Tag: northern tier

November 14, 2024

The Pedalshift Project 383: NoDak Northern Tier Adventure Part 2

Starting from Fargo and driving clear across North Dakota, I had little to prepare me for what awaited on the western edge of the state. But would I see the bison that I low key really wanted to see, and would some discovered damage on the Brompton scuttle the bikey part of this bike adjacent adventure?

The Pedalshift Project 383: NoDak Northern Tier Adventure Part 2

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Housekeeping

We’re shifting the schedule around a bit here as we close out the year… we’re going to delay the final best of for 2024 so we can go straight through to finish the NoDak Adventure with no interruptions. But also…

Live Show! Friday December 6 at 9pm ET/6pm PT – topics TBA, and of course it’ll be the pod for the following week if you can’t make it live. Links and more at pedalshift.net/live.

Best of will be the week of the 19th, then you Shifty the Elf fans? The Holiday Spectacular returns Dec 26th to close out the year!

NoDak Northern Tier Adventure Part 2

Driving North Dakota Adventures

– Reflections on the landscape: vastness, agriculture, and wildlife sightings along the drive

– Observations on North Dakota’s scenic beauty, especially during fall

– Jamestown Buffalo Museum mention and the fascination with the changing golden hues of the farmlands

Arrival in Theodore Roosevelt National Park

– Excitement for the park’s wilderness, iconic buffalo herd, and camping at Cottonwood Campground

– Insight into campground conditions: first-come, first-served, no water or services, and gear preparations

– Planning for a night in the chilly North Dakota weather

Camping and Wildlife Encounters

– Capturing buffalo sightings, exploring the park, and photographing the scenic Badlands

– Cycling experiences within the campground and nearby closed loops, including brief cycling issues

– Observations on the local flora, geology, and prairie dog sightings

Unexpected Gear Lessons and Camping Essentials

– Discussing travel gear logistics: food, fuel, and camping supplies for a no-service campground

– Bike challenges: saddle issues and minor damages to bike parts during transport

– Lessons learned for future trips, particularly with bike handling and protection

Biking and Buffalo Close Encounters

– Memorable encounters with buffalo while biking, and the unique thrill of seeing them up close

– Reflection on safety tips and maintaining distance with wildlife while biking

– Experience of witnessing prairie dogs and other local fauna in their natural habitat

Wrapping up the Day and Reflections

– Preparing for a chilly night with layered gear and warming up with hot food and drinks

– Reflections on the uniqueness of North Dakota’s landscapes and the satisfaction of fully exploring the area

– Plans for a cold morning bike ride, additional wildlife sightings, and beginning the drive back to Fargo

Statisitics

Miles driven 333

Bison sightings 1 herd, 1 lone, um, wolf

Bashed Brompton rack tires 1

Impending temperature drop – 34 degrees F, 19 degrees C

Lighters forgotten, and subsequently purchased 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.

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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 31, 2024

The Pedalshift Project 382: NoDak Northern Tier Adventure Part 1

On this episode, we start the long journey to bike in the badlands of North Dakota… it turns out, perhaps the biggest reason I haven’t had a chance to visit North Dakota before is because it is tucked out of the way in the US northern plains. Maybe its remote nature is a part of its draw? Its largest city of Fargo is the gateway to the adventure… would it surprise me from the start?

The Pedalshift Project 382: NoDak Northern Tier Adventure Part 1

Hey it’s the direct download link for The Pedalshift Project 382: NoDak Northern Tier Adventure Part 1.

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NoDak Northern Tier Adventure Part 1

Statisitics

Miles driven 249

Miles biked 0

States visited 49

Number of campers in camp 1

Number of bikes in camp 1 (Mine!)

Dashed expectations for a cowboy bar because Fargo is way more of a city than I expected and really that’s my own fault because I should have done a minimal amount of research into the vibrant community that Fargo clearly is, and for that I’m a bad podcaster and I’m sorry? Wait… is there a number here? 9!

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!

October 24, 2024

The Pedalshift Project 381: NoDak Northern Tier Adventure Preview

I’m going to North Dakota and I am unreasonably excited about it! For years I have been stuck at 48 states visited (and for real, not just airport states) BUT the final two were ND and Alaska, and no disrespect to North Dakota but Alaska needs to be my 50th. But the opportunity to get there was shattered ten years ago when my original ride on the Northern Tier route was scuttled by a heat wave I wasn’t interested in riding through. But now… I’m doing it. With a bike. And buffaloes.

The Pedalshift Project 381: NoDak Northern Tier Adventure Preview

Hey it’s the direct download link for The Pedalshift Project 381: NoDak Northern Tier Adventure Preview.

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NoDak Northern Tier Adventure Preview

The Adventure

Heavily car aided. Very heavily. Like, mostly.

Starting and ending in MSP (there for a work thing)

All camping

Brompton riding daily

Crossing the state TWICE

Urban camping in Fargo!

Theodore Roosevelt NP! Buffalo! Camping! Riding!

Finally getting wheels down on the Northern Tier bicycle route!

Rest stop car camping in the very friendly sleep-in rest stops of ND!

Did I mention the 49th state visit?

Itinerary

Day 1

Car rental

Camping in Fargo and Lindenwood Campground

Biking into town for dinner and all the Fargo nightlife I can handle

Day 2

Pre dawn departure

Gain an hour driving across the state into MT

Camping at TR NP at Cottonwood Campground

Buffalo herds nearby and sometimes they saunter into camp?

Day 3

Half day at TR NP to cycle a bit

Drive back across the state

Lose an hour coming back into CT

Rest area about halfway to MSP

Day 4

Pre dawn departure

Get back to MSP and fly home

Gear

Rental car

Brompton

Camping gear that fits in a checked suitcase – going with basics and adding “luxuries” if I can since this is car camping

Stove a must – likely buying fuel in MN or ND

Weather

Not as cold as you’d think for fall

Hoping for dry, preparing for not

How much biking?

It really depends. The idea here is to get a sample, not make miles.

Seeing TR NP at the speed of bike

Experiencing Fargo and its… bike infrastructure?

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!

January 5, 2017

The Pedalshift Project 066: Bike touring locks and America’s longest rail trails

Kicking off 2017 with a bang, we cover lightweight bike touring locks, the longest rail trails in the US and an overview of what’s to come on the show in 2017!

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

Happy New Year!

2017 is going to be a great year for Pedalshift… a few things:

– Last year we had more shows than ever. This year we’ll top that. My intention is to have the 2017 Holiday Spectacular be Pedalshift 100.

– That means we have to have 3 episodes per month, SO…

– The Pedalshift Project will continue as is with episodes every other week, and

– There will be a 3rd episode every month on one of the off weeks covering a single topic… sometimes gear, sometimes tips, but always something useful… whether you’re a beginner or more seasoned.

– I’m also going to try to expand into more interviews… last year I did more than the year before, and I hope to do the same this year.

– Pedalshift, like bike touring, is an escape from the rest of the world… what would you like to hear? Shoot me ideas and topics to pedalshift@pedalshift.net.

– Oh yeah, new logo too! Seems to be tradition around here to update the look every year… still orange. Because, of course.

What about 2017 touring?

– 2017 will continue 2016’s emphasis on shorter, more accessible tours.

– I hope to mix in a few new spots this year (more on that in a bit)

– A longer (more than 1 week long) ride is hopefully in the cards, but I don’t want to plan anything substantial this winter so I can spend my time more flexibly later as opportunities firm up

– I’m definitely going to integrate Pedalshift Tour Journals and maybe Pedalshift AM into the future rides… more to come when those get going later this year.

– I hope to interview more people who are tackling bigger, more adventurous rides so we can all learn from those too

Gear Talk

Did you get anything good this holiday season? If you got loaded up with gift cards or cash and want some ideas, go check out the holiday gift guide… I listed a lot of my favorites in case you’re in the market for some new gear.

Lightweight bike touring locks

I tend not to tour in spots that have high security needs, so the locks I use in DC don’t tend to come with me. Still, I like to have the peace of mind to lock up outside grocery stores and other spots when I’m leaving my bike outside.

Some people are good with just cable locks on tour… I used to be ok with them, but I think they’re SO easily defeatable with simple tools that I prefer something more secure.

No lock is foolproof… all can be defeated. The trick is to find the right risk management.

New folding lock styles are interesting. I really like my Inbike folding lock as a touring lock option. Only downside is TSA sees it as a multitool every time so you should pull it out of your carry on separately or risk the (often lengthy) wait. Better yet, check it.

I have a new lightweight cinch lock on the way I’m excited to test out (Ottolock) – I hopped on their Kickstarter so hopefully should have it soon. May be a great touring option.

The Journal

Here are the longest rail-trail conversions in the US, as calculated by Rails to Trails Conservancy:

1. Katy Trail State Park — Missouri: 286 miles

2. John Wayne Pioneer Trail — Washington: 253 miles

3. Cowboy Trail — Nebraska: 195 miles

4. Great Allegheny Passage — Maryland & Pennsylvania: 150 miles

5. Soo Line Trail – Northern Route — Minnesota: 148 miles

6. Columbia Plateau Trail State Park — Washington: 130 miles

7. Paul Bunyan State Trail — Minnesota: 121 miles

8. Flint Hills Nature Trail — Kansas: 117 miles

9. Soo Line Trail – Southern Route & Saunders State Trail — Minnesota & Wisconsin: 114 miles

10. OC&E Woods Line State Trail — Oregon: 110 miles

11. George S. Mickelson Trail — South Dakota: 109 miles

12. Blue Ox Trail (Voyageur Trail) — Minnesota: 107 miles

13. State Line Trail — Michigan: 107 miles

14. Wild Rivers State Trail — Wisconsin: 104 mile

Music

The Pedalshift Project theme is America courtesy of Jason Kent off his self-titled solo album. Check out his band Sunfields‘ latest release, Habitat, wherever cool music resides. And a little birdy tells me Jason’s recording some new music. More when I know…

FEATURED IMAGE,ONE-SEVENTY-NINE/THREE-SIXTY-FIVE (CC) LAURA BITTNER

September 15, 2016

The Pedalshift Project 058: Bike touring across America

Ever wonder what it’s like to cross the US by bike? On this episode of the pod, we chat with a guy who’s done it not once, not twice, but three times! Michael Riscica talks about the highs and lows of bike touring across America, including what it’s like to transition to the real world back home. Plus gear talk and more!

Hey it’s the direct download link: The Pedalshift Project 058: Bike touring across America (mp3)

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Gear Talk

Touring Brompton specs: “The Pedalshift Touring Brompton”

– Touring Brompton specs
– Boo: no orange for Bromptons! H/T Anna at Clever Cycles for letting me in on that.
– A few things to add: I really like the Brompton toolkit (ingenious storage in the tube) and the third party Off Yer Bike handle. For a lock, I’m experimenting with a folding version that’s a knockoff of the ALBUS ones and I just supported a Kickstarter campaign for a cinching lock by a Portland company called Ottolock. Super lightweight and fairly resistant to cutting.

Bicycling with your dog followup

Based on the advice of fellow dog biker and follower Jim in Louisville, I asked for Outward Hound’s Pooch Pouch backpack for my recent bday… both pups fit in it, Belle Starr a little better than Mookie. Looking to a fall overnight with her to test it all out!

The Interview: Bike touring across America with Michael Riscica

Michael Riscica is a Licensed Architect in Oregon. He grew up in the New York City Area and moved to Portland by bike in 2007. A veteran of three cross-America bike tours, Michael rode the Transam in 2005, the Northern Tier in 2007 and returned to the Transam in 2016… all east to west, like a boss. He writes at YoungArchitect.com and coast2coastbikeride.com. He’s also on Instagram & Twitter [@BikeTouring999].

What was your inspiration to move across country by bike on your first cross country ride?
You strike me as a pretty laid back guy, but critics of your ride, your gear or your style, and even how you wrote your blog got under your skin. Frankly as a reader I felt the same way. What’s your take on “backseat bicyclists”?
Your dog patiently waited for your return and you could tell you missed her a lot on the ride. Would you consider bringing her along on a future ride?
How challenging was it to do work on the road? Was there ever a point when you needed internet or cell signal and didn’t have it?
What’s the one thing friends and family got consistently wrong about your rides that you always felt you needed to correct about bike touring across America?
What’s the best advice or assistance you got on tour?
Favorite gear?
You’ve done the northern tier and the Trans Am now twice. Are you thinking about trying the southern tier ride at some point?
Three cross-country rides in… what’s changed with riding across country?
Did you have a tough time transitioning back into reality when you got back? What tips do you have?

Pedalshift Society

A big thank you to all of the monthly supporters of the show! If you like what you hear, you can help me keep the show listener-supported while expanding the offerings. A buck, two bucks or even 5 helps with the costs of hosting the podcast and the website, plus the Pedalshift Society allows me to do cool new things I’ll be rolling out in future shows. AND brand new by popular request… one-shot annual support and “choose your own adventure” one shot support if you’re not into the small monthly thing. Check it out and join at pedalshift.net/society. On to the Society!

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Music

The Pedalshift Project theme is America courtesy of Jason Kent off his self-titled solo album. Check out his band Sunfields‘ album, Habitat, wherever cool music resides. I heard Jason’s new album in January and it is AWESOME. More info when that drops!