2026 - Our Rides in Words, Photos, Maps and Videos

[RabH]

A much nicer day today with a less than 5% chance of rain for a nice change, winds were showing as westerly and around 18mph which was way off the mark! The wind was easily 25-30mph at times but it was a lovely sunny day so I made the most of it, I was intending to head over the Campsie hills but I had a change of plan when I reached the foothills! I made my way down to Falkirk and took the back road to Bonnybridge, then up the climb to Denny and up into the Carron Valley! On my way down to Bonnybridge I had this stunning view of the Ochil Hills!

As I was heading along the Carron Valley I noticed the River Carron was flowing very quickly so I suspected they had opened the dam at the reservoir and I was right!

As always I took many photos as I made my way along the valley!

Carron Valley Reservoir with the Campsie Hills in the background!

The roads were even starting to dry up!

The first descent, shame it was into a headwind though!

Fully dry road on this descent!

Looking back up the hill I had just descended at high speed, this really is a fun part of this awesome road!

I was supposed to be heading up here shortly until I had a change of plan!

Another fun part of the road just before arriving in the valley floor!

I had covered 34 miles when I reached the foothills of the Campsies and my first battery had only a few miles left, so I decided to continue along the valley and skip the big climb and make my way to Killearn! I made it to almost 40 miles before switching to battery 2, I had some nice views here also!

There were still remnants of snow on the mountains to the north despite the recent mild spell!

The village of Balfron!

The stunning views just kept coming!

At Killearn it was time to turn SE towards Strathblane, some cracking descents followed by some big climbs and I finally had a tailwind which I would enjoy pretty much all the way home! This was the main reason for my change of plan! From Strathblane I headed east towards Lennoxtown and then SE to Kirkintilloch, the tailwind really was so much fun! I continued towards Twechar and stopped for my last photo of the canal before heading up the big climb through Twechar!

The descent at the far side of the village is a real blast, although I had a headwind for half a mile or so before turning east again towards Cumbernauld! From there I used the back roads to home, I was so glad I changed my route as it worked out perfectly with that lovely tailwind for 38 miles! I noticed something very strange today, my bike odometer has lost almost 4000 miles and is stuck on 40697 miles! Its recording the trips fine but not updating now, my actual mileage is 44494! In other news I have just had my best February ever with a total of 668 miles from 10 rides!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

As "The False Spring" started in Poland (or, at least in my province Mazovia), I plan a 64 km (40 mi) ride in Warsaw for today (Saturday). Even if we could expect some snowing in the end of March, I have already replaced the winter tyres on my Vado with the warm season ones.

They say "practice makes perfect" and that must be true. The tyre swapping was as fast and painless as never before! I have certainly achieved the proper level of the skill. At last (I might take my DSLR on the ride to show you some shots from Warsaw).

 

[Chargeride]

View attachment 206629

A much nicer day today with a less than 5% chance of rain for a nice change, winds were showing as westerly and around 18mph which was way off the mark! The wind was easily 25-30mph at times but it was a lovely sunny day so I made the most of it, I was intending to head over the Campsie hills but I had a change of plan when I reached the foothills! I made my way down to Falkirk and took the back road to Bonnybridge, then up the climb to Denny and up into the Carron Valley! On my way down to Bonnybridge I had this stunning view of the Ochil Hills!

View attachment 206630
As I was heading along the Carron Valley I noticed the River Carron was flowing very quickly so I suspected they had opened the dam at the reservoir and I was right!

View attachment 206631
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As always I took many photos as I made my way along the valley!

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Carron Valley Reservoir with the Campsie Hills in the background!

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The roads were even starting to dry up!

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The first descent, shame it was into a headwind though!

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Fully dry road on this descent!

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Looking back up the hill I had just descended at high speed, this really is a fun part of this awesome road!

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I was supposed to be heading up here shortly until I had a change of plan!

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Another fun part of the road just before arriving in the valley floor!

View attachment 206648
I had covered 34 miles when I reached the foothills of the Campsies and my first battery had only a few miles left, so I decided to continue along the valley and skip the big climb and make my way to Killearn! I made it to almost 40 miles before switching to battery 2, I had some nice views here also!

View attachment 206649
There were still remnants of snow on the mountains to the north despite the recent mild spell!

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The village of Balfron!

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The stunning views just kept coming!

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View attachment 206654


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At Killearn it was time to turn SE towards Strathblane, some cracking descents followed by some big climbs and I finally had a tailwind which I would enjoy pretty much all the way home! This was the main reason for my change of plan! From Strathblane I headed east towards Lennoxtown and then SE to Kirkintilloch, the tailwind really was so much fun! I continued towards Twechar and stopped for my last photo of the canal before heading up the big climb through Twechar!

View attachment 206656
The descent at the far side of the village is a real blast, although I had a headwind for half a mile or so before turning east again towards Cumbernauld! From there I used the back roads to home, I was so glad I changed my route as it worked out perfectly with that lovely tailwind for 38 miles! I noticed something very strange today, my bike odometer has lost almost 4000 miles and is stuck on 40697 miles! Its recording the trips fine but not updating now, my actual mileage is 44494! In other news I have just had my best February ever with a total of 668 miles from 10 rides!

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Rabs odometer has finally thrown in the towel.
I didnt sign up for this

 

[DiggyGun]

As "The False Spring" started in Poland (or, at least in my province Mazovia), I plan a 64 km (40 mi) ride in Warsaw for today (Saturday). Even if we could expect some snowing in the end of March, I have already replaced the winter tyres on my Vado with the warm season ones.

They say "practice makes perfect" and that must be true. The tyre swapping was as fast and painless as never before! I have certainly achieved the proper level of the skill. At last (I might take my DSLR on the ride to show you some shots from Warsaw).

Weather is positively balmy in Wroclaw. Yesterday on our walk, the temperature was 15C and partially cloudy. However, I was enjoying this in a tee shirt. Today, the forecast is 16C, but sunny.

DG…

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Weather is positively balmy in Wroclaw. Yesterday on our walk, the temperature was 15C and partially cloudy. However, I was enjoying this in a tee shirt. Today, the forecast is 16C, but sunny.

DG…

Warm and cold poles of Poland (You live in the warmer area!)

 

[DiggyGun]

View attachment 206669
Warm and cold poles of Poland (You live in the warmer area!)

I know, I’m lucky. Mrs DG comes from Nowy Sacz, where other parts of the family live and is much colder there too.

DG…

 

[DiggyGun]

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Warm and cold poles of Poland (You live in the warmer area!)

Once we’ve moved into our new house, we’ve got some plans for further travelling. Warsaw and Gdansk are top of the list for that as I’ve have been there yet.

DG…

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Once we’ve moved into our new house, we’ve got some plans for further travelling. Warsaw and Gdansk are top of the list for that as I’ve have been there yet.

DG…

Before you come to Warsaw, please drop me a private message, so I could streamline your visit here
Regarding Gdańsk, many foreigners do not realise it is actually a Tri-City involving Gdańsk (including Wrzeszcz and Oliwa), Sopot and Gdynia; going by sea to the Hel Peninsula is also an interesting trip. What is lovely there is you can jump onto the Fast Urban Railway (SKM) and effortlessly explore many fascinating places. Ask me!

Necessary to mention both Warsaw and Tri-City offer rental of public share of bikes and e-bikes (similarly to Wrocław) as well as e-scooters.

Some teasers from Tri-City (Trójmiasto):

Długi Targ (Long Market), one of the most beautiful places.

Dwór Artusa (Artus Court) and the Neptune (Long Market).

River Motława (seeing the big Crane is a must!) You should taste a special historical drink of Gdańsk in one of the bars on the left: MACHANDEL. It is gin with a dried plum and a toothpick drank in a ceremonial way (the waiter will be happy to explain how!)

Mariacka St, or the Amber Lane. A huge St. Mary Basilica is visible in the background.

Gdańsk was razed to the ground during WW2. Only Główne Miasto (Main Town) was beautifully reconstructed. That is why seeing the main part of Gdańsk is just a beginning of the exploration.

Moving by SKM to Gdańsk-Wrzeszcz. It is the best place to stay, as Wrzeszcz is perfectly connected with the airport but also with all the parts of Tri-City, and has excellent shopping centres too.

Moving with SKM to Gdańsk-Oliwa. There is a beautiful park there. There are hills around with wonderful panoramas.

Moving by SKM to Sopot, a spa.. A long promenade, the Monte Cassino (Monty).

One of the longest wooden piers in Europe.

The beach and Grand Hotel.

Gdynia was only established in 1924 as the first Poland's seaport in centuries. It is a modern but a gorgeous city with many things to see towards the sea.

Apart from SKM, the other way of transportation are cruise ships both modern and the tall-ship replicas.

"Highway to Hel" or, on a cruise ship to Hel Peninsula. Other ships would take you from Gdańsk to Westerplatte (where WW2 began) or Gdynia or Sopot.

 

[DiggyGun]

Before you come to Warsaw, please drop me a private message, so I could streamline your visit here
Regarding Gdańsk, many foreigners do not realise it is actually a Tri-City involving Gdańsk (including Wrzeszcz and Oliwa), Sopot and Gdynia; going by sea to the Hel Peninsula is also an interesting trip. What is lovely there is you can jump onto the Fast Urban Railway (SKM) and effortlessly explore many fascinating places. Ask me!

Necessary to mention both Warsaw and Tri-City offer rental of public share of bikes and e-bikes (similarly to Wrocław) as well as e-scooters.

Some teasers from Tri-City (Trójmiasto):
View attachment 206670
Długi Targ (Long Market), one of the most beautiful places.

View attachment 206671
Dwór Artusa (Artus Court) and the Neptune (Long Market).

View attachment 206672
River Motława (seeing the big Crane is a must!) You should taste a special historical drink of Gdańsk in one of the bars on the left: MACHANDEL. It is gin with a dried plum and a toothpick drank in a ceremonial way (the waiter will be happy to explain how!)

View attachment 206673
Mariacka St, or the Amber Lane. A huge St. Mary Basilica is visible in the background.

Gdańsk was razed to the ground during WW2. Only Główne Miasto (Main Town) was beautifully reconstructed. That is why seeing the main part of Gdańsk is just a beginning of the exploration.

View attachment 206675
Moving by SKM to Gdańsk-Wrzeszcz. It is the best place to stay, as Wrzeszcz is perfectly connected with the airport but also with all the parts of Tri-City, and has excellent shopping centres too.

View attachment 206674
Moving with SKM to Gdańsk-Oliwa. There is a beautiful park there. There are hills around with wonderful panoramas.

View attachment 206676
Moving by SKM to Sopot, a spa.. A long promenade, the Monte Cassino (Monty).

View attachment 206677
One of the longest wooden piers in Europe.

View attachment 206678
The beach and Grand Hotel.

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View attachment 206680

View attachment 206681
Gdynia was only established in 1924 as the first Poland's seaport in centuries. It is a modern but a gorgeous city with many things to see towards the sea.

View attachment 206682
Apart from SKM, the other way of transportation are cruise ships both modern and the tall-ship replicas.

View attachment 206683
View attachment 206684
"Highway to Hel" or, on a cruise ship to Hel Peninsula. Other ships would take you from Gdańsk to Westerplatte (where WW2 began) or Gdynia or Sopot.

Thanks Stefan. Will do.

DG…

 

[Stefan Mikes]

The False Spring Day 1, Or, The Wrong Lens

I didn't expect as much as +18 deg C. I also took my DSLR for a ride in Warsaw but chose a wrong lens I cannot understand how come basically everybody was using the "standard" 50 mm lens during the film era but nowadays I have found the same lens having too a narrow view angle on a full-frame digital camera?

In early 1950s, one Joseph Stalin offered a "gift of the Soviet nation to the Polish nation", a gift nobody wanted. The Soviets paid for the construction material, brought all the machinery, engineers, technicians and construction workers from the Soviet Union to build a huge "palace" similar to the Empire State Building or to the seven "palaces" of Moscow right in the city centre. The PKiN was ready in 1955 and can be seen in Warsaw to this day. However, 4,500 Soviet workers had to live somewhere. They built the "Polish-Soviet Friendship Estate", a quite large housing estate (that looks like a Russian village) in 1952. (I can see the estate is in decay now).

Then I rode to my favourite "milk bar" in the neighbourhood of Sady. "The milk bar" is one of the best remnants of the era long gone. For a low price, you can have a nourishing lunch consisting of Polish cuisine only. Milk bars are popular among the older and poorer folk but also students and even businessmen dine there! The condiments have not changed since I was a little kid! It is "herbal pepper" (black pepper used to be too expensive and had to be imported), ground paprika and salt Also the "Tymbark" beverage is one of the good things of the olden times! The meal was PLN31.50 (6.50 British Pound or below 9 US$).

Riding through Nowe Miasto (New Town), one of the two historical towns of Warsaw.

Warsaw Barbican. As you know, Warsaw was razed to the ground post WW2. The architects have got their artistic freedom (hard to believe it was a Communist country!) and reconstructed the New and Old Town based on historical paintings, plans, photos, etc. The point is that area was one of the poorest and ugliest of Warsaw neighbourhoods before WW2. The architects said: "Let us restore the Old Town to the historical times when Warsaw was beautiful". The Barbican was last there in the 16th century! The architects had to slightly modify the street plan to accommodate the changes (so a street might be shifted some 10 metres).

The Old Town wall.

The Warsaw Mermaid is in the city's coat of arms. There are at least three Warsaw Mermaids I could show to you This one is located in the centre of Old Town Square and also in the middle of a skating-rink. It was weird to see the skaters riding at +18 C!

Barrel organ man Jan. Two City Watch guards were positively interested in that instrument!

Old Town Square.

A very interesting bell in Kanonia (at the rear of the Cathedral). Made in 1646 by a renowned founder Daniel Tym, the bell didn't make the spec. The bell spent several hundred years in the storage, and was even stolen by the thieving Russians back in 1915! Walk around the bell, touch it, make a wish and hope your wish comes true! (Interestingly, they wrote the city name as VARSZAV back in the 17th c).

I am a Warsawer born in 1961 and have never noticed that until the last Saturday! The facade of the Kanonia 20/22 house is the narrowest in Poland! It fits a single window, and is 1.1 m wide. The reason was the tax back in the history. Having such a narrow facade meant the property tax was extremely low. However, the town-house expands on a triangle behind, making that building very big!

At the rear of the Cathedral.

Royal Castle Square. The statue of King Sigismund III Vasa was made by no other than the founder Daniel Tym (The Swedish king of Poland moved the kingdom's capital from Cracow to Warsaw in 1596). Necessary to mention, the statue was the first secular monument in Europe at that time!

Holy Cross church (right) and the Academy of Sciences (far). The street is Krakowskie Przedmieście (Cracow Suburb) that continues as Nowy Świat (New World). In the warm season, these long streets are turned into a promenade (pedestrian and cyclists only).

Warsaw Stock Exchange (formerly the House of the Communist Party). The palm-tree is of course artificial

Three Crosses Square. I was lazily continuing my ride home...

...until I sow that It is the Main Pond in the Mokotowskie Field. +18 C and people dared walking on the ice!

Ride Map.

 

[Chargeride]

Lovely, but why are those Russian houses boarded up?

I watched an interesting video by an academic who pointed out the different approach to statehood in Britain and the continent.
Europe has systems to hold their countries together and the existence of each one are just imaginary lines in a field where one slowly melds into another and there is rarely a clear distinction at any point, even either sides of a large barbed fence.

Whereas Britains border is absolute and we have tended to prioritise stories and mythology to reinforce our self as there are no blurred edges to protect.
Does every Polish border gradually turn into the next country, are you always aware where it is?
I presume your Ukranian border is clear?
Can you go for a ride in the woods and find yourself in Lithuania without realising it.

 

[edobici_forza]

Planned/unplanned…

In the late morning I reconfigured the bike a bit…
changed from flat pedals to my regular SPDs
removed the fenders
also cleaned/lubed the chain and drivetrain
added the Ortlieb Quick Rack and a trunk bag

BUT, I did not change the chunky 45mm Vittoria Terreno T70 tires, they roll really well - on pavement- for what they are (at 41psi tubeless)
I have my 45mm Continental Terra Speeds ready to remount. I also have some 40mm Pirelli slicks for summer time.
So with all of that, I was about 2 hours behind….surprise!

Last night I plotted a 30 mile 2800ft route, but I had to bypass the planned climb and decent on the 20+ curves Lobitos Creek Rd. I will do that in the future. I just ordered a Range Extender Battery.

I packed a backup 800 lumen small headlight which I added in the last third of the ride. I always use a ‘see me’ front light under my Garmin.

So, I had to add photos of the amazing Bike Hut, which is semi-famous. it is a pit stop for bikers and others, with an honor system for snacks, water, coffee/tea, and some repair items. I did participate in their fund raiser ride a few years ago up Tunitas Creek Rd on my road bike, what a climb!

There were many highlights. I turned into Purisima Creek trail, where I ride my MTB, to enjoy the Redwoods.

Lowlights…a big ass pickup truck, driving very fast in the center of the road, almost took me out, head-on, on the winding Higgins Canyon Road...within 20 mins of starting the ride. I was fast too since it was slight downhill. I was wearing orange and had my front light. but WHOA! that was close! Farm roads…still have to pay attention y'all!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Thank you for interesting questions, Charge!

Lovely, but why are those Russian houses boarded up?

The housing estate is in a slow decline. Some houses have been abandoned, while some other are in a very good shape. You need to realise it is 400,000 sq m of premium land, so construction investors are interested to make all the people go.

Were I an investor, I would salivate to get the land. However, the estate is in the Register of Historical Monuments. The future is unclear. (After the Soviet builders went, the estate was inhabited by academic cadre).

Europe has systems to hold their countries together and the existence of each one are just imaginary lines in a field where one slowly melds into another and there is rarely a clear distinction at any point, even either sides of a large barbed fence.

It really depends on the country. There are many natural borders in the continental Europe. Ever heard of the Alps? Rivers Rhine and Elbe? Ardennes? That's why the Allies lost so many lives before the WW2 ended in Europe.

Does every Polish border gradually turn into the next country, are you always aware where it is?

Poland has solid borders in the west and south. Regarding the east, there are many (sometimes giant) morasses and big forests. Yes, Poland had to build a fence on the Belarussian border. Now, please realise that even if Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania and Belarus were historically one country of two nations (Polish and Lithuanian), the East is geographically complicated and there are not many roads there. The map shows no strong natural border between Poland and the Russian Kaliningrad (former East Prussia) but it is a border of a primeval forest, morass and many lakes.

I presume your Ukranian border is clear?

Except for the short run of River Bug in the north and high mountains in the south, the Ukrainian-Polish border is artificial. For instance, Lviv was Polish before WW2, and Poland even had a mountainous border with Romania!

Can you go for a ride in the woods and find yourself in Lithuania without realising it.

Nay, you would realise it Although you can freely cross to Lithuania at any point. (The yellow sign reads: "The state border").

However, you might not realise crossing the Polish-Czech border. Here, the house on the right could be Polish but the other one could be Czech! No border markings!

 

[Rás Cnoic]

Whereas Britains border is absolute and we have tended to prioritise stories and mythology to reinforce our self as there are no blurred edges to protect.

Yeah... not convinced about that.

Pretty sure if man o' the people Nige and his populist mates get in, the borders might suddenly look very vague in both Ireland and Scotland!

 

[edobici_forza]

in grocery getter mode to my favorite green grocer - Sigona's
Right in front of the destination, I was nearly hit by a raised pick-up truck who decided not to turn left, from the TURN LEFT ONLY LANE. Thankfully I was in full power mode and avoided his 4000lb truck. I have rear red lights and was wearing the most obnoxious neon orange jersey.

After all of that, I found the repurposed 'Skate' sign from the long closed Redwood Roller Rink (in the same location) Very cool!

EDIT:
Lessons learned! In the future, I will ride past this intersection and continue until traffic allows an uncontested left turn- doubling back. I made a diagram of my attempt for reference ( I am the YELLOW path, and RED = errant pick-up truck).....

 

[Chargeride]

Yeah... not convinced about that.

Pretty sure if man o' the people Nige and his populist mates get in, the borders might suddenly look very vague in both Ireland and Scotland!

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I knew you were going to bring up Ireland, I didnt want to go there cos I have barely a clue what the real story is outside of the obvious.
On another note I was shocked to find out the Cranberries singer drowned in the bath, and now I cant get the song out of my head.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I should show some respect to Dolores O'Riordan as any death is sad but I could not stand her singing style, that is, uttering her voice while breathing in

 

[Chargeride]

Thank you for interesting questions, Charge!

The housing estate is in a slow decline. Some houses have been abandoned, while some other are in a very good shape. You need to realise it is 400,000 sq m of premium land, so construction investors are interested to make all the people go.

View attachment 206722
Were I an investor, I would salivate to get the land. However, the estate is in the Register of Historical Monuments. The future is unclear. (After the Soviet builders went, the estate was inhabited by academic cadre).


It really depends on the country. There are many natural borders in the continental Europe. Ever heard of the Alps? Rivers Rhine and Elbe? Ardennes? That's why the Allies lost so many lives before the WW2 ended in Europe.



View attachment 206724
Poland has solid borders in the west and south. Regarding the east, there are many (sometimes giant) morasses and big forests. Yes, Poland had to build a fence on the Belarussian border. Now, please realise that even if Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania and Belarus were historically one country of two nations (Polish and Lithuanian), the East is geographically complicated and there are not many roads there. The map shows no strong natural border between Poland and the Russian Kaliningrad (former East Prussia) but it is a border of a primeval forest, morass and many lakes.


Except for the short run of River Bug in the north and high mountains in the south, the Ukrainian-Polish border is artificial. For instance, Lviv was Polish before WW2, and Poland even had a mountainous border with Romania!



View attachment 206725
Nay, you would realise it Although you can freely cross to Lithuania at any point. (The yellow sign reads: "The state border").

View attachment 206726
However, you might not realise crossing the Polish-Czech border. Here, the house on the right could be Polish but the other one could be Czech! No border markings!

Obviously we have Wales and Scotland, but the borders are completely irrelevent, a main road might have 'welcome to Wales', but backroads will crossover unannounced.
But we dont consider them other countries, its just Britain with the crossing having far less consequence than Americans crossing State lines

 

[Chargeride]

I should show some respect to Dolores O'Riordan as any death is sad but I could not stand her singing style, that is, uttering her voice while breathing in

Ha we love it, its the most incredible song, a sort of Irish yodelling and the British soldiers in the video hit home how badly it went.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Obviously we have Wales and Scotland, but the borders are completely irrelevent, a main road might have 'welcome to Wales', but backroads will crossover unannounced.
But we dont consider them other countries, its just Britain with the crossing having far less consequence than Americans crossing State lines

It is the same with any Schengen country of the EU. While natural borders do exist, we have motorways, bridges and tunnels Well, if you cross from Belgium to France, the only thing you might notice is a big sign "FRANCE" on the roadside

The information tables just make you aware of different regulations in the neighbouring country.

a sort of Irish yodelling

The Undertones or Stiff Little Fingers (both bands from Norn Iron) didn't need to yodel.