The Pedalshift Project 047: California coast bike touring

Just days away from some quality  California coast bike touring, I’m getting all the details in order just in time for an episode of the Pedalshift Project! California here I come!

The Pedalshift Project 047: California coast bike touringHey it’s the direct download link for episode 047: California coast bike touring (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 pedalshiftproject@gmail.com or call the lightly-used Pedalshift voicemail line at (202) 930-1109.

The Journal

California coast bike touring: final prep

  • Brompton setup continued
  • My gearing, fixed!My route and logistics
  • ACA Pacific Coast route
  • Land in SFO Monday, Uber with my Brompton and bags to the coast then start rolling south. Fly out of LAX the following Tuesday afternoon.
  • Camping largely in CA state parks, maybe a wild camping option tossed in
  • One fast forward train needed – a few options beginning in SLO
  • Reminder you can listen in on my ride with Pedalshift Tour Journals Vol. 5, Pacific Coast! In fact, if you’re a newsletter subscriber you already got the details. If you’re brand new to the show and missed out, join the newsletter now and shoot me an email by noon ET Sunday April 17th and I’ll get you the details before I roll Monday.
Rearview with the pack
Sideview pack only
Mookie checks out the Brompton
Speed hub!
Brompton Ortlieb pannier hack
Side view, front bag

Introducing Pedalshift Plus + Pedalshift Society

PSS-PSP

Pedalshift Plus

  • All back episodes of Pedalshift Tour Journals from 5-$10 each
  • Future plans include Pedalshift audio tour guides of routes near and dear to me…
  • Learn more at pedalshift.net/plus

Pedalshift Society

  • Help the show with monthly recurring support… just a buck or two is amazing… and you and every other merry member of the Pedalshift Society gets a shout out right before Jason Kent brings the closing credits. So you can always say, “hey… I opened for Jason Kent on a podcast once… sort of.”
  • Learn more and join at pedalshift.net/society

Connections

  • Jared Hardy educates me on the origins of Type 2 fun! Apparently it’s from Dirtbag Diaries, which is a podcast I keep meaning to pick up on. I hear it rocks and if they’re the source of Type 2 fun, then I’m in.
  • SPEAKING of great podcasts… I just started listening to The Joyride Podcast, which is hosted by Cat Caparello from PDX. It’s a total celebration of women who ride bikes and she’s had some killer interviews so far including some great ones on bike touring, and one of my favorite voices in bicycle advocacy, Elly Blue.  She also closes her shows with a great Anais Nin quote: “Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.” which his dope. Great show… Check it out: girleatsbike.com
  • Mark Van Raam wrote in asking what I thought of TSA Prechck and Global Entry… I’ve never used them so I throw it out there to the community… have you used it and do you think it would be helpful when flying to or from a tour?
  • Speaking of: I decided to buy the United early boarding option… $29 is stupid but I’ve spent way dumber money for way less mind-settling things than getting a Brompton in an overhead early.
  • Jonathan Martin writes in asking about my Brompton… and I have to say I’m a huge huge fan. I got the speed hub working over the past week and Clever Cycles has built a really killer ride. I’m confident it’s going to do me well for some California coast bike touring next week!

Music

The Pedalshift Project theme is America courtesy of Jason Kent off his self-titled solo album. Check out his band Sunfields‘ album, Habitat, wherever cool music resides.  I heard Jason’s new album in January and it is AWESOME. More info when that drops this spring!

Featured image: Bixby Bridge (cc) via Flickr.