Do podcasts get middle aged? Well we're 40. Know what else is turning 40 this year? Bikecentennial... arguably the origin of modern bicycle touring. We'll touch on one of the things going on to celebrate the milestone, dig in on some 2016 tour plans and hit the backlog of gear talk and connections from before the holidays.

Hey it's the direct download link for episode 040: Bikecentennial at 40 + 2016 tour planning (mp3)

Reach out to the show via email, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Don't forget to join the newsletter too. Newsletter drops January 15th, so sign up before then and you'll get January's!

Have some bike touring or overnight stories to share? Send your pics, audio or a quick tweet - all welcome. Email the show at [email protected] or call the lightly-used Pedalshift voicemail line at (202) 930-1109.

Bikecentennial on Wikipedia
The TransAm and Bikecentennial
Bike your park day 9/24/16
Path Less Pedaled has some cool images

Spring CA coast ride
Considering hosting a weekend Pedalshift tour from DC to my cabin in WV. Interested?

And eff Delta. And eff Brompton traitors who work for Delta.
Never has it been more clear that stealth mode is important than now.

.@Delta just charged me $150 one way for this piece of luggage. Guess why. pic.twitter.com/zsuOzPLBBX

— Darren B (@bikepedantic) December 15, 2015

Ugh. Wanna know how and why?

@jessicaroberts one of the other gate agents has one. His amiable smalltalk was a trap.

— Darren B (@bikepedantic) December 15, 2015

Worst part of @bikepedantic getting charged for his Brompton? The outing by a fellow Brompton rider! "Its a trap!" pic.twitter.com/ToAbuRl6ii

— Pedalshift (@pedalshift) December 15, 2015

It’s a trap!

FOTS Paul Mulvey:

Selected past posts on tech:

FOTS Paul Mulvey on issues with Google Maps bike layers See the Google Maps product forum thread for more. 

Mike Cobb from Facebook:

A section of plastic soda bottle, cut to a size extending 1.5" outside of the bulge, with sanded edges (using patch kit sand paper or pavement), duct taped to the inside of the tire, can often provide a permanent solution to damaged casing on a tire wider than 1.5". Narrower tires can be fixed similarly, but the lump is felt.

I find this comforting, because in the U.S., it's pretty easy to find discarded soda bottles on the side of the road or at least in garbage cans.

New listener Mark VanRaam

UK Listener Perce aka Steve Brett

Listener Dave Rutter AKA HammerHiker

And even more 5 star reviews!

The Pedalshift Project theme is America courtesy of Jason Kent off his self-titled solo album. Check out his band Sunfields' album, Habitat, wherever cool music resides.  I just heard Jason's new album and it is AWESOME. More info when that drops this spring!