Mysterious Oregon Coast 2025 Preview
The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
Release Date: 08/21/2025
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...
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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…...
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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. .
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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:...
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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 ...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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_outlineWe are so back.... on the Oregon Coast with the Mysterious James for another round of two-wheeled mayhem. Ten days, 360 miles, zero expectations, and maximum potential for randomness. The Safari's ready, MJ is in, and we're about to find out if bike touring is really dying or just hiding. Spoiler alert: it's gonna be a wild ride.
Mysterious Oregon Coast 2025 Preview
Route Preview
•Start: Astoria, OR (mile marker 0 or 360, depending on your perspective)
•End: Crescent City, CA (for Tim); James continues on to the Bay Area
•Duration: 10 days with a flexible buffer day
•Notable overnight stops (planned or likely):
•Nehalem Bay State Park (newly renovated!)
•Pacific City (Webb Campground… maybe)
•South Beach State Park (for access to Newport breweries)
•Honeyman State Park (newer, flatter hiker/biker site)
•Humbug Mountain State Park
•Harris Beach State Park
•Potential zero day or break-up of the tough Humbug → Harris Beach stretch
•No planned fast-forwards, unless absolutely necessary.
Camping and Lodging Notes
•Prioritizing Oregon’s legendary hiker/biker campgrounds.
•Watching for options to split up tougher days if needed.
•No hotels booked mid-ride… but maybe one after.
Health & COVID Precautions
•Recent exposure to COVID before departure.
•Testing negative but traveling with:
•N95 masks
•At-home test kits
•A solid commitment to not being “that guy” on the coast
Gear and Bike Setup
•Bike: The classic Safari (not the e-bike — those batteries don’t fly)
•Derailleur hanger fixed after some Oregon baggage trauma last year
•Bags and Packing:
•Rear panniers only (probably no front rack)
•Dry bag strapped to handlebars
•Possibly a rack-top bag or extra dry bag for groceries
•Tent & Sleep Kit: Same trusty gear as usual
•Clothing:
•Two sun hoodies, maybe a few tees
•Minimal civilian clothes
•One pair of riding pants, maybe a second pair
•Hat, gloves (maybe), sleep clothes
•Kitchen:
•Might skip the stove — James likely bringing one
•Planning to mooch hot water as needed
•Hydration & Nutrition:
•Bringing water cube + personal bottle
•Salt/electrolyte tablets recommended by a listener
•Stroopwafels as ride fuel (solid choice)
Weather Forecast
•Classic Oregon coast summer: mid-60s highs, mid-50s lows, mostly dry
•Tailwinds expected
•Perfect conditions for coastal touring
The State of Touring
•Fewer cyclists seen in recent years — why?
•Aging of the boomer “bikecentennial” generation
•More folks opting for trail or gravel rides
•General safety concerns on roadways
•ACA is selling its HQ in Missoula and going fully remote — a sign of shifting tides?
•This ride may be another data point in the evolution of bike touring
What to Expect
•Conversations and stories with James
•Challenges, route decisions, campground reviews, and food stops
•A mix of reflective commentary and classic on-the-road storytelling
Coming Up…
•Next episode kicks off the Mysterious Oregon Coast 2025 tour proper
•Get ready for on-the-ground updates, audio postcards, and the real-time unfolding of the adventure