Oregon Coast Trail Preview

Oregon Coast Trail Preview

Author: Tim Mooney July 30, 2026 Duration: 19:16

Welcome to a different kind of Pedalshift adventure. For the first time, we're leaving the bikes behind and heading out on foot for a three-day section hike of the Oregon Coast Trail. Along with returning friend of the show and legendary 5-timer Mysterious James, I'm testing new ultralight gear, revisiting familiar terrain at walking speed, and exploring whether slowing down even more changes the way we experience a place we've ridden through so many times. It's a little experimental, a little ambitious, and very much in the spirit of adventure.

The Pedalshift Project 447: Oregon Coast Trail Preview

  • A first for Pedalshift: backpacking instead of bikepacking.
  • Joined by returning guest James for a three-day Oregon Coast Trail adventure.
  • Transit-powered trip: Portland → Tillamook → north coast by bus before hiking south.
  • Revisiting familiar Pacific Coast territory from an entirely different perspective.
  • Can walking reveal things even bike travel misses?
  • Route highlights include:
    • Neahkahnie Mountain
    • Manzanita
    • Nehalem Bay State Park
    • Beach hiking along the Oregon Coast Trail
  • Planning roughly 10-mile hiking days with hiker-biker and county campground overnights.
  • Weather forecast calls for classic Oregon Coast uncertainty, with rain possible after a dry first day.
  • New ultralight gear gets its first real test:
    • Hyperlite 40L backpack
    • Big Agnes Copper Spur Bikepacking tent
    • Carbon fiber trekking poles
  • Thoughts on balancing premium gear with the long-held Pedalshift philosophy that the best gear is the gear that gets you outside.
  • Pack weight comes in around 18 pounds, with room for future refinement.
  • Trail food strategy includes hot coffee, plenty of snack bars… and James carrying enough bananas for what appears to be a small primate sanctuary.
  • Why this trip fits the evolving vision of Pedalshift: adventures adjacent to bicycling that still embrace human-powered exploration.

There’s a particular kind of freedom that comes from traveling by bicycle, where the journey itself becomes the destination. The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures, hosted by Tim Mooney, delves into that experience through a mix of personal stories, practical advice, and wide-ranging conversations. Rather than just a how-to guide, this podcast feels like sitting down with a knowledgeable friend after a long day on the road. You’ll hear firsthand accounts from fellow bike tourists, each with their own unique tales from the pavement and gravel, alongside Tim’s own reflections and experiments in bicycle touring. The discussions naturally cover the logistical tips and tricks that make trips smoother, but they also explore the cultural and educational aspects of moving through the world at a human pace. It’s about more than gear and routes; it’s about the connections made and the perspectives gained when you embrace a slower, more engaged form of travel. This audio companion to Pedalshift.net aims to demystify bicycle adventure, making it feel accessible and deeply rewarding. By sharing these stories and ideas, the hope is to inspire your own two-wheeled explorations, proving that a bicycle can indeed shrink the world in the most wonderful way. Tune in for a thoughtful, grounded take on seeing the world from the saddle.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
Podcast Episodes
Best of Pedalshift 346: Slow Travel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:31
On this episode of The Pedalshift Project, we explore slow travel and its relevance to your bicycle adventures. We also circle back to our previous discussion on eBikes, reflecting on some listener feedback and exploring…
Oregon Coast Trail - Part 3 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:44
The final day of the Oregon Coast Trail adventure begins at Barview Jetty with one major decision: take the short road walk toward Garibaldi or head back onto the beach for one last stretch of hiking. The beach wins, giv…
Oregon Coast Trail - Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:03
Day two on the Oregon Coast Trail takes us south from Nehalem Bay for a day dominated by beach walking, a tiny boat crossing, unexpected rain, relentless headwinds and the discovery that not all sand is created equal. Wh…
Oregon Coast Trail - Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:09
The Oregon Coast Trail backpacking adventure officially begins! Mysterious James and I head for the Oregon Coast expecting a roughly 10-mile first day over Neahkahnie Mountain. Naturally, the adventure starts with us wat…
Best of Pedalshift 345: E-Bike Adventures with Biking Brian [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:39
On this episode of The Pedalshift Project, we welcome eBike expert Biking Brian to chat about his eBike touring and adventures. We discuss his background in bicycling and touring, his experiences with building eBikes and…
Sprocketshift Oregon Coast Takeaways [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:50
Every once in a while I finish a trip and, after I get home and everything dries out, I realize there were a handful of lessons that weren't obvious while I was riding. So this week, rather than another recap of the Oreg…
Sprocketshift Oregon Coast - Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:23
What happens when two people on the same bike tour decide to have two completely different adventures? On this edition of The Pedalshift Project, day two of the Sprocketshift Oregon Coast adventure with Brock Dittus star…
Sprocketshift Oregon Coast  - Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:12
It's magical episode 444 of The Pedalshift Project, and we're marking the occasion with a proper Oregon Coast adventure! In part one of two, longtime friend of the show Brock Dittus joins on a hobgoblin of a ride. On thi…
Best of Pedalshift 325: Return to the C&O - Day 3 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:04
After a restful night at Huckleberry Hill, it was time to ride back to DC. But a beautiful Sunday on the C&O usually means a crowded trail… would that slow down my ability to get home?
Sprocketshift Oregon Coast Preview [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:02
We are SO back. On this edition, the preview episode for the first Oregon Coast trip that doesn't require me to fly thousands of miles. Added bonus: Brock frieking Dittus is going to be returning to the podcasting airwav…