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The Pedalshift Project 368: C&O But Slow Takeaways

The Pedalshift Project 368: C&O But Slow Takeaways

10 takeaways from a bike trip that was supposed to be slow but ended up being quite different than anticipated…

The Pedalshift Project 368: C&O But Slow Takeaways

Hey it’s the direct download link for The Pedalshift Project 368: C&O But Slow Takeaways.

Subscribe/Follow The Pedalshift Project:
RSSiTunes – Overcast – Android – Google Podcasts – StitcherTuneIn – IHeartRadio – Spotify

Reach out to the show via email, Twitter and Instagram. Don’t forget to join the newsletter too.

Have some bike touring or overnight stories to share? Send your pics, audio or a quick tweet – all welcome. Email the show at pedalshift@pedalshift.net or call the lightly-used Pedalshift voicemail line at (202) 930-1109

C&O But Slow Takeaways

10 takeaways from a bike trip that was supposed to be slow but ended up being quite different than anticipated:

1. Unplanned Higher Mileage Day: Despite the intention to have a slow and leisurely ride, the trip ended up requiring a high mileage day due to weather conditions and route changes

2. Changing Routes Due to Weather: The need to avoid bad weather led to a significant change in plans, including a decision to ride to the cabin instead of continuing on the planned trail

3. Encounter with Rolling Coal: The trip included an unpleasant experience of being coal-rolled by a truck, highlighting some of the challenges and hostility faced on the road

4. Gear Issues: Mechanical problems, such as issues with the bike’s gearing, added to the difficulty of the trip. This required on-the-go adjustments and highlighted the need for future maintenance

5. Utilizing Lights for Safety: Riding on exposed and less-traveled roads necessitated the use of fully charged lights to ensure safety, especially in low visibility conditions

6. Importance of Flexibility: The trip underscored the importance of being flexible and adapting to changing conditions, such as unexpected weather and route challenges

7. Strategic Zero Days: Taking a zero day (a rest day with no riding) proved to be a wise decision to avoid riding in bad weather and to recuperate from a strenuous day

8. Food and Hydration Management: Managing food and hydration was crucial, with stops to consume snacks and hydrate, especially given the physical exertion and varying conditions

9. Navigating New Routes: The journey involved navigating new and less familiar routes, which added an element of exploration but also required careful planning and adjustments

10. Reflection on Pace and Experience: Despite the trip being more challenging than expected, it offered valuable experiences and insights, leading to reflections on the importance of pace, enjoying the ride, preparation, flexibility, and resilience.

Best of next week and then we continue the celebration of 10 years of Pedalshift with Oregon Coast Remixed!

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! 

The Pedalshift Project 367: C&O But Slow - Part 4

The Pedalshift Project 367: C&O But Slow – Part 4

After a rejuvenating zero day to avoid the storms, I had one more day of road riding to catch my train. A familiar route, but not exactly one with mindfulness paid to bikes. Would I catch the train home?

The Pedalshift Project 367: C&O But Slow - Part 4

Hey it’s the direct download link for The Pedalshift Project 367: C&O But Slow – Part 4.

Subscribe/Follow The Pedalshift Project:
RSSiTunes – Overcast – Android – Google Podcasts – StitcherTuneIn – IHeartRadio – Spotify

Reach out to the show via email, Twitter and Instagram. Don’t forget to join the newsletter too.

Have some bike touring or overnight stories to share? Send your pics, audio or a quick tweet – all welcome. Email the show at pedalshift@pedalshift.net or call the lightly-used Pedalshift voicemail line at (202) 930-1109

Celebrate 10 Years of Pedalshift

  • Quick housekeeping if you missed last episode’s live show news… I’m off to Oregon for the 10th anniversary tour: Oregon Coast Remixed! We’ll pivot right into that as soon as we wrap up the C&O But Slow over the next few weeks, so stay tuned.

  • Also another shout to Lael Wilcox’s pod… her adventure around the world continues so make sure you follow along Lael Rides Around the World wherever you get this pod. Unless you get it off my website, in which case go google hers 😉

C&O But Slow – Part 4

Introduction

  • Good morning from the cabin. Discussion about the day’s ride and weather conditions.
  • Reflection on the decision to take a zero day due to bad weather.

Travel Plans and Preparations

  • Route description: predominantly downhill, then uphill, and flat sections.
  • Mention of carrying less load compared to previous rides.
  • Discussion on the necessity of taking the garbage to remote bins.
  • Weather conditions: cold, layering up, and safety measures with lighting on the bike.
  • Highlighting areas of exposure to highways and the importance of planning the ride to avoid rush.

On the Road Experiences

  • Initial thoughts after starting the ride and adjusting clothing layers.
  • Navigating roads and using Google Maps for routing, challenges with algorithm recommendations.
  • Encounter with the lowest elevation point near Back Creek and the difficulties with uphill rides.
  • Discussion about the upcoming route, including passing the county landfill and Ridge Road’s rollercoaster-like terrain.

Mid-Ride Reflections

  • Break to consume snacks and hydrate, reflection on time management for the ride.
  • Encounter with local traffic and the need for careful navigation on Ridge Road.
  • Challenges with the bike’s mid gears and potential need for maintenance.

Final Leg of the Journey

  • Detailed description of the last few miles and final crossing of Highway 9.
  • Observations on new constructions and reflections on the local area’s development.
  • Final thoughts on the ride, considering an e-bike for future trips for efficiency.
  • Nearing the train station, managing time well and cooling down after the ride.

Arrival at Martinsburg Train Station

  • Reflection on the ease of the final stretch and the efficiency of the route taken.
  • Thoughts on Martinsburg’s potential and current state, including commuter resources.
  • Preparing for the train ride back, discussion on local transit options and their effectiveness.

Return to DC

  • Arrival in DC, reflection on the overall trip and its unexpected developments.
  • Observations on local cycling culture and the changes seen in the area.
  • Mention of upcoming episodes and future plans for spring and summer.

Statistics

  • Miles biked 20.1

  • Trains taken 1

  • Bars eaten 2

  • Celebratory train beers 1

  • Flats 0

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! 

The Pedalshift Project 366: Ten Years of Pedalshift [Live!]

The Pedalshift Project 366: Ten Years of Pedalshift [Live!]

June 8th, 2014 was the very first episode of The Pedalshift Project, and since then we’ve gone on quite the journey, mostly by bike. On this live episode, we got a bunch of listeners together to chat about highlights from the last ten years, the evolution of the show, and the reveal of the Tenth Anniversary Tour this summer. Recorded live June 8, 2024.

The Pedalshift Project 366: Ten Years of Pedalshift [Live!]

Hey it’s the direct download link for The Pedalshift Project 366: Ten Years of Pedalshift [Live!].

Subscribe/Follow The Pedalshift Project:
RSSiTunes – Overcast – Android – Google Podcasts – StitcherTuneIn – IHeartRadio – Spotify

Reach out to the show via email, Twitter and Instagram. Don’t forget to join the newsletter too.

Have some bike touring or overnight stories to share? Send your pics, audio or a quick tweet – all welcome. Email the show at pedalshift@pedalshift.net or call the lightly-used Pedalshift voicemail line at (202) 930-1109

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! 

The Pedalshift Project 365: C&O But Slow - Part 3

The Pedalshift Project 365: C&O But Slow – Part 3

After leaving you all with a bit of a cliffhanger, the decision is made – my (formerly) slow and chill C&O ride now gets another 18 miles of riding to some sweet sweet roofed lodging at my cabin. But that means I cross into West Virginia where I encounter something I’ve never dealt with before. Explicit tag earned for this episode…

The Pedalshift Project 365: C&O But Slow - Part 3

Hey it’s the direct download link for The Pedalshift Project 365: C&O But Slow – Part 3.

Subscribe/Follow The Pedalshift Project:
RSSiTunes – Overcast – Android – Google Podcasts – StitcherTuneIn – IHeartRadio – Spotify

Reach out to the show via email, Twitter and Instagram. Don’t forget to join the newsletter too.

Have some bike touring or overnight stories to share? Send your pics, audio or a quick tweet – all welcome. Email the show at pedalshift@pedalshift.net or call the lightly-used Pedalshift voicemail line at (202) 930-1109

Celebrate 10 Years of Pedalshift Live 6/8

  • The march to the ten year anniversary of the show commences… Live show to celebrate things June 8th, at 8pm ET. It will be podcasted the following week but always down for some live banter. It’ll be on the YouTube channel and here at pedalshift.net/live.
  • ALSO, if you aren’t subscribed to and listening to the fantastic Lael Wilcox’s podcast, I can’t recommend it enough. She’s trying to break the world record for cycling the world and is audio journaling it every day. She’s recently completed her eastern US leg and by the time you hear this will be in Europe working her way east. It’s so good – laelwilcox.net for the details. She is a legend and this is elite level stuff!

C&O But Slow – Part 3

Introduction

– Riding to the cabin due to favorable weather conditions

Travel Plans and Preparations

– Description of the route and challenges ahead

– Discussion on safety measures and time management

– Strategy for avoiding bad weather and deciding to ride immediately

On the Road Experiences

– Reflections on the ride: pain, headwinds, and dealing with a truck that rolls coal

– Encounter with challenging road conditions and gearing issues

– Insights on energy management and navigating difficult climbs

Scenic and Safe Routes

– Decision-making on route choices to avoid hazards

– Progress update and estimated distance to the destination

Final Leg of the Journey

– Description of the last few miles and expected challenges

– Nearing the end: checking distance and anticipating weather

Arrival and Reflections

– Arrival at the cabin and initial feelings

– Immediate plans and reflections on the day’s ride

Zero Day

– Announcement of a zero day due to bad weather

– Observations on the weather conditions and impact on the trail

Closing Thoughts

– Strategy for the upcoming ride to the train station

– Gratitude for making the right decision and empathy for those still on the trail

Statistics

  • Miles biked 18

  • F bombs tossed  1

  • Zero days 1

  • Heavy rain storms dodged 2

  • Flats 0

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! 

The Pedalshift Project 364: C&O But Slow - Part 2

The Pedalshift Project 364: C&O But Slow – Part 2

After a surprisingly fast start for a planned slow tour, it was time to head down trail. But the muddy trail conditions of the night before don’t improve with more rain, and the forecast looks pretty wet and plans… well, they’re meant to change on a big bike trip!

The Pedalshift Project 364: C&O But Slow - Part 2

Hey it’s the direct download link for The Pedalshift Project 364: C&O But Slow – Part 2.

Subscribe/Follow The Pedalshift Project:
RSSiTunes – Overcast – Android – Google Podcasts – StitcherTuneIn – IHeartRadio – Spotify

Reach out to the show via email, Twitter and Instagram. Don’t forget to join the newsletter too.

Have some bike touring or overnight stories to share? Send your pics, audio or a quick tweet – all welcome. Email the show at pedalshift@pedalshift.net or call the lightly-used Pedalshift voicemail line at (202) 930-1109

Celebrate 10 Years of Pedalshift Live 6/8

  • The march to the ten year anniversary of the show commences… Live show to celebrate things June 8th, at 8pm ET. It will be podcasted the following week but always down for some live banter. It’ll be on the YouTube channel and here at pedalshift.net/live.

C&O But Slow – Part 2

Morning Setup and Reflections

  – Description of the camping spot and the decision-making process regarding legal camping sites.

  – Reflections on being overextended the previous night and the challenges of finding a good campsite.

Weather and Trail Conditions

  – Noting the weather holding off the rain for a few more hours.

  – Observations about the better trail surface and concerns about muddy sections post-Paw Paw Tunnel.

Camp Setup and Gear Adjustments

  – Detailed account of morning activities, including packing and adjusting gear.

  – Challenges with the fork bag and adjustments made to the tent setup.

Journey Begins

  – Initial miles covered with observations of the surroundings and the condition of the trail.

  – Encounters with traffic and reflections on the proximity of roads to the trail.

Trail Experiences

  – Encounters with other cyclists, particularly a group of LE officers, and reflections on group riding dynamics.

  – Decision to avoid a large group of cyclists to maintain a personal pace and experience.

Weather Check and Gear Adjustments

  – Checking weather forecasts and preparing for rain by adjusting clothing and gear.

  – Clearing fenders from mud and dealing with bike maintenance issues on the trail.

Scenic Observations

  – Descriptions of the flora and fauna observed along the trail.

  – Reflection on missing the red bud season but enjoying the current wildflower bloom.

Paw Paw Tunnel Experience

  – Detailed ride through of the Paw Paw Tunnel, including conditions and the tunnel’s history.

  – Observations on the descaling and maintenance efforts.

Trail Challenges and Maintenance

  – Continued struggles with mud and fender issues.

  – Descriptions of efforts to keep the bike in good condition amid challenging trail conditions.

Decision Points

  – Considering various options for the day’s ride and the impact of weather on the plans.

  – Reflections on potential stops and the possibility of a zero-mile day due to expected rain.

Hancock

  – Arrival in Hancock and decision-making process about accommodations and next steps.

  – Consideration of resupply options and potential camping sites.

Concluding Thoughts

  – Reflection on the day’s challenges and successes.

  – Cliffhanger about the decision on where to stay for the night and future plans for the ride.

Statistics 

  • Miles biked 42
  • Trail surfaces 3
  • Liters of water purified 2.5
  • Decisions to be made on where to spend the night 1
  • Flats 0

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! 

The Pedalshift Project 362: C&O But Slow - Part 1

The Pedalshift Project 363: C&O But Slow – Part 1

Starting with a semi-eventful train to Cumberland, the tour kicks off at an unexpected pace. But with rain already soaking the trail, and more on the way would the C&O reject my desire for a chill and relaxing start to my trip?

The Pedalshift Project 362: C&O But Slow - Part 1

Hey it’s the direct download link for The Pedalshift Project 363: C&O But Slow – Part 1.

Subscribe/Follow The Pedalshift Project:
RSSiTunes – Overcast – Android – Google Podcasts – StitcherTuneIn – IHeartRadio – Spotify

Reach out to the show via email, Twitter and Instagram. Don’t forget to join the newsletter too.

Have some bike touring or overnight stories to share? Send your pics, audio or a quick tweet – all welcome. Email the show at pedalshift@pedalshift.net or call the lightly-used Pedalshift voicemail line at (202) 930-1109

Celebrate 10 Years of Pedalshift Live 6/8

  • The march to the ten year anniversary of the show commences… Live show to celebrate things June 8th, at 8pm ET. It will be podcasted the following week but always down for some live banter. It’ll be on the YouTube channel and here at pedalshift.net/live.

C&O But Slow – Part 1

  • Introduction

    • Preparing for a bike ride to Union Station
    • Discussing train schedule and potential delays
  • Trip Plans

    • Aiming to reach Potomac Forks
    • Concerns about sunlight and trail conditions
    • Personal health and readiness
  • Bike Setup

    • New gear setup with fork bags
    • Adjustments made for comfort and efficiency
    • Forecast: hot and sticky with potential rain
  • Union Station Departure

    • Chaos with Amtrak procedures and bag tags
    • Interaction with train attendants and passengers
    • Departure and initial impressions
  • Arrival in Cumberland

    • Commentary on Amtrak’s inconsistent procedures
    • Starting the ride on the C&O towpath
  • Trail Conditions

    • Night riding experiences and wildlife encounters
    • Challenges with muddy trail sections
    • Strategies for night riding and trail navigation
  • Camp Setup

    • Passing multiple campsites
    • Decision to push on to Potomac Forks
    • Filtering water and setting up camp in low light
  • Day Zero Reflections

    • Impact of coffee on performance
    • Enjoyment of night riding despite challenges
    • Final campsite setup and reflections on the day
  • Closing Remarks

    • Observations on trail and ride experiences
    • Preparations for the next day’s ride

Statistics

  • Miles biked 18
  • Frogs a babillion
  • Stops to pull mud out of fenders 2
  • Proper bike tags requested by Amtrak personnel 1
  • Bike tags properly procured 0
  • Dark chocolate bars eaten 1
  • Flats 0

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! 

The Pedalshift Project 362: C&O But Slow Preview

The Pedalshift Project 362: C&O But Slow Preview

Finding my way back onto the C&O is hardly a surprise, but this spring’s ride is taking a page from my 2024 goals… try to take some of these tours a little more slowly. On this preview episode, we cover how I think it’ll go down.

The Pedalshift Project 362: C&O But Slow Preview

Hey it’s the direct download link for The Pedalshift Project 362: C&O But Slow Preview.

Subscribe/Follow The Pedalshift Project:
RSSiTunes – Overcast – Android – Google Podcasts – StitcherTuneIn – IHeartRadio – Spotify

Reach out to the show via email, Twitter and Instagram. Don’t forget to join the newsletter too.

Have some bike touring or overnight stories to share? Send your pics, audio or a quick tweet – all welcome. Email the show at pedalshift@pedalshift.net or call the lightly-used Pedalshift voicemail line at (202) 930-1109

C&O But Slow Preview

Celebrate 10 Years of Pedalshift Live 6/8

  • The march to the ten year anniversary of the show commences… Live show to celebrate things June 8th, at 8pm ET. It will be podcasted the following week but always down for some live banter. It’ll be on the YouTube channel and here at pedalshift.net/live.

The basics

  • Full size bike
  • New config (more on that in a moment)
  • Cumberland with Amtrak from DC and then… ?
  • Going with a stove this time
  • All camping
  • Forecast looks like rain
  • I’m getting over a cold, so not sure how that will impact things

New config?

  • The front rack from last season is fine but I want to try something new
  • Found I couldn’t get the bike in the Dogsbody bag last year and I didn’t want to keep having to install/unintall. Might end up on my ebike?
  • Solution: Fork bags + Hanging sleep kit from bars
  • 7L each side
  • Very narrow – a little too narrow?
  • Allows me to be a bit more nimble

Pacing

  • First night will be close to a new moon unfortunately
  • Would love to do 20 miles even though it’s night riding
  • Don’t have specific plans for any particular campsites
  • The end of the tour is up in the air… I have two options (Martinsburg and Harpers Ferry) so if I’m really enjoying the riding, I can make the miles. But if I’m enjoying the vibes (or other things) I can make this a shorter trip with some road riding on the final day

Food/water

  • Will likely carry more food than I have on past trips 
  • BUT going to do backpacking meals. Keeping it simple and light
  • NPS no longer treats the wells, so I have a new gravity fed water filter. Trying not to carry as much as I have in the past
  • Stove needed for meals, so I can at also enjoy coffee
  • Weather
  • Looks wet but not hot. Will be prepared
  • This might be the thing that impacts choosing a short or long ride… trail conditions, preferring to stay in the tent for a morning rain, etc. etc.

Other stuff

  • Paw Paw tunnel is reopened!
  • Not intending on climbing up to stay at my cabin (although it’s a backup option)
  • Name of the game is slow and steady and enjoying the ride rather than just banging out miles. Would have preferred a little more riding time on Saturday to spread it out a bit more

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! 

The Pedalshift Project 328: Midyear Bike Touring Goals Check-In

The Pedalshift Project 328: Midyear Bike Touring Goals Check-In

In January I set up some fitness and bike touring goals. Six months later, have I completed any of them or am I really behind?

The Pedalshift Project 328: Midyear Bike Touring Goals Check-In

Hey it’s the direct download link for The Pedalshift Project 328: Midyear Bike Touring Goals Check-In.

Subscribe/Follow The Pedalshift Project:
RSSiTunes – Overcast – Android – Google Podcasts – StitcherTuneIn – IHeartRadio – Spotify

Reach out to the show via email, Twitter and Instagram. Don’t forget to join the newsletter too.

Have some bike touring or overnight stories to share? Send your pics, audio or a quick tweet – all welcome. Email the show at pedalshift@pedalshift.net or call the lightly-used Pedalshift voicemail line at (202) 930-1109

Midyear Bike Touring Goals Check-In

Health/Fitness
 
  • Drop the weight
HELL YES… not quite at full goal, but mostly there.
 
  • Weigh in at least every other day all year (unless traveling) and set a back on the wagon number
YES! Near daily even.
Back on the wagon weight also set. I’m getting below that number now
 
  • Fitness center plan
None, zero. I’ve only been cycling, but can revisit this on the back half of 2023
 
  • Dry  January Feb
YES – plus I’ve dramatically reduced drinking overall, if only for the calories.
The wonders of NA beer… is it as good? No. But is it a nice alternative? Yes.
 
Touring
 
  • 5 multi day tours in 2023
3 and counting, 4th is imminent, 5th I have an idea. Possiblity of more than that? Maybe.
 
  • At least one 7+ day tour
Preview episode coming soon!
 
  • At least one fully new-to-me trail or route
NOT YET, looking at the 5th tour for this
 
  • Cross a new state by bike
NOT YET, and may have to figure out an easy one 😉
 
Whacky things
 
  • A  heavily transit aided tour
Preview episode for the summer tour, coming soon 😉
 
  • A microcamper aided tour
NOT YET… might be a fall one? Or the state crosser?

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! 

The Pedalshift Project 326: Return to the C&O - Takeaways

The Pedalshift Project 326: Return to the C&O – Takeaways

Another C&O bicycle adventure is in the books… but as always, I learn something with every tour. On this edition, the takeaways from the 2023 return to the C&O, plus a peek at what’s ahead this summer on The Pedalshift Project!

The Pedalshift Project 326: Return to the C&O - Takeaways

Hey it’s the direct download link for The Pedalshift Project 326: Return to the C&O – Takeaways.

Subscribe/Follow The Pedalshift Project:
RSSiTunes – Overcast – Android – Google Podcasts – StitcherTuneIn – IHeartRadio – Spotify

Reach out to the show via email, Twitter and Instagram. Don’t forget to join the newsletter too.

Have some bike touring or overnight stories to share? Send your pics, audio or a quick tweet – all welcome. Email the show at pedalshift@pedalshift.net or call the lightly-used Pedalshift voicemail line at (202) 930-1109

Return to the C&O – Takeaways

1 – The C&O Naysayers have less to naysay as the surface improvement expands
 
2 – Get yourself a water purifier
 
3 – Sitting out vs. pedaling through bad weather
 
4 – Don’t wait to amass gear… get out there and ride with what you have
 
5 – I love we’re “back” but kind of low key missing the empty trail
 
6 – After the trip I checked out the road route from Point of Rocks to Leesburg. I can’t recommend it, except maybe the other way.
 
7 – Amtrak is such a good way to make this trip work, and there’s rumors we might get MARC out to Cumberland too
 

Transcript

Hey, I’m trying this out… if you like having a transcript (that I’m not really editing at this point), let me know!

Greetings and welcome to another edition of the Pedal Shift Project. The Pedal Shift Project is a series of conversations, thoughts, and experiments around the bike touring lifestyle from tips and tricks to ideas on how to ride your ride. Let’s shrink the world by bike. Show notes and more are available@pedalshift.net slash 3 2 6, and you can email the show pedal shift pedal shift.net, or text me at 2 0 2 9 3 0 11 0 9 and check pedal shift out on all the socials as well.

Hello everybody, and welcome to the 326th edition of the Pedal Shift Project. My name’s Tim Mooney. Thanks so much for joining on this edition. We are doing our patented takeaways episode for the return to the C&O tour, which was a lot of fun. I really, really ended up enjoying it. I hope that was apparent by the end of last week’s episode.

It’s always so great to get on that trail. I think it’s a crown jewel. I am a broken record on all of this. I have, let’s see, 1, 2, 3, 4. I have seven takeaways for this particular tour. And they are as always a no particular order. And I also am gonna wrap things up by taking a look ahead at what is to come this summer on the pedal ship project and actually the summer and beyond.

Stick around. We will get to that at the end of this here Program.

Takeaway 1

Number one takeaway from the return to the C&O 2023 tour. I think the C&O naysayers have a lot less to naysay as the surface improvement expands on this trail. The. The expansion of the new surface was I think, to some people, a little controversial, and I talked a little bit about this on the second and third days.

There were many folks, and I think me included, that were. I don’t know. , a little resistant to the, the new trail surface because there is a major historical element to the C&O towpath. For those of you who have not been with the show, who have not heard me talk about this endlessly, this was a major economic engine for the region back in, at the 18 hundreds or so, and the way that all of the goods were.

Literally pulled down this canal was with, pack animals and whatnot. And so there’s a real historical nature of it. Now, maybe I think there’s a piece of me that because of the fact that I grew up along the Erie Canal, that I see that that’s a big deal and the historical nature of it is, is important and preserving history can be important.

But I think I’ve changed my tune over the years. I don’t think it’s necessary that we have a. 18 hundreds era surface to a trail in order to appreciate what the towpath meant historically, especially now because there’s an overall evolution as to what this towpath means and what it means for each of these different regions.

Erie Canal, in terms of New York and the C&O in terms of Maryland and dc. So I think that it’s fine to have an evolution of these types of things over time, especially as the uses evolve. The canal itself, it evolved over time. It was shallower for a while and then it was made deeper, and then they dug the papa tunnel and then all of these different types of things.

So I think if we keep frozen in Amber perspective on what history means, I think we’re ignoring. Well history. So I think that the surface improvement is a great idea and it certainly makes for better riding. I think it also means that when you make the investment on the surface, allowing it to drain better, allowing it to not get as rudded, it means that there’s fewer future maintenance costs, perhaps.

Now I don’t know the answer to that specifically, I’m just speculating on that, but I think that that’s probably something that’s a good investment for the future of the trail. In that respect as well. And oh, by the way, it rides really great. So that’s , a fantastic addition to making this a better experience for more people.

Now, I will say that I think that a lot of folks who are more on the backpacking or excuse, I keep saying, I keep doing that. Do you do this? I say backpacking instead of backpacking. When I mean backpacking. The folks that are into bike packing, I think many of them want a little more, I don’t know, gravelly experience, a little bit more of the traditional surface perhaps.

And, and tell me if you, you think I’m wrong on that? So by having a, a smoother ride, it maybe, I don’t know, takes away a little bit from some people’s notions of what. Bike packing means, and that’s fine. I mean, you know how I am on all of this. Ride your ride, go, go where you want, take, take the surfaces you want.

But I do think that the new surface expands the ability for more people to be able to enjoy the towpath. And the overall C&O experience, so you can have a more traditional bike touring set up, you could ride on this new surface on a Brompton for sure. There are just a lot more opportunities that are available.

It opens up the accessibility, but where I think that it might have been harder in other circumstances for other folks who are riding. So, I think that I always go back my avatar for the naysayer and, , I’ve mentioned this person before. It was on some kind of a forum. I can’t remember what it was.

It might have been Reddit, it might have been Facebook. I think it might have been Facebook. Cause it was years ago, somebody who referred to the C&Os surface as embarrassing or something like that. And it was just like a really very. Highly personal take on the whole thing, that it was just like, oh, it was terrible.

And, loading the, the gap over the C&O and, I’m, I’ve been team C&O forever, which is to take nothing away from the gap, but I’ve always been a little bit salty over. Had whole experience. And I think that the new surface really takes away those arguments quite a bit. But I guess in a, in a way, it capitulates to that argument.

So maybe I’m the one who’s changing too. But I, I do think that overall, just to go back to the, to the takeaway here, there are fewer and fewer reasons for someone to say no to riding on the C&O because I think that with the new surface for well over a third of the entire length, I think that it just makes it a lot easier and better.

And from everything that I understand, friend of the show Preston Piper mentioned that the expansion goes beyond where I had seen it goes, it goes further towards or past past mile marker 72. Sorry, I’m stammering away here cuz I’m trying to remember the names. Past Shepherdstown Go past Antum in that direction.

Into the mile marker eighties territory. I don’t think it’s quite getting there yet, but if they can connect up all the way to Lisport then, then we’re really starting to get to the point where now we’re closer to two thirds of the entire trail, which is, is pretty exciting. I think so. Fewer things for the naysayers to naysay about, I think and, and more reasons I think to ride on this trail.

Now, I will say the, the cl the part of the trail that I ride the most is here on the DC side. And man, it’s just, it’s a tooth Rattler at parts and I, I would really love for them to improve the surface down this direction as well. But as I mentioned in that last episode, the, the day three episode, I think that would be very tricky because it’s used as a commuter route for, for a large.

Portions of it, especially as you got closer to dc. So I, closing the trail to do this work, I think would be really challenging. So hopefully it’s part of the plans. I would love to see it.  I’m all on team resurface now.

Takeaway 2

All right. Take away number two. Get yourself a water purifier, especially if you’re riding on the cno.

I think that a water purifier I use the Sawyer models. There are a ton of different types out there. They’re really inexpensive, they’re really lightweight. There’s no reason for you, even with the most kind of minimalist packing to throw one of these into your gear, regardless of the type of bicycle adventuring that you’re doing.

If you’re riding the C&O, I think it’s now on the musts to carry now as well, because as we talked about before, it looks like the park service is now going to be permanently not treating the well water. Now, could you get away with drinking the well water untreated? Maybe? You’d be certainly taking a risk.

They, they treated it for a reason. The, these are old wells. I don’t know the nature of how the water feeds into these wells, but certainly there’s a possibility that there could be some pathogens and different types of things that would be problematic for you if you drank it. Maybe not gonna kill you, but certainly be.

Less fun. So, these types of, of devices are cheap, easy to get easy to use and way better than the iodine treatment that was being used previously for it. So w now all of that funding, and I understand it was pretty expensive for the park service to treat all those wells continuously.

Now all that funding could go to trail maintenance and to other things. And of course the park service is underfunded and the trail maintenance. Con, costs continue to climb as climate change hits and the storms do more damage to the trail and they gotta make sure they keep it clear and all that other kind of stuff.

So at least it’s able to move that funding to, is it more important stuff, I guess, to different things. Things that are, are equally important. But if you bring along water purifier, you’ve checked that box now, all of that, those water sources are available to you. And I think that’s a great thing. So for every single ride I do, from now on, I’m gonna be bringing my water purifier with me.

One thing that I think I may do is, I haven’t used mine in a very long time, and I actually need to do some research on this, but, you rely on that type of a thing, and I, I don’t think they go quote unquote, Old, but I would like to do some research on that. For those of you who have older water purifiers, I may just replace the one that I’ve gotten, get a brand new one.

I mean, they’re cheap enough, quite frankly, that you could probably have a new one for each season. I’m not into kind of over consumption of things, but at the very least, maybe replace the filter itself within the larger unit maybe every year. So that’s something I’m gonna be looking into more. And learning a little bit more.

I frankly don’t use mine very often because I don’t tend to go on adventures where I need it as much. I look at somebody like my buddy mysterious James, who is constantly going on adventures where, where water purifier is really his source of water. So, I, I need to start thinking about that more because I’m gonna now have what is one of my major.

Bike touring adventures, something where I’ll want to be carrying a water purifier with me. So get yourself a water purifier. There’s all sorts of different kinds. Maybe someday I’ll do a, an episode where I talk more about it. I, I did one years ago on various methods for water purification. I think that I’m now firmly in the camp of these relatively inexpensive higher tech kind of water purifiers.

Like the, the brands like Sawyer create. All right. That’s number two.

Takeaway 3

Number three, takeaway. Sitting out versus pedaling through bad weather. This is the. I don’t know. Is this, is this an every tour kind of a thing or is this a, this is a main topic of discussion. This is a, I think a, an issue that a lot of people face.

There are a lot of folks who don’t like cycling in anything but perfect weather, and I don’t begrudge you that point of view at all. When I look at a lot of group rides, And I don’t go on them very often cause I just don’t like cycling with, with others that much. It’s not that I, I shouldn’t say that.

I just, I prefer to cycle alone I think is ultimately , my thing. But when I look at a lot of the group rides that I’ll see on various different boards or in various different groups, they’ll say, well, we’re gonna meet here at this time, but if the weather forecast. Is for 30% chance of rain or more, it’s canceled automatically.

And I’ve often thought that’s a shame because while is it great riding through rain? No, not always, but I actually enjoy it from time to time. But there is a certain point where weather. Is a problem. Weather can be uncomfortable and then it can get to a point where it’s dangerous. And of course, on this particular trip, I decided to make a call to scuttle, sort of a big chunk of my day.

Two, because of the nature of the thunderstorms that were coming through, at least the forecast. And that was because it was easy for me to do. So, the opportunity cost was really low. I got to hang out at the cabin. I got to have more of a day with my partner, Kimberly. I got to hang out with the dogs. I got to eat better food.

All of these types of things. And oh, by the way, I didn’t have to ride in the rain and potentially the muck. But on a bigger tour, maybe a, the tour that I’m looking at doing later on this year, I’ve got a couple in mind actually. If I’m gonna be in a place where I don’t have that kind of support system and whatnot, I will frequently just say Throw on the rain gear and go for it.

But I’ve also made calls in the middle of larger tours where I’ve said, no, I’m taking a zero. I’m, I remember speaking of mysterious James a trip I believe it was on my Brompton. It was the Big Sur trip on my Brompton. There was a day where it was just absolutely nasty, nasty rain forecast, high winds, very heavy rains.

And I said, James, what do you think about just taking a zero? And he’s like, sure. And so we did and we had a wonderful day. I think you can listen back on past episodes where we talked about it. There was a couple in camp that pushed forward and they ended up calling it in the middle and ended up staying at this horrifically expensive hotel that’s in the middle of nowhere past the Pfeiffer Big Sur Campground area in the one town that’s there in this rather remote section of Highway one.

And so was that better for them or worse? It was certainly more expensive. We stayed at a $12 campsite and ended up hanging out in the lodge all day. It was great. I loved it. So, you gotta make the call based on what’s comfortable for you. I often stay, I. Well, in fact, I say it every episode, ride your ride.

And I don’t think it’s a problem to say, Hey, I’m gonna sit this one out. I’m gonna, I’m gonna wait out on this. I’m gonna take a fast forward, I’m gonna add an extra day. I’m gonna add extra miles to future days on my tour. I don’t think that’s a problem at all. Just you gotta go with what your gun is telling you.

And like I said, sometimes I. Power through things. Last year on that eerie canal trip, I just rode through a whole lot of rain without rain gear on, and just got hammered in parts. I sat under an underpass in Syracuse during a massive thunderstorm, and then I just kept going because, eh, I, that was my plan, that’s what I wanted to do.

Do what makes sense for you and make sure you’re always doing it with an eye towards safety. For me on this trip, it was definitely an eye towards safety. There are lots of trees that are all ready to come down with the wrong gust of wind or maybe even a lightning strike on the C&O. And so, riding through a thunderstorm on that trail, It’s just not recommended.

I don’t think so. I’m, I feel real comfortable with the call. Is it a bummer? I didn’t cycle every single last centimeter of this trail? Yeah, sure. But you know what it’s gonna be for me next time. I’ll do another through ride at some point. Maybe this fall, maybe next year. But it’s definitely gonna be coming soon.

Takeaway 4

Alright, number four, takeaway. Don’t wait to amass the right gear. Get out there and ride with what you have on night. Zero I and, and day and the morning of day one, I encountered the group out of nearby here. I think they were from Fairfax or, or somewhere close in Northern Virginia. And and a group.

And there were a bunch of guys who clearly had, Classic bike packing gear, nice relatively expensive gear. And that was part of their setup. And then there was one person in their group, and my, my guy had old older gear that was not waterproof and was rocking some garbage bags.

And you know what? That’s the dude who was my favorite in some ways, because, It’s important I think, to go out there and enjoy the adventures. And if you’ve got gear that’s maybe from the nineties or something like that, I’m raising my hand cuz I got some gear from the nineties for a few things.

It’s fine. It’ll work, it’ll hold things. You can get it on your bike if it’s an older kind of canvas panier from back in the day. Yeah, it’ll, it’ll work fine. Will it keep your stuff waterproof? No, but you know what? You can put waterproof bags inside it and then go for it. So, ride with what you’ve got. Don’t let the adventures don’t delay your adventures because you don’t think you’ve got the right things. You can absolutely modify just about anything to be able to work on your bike. Bungees are great. Garbage bags are great. I, I would use something a little bit more.

Robust than a garbage bag. There. There are different opportunities out there that gar garbage bag, compressor bags, they’re just thicker outdoor material bags, things like that. That’s the kind of stuff that can be really, really helpful. Follow your f Our friends in the backpacking community, because they use all sorts of that kind of stuff inside of their, not really waterproof backpacks.

And it works out really good. Don’t worry about having the perfect bike. You know what most bikes can probably handle even the, the gnarliest of parts of the C&O, for instance. So get out there and just, enjoy your adventures. When things fail or when things aren’t as good for you as you would like, well that’s gonna be your first one, your first piece of gear, your first part of your bike to upgrade.

That’s how I did it. That’s how I recommend other people do it. And, I think it’s better to get out there and ride and enjoy the experience with the gear that you’ve got before you commit to hundreds or perhaps even thousands of dollars worth of gear. You can do it without it. All right, so that is point number four.

Takeaway number four.

Takeaway 5

How about number five? I love that we’re back. I’ll throw that into quotes, but I am low key, missing the empty trail during the pandemic. Let me start off. With this, the pandemic was terrible. There were a lot of people that lost livelihoods, that lost money, that lost their lives, that lost friends, that lost family.

The pandemic was not good. End, end of sentence, complete thought. However, there were some things that we got out of the pandemic that at least from bicycle touring perspective, we couldn’t travel away. I couldn’t go to the west coast. I couldn’t go to, Europe or Florida or whatever. But I had a pretty empty C&O for a couple of years there, and that was nice and I really enjoyed that.

When I go out, I really like the solitude. That’s not the case anymore. People are very much back particularly on nice weather weekends on the C&O. And you know what, that’s. Just part of the deal. So I like the fact that I get to go out and go to travel for conferences and yo, what did we do? We went to a jazz concert last night duke Ellington hundredth anniversary kind of thing.

My, my partner Kimberly, is into jazz and it, I was sitting there as we were listening to the music and amongst a whole bunch of people and, and just enjoying that whole experience, how that was really taken away from us during. During the pandemic and for very, very good reasons. We helped save each other by not going to these types of things.

And it’s nice that it’s back and it’s nice that lots of us get to travel now to do more bike adventures in more different places. Still low-key miss having an empty trail. I’m just, I’m not gonna lie, I like the empty trail. It was fun. It was really fun to feel like you were in the zombie apocalypse kind of a place and you were the only person out there.

And it was fun. And I also think back and, and you all were along for the ride, when you know they had. Sealed off the, the, the porta-potties. We had absolutely no idea how to deal with the virus, and we’re sort of like, oh God, the virus could get on the porta-potties, so we should, we should, we should seal them off and nobody should use ’em.

And now of course that seems quaint and funny because it was like, well, now we were outside and it was probably okay. Anyways, I’m on a, I’m on a major tangent here. I love that we’re back. I’m low key, missing some of the elements of an empty trail. That was takeaway number five. That was a bit of a rambler.

Sorry about that.

Takeaway 6

Takeaway number six, after the trip. I checked out the road route from point of rocks to Leesburg, and I can’t recommend it except maybe if you’re coming from Leesburg to point of rocks. Okay, let me, let me backtrack a little bit down here. Many of you have written me over the course of the last couple of years, whites Ferry.

The cable ferry is out, as I talked about on the, I think the day three episode. There is very little prospect of it coming back anytime soon. And, and I won’t go into all the details on all of that. You can listen back to that. You can do some Googling and see what’s going on with all of that.

Here’s the deal. The. The downside to that are for the folks who are not campers, the folks who are looking at end-to-end BnBs Hotels, whites Ferry was a major component for you because you crossed there, you were able to cycle just a few extra miles, and there were a couple of hotels that were really a.

Accessible to you on the Virginia side. The problem is, is that it’s almost impossible to get to that part of Virginia very easily from that part of the trail. Otherwise, the next bridge is Chain Bridge, which is all the way back down in dc. That’s, that’s your next opportunity to cross over. The next opportunity to cross over behind you is point of rocks, and as I’ve talked about before, and as I’m telling you right now it’s US 15 that takes you from that bridge on the Virginia side and there’s almost no shoulder going towards Leesburg.

There’s a major, I shouldn’t say major there, there’s a curving uphill slog. It’s, it’s, it’s a least a solid half mile, if not a mile. But my point of view, and you know me, I will cycle in a lot of very busy places. I just don’t think it’s very safe. I don’t think it’s meant for it’s certainly not built for cycling and I think that it’s a very busy crossing, especially now that the cable ferry is no longer there at Whites Ferry will.

Will you take your life in your hands? I don’t know. I think that if you did it early in the morning when there wasn’t much traffic, it would be fine. But you know, you may not be doing it early in the morning. You may be doing it at the end of the day. You may be doing it in close to rush hour in the middle of the week.

That’s just where I think that it’s not a particularly safe route. I talked about a few weeks ago, or maybe even a few months ago, about the idea of taking the Metro Silver Line, which is the newest metro rail here in Washington, dc. It goes all the way out to Dallas Airport and beyond. Now. And taking that and hooking up with a Washington Old Dominion Trail, and then eventually pushing through and, and getting to the C&O from there, crossing at point of rocks.

I think in that direction, it’s okay. There’s a little bit more of a shoulder going in that direction. I. And because you’re going downhill as you approach that bridge rather than uphill leaving the bridge, I think that it’s, it’s substantially safer for cycling. So I think that if your idea is that you’re gonna be maybe co going from DC to Cumberland and perhaps beyond, you’re gonna be doing the gap.

My recommendation would be not to do the C&O for your first day of riding. My recommendation would be for you to do the paved Washington and Old Dominion Trail on the Virginia side. And yeah, you’re gonna miss out on some stuff, but it’s a great trail and there’s actually some breweries along the way.

There’s a great adventuring that can happen on that trail. Do that, take that to Leesburg or wherever you’re gonna end up spending your first night. Stay at that hotel and then get up early in the morning. Make sure you do this on the early side, or maybe consider doing it after rush hour, but then go and cross over a point of rocks.

I would highly recommend you take a look at Google Earth and Google Maps and the street view and all that. Familiarize yourself with all of that. There’s decent shoulders leading up to that point, but then it starts to get rural and then you lose your shoulder. Can you take the lane? Sure. We’ll, will drivers respect you?

Hopefully, yes. But then you cross the bridge and then you hit the C&O and then you’re off to the races from there. That would be, for me, the only way that I would feel pr that all that safe. I may at some point test this out and, and of course document it and record it for everybody. And then maybe maybe do a full C&O ride from that point on, or maybe just end up going to Harpers Ferry and taking the train back.

There’s a variety of different things that you can do with all of that, but I do think that that’s a really interesting possibility. There’s, of course, also, as I mentioned before, the Silver Line as another opportunity to do a fast forward, to get you further up there. So, That’s what I wanna say here.

So, so, so again, to summarize here, I cannot recommend the road route coming from the Maryland side to the Virginia side, and then going to Leesburg using the point of rocks crossing. It just doesn’t feel very safe to me. I did, I, I looked at it in a car and it just did not seem very good.

Okay. That was the second to last one. That was the penultimate of our takeaways.

Takeaway 7

Here is the last of the takeaways, and number seven. Amtrak is such a good way to make this trip work. And there’s rumors that we might get another opportunity with rail and that is that the, the Maryland system for commuter rail, it’s the MARC.

I wish I could remember what the acronym is. It’s M A R C. It’s the Maryland Commuter Rail. It goes all the way out to. Martinsburg at this point. Martinsburg is actually the station that is closest to where my cabin is. Is it handy? It can be. It’s very limited. It’s basically does early morning stupidly, early morning roots from Martinsburg to DC cuz it’s a commuter rattle.

And then evening after work routes from DC back to Martinsburg. There are rumors and it’s more, I think, than just rumors. There’s actual. Movement to expand either the offerings so that there’s more of them, and that would be good because if you can get to Harpers Ferry or to Martinsburg, Harpers Ferry is very easy to get to the trail.

Martinsburg, it is possible. It’s a little bit rough with the road riding, but yeah, you can get to the trail that way too. But more importantly, they’re actually looking at potentially expanding the MARC service beyond Martinsburg, all the way to Cumberland. And that is huge because as of right now, we have one bit at the Apple to get from DC to Cumberland, and that is on the Amtrak Capital Limited.

If MARC expands its service there, we will have. At least a couple of extra trains, perhaps up to three additional trains that would get us all the way out there. That is really fantastic. MARC does allow bikes on all of its route now. So I think that, that they would have an eye towards that, that of the bicycle adventuring opportunities that would be there for folks.

It also would be a much cheaper setup. Right now when you’re buying a ticket to Cumberland, that’s usually somewhere in the 20 to 30 to $40 range. Depends on when you buy the ticket and whatnot, but your bike is always an extra 20 bucks as well. So I’m usually not getting a, a train out to Cumberland from DC for anything less than 40 bucks as just a starting point.

If MARC makes its service available, it would be substantially cheaper and more frequent, so that’s pretty good. Oh, by the way, you wouldn’t need a reservation for your bike, which I know is a major limiting. Factor for folks as well. So I, I’m really keeping my fingers crossed. I’ll keep an eye on this as well, but I think that this would be another huge, huge boon for folks who are looking to try to do the C&O coming from Cumberland, DC or otherwise doing some kind of, A train element to your riding.

Some of you may be like, you know what, Tim, I know you’re huge on the cno, but I just wanna get to Cumberland and get on the gap and go, well, this would be another opportunity for you if you’re coming from DC or if you’re finishing up your Pittsburgh to Cumberland ride. It would be an opportunity, more of an opportunity to get back to DC by rail.

So, More to come on that. I’ll, I’ll keep, I’ll keep my eye on that. But that was another huge thing that actually I discovered as I was riding on this return to C&O 2023, and I’m really looking forward to potentially giving you more updates on all of that. Alright, so those are my takeaways for this trip.

Number one, C&O, naysayers, you have less de naysay. Number two, get yourself a water purifier. Number three, sitting out versus pedaling through bad weather. Yeah, make your call. Number four, don’t wait to amass your gear. Ride your ride with what you got. Number five. I love that we’re back, but I’m low key, missing the empty C&O number six.

Can’t really recommend the point of rocks crossing going from Maryland to the Virginia side. And number seven, let’s keep an eye on what’s going on with the Maryland commuter rail. All right. Those are the takeaways.

This summer on The Pedalshift Project

Now, as promised, let’s look ahead to summer on the Pedal shift project. I am mindful that most of the show for this year has basically been tour journals and.

While I’m sure a lot of you really dig that, I really dig it because it’s, frankly, it’s a little bit easier in terms of production for me, although, there’s, there’s a lot of kind of stuff that I have to piece together. It’s just in terms of like a massing content, it’s a little bit easier for me.

It’s usually weeks if not months of content that I do, that I create in basically a few days. On the editing side, it’s a little more difficult than an episode like this where I just sit in front of a mic. But don’t worry about that. That’s sausage making. We don’t talk about making of podcasts on the show except when we do, but I’m, I’m excited to talk about some topical shows, some of the old school shows that we used to do back in the day more frequently.

We’ve got some episodes coming up in the next few weeks that I think you’re gonna like, I’m excited about them. In upcoming episodes are gonna include as I scroll through my editorial calendar. Where is it? Where is it? Where is it? Oh, yeah, yeah. Next week episode 3 27. The. Evolution of bike touring gear from the 1970s to the present.

A little bit of history, but a little bit of just looking back from where we came. Some of you who listened to the show, I know you go back to those bike centennial days back in the mid 1970s. Some of you are younger listeners and you know nothing but bike packing gear. Interesting to just see the evolution of things.

So we’re gonna do a whole episode on that. The episode after that. Number 3 28 bicycle touring goals. Check in. Do you remember we did the bike touring goals way, way back in January episode 3 0 9. Well, here we’re gonna be 19 episodes later and I’m gonna check in and see how I’m doing on those goals.

I haven’t looked yet. I’m a little nervous. It’s exactly the half year point. So I’ve got six more months if I’ve been really bad on some of them. And I know I’m thinking of one that I absolutely have not done and I have no actual plans to do yet. So I gotta make sure I do plans for them. So anyways, bicycle touring goals.

Check in episode 3 28 and then we got some more stuff coming in terms of topical episodes as well before we hit. The big thing, the fun thing, the thing that I think is going to be dominating my well dominating your listening for the summer, and that is the big summer tour. I have got a summer tour all figured out.

It is all planned, it is all ready to roll. And I’m gonna be revealing that in a future episode in mid-July, mid-July is when that is gonna be coming down. And then it’s gonna be immediately followed by, The adventure, and if it goes the way that I’d like it to, it’s gonna largely fill up the pod for the entire rest of the summer and into the fall.

It’s gonna be that long. It’s really fun. It’s quirky and at the same time, I think it’s it, it, it’s just great. I’m, I’m, I cannot tell you how excited I am for it, but I’m not gonna ruin the surprise it’s gonna be coming in about a month or so is when, from where I’m sitting down recording this.

And if you’re listening to the show when it first comes out, it’s gonna be coming out in mid-July is the preview episode, and then we’re just gonna get rolling from there. All right. Lots of fun stuff coming ahead for you on the Pedal Shift project. Excited for the topical shows. Excited for the new adventures, and I’m glad to take you along, as always, for the ride.

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! 

The Pedalshift Project 325: Return to the C&O - Day 3

The Pedalshift Project 325: Return to the C&O – Day 3

After a restful night at Huckleberry Hill, it was time to ride back to DC. But a beautiful Sunday on the C&O usually means a crowded trail… would that slow down my ability to get home?

The Pedalshift Project 325: Return to the C&O - Day 3

Hey it’s the direct download link for The Pedalshift Project 325: Return to the C&O – Day 3.

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Return to the C&O – Day 3

Statistics
Miles biked 64
Gnats consumed 8000
Pennyfarthing encounters 2
Low water crossings crossed 1
Flats 0

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!