Flats 0

Music

The post The Pedalshift Project 215: GAP 4×44 Loop – Day 2 appeared first on Pedalshift.

August 13, 2020

The Pedalshift Project 214: GAP 4×44 Loop – Day 1

The GAP 4×44 Loop tour begins with some question marks about heat and hydration, and oh yeah… a 24 mile climb to the eastern continental divide. With no climbing in my bicycling since 2019, could I haul me and a fully loaded bike up that hill?

The Pedalshift Project 214: GAP 4x44 Loop - Day 1

Hey it’s the direct download link for The Pedalshift Project 214: GAP 4×44 Loop – Day 1 (mp3).

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The GAP 4×44 Loop

The tour began with some question marks about heat and hydration, and oh yeah… a 24 mile climb to the eastern continental divide. With no climbing in my bicycling since 2019, could I haul me and a fully loaded bike up that hill?

Photos

Check out Pedalshift on Instagram!

Statistics

Miles biked 44 (GO ORANGE!)

Food resupplies 1

Rattlesnakes 1

Rattlesnake bites 0

Inactive water fountains 1

Big tunnels 3

Chilly beverages at camp earned 2

Flats 0

Music

The post The Pedalshift Project 214: GAP 4×44 Loop – Day 1 appeared first on Pedalshift.

August 6, 2020

Best of Pedalshift 088: Hot Weather Bike Touring

A look back on a weekend overnight in triple digit heat, plus my top hot weather bike touring tips. Originally podcast July 27, 2017.

Best of Pedalshift 088: Hot Weather Bike Touring

The post Best of Pedalshift 088: Hot Weather Bike Touring appeared first on Pedalshift.

July 30, 2020

The Pedalshift Project 213: GAP 4×44 Loop Preview

As I round the corner to my next tour of the Great Allegheny Passage, what are my biggest challenges? You know, other than the pandemic thing. The GAP 4×44 Loop tour preview has all the answers…

The Pedalshift Project 213: GAP 4x44 Loop Preview

Hey it’s the direct download link for The Pedalshift Project 212: Bike Touring in COVID Times (mp3).

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News and housekeeping

Housekeeping

Morning rides on the C&O and WMRT – not seeing a lot of signs of touring in Hancock and I mention this as a followup from last week’s show… I’d expect to see someone in the Hancock area but I’m only surveying one C&O campground on the west side of town and the C&O Bike Shop bunk house. If you’re on the C&O this summer, I’d be curious to get your take on the touring “traffic”

Thanks for the feedback on touring during COVID… seems to be some consensus on cancelling bigger tours and keeping things local. That’s where I’m largely at, although this tour will bring me well outside of my home stomping grounds, but the start and finish is arguably the edge of my home touring neighborhood. Speaking of…

The GAP 4×44 Loop

Considered going lighter and hammock only, but decided to roll full loaded in case tent is a more comfortable solution (which it may be)
Considering a new camping hammock, but bringing my cheap one
Biggest challenge – water. Unlike the C&O, the GAP has very little water on-trail, and I’m going to assume those sources may be shut due to COVID.
Plan on bringing my water tank (4L) plus several .5L bottles to be safe
Heat index has been very high lately, so I’m assuming it may be the same.
Food. Toying with no stove for this trip and cold soaking or eating whole foods (good!) or stuff from cans (bad, but tasty!)
Cold bag – I might attempt some chilled delicacies and use a modified cold bag with frozen water bottle and cold brew for day 1 and buy ice at resupply after day 2 if I’m wanting to keep things cold for day 3 and the final night of camping. It’s easy to say yes to this for the first day and night since I would consume the melt on day 2. Tested it on the Brompton overnighter, so it works ok.
Limiting the clothing. Look, I talk a big game, but I tend to wear the same stuff. My partner may not be excited by this when she picks me up on day 4. I will bring at least 3 masks, 2 of which will be gaiter style. I’ve got one I really like that has elastic on both ends and that makes it ideal for holding above the nose. I have a new ear hook one I may use as my camp-only one.
New ride: the bike rides like a champ now that it’s been reconstructed. New fork is black, so the bike has a decidedly Frankenstein vibe, but that’s ok by me.
I’m glad I’ve done the whole trail before but I think I’ll miss completing the last 62 miles to PGH. Given that I’ve done the whole C&O in pieces this season, I might look to do that western third of the GAP in the fall, depending on how things go.
Next week’s show is the August Best Of, featuring Episode 087 on hot weather touring. You know, in case we get any hot weather ¯_(ツ)_/¯
The GAP 4×44 Loop Tour Journal will start August 13th and get us into Labor Day and the September best of, TBD
Thanks so much for listening and supporting the show!

Music

You’ve been hearing about Jason Kent and his music for many fine episodes. Sunfields’ latest album may be their best yet. Go get it.

The post The Pedalshift Project 213: GAP 4×44 Loop Preview appeared first on Pedalshift.

July 23, 2020

The Pedalshift Project 212: Bike Touring in COVID Times

As we adjust to the new normal, can we bike tour safely and responsibly during a pandemic? On this episode, I share the thoughts of fellow listeners, a bike touring organization, and my personal recommendations for bike touring during COVID times.

Bike Touring in COVID Times

Hey it’s the direct download link for The Pedalshift Project 212: Bike Touring in COVID Times (mp3).

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News and housekeeping

Stay tuned for my next tour at the end of the show! Kind of a spoiler alert since the topic is touring during COVID that I’m on the side of “yes you can, but…”

Bike shortages and maintenance backups – a quick heads up for those of you looking to ride that bike shops are having a tough time keeping many types of bikes in stock and many of them are backed up on maintenance and repairs, some for weeks. So plan ahead!

I’m really late to the game on the Adventure Cycling Dynamo Jenny podcast… if you’ve listened for any length of time to this show, I’m a big booster of women in bike touring go check it out! And if you never heard my chats with Jasmine Reese, Annalisa van den Bergh, Adele Dittus, Cat Caperello-Snyder, Kerry Gross, and I know I’m missing a ton of others, they’re all in the back episodes of the Pedalshift Project so please check those out too!

Bike Touring in COVID Times

Let’s start with some baseline elements here:

I’m taking this with a US perspective where we are, frankly, a dumpster fire compared to other parts of the world in terms of infections. Your region and/or country may vary.

The novel coronavirus is a real threat. It is contagious, we’re unsure if getting it confers immunity, but we do know some people can catch it and die. So even if you personally don’t worry about it, you can pass it along to people who are more vulnerable than you. This is not the flu, it’s way worse.

But, life is a series of managed risks. After all, bike touring is a managed risk! If COVID were a purely personal risk one would take it would be a lot different, however, the fact it’s contagious, can be passed on asymptomatically or presymptomatically means – in my opinion – we have a responsibility to others as well to manage the risk of spread.

I have a responsibility to my family. I have a responsibility to the people I come in contact with – folks at grocery stores and shops and cafes. On a bike tour, you’re bringing the potential of infection with you and may not know it.

Again, in my opinion, that means bicycle touring should be done with more caution and with less contact than before the outbreaks began.

What are others saying?

At this time, Adventure Cycling Association discourages cyclists from embarking on long-distance bike travel along the Adventure Cycling Route Network.

We believe the bicycle travel community has a responsibility to avoid endangering the health of small communities and straining limited medical resources. Moreover, shelter-in-place and quarantine orders exist at many levels of government across our network, and availability of services is inconsistent and unpredictable.

We can’t say for certain when it will be safe to take long tours again, but at this time we’ve canceled our own guided tours through September 5, and are evaluating on an ongoing basis beyond that date.

In the meantime, Adventure Cycling is hard at work to improve bike travel conditions, develop new routes for future adventures, and make sure we’re ready to help you when it’s time to hit the road once again.

Martin in OK:

For context, I live in rural northeast Oklahoma. We have a low population density; however, many area residents are at best inconsistent about protective behaviors. Also relevant is that I have a family member with a mild-to-moderately compromised immune system.

In late May I prepared a 200-mile, 4-6 day loop tour through rural back roads. I designed the route so that campgrounds were available every 40-60 miles and so with natural water sources I could filter from to minimize reliance on in-town resupply stops. Halfway through the route I had the option (and risk) of a hotel to cool off from the heat. I ended up cancelling my plans when Oklahoma’s COVID surge took off in June.

As I’ve considered why I canceled this tour, I realize that the presence of COVID alters my risk assessment of other tour variables – mostly by making my typical bail-out options potentially unsafe for me, my family, or my helper/rescuer. For this tour, the most likely potential problem was heat exhaustion (95 degree highs and 65% humidity). In a COVID world, I don’t want to cool off inside high-traffic buildings like gas stations, especially in a region where mask-wearing is not the majority practice. And, of course, if I get heat stroke I could end up in an emergency room where there’s liable to be a greater presence of coronavirus. In my mind, COVID amplifies the potential consequences of the risks already present on a bike tour.

What does touring look like for me going forward? Probably S24O’s and few, if any, multi-night tours. I’ve begun pinpointing primitive, open camping locations within a 40-60 mile radius: mostly wildlife conservation areas and designated fishing lakes. Typically, there are no facilities or campgrounds as such, and thus very low traffic. While I might consider a small state park, I’m not comfortable chancing a crowded check-in lobby. With luck I can string together a 2-night mini-tour of no-contact campsites. As long as the riding and weather aren’t too demanding I’d be willing to do that sort of a tour. Also, no more tours without a family member on standby ready to pick me up if need be; no relying on the kindness of strangers for enough aid to get me back on the road.

It will be interesting to see where the bike touring community lands post-COVID. I anticipate wildly different new norms between various regions of the country.

Greg Braithwaite

What I’ve personally settled into is several one-day trips that include:

– 1 stop max. at some kind of supply/food store

– Duh–Use of disinfecting wipes, hand sanitizer, masks

– No weekend overnights to avoid crowds

– Repeated trips to a destination the coast that is a proven stealth spot–but modifying my route to get there (for me this is often 80-120 miles round trip).

What DIDN’T work was when our CA State Parks opened and I ASSUMED that included hiker/biker sites–It does not! It’s unclear from the website and I should have called before riding out to Half Moon Bay from Santa Cruz. This mistake caused me to stay in a hotel (very clean/very safe), BUT not something I’d necessarily sign up for during COVID.

Quick plug for Greg’s new YouTube channel! It’s called BIKEVIDS!

What am I recommending in the US and potentially elsewhere?

Only tour in a responsible way. The routes are going to be there after this.

Shorter, local, low or preferably no-contact tours.

I am avoiding all forms of public transportation for now, including busses, trains and planes.

All of my tours are beginning and ending at home or within a drive or drop-off/pickup

Limited resupplies, limited contact in towns

Mask up as much as possible, including when riding but especially when others are around

Solo travel is ideal. Next best option, touring within your bubble. Last best is touring with others, but remaining socially distanced.

Maximum hygiene before and after contact with restrooms, facilities, shops, stores, etc.

Camping is probably safest (lower contact, unless it’s not).

Airbnbs and hotels aren’t necessarily unsafe – depends on circumstances

Less proximity to people is most preferable

If you are showing any symptoms, bail out ASAP

A day trip loop that starts and ends at your home is fine replacement in these times.

Are people touring in the US?

Yes, but it’s hard for me to assess whether it’s less, the same or more than last year.

And, oh yeah, I’m touring. It’s been really helpful for my mental health and a nice getaway from the new normal

The next tour: GAP 4×44 Loop

Following my own recommendations:

Keeping it ocal-ish: Begins and ends 1 hour drive and pickup from my cabin

All camping, potentially with some stealth camping to reduce contact even more

Solo

Self contained with one resupply point midway (water notwithstanding)

Masking, sanitizer – I’m treating my interactions so that if I were infected that it’s far less likely I’d be bringing it to anyone and that I’m minimizing my exposure in case someone around me is infected.

It’s a tour of the GAP – a loop from Cumberland to Connnelsville and back. What’s fun is it’s 4 days of averaging or hitting 44 miles (go Orange, no I didn’t plan it). So it’s the GAP 4×44 Loop. Coming to the pod in August!

Music

You’ve been hearing about Jason Kent and his music for many fine episodes. Sunfields’ latest album may be their best yet. Go get it.

The post The Pedalshift Project 212: Bike Touring in COVID Times appeared first on Pedalshift.

July 16, 2020

The Pedalshift Project 211: A Brompton Urban Stealth Overnight

With my proper trail bike in the shop but a real need to get out for an overnight, I turned to a C&O newbie… my trusty 12″ wheeled, very orange Brompton as my chariot to an urban(ish) stealth camping overnight. Would the trail chew up the Brompton? Would my orange gear prove too, well, orange for stealth camping? If you can’t get your adventure by the liter these days, may as well do it in sips…

Hey it’s the direct download link for The Pedalshift Project 211: A Brompton Urban Stealth Overnight (mp3).

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.

News and housekeeping

My touring bike is finally back! Now that it’s fully repaired (a) wow what a difference and (b) I’m hoping to pull together another mini tour to share with you all soon. And no, it won’t be the C&O… but the logistics are key.

Speaking of. Next week’s show is going to revisit the COVID situation. Touring as we knew it just isn’t possible and how we modify what we do is the difference between responsible and irresponsible. On next week’s show I’ll share my thoughts on what responsible bike touring looks like this year and beyond. If you’ve got thoughts, I’d love to hear them to help shape the episode… call the voicemail at 202-930-1109 or shoot me an email at pedalshift@pedalshift.net.

Pedalshift Tour Journals: A Brompton Urban Stealth Overnight

I won’t share details of where I was other than (a) it was accessed using the C&O trail, (b) to the best of my knowledge it was not on NPS property, (c) it was (barely) inside the Beltway a.k.a. I-495, the interstate that loops around my fair District plus suburban Maryland and northern Virginia, and (d) there were no “no trespassing” signs.

So, nobody saw me re-enter the trail and the ride back was uneventful. Sitting here now several days later I’m still really impressed at the Brompton and I don’t think I’ll underestimate its ability to handle a trail like that anymore. I’m also liking these quick overnights as mini sips of adventure… it’s not a good substitute to what I want, but it’s good enough. And that’s going to have to do.

Music

You’ve been hearing about Jason Kent and his music for many fine episodes. Sunfields’ latest album may be their best yet. Go get it.

The post The Pedalshift Project 211: A Brompton Urban Stealth Overnight appeared first on Pedalshift.