Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
I was waiting for your first acoustic ride, Rab! 
2026 - Our Rides in Words, Photos, Maps and Videos
- Thread starter RabH
- Start date
Catalyzt
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
I usually do not offer birthday wishes to anyone as:
We should wish one another all the best on any single day and all year long! And you Chris know the best I am fond of you very much!
- Getting older sucks
- Birth day is a day like any other
Besides, you could do a simple 63 (!!!) mile road ride just to prove you can still do itYou know, ECO, two batteries...
65 here (1961).
Happy birthday, Charge!
Stefan, I felt very much the same way you did until my medical emergency last summer when my heart stopped for 10 minutes.
Now I have two birthdays-- and we plan to celebrate both every year!
I'm in the final lap of 68 years old... but also one year old. I expect nothing but total and complete acceptance for any and all future immaturity!
I'm just back on the bike from a wrist injury, and hope to add some ride reports soon... though I might toss in something from my usual acoustic adventures on the Raleigh Competition in NYC this summer, right before the injury.
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
Plenty to choose from
A bridleway this steep with cobbles, slightly dodgy
Still cant bring myself to wade, not trusting the bike yet.
Incredible path through deep gulleys, loads of left over industry and water infrastructure from another time
All abandoned to slow collapse
We reached a stile and the farmers wife came over, I said I just need to get to the next one then I can get across the dam.
'Its very steep' she said
'No problem for us'
'Well OK , but be careful'
She wasnt exaggerating
This is the Pennine Bridleway, these cobbled roads are up to 300 years old
These flat block paths are even older
You have to live here for a 100 years to even get a raised eyebrow.
Wheelbarrows are a hot item it seems
The way back had to be climbed up to ,but it was worth it.
Rolling descents that give enough speed to make the next rise...pure bliss.
That sign says 'dont follow your sat nav, you will get stuck'
Our churches and pubs are slowly being turned into houses, flats and mosques, it is end of era stuff.
A bridleway this steep with cobbles, slightly dodgy
Still cant bring myself to wade, not trusting the bike yet.
Incredible path through deep gulleys, loads of left over industry and water infrastructure from another time
All abandoned to slow collapse
We reached a stile and the farmers wife came over, I said I just need to get to the next one then I can get across the dam.
'Its very steep' she said
'No problem for us'
'Well OK , but be careful'
She wasnt exaggerating
This is the Pennine Bridleway, these cobbled roads are up to 300 years old
These flat block paths are even older
You have to live here for a 100 years to even get a raised eyebrow.
Wheelbarrows are a hot item it seems
The way back had to be climbed up to ,but it was worth it.
Rolling descents that give enough speed to make the next rise...pure bliss.
That sign says 'dont follow your sat nav, you will get stuck'
Our churches and pubs are slowly being turned into houses, flats and mosques, it is end of era stuff.
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
So this sign was put up with reference to the entire rail network, either by mistake or to test the waters.
It doesnt mention folding ebikes and it looks like this ban is incoming.
It doesnt mention folding ebikes and it looks like this ban is incoming.
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Jeremy McCreary
Bought it anyway
- Region
- USA
- City
- Carlsbad, CA
A very interesting sign to put up. Friendly warning, ploy to keep people off their land, or some of both? How many have really gotten stuck?
But taking the sign at face value, what does that say about sat nav? Is there an easy way to tell the system that you got stuck here? Would anyone bother? Would the companies act on it?
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Chargeride
Well-Known Member
Its because the path is a byway, which allows all traffic, but its not suitable for anything short of a proper offroad vehicle.
We had someone turn around in front of us presumably following sat nav, it usually happens if they are trying to find an alternative route and head off themselves down the back roads, causing the satnav to route down an unsuitable road.
In fact that path was only suitable for motorbikes as it was completely overgrown down to a single track
We had someone turn around in front of us presumably following sat nav, it usually happens if they are trying to find an alternative route and head off themselves down the back roads, causing the satnav to route down an unsuitable road.
In fact that path was only suitable for motorbikes as it was completely overgrown down to a single track
Jeremy McCreary
Bought it anyway
- Region
- USA
- City
- Carlsbad, CA
Sounds plausible. But seems like sat nav should warn you that its suggested route includes a segment that might need an offroad vehicle.
Like Google Maps warns me now that a route might go through restricted right of way like a gated community or private road.
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
Ive never checked, but there are still lots of people not using google maps.
But a byway is a fully legal to use road by anyone, even a semi truck or a bus.
But a byway is a fully legal to use road by anyone, even a semi truck or a bus.
fooferdoggie
Well-Known Member
Cow car with a pasture and cows on the dashboard no less.
fooferdoggie
Well-Known Member
This is part of a huge Mausoleum /creamatorium and chapel. full body and cremation internment not something you usually see in the middle of the city.
fooferdoggie
Well-Known Member
fooferdoggie
Well-Known Member
nice little wildlife area. saw a nutria or beaver in there.
fooferdoggie
Well-Known Member
Jeremy McCreary
Bought it anyway
- Region
- USA
- City
- Carlsbad, CA
One beauty of a good GPS mapping app: You can do pretty good recon of a potential route just by zooming in on it in satellite view. You can easily see gates, bike infrastructure or lack thereof, single vs double track, etc.
As @Rás Cnoic suggested, even better if you also have a topo (contour) layer to look at. Love topo maps.
RideWithGPS offers all of this and much more — including the ability to map out the route and see the profile in advance. Probably plenty of other apps with these capabilities.
As @Rás Cnoic suggested, even better if you also have a topo (contour) layer to look at. Love topo maps.
RideWithGPS offers all of this and much more — including the ability to map out the route and see the profile in advance. Probably plenty of other apps with these capabilities.
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
These signs are common in the UK because roads turning into piles of rocks or medieval 4ft wide catches people, usually truck drivers out when they are following satnav.
Theres even official versions, surely even the States has these.
Theres even official versions, surely even the States has these.
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
63 Miles For Chargeride's 63rd Birthday Anniversary!
The original plan was to ride Mazovian gravel together with Marek and Tommy for over 130 km on Saturday. With two batteries on my Vado 6.0 (and taking 8 km commutes into account), I was on the verge of the battery range. What could go wrong? As you will see, the planned group ride had turned into my solo ride to honour my friend's @Chargeride birthday!
Crossing an MTB singletrack afoot The place name was adequately Glinianka (Clay Pit).
A famous location of filming the "The Assassination Attempt on the Pope" movie. The security services agent (a professional killer) lived with his fiancee in this hut. (The post-processing located the house in the mountains) As the killer was travelling to Rome, a sudden twist occured (Moscow wanted to stop a Pole taking the action and also wanted to remove all the clues). The girl was butchered and the fire was set to the shack beside. The fire was actual: you can still see charcoal inside!
Then we rode a beautiful causeway.
A family of swans. Dad (not visible here), Mom and seven ugly ducklings
Crossing River Mienia in Bykowizna.
Watch with the sound! I was actually singing it!
"There he rides Chestnut Mare (Chestnut Mare)
Gray infantry garb (gray infantry garb!)
Hey, hey, Commandante, my beloved leader!"
(A pre-WW2 soldier song praising Marshal Józef Piłsudski)
"I can spot a horse here" (One of my favourite sayings on the rides, haha!)
In so-called "Military Range". Nowadays, the access to the range has been strictly limited, leaving literally a single public trail! Still beautiful to ride.
The Battery Range and Physical Crisis
It was my first time in years to set off for a ride unprepared. Turned out, I had an excessively high assistance set for SPORT mode, making the first battery drain too quickly. Now, my choice was to reduce the assistance so slow down. I also hit the wall at the 53rd kilometre (I was undernourished). So I said to Marek and Tommy: "Guys, we have such and such situation. No need to baby-sit me, I'm alright. Just continue your ride at high speed. I will manage on my own!"
I took a long rest, ate the rest of my snacks and reconsidered my options...
Ah. Chargeride would not ride 63 miles for his birthday himself but I could do it instead of him... Replanned the ride instantly!
The Range is beautiful. Of course, you only ride gravel (not sand) here.
Drought. River Długa has completely dried out!
To my big surprise, the only exit route from the Range led through Ossów with its pretty new Museum of Battle of Warsaw 1920.
A historical note
On August 13th, 1920, Russian Bolshevik hordes were on the outskirts of Warsaw. They were sure of the victory! If Warsaw fell, the Bolshevik would easily spread onto West Europe, which was ruined by WW1, with the revolution ongoing in Germany. However, Poles fought back with the decisive battles happening on August 15th. The Bolsheviks were routed so terribly they didn't dare to repeat their mistake for the next 19 years. In popular culture, the day is dubbed "Miracle On The Vistula".
The reduction of the assistance had brought my battery plan back to normal. Now, I could safely swap the e-bike batteries.
A Grevet Control Point. Last Sunday, a 100 mile group gravel ride was held by Gravel.Love. A participant paid a fee and was getting a carnet (and a pizza at the finish line). The rider had to visit Control Points where the time was entered, and the carnet was stamped. Now, I could buy more food!
My return shortcut was not perfect but still rideable.
Now, I set my Wahoo to miles
Yes! 63 miles for @Chargeride! Cheers mate!
What an encounter! While in Warsaw City-Centre station, I met Dżoana, my old mate from early gravel rides!
Total for the day 114 km (70 miles).
The original plan was to ride Mazovian gravel together with Marek and Tommy for over 130 km on Saturday. With two batteries on my Vado 6.0 (and taking 8 km commutes into account), I was on the verge of the battery range. What could go wrong?
As you will see, the planned group ride had turned into my solo ride to honour my friend's @Chargeride birthday!Crossing an MTB singletrack afoot
The place name was adequately Glinianka (Clay Pit).A famous location of filming the "The Assassination Attempt on the Pope" movie. The security services agent (a professional killer) lived with his fiancee in this hut. (The post-processing located the house in the mountains)
As the killer was travelling to Rome, a sudden twist occured (Moscow wanted to stop a Pole taking the action and also wanted to remove all the clues). The girl was butchered and the fire was set to the shack beside. The fire was actual: you can still see charcoal inside!Then we rode a beautiful causeway.
A family of swans. Dad (not visible here), Mom and seven ugly ducklings
Crossing River Mienia in Bykowizna.
"There he rides Chestnut Mare (Chestnut Mare)
Gray infantry garb (gray infantry garb!)
Hey, hey, Commandante, my beloved leader!"
(A pre-WW2 soldier song praising Marshal Józef Piłsudski)
"I can spot a horse here"
(One of my favourite sayings on the rides, haha!)In so-called "Military Range". Nowadays, the access to the range has been strictly limited, leaving literally a single public trail! Still beautiful to ride.
The Battery Range and Physical Crisis
It was my first time in years to set off for a ride unprepared. Turned out, I had an excessively high assistance set for SPORT mode, making the first battery drain too quickly. Now, my choice was to reduce the assistance so slow down. I also hit the wall at the 53rd kilometre (I was undernourished). So I said to Marek and Tommy: "Guys, we have such and such situation. No need to baby-sit me, I'm alright. Just continue your ride at high speed. I will manage on my own!"
I took a long rest, ate the rest of my snacks and reconsidered my options...
Ah. Chargeride would not ride 63 miles for his birthday himself but I could do it instead of him...
Replanned the ride instantly!The Range is beautiful. Of course, you only ride gravel (not sand) here.
Drought. River Długa has completely dried out!
To my big surprise, the only exit route from the Range led through Ossów with its pretty new Museum of Battle of Warsaw 1920.
A historical note
On August 13th, 1920, Russian Bolshevik hordes were on the outskirts of Warsaw. They were sure of the victory! If Warsaw fell, the Bolshevik would easily spread onto West Europe, which was ruined by WW1, with the revolution ongoing in Germany. However, Poles fought back with the decisive battles happening on August 15th. The Bolsheviks were routed so terribly they didn't dare to repeat their mistake for the next 19 years. In popular culture, the day is dubbed "Miracle On The Vistula".
The reduction of the assistance had brought my battery plan back to normal. Now, I could safely swap the e-bike batteries.
A Grevet Control Point. Last Sunday, a 100 mile group gravel ride was held by Gravel.Love. A participant paid a fee and was getting a carnet (and a pizza at the finish line). The rider had to visit Control Points where the time was entered, and the carnet was stamped. Now, I could buy more food!
My return shortcut was not perfect but still rideable.
Now, I set my Wahoo to miles
Yes! 63 miles for @Chargeride! Cheers mate!
What an encounter! While in Warsaw City-Centre station, I met Dżoana, my old mate from early gravel rides!
Total for the day 114 km (70 miles).
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Chargeride
Well-Known Member
I was fibbing, Im 64 get back out there.
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
My total ride from Józefów to Warsaw-Stadium was planned to 64 miles I just stopped the recording at 63.0 mi by Gdański Bridge Aren't you moved with my gesture of friendship?
As I made the 63, I decided to ride to WAW-City Centre instead of Stadium. I hoped to buy my rare R1 Slim Line cigs at a kiosk there. Turned out the guy gave up tobacco and is only selling the vapes!
I just stopped the recording at 63.0 mi by Gdański Bridge Aren't you moved with my gesture of friendship? As I made the 63, I decided to ride to WAW-City Centre instead of Stadium. I hoped to buy my rare R1 Slim Line cigs at a kiosk there. Turned out the guy gave up tobacco and is only selling the vapes!
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Jeremy McCreary
Bought it anyway
- Region
- USA
- City
- Carlsbad, CA
Fascinating, Captain! I've never seen a sign like that anywhere. Maybe something about your bridleways confuses the algorithms that deem potential route segments OK to suggest.
Don't recall Google Maps driving mode ever routing me onto something I couldn't drive in a normal car. However, no way I've seen to tell it that I'm driving a big truck or Lamborghini. These wouldn't be to go some places regular cars can go.
In cycling mode, I get routes including MUPs and trails that don't allow or can't handle cars and trucks. So Maps has some sense of what's passable or legal by bike but not by car or truck.
In both modes, Maps grays out private streets. and doesn't include them in routes.
