Chargeride
Well-Known Member
Name that tune.
2026 - Our Rides in Words, Photos, Maps and Videos
- Thread starter RabH
- Start date
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Hotel California?Name that tune.
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
yup, scouse style
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Another Aviation Ride with Tommy
A friend of mine (who works in the aviation) told me there was another general aviation airstrip in my greater neighbourhood.
As Saturday was forecast the warmest day of the False Spring, I invited Tommy to my county town of Pruszków.
We had to counter a strong headwind all the way southwards. Did a stop at the park and palace of Młochów.
Wola Krakowiańska 1 airfield was disappointing. Two closed hangars (but full of aircraft) and only one aeroplane that might be flying on that day but no pilot around. (It was a Piper Cherokee Warrior II). Only as we were leaving the site, the owner/pilot seemed to have arrived with his car.
Our next plan was to reach Okęcie, which is the Warsaw neighbourhood to host the Chopin airport and other places of interest (more on that later). The distance was long, and for some reason we were in hurry. Tired, we made a stop by Katowicka Avenue, one of expressways leaving Warsaw.
As we reached Okęcie, we temporarily gave up other plans and ate in Burger King. As the place is just next to the approach path to Rwy 11, I had a chance to take several plane-spotter photos
That was the reason I and Tommy were in hurry. Our friend and e-biker Anna had just returned to Warsaw from Phu Quoc, Vietnam so we formed the welcome committee (FlightRadar24 helps getting on time for such meetings!)
As we two were so close to the WAW Chopin Airport (and I brazenly used the VIP lane), Tommy yelled at me: 'Your tyre is flat!' Normally, I would have stopped but rode the last 100-200 m on the flat tyre. As we arrived in Terminal 2, I sent Tommy to manage the communication with Anna while I did the inner tube replacement. "Practice makes perfect" and indeed, I could complete the fix during Anna's passport control and baggage collection! (Fortunately, she left the airport at Terminal 2).
Now, there was no other way but to make the original plan, that is, visiting CentrumRowerowe.pl happen. The Bike Centre is the largest Polish online bicycle store but they own several big stores throughout Poland as well. The store was near to the place we ate.
Some trivia. The Polish word for "bicycle" is rower (where w reads v). It is because the first bicycles in the lands of Poland were the British Rovers, so the name stuck.
It was Tommy's first time in CentrumRowerowe.pl. He bought himself nice handlebar grips with bar-ends, which he installed on the spot (that, of course, required re-organizing all the handlebar controls!)
While I bought a hundred fifty thousand useful items but forgot buying a rim tape I needed
I wouldn't expect riding my Vado SL for 50 miles on that day
Sunday will be the day of a group ride I have organised myself Stay tuned!
A friend of mine (who works in the aviation) told me there was another general aviation airstrip in my greater neighbourhood.
As Saturday was forecast the warmest day of the False Spring, I invited Tommy to my county town of Pruszków.
We had to counter a strong headwind all the way southwards. Did a stop at the park and palace of Młochów.
Wola Krakowiańska 1 airfield was disappointing. Two closed hangars (but full of aircraft) and only one aeroplane that might be flying on that day but no pilot around. (It was a Piper Cherokee Warrior II). Only as we were leaving the site, the owner/pilot seemed to have arrived with his car.
Our next plan was to reach Okęcie, which is the Warsaw neighbourhood to host the Chopin airport and other places of interest (more on that later). The distance was long, and for some reason we were in hurry. Tired, we made a stop by Katowicka Avenue, one of expressways leaving Warsaw.
As we reached Okęcie, we temporarily gave up other plans and ate in Burger King. As the place is just next to the approach path to Rwy 11, I had a chance to take several plane-spotter photos
That was the reason I and Tommy were in hurry. Our friend and e-biker Anna had just returned to Warsaw from Phu Quoc, Vietnam so we formed the welcome committee
(FlightRadar24 helps getting on time for such meetings!) As we two were so close to the WAW Chopin Airport (and I brazenly used the VIP lane), Tommy yelled at me: 'Your tyre is flat!' Normally, I would have stopped but rode the last 100-200 m on the flat tyre. As we arrived in Terminal 2, I sent Tommy to manage the communication with Anna while I did the inner tube replacement. "Practice makes perfect" and indeed, I could complete the fix during Anna's passport control and baggage collection! (Fortunately, she left the airport at Terminal 2).
Now, there was no other way but to make the original plan, that is, visiting CentrumRowerowe.pl happen. The Bike Centre is the largest Polish online bicycle store but they own several big stores throughout Poland as well. The store was near to the place we ate.
Some trivia. The Polish word for "bicycle" is rower (where w reads v). It is because the first bicycles in the lands of Poland were the British Rovers, so the name stuck.
It was Tommy's first time in CentrumRowerowe.pl. He bought himself nice handlebar grips with bar-ends, which he installed on the spot (that, of course, required re-organizing all the handlebar controls!)
While I bought a hundred fifty thousand useful items but forgot buying a rim tape I needed
I wouldn't expect riding my Vado SL for 50 miles on that day
Sunday will be the day of a group ride I have organised myself
Stay tuned!
Last edited:
DiggyGun
Well-Known Member
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Wroclaw
I do like liver and onions in a nice think gravy, yum
Mind you, I do like all offal, steak and kidney pudding being a firm favourite.
And yes, as you’ve guessed, I’m English and go out in the midday sun.
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
Jesus, everyone was buying me drinks cos I turned up, Im glad thats all I posted
mschwett
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
i haven't done one of these in a while because i've not been able to do the big rides i liked so much, but it was such a beautiful day i figured i'd share!
this ±32 mile loop has about 2,000 feet of climbing, and a cool mix of urban, park, coast, hill, etc.
the first few minutes are too steep and urban to take lots of pictures, a quick 300' drop in half a mile or so, and then a quick roll through the financial district to the embarcadero :
pretty quiet morning on the water at the ballpark
back inland, jamming south on third street. uber HQ on the left, a nice building for a questionable company lol
soon the city ends, and the grade up san bruno mountain starts. these rumble strips that warm drivers if they're about to enter the VERY substandard bike line are insanely rough on a bike, kind of crazy. at least 50% harder to ride on them than on smooth pavement, a great illustration of the energy "lost" to vibration.
climbing up the canyon, a very wide, fast road, but with good enough sightlines and a wide enough shoulder for a lazy climb
this grass will all be brown in a few weeks, it's already starting to change. i liked the shadow
not going up to the very top at the radio towers, it's a super rough road and not much fun to descend
after a bit of the junky suburban roads on the edge of daly city and SF, we half-lap lake merced
a new bike lane!
and onto sunset dunes, a well used and loved stretch of former highway adjacent to ocean beach. in the category of "why can't we have nice things" the local supervisor who supported this was recalled, and opponents are organizing another ballot measure despite the one which created it in the first place resoundingly passing. between this road and highway 1 (19th ave) there are approximately 22 unbroken north-south roads perfectly parallel to this one, but local residents object to asphalt being used for anything other than their cars.
sunscreen might have been needed
and now, golden gate park!! thankfully these roads are just about all closed to cars and nobody is fighting for that any more! the light was very nice, although the fringing of the iphone postprocessing is too bad.
halfway through the park, a very gradual 250' climb
and now we're back in the city, where people line up 50 deep for bakeries...
but not for long, our third urban park of the day, the presidio.
our starting and ending point is almost exactly beneath the tallest tower visible to the left of the transamerica pyramid - it looks far, but i'll be there in 18 minutes. done this stretch a thousand times or so...
this MUP is a good example of the pedestrian/cyclist dynamic around the bay ... despite the shade repeatedly thrown at "roadies" on this forum and places like nextdoor, in 30 years of living here (with kids for the last 14!) i have never seen or been part of a roadie-related incident. what i have seen, and been part of, is morons with dogs like this one - off leash and completely blocking the westbound bike lane, himself standing in the eastbound lane. around here about 5% of the people with dogs (and i love dogs!!!!!!) have main character syndrome something fierce, for both them and their dog. i slowed to a stop, the cyclist coming towards me veered around the dog into my lane and the pedestrian lane, and then went on our way.
need one photo of the bike it's on the right.
for reasons unknown the striping of the other end of the path changes here to one shared lane in each direction. still works fine if you have a keen eye for leash-clotheslines.
now the hills up to home, we're almost there. in our neighborhood i think around 1/4 of all vehicles are autonomous these days, and the good news is that they drive WAY better than people and are super respectful of cyclists and pedestrians.
one last steep bit after this intersection, only around 1/10 of a mile but at close to 20% after turning left here. the descent going forward (towards the bay bridge) is where the ride started.
made it.
bike back on the wall.
this ±32 mile loop has about 2,000 feet of climbing, and a cool mix of urban, park, coast, hill, etc.
the first few minutes are too steep and urban to take lots of pictures, a quick 300' drop in half a mile or so, and then a quick roll through the financial district to the embarcadero :
pretty quiet morning on the water at the ballpark
back inland, jamming south on third street. uber HQ on the left, a nice building for a questionable company lol
soon the city ends, and the grade up san bruno mountain starts. these rumble strips that warm drivers if they're about to enter the VERY substandard bike line are insanely rough on a bike, kind of crazy. at least 50% harder to ride on them than on smooth pavement, a great illustration of the energy "lost" to vibration.
climbing up the canyon, a very wide, fast road, but with good enough sightlines and a wide enough shoulder for a lazy climb
this grass will all be brown in a few weeks, it's already starting to change. i liked the shadow
not going up to the very top at the radio towers, it's a super rough road and not much fun to descend
after a bit of the junky suburban roads on the edge of daly city and SF, we half-lap lake merced
a new bike lane!
and onto sunset dunes, a well used and loved stretch of former highway adjacent to ocean beach. in the category of "why can't we have nice things" the local supervisor who supported this was recalled, and opponents are organizing another ballot measure despite the one which created it in the first place resoundingly passing. between this road and highway 1 (19th ave) there are approximately 22 unbroken north-south roads perfectly parallel to this one, but local residents object to asphalt being used for anything other than their cars.
sunscreen might have been needed
and now, golden gate park!! thankfully these roads are just about all closed to cars and nobody is fighting for that any more! the light was very nice, although the fringing of the iphone postprocessing is too bad.
halfway through the park, a very gradual 250' climb
and now we're back in the city, where people line up 50 deep for bakeries...
but not for long, our third urban park of the day, the presidio.
our starting and ending point is almost exactly beneath the tallest tower visible to the left of the transamerica pyramid - it looks far, but i'll be there in 18 minutes. done this stretch a thousand times or so...
this MUP is a good example of the pedestrian/cyclist dynamic around the bay ... despite the shade repeatedly thrown at "roadies" on this forum and places like nextdoor, in 30 years of living here (with kids for the last 14!) i have never seen or been part of a roadie-related incident. what i have seen, and been part of, is morons with dogs like this one - off leash and completely blocking the westbound bike lane, himself standing in the eastbound lane. around here about 5% of the people with dogs (and i love dogs!!!!!!) have main character syndrome something fierce, for both them and their dog. i slowed to a stop, the cyclist coming towards me veered around the dog into my lane and the pedestrian lane, and then went on our way.
need one photo of the bike
it's on the right.for reasons unknown the striping of the other end of the path changes here to one shared lane in each direction. still works fine if you have a keen eye for leash-clotheslines.
now the hills up to home, we're almost there. in our neighborhood i think around 1/4 of all vehicles are autonomous these days, and the good news is that they drive WAY better than people and are super respectful of cyclists and pedestrians.
one last steep bit after this intersection, only around 1/10 of a mile but at close to 20% after turning left here. the descent going forward (towards the bay bridge) is where the ride started.
made it.
bike back on the wall.
Jeremy McCreary
Bought it anyway
- Region
- USA
- City
- Carlsbad, CA
Fabulous SF bike ride for you, and for me, a great ride down memory lane from more decades ago than I care to admit.i haven't done one of these in a while because i've not been able to do the big rides i liked so much, but it was such a beautiful day i figured i'd share!
this ±32 mile loop has about 2,000 feet of climbing, and a cool mix of urban, park, coast, hill, etc.
the first few minutes are too steep and urban to take lots of pictures, a quick 300' drop in half a mile or so, and then a quick roll through the financial district to the embarcadero :
View attachment 207280
pretty quiet morning on the water at the ballpark
View attachment 207281
back inland, jamming south on third street. uber HQ on the left, a nice building for a questionable company lol
View attachment 207282
soon the city ends, and the grade up san bruno mountain starts. these rumble strips that warm drivers if they're about to enter the VERY substandard bike line are insanely rough on a bike, kind of crazy. at least 50% harder to ride on them than on smooth pavement, a great illustration of the energy "lost" to vibration.
View attachment 207283
climbing up the canyon, a very wide, fast road, but with good enough sightlines and a wide enough shoulder for a lazy climb
View attachment 207284
this grass will all be brown in a few weeks, it's already starting to change. i liked the shadow
View attachment 207285
not going up to the very top at the radio towers, it's a super rough road and not much fun to descend
View attachment 207286
after a bit of the junky suburban roads on the edge of daly city and SF, we half-lap lake merced
View attachment 207279
a new bike lane!
View attachment 207287
and onto sunset dunes, a well used and loved stretch of former highway adjacent to ocean beach. in the category of "why can't we have nice things" the local supervisor who supported this was recalled, and opponents are organizing another ballot measure despite the one which created it in the first place resoundingly passing. between this road and highway 1 (19th ave) there are approximately 22 unbroken north-south roads perfectly parallel to this one, but local residents object to asphalt being used for anything other than their cars.
View attachment 207288
sunscreen might have been needed
View attachment 207289
and now, golden gate park!! thankfully these roads are just about all closed to cars and nobody is fighting for that any more! the light was very nice, although the fringing of the iphone postprocessing is too bad.
View attachment 207290
halfway through the park, a very gradual 250' climb
View attachment 207291
and now we're back in the city, where people line up 50 deep for bakeries...
View attachment 207292
but not for long, our third urban park of the day, the presidio.
View attachment 207293
our starting and ending point is almost exactly beneath the tallest tower visible to the left of the transamerica pyramid - it looks far, but i'll be there in 18 minutes. done this stretch a thousand times or so...
View attachment 207294
this MUP is a good example of the pedestrian/cyclist dynamic around the bay ... despite the shade repeatedly thrown at "roadies" on this forum and places like nextdoor, in 30 years of living here (with kids for the last 14!) i have never seen or been part of a roadie-related incident. what i have seen, and been part of, is morons with dogs like this one - off leash and completely blocking the westbound bike lane, himself standing in the eastbound lane. around here about 5% of the people with dogs (and i love dogs!!!!!!) have main character syndrome something fierce, for both them and their dog. i slowed to a stop, the cyclist coming towards me veered around the dog into my lane and the pedestrian lane, and then went on our way.
View attachment 207295
need one photo of the bike
View attachment 207296
for reasons unknown the striping of the other end of the path changes here to one shared lane in each direction. still works fine if you have a keen eye for leash-clotheslines.
View attachment 207297
now the hills up to home, we're almost there. in our neighborhood i think around 1/4 of all vehicles are autonomous these days, and the good news is that they drive WAY better than people and are super respectful of cyclists and pedestrians.
View attachment 207298
one last steep bit after this intersection, only around 1/10 of a mile but at close to 20% after turning left here. the descent going forward (towards the bay bridge) is where the ride started.
View attachment 207299
made it.
View attachment 207300
bike back on the wall.
View attachment 207301
Loved the commentary. I'm sure you have a backlog of photos to tell us about.
mschwett
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
glad you appreciated it! its hard adjusting to 1) staying so much closer to home and 2) never ever riding hard. a few years ago this would have been a very short ride and I’d have done it on the aethos in less time at 220 human watts… today on the addict I kept my average output to 130w or so and the bike contributed about 85wh of power (only 40-50w average!), almost entirely used when going up, very critical to keep the HR low.
Last edited:
Jeremy McCreary
Bought it anyway
- Region
- USA
- City
- Carlsbad, CA
Boy, that's a big adjustment! Must be really annoying to hold back when you're used to putting out 220W.
Good thing ebikes came along to help you adapt to your new reality in the hilly SF Bay Area. Otherwise, you'd be stuck on the flats, and not much flat to be had there.
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
From Warka to Warsaw Via Orchards
A gravel group ride
"What are we doing for Sunday? Why don't we take a train to somewhere in the south and ride to Warsaw with tailwind?" -- Marek, a businessman who treats gravel cycling as a serious business wrote to me on Friday. "The only option is Warka!" was my short answer and then I started planning the trip. Marek knows me as a perfect route planning person, and yes, I use my experience from my past rides (even as early as 4 years ago!)
We all took the Mazovian Railways R80 train from different stations.
Warka usually is the destination, not the start point. Here, the Main Square. A local person took several group photos of us, always cutting the rider's and the horse's heads off! Warka is one of the three cities to compete for the Apple Capital City of Poland, as also Grójec and Tarczyn are located in the immense Apple Land. Now, the equestrian is Hetman (Duke) Stefan Czarniecki who tanned the Swedish hides in the 1656 Battle of Warka.
After several kilometres ridden on asphalt, we entered the Apple Land with its endless gravel roads! (We need to revisit the route during the blooming season and also perhaps when the apples are on the trees!)
Back to the aviation As I was passing a junkyard, I had to stop there for a photo!
Our Wahoos rang "CLIMB!" It was a very steep gorge of the surface made of rough dried mud. I went TURBO on my big Vado and also dramatically downshifted. My e-bike brought me to the top of the hill as easily as it were a lift! However, my buddies struggled... (Never underestimate a good e-bike!)
Krzysiek, who rode a vintage road bike made a navigational error and disappeared from our group on asphalt. I wrote to him "Join us in Delizza in Góra Kalwaria, you already were there!".
As we three rode off-road, we could notice an orchard with all the trees destroyed! (The tree bark was missing from every tree!) It was a beaver area....
"Look at that!" Here's the Czersk Castle. Our successful ruler, Duke Janusz I of Mazovia founded many fortified cities in his duchy. He had a plan to make Czersk the capital city of Mazovia. Alas! The Vistula changed the course and the investment was lost! (You obviously wanted a city on a hill with the access to a big river). As Janusz understood his mistake, he immediately founded the City of Warsaw Our most successful ruler indeed!
Góra Kalwaria (Mt Calvary) is a town on the steepest hill in the whole Mazovia. St. Anthony Street is the mandatory climb on all gravel races around. It is up to 12% grade and the surface is damaged cobblestone Tommy was very proud to make that climb (his first one ever!) but it was easy for Marek, as Marek is a bike trainer person
Krzysiek joined us in Delizza, Góra Kalwaria! The man didn't know where we were but knew our destination, so he pedalled fast in a loop around the city for an hour! That's a road cyclist for you!
The ride from Góra Kalwaria to Warsaw was boring for me. I made it more interesting by choosing a rough gravel trail from Dębówka to Gassy (instead of riding asphalt).
Gassy was a location famous of its Vistula ferry (the line collapsed last year) but it is still a popular place for recreation and as a road cycling destination.
It's also not everywhere you can spot a 1974 Ford Ranchero
An unexpected encounter
As we were zooming along the Vistula, I was stopped by a certain cyclist. "We ride the same model of e-bike" -- he said excitedly -- "can you spare me a couple minutes for my questions?" Guys, he rode a 2020 Vado 6.0 Step-Through, exactly as mine! Even the same frame colour! Only his Vado was a little ridden and he raised and shortened his handlebars. Yes, I answered several question of Andrzej ("No, you cannot switch the daily light off - it is a moped!") and we exchanged our phone numbers. Then I had to go TURBO and chase my buddies!
I also met a cycling partner of Jacek, one Krzysiek on his test ride of a new gravel bike, a BH (no permission to post a photo, though). Eventually, I and Marek completed the trip at the Warsaw Stadium train station (there are big lifts!)
As I was riding from the train station home, I felt the False Spring was over... Even if I donned a warm jacket, it was terribly cold already, and that was before the sunset!
81 km (50 miles) for the day. We were very greatly helped by tailwind! I did the whole ride on a single battery!
A gravel group ride
"What are we doing for Sunday? Why don't we take a train to somewhere in the south and ride to Warsaw with tailwind?" -- Marek, a businessman who treats gravel cycling as a serious business
wrote to me on Friday. "The only option is Warka!" was my short answer and then I started planning the trip. Marek knows me as a perfect route planning person, and yes, I use my experience from my past rides (even as early as 4 years ago!)We all took the Mazovian Railways R80 train from different stations.
Warka usually is the destination, not the start point. Here, the Main Square. A local person took several group photos of us, always cutting the rider's and the horse's heads off!
Warka is one of the three cities to compete for the Apple Capital City of Poland, as also Grójec and Tarczyn are located in the immense Apple Land. Now, the equestrian is Hetman (Duke) Stefan Czarniecki who tanned the Swedish hides in the 1656 Battle of Warka.After several kilometres ridden on asphalt, we entered the Apple Land with its endless gravel roads! (We need to revisit the route during the blooming season and also perhaps when the apples are on the trees!)
Back to the aviation
As I was passing a junkyard, I had to stop there for a photo!Our Wahoos rang "CLIMB!" It was a very steep gorge of the surface made of rough dried mud. I went TURBO on my big Vado and also dramatically downshifted. My e-bike brought me to the top of the hill as easily as it were a lift! However, my buddies struggled... (Never underestimate a good e-bike!)
Krzysiek, who rode a vintage road bike made a navigational error and disappeared from our group on asphalt. I wrote to him "Join us in Delizza in Góra Kalwaria, you already were there!".
As we three rode off-road, we could notice an orchard with all the trees destroyed! (The tree bark was missing from every tree!) It was a beaver area....
"Look at that!"
Here's the Czersk Castle. Our successful ruler, Duke Janusz I of Mazovia founded many fortified cities in his duchy. He had a plan to make Czersk the capital city of Mazovia. Alas! The Vistula changed the course and the investment was lost! (You obviously wanted a city on a hill with the access to a big river). As Janusz understood his mistake, he immediately founded the City of Warsaw Our most successful ruler indeed!Góra Kalwaria (Mt Calvary) is a town on the steepest hill in the whole Mazovia. St. Anthony Street is the mandatory climb on all gravel races around. It is up to 12% grade and the surface is damaged cobblestone
Tommy was very proud to make that climb (his first one ever!) but it was easy for Marek, as Marek is a bike trainer person Krzysiek joined us in Delizza, Góra Kalwaria! The man didn't know where we were but knew our destination, so he pedalled fast in a loop around the city for an hour! That's a road cyclist for you!
The ride from Góra Kalwaria to Warsaw was boring for me. I made it more interesting by choosing a rough gravel trail from Dębówka to Gassy (instead of riding asphalt).
Gassy was a location famous of its Vistula ferry (the line collapsed last year) but it is still a popular place for recreation and as a road cycling destination.
It's also not everywhere you can spot a 1974 Ford Ranchero
An unexpected encounter
As we were zooming along the Vistula, I was stopped by a certain cyclist. "We ride the same model of e-bike" -- he said excitedly -- "can you spare me a couple minutes for my questions?" Guys, he rode a 2020 Vado 6.0 Step-Through, exactly as mine! Even the same frame colour! Only his Vado was a little ridden and he raised and shortened his handlebars. Yes, I answered several question of Andrzej ("No, you cannot switch the daily light off - it is a moped!") and we exchanged our phone numbers. Then I had to go TURBO and chase my buddies!
I also met a cycling partner of Jacek, one Krzysiek on his test ride of a new gravel bike, a BH (no permission to post a photo, though). Eventually, I and Marek completed the trip at the Warsaw Stadium train station (there are big lifts!)
As I was riding from the train station home, I felt the False Spring was over... Even if I donned a warm jacket, it was terribly cold already, and that was before the sunset!
81 km (50 miles) for the day. We were very greatly helped by tailwind! I did the whole ride on a single battery!
Last edited:
mschwett
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
i literally couldn’t ride anywhere unless i drove there first
i’ve found that there’s something inherently different about going uphill - the same power output always results in a higher heart rate!
DiggyGun
Well-Known Member
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Wroclaw
@Stefan Mike , said
As I was riding from the train station home, I felt the False Spring was over... Even if I donned a warm jacket, it was terribly cold already, and that was before the sunset!
The False Spring is also over in Wroclaw too. Saturday I was wearing a tee shirt and Sunday was wearing a North Face puffer jacket, gloves and hat. Forecast is some rain today and cool for the rest of the week.
DG…
As I was riding from the train station home, I felt the False Spring was over... Even if I donned a warm jacket, it was terribly cold already, and that was before the sunset!
The False Spring is also over in Wroclaw too. Saturday I was wearing a tee shirt and Sunday was wearing a North Face puffer jacket, gloves and hat. Forecast is some rain today and cool for the rest of the week.
DG…
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Now Tommy tells me the Vado 6.0 owner rode on the throttle. I didn't think that was possible but the man admitted himself he had ridden upwind at 48 km/h just a minute before, which is only possible on the throttle.
Damn pirates! I regret I didn't take a photo. I hate the man!
Damn pirates! I regret I didn't take a photo. I hate the man!
That garage & tool station is RIDICULOUSLY tidy. You will never see my mess up here!
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
Now I need a Ford Ranchero.From Warka to Warsaw Via Orchards
A gravel group ride
"What are we doing for Sunday? Why don't we take a train to somewhere in the south and ride to Warsaw with tailwind?" -- Marek, a businessman who treats gravel cycling as a serious business
View attachment 207306
We all took the Mazovian Railways R80 train from different stations.
View attachment 207307
Warka usually is the destination, not the start point. Here, the Main Square. A local person took several group photos of us, always cutting the rider's and the horse's heads off!
View attachment 207309
After several kilometres ridden on asphalt, we entered the Apple Land with its endless gravel roads! (We need to revisit the route during the blooming season and also perhaps when the apples are on the trees!)
View attachment 207310
Back to the aviation
View attachment 207311
Our Wahoos rang "CLIMB!" It was a very steep gorge of the surface made of rough dried mud. I went TURBO on my big Vado and also dramatically downshifted. My e-bike brought me to the top of the hill as easily as it were a lift! However, my buddies struggled... (Never underestimate a good e-bike!)
Krzysiek, who rode a vintage road bike made a navigational error and disappeared from our group on asphalt. I wrote to him "Join us in Delizza in Góra Kalwaria, you already were there!".
View attachment 207314
As we three rode off-road, we could notice an orchard with all the trees destroyed! (The tree bark was missing from every tree!) It was a beaver area....
View attachment 207315
"Look at that!"
View attachment 207316
Góra Kalwaria (Mt Calvary) is a town on the steepest hill in the whole Mazovia. St. Anthony Street is the mandatory climb on all gravel races around. It is up to 12% grade and the surface is damaged cobblestone
View attachment 207317
Krzysiek joined us in Delizza, Góra Kalwaria! The man didn't know where we were but knew our destination, so he pedalled fast in a loop around the city for an hour! That's a road cyclist for you!
The ride from Góra Kalwaria to Warsaw was boring for me. I made it more interesting by choosing a rough gravel trail from Dębówka to Gassy (instead of riding asphalt).
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Gassy was a location famous of its Vistula ferry (the line collapsed last year) but it is still popular place for recreation and as a road cycling destination.
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It's also not everywhere you can spot a 1974 Ford Ranchero
An unexpected encounter
As we were zooming along the Vistula, I was stopped by a certain cyclist. "We ride the same model of e-bike" -- he said excitedly -- "can you spare me a couple minutes for my questions?" Guys, he rode a 2020 Vado 6.0 Step-Through, exactly as mine! Even the same frame colour! Only his Vado was a little ridden and he raised and shortened his handlebars. Yes, I answered several question of Andrzej ("No, you cannot switch the daily light off - it is a moped!") and we exchanged our phone numbers. Then I had to go TURBO and chase my buddies!
I also met a cycling partner of Jacek, one Krzysiek on his test ride of a new gravel bike, a BH (no permission to post a photo, though). Eventually, I and Marek completed the trip at the Warsaw Stadium train station (there are big lifts!)
As I was riding from the train station home, I felt the False Spring was over... Even if I donned a warm jacket, it was terribly cold already, and that was before the sunset!
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81 km (50 miles) for the day. We were very greatly helped by tailwind! I did the whole ride on a single battery!
Also Im a bit concerned with the Pizza eating picture, the crazy dude on the left looks like he might be starting a smile, is this allowed in public?
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
We generally don't smile in Poland. Saves a lot of energy
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
Of course it could be that every time Stefan gets his camera out everyone goes.
FFS
FFS
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Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
You're just jealous, ChrisOf course it could be that every time Stefan gets his camera out everyone goes.
FFS
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
I did an interesting observation. As my Vado was set for 40/40% assistance, I was too fast for my mates! So I dropped the assistance to 30/50%. Less support but I could overtake anyone to get in the ride lead. Given the tailwind, the assistance was still too strong!
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