385: NoDak Northern Tier Adventure Part 4
The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
Release Date: 11/28/2024
The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
The Florida adventure is in the rear view mirror but I have so many lessons learned from this trip… and I’ll share a bunch of them with you here on the takeaways edition to close out the trip. 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? Takeaways from the Jacksonville-to-Orlando Bike Tour Day 1 (Jacksonville to St. Augustine) 1. A Ferry Ride to Kick Things Off – The journey began with a ferry ride across the St. Johns River, adding a...
info_outlineThe Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
The previous day’s winds having ebbed, it was time to ride a full day again. And with grayer skies and the winds more at my back than my face, day 3 got things back on track. Would last year’s free campsite be as welcoming on this trip? 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 4 Statistics Prę dawn cycling sections 1 Miles biked part 1 - 10 Miles biked part 2 - 20.1 Ubers 1 Towns with beach in...
info_outlineThe Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
The previous day’s winds having ebbed, it was time to ride a full day again. And with grayer skies and the winds more at my back than my face, day 3 got things back on track. Would last year’s free campsite be as welcoming on this trip? 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 3 Statistics Miles biked - 37.8 Ubers 0 Towns with beach in the name 0 Free camps 1 Flats 0
info_outlineThe Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
I used to do a beginners series on the show (and hope to do another again) but never did a whole show on “don’t make the same mistake I did.” So, on this episode… mistakes to avoid as a beginner!
info_outlineThe Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
There are few rules in bicycle adventures, but I am a firm believer in the one that says you do not taunt the bike touring gods. Day 1 was a breeze, I said! The bike gods respond with a breeze of their own. Would their wrath of headwinds push me to screeching halt on my way to Daytona? 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 2 Statistics Miles bikes 30.4 Miles not biked 27.4 Ubers 1 Towns with beach...
info_outlineThe 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 final day of the NoDak adventure (finally?) explored the beauty of Medora, North Dakota, on bike, reflecting on the unique experience of cycling the Northern Tier Route. Beautiful views of TR NP, offbeat historical tidbits and some reflections and "what ifs" that prevented me from getting there earlier… all part of the adventure!
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!
Highlights:
• Cycling the Northern Tier Route:
• A ride along the official Northern Tier Route through Medora, including scenic stops by the Little Missouri River and the Medora campground.
• Observations on the route’s history and recent adjustments due to safety concerns in northern North Dakota.
• Historical Nuggets: The tale of William Riley Luffy and a historic gunfight near the Little Missouri River.
• Wildlife and Natural Beauty: Reflections on bison herds, prairie dog cities, and the stark beauty of the Badlands.
• Medora and Theodore Roosevelt National Park:
• Exploring the charming Wild West vibes of Medora and its support for cyclists.
• Insights on Theodore Roosevelt’s complex legacy and the transformative power of the landscapes that inspired him.
• Personal Reflections:
• The joys and challenges of biking in cold weather.
• Thoughts on the unique beauty of oft-overlooked places like North Dakota.
Takeaways:
• Cycling Lessons: Even short rides can offer profound connections to the landscapes and communities you explore.
• Travel Wisdom: Embrace the unexpected, whether it’s historical surprises or the realization that your bike can take you farther than you think.
• Gratitude for Adventure: Recognizing the privilege of discovering new places and bringing listeners along for the journey.
Resources:
• Plan your Northern Tier adventure with the Adventure Cycling Association.
• Discover Medora and Theodore Roosevelt National Park on the official websites and NPS site.
Statistics
Miles biked 5
Cyclist encounters 1
Cowboy themed museums and shops in Medora 5
Flats 0