It’s the end of the year and that means it’s time for the Pedalshift Holiday Spectacular! Join Shifty the Elf and Tim for a showcase of the best of Pedalshift in 2016!
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.
Fall — C&O with Belle Starr and Thanksgiving ride (Pedalshift 063)
Music
The Pedalshift Project theme is America courtesy of Jason Kent off his self-titled solo album. Check out his band Sunfields‘ latest release, Habitat, wherever cool music resides. And a little birdy tells me Jason’s recording some new music. More when I know…
Just say no to the bikey pizza cutter. I mean, delicious, but no. This is a bike touring gift guide for the bike tourist in your life (hint: this might be you). These are (almost all) things I personally use and love.
I think this is one of the most clever items on the list… waterproof but lets air out for easy compression. I use the large size for sleeping kits, but all sizes are great.
I ride the C&O a lot, and while there isn’t an entrance fee, this pass makes me feel like I support the system. Oh, it also lets me in all the others… which is nice.
Filters built in make this a great way to help less than tasty water sources (it filters out iodine taste too for you backcountry types with iodine pills).
For you big spender types… a touring bike: Brompton, Pedalshift Style from CelverCycles in PDX (Oregon has no sales tax!) or your LBS… (just no orange) Runner up: Surly Long Haul Trucker from your LBS
December means (for a lot of us) one thing: friggin cold hands and feet. On this episode of the podcast, let’s see if we can find some ways for keeping hands and feet warm on bike tour, and maybe even your chilly commutes! Also, followup on past shows and connections with you!
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.
Gear Talk: Keeping hands and feet warm
– Layers, keep things dry
– No cotton, only synthetics or wool (I prefer wool)
– Wind chill is a real thing: need a way to break that
Keeping hands warm
Three tools:;
– thin base layer glove that breathes
– Medium weight warm glove
– wind and waterproof outer shell – mittens or lobster style are upgrades (get one size larger)
Dry and not too cold?
Base layer or shell only
Wet and not too cold?
shell only
Dry and chilly
Base layer and medium weight
Wet and chilly or colder
All three layers
Keeping feet warm
Had good luck with Showers Pass waterproof socks.
Same rules apply… go with layers and breathability next to the skin.
Little sandwich baggies around your toes work wonders!
Followup
Winter touring – Meridian, MS to Atlanta, GA
FOTS Paul Mulvey: Amtrak Crescent to Meridian, MS, then ride back through Tuscaloosa (Auburn U, another school with orange), Birmingham, and then onto the south’s gem – the Chief Ladiga/Silver Comet trail, and take that all the way home. About 370 miles over 6 days which gives me a good tour. I can also hop onto the train and don’t have to worry about shipping the bike to the destination.
Testing alcohol stoves
PS Society member Brian Hren tests an eBay stove, the Trangia MJ uses and a design of his own:
eBay stove boiled 16 ounces of waterin 5 minutes, Trangia in 8 and my homemade “penny” stove in 10. In terms of fuel efficiency I found the Trangia most efficient, followed by my penny stove and lastly the eBay stove. The Trangia and eBay stoves with their pot stands weigh roughly the same. The penny stove with its homemade pot stand weighs less than half the other two.I am thinking I could get the best of both if I used the Trangia burner with the homemade pot stand.
YMMV of course.
Fuel efficiency seems like a good reason to go with the Trangia for me!
Connections
PS Society member Scott Taylor on an under $30 one-person bivy
Interesting read because it straight up says it’s a cheap tent, but can be upgraded with some simple fixes (seam sealing, adding grommets, velcro, etc.)
I’m a bit of a claustrophobe and prefer freestanding tents, but this seems like a good entry level bivy for beginner bike packers. Downside is they make it up in shipping: both options are around $15. Still, for a little over $40 total, this is cheaper than most low end bivys.
Cycling Kiwi Style
FOTS Mark Van Raam did some cycling in New Zealand and had a good experience!
More five star iTunes reviews too – thank you!
Programming note!
I’m off to Portland tomorrow for a quick holiday visit, so hope to have some stuff from the land of sunshine and bunnies. Newsletter is NEXT WEEK, along with a bonus pod so be sure to sign up for the newsletter if you haven’t already. Next episode of this show is the year-end Pedalshift Holiday Spectacular. Producer Shifty the Elf is already hard at work pulling it together…
Pedalshift Society
A big thank you to all of the monthly supporters of the show! If you like what you hear, you can help me keep the show listener-supported while expanding the offerings. Five bucks, two bucks or even 1 helps with the costs of hosting the podcast and the website, and you can do it for a bit and cancel anytime. One-shot support is welcome if you’re not into the small monthly thing. Check it out and join at pedalshift.net/society. And society members please go to pedalshift.net/stickers and let me know where to send some Pedalshift stickers to you! On to the Society!
Ethan Georgi
Matt Buker
Kimberly Wilson
Caleb Jenkinson
Cameron Lien
Andrew MacGregor
Michael Hart
Josiah Matthews
Keith Nagel
Brock Dittus
Michael Riscica
Seth Krieger
Marco Lo
Terrance Manson
Noah Schroer
Harry Telgadas
John Sikorski
Richard Killian
Chris Barron
Scott Taylor
Brian Hren
And all past contributors for helping make this show happen
Thank you for supporting the show!
Music
The Pedalshift Project theme is America courtesy of Jason Kent off his self-titled solo album which celebrated its TEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY last month. Congrats Jason! 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!
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in the States (sorry, a bit late for you Canada!). On this episode of the Pedalshift Project, let’s go for a ride! I recorded this week’s pod in the saddle while I rode a portion of the C&O Canal Towpath, including some stories, some gear talk and more. Take a break from the holiday weekend and join me for a Thanksgiving ride on the trail!
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 Journal: a Thanksgiving ride on the C&O
Chilly 35F wake up temps
Banks of the Potomac
Fall on the C&O
Sled dogs pulling a fatbike
Ride to see the cows
Ride to see the pigs
Gear Talk
Let’s talk tools Tim. In episode 22 of The Pedalshift Project you speak with author Peter Rice; and by extension, Jerry the Dirtbag Bike Mechanic. Peter makes a valid point when he says that we willingly climb into our cars and take them across the desert without fear or concern of them breaking down. And by extension, without any knowledge of how to fix them if they did breakdown.
So why oh why does every touring gear list include the tool set-up of a basic bike shop? In 40+ years of riding bikes I’ve never popped a spoke. Never had reason to remove a sprocket. Never re-packed a bottom bracket. Never had a chain break. Never had to replace my own brake/shifter cable on the road.
No day rider, even long distance day riders, go out with these concerns. And even if I did break a spoke, I’m not certain I would know how to fix it properly anyway. And most certainly not in a timely manner.
Tubes, tire levers, patch kit, pump, hex wrenches to tighten bolts and adjust parts. I get all that. But when you think back on your years of bike riding and touring, what is the actual and practical tool kit that you think the average ACA route bike tourist realistically needs?
Pedalshift Society
A big thank you to all of the monthly supporters of the show! If you like what you hear, you can help me keep the show listener-supported while expanding the offerings. A buck, two bucks or even 5 helps with the costs of hosting the podcast and the website, and you can do it for a bit and cancel anytime. One-shot support is welcome too… annual or “choose your own adventure” if you’re not into the small monthly thing. Check it out and join at pedalshift.net/society. And society members please go to pedalshift.net/stickers and let me know where to send some Pedalshift stickers to you! On to the Society!
Ethan Georgi
Matt Buker
Kimberly Wilson
Caleb Jenkinson
Cameron Lien
Andrew MacGregor
Michael Hart
Johnny K
Josiah Matthews
Keith Nagel
Brock Dittus
David Kolb
Michael Riscica
Seth Krieger
Marco Lo
Terrance Manson
Noah Schroer
Harry Telgadas
John Sikorski
Richard Killian
Chris Barron
Scott Taylor
Brian Hren
Thank you for supporting the show!
Music
The Pedalshift Project theme is America courtesy of Jason Kent off his self-titled solo album which celebrated its TEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY this week. Congrats Jason! 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!
As the temperatures dip, I test out a new sleeping bag… how does it handle colder weather bike touring? Plus, my dog Belle Starr joins me for an overnight, plus connections and more!
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 Journal: colder weather bike touring + more
Riding with Belle Starr
Last night of DST
5 miles down trail to Leopards Mill H/B campsite (one I hadn’t stayed at before)
Outward Hound backpack did great and so did BelleFound she likes to stick a paw out – still was stable and fine
Had a battery issue with my phone so did an extra RT to get my charge cable
Cold but not freezing night went well with Belle… have a review in gear talk about the new sleeping bag
She did great with “distractions” like trains and deer
We’ll try it again! Want to test the trailer option and see how long I can ride with her before fatigue sets in… assume I’ll need more frequent breaks.
I have a video up on YouTube plus newsletter subscribers got a Tour Journal as the bonus pod this month!
Katy Trail
FOTS Todd Tillinger from Helena, MT
Just wrapped up my first self-supported bike tour, an 8-day 7-night trip across Missouri with my old friend Mark who lives in Kansas City. Our goal was to ride through urban KC to the rural town of Pleasant Hill, where the new (and not quite completed) Rock Island Trail begins and runs to Windsor, MO. That’s where the RIT intersects the well-known and well-traveled KATY Trail, and where we would turn and use the KATY to cross the rest of the state. It took two full days and over 103 miles to reach the KATY, and given the urban and rural detours it was an adventure. Luckily the weather was fabulous and we were soon on the KATY. The next 5 days were on the KATY, all the way to the very eastern end at the old rail stop of Machens, MO, just a stone’s throw from the Mississippi River and Illinois. We caught the Amtrak out of suburban St. Louis in Kirkwood, rolled off the train at Union Station in KC, and rode the last 16 miles to Mark’s house to finish the tour. All told, it was 8 days, 7 nights, 383 miles. We camped 5 nights, friends put us up 1 night, and we camping cabin’ed it at a County Park on the night after our one rainy cold damp day’s ride. I am attaching a few pictures for your information, and to let you know that the 237-mile long KATY is a great way to introduce someone to touring and a great way to spend a week if that is all you have. Towns are reasonably spaced, supplies and way are easy to come by, there are restaurants and inns if that’s your thing, and camping is easy to find off-trail at city parks, nature areas, or RV parks near the trail. The KATY itself is a long, linear state park so they don’t allow camping on the trail but that was not a problem at all.
One more thing: the 47 mile section of the Rock Island Trail is scheduled to be complete after this winter. But there are still some impassable sections, such as bridges over streams that are missing or surfacing that is nonexistent. That 47 miles from Pleasant Hill MO to Windsor MO actually took 60 miles, and two hours longer than expected. The lesson: be flexible, be self sufficient, and always carry lights. We ended that day (and three others) needing to use our headlights to ride and to set up camp. Good old fashioned type 2 fun!
We left downtown Kansas City last Friday Oct. 21, and returned Friday night Oct. 28 via the Amtrak River Runner (with roll aboard service). Thanks to your tips, I knew to buy the train tickets in advance and make the bicycle reservations. That was essential, and I am glad we did!
Followup
Shelli Snyder is doing much, much better. Her fund is over $100k and we played a small part in that…
Go read more about her progress on the GoFundMe page.
Stayed warm at about 40 degrees using it as a quilt so I think 32 is legit.
Seems well built and compacts nicely. Will do my best to keep it lofted and use it in some colder weather this winter.
If you’re in the market for a winter bag, this seems like a good value.
Electronics on tour
Rob Pupke from the great Empire State of New York…
One subject I’d like to hear covered on a podcast would be electronic equipment. Phones, computers, GPS, cameras…? What is absolutely necessary? What is nice to have? What about charging? Apps? Maps? How do these things work when your cell signal is gone? I hear you mention various things about electronics while covering other subjects, but I feel it is assumed that everyone is fully up to speed on these subjects when I listen. I’m not a Luddite, but I don’t know the ins and outs of traveling with electronics, and how they can be helpful in remote areas.
Connections
Follow up on alcohol stove fuels
Hey there, I started listening a few months ago and enjoy your podcast. I am a fellow cyclist, however have yet to ride a bike packing tour but I will in the future and find your podcast helpful. I am an avid backpacker though and have done several backpacking trips. Just a quick note for your alcohol stove that you were fueling with the “Heat” made for cars, this product is Isopropyl alcohol and has additives for automotive use, you are correct it does not burn very good at all in an alcohol cook stove. The ideal fuel for an alcohol backpacking stove is “denatured alcohol” which can be found at hardware stores in the paint and finishes department (used for cleaning brushes etc.) This very pure form of alcohol will burn super clean and a small stove will boil 2 cups of water an under 10 minutes easy. I carry this kind of setup for backpacking and t is very light, yes I do the minimalist thing.
Chip Lang Troy, NH
Followup… I was in WalMart the other day getting epoxy for an unrelated project and lo and behold there was an enormous can of denatured alcohol for 4 bucks! Now I know where to get it I might do some more experiments… thanks for the heads up!
Pedalshift Society member Chris on riding in Ohio
Just thought I’d send you a note and say thanks again for the podcast, it has been a huge motivator for me to start getting things together to start touring and bike camping. Here is a photo of my old mountain bike after being re-purposed into my first touring bike. Ditched the flat bars for drop bars, switched the knobby tires for some Schwalbe Marathon Pluses, and got the rear rack and panniers on there. Took it for a 20 mile test ride today on the Ohio to Erie Trail (which is conveniently only two miles from my house), just to get a feel for riding a loaded bike with the extra weight. Other than a 15 mph headwind on the first half of the ride, everything went great! … The weather and lack of daylight is working against me getting any trips in this fall, but I’m already looking forward to planning for next spring. Thanks again for the show and the website!
Chris in OH
Pedalshift Society
A big thank you to all of the monthly supporters of the show! If you like what you hear, you can help me keep the show listener-supported while expanding the offerings. A buck, two bucks or even 5 helps with the costs of hosting the podcast and the website, and you can do it for a bit and cancel anytime. One-shot support is welcome too… annual or “choose your own adventure” if you’re not into the small monthly thing. Check it out and join at pedalshift.net/society. And society members please go to pedalshift.net/stickers and let me know where to send some Pedalshift stickers to you! On to the Society!
Ethan Georgi
Matt Buker
Kimberly Wilson
Caleb Jenkinson
Cameron Lien
Andrew MacGregor
Michael Hart
Johnny K
Josiah Matthews
Keith Nagel
Brock Dittus
David Kolb
Michael Riscica
Seth Krieger
Marco Lo
Terrance Manson
Noah Schroer
Harry Telgadas
John Sikorski
Richard Killian
Chris Barron
Scott Taylor
Thank you for supporting the show!
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!
Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been fascinated with The Land Down Under, so it’s no wonder I’m drawn to bike touring Australia. On this episode of the pod, we take a look at a vintage tour and one that’s happening right now! Plus, cooking and eating on tour and connections!
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 Journal: Bike touring Australia
Featured Historical Tour
Wendy Law Suart and Shirley Duncan circle Australia (1946-1949)
11000 miles/18000 km
Planned to bike around Europe, but post WWII was not an ideal time for that
So… they decided to bicycle around Australia and do it in 6 months. 3 years later they concluded their epic adventure.
This wasn’t a time when women typically traveled alone, much less doing it by bike. Luckily we have a book written by each of them and this *amazing* Movietone News newsreel you can check out on YouTube and in the shownotes. Check out their single speed gear and ingenious drying methods:
I’m a fan of history, and the people that paved the path before us. Tip your next one back for these two Aussie trailblazers (and stay tuned… we have a modern version coming up in Connections)!
This segment brought to you by a couple of questions from listener Scott Taylor!
Revisiting Stoves
Scott asks on FB:
I was thinking about going “cat can.” But the stoves appear to be less fuel efficient. If I add the extra fuel weight, the cat can ends up cheaper, but heavier. What was your experience?
That said I don’t love the results. For about 15 bucks you can buy an amazing version by Trangia that are bulletproof and easy to use.
I also don’t love alcohol for fuel… unless you get the good stuff, you end up with Heet or less than pure alcohol and it burns messily and not so hot.
I’m currently loving that Etekcity mini stove I got from Amazon for less than ten bucks. It burns hot and is super frieking small. If you’re flying, you need to get a canister on the far side of your flight… so make time for that. Otherwise? Easy.
Second choice… I like the Esbit tab stoves for lightness. The tabs smell awful but they’re light and burn pretty hot. Might take more than one to boil a large pot of water though.
Revisiting food on tour
Scott asks on email:
I’m prepping for my first longer tour and I’d like to get an idea about what food folks carry.
Is it like backpacking? Carry a week’s worth. Or more like carry a couple days worth? Or maybe, just carry a couple meals worth with an emergency back up ration or two.
1 – carry what you like to eat, but know you’re going to change your mind though.
2 – don’t carry more than you need, but always have at least one “backup” meal or bar
3 – if you’re not cycling in back country don’t carry multiple meals “just in case” because it’s a waste of weight and bulk
4 – remember fruits and veggies. Roadside stands are fantastic places. So are berry bushes.
5 – high calorie, low weight: oils, nuts and nut butters
6 – sugar and caffeine are performance enhancers, but use them wisely
7 – are you a cooker or just an eater?
8 – eating out adds up, but it might be worth it (less weight, time to charge gear, time in climate control)
9 – indulge on tour, but remember things change off the bike
By the way, Scott also stuck a fine looking Pedalshift sticker on his ride contributing to a higher orange to bike ratio on this fine planet:
Connections
New Listener: Hels and her ongoing tour of Australia
Hi there, I’ve been listening to your podcast for a few weeks now as I cycle around/across Australia. This is my first bike tour (save for one overnight from the Brisbane area) so I’m really learning as I go and your podcast has been most useful, so thank you very much for the work you do.
I’m listening to back episodes and you often mention you’d like to hear about people’s trips, and when you mentioned in an old episode that you’d like to hear from more female tourers I decided to write and let you know of my trip. You can see the blog at https://www.facebook.com/Helsonwheelswithmlt/
Keep up the great work, Kind regards Hels
FB page: “An attempt to cycle around Australia by rooky cyclists Hels and MetroLumberTaudevin” — they recently passed day 200 (!!) of their ride around Oz. Lots of goathead flats but what an adventure… go check it out!
Listener Fred in Texas: Commuting Champ
I’ve gotten into a Commute/Regular Ride practice. My commute can take from 90min- 3ish hours…but there is a catch. I drive my car to a light rail station, ride the train, then get off and ride into work. This is the 90 minute trip. It’s crisp and clean and included a 7.3ish mile ride into work. Fortunately, there are showers, yay! (I have four potential routes at 7, 12, 20, and 25 miles)
My ride home can be the exact same route in reverse but I prefer the longer 20 mile route that is mostly trails. It’s very nice. This can be easily extended to 25 miles. So, when you add in the driving, the train, and the bike ride: it’s 3ish hours.
I don’t consider this “commuting” even though I am. I consider it going for a bike ride and integrating into into my commute. When I don’t have evening rehearsals mucking up my time, I’ll do this three times a week. It’s much more enjoyable then having to deal with traffic, AND it basically frees up my weekends from miscellaneous rides.
Touring? not yet, but that’s OK. Still, I’ve determined that maybe, someday, I’ll do a cross Texas ride because that where live.
All the best,
Fred
Pedalshift Society
A big thank you to all of the monthly supporters of the show! If you like what you hear, you can help me keep the show listener-supported while expanding the offerings. A buck, two bucks or even 5 helps with the costs of hosting the podcast and the website, and you can do it for a bit and cancel anytime. One-shot support is welcome too… annual or “choose your own adventure” if you’re not into the small monthly thing. Check it out and join at pedalshift.net/society. And society members please go to pedalshift.net/stickers and let me know where to send some Pedalshift stickers to you! On to the Society!
Ethan Georgi
Matt Buker
Kimberly Wilson
Caleb Jenkinson
Cameron Lien
Andrew MacGregor
Michael Hart
Johnny K
Josiah Matthews
Keith Nagel
Brock Dittus
David Kolb
Michael Riscica
Seth Krieger
Marco Lo
Terrance Manson
Noah Schroer
Harry Telgadas
John Sikorski
Thank you for supporting the show!
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!
Fall bike touring my favorite kind of touring… just hopping on a bike, hearing the crunch of the leaves under the tires and enjoying the cool temperatures inside a warm tent. This episode I chat about my recent mini-tours on the C&O plus my plans for a winter ride in 2017!
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 Journal: Fall bike touring and more
Fall C&O weekenders
May try to wedge in one more through ride if I can pull it off
Did a wet ride this past weekend… really enjoyed the quiet trail and using the rain gear. When it’s a choice rather than having it foisted upon you, touring in the rain is great.
Want to see if I can get Belle Starr out there, but need it to be bone dry (i.e. no hurricanes like last weekend)
C&O Water Followup
Had a chat with a trail ranger a few weeks ago on the rumor we heard about the Park Service not treating the water pumps at the campsites anymore.
This was news to the volunteer and he was skeptical of the rumor. Dehydration on the trail is a costly issue for the Park Service requiring remote rescues that are pretty pricey.
In fact the ranger let me know that
(a) they are required to carry substantial amounts of extra water on patrol and even more interesting,
(b) there are secret caches of drinking water the Park Service has out for emergencies.
To be continued, but this makes me think it’s more likely the treatment would change before they would cease well treatment altogether.
Winter ride?
I hope to be able to pull off a longer tour next year, but just in case things break differently I’d like to add another week-long tour to the mix… so I’m considering a winter tour.
January or February week long ride south enough to be warm enough
I like the idea of segmenting the Atlantic route, but I’m not liking the infrastructure in a lot of the east. Florida from Fort Lauderdale to Jacksonville is one possibility and then segmenting the remaining portions north and south of DC in the spring, summer and fall.
The one that seems more interesting to me is a desert ride that would be 1 week of the Southern Tier route from San Diego up and over the mountains and across the desert basins to Phoenix. I’d look to complete the remainder of the southern tier in the spring and fall.
Crossing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel
Good Afternoon and thank you for contacting the CBBT.
The CBBT would be happy to shuttle you and your bicycle across this facility upon arrival. We would like to ask that you notify the CBBT at least 48 hours in advance of your estimated arrival to make the transport arrangements. Please contact the Operations Division at 757.331.2960 ext. 8940.
You will be responsible for your one-way toll of $13.
Safe travels!
Connections
Runner turned cyclist
Hi!
Your podcast episodes are my favorite! So informative and enjoyable! I’m a half marathoner turned cyclist, so you’ve inspired this newbie quite a bit!
I’ve actually jotted down notes from your show for my first tour this past summer (from Santa Barbara to Orange County). Because of you I’ve been inspired to get a folding bike and take it up to the land of sunshine and bunnies (I’m from San Diego).
Thank you so much for all the great episodes and wonderful interviews, especially the one with Patience. Her IG pics inspire girls like me to get out there and be adventurous!
Best,
Emmy
Getting back in the game
I am actually going through a training period thru the end of the year before I throw my hat in the ring for my own attempt at a transcontinental ride. I recently got back into biking using a recumbent trike after many years setting on the side lines. I first got the urge to do a transcontentental ride when I was in high school a long time ago, before Bicentennial was even around. Now at 60 years old with partial paralysis in my legs I am seriously making an effort to accomplish this bucket list item.
Jeffrey from Escondido
Pedalshift Society
A big thank you to all of the monthly supporters of the show! If you like what you hear, you can help me keep the show listener-supported while expanding the offerings. A buck, two bucks or even 5 helps with the costs of hosting the podcast and the website, plus the Pedalshift Society allows me to do cool new things I’ll be rolling out in future shows. AND brand new by popular request… one-shot annual support and “choose your own adventure” one shot support if you’re not into the small monthly thing. Check it out and join at pedalshift.net/society. On to the Society!
Ethan Georgi
Matt Buker
Kimberly Wilson
Caleb Jenkinson
Cameron Lien
Andrew MacGregor
Michael Hart
Johnny K
Josiah Matthews
Keith Nagel
Brock Dittus
David Kolb
Michael Riscica
Seth Krieger
Marco Lo
Terrance Manson
Noah Schroer
Harry Telgadas
Thank you for supporting the show!
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!
On this episode we chat with Instagrammer extraordinaire and cross-country bike touring vet, Patience — aka @biker_girl_pay — on overcoming obstacles and turning loss into something better. Bike touring tributes, plus connections and more!
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.
Dedication
This episode is dedicated to Shelli Snyder. Many of you have heard she was on a tour from Cleveland to Seattle and was struck from behind by a person driving a vehicle in Montana. She’s in very bad shape, but we’re hearing good news about her recovery. Pedalshift Society members… your monthly contributions are all going to her recovery fund at GoFundMe. If you’re listening to this and would like to help more, check out the GoFundMe page and consider supporting the fund for her recovery.
The story hits close to home in particular because Patience, as you’ll hear, met Shelly on her ride. I’m really happy to be able to share her experience with you so we know a little more about Shelli outside of what happened in Montana.
Latest update since recording and as the show goes live: Shelli has been transferred home to Cleveland’s MetroHealth. She’s in good hands, but obviously has a long road to recovery.
The Interview: Bike touring tributes with Patience
Patience, or “Pay” AKA @biker_girl_pay on Instagram and her adventures crossing America — from Seattle to Boston — by bicycle.
Your adventure had two main driving forces… a bike touring tribute to a friend you lost last year and doing something big between graduation and “the real world.” What about biking from Seattle to Boston checked those boxes?
How did the people in your life react to your trip?
Your photos in Instagram were stunning and helped tell your story so well… what were you using to take the pictures and was there anything you’d recommend to bike tourers on how to up their Instagram game?
One of the things that pulled me into your ride was it had some classic bike touring drama… some pretty low parts revealing humanity’s awfulness and high points showing off real generosity. What’s stuck with you more?
You had someone you were riding with take your wallet… how does that color trust of fellow riders in the future?
Let’s talk about your gear. First of all I saw lots of orange so Pedalshift stamp of approval. What were you riding and what guided your bike and gear choices?
What one thing did you think you’d use a lot, but ended up sending back or otherwise regretting to bring?
What was the thing you think most people don’t take on tour, but you wouldn’t leave home without?
People often have trouble adjusting to the end of tours… you also are transitioning from school to work…. and you have a connection to the tragedy of Shelli Snyder from Cleveland who was struck from behind by a person in a vehicle in Montana which has really impacted a lot of us. Any one of these things is tough… how has this triple whammy return to “the real world” gone?
Any future tours on the horizon?
Connections
Merit Badge?
PS member and FOTS Ethan Georgi Just listened to ep 58 with Riscica talking about being homeless while bike touring & it reminded me. Recently on tour someone asked me if I was homeless. Is there a merit badge for that?
Congrats, you win the first Pedalshift Merit Badge! This is the highly coveted, “Dude, really?” badge for those SMH questions you get on tour.
Collect all 44 badges[footnote]this is arbitrary[/footnote] by making one up and emailing pedalshift@pedalshift.net.
Rabbit hole.
FOTS Todd Tillinger
More on the rolling resistance of tires. This is for touring and e-bikes, but they test other categories as well.
It’s a nerd’s delight… graphs and data on rolling resistance plotted against inflation PSI, puncture resistance and more. My head hurts… in a good way!
The Marathon Supremes I roll on get 5/5… I also got some good data-based advice on what pressure is best to roll on. It also confirmed that the puncture resistance is great on the tread but below average on the sides… which we know 😉
Strava + Google Streetview followup
Chatted about Strava heat maps in Ep 056… here’s what PS Society member Cameron Lein on what he does:
What I used to do is look at google maps and try to piece my route together by looking at the overall map and zooming into streetview to see if it is a safe/do-able route. This took some time if I was say headed from western Oregon to eastern Oregon. Now I start by looking at the Strava map and see what route most people are taking. If I look at a section of road and there isn’t any bike traffic then there is usually a good reason for that.
Glacier Bandits on the GAP
Shares a pic from outside The Crabby Pig in Cumberland…
We can haz evin moar 5 star reviews!!!
Dublavee Greg Braith Runner from Evanston
Pedalshift Society
A big thank you to all of the monthly supporters of the show! If you like what you hear, you can help me keep the show listener-supported while expanding the offerings. A buck, two bucks or even 5 helps with the costs of hosting the podcast and the website, plus the Pedalshift Society allows me to do cool new things I’ll be rolling out in future shows. AND brand new by popular request… one-shot annual support and “choose your own adventure” one shot support if you’re not into the small monthly thing. Check it out and join at pedalshift.net/society. On to the Society!
Ethan Georgi
Matt Buker
Kimberly Wilson
Caleb Jenkinson
Cameron Lien
Andrew MacGregor
Michael Hart
Johnny K
Josiah Matthews
Keith Nagel
Brock Dittus
David Kolb
Michael Riscica
Seth Krieger
Marco Lo
Terrance Manson
Thank you for supporting the show!
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!
Ever wonder what it’s like to cross the US by bike? On this episode of the pod, we chat with a guy who’s done it not once, not twice, but three times! Michael Riscica talks about the highs and lows of bike touring across America, including what it’s like to transition to the real world back home. Plus gear talk and more!
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.
Gear Talk
Touring Brompton specs: “The Pedalshift Touring Brompton”
– Touring Brompton specs
– Boo: no orange for Bromptons! H/T Anna at Clever Cycles for letting me in on that.
– A few things to add: I really like the Brompton toolkit (ingenious storage in the tube) and the third party Off Yer Bike handle. For a lock, I’m experimenting with a folding version that’s a knockoff of the ALBUS ones and I just supported a Kickstarter campaign for a cinching lock by a Portland company called Ottolock. Super lightweight and fairly resistant to cutting.
Bicycling with your dog followup
Based on the advice of fellow dog biker and follower Jim in Louisville, I asked for Outward Hound’s Pooch Pouch backpack for my recent bday… both pups fit in it, Belle Starr a little better than Mookie. Looking to a fall overnight with her to test it all out!
The Interview: Bike touring across America with Michael Riscica
Michael Riscica is a Licensed Architect in Oregon. He grew up in the New York City Area and moved to Portland by bike in 2007. A veteran of three cross-America bike tours, Michael rode the Transam in 2005, the Northern Tier in 2007 and returned to the Transam in 2016… all east to west, like a boss. He writes at YoungArchitect.com and coast2coastbikeride.com. He’s also on Instagram & Twitter [@BikeTouring999].
What was your inspiration to move across country by bike on your first cross country ride?
You strike me as a pretty laid back guy, but critics of your ride, your gear or your style, and even how you wrote your blog got under your skin. Frankly as a reader I felt the same way. What’s your take on “backseat bicyclists”?
Your dog patiently waited for your return and you could tell you missed her a lot on the ride. Would you consider bringing her along on a future ride?
How challenging was it to do work on the road? Was there ever a point when you needed internet or cell signal and didn’t have it?
What’s the one thing friends and family got consistently wrong about your rides that you always felt you needed to correct about bike touring across America?
What’s the best advice or assistance you got on tour?
Favorite gear?
You’ve done the northern tier and the Trans Am now twice. Are you thinking about trying the southern tier ride at some point?
Three cross-country rides in… what’s changed with riding across country?
Did you have a tough time transitioning back into reality when you got back? What tips do you have?
Pedalshift Society
A big thank you to all of the monthly supporters of the show! If you like what you hear, you can help me keep the show listener-supported while expanding the offerings. A buck, two bucks or even 5 helps with the costs of hosting the podcast and the website, plus the Pedalshift Society allows me to do cool new things I’ll be rolling out in future shows. AND brand new by popular request… one-shot annual support and “choose your own adventure” one shot support if you’re not into the small monthly thing. Check it out and join at pedalshift.net/society. On to the Society!
Ethan Georgi
Matt Buker
Kimberly Wilson
Caleb Jenkinson
Cameron Lien
Andrew MacGregor
Michael Hart
Johnny K
Josiah Matthews
Keith Nagel
Brock Dittus
David Kolb
Thank you for supporting the show!
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!
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Michael Riscica is a Licensed Architect in Oregon. He grew up in the New York City Area and moved to Portland by bike in 2007. A veteran of three cross-America bike tours, Michael rode the Transam in 2005, the Northern Tier in 2007 and returned to the Transam in 2016… all east to west, like a boss. He writes at