Exploring London
The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
It's international exploration time with two feet as we explore England! In the first part of this two-part series, I kick things off with a whirlwind visit to London, exploring Hyde Park, Regent’s Park, and Camden Market in search of great music, vintage vinyl, and some proper curry chips. Along the way, I’m testing a new approach to beating jet lag, applying lessons from ultralight bike touring to international travel, and discovering the joys of exploring a new city with less planning and more winging it. Live Show - Friday 11/20 5pm PT, 8pm ET Quick housekeeping before we get going -...
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EV Adventure Takeaways
The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
After two episodes experimenting with electric-powered adventures on the Oregon coast, it’s time to look at what worked, what could use some improvement, and what these experiences might mean for future ebike adventures. Live Show - Friday 11/20 5pm PT, 8pm ET Quick housekeeping before we get going - we had so much fun in the last one it’s time we did it again… a special Thanksgiving LIVE show Friday November 20 5pm PT, 8pm ET. It’ll be the episode that drops on US Thanksgiving day so we’ll definitely have some themage on that. Plus special returning guests… chat room… the works....
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EV Adventure - Part 2
The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
Part two of the EV adventure swaps four wheels for two as I pull the e-bike out in Cannon Beach and put it to the test on a familiar stretch of the Oregon Coast, finding out just how much an e-bike can flatten some very familiar coastal hills. A pretty compelling experiment in electric-powered adventure! The Pedalshift Project 454: EV Adventure - Part 2 The Ride Start/finish: Cannon Beach, Oregon Route: Cannon Beach → Arch Cape → Arch Cape Tunnel → Neahkahnie Mountain → Manzanita → return to Cannon Beach Out-and-back ride on US 101 E-bike with a full battery and essentially no...
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Best of Pedalshift 351: Build the eBike - Part 1
The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
The big project for 2024 is building the ultimate custom ebike. On this episode we go over the three key components to the build, from picking the perfect frame, the right mid-drive motor and a battery that gives range and power. What’s better than a project that blends tech with cycling?
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EV Adventure - Part 1
The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
First of two-parts! An EV adventure on the Oregon Coast begins with four wheels before shifting to two. In Part 1, I take the RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid out for a post-concert overnight to see how well my car-camping setup works in the real world before the e-bike comes off the rack for its first Oregon Coast adventure. The Pedalshift Project 453: EV Adventure - Part 1 After catching Suki Waterhouse in Portland, I point the RAV4 toward the coast with a simple plan: use iOverlander to find a free overnight spot, get some sleep in the back of the vehicle, and wake up positioned for the next...
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Pedalshift Live
The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
We are live baby live for a special edition of Pedalshift Live, with a summer in review, a bit of a fall (and even early winter!) preview, the merch unveiling and preview, plus an ask me anything on all things bike adventures! The Pedalshift Project 452: Pedalshift Live Summer in review Sprocketshift Reunion (my tent is not viable) MJ Backpacking (and new ultralight gear!) eV Adventure - coming soon London/Bristol/Dublin - coming soon Fall… Tokyo, NYC, Maui… Merch Preview Special thanks to Simone, joining us in the chat… literally could not have done this without her skill, savvy and...
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Oregon Coast Trail Takeaways
The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
Three days on the Oregon Coast Trail started as an experiment: could backpacking fit into the world of Pedalshift, and would returning to a familiar place on foot offer something genuinely different? After plenty of beach walking, climbing, rain, headwinds, good sand, bad sand and a tiny boat ride, the answer is pretty clear. Here are the biggest takeaways from the adventure. 1. Backpacking is officially part of the adventure toolbox The biggest takeaway is also the simplest: this worked. Neither Tim nor James had backpacked seriously in years, but the...
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Best of Pedalshift 346: Slow Travel
The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
On this episode of The Pedalshift Project, we explore slow travel and its relevance to your bicycle adventures. We also circle back to our previous discussion on eBikes, reflecting on some listener feedback and exploring the evolving role of eBikes on the future of bicycle travel. Originally podcast December 14, 2023.
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Oregon Coast Trail - Part 3
The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
The final day of the Oregon Coast Trail adventure begins at Barview Jetty with one major decision: take the short road walk toward Garibaldi or head back onto the beach for one last stretch of hiking. The beach wins, giving James and I a fitting final chapter to our first successful backpacking trip in years—and plenty of time to start thinking about what comes next. maybe James won’t cause us to miss a bus next time? Pedalshift Live - September 11, 5pm PT! Topics TBA, but it’s a summer closeout and certainly a preview of some stuff coming in the fall. ALSO we’re doing a super fun...
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Oregon Coast Trail - Part 2
The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
Day two on the Oregon Coast Trail takes us south from Nehalem Bay for a day dominated by beach walking, a tiny boat crossing, unexpected rain, relentless headwinds and the discovery that not all sand is created equal. What initially looks like an easier day turns into nearly 11 challenging miles, and convincing proof that MJ and I might actually be backpackers after all. My Tent is Not Viable! Because this pod has become all Oregon Coast all the time (and no, spoiler… more to come) I have to share yet another special creation. Newly minted Pedalshift listener and merch designer Simone...
info_outlineIt's international exploration time with two feet as we explore England! In the first part of this two-part series, I kick things off with a whirlwind visit to London, exploring Hyde Park, Regent’s Park, and Camden Market in search of great music, vintage vinyl, and some proper curry chips. Along the way, I’m testing a new approach to beating jet lag, applying lessons from ultralight bike touring to international travel, and discovering the joys of exploring a new city with less planning and more winging it.
Live Show - Friday 11/20 5pm PT, 8pm ET
Quick housekeeping before we get going - we had so much fun in the last one it’s time we did it again… a special Thanksgiving LIVE show Friday November 20 5pm PT, 8pm ET. It’ll be the episode that drops on US Thanksgiving day so we’ll definitely have some themage on that. Plus special returning guests… chat room… the works. Let’s get ready for the holidays together!
The Pedalshift Project 456: Exploring London
London: Arrival and First Impressions
- Flying from Seattle to London and tackling an eight-hour time difference
- Testing the Timeshifter app to manage jet lag
- Heathrow Express to Paddington and the advantages of staying near the train station
- An evening walk through Hyde Park
- The curry chips side quest begins!
Exploring London on Foot
- A surprisingly excellent fish-and-chips experience
- Discovering Sherlock Holmes at Baker Street
- Walking through Regent’s Park and Queen Mary’s Rose Garden
- Heading to Camden Market on a busy bank holiday
- A self-guided Britpop walking tour through Camden
Music, Vinyl, and Camden Market
- Searching for rare ’90s records
- The Stone Roses, The Beta Band, and the soundtrack to exploring London
- Crate digging and an unexpected score: eight vintage seven-inch singles for £20
- The joys of discovering music in the places that helped shape it
Ultralight Travel Beyond the Bike
- Applying bike touring and backpacking principles to international travel
- Navigating European airline carry-on size and weight restrictions
- A smaller roller bag, a versatile travel backpack, and merino wool clothing
- Packing light while leaving room for records and souvenirs
- Why flexibility matters when traveling between cities
Onward to Bristol
- Taking the Great Western Railway from Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads
- First impressions of Bristol’s industrial architecture and creative character
- Why Bristol’s trip-hop scene inspired this visit
- Massive Attack, Portishead, and the city’s musical legacy
- Planning a Banksy street art walk and more record shopping
- An unexpected discovery: Brompton bike rentals!
- Two full days of Bristol exploration ahead
Coming in Part 2: More adventures in Bristol, exploring the city’s music, street art, neighborhoods, and whatever unexpected discoveries come along the way.