Day one of an Oregon coast adventure - what could possibly go wrong? As Mysterious James and I began our journey from Astoria after navigating July 4th rental car details, we encounter (because of course) the first of many issues we’ll encounter on the most mysterious of Oregon Coast adventures ever.

Mysterious Oregon Coast 2025 Part 1

Morning, Turned Afternoon Departure

• 1:00 PM start time after bike assembly and hotel checkout
• Bikes transported in rental car not designed for two bikes
• TSA inspection didn’t damage  gear (deraileur hanger protection removed)
• Successful bike reassembly and adjustment

The Ride Begins

• Largely flat terrain - unusual for Oregon Coast
• Two notable climbs between departure and Seaside
• Decision to shorten day from Nehalem Bay to Cannon Beach
• Use of Perplexity AI to find alternative "off-book" campsite a success

Seaside Stop & Food Strategy

• Delightful lunch that both riders "really needed"
• Tim's nutrition timing issues affecting performance
• Plan to shop for breakfast supplies at local market

The Mechanical Crisis

• James's left crank arm completely falls off while riding to market
• Discovery of tiny pin mechanism in Shimano crank arm
• Initial DIY repair attempts fail spectacularly
• Kind local offers help but problem proves beyond field repair

Professional Intervention

• Bike shop discovery 470 feet away in Cannon Beach
• Ian at local rental shop (also starting bike repair services)
• Diagnosis: stripped internal teeth, unrepairable in field
• Shop closing at 7:30 PM but Ian stays to help

The Damage Assessment

• Left crank arm completely stripped internally
• Cannot be field-repaired
• Options: Replace single crank arm or entire crankset
• Potential multi-day delay due to Sunday/Monday shop closures

Contingency Planning

• Morning departure to Seaside bike shops (two available)
• Transportation options: Uber (surprisingly available) or bus service
• Multiple backup plans if repair takes longer
• Flexibility to modify entire tour routing if needed

Technical Details

• Equipment failure: Shimano crank arm with pin retention system
• Daily mileage: Approximately 30 miles completed
• Terrain: Two moderate climbs for Oregon Coast standards
• Upcoming challenge: Arch Cape Tunnel (uphill tunnel on Highway 101)

Local Insights

• Cannon Beach: Block-by-block character variation
• Seaside: Extremely crowded July 5th weekend
• Tourism impact: Half of Portland/Seattle metro areas visiting simultaneously
• Bike infrastructure: Limited bike parking in tourist areas

Lessons Learned

1. Try DIY first - But know when to seek professional help
2. Rental shops can be repair shops - Ian's dual business model
3. Community support - Locals willing to help stranded cyclists
4. Flexibility is key - Every PedalShift tour goes sideways at some point

Tour Philosophy Discussion

• Expectation that something will go wrong on every tour
• Value of riding companions with compatible problem-solving approaches
• Benefits of building in extra days and flexible routing
• Options to modify tour scope based on circumstances

Looking Ahead

• Immediate goal: Get James's bike repaired in Seaside
• Backup plans: Shortened tour, bus connections, or complete rerouting
• Distance flexibility: 20-30 mile days vs. 55-mile days depending on circumstances
• Route options: Continue south vs. return north via Portland

Notable Quotes

• "All bike tours in the PedalShift universe go sideways at some point"
• "There are worse places in the world to be stranded"
• "It depends on the block you're on" (describing Seaside)
• "We expect something to go sideways at some point, and you just deal with it"

Statistics

Miles biked 30

Percentage of crank arms that did not fail 75

Distance in feet from Ian’s Cannon Beach bike rental -slash- shop 475

Cumulative nights spent in Cannon Beach (so far) 1

Flats zero