Lake Ontario 2025 - Part 4
The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
Release Date: 07/10/2025
Is Bicycle Touring in Decline?
The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
Bicycle touring numbers feel like they’re down—fewer loaded panniers on the road, Adventure Cycling Association facing major financial headwinds, and a lot of long-time tourers quietly aging out. But is touring actually in decline, or is it just shifting into something that looks different—like bikepacking, gravel, and shorter, more flexible trips? In this episode I dig into Adventure Cycling’s recent membership and financial update, talk through generational and economic trends, and explore whether we’re seeing the end of an era… or just the end of one version of it. Is Bicycle...
info_outline
Bike Adventure Goals Scorecard
The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
Way back in January - and what feels like ten years ago to me - I set out a bunch of bicycle adventure goals for me in 2025. In a challenging year, I wasn't sure how I'd measure up but as I always like to do, I gave the goals a once over to see how I did. So on this episode we give it a scorecard treatment, but also a sneak preview of the final piece of 2025 adventuring that manages to check one of the boxes! 2025 Bike Adventure Goals Scorecard Celebrating plans already made, and taking care of yourself Sort of? A big ebike trip – maybe two. Taking the bike on a ride only the ebike can do…...
info_outline
Best of Pedalshift 249: Solo Touring Women
The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
A chat with Sylva Florence, an experienced bicycle tourist and author of many things (including her blog The Sylva Lining) on touring as a solo woman, how people who want to be allies to solo women touring can do that without being creepy, and some of her favorite adventures. .
info_outline
The Ultralight Challenge
The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
What if you could tour with just what fits in a single dry bag? No panniers. Just the essentials. On this episode, we take this as a challenge - borrowing from the ultralight backpacking folks, we cut off our toothbrush handles and weigh every gram for the ultralight bikepacking challenge! “What if you could tour with just what fits in your handlebar bag? No panniers. No rack. Just the essentials.” Why: curiosity, simplicity, nimble handling, testing limits for overnighters or credit card touring. Rules: one mid-size drybag (say 10–12L). No extra frame or seat bags. Trip assumptions:...
info_outline
A Game of Chance Revisited
The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
We're bringing back one of the wackiest ideas in Pedalshift history — the Game of Chance! Using random number generators and the excellent Adventure Cycling Association routes, it's an unpredictable coast-to-coast bike tour from the Pacific to the Atlantic. When every turn is determined by chance the results are... surprisingly awesome? In This Episode: Revisiting the “Game of Chance” touring experiment from 2021 Using randomness to pick routes across ACA’s national network Riding (and re-riding) the Pacific Coast, Northern Tier, Lewis & Clark, TransAm, and more ...
info_outline
Best of Pedalshift 295: Making Your Tent Stealthier
The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
Stealth camping is a great skill to develop and a fantastic option to have for emergencies or maybe even your main overnight plan on a bike tour. But what if your tent is so bright it can be seen from miles away? On this episode, we talk about what worked for my last tent and what I’m trying on my newer one. Originally podcast September 8, 2022. Making a Tent Stealthier The old tent – ALPS Mountaineering Zephyr 2 Spray panting the tarp Tarp was orange so it needed full coverage Used a matte forest green Took 3 full cans to cover (more than I expected) Then covered with a waterproofing...
info_outline
Mysterious Oregon Coast 2025 Takeaways
The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
The Mysterious Oregon Coast adventure is in the rearview mirror, but we always like to peek back before moving on. On this edition we marvel at the fun we had on a fairly cursed tour of some of our favorite parts of the Pacific coast! Bike prep is key — but stuff still breaks. Even a tiny crank arm pin can end a day. Know shops and backup transport. Have Plans A–F ready. Flexibility and quick pivots kept the ride alive when mechanicals hit. Buses & rideshares save tours. Coastal transit and surprise Ubers kept us moving. Greatest hits still feel fresh. Cape Lookout, South...
info_outline
Mysterious Oregon Coast 2025 Part 6
The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
A leisurely morning at South Beach State Park sets the stage for what should be the triumphant finale, but James's bike has one last surprise in store. Sometimes a cursed bike adventure is the best kind. But with tire splits threatening the final miles and Eugene's punishing heat waiting ahead, will we actually make it to the finish line or become stranded out on the coast? Key Highlights South Beach State Park downgrade - Charging lockers removed, replaced with non-charging metal versions Classic Oregon coast weather returns - Fog, cool temperatures, and the riding conditions that...
info_outline
Mysterious Oregon Coast 2025 Part 5
The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
A well-rested morning in Lincoln City spawns what seems like a reasonable plan to salvage the cursed tour, but James's borrowed bike has other ideas entirely. But with tubleless tire disasters forcing yet another major pivot, will this newly condensed coastal adventure finally find its groove or continue spiraling into beautiful chaos? The New Plan (Before It All Changed Again) Today: Lincoln City to South Beach State Park via Newport Tomorrow: South Beach to Yachats for hotel exploration Final day: Yachats to Honeyman State Park near Florence Split: James continues south, Tim...
info_outline
Mysterious Oregon Coast 2025 Part 4
The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
The morning starts strong at Cape Lookout with perfect James and Tim weather, but what begins as a confident push toward Beverly Beach slowly unravels into mechanical mayhem and decision-making paralysis. But with the original plan officially in shambles and multiple escape routes beckoning, will we unleash a suffer fest or pivot to something unexpected? Key Highlights Perfect weather conditions - cloudy and cool, exactly what Tim and James prefer for cycling Hydration revelation continues - Tim credits proper hydration for yesterday's success and focuses on "cameling up" each morning Pacific...
info_outlineThis 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 things cooler
•Reflections on how the late May weather still feels like early spring in Ontario
ðŸ› ï¸ Gear & Tech Check
•E-bike powered up and performing well
•Toolkit left behind—risky move noted
•Ongoing commentary on wide tires, limestone trails, and pedal assist levels
•Big win: no brake issues from frequent wheel removal
📠Destinations & Detours
•Attempt to visit Big Sandy Bay—blocked by entry fee and bike restrictions
•Scenic return loop around the island
•Stop in Bath, Ontario for a legendary lakeside poutine at Fry 33
🧠Navigation Notes
•Avoiding Highway 401 in favor of more bike-friendly, scenic backroads
•Provincial Route 33 (aka Loyalist Parkway) praised for good shoulders and low traffic
•Transition from island terrain to mainland cottage country
ðŸ›³ï¸ Ferry Fun
•Quick ferry crossings as part of the day’s travel
•Love letter to ferries: bike, vehicle, passenger—doesn’t matter, all good
•Plans to use ferries again in future trips (Seattle foreshadowing)
ðŸ Accommodations
•Overnight stay in Colborne, Ontario
•Modest Airbnb geared toward truckers, with diner and Tim Hortons nearby
🧠Reflections & Takeaways
•E-bike confidence fully restored (it was just a magnet issue!)
•Ride offered a mix of natural beauty, tech success, and route experimentation
•Anticipation builds for upcoming Toronto exploration at the “speed of bike”
Statistics
Miles biked 15
Poutine stops 1
Number of stars for the poutine stop 44
Ferries ferried 2
Flats 0