2025 - Our Rides in Words, Photos, Maps and Videos

[Jeremy McCreary]

I would like to publicly apologize for being full of carp.
'Twas merely a joke/play on words for fun.
But hey... I'm insane...

Apologize for what? If you passed up a good pun opportunity, we'd have to worry about you.

 

[DaveMatthews]

Apologize for what? If you passed up a good pun opportunity, we'd have to worry about you.

I thank you good sir... from the bottom of my heart...

 

[Art Deco]

I would like to publicly apologize for being full of carp.
'Twas merely a joke/play on words for fun.
But hey... I'm insane...

High functioning though

 

[DaveMatthews]

High functioning though

Debatable indeed sir!

 

[Explorer-1]

Railroad ties?

Yes

 

[stompandgo]

I would like to publicly apologize for being full of carp.

Leave my fish out of this.

 

[Chargeride]

Lindisfarne castle in the distance, we rode the entire tidal causeway to get here.

 

[Chargeride]

We rode down the beach to Bamburgh castle, it was about 4 miles from our hotel and into a huge headwind.

Its an absolute unit of a fortress, that held off scots and Vikings, it was eventually turned into a family home.

We rode inland along many bridleways to reach this gorgeous beachside pub and summer rentals

Then more beach towards Dustanburgh castle, built in 1313 it was actually the largest castle in the county and built by the second richest Baron in England.

What a sight it must have been in its day, just covered in incredibly detailed stonework.

We rode the beaches back to Seahouses and they were the most beautiful of them all, so remote with firm sand so we could keep a good speed going

But then disaster struck and Brian was fighting with really nasty quicksand, he kept at it till he made it through, but he and the bike ended up deep in it.

The Causeway to Lindisfarne the next day, you can just see the rescue hut on stilts

We has the entire thing to ourselves

So I ride right up to the front door.

And then around the Lime kilns

On the way home we stopped off at the Kielder forest mtb trails, the black run went right past the dish at 400m, a real slog of a climb

The descent was fast and magical down to the Castle and lake.

Followed by hideously technical climb back up,I actually managed this and Brian failed, hes probably still fretting over that now.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

We rode down the beach to Bamburgh castle, it was about 4 miles from our hotel and into a huge headwind.

Decidedly one of the most beautiful parts of England!

I have read all "Saxon Stories" by Bernard Cornwell. Bebbanburgh (Bamburgh) plays an important role there!

 

[Chargeride]

We were corrected by locals many times of the pronouncination of Bamburgh, I wasnt having it.
Edinburgh..Edinburra
Bamburgh..Bamburra.
You need to start spelling them properly round here.
The Northumberland flag was flying everywhere, we've gone very flaggy of late.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

So I ride right up to the front door.

Visitors are not let inside the Lindisfarne Castle if they wear any footwear that might scratch wooden floors We gave up our visit inside because of our wheelchair.

The Northumberland flag was flying everywhere, we've gone very flaggy of late.

Your neighbours on the other island like them flags, too!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

As it is raining....


I'm trying out rainproof clothes made by a domestic brand JMP (sold at an eye watering price)...


And my Gahoo or Waharmin (a Wahoo Garmin wannabe)

 

[Chazmo]

isitors are not let inside the Lindisfarne Castle if they wear any footwear that might scratch wooden floors We gave up our visit inside because of our wheelchair.

Oh, that’s a bloody shame, Stefan. Although, I totally understand where the caretakers of the castle’s heads are at.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Air Boost Assisted Gahoo/Waharmin Rainy Gravel Ride

"Go for a ride, Stef!" -- Tommy was motivating me on Messenger since I got up -- "You could try your new Gahoo... You also spent an exorbitant price for your JMP rainproof clothes... Wouldn't you like to try it all?" He won. I planned an eastwards gravel ride from a train station I first heard of (Kornelin) home. I forced Komoot to give me the most straight route doable to gain from a moderate tailwind. Yes, I was aware the riding surfaces would be suboptimal but I needed some adventure! Turned out, over 30% of the route was unpaved, which would have some interesting consequences later...

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

Please play this clip with sound on! I played with the new toy (Wahoo ELEMNT Ace) 7 km into the ride. An excellent device! And I'm not talking only about the Bike Bell!

The consequence of forcing Komoot to plan a more ambitious route resulted in several pretty long segments leading through, for example, overgrown dirt roads, or worse, through deep mud I really wanted that. I was smiling when bravely riding through the mud and trying not to lose the momentum. I was relieved from boredom! I didn't care when it was raining either; I wore proper clothes.

The place name means "Sensible (female)". Perhaps she was but I was decidedly not!

I was intentionally following the planned route, aware that the trail wouldn't be easy! (The plaque reads: Monument of the Nature. Tree Avenue. It means the trees must not be cut).

My choice of Vado SL 1 for the ride was intentional. My modification of the e-bike is ideal for gravel cycling; the e-bike is agile and manoeuvrable in rough terrain (which is not the case of the heavy full power Vado).

A (volunteer) fire station in Kaski. Kaski means "civilian helmets". Firefighters wear civilian helmets; it makes sense to me!

This central Mazovia means many good asphalt roads. I was positively surprised to find many good gravel roads, too. I only needed to give Komoot the chance

Well into the ride, I made a detour to a BP station in Radonice. Had a 90 g bar of chocolate and hot coffee (I needed that very much!) You can see me wearing a JMP water/rainproof jacket and trousers. JMP is known for an extremely high quality and functionality of its products. Yes, they cost an arm and a leg but I can attest I felt dry and warm on that cold, windy and rainy day, and trust me, I wore only basic cycling clothes under! (A merino shirt and long bibs were everything I needed).

I was as consistent with my gravel cycling choice as I even rode gravel in my direct neighbourhood. There, I found a fishing pond, the existence of I was unaware until this day!

The longer ride convinced me the Wahoo ELEMNT Ace was a shiznit I wouldn't say the same of Roam v3 but Ace was just excellent! I could find many refinements. Only it's a pity Wahoo tries to be Garmin, meaning a part of a good Wahoo DNA was thrown into a bin... I liked the Indicated Air Speed sensor (only found in Ace). It told me my ride was assisted by 10-15 km/h worth of Air Boost (it is not just the wind, it is the effective action of the wind on the rider's body and the bike). Also, over 5 hours of the device on only meant 11% of the battery use. And the thermometer is accurate now! Yay!

Ride Map. 62 km total for the day.