Best of Pedalshift 015: Critter Protection and Gearing for Dummies

The host of The Pedalshift Project delivers a no-nonsense, practical deep dive into two essential bike touring survival skills: critter protection and gearing for beginners. Far from being a dry technical talk, the episode reveals that leaving food in panniers or tents is a recipe for disaster—especially with clever raccoons and bears—and offers a tiered strategy: smell-proof bags as a bare minimum, elevated bear bags using rope tricks for moderate risk areas, and bear canisters or food lockers for high-risk zones. The gear talk portion dismantles the mystery of gear inches with a simple, free calculator from SheldonBrown.com, showing how swapping a crankset or cassette can dramatically improve climbing ability without breaking the bank. The host shares a personal win: upgrading his Navara Safari’s gearing to a 44-32-22 triple setup, which made steep climbs feel effortless. This isn't just about mechanics—it's about confidence, safety, and enjoying the ride without fear of wildlife or fatigue.