Mysterious Oregon Coast 2025 Part 1

Day one of an Oregon coast adventure - what could possibly go wrong? As Mysterious James and I began our journey from Astoria after navigating July 4th rental car details, we encounter (because of course) the first of many issues we’ll encounter on the most mysterious of Oregon Coast adventures ever. Mysterious Oregon Coast 2025 Part 1 Morning, Turned Afternoon Departure 1:00 PM start time after bike assembly and hotel checkoutBikes transported in rental car not designed for two bikesTSA inspection didn’t damage gear (deraileur hanger protection removed)Successful bike reassembly and adjustment The Ride Begins Largely flat terrain - unusual for Oregon CoastTwo notable climbs between departure and SeasideDecision to shorten day from Nehalem Bay to Cannon BeachUse of Perplexity AI to find alternative "off-book" campsite a success Seaside Stop & Food Strategy Delightful lunch that both riders "really needed"Tim's nutrition timing issues affecting performancePlan to shop for breakfast supplies at local market The Mechanical Crisis James's left crank arm completely falls off while riding to marketDiscovery of tiny pin mechanism in Shimano crank armInitial DIY repair attempts fail spectacularlyKind local offers help but problem proves beyond field repair Professional Intervention Bike shop discovery 470 feet away in Cannon BeachIan at local rental shop (also starting bike repair services)Diagnosis: stripped internal teeth, unrepairable in fieldShop closing at 7:30 PM but Ian stays to help The Damage Assessment Left crank arm completely stripped internallyCannot be field-repairedOptions: Replace single crank arm or entire cranksetPotential multi-day delay due to Sunday/Monday shop closures Contingency Planning Morning departure to Seaside bike shops (two available)Transportation options: Uber (surprisingly available) or bus serviceMultiple backup plans if repair takes longerFlexibility to modify entire tour routing if needed Technical Details Equipment failure: Shimano crank arm with pin retention systemDaily mileage: Approximately 30 miles completedTerrain: Two moderate climbs for Oregon Coast standardsUpcoming challenge: Arch Cape Tunnel (uphill tunnel on Highway 101) Local Insights Cannon Beach: Block-by-block character variationSeaside: Extremely crowded July 5th weekendTourism impact: Half of Portland/Seattle metro areas visiting simultaneouslyBike infrastructure: Limited bike parking in tourist areas Lessons Learned Try DIY first - But know when to seek professional helpRental shops can be repair shops - Ian's dual business modelCommunity support - Locals willing to help stranded cyclistsFlexibility is key - Every PedalShift tour goes sideways at some point Tour Philosophy Discussion Expectation that something will go wrong on every tourValue of riding companions with compatible problem-solving approachesBenefits of building in extra days and flexible routingOptions to modify tour scope based on circumstances Looking Ahead Immediate goal: Get James's bike repaired in SeasideBackup plans: Shortened tour, bus connections, or complete reroutingDistance flexibility: 20-30 mile days vs. 55-mile days depending on circumstancesRoute options: Continue south vs. return north via Portland Notable Quotes "All bike tours in the PedalShift universe go sideways at some point""There are worse places in the world to be stranded""It depends on the block you're on" (describing Seaside)"We expect something to go sideways at some point, and you just deal with it" Statistics Miles biked 30 Percentage of crank arms that did not fail 75 Distance in feet from Ian’s Cannon Beach bike rental -slash- shop 475 Cumulative nights spent in Cannon Beach (so far) 1 Flats zero