0
The Pedalshift Project 424: Pedalshift's New Basecamp

The Pedalshift Project 424: Pedalshift’s New Basecamp

Big news for the show: The Pedalshift Project is setting up camp in a new city! This episode breaks down what that means for future tours, how this opens up brand-new riding possibilities, and why the destination may be a bit of a surprise and also not a surprise at all.

The Pedalshift Project 424: Pedalshift's New Basecamp

Hey it’s the direct download link for The Pedalshift Project 424: Pedalshift’s New Basecamp.

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 has a new basecamp

Why? This move is all about geography, access, and expanding the Pedalshift touring sandbox. Seattle places world-class touring terrain right outside the door and increases the show’s ability to cover more routes, more often.

And yes—this is a return to the broader PNW. Think of it as a new basecamp, and not a commentary on my beloved Portland. It remains the land of sunshine and bunnies, and it’s just down I-5.

There’s obviously other details to all of this but they are far more weedsy than worth getting into for you all. Let’s focus on the parts that impact the pod!

What Seattle Unlocks for Bike Adventures

Puget Sound & the Islands

  • Bainbridge, Vashon, Whidbey, and the San Juans
  • Ferry-based overnighters and S24Os

Olympic Peninsula

  • ACA Pacific Coast connections
  • Port Townsend → Sequim → Forks routes
  • Big coastal scenery for trip diaries

Cascade Range

  • Palouse to Cascades Trail (hello, cross-state gravel epic)
  • Snoqualmie Pass corridor
  • North Cascades Highway rides when the snow gods allow

British Columbia

  • Vancouver + Victoria loops
  • Easier cross-border touring content

Western US Access

Simpler jumps to NorCal, SoCal, Alaska, and Rocky Mountain tour starts

How the Show Evolves

More Micro-Tours

Seattle puts quality riding minutes—not hours—away, which means more short trips, more experiments, more rapid-fire episodes.

Some Non-Bicycle Adventures

Exploring by foot – hiking, urban adventures and more. Not a replacement for bikes, but a compliment.

New Possible Arcs

  • The Islands Project
  • The Puget Sound Loops
  • Palouse to Cascades: Piece by Piece
  • Return to the Coast (Seattle → Portland → Coast → beyond)

Year-Round Riding

Milder PNW winters = more shoulder-season content and gear discussions. Also proximity to southern CA for winter riding?

What Stays the Same

  • The philosophy of intentional, practical, joyful bike travel
  • Long-form tours and multi-state adventures
  • Portland is the land of sunshine and bunnies, and Seattle will need a tagline

Early Seattle Recon

  • Riding West Seattle, Alki, and Elliott Bay
  • Ferry recon missions
  • Scouting trails, routes, and spots for easy S24Os
  • Checking out the local bike shop ecosystem

Production Notes

  • Scheduling in winter and spring TBD with some back and forth travel
  • Regular episode cadence with best-of’s 

Listener Input Wanted

  • Got Seattle, Puget Sound, or PNW route suggestions? Hidden gems? Ferries worth timing for golden hour? Winter riding hacks?
  • Hit me up—I’ll feature the best ones in future episodes.

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 summer’s upcoming 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.

Music

You’ve been hearing about Jason Kent and his music for many fine episodes. Jason has a new solo album available NOW. Go listen to JUKEBOX BOY wherever cool music is available!