Our Rides in Words, Photos & Videos

[Stefan Mikes]

Stefan, please, I am going to send you some longer shorts! hahahaha

That was a funny story indeed!
These shorts are of proper length, are truly breathable, and the chamois inside is of proper thickness. What I overlooked was the fact my thighs became slim, and the elastic bands in the shorts' legs wouldn't hold anymore! Jacek and Justyna noticed that on our first stop and had a good laugh whenever I was getting off my Vado As we were taking photos at every stop; I was always forgetting to pull the legs down in time! (You have a good eye Lee!)

I figured there would likely be a ‘lost in translation’ moment on my part.

Indeed! It is not so easy for me to understand English jokes and puns... Wotyn did I mean by the Wołyń photo? A Pole dancer! (Didn't you guess that?)

 

[Prairie Dog]

Indeed! It is not so easy for me to understand English jokes and puns... Wotyn did I mean by the Wołyń photo? A Pole dancer! (Didn't you guess that?)

Hah! Good one Stefan! Nothing wrong with your comprehension of witticism. My bad for being slow in getting the punch line.

 

[Deleted member 18083]

A pretend storm (nothing much came of it!)…

Brisbane Valley Rail Trail
South East Queensland​

After spending – in more senses that one – the morning at the dentist, I made my escape midway through the afternoon. It wasn't until I was the best part of an hour from home that I thought of looking over my shoulder. Definitely, time to turn and head back!

Looking south with the later afternoon sun catching a half-hearted 'storm' cloud, probably hovering over our home!

 

[RabH]

I’m afraid that riding the areas around my hometown pales in comparison to your neck of the woods. I would absolutely look forward to getting up every morning if provided that opportunity so I'm quite envious! To capture images in most of the mountainous regions here, at times, requires a lengthy drive which makes for a long day. The drive out to Abraham alone was 4 hours return. It sure beats riding the local MUPs which I now do less frequently.

Yes I'm very fortunate to have such amazing roads right on my doorstep and don't have to travel long distances to enjoy my cycling!

 

[kahn]

A pretend storm (nothing much came of it!)…

View attachment 93017

Brisbane Valley Rail Trail
South East Queensland​

After spending – in more senses that one – the morning at the dentist, I made my escape midway through the afternoon. It wasn't until I was the best part of an hour from home that I thought of looking over my shoulder. Definitely, time to turn and head back!



Looking south with the later afternoon sun catching a half-hearted 'storm' cloud, probably hovering over our home!

I like that shot. And now I see a purpose in a kickstand

 

[Twin Valley]

Got the week off on the right foot (or should I say pedal) and made my way up Timber Ridge - fortunately did most of the climb (650 metres in total) in the cool of early morning and was able to do a lot of coasting down in the warm sunshine. Timber Ridge is in the background of the first picture, looking west towards the Rocky Mountains (Livingstone Range) in the 2nd picture and then looking north near the summit.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

Now you can't use chainsaws at all...

 

[Mulezen]

Now you can't use chainsaws at all...

View attachment 93077

I just bought a Pro Stilh electric…I wonder if these would be considered a fire hazard?

 

[Mr. Coffee]

I just bought a Pro Stilh electric…I wonder if these would be considered a fire hazard?

Sparks. And the sawdust gets wicked hot and might actually combust with it this dry.

 

[Deleted member 18083]

I like that shot. And now I see a purpose in a kickstand

Don't leave home without one! A kickstand was the first accessory to be added to my Powerfly hardtail eMTB. It went on before the bike left the Trek dealer.

My purist eMTB friends in the Tyred Old People group 'wouldn't be seen dead' with a kickstand bolted onto their carbon fibre stays. I understand.

For my fellow R&M enthusiasts, I'll point out the temporary* solution to the front bag problem. I'm using a small 'Camera Cube' from Peak Design which comes with convenient mounting loops which, during this experimental stage, are attached to the front carrier with double-sided velcro straps.

* 'Temporary' because it is not waterproof. It's designed to go inside a Peak Design's backpack but will probably see out its days as an interior compartment for my new, and as yet unused, Ortlieb Trunk Bag RC. (Basil trunk bag in photo.)

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Don't leave home without one! A kickstand was the first accessory to be added to my Powerfly hardtail eMTB. It went on before the bike left the Trek dealer.

My purist eMTB friends in the Tyred Old People group 'wouldn't be seen dead' with a kickstand bolted onto their carbon fibre stays. I understand.

I would have never installed a kickstand on a FS e-MTB. I cannot live without one on all other e-bikes

 

[steve mercier]

Don't leave home without one! A kickstand was the first accessory to be added to my Powerfly hardtail eMTB. It went on before the bike left the Trek dealer.

My purist eMTB friends in the Tyred Old People group 'wouldn't be seen dead' with a kickstand bolted onto their carbon fibre stays. I understand.

For my fellow R&M enthusiasts, I'll point out the temporary* solution to the front bag problem. I'm using a small 'Camera Cube' from Peak Design which comes with convenient mounting loops.

* 'Temporary' because it is not waterproof. It's designed to go inside a Peak Design's backpack but will probably see out its days as an interior compartment for my new, and as yet unused, Ortlieb Trunk Bag RC.

Without the kickstand loading my grandaughter into her seat would be a two person operation...one to hold the bike. With the stand I can do it safely myself.

 

[Dallant]

Don't leave home without one! A kickstand was the first accessory to be added to my Powerfly hardtail eMTB. It went on before the bike left the Trek dealer.

My purist eMTB friends in the Tyred Old People group 'wouldn't be seen dead' with a kickstand bolted onto their carbon fibre stays. I understand.

For my fellow R&M enthusiasts, I'll point out the temporary* solution to the front bag problem. I'm using a small 'Camera Cube' from Peak Design which comes with convenient mounting loops.

* 'Temporary' because it is not waterproof. It's designed to go inside a Peak Design's backpack but will probably see out its days as an interior compartment for my new, and as yet unused, Ortlieb Trunk Bag RC.

My new Rail 5 actually came with a kickstand installed. Not sure it was supplied with the bike or if the shop just threw it in.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

My new Rail 5 actually came with a kickstand installed. Not sure it was supplied with the bike or if the shop just threw it in.

Nothing wrong about it unless you hit a technical single track

 

[kahn]

Don't leave home without one! A kickstand was the first accessory to be added to my Powerfly hardtail eMTB. It went on before the bike left the Trek dealer.

My purist eMTB friends in the Tyred Old People group 'wouldn't be seen dead' with a kickstand bolted onto their carbon fibre stays. I understand.

For my fellow R&M enthusiasts, I'll point out the temporary* solution to the front bag problem. I'm using a small 'Camera Cube' from Peak Design which comes with convenient mounting loops.

* 'Temporary' because it is not waterproof. It's designed to go inside a Peak Design's backpack but will probably see out its days as an interior compartment for my new, and as yet unused, Ortlieb Trunk Bag RC. (Basil trunk bag in photo.)

View attachment 93100

I've got this as the front bag. I believe it is waterproof as it has one of those "sealed" zipper closures:

Burrito Bag - Handlebar Bag: 1.3L

The Burrito Handle Bar Bag is popular among urban cyclists looking for an extra place to store necessities. Mount the Burrito bag to your road, mountain, gravel, or ebike handlebars and hit the road, but don't stop there, as roads never end on the bike! Dirt, Gravel, Single Track; all are ready...

roadrunnerbags.us

I've got the small one. I just wanted quick access to my phone/camera and don't trust it in the back jersey pockets. The others look as if they have some stiffeners to provide more form. I cut and folded one of those Amazon plastic bubble envelopes to provide a bit of form and protect my phone.

 

[Cowlitz]

Interesting ride, people wise, yesterday. I was riding 6 miles down to pay the electric bill. That way, I save stamp money. I kept seeing spandex clad road bicycle people heading the other way. That is a rare sight here.

I took the other road across the river to go back. I saw a strange contraption, a recumbent tricycle with an aerodynamic cover over it and lots of blinking lights turning into The Stampede Grounds. I couldn't resist so I turned in also.

It was a tour group--don't know which company, and they were riding to New Hampshire from our coast. This was day two. They weren't very talkative. They'd pedaled over one mountain pass in the morning and had another one to go over in the afternoon. And, temps were already in the 90s here in the valley. The guy in the tricycle seemed stuck and was finally able to get out when I left. That's gotta be hot in there.

Last night, another fire broke out and a town was evacuated to where the bike people were spending the night. I imagine it wasn't very restful.

When you live in a small town, these things are interesting.

 

[ActionJackson]

It was a tour group

Maybe they are headed to Montana to feed the bears.

 

[Cowlitz]

Maybe they are headed to Montana to feed the bears.

I'm pretty sure they are sucking smoke today. It isn't the best time of the year for a cross country ride with high mileage days. On day one, they rode from Anacortes to Winthrop and probably ate smoke on that day too. There are fires burning in that area also.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

I'm pretty sure they are sucking smoke today. It isn't the best time of the year for a cross country ride with high mileage days. On day one, they rode from Anacortes to Winthrop and probably ate smoke on that day too. There are fires burning in that area also.

Anacortes to Winthrop is an insanely long day (150 miles, 7500+ feet of elevation gain), even supported and even on an e-bike. Even reasonably split into two days it wouldn't exactly be easy. Most self-supporting touring cyclists take at least three days.

Just before the highway closed yesterday I noticed several support vans bringing cyclists past where the highway was to be closed due to an active fire.

 

[Cowlitz]

Anacortes to Winthrop is an insanely long day (150 miles, 7500+ feet of elevation gain), even supported and even on an e-bike. Even reasonably split into two days it wouldn't exactly be easy. Most self-supporting touring cyclists take at least three days.

Just before the highway closed yesterday I noticed several support vans bringing cyclists past where the highway was to be closed due to an active fire.

These must be hard core because I thought it crazy to go from Winthrop to Grand Coulee via the Loup and Disautel Passes. That guy in the trike contraption was miserable.