Pedalshift's New Basecamp

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 basecamp, and not a commentary on my beloved Portland. It remains the land of sunshine and bunnies, and it’s just down I-5.

There’s obviously other details to all of this but they are far more weedsy than worth getting into for you all. Let’s focus on the parts that impact the pod!

 

What Seattle Unlocks for Bike Adventures

Puget Sound & the Islands

• Bainbridge, Vashon, Whidbey, and the San Juans
• Ferry-based overnighters and S24Os

Olympic Peninsula

• ACA Pacific Coast connections
• Port Townsend → Sequim → Forks routes
• Big coastal scenery for trip diaries

Cascade Range

• Palouse to Cascades Trail (hello, cross-state gravel epic)
• Snoqualmie Pass corridor
• North Cascades Highway rides when the snow gods allow

British Columbia

• Vancouver + Victoria loops
• Easier cross-border touring content

Western US Access

Simpler jumps to NorCal, SoCal, Alaska, and Rocky Mountain tour starts

 

How the Show Evolves

 

More Micro-Tours

Seattle puts quality riding minutes—not hours—away, which means more short trips, more experiments, more rapid-fire episodes.

Some Non-Bicycle Adventures

Exploring by foot - hiking, urban adventures and more. Not a replacement for bikes, but a compliment.

New Possible Arcs

• The Islands Project
• The Puget Sound Loops
• Palouse to Cascades: Piece by Piece
• Return to the Coast (Seattle → Portland → Coast → beyond)

Year-Round Riding

Milder PNW winters = more shoulder-season content and gear discussions. Also proximity to southern CA for winter riding?

 

What Stays the Same

• The philosophy of intentional, practical, joyful bike travel
• Long-form tours and multi-state adventures
• Portland is the land of sunshine and bunnies, and Seattle will need a tagline

 

Early Seattle Recon

• Riding West Seattle, Alki, and Elliott Bay
• Ferry recon missions
• Scouting trails, routes, and spots for easy S24Os
• Checking out the local bike shop ecosystem

 

Production Notes

• Scheduling in winter and spring TBD with some back and forth travel
• Regular episode cadence with best-of’s 

 

Listener Input Wanted

• Got Seattle, Puget Sound, or PNW route suggestions? Hidden gems? Ferries worth timing for golden hour? Winter riding hacks?
• Hit me up—I’ll feature the best ones in future episodes.