Tag: gear talk

November 26, 2020

Best of Pedalshift 111: Olympic Peninsula Brompton Tour – Part 1

In the first of a two-parter, join me and my trusty Brompton for 4 days of transit-aided bicycle tour from Washington, DC to Seattle to the Olympic Peninsula and wrapping things up in Astoria, Oregon. Part one features the machinations of getting from DC to a tent in the shadows of the Olympic Mountains (if there were, y’know… sun) and the first very soggy day of riding. Originally podcast March 22, 2018. Read more

November 19, 2020

The Pedalshift Project 225: Extending the Life of Your Touring Bike

A listener texted in and asked, “how do you keep your bike around year after year?” On this episode, my thoughts on keeping all parts of your bike in tip top shape so you can maximize extending the life of your touring bike!
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November 12, 2020

The Pedalshift Project 224: Winter Bike Tour Planning

Time is opening up a little bit for me for the next couple of months so I’m spending some time winter bike tour planning, one locally and exploring if there is a safe and responsible way to get a warm-weather location ride in January or February

October 29, 2020

The Pedalshift Project 223: Bike Tour Packing Strategies

You’ve got our bike, you know where you’re going… the next biggest thing is what to bring and how to pack it! On this edition of the pod, my top five strategies for packing for a bike tour.
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September 24, 2020

The Pedalshift Project 219: Rebel Without a Car

A chat with Mary McGowan is the Rebel Without a Car. She’s a Delaware native now in South Carolina who went from a car-free bike commuter to bike tourist and has discovered a ton of adventure along the way.

July 16, 2020

The Pedalshift Project 211: A Brompton Urban Stealth Overnight

With my proper trail bike in the shop but a real need to get out for an overnight, I turned to a C&O newbie… my trusty 12″ wheeled, very orange Brompton as my chariot to an urban(ish) stealth camping overnight. Would the trail chew up the Brompton? Would my orange gear prove too, well, orange for stealth camping? If you can’t get your adventure by the liter these days, may as well do it in sips…

July 9, 2020

The Pedalshift Project 210: Western C&O Loop, Day 3

Concluding my western C&O loop adventure! Day 3 began with a chilly, rainy start. The loop had to be closed, but would anything other than rain and tunnels stand in my way?

June 25, 2020

The Pedalshift Project 209: Western C&O Loop, Day 2

Continuing my western C&O loop adventure! On Day 2, I left the unique confines of Potomac Forks campground and looked to resupply in Cumberland and loop back. But would Cumberland offer me what I needed and would I get distracted from completing a full loop from where I began my day?

June 18, 2020

The Pedalshift Project 208: Western C&O Loop, Day 1

Everyone’s universe has shrunk a lot since the beginning of the pandemic, and nowhere has it hit home more than bicycle touring. I’m fortunate enough to have one of the country’s crown jewel routes right around where I live. The first trip this year looped the eastern third near DC. This time, I roll out into the wilderness of the western third, looking for adventure and solitude. On Day 1, I picked up a freshly repaired bike in Hancock and rolled off. But would the bike behave and more importantly, would my body betray me after just a day on the trail?

June 11, 2020

The Pedalshift Project 207: June 2020 Bicycle Touring Draft

Six months since the defeat of Mysterious James in the inaugural Pedalshift Bicycle Tour Draft, we sweeten the pot with 3 new contestants from a certain show podcasting from The Land of Sunshine and Bunnies™ to vie for my title belt! I explain the rules at the top, and we kind of make it up as we go along, but the essence is each of us chooses pieces of gear or other elements of a bike tour that the other person now cannot choose, and then you get to choose who wins.
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