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

[peterh_nz]

I haven't posted about my rides for some time, however, I've been continuing to explore the tracks, lanes and back roads in the countryside around the city of Christchurch (NZ). There seem to be endless permeatations and combinations.

One distraction has been the creation of videos promoting the dedicated cycle paths within the city. That's been an interesting project, and a lot of fun. The city can be proud of cycle path network and grateful to the visionary and determined city councilors and cycling advocacy individuals and groups (despite the vocal and irrational opposition).

The videos I've completed to date have been published by the Spokes Canterbury cycling advocacy group on their YouTube channel. For those interested in the types of paths and extent of cycle network, the videos may be viewed at:

Christchurch Cycleways 2025

Videos of the Christchurch cycleways

m.youtube.com

Merry Christmas to you all and may the new year be the best for cycle touring and exploring.

 

[Catalyzt]

First photo is looking northeast from behind the Hollywood sign, the second looking southhwest.

An unseasonably, unreasonably warm southern winter twilight when I realized I was further from home-- less than four miles, but I climbed over 1,000 feet-- than I'd been been since I got out of the hospital. I'd guessed I'd be down to under 25% at this point in the ride, (I hadn't bothered to recharge) and the return mostly downhill, but it has somehow gotten later and darker than I'd expected. Definitely time to turn around, probably just a quarter mile short of the sign.

Still, I was glad I'd strapped on my trusty R100, though I wished I'd thought through my low-light shooting technique a bit more-- just not a lot of detail, but this was well after sunset. I just haven't been out this late for quite a while! The park is really supposed to be closed when the sun goes down, and I'd feel guilty wasting the ranger's time if he or she had to shoo me out, but I had to stop for just a few quick shots.

This road-- up to the Hollywood sign-- is much worse than the last time I was up here, worse than Mt. Hollywood drive, which is kind of incredible, and the light was bad, even with a good headlight.

Definitely good that I left when I did-- I remembered the orthopedist telling me, "You can do whatever you want, just don't crash. Very high consequence." (Blood thinners, infarcts on my tibias.) Just super hard to read the surface in that light, didn't even want any close calls, and didn't have any.

Still, very glad I didn't leave any sooner. Wonderful to be well enough to get a bit further away from the little warren of hills right around my house.

 

[Chargeride]

Is that distant figure wearing a kilt? I blew up the picture as best I could.View attachment 203431

Ha, no kilts, you very rarely see them in England outside of Scottish weddings.

 

[Chargeride]

I haven't posted about my rides for some time, however, I've been continuing to explore the tracks, lanes and back roads in the countryside around the city of Christchurch (NZ). There seem to be endless permeatations and combinations.

One distraction has been the creation of videos promoting the dedicated cycle paths within the city. That's been an interesting project, and a lot of fun. The city can be proud of cycle path network and grateful to the visionary and determined city councilors and cycling advocacy individuals and groups (despite the vocal and irrational opposition).

The videos I've completed to date have been published by the Spokes Canterbury cycling advocacy group on their YouTube channel. For those interested in the types of paths and extent of cycle network, the videos may be viewed at:

Christchurch Cycleways 2025

Videos of the Christchurch cycleways

m.youtube.com

Merry Christmas to you all and may the new year be the best for cycle touring and exploring.

That music has relaxed me back into bed, lovely trails there.

 

[Chargeride]

What was Miss No Captions' name?

Cask ales, yum.

Round there?
Probably Cassandra

 

[stompandgo]

Probably?

Opportunity missed. I'm disappointed in you.

 

[Chargeride]

Yes I often go chatting up women a third of my age while spattered with mud and a runny nose.

 

[stompandgo]

She might have found it charming.

 

[Chazmo]

I rode around Heswall which is the leftovers of a Victorian riverside town, this all used to be white beaches, but nature has reclaimed it
View attachment 203412

All the bridle and byways have become private roads in various states of repair, they are not maintained by the council to tarmac road standards
View attachment 203413

Further up the coast towards Thurtaston the cliffs are eroding very quickly
View attachment 203414

This one cottage right on the miles of beach
View attachment 203415

Retired couple looking over the River Dee to Wales
View attachment 203416

The bread was ludicrously thick at the cycling cafe.
View attachment 203417

Im sure that speed sign is designed to attract attention ,quite a clever trick
View attachment 203418

Beautiful churches and halls.
View attachment 203419

I rode through the common, it does show the paths as public rights of way, but there was no one there anyway.
View attachment 203420

A very challenging ride to the top over wet roots
View attachment 203421

Gorgeous 360 view with North Wales in the distance.
View attachment 203422

This strange outcrop in the centre is called Thors Stone, Thurstaston" comes from Old Norse/English for "Thorsteinn's farm/village, The area was part of a 10th/11th-century Norse settlement, with a Viking village (Straumby)
View attachment 203423

Moggy Minor behind a tiny Toyota Ago
View attachment 203424

No caption
View attachment 203425

Thats quite old I suppose
View attachment 203426

I know this pub, on sunny weekends it is completely rammed and chaotic and the trafficis gridlocked, people buy pints for car passengers, which is actually completely legal in the UK.
View attachment 203427

Some great, weird pix there, Charge. Love it!!!!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

spattered with mud and a runny nose.

Those women, not you, right?

 

[Chargeride]

I actually went past her later walking with an even better looking friend.

 

[peterh_nz]

I think some of you should get out on your bikes more!

 

[edobici_forza]

First ride with moderate updates…

Lots of rain in the forcast in the SF Bay Area, lasting beyond Christmas. I found a clear hour+ a few mins of sun, and more minutes of light rain, as I headed North. Mostly pavement. backroads, and a short service road. 22mi, 1480ft.

There were no photo session stops, just a couple of snaps...

New bits:

• Specializd Roval Terra C wheels with 45mm Conti Terra Speeds (haha…matchie-matchy]. The stock 2025 Creo 2 Comp has DTSwiss G540 Alloy wheels, 42mm Specialized Tracer Pros, with tubes. The new set up is tubeless.
• 10-50t SRAM X01 cassette replaced stock 11-50t NX cassette, lighter by 256g [0.56 lb] !!!!
• Eagle X01 Chain

I stocked up on both above, a while back, since my Mt Bike has similar Eagle AXS drivetrain.

So smooth now.

The always curious weight check.... [size 54] 31 lb / 14kg – ready to ride, with SPD pedals, 100mm dropper and all mounts. Though, it doesn’t matter much, as I am 215lbs.

Next up: changing stock alloy handlebar to Enve carbon bar from another bike, with better wrap.


EDIT:
the stock wheel + tire + cassette combo on the Comp is a tank!
2.735kg = 6.03lb stock
1.96kg = 4.32lb current
> 1.7lb lighter !
pics added too...

 

[Rás Cnoic]

First ride with moderate updates…

Lots of rain in the forcast in the SF Bay Area, lasting beyond Christmas. I found a clear hour+ a few mins of sun, and more minutes of light rain, as I headed North. Mostly pavement. backroads, and a short service road. 22mi, 1480ft.

There were no photo session stops, just a couple of snaps...

View attachment 203524View attachment 203525
New bits:

• Specializd Roval Terra C wheels with 45mm Conti Terra Speeds (haha…matchie-matchy]. The stock 2025 Creo 2 Comp has DTSwiss G540 Alloy wheels, 42mm Specialized Tracer Pros, with tubes. The new set up is tubeless.
• 10-50t SRAM X01 cassette replaced stock 11-50t NX cassette, lighter by 256g [0.56 lb] !!!!
• Eagle X01 Chain

I stocked up on both above, a while back, since my Mt Bike has similar Eagle AXS drivetrain.

So smooth now.

The always curious weight check.... [size 54] 31 lb / 14kg – ready to ride, with SPD pedals, 100mm dropper and all mounts. Though, it doesn’t matter much, as I am 215lbs.

Next up: changing stock alloy handlebar to Enve carbon bar from another bike, with better wrap.


EDIT:
the stock wheel + tire + cassette combo on the Comp is a tank!
2.735kg = 6.03lb stock
1.96kg = 4.32lb current
> 1.7lb lighter !
pics added too...

Stunning looking Creo there & great photo. Love the colour.
Chuck some mudguards on that baby and the rain is no problem! It's only water! If I didn't go out on wet days here, I'd rarely go out at all!
As cycling legend Sean Kelly once put it:
"To know if the weather is too bad for training, put on your gear, go training, then you know when you get back".

 

[Chazmo]

Stunning looking Creo there & great photo. Love the colour.

Agreed!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

@edobici_forza: It's the mechanical drivetrain I hope?

 

[edobici_forza]

@edobici_forza: It's the mechanical drivetrain I hope?

Stefan, nope.
The Creo is one of three Eagle AXS drivetrains in my bike corral. My Hakka is still mechanical GRX, though.
and factory grease stripped. Silca wet chain lube applied.

Here are the other two AXS bikes…

 

[edobici_forza]

Stunning looking Creo there & great photo. Love the colour.
Chuck some mudguards on that baby and the rain is no problem! It's only water! If I didn't go out on wet days here, I'd rarely go out at all!
As cycling legend Sean Kelly once put it:
"To know if the weather is too bad for training, put on your gear, go training, then you know when you get back".

Thanks, Ras. Yep. it got wet and a little muddy on that ride. I have some SKS mudguards for my Hakka, which I think will fit (from the crazy rains 2 years ago). I am fender guy. I will only install if I need to.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Stefan, nope.
The Creo is one of three Eagle AXS drivetrains in my bike corral.

Isn't it that the electronic derailleur is demonically heavy? I had a GX AXS in my hand and was badly shocked!

 

[edobici_forza]

Isn't it that the electronic derailleur is demonically heavy? I had a GX AXS in my hand and was badly shocked!

Stefan, I do not know. I never compared the mechanical to the wireless. I did update my Santa Cruz Tallboy MTB from cabled 11 speed X01 to 12 speed AXS, many years ago. I never considered the weight. I would think the AXS is slightly heavier. but I move slowly anyway...haha