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By Tim Mooney
4.7
172172 ratings
The podcast currently has 470 episodes available.
A frosty start leads to adventure, navigating through Theodore Roosevelt National Park! From a sub-freezing camping morning to a literal standoff with a bison, listen in as we explore the unique challenges and rewards of fall adventures in one of North Dakota’s most scenic landscapes.
Housekeeping
We’re shifting the schedule around a bit here as we close out the year… we’re going to delay the final best of for 2024 so we can go straight through to finish the NoDak Adventure with no interruptions. But also…
Live Show! Friday December 6 at 9pm ET/6pm PT - topics TBA, and of course it’ll be the pod for the following week if you can’t make it live. Links and more at pedalshift.net/live.
Best of will be the week of the 19th, then you Shifty the Elf fans? The Holiday Spectacular returns Dec 26th to close out the year!
Folks, heads up this episode contains zero biking, but the next one does as temps eventually warmed up. And as you’ll hear… probably for the best it was too cold, because one particular TR NP resident was not interested in yielding to any of us….
Highlights:
• Cold Camping Realities: Waking up to 31°F in a frosty tent, layering up for warmth, and reflecting on the joys and challenges of camping in such conditions.
• Wildlife Encounters:
• Visits to “prairie dog cities” and observing their fascinating social behaviors.
• Sightings of deer, jackrabbits, and a variety of birds, including a mysterious pheasant-like species.
• A memorable standoff with “Gandalf,” a bison blocking the road for over 30 minutes.
• Reflections on Theodore Roosevelt: Insights into the history and legacy of TR’s connection to the park, alongside a discussion of his mixed-bag of a legacy.
• Midwestern to Western Transition: Observations on how North Dakota’s geography and culture bridge the Midwest and the West.
• Prairie Dog City Philosophy: The ecological role of prairie dogs and their perception as pests versus vital contributors to their ecosystem.
Takeaways:
• Gear Tips for Winter Camping: Always pack gloves and insulated footwear to keep extremities warm.
• Embracing Flexibility: Knowing when to pivot plans, like transitioning from biking to exploring by vehicle when temperatures and wildlife dictate.
• Respecting Wildlife: Acknowledging the park as the animals’ home and adapting to their presence rather than forcing interactions.
Resources:
• Visit the official Theodore Roosevelt National Park website for information about visiting this stunning location.
• Learn more about the Northern Tier Trail here.
Statistics
Morning temp range 21-32 F
Percent of "loop" covered 40
Lord of the Rings wildlife namings 1
Prairie Dog sightings 18 bazillion
Flats 0
Starting from Fargo and driving clear across North Dakota, I had little to prepare me for what awaited on the western edge of the state. But would I see the bison that I low key really wanted to see, and would some discovered damage on the Brompton scuttle the bikey part of this bike adjacent adventure?
HousekeepingWe’re shifting the schedule around a bit here as we close out the year… we’re going to delay the final best of for 2024 so we can go straight through to finish the NoDak Adventure with no interruptions. But also…
Live Show! Friday December 6 at 9pm ET/6pm PT - topics TBA, and of course it’ll be the pod for the following week if you can’t make it live. Links and more at pedalshift.net/live.
Best of will be the week of the 19th, then you Shifty the Elf fans? The Holiday Spectacular returns Dec 26th to close out the year!
NoDak Northern Tier Adventure Part 2Driving North Dakota Adventures
- Reflections on the landscape: vastness, agriculture, and wildlife sightings along the drive
- Observations on North Dakota’s scenic beauty, especially during fall
- Jamestown Buffalo Museum mention and the fascination with the changing golden hues of the farmlands
Arrival in Theodore Roosevelt National Park
- Excitement for the park’s wilderness, iconic buffalo herd, and camping at Cottonwood Campground
- Insight into campground conditions: first-come, first-served, no water or services, and gear preparations
- Planning for a night in the chilly North Dakota weather
Camping and Wildlife Encounters
- Capturing buffalo sightings, exploring the park, and photographing the scenic Badlands
- Cycling experiences within the campground and nearby closed loops, including brief cycling issues
- Observations on the local flora, geology, and prairie dog sightings
Unexpected Gear Lessons and Camping Essentials
- Discussing travel gear logistics: food, fuel, and camping supplies for a no-service campground
- Bike challenges: saddle issues and minor damages to bike parts during transport
- Lessons learned for future trips, particularly with bike handling and protection
Biking and Buffalo Close Encounters
- Memorable encounters with buffalo while biking, and the unique thrill of seeing them up close
- Reflection on safety tips and maintaining distance with wildlife while biking
- Experience of witnessing prairie dogs and other local fauna in their natural habitat
Wrapping up the Day and Reflections
- Preparing for a chilly night with layered gear and warming up with hot food and drinks
- Reflections on the uniqueness of North Dakota’s landscapes and the satisfaction of fully exploring the area
- Plans for a cold morning bike ride, additional wildlife sightings, and beginning the drive back to Fargo
Statisitics
Miles driven 333
Bison sightings 1 herd, 1 lone, um, wolf
Bashed Brompton rack tires 1
Impending temperature drop - 34 degrees F, 19 degrees C
Lighters forgotten, and subsequently purchased 1
Flats 0
We all want to do the right thing, hopefully, and within any community there’s an unwritten code of conduct for proper behavior so we can all get along. On this episode, we cover some of those rules of bicycle touring etiquette! Originally podcast August 15, 2019.
On this episode, we start the long journey to bike in the badlands of North Dakota… it turns out, perhaps the biggest reason I haven’t had a chance to visit North Dakota before is because it is tucked out of the way in the US northern plains. Maybe its remote nature is a part of its draw? Its largest city of Fargo is the gateway to the adventure… would it surprise me from the start?
NoDak Northern Tier Adventure Part 1Statisitics
Miles driven 249
Miles biked 0
States visited 49
Number of campers in camp 1
Number of bikes in camp 1 (Mine!)
Dashed expectations for a cowboy bar because Fargo is way more of a city than I expected and really that’s my own fault because I should have done a minimal amount of research into the vibrant community that Fargo clearly is, and for that I’m a bad podcaster and I’m sorry? Wait… is there a number here? 9!
Flats 0
I’m going to North Dakota and I am unreasonably excited about it! For years I have been stuck at 48 states visited (and for real, not just airport states) BUT the final two were ND and Alaska, and no disrespect to North Dakota but Alaska needs to be my 50th. But the opportunity to get there was shattered ten years ago when my original ride on the Northern Tier route was scuttled by a heat wave I wasn’t interested in riding through. But now… I’m doing it. With a bike. And buffaloes.
The Adventure
Heavily car aided. Very heavily. Like, mostly.
Starting and ending in MSP (there for a work thing)
All camping
Brompton riding daily
Crossing the state TWICE
Urban camping in Fargo!
Theodore Roosevelt NP! Buffalo! Camping! Riding!
Finally getting wheels down on the Northern Tier bicycle route!
Rest stop car camping in the very friendly sleep-in rest stops of ND!
Did I mention the 49th state visit?
Itinerary
Day 1
Car rental
Camping in Fargo and Lindenwood Campground
Biking into town for dinner and all the Fargo nightlife I can handle
Day 2
Pre dawn departure
Gain an hour driving across the state into MT
Camping at TR NP at Cottonwood Campground
Buffalo herds nearby and sometimes they saunter into camp?
Day 3
Half day at TR NP to cycle a bit
Drive back across the state
Lose an hour coming back into CT
Rest area about halfway to MSP
Day 4
Pre dawn departure
Get back to MSP and fly home
Gear
Rental car
Brompton
Camping gear that fits in a checked suitcase - going with basics and adding "luxuries" if I can since this is car camping
Stove a must - likely buying fuel in MN or ND
Weather
Not as cold as you’d think for fall
Hoping for dry, preparing for not
How much biking?
It really depends. The idea here is to get a sample, not make miles.
Seeing TR NP at the speed of bike
Experiencing Fargo and its… bike infrastructure?
So, the ebike works… and my confidence is up! What were my takeaways from the shakedown ride and what are the kinds of rides I’m considering for 2025 and beyond for my electric wonder?
Housekeeping
Live Show! Friday December 6 at 9pm ET/6pm PT - topics TBA, and of course it’ll be the pod for the following week if you can’t make it live. Links and more at pedalshift.net/live.
We have a new adventure lined up in a totally new to me state! Preview episode next week!
Takeaways
The bike works and I might be a better mechanic than I thought
I may have underestimated the range on this battery
I may have underestimated the recharge capabilities of the "slow charger" but maybe not
I need more hand positions (Jones Bar? Something else?)
I really should finish the bike but if I’m cutting cables I want to figure out the handlebars and height first
I’m going to buy all the things to outfit this without borrowing from my other bikes
The Future
I considered bringing this bike for my annual Florida ride, then reconsidered
Positioning an ebike for a ride is complex because transportation has to be by ground or shipping
I want to do more shakedowns before going "over the wall"
C&O to Cumberland and back (or train)
Full GAP/CO
East Coast Greenway segments from DC north and south
Connect OTET to Katy (Dayton-St. Louis)
KC to Denver
Denver to the Pacific Coast
What are you interested in hearing about?
On this episode, I take my new ebike on its first shakedown ride to test its capabilities, from battery life to chain tension to, well… does this thing work? It’s a 40 mile round trip from my cabin in West Virginia to a campsite outside of Hancock, MD on the C&O towpath complete with terrain, headwinds, hills and riverside overnight!
Housekeeping
Lael Wilcox’s ride is weeks old now but shout out to listener and former guest Cyrus Fairivar for not only meeting with Lael, but getting an unnamed shout out on her pod!
Live Show announcement! Friday December 6 at 9pm ET/6pm PT - topics TBA, and of course it’ll be the pod for the following week if you can’t make it live. Links and more at pedalshift.net/live.
eBike Project - Shakedown Ride
Bike Setup & Preparation:
• Fully charged battery, loaded with two rear panniers, and adjustments for the first e-bike adventure.
• Changes from the last ride: added a stove for coffee and packed some food from Maria’s Taqueria.
Ride Experience:
• Initial observations on battery performance: The e-bike flattened the hills, averaging around 20-25 mph with minimal battery usage.
• Headwind and hill performance: Noted how the pedal assist (at level 4 and 5) made hills easier and allowed for faster cruising speeds.
Comfort Adjustments:
• Noted some tingling in the hands and plans to possibly add bar ends or horns for a better grip.
• A potential move to a more upright riding position, requiring cabling adjustments.
Battery Management:
• Discussed the range and recharge performance, observing that the battery was only down 25% after 20 miles of riding, even with heavy pedal assist.
• Insights on ideal battery storage and how the e-bike’s range matched expectations.
Camp Setup:
• Arrived at camp and shared thoughts on the bike’s potential for longer tours, with plenty of battery for return rides.
• Reflections on camping alone and observations on trail conditions and other cyclists.
The Ride Back:
• Further testing of the battery on uphill sections, confirming impressive performance with ample pedal assist.
• Final reflections on e-bike touring possibilities, noting a vastly improved return ride compared to previous acoustic bike tours.
Statistics
Miles biked: 40 miles
Average Speed on Flats: 23 mph Battery confidence: 100%
Efficacy of using coffee stirrers as chopsticks: 3%
Flats: 0
Originally recorded live from Hedgesville, WV, this episode of the Pedalshift Project includes the (semi-doomed) 2018 fall tour reveal and gear tips for your fall bicycle touring. Plus banter with you… because it was live! Originally podcast September 27, 2018.
On this edition, we preview a short but momentous little overnight adventure on my brand new ebike… we’ll discuss goals and strategies, plus recharge options and… hey, we’re getting back on the C&O again!
eBike Project - Shakedown Preview The basicsebike
full charged battery
Two panniers and maybe the sleep kit on the handlebars
No food, no stove
Sleep clothes only (no additional clothing)
Rain gear only if rain ends up being possible
extra tools - chain breaker, master link breaker, more
The routeRoad route from cabin to Hancock’s city park, then onto one of the closer campsites on the C&O
Returning the second day to Hancock for any additional charge ups necessary and then up the hills back
Approx 40 total miles, maybe a bit more if I ride further out on the trail
Why so short?Need to keep things close in case we have something happen that requires a vehicle rescue
May be a short ride but it has a lot of climbing, long flats where speed is helpful, and more
Trying to gauge how much range this bike and battery has on real terrain
Minimal gear and gas station cuisine
Hancock has plenty of food options close to the city park that has electric
Will bring water purifier for the trail just in case, but likely will have enough water on hand to make things work
Trying to keep the variables to a minimum
WeatherFinally starting to cool down around here!
High projected to be in 70s (24C), lows in the mid 50s (13C)
Rain in the forecast for a couple of days before, but ending that morning so it should be dry but might have wet ground
Down bag, tent, pad… nothing too crazy necessary as we transition into fall
What I’m looking for out of this tripEnsuring the build is solid and safe - rack, brakes, cables no longer pinched
Testing range on the battery
Getting more experience climbing with the boost
Seeing how "fast" my 3A charger can charge (not a lot)
Getting a feel for a suspension bike
Getting a feel for the tires
Assessing comfort - how long can I be in the saddle?
Assessing need for more add-ons
A chill night on the C&O… haven’t been camping since Oregon this summer!
Pod plansSingle tour journal for the trip (there and back)
Separate takeaways episode to get into assessments, next steps, and potential ideas for 2025
In this episode, follow an in-depth, step-by-step journey of transforming a surprisingly decent Ozark Trail mountain bike into the first Pedalshift e-bike (n=3 or 4 if you’re counting). This mega-pod takes you from the initial setup to final tweaks, including component replacements, brake and pedal adjustments, and install of a mid drive motor. I’m hardly a bike mechanic, so will things to go sideways at least once like my typical bike adventures?
eBike Project - The Build00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview
01:54 Choosing the Right Bike for the E-Bike Conversion
05:52 Initial Setup and Component Replacements
10:56 Challenges and Adjustments
18:05 Programming and Configuration
28:45 Battery Insights and Expectations
41:03 Assembly and Troubleshooting
48:11 Rear Brake Discovery
48:27 Chain Installation Challenges
48:30 Nighttime Reflections
49:27 Final Adjustments and Cable Management
50:51 Chain Sizing Tips
51:47 First Ride Impressions
52:32 Handlebar and Screen Setup
52:51 Rear Brake Issues
55:28 Pedal and Crank Problems
58:54 Cable and Sensor Installations
01:01:44 Tire Upgrade
01:04:14 Battery and Range Concerns
01:04:53 Shakedown Ride Plans
01:07:23 Final Preparations
01:16:47 Shakedown Ride Execution
01:25:48 E-Bike Confidence Boost
01:30:36 Closing Remarks and Future Plans
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