Lake Ontario 2025 - Part 2
The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
Release Date: 06/26/2025
Lake Ontario 2025 - Part 7
The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
What was supposed to be a triumphant border crossing and final push from Niagara Falls back to the starting point became something entirely different when family health concerns required an immediate pivot. But sometimes the best laid plans need to be set aside for what actually matters, and day six became about completing the ride in the way it was always meant to end - with a proper beginning and a proper finish, both by bike, both connected to the places and people that made this whole adventure meaningful in the first place. Lake Ontario 2025: Part 7 Statistics Miles biked:...
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Lake Ontario 2025 - Part 6
The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
Transitioning from from the peaceful Toronto Island back into the urban sprawl of southern Ontario is a bit of a record scratch I’ll more thoroughly experience when I eventually ride this ride, but a fast forward to a stunning Niagara Falls hotel leads to an extensive e-bike exploration of the Niagara River and Falls area. But plans always have a way of changing and this day was no different. Lake Ontario 2025 - Part 6 Toronto Island Farewell Final morning walk through the quiet island community Observations on the unique housing stock and lifestyle Discussion of waiting lists and the...
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Lake Ontario 2025 - Part 5
The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
Toronto! The biggest city in Canada beckoned with its record shops, high energy and criminally underrated cycling on the islands off shore. With a basketball arena parking spot and my kind of weather, TO was ready to welcome me with open arms… Lake Ontario 2025 - Part 5 🚗 Parking + Arrival in Toronto •Parking garage setup with EV charging — 24 hours for 24 CAD, prime downtown location. •Thoughts on Cybertrucks (spoiler: not a fan). •Quick record shop detour before rolling out. 🚲 Urban E-bike Sprint to the Ferry •Navigating Toronto traffic to make the ferry in time....
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Lake Ontario 2025 - Part 4
The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
This portion of the trip was always going to be a question mark - what kind of biking will there be? Will it be fun? Will I be looking too much ahead to more obviously notable places like Toronto and Niagara Falls? Wolfe Island once again answers the call! Lake Ontario 2025 - Part 4 🚲 Ride Overview •Starting the day from Wolf Island, Ontario •A late start, but with a scenic route west to Sandy Point •Focus on a relaxed e-bike ride due to a tight ferry schedule 🌞 Weather & Ride Conditions •Sunny and pleasantly warm, a bit hotter than ideal •Wind off the lake keeping...
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Lake Ontario 2025 - Part 3
The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
So the ebike is a brick in the back of my Rav4, but it still works like a normal bike, so let’s keep going! But a sudden realization may provide the solution to unlock all the battery goodness, just as another stunning discovery makes me realize, this trip’s Plan B was all meant to be. Lake Ontario 2025 - Part 3 Hotel pack-up & quick diagnosis Morning in Oswego, NY. Realizes the motor cut-off is just a loose brake-lever magnet. Simple electrical/duct-tape fix brings the e-bike back to life. Route planning & launch Scraps the closed Cape Vincent ferry idea decides to drive...
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Lake Ontario 2025 - Part 2
The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
Episode 404? Isn’t 404 a website error? Well part 2 of the Lake Ontario adventure corrects for the very serious 404 we had with the ebike. Still a mystery, but we’re recovering and adventuring by bike in amazing towns like Sodus Point and Oswego, exploring apple orchard memories and historic nuclear power plants in between. Lake Ontario 2025 - Part 2 Abandoning the E-Bike Dream (For Now) The electric bike project is benched due to reliability issues Reflections on bike trust, touring logistics, and rethinking the approach New trip plan: use the RAV4 Prime to support bike day rides...
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Lake Ontario 2025 - Part 1
The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
Folks, if you've followed this pod for any length of time you know my bike adventures usually have a component that goes sideways. But has it ever happened before a single pedal stroke? Can the Lake Ontario adventure survive something like that? Lake Ontario 2025: Part 1 Packing anxiety: two batteries, 90+ mile days, and a lot of unknowns My ride strategy: charging on the go and treating watts like water Leaving from my parents’ home—why this ride had emotional weight First day jitters: range, elevation, and pannier paranoia The moment everything stopped working: my e-bike breakdown in...
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402: Lake Ontario 2025 Preview
The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
After years of circling this ride (pun intended) it’s time to do a lap of the lake that I’ve lived near for a big chunk of my early life. Would it have been easier to pick a smaller lake? Sure. But Lake Ontario truly is a Great Lake in the sense it is surrounded by diverse and interesting places we’ll discover together. Lake Ontario 2025 Preview The basics About 540 miles Two countries, two border crossings Ferries galore All roofed lodging Rural stops and big cities Driving ebike to WNY that is the beginning and end of the loop The weather Warm days and cool nights Mixed bag for rain...
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401: LA Metrobike Adventure
The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
What happens when you’ve only got one day in Los Angeles, a conference that demands your physical presence, and a red-eye flight back home? You grab a Metrobike and explore, of course! On this edition, it’s a whirlwind bike share adventure from the hilly streets of Westwood to the iconic Venice Beach boardwalk and a race for that flight home. Los Angeles Metrobike Adventure Intro: •Location: Westwood, California •Reason: Quick trip for an AI conference •Game plan: Metrobike adventure from UCLA to Venice Beach and eventually towards LAX The Plan: •$5 Metrobike day pass –...
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Spring Break: Filling in the Blanks Part 2
The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
Part 2 of 2. My three day weekend tour was about to be washed out by the remnants of yet another hurricane rolling through the area. And since the C&O isn’t exactly the best trail in a soaker, it was a good idea to reverse course and head back to my cabin. But would the tropical gusher wipe me out or would my “special” river crossing be impossible to traverse?
info_outlineEpisode 404? Isn’t 404 a website error? Well part 2 of the Lake Ontario adventure corrects for the very serious 404 we had with the ebike. Still a mystery, but we’re recovering and adventuring by bike in amazing towns like Sodus Point and Oswego, exploring apple orchard memories and historic nuclear power plants in between.
Lake Ontario 2025 - Part 2
Abandoning the E-Bike Dream (For Now)
The electric bike project is benched due to reliability issues
Reflections on bike trust, touring logistics, and rethinking the approach
New trip plan: use the RAV4 Prime to support bike day rides
Pre-Booked Lodging Dilemma
All lodging was pre-booked and non-refundable
How that shifted priorities to maximize the trip by driving to each spot
The “acoustic” bike becomes the tour hero
Day One Route & Destination
Base: North of Webster, NY
Original plan scrapped; new mission: mini bike adventures in each locale
Exploring route options en route to Oswego, NY
Riding Past a Nuclear Legacy
Passing the Ginna Nuclear Power Plant on Lake Road
A personal memory and historical reflection on the 1982 radioactive steam release
Commentary on U.S. nuclear energy anxiety vs. European acceptance
Beechwood State Park to Sodus Point Ride
Decides to ride directly from Sodus Point due to better parking and facilities
Observations of the ride: comfortable unloaded, with scenic lake views
Reflections on Sodus Point, tiki bars, and surprisingly modern homes
A Sentimental Apple Orchard Memory
Flashback to camping with dad in a lakeside orchard
Emotional moment recalling powdered milk, childhood camping trips, and family history
Reflection on development replacing orchards with McMansions
Lunch, Tiki Bars, and Town Vibes
Tiki bar surprise: Jack’s Good Time Tavern!
Bike parking logistics and electric vehicle charging frustrations
Exploring local businesses
Bonus Ride to Sodus Point Beach Park
Beautiful weather, sandy beach, and kite-filled skies
Soaking in the views with the acoustic bike and good mic in tow
Ferry Fiasco Averted
Critical discovery: the expected ferry from Oswego isn’t operating
Realization: the whole trip could’ve collapsed if not for the car-based pivot
Learning: Always confirm ferry schedules
Oswego River + Downtown Bike Loop
Late-day ride along Oswego’s waterfront and Cahill Pier
Thoughts on Oswego’s economic history, SUNY Oswego, and bike-friendly waterfront
Scenic photo ops with a sailboat and lighthouse
Infrastructure Observations
Comments on visible power plants, nuclear and traditional
Reflections on energy production, environment, and how the infrastructure shapes the town
Memory-Making in Motion
How a disappointing start turned into a meaningful, flexible, and scenic experience
New appreciation for blending car support with bike touring
Looking ahead: next stop, Canada – via car, not ferry
Statistics
Miles biked 10
Nuclear power plants 2
Tiki bars in Sodus Point 2
Kite flying festivals attended 1
Misidentified rivers 1
Flats 0