We’re often asked what you should get someone into bike touring… but what about a gift for a friend or loved one who is literally in the middle of a bike tour? Inspired by a Reddit thread, but not one of *those* Reddit threads… some fun ideas that would really help make someone’s tour! Originally podcast July 21, 2022.

The Florida adventure is in the rear view mirror but I have so many lessons learned from this trip… and I’ll share a bunch of them with you here on the takeaways edition to close out the trip.

Hold the date… Pedalshift 400 Live will be Friday April 11th at 8pm ET - 5pm PT. Check out Pedlashift on YouTube or pedalshift.net/live for more. Ask Me Anything for sure, the rest is a surprise maybe to me as well?

Takeaways from the Jacksonville-to-Orlando Bike Tour

Day 1 (Jacksonville to St. Augustine)

1. A Ferry Ride to Kick Things Off – The journey began with a ferry ride across the St. Johns River, adding a scenic and unique element right from the start. Incorporating ferries into bike tours always makes for an enjoyable experience.

2. Gate Code Saves the Day at Anastasia State Park – The planned shortcut to the campsite led to a locked gate, but having the code allowed access without a detour. Avoiding extra miles at the end of a long day was a major win.

3. Improvised Gear Setup on the Brompton – A key piece of the backpack-mounting system was missing, requiring an improvised fix using a monopod and zip ties. The setup held up well throughout the ride, proving that adaptability is key in bike touring.

Day 2 (St. Augustine to Flagler Beach Area)

4. Bananas Are the Best Electrolyte Solution – Instead of relying on electrolyte pills, which can cause nausea, bananas proved to be an effective way to prevent leg cramps. A simple, natural solution that made a big difference in managing hydration and muscle recovery.

5. A Route Adjustment Shortened the Day, but It Was Still Challenging – The original 57.7-mile plan changed with a 20-mile fast forward, making for a shorter but still demanding day. Even with the adjustment, Florida’s heat, humidity, and terrain required careful pacing and hydration.

Day 3 (Port Orange to Rural Central Florida)

6. Headwinds and Humidity Made for a Tough Solo Ride – With no fast forward on this leg, the ride covered the full planned distance through sticky, muggy conditions. After the challenging conditions of the previous day, endurance and smart pacing were crucial to finishing strong.

7. Road Noise at Campgrounds Was a Constant Issue – Unlike remote wilderness bike tours, the campgrounds on this route were consistently noisy, with traffic sounds carrying late into the night. Sleeping conditions were impacted by a combination of humidity and the urban-adjacent settings.

Day 4 (Final Push to Disney)

8. A Pre-Dawn Start Took Advantage of Cooler Temperatures – The ride began at 6:15 AM, allowing for several miles before the sun and heat became overwhelming. The early start also meant less traffic and a peaceful stretch along the trail.

9. A Fast Forward to Winter Garden Allowed for New Route Exploration – Instead of repeating a previously ridden portion of the Florida Coast-to-Coast Trail, a fast forward brought the ride to Winter Garden, where new routes could be explored. This decision balanced efficiency with the excitement of seeing something different.

10. A Challenging Finish with More Traffic Than Expected – The final approach onto Disney property was busier than usual, making the last miles more hectic than anticipated. Despite the increased traffic, the ride concluded at the planned finish line, maintaining a long-standing tour tradition.

The previous day’s winds having ebbed, it was time to ride a full day again. And with grayer skies and the winds more at my back than my face, day 3 got things back on track. Would last year’s free campsite be as welcoming on this trip?

Hold the date… Pedalshift 400 Live will be Friday April 11th at 8pm ET - 5pm PT. Check out Pedlashift on YouTube or pedalshift.net/live for more. Ask Me Anything for sure, the rest is a surprise maybe to me as well?

Statistics

Prę dawn cycling sections 1

Miles biked part 1 - 10

Miles biked part 2 - 20.1

Ubers 1

Towns with beach in the name 0

Flats 0

The previous day’s winds having ebbed, it was time to ride a full day again. And with grayer skies and the winds more at my back than my face, day 3 got things back on track. Would last year’s free campsite be as welcoming on this trip?

Hold the date… Pedalshift 400 Live will be Friday April 11th at 8pm ET - 5pm PT. Check out Pedlashift on YouTube or pedalshift.net/live for more. Ask Me Anything for sure, the rest is a surprise maybe to me as well?

Statistics

Miles biked - 37.8

Ubers 0

Towns with beach in the name 0

Free camps 1

Flats 0

There are few rules in bicycle adventures, but I am a firm believer in the one that says you do not taunt the bike touring gods. Day 1 was a breeze, I said! The bike gods respond with a breeze of their own. Would their wrath of headwinds push me to screeching halt on my way to Daytona?

Hold the date… Pedalshift 400 Live will be Friday April 11th at 8pm ET - 5pm PT. Check out Pedlashift on YouTube or pedalshift.net/live for more. Ask Me Anything for sure, the rest is a surprise maybe to me as well?

Statistics

Miles bikes 30.4

Miles not biked 27.4

Ubers 1

Towns with beach in the name 6

Flats 0

The first day of the Florida Coast adventure starts from the cooler air of Jacksonville, carrying me south through a series of beach towns on the way to a state park outside of St. Augustine with two entrances… the short way has a locked gate… would I be able to get through or have to go all the way back around (complete with extra miles) to get to camp?

Hold the date… Pedalshift 400 Live will be Friday April 11th at 8pm ET - 5pm PT. Check out Pedlashift on YouTube or pedalshift.net/live for more. Ask Me Anything for sure, the rest is a surprise maybe to me as well?

Statistics

Miles bikes 52.5

Miles ferried .3

Towns with beach in the name 7

Regrets for not stopping for a cuban coffee 1

Flats 0

My annual tradition of a winter ride in the sunshine state continues! Unlike past years, I’m shaking things up with the start and focusing on a coastal ride along the East Coast Greenway before turning inland. But the Florida Coast is the name of the game for this adventure, and on this episode we preview the ride!

The ride

Jacksonville to WDW over 4 days!

East Coast Greenway!

A ferry!

Mostly coastal riding with the ocean over my left shoulder (who knew?)

Revisting the Florida Coast to Coast Trail

Riding all the way to my finish line resort at WDW (no Lyfts at the end this time!)

The gear

Brompton

3 days of camping

Backpack mode with front pannier (same as last year)

Keeping things minimal as the camping gear takes up some room

No stove

Details

JAX-St. Augustine

St. Augustine - Daytona

Daytona - Lake Monroe

Lake Monroe - WDW

Highlights

Day 1 St. Johns ferry and St Augustine

Day 2 All coastal riding to Daytona

Day 3 Reuniting with the FLC2C trail and camping at the free Lake Monroe campground

Day 4 Eff it we’re doing it live! Another thrilling ride into the belly of the beast errr Mouse and then celebrating by flying the Falcon and drinking blue milk and hitting the cantina

Potential issues

I need this trip more than I’ve ever needed a bike adventure so there’s a lot of mental energy riding on this one… so you just KNOW shit will go sideways!

Have not gotten the Brompton checked and likely won’t have an opportunity as I have only a day or two in DC before I fly down to JAX. What could possibly go wrong?

Tour Journal episodes start… next week, AND this gets us almost all the way to episode 400. Stay tuned for a live show announcement for mid-April!

I ride three different bikes for touring, and each one has plusses and minuses depending on what kind of ride I’m looking for. But if you’re new to bike touring or looking for another bike, what should you be thinking about? On this episode, the things I look for in a touring bike! Originally podcast August 11, 2022.

So I successfully rode 75 miles on a single charge of my eBike battery (with a little bit of a top off!). What did I learn from the adventure and what does it mean for future trips with my ebike? 

75ish miles is pretty great with a little top off… that’s amazing for the C&O and other reasonably flat terrain!

1.Battery Management is Key

•The ride underscored the importance of efficient battery use. Keeping the e-bike battery between 20% and 80% for everyday use is recommended, but for extended trips, charging to 100% proved essential. However, overuse of higher pedal-assist levels (like Level 3) quickly drained the battery, emphasizing the need to stick to lower levels (1 or 2) to maximize range.

2.Comfort Adjustments are Ongoing

•Experimentation with the saddle and handlebars revealed that finding the right configuration for long rides is a process. While the new saddle and bar extensions offered some comfort, they weren’t perfect, suggesting that further adjustments or a different saddle type (like a Brooks) may be needed for better ergonomics.

3.Weather and Trail Conditions Impact Performance

•The dry, cool weather and improved trail conditions (like the newly paved Western Maryland Rail Trail) enhanced the ride experience. However, headwinds were a challenge, requiring adjustments in effort and assist levels to maintain speed.

4.Range and Effort Balance

•The ride confirmed that the e-bike could cover about 70-75 miles on a single charge, with minimal hills and strategic use of pedal assist. This opens possibilities for long-distance touring with the addition of a second battery but highlighted that even with assist, significant physical effort is still required, particularly on longer rides.

5.Preparation and Redundancy are Crucial

•While the ride was successful, minor issues like forgetting a bike lock, misplacing microphone components, and underestimating hydration needs pointed to the importance of thorough preparation. Carrying a spare battery, hydration supplies, and tools for adjustments proved beneficial.

The ebike is absolutely in my plans for some adventures

- Train and bike to/from DC - really anyplace but emphasis on east coast

- Circumnavigation of Lake Ontario

- More east coast greenway riding

- Another segment of the cross country ride