The Pedalshift Project 297: Empire State Trail Preview

Previewing the epic 9-day, 520-plus mile bicycle touring journey from Buffalo to New York City, including all the pre-ride statistics, how this tour tracks my early years, details on how I’m traveling from the beginning and end of the tour , gear I’m bringing, my camping options and much, much more.

Pedalshift 297: Empire State Trail Preview

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Empire State Trail Preview

Pre-Statistics

527.4 miles

9 days riding

1 zero day

1 low mileage day

Average 58.6 mi/day

Roofed lodging – 3 nights (4 with the zero)

Paid camping – 1

Free camping – 2

Wild camping – 2

Tracks my first 25 years of life (ish)

Buffalo – what could have been (plus sports)

Rochester – Hometown

Syracuse – Go Orange!

Albany – Where Friends Went

Hudson Valley – Law School

NYC – Internship/End of my days in NY (for now)

To and From

Originally was going to fly in and train back

Flying has been such a horror show I reconsidered

One way car rental and gas is more expensive but more predictable

Downside is a mediocre sleep going into day 1 (not sure where that sleep will be just yet)

Drop off is Buffalo Niagara Airport

Ride will not commence at the end of the trail, but I’ll join the canal due north, east of Lockport so I get some new to me canal towpath riding pretty much all the way to the western outksirts of Rochester on Day 2.

Gear

The Safari rides again!

Fully loaded

Stealth tent and hammock (just in case)

Original stock rack is back on

Will keep riding clothing to two sets

One set “camp clothes”

Weather

Low 70s as highs, Upper 50s as lows

Tracking rain, but can handle it if it comes

Foot

Riding shoes

Camp sandles

Inserts in both

Ibuprofin and Electrolytes

A lot of stretching

Icing and elevating foot each night

Roofed lodging?

Yes, family visit plus other reasons that shall be revealed (#priorities)

Also, balances the ride out a bit

Wild camping?

Trail has limited established camping south of Albany

So we need to make some!

Did some Google Maps scouting

Presumed Highlights

Riding new Erie Canal towpath portions

Riding from where my parents live now to my old hometown

Integrating a Syracuse University portion to the ride

If I’m up for it, a casino night in CNY

Revisiting my favorite campsite on the canal (Fort Plain Lock 15)

New to me riding along the Mohawk River around Albany

New to me route all the way south to NYC

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

Music

You’ve been hearing about Jason Kent and his music for many fine episodes. Jason has a new track available NOW, and a new album dropping very soon AND Jason’s first solo album is now streaming on Spotify, including America, the Pedalshift theme. Go listen!