Mysterious Oregon Coast 2025 Part 6
The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
Release Date: 10/02/2025
Winter Break: Olympic Peninsula Part 1
The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
In the first of a two-parter during winter break, it's Pedalshift Tour Journals: Vol. 9: Olympic Peninsula! Join me and my trusty Brompton for 4 days of transit-aided bicycle touring from Washington, DC to Seattle to the Olympic Peninsula and wrapping things up in Astoria, Oregon. This week features the machinations of getting from DC to a tent in the shadows of the Olympic Mountains (if there were, y’know… sun) and the first very soggy day of riding. Originally podcast March 22, 2018.
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Winter Break: Evolution of Bike Adventure Gear
The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
Every once in a while it’s nice to look back on where it all came from – on this edition, we explore the evolution of bike touring gear from the beginning of the modern era in the 1970s through today’s high tech enhancements to bikepacking and more. Plus, a nod to what the future might hold with new materials and tech to make bicycle adventuring more fun and accessible! Originally podcast June 22, 2023.
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Adventure Goals for 2026
The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
One more episode before we take a little winter break (with some great best of's!) we do our annual setting of goals. This year we mix in one non-cycling goal on top of the others. Hey if I hit all of these it's going to be a great year! Adventure Goals for 2026 Continued fitness upgrades Oh Canada! New bike(s) Ultralight gear and ultralight tours A Brompton adventure Seattle S24Os Big toe dip: backpacking… Hoh Rainforest? A transit-assisted adventure A food and beverage-centric adventure A ferry-centric adventure
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Live From Seattle
The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
Our very first live show of 2026 is also the inaugural live show from Seattle! On this episode we chat more in depth about Seattle biking adventures to come, both locally and launched from here, give a quick Brompton update, an even briefer ACA update, and then a bunch of questions in the live show AMA! Live from Seattle Thoughts on Seattle as a bike launching point Local trails Gateway to multiple adventures Vancouver crossing loop Pacific coast Washington Parks STP SEA direct flights Year round cycling Brompton update ACA Building Sale Seems like the sale of the building is serving as a...
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All Who Wander Are Not Lost
The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
We've often talked about how slow travel by bicycle helps you see your adventure with far more detail than by car. But can we slow it down even more and reinforce that lesson? On this episode, exploring the parallels of exploring a city by foot and how that proves the point! All Who Wander... Exploring Seattle without a car Using walking as a way to scope neighborhoods Slow travel lessons from bike touring, applied to everyday life What you notice on foot that you miss by bike or car Sound, sight lines, and the feel of a place Low-friction wandering and following curiosity Inefficiency as a...
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Rightsizing Your Bikes for a Move
The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
So you’ve decided to relocate - congratulations! Now you have to figure out what to do with all of your bikes. Do you just move them all or is it time to rightsize your fleet? On this edition, we take a long hard look at my situation with a cross-country move. Do I move them all or is there a better solution? • Moving long-distance as a forcing function for downsizing • Applying “does this still serve me?” to bikes • When sentimental value isn’t the same as utility • Overlapping bikes and letting go of duplicates • Keeping the most flexible, all-conditions bike •...
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Best of Pedalshift 310: Offseason Training for Bike Touring
The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
You know you’ve got a bike tour coming up this year, so you want to make sure you’re ready for it. What are some things to do to make that easier in the bike touring offseason? On this episode, some insight into my plans this offseason plus tips from ACA, REI and other experts! ALSO... Pedalshift SEATTLE Live will be Friday January 16 at 5pm PT/8pm ET. Check out the details in your email, YouTube and pedalshift.net/live.
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The 2025 Holiday Spectacular
The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
Shifty the Elf returns for the annual holiday spectacular! 2025 was... a year. And as Shifty and I pack up for Seattle, there's a bunch of things we're going through and boxing up as we bid adieu to the year! Happy Holidays and see you in 2026!
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Honolulu and Seattle
The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
A walk along Elliot Bay to discuss the short trip to Honolulu and more on the transition to Seattle and all the bikey adventures to come. Honolulu and Seattle A walk along Elliot Bay Honolulu thoughts More Seattle impressions N+1 thoughts on bikes
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Pedalshift's New Basecamp
The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
Big news for the show: The Pedalshift Project is setting up camp in a new city! This episode breaks down what that means for future tours, how this opens up brand-new riding possibilities, and why the destination may be a bit of a surprise and also not a surprise at all. My new home: Seattle! Why? This move is all about geography, access, and expanding the Pedalshift touring sandbox. Seattle places world-class touring terrain right outside the door and increases the show’s ability to cover more routes, more often. And yes—this is a return to the broader PNW. Think of it as a new...
info_outlineA 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 originally attracted them
- Yachats exploration - First real visit to Tim's long-desired coast town (population: 800)
- Cape Perpetua finale - Tackling one of the coast's most challenging and scenic climbs
- Tire crisis intensifies - James's rear tire split worsens but limps to the finish
- Eugene revelation - $5 bus ride opens new coast access possibilities
Route Details
Day 1: South Beach to Yachats
- Short, rolling ride through Waldport and Seal Rock
- Classic foggy conditions with seagull air-surfing entertainment
- Hotel night in Yachats for town exploration
Day 2: Yachats to Florence
- 25-mile challenge over Cape Perpetua
- Multiple climbs through "the windiest part of the Oregon coast"
- Cape Creek Tunnel navigation
- Final descent to Florence via Sea Lion Caves
Yachats Assessment
- Population: 800 residents
- Vibe: Full spectrum from blue collar to "bougie-est of bougie"
- Tim's verdict: "Punches above its weight" for a small coastal town
- Accommodation: Ocean view hotel with perfect fog viewing
Mechanical Drama Final Act
- James's tubeless tire split progressively worsens
- Tube begins protruding through tire damage
- Bike shop in Florence (Bicycles 101) permanently closed
- Tire successfully limps final 52 miles to completion
- Post-ride tire replacement arranged in Eugene
Transportation Victory
- Florence to Eugene bus: Only $5 (compared to $17-20 Portland routes)
- Bus rack accommodates James's 29+ tire width with minor deflation
- Direct connection to Eugene's Amtrak station and airport
- Opens new coast access strategies for future tours
Cultural Observations
- South Beach platforms: Composite decking mystery continues
- Book club continuation: Tim's author criticism ongoing
- Charging infrastructure: State park downgrades noted
- Coast tourism patterns: More cyclists spotted this year vs. last
Food & Fuel Strategy
- Yachats: Fresh fish and chips (James's rare fish consumption)
- Cape Perpetua prep: High-calorie loading for big climbs
- Florence finale: Safeway provisions for final night
- Eugene heat preparation: Dramamine procurement
Eugene Transition
- 89-90°F heat shock after cool coast weather
- Travel Lodge fan so impressive Tim orders same model for cabin
- Cold Fire Brewing pit stop with brisket and low-alcohol beers
- Hotel early check-in for heat recovery
Statistics
- Miles Biked Day 1: 25
- Miles Biked Day 2: 25
- Total tour mileage: ~52% of original plan
- Florence to Eugene bus cost: $5
- Eugene temperature: 90°F
- Flats: Zero