381: NoDak Northern Tier Adventure Preview
The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
Release Date: 10/24/2024
The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
The first day of the Florida Coast adventure starts from the cooler air of Jacksonville, carrying me south through a series of beach towns on the way to a state park outside of St. Augustine with two entrances… the short way has a locked gate… would I be able to get through or have to go all the way back around (complete with extra miles) to get to camp? Pedalshift 400 Live Hold the date… Pedalshift 400 Live will be Friday April 11th at 8pm ET - 5pm PT. Check out Pedlashift on YouTube or for more. Ask Me Anything for sure, the rest is a surprise maybe to me as well? Florida Coast Part 1...
info_outlineThe Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
My annual tradition of a winter ride in the sunshine state continues! Unlike past years, I’m shaking things up with the start and focusing on a coastal ride along the East Coast Greenway before turning inland. But the Florida Coast is the name of the game for this adventure, and on this episode we preview the ride! Florida Coast Preview The ride Jacksonville to WDW over 4 days! East Coast Greenway! A ferry! Mostly coastal riding with the ocean over my left shoulder (who knew?) Revisting the Florida Coast to Coast Trail Riding all the way to my finish line resort at WDW (no Lyfts at the end...
info_outlineThe Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
I ride three different bikes for touring, and each one has plusses and minuses depending on what kind of ride I’m looking for. But if you’re new to bike touring or looking for another bike, what should you be thinking about? On this episode, the things I look for in a touring bike! .
info_outlineThe Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
So I successfully rode 75 miles on a single charge of my eBike battery (with a little bit of a top off!). What did I learn from the adventure and what does it mean for future trips with my ebike? eBike Range Test Takeaways 75ish miles is pretty great with a little top off… that’s amazing for the C&O and other reasonably flat terrain! 1.Battery Management is Key •The ride underscored the importance of efficient battery use. Keeping the e-bike battery between 20% and 80% for everyday use is recommended, but for extended trips, charging to 100% proved essential. However, overuse...
info_outlineThe Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
On this episode we ride from my cabin to Cumberland, MD on the C&O towpath to see if we can squeeze 75 miles out of my eBike battery! With only one real opportunity to top off, this is a real test with fairly unfun consequences if I run out… did I make it or did I have to pedal the last bit without that little extra boost? Quick programming note… this episode is a beast, so I’m going to do takeaways next episode… feel free to listen to this one in chunks as it’s over an hour!
info_outlineThe Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
On this episode we turn the page back to last fall when I did a secret mini tour with a big purpose… to test the range of my eBike battery on the C&O trail! Can I stretch one full charge enough to get a full day’s ride in with all of the pedal assist I want? Let’s find out the hard way! eBike Range Test Preview The ride Cabin to Cumberland, road and trail 1 day, 1 charge* eBike! The idea Can I stretch the battery enough to get me 75.1 miles from cabin to Cumberland? Learning about range Learning about methods to conserve power Can I pedal this bike comfortably without pedal...
info_outlineThe Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
On this edition of the pod, we kick off 2025 with the intent to make it a year of celebration in a time of loss for me. But celebration is more fun, so let’s do that. 2014’s trip was a shout out to my grandmother and 2025 now has to be the same for my dad, who passed away at his home in NY just before Christmas. So, what are we doing by bike to celebrate his life and all sorts of other things? Celebrating plans already made, and taking care of yourself - yes, I’m in western NY for a few weeks this winter but I’m taking some time to ride my ride in Florida. Familiar trip...
info_outlineThe Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
With a bunch of snow and ice on the ground where I’m at, it’s a good time to focus on things that will help bike tours coming after the thaw. On this episode, an update on my winter fitness goals, what I’m doing to keep it going plus some ideas on winter bike maintenance. .
info_outlineThe Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
Shifty Saves the Holidays! It's an annual tradition around here that we celebrate the holidays with my senior executive producer and best buddy Shifty the Elf celebrating the year that has been. This year, in a nearly all elf-driven plot, our guy Shifty finds the magic in 2024 to make the holidays special once again. Happy holidays all, and see you in 2025!
info_outlineThe Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
I’ll admit, I’ve been bikepacking curious for a while. As my touring continues to expand and evolve I’m thinking more about bikepacking options and I thought I’d share the process on the pod. Join me, won’t you? .
info_outlineI’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 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?