The Pedalshift Project 341: The Mental Side of Bikepacking and Bicycle Touring

On this edition, we explore the mental challenges that bikepackers and touring cyclists face during their journeys, and some tips on how to handle them.

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The mental side of bikepacking and bike touring

Intro

Exploring the mental challenges that bikepackers and touring cyclists face during their journeys.
I am not a mental health professional – these are tips from my experiences. Work with a therapist or other mental health professional for deeper connection on these issues!
Mental stamina is possibly more important than physical ability when it comes to long-distance cycling adventures.

The Psychological Side of Bikepacking and Bike Touring

Mental and emotional aspects of bikepacking and touring
highs and lows of the journey
loneliness and isolation
Setbacks and adversity
Post adventure depression

Loneliness and Isolation

If this is an issue, consider group adventures
If you encounter this, find ways to connect but know that can sometimes reinforce the feelings after a call, etc.
Find ways to deflect – focus on what’s around, be present… or connect with what grounds you (work on the bike, listen to music or podcasts)

Dealing with Setbacks and Adversity

equipment failures
adverse weather
navigation errors
maintaining a positive mindset and resilience in the face of adversity
mindfulness, positive self-talk, and visualization in maintaining mental stamina.
Finding Inspiration and Joy – scenery, encounters with locals, and personal growth
The power of gratitude and staying present to enhance the touring experience

Post adventure depression

Stunningly common
Readjusting to normal life after long tours is challenging
Give yourself some buffer time rather than just jump back in

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.

Kimberly Wilson
Caleb Jenkinson
Cameron Lien
Andrew MacGregor
Michael Hart
Keith Nagel
Brock Dittus
Thomas Skadow
Marco Lo
Terrance Manson
Harry Telgadas
Chris Barron
Mark Van Raam
Brad Hipwell
Mr. T
Nathan Poulton
Stephen Dickerson
Vince LoGreco
Cody Floerchinger
Tom Benenati
Greg Braithwaite
Sandy Pizzio
Jeff Muster
Seth Pollack
Joseph Quinn
Drue Porter
Byron Paterson
Joachim Raber
Ray Jackson
Jeff Frey
Kenny Mikey
Lisa Hart
John Denkler
Steve Hankel
Miguel Quinones
Alejandro Avilés-Reyes
Keith Spangler
Greg Towner
Dan Gebhart, RIP
Jody Dzuranin
Lucas Barwick
Michael Baker
Brian Bechtol
Reinhart Bigl
Greg Middlemis
Connie Moore
William Gothmann
Brian Benton
Joan Churchill
Mike Bender
Rick Weinberg
Billy Crafton
Gary Matushak
Greg L’Etoile-Lopes
James Sloan
Jonathan Dillard
John Funk
Tom Bilcze
Ronald Piroli
Dave Roll
Brian Hafner
Misha LeBlanc
Ari Messinger
David Gratke
Todd Groesbeck
Wally Estrella
Sue Reinert
John Leko
Stephen Granata
Phillip Mueller
Robert Lackey
Dominic Carol
Jacqi McCulloch
John Hickman
Carl Presseault
David Neves
Patty Louise
Terry Fitzgerald
Peter Steinmetz
Timothy Fitzpatrick
Michael Liszewski
Hank O’Donnell
David Zanoni
David Weil
Matthew Sponseller
Chad Reno
Spartan Dale
Carolyn Ferguson
Peggy Littlefield
Lauren Allansmith
Eric Burns
Thomas Pearl
Darrin McKibben
Richard Stewart
Dave Fletcher
Jack Smith
Luke Parkinson
Ryan Patterson
Cyrus Farivar
John Gardiner
Sam Scruggs

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 COMMON TONGUES wherever cool music is available!

October 19, 2023

The Pedalshift Project 340: Staying Safe on Bicycle Adventures

Look, we all know there’s some inherent risk in bikepacking, bike touring and even bike commuting. Between bad infrastructure and inattentive drivers, we assume some degree of risk every time we’re in the saddle. But as with anything, there are things we can do to make our bicycle adventures safer than by doing nothing. On this episode, some thoughts on all the things you can do to have a safer ride!

The Pedalshift Project 340: Staying Safe on Your Bicycle Adventures

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Safety Considerations on Bicycle Adventures

Route and Destination Safety

Traffic and Road Safety

Gear and Equipment

Health and First Aid on the Road

Wildlife and Environmental Safety

Personal Security and Theft Prevention

Emergency Preparedness

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 COMMON TONGUES wherever cool music is available!

October 12, 2023

The Pedalshift Project 339: PDX-SF2x – Takeaways

Weeks after the conclusion of my unusually successful adventure combining cycling and transit, what are my big takeaways? On this edition, the benefit of hindsight helps to put the trip into perspective!

The Pedalshift Project 339: PDX-SF2x - Takeaways

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PDX-SF2x – Takeaways

Day 1’s takeaway – it’s never as bad as you think it is (unless, of course it is)

Disappointed in the bike work but it could easily be my mistake too

The rack bolt shearing off was absolutely saved by work they did too

Not sure if the lost gear inches are worth throwing out a perfectly good cassette. Will have plenty of time to mull it over

Day 2’s takeaway – always be ready for bus racks that are broken or missing

It turned out fine, but it’s a great reminder that reliance on transit puts you at the whims of all sorts of elements beyond the schedule!

Day 3’s takeaway – triple check for that phone (and your wallet and…)

There are 2 things I really need to make sure are on me at all times and really one

Phone can somewhat replace a wallet, wallet can get you a new phone

ID for travel may be most important of all

Phone does so much for so many of us – entertainment, communications, directions

Charger may be as important too

First time I may buy into the no-electronics argument. Overreliance?

Day 4’s takeaway – touring is about people more than biking

The longish bus ride down the coast exposed me to the mini community of the driver and locals that rely on the service

So many of us have multiple options to move, so it’s great to have the perspective of those that don’t and a great driver that facilitates it

Transit does more than move people, and that’s why we shouldn’t demand it drive a profit

Day 5’s takeaways – It’s definitely Newark and connecting systems are magic

It’s Newark, it just is

Reflecting on MJ’s comment about how all of the chances of failure balanced with how the busses from Brookings to Fortuna just… worked!

One of the two or three transit flips that were critical to this not ending with a thud

Day 6’s takeaways – zip ties are non-negotable brings and I’m glad I pushed myself

Zip ties saved the trip and I’m not sure what my options were without them

Day 6 was pretty much my limit but an earlier start may have made it easier, even though it wasn’t possible with the bus schedule

(Another critical bus!)

Day 7’s takeaway – CA gets hot people!

There wasn’t a chance in hell I could have cycled in that

More power to people that do, but I’m actively choosing against rides with any possibilith of that heat and I know that really limits things

Final days takeaways – it was a quick stay in SF but the Golden Gate Bridge is a stellar finish line

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 COMMON TONGUES wherever cool music is available!

October 5, 2023

Best of Pedalshift 188: Grocery Store Strategies

Almost everywhere, the cheapest bet to stay fed on bicycle tour is a town’s grocery store. In this best of, I covered my grocery store strategies on bike adventures… from prep to pedaling off with panniers full of treats to chow on later! Originally podcast December 19, 2019.

September 28, 2023

The Pedalshift Project 338: PDX-SF2x – The Final Days

Closing out the final days of the trip, we have another multipart fast forward through some seriously hot towns to get to Samuel P. Taylor campground. After that it’s as much about reflecting on how the ride went as I prepare for crossing the Golden Gate Bridge – still maybe the best finish line in bike travel! How’d the bike do, and will it get back in the bag ok for the return trip home?

The Pedalshift Project 338: PDX-SF2x - The Final Days

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PDX-SF2x – The Final Days

Quick catchup on the tour plans

PDX-SF

Every day has some biking and bussing

Connections are… tight in parts

Fully loaded, but on the light side

Got my bike serviced ahead of departure. We’ll get into that.

Listen to episode 330 for more!

Statistics

Miles bussed 184

Miles biked 31

Number of energy bars I saw consumed at camp 8000

Golden Gates crossed 1

Approximate number of hours of deep conversation with MJ 27

Zip ties still on my bike as this episode drops 4

Flats 0

Next week… October’s best of and the week after, some interesting takeaways from this adventure!

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 COMMON TONGUES wherever cool music is available!

September 21, 2023

The Pedalshift Project 337: PDX-SF2x – Day 6, Part 2

Day 6 concludes, one way or the other… from the base of Leggett Hill with rapidly dwindling sunlight, I have the biggest hill on the route and then the dumbest hill on the route right after. Would the zip tied rack hold? Would the heat get the better of me, or would the cool Pacific air power me through the up and down terrain to Fort Bragg?

The Pedalshift Project 337: PDX-SF2x - Day 6, Part 2

Hey it’s the direct download link for The Pedalshift Project 337: PDX-SF2x – Day 6, Part 2.

Subscribe/Follow The Pedalshift Project:
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Reach out to the show via email, Twitter and Instagram. Don’t forget to join the newsletter too.

PDX-SF2x – Day 6, Part 2

Quick catchup on the tour plans

PDX-SF

Every day has some biking and bussing

Connections are… tight in parts

Fully loaded, but on the light side

Got my bike serviced ahead of departure. We’ll get into that.

Listen to episode 330 for more!

Statistics

Miles biked in part 2 – 44

Zip ties that were the MVPs of this trip 4

Red Bulls that would quibble with that award 2

Number of restaurants open after 9pm in Fort Bragg on a Friday night 1

Advils that would quibble with the Red Bulls and Zip Ties for that MVP award 2

Flats 0

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 COMMON TONGUES wherever cool music is available!

September 14, 2023

The Pedalshift Project 336: PDX-SF2x – Day 6, Part 1

Day 6 was the big one… a never-before-taken bus fast forward that serves as a critical push to the biggest climbs of the Pacific Coast route. Does the bus exist? Will I be in the right spot? And what’s the weird shimmy I’m feeling in the rear rack?

The Pedalshift Project 336: PDX-SF2x - Day 6, Part 1

Hey it’s the direct download link for The Pedalshift Project 336: PDX-SF2x – Day 6, Part 1.

Subscribe/Follow The Pedalshift Project:
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Reach out to the show via email, Twitter and Instagram. Don’t forget to join the newsletter too.

PDX-SF2x – Day 6, Part 1

Quick catchup on the tour plans

PDX-SF

Every day has some biking and bussing

Connections are… tight in parts

Fully loaded, but on the light side

Got my bike serviced ahead of departure. We’ll get into that.

Listen to episode 330 for more!

Statistics

Miles bussed – 25
Miles biked in part 1 – 21
Zip ties used to stabilize the rear rack 4
Red Bulls purchased at the Peg House 2
Flats 0

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 COMMON TONGUES wherever cool music is available!

September 7, 2023

Best of Pedalshift 232: Surviving Detours & Closures

Detours and closures are a part of bike touring, but how do you handle it? On this edition, five things to think about on how to handle bike route detours and closures without losing your cool. Originally podcast February 11, 2021.

August 31, 2023

The Pedalshift Project 335: PDX-SF2x – Day 5

Day 5 features critical bus connections using three transit services to whisk me through gorgeous terrain, delivering me a reasonably short ride through glorious redwoods along the Avenue of the Giants for a stay at my favorite hiker/biker campsite on the planet. The bus systems are designed to connect, but will they do that on a critical day of transit reliance to get me to my campsite amongst some of the world’s most famous trees?

The Pedalshift Project 335: PDX-SF2x - Day 5

Hey it’s the direct download link for The Pedalshift Project 335: PDX-SF2x – Day 5.

Subscribe/Follow The Pedalshift Project:
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Reach out to the show via email, Twitter and Instagram. Don’t forget to join the newsletter too.

PDX-SF2x – Day 5

Quick catchup on the tour plans

PDX-SF

Every day has some biking and bussing

Connections are… tight in parts

Fully loaded, but on the light side

Got my bike serviced ahead of departure. We’ll get into that.

Listen to episode 330 for more!

Statistics

Miles bussed 129

Miles biked 29

Transit systems used 3

Attempts to convince me Newark, DE is ponounced the same as the similarly spelled city in NJ 1

Percent correct that my guy Daniel – who said he lived in Newark – was 0

Beers at Eel River Brewing 1

Phones left in the bathroom and then recovered off mic at Eel River Brewing 1

Stops along Avenue of the Giants 8+

Flats 0

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 COMMON TONGUES wherever cool music is available!

August 24, 2023

The Pedalshift Project 334: PDX-SF2x – Day 4

A solid night’s sleep and the lost phone drama fully behind me, it was time for a short but fun day riding the Seven Devils. But that pesky missing climbing gear… would I be pushing more than riding before testing the bus drama that has been a companion every day of this tour?

The Pedalshift Project 334: PDX-SF2x - Day 4

Hey it’s the direct download link for The Pedalshift Project 334: PDX-SF2x – Day 4.

Subscribe/Follow The Pedalshift Project:
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Reach out to the show via email, Twitter and Instagram. Don’t forget to join the newsletter too.

PDX-SF2x – Day 4

Quick catchup on the tour plans

PDX-SF

Every day has some biking and bussing

Connections are… tight in parts

Fully loaded, but on the light side

Got my bike serviced ahead of departure. We’ll get into that.

Listen to episode 330 for more!

Statistics

Miles biked 23.2 miles

Devils deviled 7

Miles bussed 88 miles

inches of subway sandwiches consumed 6

Chocolate martinis 2

Flats 0

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 COMMON TONGUES wherever cool music is available!