The Pedalshift Project 387: Ask Us Anything with Mysterious James

Pedalshift

A repodcast of Pedalshift Live from December 6, 2024 featuring special guest Mysterious James and YOUR questions for a big round of Ask Us Anything. Huge shoutout to the folks that came and made this one of the best live shows yet!

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Housekeeping

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!

Ask Us Anything (LIVE!)

1.Top 3 Must-Have Items for Bike Touring

•James: Once considered a cook set essential but now tours stoveless. Values minimal gear and adaptability.

•Tim: iPhone (multi-use tool), foldable backjack chair, and positive vibes for motivation.

2.Best Place for Car-Free Living with Transit and Nature Access

•James: San Francisco for its bikeability, walkability, and access to nature in all directions.

•Tim: Portland, Oregon, for its bike-friendly culture, infrastructure, and scenic options for bike tours.

3.Trail Recommendations

•Greenbrier River Trail (WV): Tim considers it for future e-bike touring despite challenging accessibility and trail conditions.

•Pine Creek Trail (PA): Known but less explored by Tim and James.

•Cowboy Trail (NE): On Tim’s radar, but accessibility challenges persist.

4.Approach to Bike Adventuring

•James: Minimal planning, go-with-the-flow mindset, and preference for off-road routes.

•Tim: Focuses on enjoying the experience rather than completing every mile, with flexibility to adapt plans as needed.

5.East Coast Greenway

•Highlighted as a potential cross-country ride option. Discussed challenges with camping and infrastructure but praised for its connectivity.

6.Tire Preferences

•James: Schwalbe Marathon and Mondial tires for durability and versatility.

•Tim: A long-time fan of Schwalbe tires for touring and e-bike use.

7.Mud Guards vs. No Mud Guards

•James: Initially used mud guards but removed them due to travel difficulties and now prefers to ride without them.

•Tim: Appreciates their value but acknowledges challenges with mud accumulation on trails like the C&O.

8.Motivation on Long Rides or in Bad Weather

•James: Allows trips to end naturally when motivation fades, embracing the experience regardless of completion.

•Tim: Stays motivated by focusing on the overall experience and prioritizing safety, especially in adverse weather.

9.Warm Showers Experience

•James: Prefers camping or hotels due to flexibility and introversion.

•Tim: Values the concept but hasn’t fully embraced it due to similar concerns.

10.Cross-Country U.S. Route Priorities

•James: Interested in rail trail-based routes for safety and scenery.

•Tim: Eastern Express and routes through national parks like the Lewis and Clark Trail.

11.Cycling Southeast Asia

•James: Enthralled by Cambodia’s culture and affordability but wary of heat, rain, and traffic.

•Tim: Intrigued but cautious about climate and road conditions.

12.Cycling Quebec

•Tim: Keen to explore Quebec’s Route Verte and its cultural richness, possibly linking it to U.S. rail trails for a larger tour.

13.Gap and C&O: Pittsburgh to DC vs. DC to Pittsburgh

•Tim: Initially preferred Cumberland-to-Pittsburgh for the downhill experience but now considers both routes equally, emphasizing convenience based on starting point.

14.Bikepacking Regions to Highlight in a U.S. Cross-Country Tour

•Must-see trails include the Great American Rail Trail, Katy Trail, and Northern Tier’s scenic sections.

Special Mentions: Regina Yan (East Coast Greenway), Adventure Cycling Association (route inspiration), and Schwalbe Tires (consistent performance).

As always we like to close out the show with a special shoutout to the Pedalshift Society! Because of support from listeners like you, Pedalshift is a weekly bicycle touring podcast with a global community, expanding into live shows and covering new tours like this summer’s upcoming bike tour! If you like what you hear, you can support the show for 5 bucks, 2 bucks or even a buck a month. And there’s one-shot and annual options if you’re not into the small monthly thing. Check it all out at pedalshift.net/society.

Kimberly Wilson
Caleb Jenkinson
Cameron Lien
Andrew MacGregor
Michael Hart
Keith Nagel
Brock Dittus
Thomas Skadow
Marco Lo
Terrance Manson
Harry Telgadas
Chris Barron
Mark Van Raam
Brad Hipwell
Mr. T
Nathan Poulton
Stephen Dickerson
Vince LoGreco
Cody Floerchinger
Tom Benenati
Greg Braithwaite
Sandy Pizzio
Jeff Muster
Seth Pollack
Joseph Quinn
Drue Porter
Byron Paterson
Joachim Raber
Ray Jackson
Jeff Frey
Kenny Mikey
Lisa Hart
John Denkler
Steve Hankel
Miguel Quinones
Alejandro Avilés-Reyes
Keith Spangler
Greg Towner
Dan Gebhart, RIP
Jody Dzuranin
Lucas Barwick
Michael Baker
Brian Bechtol
Reinhart Bigl
Greg Middlemis
Connie Moore
William Gothmann
Brian Benton
Joan Churchill
Mike Bender
Rick Weinberg
Billy Crafton
Gary Matushak
Greg L’Etoile-Lopes
James Sloan
Jonathan Dillard
John Funk
Tom Bilcze
Ronald Piroli
Dave Roll
Brian Hafner
Misha LeBlanc
Ari Messinger
David Gratke
Todd Groesbeck
Wally Estrella
Sue Reinert
John Leko
Stephen Granata
Phillip Mueller
Robert Lackey
Dominic Carol
Jacqi McCulloch
John Hickman
Carl Presseault
David Neves
Patty Louise
Terry Fitzgerald
Peter Steinmetz
Timothy Fitzpatrick
Michael Liszewski
Hank O’Donnell
David Zanoni
David Weil
Matthew Sponseller
Chad Reno
Spartan Dale
Carolyn Ferguson
Peggy Littlefield
Lauren Allansmith
Eric Burns
Thomas Pearl
Darrin McKibben
Richard Stewart
Dave Fletcher
Jack Smith
Luke Parkinson
Ryan Patterson
Cyrus Farivar
John Gardiner
Sam Scruggs

Music

You’ve been hearing about Jason Kent and his music for many fine episodes. Jason has a new solo album available NOW. Go listen to JUKEBOX BOY wherever cool music is available!

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