With one more big(ish) summer bike tour in my sights, it’s prep time for the Oregon coast ride next month. Also, it’s an extended bit of gear talk… what do I look for in the perfect bike touring tent? It’s all in this ep of the pod… now with more unreasonable contractions of words that don’t need them!
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.
Aluminum (not fiberglass) poles (titanium if you’re into pricey)
A well-designed “bowl” for the floor
A bike touring tent without a footprint is… less than ideal. If it doesn’t come with one, buy or make one.
I like my ALPS Mountaineering Zephyr 3-Person Tent (affiliate link to Amazon, fyi). It checks all the boxes and it’s a great price. And orange, as all great things are.
Connections
Thanks for checking in! You can always reach out at pedalshift@pedalshift.net or hit me up in the comments section or on social media.
Rachel’s tour
I went on my first tour last week here in Montana. My partner and I rode about 260 miles to raise money for the buffalo field campaign. Check out the pics and a couple stories on IG @humble.homestead.mt
Harry Telegadas shares his tour
In early May I rode a three-day, two night from Connellsville to Pittsburgh (and return). Its a very easy ride with many fews and a nice afternoon in Pittsburg. i thought your listeners might find it appealing, especially new riders.
Day 1: Car ride from DC to Connellsville (good secure parking); ride from Connellsville to Dravo campground and camp.
Day 2: Leave camp-site set up at Dravo and use a day-pack to ride into downtown Pittsburgh. Stayed on the south side and had lunch and a nap. Return to Dravo.
Day 3: Pack up,re return to Connellsville and drive home.
Not the most epic ride but I like the sections into Pittsburg for the raw industrial views; very different from most Rail-Trails.
Also, Harry’s big on foam earplugs and carrying a spare tire with him. Super smart on all fronts!
Aloha Scott Gilbert – a Bike Friday setup
Uses a modified hardshell Samsonite as a trailer and a way to check his Bike Friday folder!
Another 5-star iTunes review from Thegreatrelyt!
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 (like the new C&O online guide!). 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. Check it out and join at pedalshift.net/society.
If you’re interested in one-shot support, consider something over at Pedalshift Plus and get something cool in return! If the C&O talk is interesting, consider Pedalshift Tour Journals Vol. 1 my epic Pacific Coast tour with multiple daily podcasts chronicling my ride in 2014. You can get that at Pedalshift Plus. On to the Society!
Ethan Georgi
Matt Buker
Kimberly Wilson
Caleb Jenkinson
Cameron Lien
Andrew MacGregor
Jonathan Martin
Michael Hart
Johnny K
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!
We are in the thick of bicycle touring season, so it’s high time I start testing new bicycle touring gear, right? Also a report on my semi-successful C&O ride (sigh… the rear tire… because of course) my Grand Canyon ride and much, much, 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
C&O Ride
Ahh bicycle touring… it giveth and it taketh away.
The train.
The mud.
The people – had great conversations from the first night at the Y to the groups that I paralleled and ran into in camps. First time ever I ran into more women than men on the trail, and that’s awesome to see.
Campsite reviews – they’re coming! I have decent footage of every site from Cumberland to Harpers Ferry and intend to get that up as soon as possible, along with the ratings system.
Bonus: doing some work on swimming spots on the C&O based on feedback from a group I hung out with at a couple of campsites. Look for those soon.
The tire fail. More on it in gear talk, but here’s what happened.
The train back and the plan for completing the ride July 9/10.
Follow up on the summer tours I’m following
Michael Riscica@biketouring999 – got some sweet Waffle House arm shades and is making great miles across the plains and into Colorado. Check him out.
Patience@biker_girl_pay – biked through my hometown Fairport, NY on the Erie Canalway (check out Pedalshift Tour Journals Vol. 3 for my ride last year!)
3 Girls on a Bike – hitting the humidity in Missouri but got to camp riverside listening to the fireworks in the background while swinging on hammocks near the Missouri river… not a bad way to celebrate the 4th! Follow the blog.
Gear Talk
Tires and tubes
Still a fan of Schwalbe tires but I 100% intend on replacing them every couple of years if they are the Supremes or any other tire with weaker sidewalls. The Plus line and others are burlier on the sides, but aren’t as good on pavement, which is where I do most of my rolling. Because this seems to be a warranty issue, I’ve submitted the images for review — MJ and others have had good response from Schwalbe on matters like this, so we’ll see. Love the tires, despite this fail.
Test your tubes. Carry at least one. I’m going to always do that before I leave and also check my patch kits to make sure I have multiple patches. Riding Schwalbes made me pretty complacent – a good thing and a bad thing!
DEET dissolves patch kit glue, so if you’re getting bombed by mosquitoes while you change a flat, wash your hands or use gloves.
Be patient and try to get a fix in the moment rather than hack and roll. Last time this happened a few years ago (different tire brand) I didn’t spend enough time on a boot and it failed. This time, I was too impatient with mosquitos buzzing and biting, and that caused the DEET issue.
Carrying a spare tire? Probably won’t do that. A boot should handle most issues and I think I’ll be much more aggressive with new tires every 2 seasons or as needed. By the time they wear “enough” I’m finding it’s already too late.
Schwalbe Marathon Supreme bead tear
Schwalbe Marathon Supreme… normally does not do this!
Headsweats hat – Lightweight and sweat wicking. All my Syracuse and Bills hats are sweat-stained and gross… no more!
Brita Sport Water Bottle – because tasting iodine in your water is for suckers. Note, this isn’t a true filter for backwoods use. Probably should have said that on the pod. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
“Faux Pro” – Hey I can take videos without using my phone now! Check out the two I did (special thanks to Pedalshift Plus and Pedalshift Society people for making this happen)…
Aaaand a quick reminder those links are affiliate links… if you’re into these things and get them from Amazon, you help support the show. I paid for and tried em all myself and thought you might like them too!
Connections
Thanks for checking in! You can always reach out at pedalshift@pedalshift.net or hit me up in the comments section or on social media. Another 5-star review from Christopher!
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 (like the new C&O online guide!). 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. Check it out and join at pedalshift.net/society.
If you’re interested in one-shot support, consider something over at Pedalshift Plus and get something cool in return! If the C&O talk is interesting, consider Pedalshift Tour Journals Vol. 2: DC – PGH with multiple daily podcasts chronicling my ride in 2015. You can get that at Pedalshift Plus. On to the Society!
Ethan Georgi
Matt Buker
Kimberly Wilson
Caleb Jenkinson
Cameron Lien
Andrew MacGregor
Jonathan Martin
Michael Hart
Johnny K
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!
It’s officially summer in the northern hemisphere (sorry Australia… it was a good run, but it’ll be back) and it’s time to live vicariously and follow some of those summer bicycle tours. In this episode I let you in on three I’m following, plus give you an update on my C&O through ride this coming weekend and some additional bikey plans I’ve got.
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.
Met Michael at Pioneer Nation super briefly last fall when someone I met was like, “I HAVE to get the two bike touring guys to meet!” He’s working his way westbound on the TransAm and has mixed in some pretty dope videos of his ride mixed with punk soundtracks. Worth the follow and the reads!
She’s about half done rolling from Seattle to Boston in tribute to a friend she lost late last year. It’s also one of those “I’m riding two months before I have to enter the real world” kind of rides, which I always wish I had done back when it would have matters for me. Really cool pics in the IG feed. Also, she wears a lot of orange, so she must be super cool 😉
Vicky, Wendy and Linda… riding cross country (notice a theme?) to raise money for local bike pathway projects in Illinois. Aaron from Sprocket Podcast helped them out with directions when they got semi-misdirected in Portland a few weeks back. I’ve reached out and hope to get them on the show as they roll into DC in August.
Hey another tour for me! I’ll be through-riding the C&O again starting today as this podcast is released! If you’re a newsletter subscriber, not only did you get the bonus podcast this month (my five favorite bike touring books) but you also got the special feed to listen in on Tour Journals Volume 6 while I ride. Missed out? No worries, it’ll be in Pedalshift Plus in a few weeks. If you’re needing a fix for some C&O audio journals, check out Volume 2, the GAP/C&O ride from last year.
I’ll have a full run-down on the next Pedalshift Project too. Trying out a new stove that I’m really digging… super inexpensive and compact. I hope to have a review up on Youtube too. What about your summer bicyle tours? Let me know in the comments or via social media!
More summer bicycle tours coming
Going to Flagstaff, AZ over the 4th of July weekend and doing some riding, likely on the Grand Canyon rim and maybe a few other choice spots. Hoping to get some good pics to share on these day rides!
August… Oregon coast! MJ is doing a little unintentional scouting for me in the next couple of weeks. More to come!
Connections
Thanks for checking in! You can always reach out at pedalshift@pedalshift.net or hit me up in the comments section or on social media.
Ethan Georgi on gear inches
After your ep mentioning gear inches for climbing, especially how what you didn’t know WAS hurting you, I looked up mine. 34.6. Not cool. Gonna look into a triple crank with a smaller chainring. Thanks for the nudge.
Steve K -pulling a Hammerhiker (as I will now call this) and getting dropped off in Meyersdale and bombing down the long hill from the Eastern Continental Divide to Cumberland!
Noah tackling the C&O – asks about bears and camping sites being full?
1- wouldn’t worry about bears. The majority of both trails aren’t wildernessy enough to get your exposure to the level that you need to up your fpod storage game. If you prefer, consider getting some smell proof bags. I’ve never encountered a bear on either trail and I don’t think I recall hearing any real reports of one.
—
2- You’ll never have a problem getting a spot at any site on a C&O summer bicycle tour. If someone is there ahead of you it’s just a chance to say hi and pitch your tent in another section of the site. I’ve chosen to ride on another 5-10 miles to get a chance at my own site but I’ve never been shut out if any site because of congestion.
Sidebar… after this ride, this and more info will be coming to a much more pimped out Pedalshift Guide to the C&O. I’ve also got some killer ideas for more in the coming months, and thanks to your support through Pedalshift Plus and Pedalshift Society, I might be pulling the trigger on one of those ideas soon. Stay tuned! Another 5-star review from Pedaling4Purpose!
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 (like the new C&O online guide!). 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. Check it out and join at pedalshift.net/society.
If you’re interested in one-shot support, consider something over at Pedalshift Plus and get something cool in return! If the GAP talk is interesting, consider Pedalshift Tour Journals Vol. 2: DC – PGH with multiple daily podcasts chronicling my ride in 2015. You can get that at Pedalshift Plus. On to the Society!
Ethan Georgi
Matt Buker
Kimberly Wilson
Caleb Jenkinson
Cameron Lien
Andrew MacGregor
Jonathan Martin
Michael Hart
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!
Recorded live from Paris, France[footnote]check out PSP022 for more on pedaling Paris![/footnote]… it’s a podcast about bicycle touring the Great Allegheny Passage in western Pennsylvania! It all makes sense, trust me. In this episode we chat about all the amazing things in store while bicycle touring the Great Allegheny Passage (or “the GAP” as you’ll usually hear) including an interview with Doug Riegner from the Allegheny Trail Alliance.
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: Bicycle touring the Great Allegheny Passage
Section riding! Biking the GAP
First real hot weekend this season
Weekend gave me opportunities to ride but not camp, so I chose a couple of sections I liked the most near PGH
Boston – West Newton (RT – 30 miles)
Connellsville-Ohiopyle (RT-34 miles)
When it’s hot and super sunny both of these sections are great ways to escape the heat. The ride to Ohiopyle in particular is largely covered in green tunnel foliage and the cooling impact of the Youghiogheny River is apparent as you roll.
Interested in hearing more about the GAP? Check out Pedalshift Project 021 from last year’s ride.
Kentuck campground in Ohiopyle… a long way up!
Acid mine drainage waterfall
More waterfalls
Ohiopyle
bicycle touring the GAP
One of the many bridge spans near Ohiopyle
bicycle touring the GAP
Flowers trailside
Connellsville adirondack shelters
Yough River
Connellsville camping shelters
Dravo campsite
Waterfall on the GAP
The Interview
Interview with Doug Riegner, Director of Community Relations & Sales at Allegheny Trail Alliance (@gaptraildoug on Instagram and Twitter)
Total serendipity… ran into Doug on the trail collecting data on trail users and got an opportunity to chat with him about the GAP… tons of great info here! Also, some birds and train noise, so you’ll get a real flavor of the GAP sounds between Boston and West Newton.
GAP news:
Pinkerton Tunnel done
New campsites on the way… first up is Ohiopyle
New granite mile markers coming this year
Bonus C&O news:
Working on trail surface on the C&O? GAP engineer is at the table as a consultant with the Park Service.
All water will be untreated on the C&O as of 2017. Get your Sawyer pumps for next year’s rides!
Bike touring route passports?
Links + resources
TrailGuide (print guide with good info – $10 from ATA)
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 (like the new C&O online guide!). A buck, two bucks or even 5 helps with the costs of hosting the podcast and the website, plus an angel gets her wings every time a new member of the Pedalshift Society joins. Check it out and join at pedalshift.net/society.
If you’re interested in one-shot support, consider something over at Pedalshift Plus and get something cool in return! If the GAP talk is interesting, consider Pedalshift Tour Journals Vol. 2: DC – PGH with multiple daily podcasts chronicling my ride in 2015. You can get that at Pedalshift Plus. On to the Society!
Ethan Georgi
Matt Buker
Kimberly Wilson
Caleb Jenkinson
Cameron Lien
Andrew MacGregor
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!
We talk a lot on this show about how to plan and enjoy a bicycle tour… but what about post bike tour care? On this golden anniversary episode of the Pedalshift Project, I chat about some of the things I (usually) do after a bike tour to keep my ride in tip top shape (plus the consequences I had not doing that this time). Also, it’s episode number fifty! Howboutthat!?
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
The Pedalshift Project at 50
I learn more every time I ride and I learn a lot from others
Pedalshift continues to evolve and be about inspiration as much as information
So many resources out there, I feel very honored to have you choose my little corner of the Internets!
A look ahead to riding the PGH end of the GAP
I have a fun opportunity this week to do some exploration of the Pittsburgh side of the GAP this week while in town.
Hope to do some preliminary work on a potential Pedalshift Guide to the GAP which I’d love to get out by the fall.
PS The Pedalshift Guide to the C&O will be updated soon with a ton of additional information,
Goals this week:
finding some helpful tips for handling the tricky nav of Pittsburgh
Get out to Homestead or beyond to get pics and a review of the first campground
Take the bike to your favorite LBS if things are a little too wonky…
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 (like the new C&O online guide!). A buck, two bucks or even 5 helps with the costs of hosting the podcast and the website, plus an angel gets her wings every time a new member of the Pedalshift Society joins. Check it out and join at pedalshift.net/society. And on to the Society!
Ethan Georgi
Matt Buker
Kimberly Wilson
Caleb Jenkinson
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 this spring!
Back from biking the C&O over the weekend, I share thoughts on the western end of the trail, my new favorite wet weather gear purchases and revisiting touring bike gearing so you never have to suffer through hills because of your bike!
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: Revisiting the C&O
This weekend’s trip to the western end of the C&O (Hancock to Cumberland)
Wet start. A very wet start. Rain gear reviews in Gear Talk.Good experience on the WV backroads from my place to Hancock.
Hancock is getting sketchier, which is sad.
Chose WMd Rail Trail over C&O… again.
Two inch wide tires are so great on a wet C&O.
Please have fenders people.
A signal-less night meant watching a great doc I rented on iTunes, Inspired to Ride about the Trans Am Race co-starring friend of Sprocket Podcast Nathan Jones. Check it out. Three words: Triple Overnight Centuries.
Spent all Saturday rolling and recording field notes for a new project: Pedalshift Guide to Bicycling the C&O. I’m building a free resource page at pedalshift.net/cando that I’ll be supplementing over time. At some point I might put out a beefier trail guide and I’ll be asking for your help on what to include. More to come.
The trail was muuuuuuuuudy – super muddy!
Quite a few people touring the trail even this early in the year
Saw a guy on a Dahon!
Got into Cumberland starving and ready for some Crabby Pig… had some great beer and enjoyed it a lot.
Tried the YMCA camping option and found it quite excellent… 12 bucks gets you full access to the facility if you feel the need to work out after a ride (heh) but more importantly, wifi, showers, very good water fountain to refill up and a decent camping spot. Downside is they didn’t have a portapotty so overnight meant you were out of luck when the facility is closed (I was told it’s normally there though). Also, there’s an auxiliary train track about 20 feet away and the one train that went through that night was a tooth rattler. You cannot escape the trains in Cumberland if you’re camping… Evits Creek is the same story, bur worse because it’s on the main CSX line. Also no wifi, no shower, and it’s 4.5 miles away rather than 1. But… it’s free. I’d do the Y again if only for the proximity and shower.
Used Amtrak roll-aboard service again and it was great… train was delayed 1 hour from Chicago but got me to Martinsburg in 90 minutes. A nasty 20 mph head and cross wind impeded my 21 mile ride to the cabin, but it all worked out fine.
I just love the C&O… with the Amtrak fast-forwards (DC-Harpers Ferry-Martinsburg-Cumberland) you can mix up the ride and take advantage of the trail for the time you have!
Images
Starting the ride in a cold downpour…
Semi-fail with the stove on this trip.
Paw Paw Tunnel!
Paw Paw Tunnel!
End of the line(ish)… half mile to go!
Pedalshift Plus
If you dig the show and want more, I’ve got it for ya! Pedalshift Plus is a way to get cool extras and help support the show to bring more Pedalshift offerings in the future. Right now I’ve got all five Pedalshift Tour Journals and I’m working on new offerings that go beyond the usual Pedalshift Project goodness. Pedalshift Plus helps to defray the ever increasing costs of producing The Pedalshift Project and keeping it open and free for everyone. So if you like what we’re doing here and these extras sound good and worth a few bucks… they’re there for you… check out pedalshift.net/plus for all the offerings. No matter what, I’m thrilled to have all of you listening to The Pedalshift Project as we head into the third year of great bike touring goodness for your earballs.
Preview of Pedalshift Tour Journals Vol. 5: California Coast, now available at Pedalshift Plus!
Gear Talk
Wet Weather Gear
As I mentioned earlier, I bought some great wet weather gear that literally saved the first day of my tour from a washout. I thought I’d share my newfound love for these three critical new parts of my touring gear, with Amazon affiliate links (if you’re into getting gear there).
Showers Pass Men’s Double Century RTX Jacket
Best rain jacket I’ve ever worn. My old one is a 20-year old Nike one that has thoroughly lost its waterproofness and I needed a new one. This is light, packs SUPER small and sheds water like nothing I’ve ever worn. As a guy who runs hot, I appreciate the high ventilation options and easily accessed pit zips. It’s built for cycling with a long tail to keep the belt line covered. It’s just awesome and what you’d expect from a Portland-based company that knows rain. A ding: I got white because they have no orange. #needsmoreorange Showers Pass Waterproof Wool Socks
Ok, these feel weird. Kind of like scuba socks? They’re on the heavy side too. BUT THEY ROCK. These are three layers that allow moisture out but not in. My feet would have been cold and raw in the rain I rode in, but they remained warm and dry. It was weird because I could feel the squish of the shoes but the feet were aces. Best wet weather socks ever. Columbia Trail Summit Running Gloves
These seem to be on the way out or at least are becoming less seasonably available… but the good news is they are on discounts at lots of places, so now may be a time to grab them. These fit snugly but are totally soft and comfortable with the added bonus of having those index and thumb thingies that let you work touch screens. Like any “waterproof breathable” item they fail after enough exposure to the rain. What made these different was the layer of reflective material inside the gloves… while the gloves got soaked by hour 3 of the ride, my hands remained totally warm and comfortable the whole time. And really, that’s the big bucket of win. Water rolls down your arms and gets into most gloves. It happens. For long days in wet weather, these are my new go-tos.
When you’re buying or building a bike for touring, the most important touring bike gearing is one you don’t use very often but you need it more than any other one. That’s your granny gear, AKA the one that helps you climb and haul stuff up hills.
When I started touring I had the misconception that bike gears were universal… “3rd gear” was “3rd gear” regardless of bike. Um, yeah… newbie!
I found I was struggling to keep up on hills and thought I was somehow in worse shape… the reality was I was pressing into high gears and the people ahead of me were using mechanical advantages I didn’t have.
SO… you’re new to this… or you want to improve things on hills… what to do? You want to be really small in the crank set and huge in the cassette. Here’s what I roll on:
44/32/22 crank set
11-34 cassette
So, I have 22 teeth in the small chain ring up front and 34 in the rear cassette… that translates to a very climby 18.5 gear inches with the tires I have (700×2″).
Compare that to the stock Safari (at the time) that had a climbing gear of 23.5 gear inches. TOTALLY noticeable.
And my FIRST bike… the one that I struggled with on the CA coast? Good lord… 35.6 gear inches. That’s basically a mid-gear for my current Safari.
SO… do you have trouble with hills? You shouldn’t and you don’t need to. They should be challenging but not things you dread and want to avoid. The next time you are looking to improve your touring bike gearing situation, start with replacing the cassette. Replace the crank. Do both if you can… work with your LBS to get as low of a gear as you can – your top gears will suffer but this is a touring bike and you rarely end up in them anyways.
Connections
Mark Van Raam:
Thanks for your recent podcast 048. One question on the Pacific Coast ride. Is it possible to not take any cooking equipment and still eat OK? I’m not a coffee drinker and could live off 7-11 food (pop tarts, hot dogs) or better grocery stores, diners, etc. I want to pedal the whole thing (Canada to Mexico border), don’t want to do the whole cooking thing.
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 (like the new C&O online guide!). A buck, two bucks or even 5 helps with the costs of hosting the podcast and the website, plus an angel gets her wings every time a new member of the Pedalshift Society joins. Check it out and join at pedalshift.net/society. And on to the Society!
Ethan Georgi
Matt Buker
Kimberly Wilson
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 this spring!
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 Brompton California bike tour…
The Ride
MJ is a great riding companion
Pearl rode like a champ although it took a couple of days to get the hang of touring on it.
Weather was largely outstanding with one exception
If you like coastline, do yourself a giant favor and ride this section (and add on the section from Leggett Hill south to SF too while you’re at it)
If you don’t like minimal shoulders and proximity to cars, skip this one.
Highlights
Succeeding on a tour with a Brompton – I’m far from ththe first, but I realized I picked a challenging ride for a first one!
Plaskett Creek to Morro Bay — best day of riding ever? Plus TAILWINDS!
Zero mile day in Big Sur
The views
Lowlights
Losing a day of riding due to rain (but also a highlight)
The Bonk
Breaking in the Brooks on a tour
Blowing a gig of data on GoT ep 1. C’mon! 😉
Having to gatecheck Pearl on the return flight
Lessons
Glad I brought the minimal stove… Will always bring something for coffee because I like having the option every morning.
Rain gear… Forget forecasts beyond a few days as they’re for entertainment purposes only. Be prepared – we had light wiNdbreakers only and were fortunate not to have been caught in the heavy cold rain like others were. Bring it every time there’s a chance for rain on your tour, and that’s most of the time for most tours!
Offline maps – particularly like MapOut on iOS – added in the route and had the sliver of maps in my phone for those sections I had no signal. Worked great.
Images
Selfie over Big Sur
Pearl resting in the lights of LAX
The Pacific blue
SLO
SLO
Turning back onto Hwy 1
Eucalyptus grove
Mile 44 because #sportsball
Next tour
Doing the far end of the C&O next weekend… No Tour Journals for this one since it’s on the shorter side but I’ll be taking pics and working on some cool upcoming things for Pedalshift Plus. Speaking of…
Pedalshift Plus + Pedalshift Society
Pedalshift Plus
All back episodes of Pedalshift Tour Journals from 5-$10 each
THIS tour (Volume 5) will be available Sunday, May 1st
Future plans include Pedalshift audio tour guides of routes near and dear to me…
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.”
THANK YOU to the inaugural Pedalshift Society members for helping to support the show!
Ethan Georgi
Matt Buker
Kimberly Wilson
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!
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!
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!
Side view, front bag
Introducing Pedalshift Plus + Pedalshift Society
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…
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.”
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!
My upcoming Brompton tour of the California coast forces me into ultralight bike touring preparations… maybe “force” is the wrong word, but I’m certainly doing some ultralight bike touring! On this episode of the Pedalshift Project, we dive into the methods I’m using to go light, learn ways to make an emergency fix to a busted rear derailleur, learn Swedish (well one verb at least) and check in with old touring friends. It’s touring season everyone!
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
Ultralight bike touring: preparing the Brompton
Spring clean (wipe down and chain cleaning and lubing)
Going no stove or maybe just my titanium Esbit stove.
Tent only (no hammock this time)
Lightweight summer bag and fleece blanket – may drop blanket for the mylar emergency blanket depending on temps
Inflatable pad
“Plane clothes” and one set of biking clothes with two pairs of athletic wicking underwear and two pairs of socks.
One pair of sneakers I’ll wear full time… might bring flip flops though. I like airing the feet out at camp!
Rain jacket as the “cold weather” gear. The Sweater stays home!
Very minimal repair toolkit and one tube. Oddly concerned about flats despite rolling on new Schwalbes!
One 100oz water bladder with extended tube that will clip to the backpack. Lighter and easier than water bottles.
May amend this if I find I have space, but I like the lightweight gear setup! Nothing I don’t “need.”
Price increase for C&O Bunkhouse in Hancock
Hello Everyone!
My name is Tracy Barnhart and my husband Jimmy and I purchased C&O Bicycle
in November of 2015. We also own Barnhart’s Lawn & Garden (an authorized
Husqvarna outdoor power tools dealership), and have moved Barnhart’s from
its location on Main St. in Hancock to the rear of the C&O Bicycle building
at 9 S. Pennsylvania Ave. The bike shop officially opens on April 1st but
we have been open for limited hours just about every day the past month
(depending on the weather). We are very excited to be the new owners of
C&O Bicycle, and we are keeping the previous employees (who are AWESOME!).
Dennis Hudson, the previous owner (also AWESOME!), will be back with us for
just the month of April to help us during the transition phase. Please
stop in and see him – I’m sure he’d love to say goodbye to all of you in
person!
The bunkhouse nightly rate is now $15 per person, which is still a great
bargain. This rate is published on our website. The bunkhouse holds up to
16 people and is completely screened in to keep the bugs out. The $15 fee
includes a bunk with camp pad, access to a clean portable bathroom, a HOT
shower, and a towel. Electrical outlets are also available to recharge
your gadgets. Contrary to the “word on the street”, we have no plans to
convert the bunkhouse into any other use at this time.
We look forward to serving all of our customers, old and new, at C&O
Bicycle! IN fact, we are currently running a great pre-season special on
all in-stock bicycles. Please visit our website at www.candobicycle.com for
more details.
See you soon!
Tracy & Jimmy Barnhart
C&O Bicycle
The Lab
Busted rear derailleur in the middle of nowhere? Emergency single speed fix!
Recently saw a person on one of the touring FB groups who was in middle of nowhere Arizona and thought he broke his derailleur. Whether it was the hanger or the derailleur I know I’d be screwed because that’s the one thing I have zero competency in fixing. But I know a hack to get me rolling…
I always travel with either a chaintool and with a chain that has a master link that allows for easy removal. One big reason why is I know I can use these to do an emergency roadside fix to get rolling even if my derailleur is toast.
Break the chain
Shorten it
Put it on the middle chain ring up front (or the smaller one if on a double)
Run the chain in as straight line as you can to the cassette. If it’s close, go with the smaller cog.
Shorten the chain so it’s tight with a little resistance when you tug. Too tight and it won’t pedal well. Too lose and you’ll throw the chain.
Bike to a place you can get help or a fix!
I hope you never need this 🙂
Ideas for avoiding theft on tour
Thanks for the podcasts and website; I’ve enjoyed all the information you are putting out and your skill in presenting it, on your own and with the folks at the Sprocket Podcast (the other biking podcast I listen to.)
One subject I haven’t heard a lot of discussion about is how one avoids theft while on tour, primarily of one’s bike, but to a lesser extent of camping gear. I assume there are times when you can’t have all your stuff with you, for bio breaks, shopping, eating in restaurants, etc. How do you deal with those times? Am I just being paranoid or is this something I need to plan for?
Thanks,
Ray Jackson
Hayward, CA
—
Great question… a lot of this is situational and location-based. I’m always amazed at how *not* a problem this seems to be generally. In cities, especially ones with bike theft reputations (cough cough Portland) I wouldn’t leave my bike unattended for a second without a good lock. As far as stuff in bags goes, I usually carry a detachable front bag or backpack for the expensive/targeted items. The rest stays in the panniers. For April, I might be wheeling my Brompton inside wherever I go… we’ll see!
Connections
It’s an all-international connections segment!
Sweden!
How are you? I’m Max, from Sweden. I found your podcast when I got new (smart) phone and a new job – I just started a PhD in marine fish ecology in the smallest city in Sweden, on the east coast (Öregrund). Since I’m from the west coast, that means I’m commuting a lot for the weekends, which is a perfect opportunity to listen to your show!
Today I caught up with it! I started listening maybe two months ago. I really enjoy it, you seem very sympathique!. Now that I have to wait for the releases on Thursdays I might check out the Sprocket podcast, so thanks for that tip!
I always used my bike for commuting to school, but after me and my girlfriend hosted the nicest Australian couchsurfer from Berlin on his way to Norway, I was immediately hooked (I liked hiking, and biking, but never ever thought about combining them!). Luckily, this project didn’t end at the day-dreaming stage (I can nerd out on things but never fulfill them). We lived in Aberdeen (UK, not WA) last year, and we did an 8-day tour from east to west of Scotland, a loop in Applecross and the outer Hebrides. If I was hooked before I’m even more so no. In fact, neither of us was even the slightest deterred by the (almost) constant raining and hoards of midges (I thought we had a lot of midges in Sweden, but that’s nothing compared to west of Scotland. On the train back to the east coast, people who entered the train apologized for the midges they brought with them onboard!).
Now that I’m stuck in the smallest city in Sweden out in nowhere, I’m planning to do weekend tours, like yourself! Spring is finally here, the sea ice is starting to melt and I got all my cycling gear in one place now.
Anyhow, this is getting long! I’m excited about your future show on flying with a classic touring set-up. One of my supervisors is based at the University of Washington in Seattle, so I am trying to plan a longer vacation and a ride on the pacific coast next summer after I’ve visited him, maybe in June! That’s been a dream destination since I started reading up on bike-touring.
Well, I should finish up here. Thanks for a great show! Glad to hear it is going well for the project!
All the best,
Max
P.S. Haha, actually, I just told Maja (girlfriend) about me e-mailing the show, and she reminded me that “dimpa” actually means something. It’s a verb, and it means something like “plump down”, or you know when a letter “dimps” (swenglish) down from the mail-hole in the door 😉
Belgium! Hugo mentioned last show, Hugo sends an update!
2016 …. 25 years they pedaling, 1991 began.
Last week I cycled past a newsagent, newspapers were full of pictures of brussels, fuck, why, Belgium, Belgians have been so good, obedient to take within their Muslim brothers and we will get it as much, no this is it, people do think about it does for thou thing, there are simply no words, why ????? anyway, the last day I bought this newspaper and only bad and worse news about Belgium, sorry really sorry, we lose here millions of euros … Bv.japaners have canceled their trip to Belgium …. With me everything is very good, better than I already had good weather, eat, sleep and especially cycling here is better than Excellent, it’s hard to say with words but by the 100 countries that I have cycled thailand is my number one, the biggest reason is that here zoveeeeeel place to ride, my other bike friends agree, have a danish, englishman, taiwanese cycled and loved that too. the future brings me 12april to Taiwan, 10mei to Japan (Fukuoka) and June 7 in Australia (Cairns), then I’m not sure yet … maybe fiji or Hawaii. the main forgotten, Thank you Mr Sonneville, Delhaize, AL employees DELHAIZE owl, THANK yOU, my cook, or my mummy and everyone I’ve forgotten, I also support continue in the following years …. …. never give up, as long as I can keep pedaling I keep kicking. Regards, Hugo, Xuxa and Garfield.
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!
We all want to save a buck (or a euro… or a… whatever you’re spending these days) but what’s the best way to set up your bicycle tour budgeting? I’ve got a few ideas to share on this episode along with some gear talk on dynohubs and batteries, plus a mega-connections section where I learn I made a mom feel better about her daughter’s epic bike tour. I know, can you believe it?
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
Bicycle tour budgeting
Camping over hotels… wild camping or free camping when you can. I would recommend getting an account on Warm Showers because they can be helpful on the TransAm for a free place to stay in places that don’t have good camping options.
Making your own food is another thing that can save money… sometimes I prefer the convenience of eating at towns along the route, but you can make your own meals for a lot less if you have the energy to cook or make them.
Often you’ll end up riding with others you meet along the way… sometimes you can share expenses on things that are nice little luxuries like a campground at an RV park that would normally run $30US, but with a group of 5 cost $6US when shared. I’ve seen groups split groceries for a couple of days too.
My number one rule when it comes to riding is to travel as cheaply as possible, but don’t be afraid to make a problem go away by spending money. This is a ride of a lifetime (I wish I had done the TransAm at 22!) and if spending a little money solves a problem that would impact your enjoyment, spend the money and budget for it down the road!
Revisiting flying with a Brompton
Behold the Dimpa Bag!
Backup plans for gate checking: The Dimpa bag from IKEA… going to carry it on every flight with the Brompton for sure after my experience without the bike last trip! Full flights are way too common now.
(Future episode will be all about flying with a full size bike.)
California dreamin – plans for April and PSTJ Vol 5
About a month away! Shedding weight on me and my gear to get things as light as possible for the big Brompton California ride. MJ and I are getting excited for the rains to diminish and for a fun, chill ride.
A new C+O adventure in May
Mother’s Day weekend I’m aiming to do a partial tour of the C+O! I’ll take Amtrak out to Harpers Ferry and ride out as far as light will last me. I’ll probably ride further out Saturday before turning back towards Harpers Ferry and eventually returning to DC Sunday before sundown. Bike touring season!
Touring with my dog Mookie… maybe?
I have a half baked idea to try an overnight with Mookie on the C+O to see how he does. If he can hack it, I plan to bring him on more! Anyone else tour with their neurotic, separation anxiety addled pets?
Hey Tim,
My name is Ayana, I am 22 years old and I’m from Kibbutz Be’eri, Israel.
I’ve been binge listening to your podcast since I’ve discovered it a couple of weeks ago, and in one of the episodes you asked people from around the world to contact you so it was a great reason for me to email you and ask you some questions.
I’m going to ride the trans american this summer, and I read a bunch of blogs and advice on the net. Still, there are some questions I wonder about and wanted to ask you. I really hope I would’nt be bothering you too much with this..
1. Navigation- One option is the ACA map set and the other one is getting a bike computer/GPS. I wanted to hear your take on that issue..
2. Do you have any advice that you would give to a non-american tourist, maybe something that an american biker would take for granted that you think is important to know..
3. Any advice on touring on a budget?
I also wanted to thank you for doing what you do. The podcast is very informative and helped me a lot. I am planing to tour alone, and my folks are not too crazy about it, since as a young woman I’m an “easy target”. I sent my mom the link to your podcast, and after she listened to some of it I think it totally made my plan more approchable for her.
Well, this turned out to be a very long e-mail, so thank you very much for your time. I really would appreciat any respons, and thanks again.
I hope you have a great day,
Ayana
What do American listeners think about advice for Ayana? What do we take for granted that might be a surprise to international travelers? My advice comes in part from everyone’s favorite Belgian bike tourist, Hugo.
– Food is abundant, varied and easy to get in the States compared to elsewhere.
– Some expenses are high (lodging) and some are low (food) relative to many other places
– People in motorized vehicles are sometimes difficult to deal with, but a well traveled bike route helps.
– Americans are, by and large, very friendly.
– Follow your instincts.
– Bicycle tour budgeting is a good idea, but don’t let it get in the way of solving an issue or preventing you from having a good ride!
EVEN MOAR FYVE STARZ!
Bike touring music playlist
While you’re basking in the bicycle tour budgeting knowledge, a reminder to check out our Spotify playlist from our bike touring music podcast… if you’re looking for it manually in Spotify search for Pedalshift Sprocket Project.
Jason Kent is a musical genius
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!
Hey it’s the direct download link: 
– Love. Lightweight and fires up like a dragon from GOT. The big one that Dany rides. I mean, I hear… I hear she rides it. I’m unfamiliar with this program. [footnote]lie[/footnote]
– because tasting iodine in your water is for suckers. Note, this isn’t a true filter for backwoods use. Probably should have said that on the pod. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
– Hey I can take videos without using my phone now! Check out the two I did (special thanks to Pedalshift Plus and Pedalshift Society people for making this happen)…
Hey it’s the direct download link: 
Hey it’s the direct download link: 
Hey it’s the direct download link: 
Hey it’s the direct download link: 
