Chargeride
Well-Known Member
And that means....
2026 - Our Rides in Words, Photos, Maps and Videos
- Thread starter RabH
- Start date
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Eighty miles?
I had a little crisis between the 90-100th km but the last bar of Bounty from my backpack could restore my stamina
Vado SL "Fearless".
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Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
The World Apple Day 2026 (Warka)
As I left Metro Wilanowska station and arrived in Wilanów Beach (a sandbox of a volleyball pitch size, haha!), I had a 45-minute lead over the upcoming group ride of the Mazowiecki Gravel. Riding my Vado SL, I was pedalling very hard to not be caught by a massive peloton of the "horses" on a narrow gravel road along the Vistula. When I got onto asphalt directly leading to Góra Kalwaria (Mt. Calvary), I could spot a strange rider in front of me. The guy was doing everything not to be overtaken! Strange... a low profile bike... A big man riding it... A familiar rear-view mirror... Oh, I downshifted and went on high cadence to gain massive acceleration! As I rode two abreast with the man, I got the confirmation: it was my riding mate Tommy!
He was to see his sister on that day. However, he could carve several hours that morning for himself, took my route plan and rode slowly, so I could intercept him sooner or later! A good sport that Tommy indeed!
As we arrived in Góra Kalwaria, we took a short rest but wouldn't visit the famous cycling friendly cafe there but rode on! (It was guaranteed Mazowiecki Gravel people would stop there for a longer while; I tried avoiding the MG if only possible).
The notorious 11% descent on raw cobblestone, St. Anthony St. We, normal riders descend there by modulating brakes and riding at a very low speed; you would be thrown off the bike otherwise. The "horses" (powerful gravel cyclists) are superhuman: I could once see them riding at the full speed there yelling: "YIELD! YIELD!" Unbelievable! (Climbing St. Anthony is relatively easy).
Entering apple orchards past Czersk. Czersk Castle can be seen in the background. (It is the only place where you can contain the castle, apple trees and a cyclist in a single take!)
Apple orchards are not easy to photograph! (I collected several apples on the ride: I could find nice specimens on the ground).
It was my first ever (and last this year) visit to "Cyclery at the 45th kilometre".
It is a cycling cafe and a bookstore located at the 45th kilometre from Wilanów Beach if you ride a road bike. It is the 38th kilometre by the gravel route.
We really needed that!
We spent an hour there, losing all the advantage over the MG! Then Tommy pedalled to the next train station (so he could visit his sister), and I continued the ride by my own route.
Poland is the 3rd or 4th largest apple producer worldwide. The immense area south of Warsaw is the biggest apple orchard land in Poland with many thousand of people working in the industry. Here, a "train" for apples. Yes, the gardeners need to work on Sundays in the season as well!
You could ride all day long and never leave the orchards!
My otherwise excellent ride plan had a little flaw: perhaps a kilometre of riding in the bushes and another kilometre of deep sand. As I was taking this photo, MG already reached Warka!
The monument of Duke Stefan Czarniecki is the only proof it was the Warka Main Square! The square was filled with booths selling local food and produce (mostly run by Countryside Women Circles). There also was a stage for performing bands. I felt very uncomfortable in the crowd, so I escaped the festival soon!
I was later told the festival was full of local food. No, I preferred finding a bistro outside, no single customer on that day! I asked the owner: "Could you please get me a hamburger at your discretion?" For me, a hamburger is the last option... I admit that one was tasty and nourishing (which I needed very much!) And well, a bottle of apple juice, what else?
Escaping Warka!
A good friend (and very experienced cyclist) helped me with the fastest and most comfortable route from Warka to home.
My actual little crisis began around the 90th km. It was the sunset. I lost my stamina. It was getting cold and dark.
I ate my last chocolate bar. Turned the tail-light on. Put an excellent (and expensive) windbreaker on my torso. At the Metric Century, I already felt good and knew the Gran Fondo 130 would be certainly completed!
Range Extender Use
Assistance 50/100% (a moderate assistance that rewards the pedalling effort). Almost windless. "Discharge RE first": in any case I was discharging each battery until its cutoff.
RE 1: 26 km (regular conditions, mixed terrain, mostly asphalt)
RE 2: 24 km (some climbing, harsh terrain)
RE 3: 31 km (asphalt, some elevation loss)
Then I attached the RE 4, turned using both the main battery and RE on, increased the assistance to 60/100%, and rode for the next 49 km with a lot of the juice still available in the remaining batteries.
For me, that was the last Summer ride! The temperature on my return at 20:00 was just 9 C!
As I left Metro Wilanowska station and arrived in Wilanów Beach (a sandbox of a volleyball pitch size, haha!), I had a 45-minute lead over the upcoming group ride of the Mazowiecki Gravel. Riding my Vado SL, I was pedalling very hard to not be caught by a massive peloton of the "horses" on a narrow gravel road along the Vistula. When I got onto asphalt directly leading to Góra Kalwaria (Mt. Calvary), I could spot a strange rider in front of me. The guy was doing everything not to be overtaken! Strange... a low profile bike... A big man riding it... A familiar rear-view mirror... Oh, I downshifted and went on high cadence to gain massive acceleration! As I rode two abreast with the man, I got the confirmation: it was my riding mate Tommy!
He was to see his sister on that day. However, he could carve several hours that morning for himself, took my route plan and rode slowly, so I could intercept him sooner or later! A good sport that Tommy indeed!
As we arrived in Góra Kalwaria, we took a short rest but wouldn't visit the famous cycling friendly cafe there but rode on! (It was guaranteed Mazowiecki Gravel people would stop there for a longer while; I tried avoiding the MG if only possible).
The notorious 11% descent on raw cobblestone, St. Anthony St. We, normal riders descend there by modulating brakes and riding at a very low speed; you would be thrown off the bike otherwise. The "horses" (powerful gravel cyclists) are superhuman: I could once see them riding at the full speed there yelling: "YIELD! YIELD!" Unbelievable! (Climbing St. Anthony is relatively easy).
Entering apple orchards past Czersk. Czersk Castle can be seen in the background. (It is the only place where you can contain the castle, apple trees and a cyclist in a single take!)
Apple orchards are not easy to photograph! (I collected several apples on the ride: I could find nice specimens on the ground).
It was my first ever (and last this year) visit to "Cyclery at the 45th kilometre".
It is a cycling cafe and a bookstore located at the 45th kilometre from Wilanów Beach if you ride a road bike. It is the 38th kilometre by the gravel route.
We really needed that!
We spent an hour there, losing all the advantage over the MG! Then Tommy pedalled to the next train station (so he could visit his sister), and I continued the ride by my own route.
Poland is the 3rd or 4th largest apple producer worldwide. The immense area south of Warsaw is the biggest apple orchard land in Poland with many thousand of people working in the industry. Here, a "train" for apples. Yes, the gardeners need to work on Sundays in the season as well!
You could ride all day long and never leave the orchards!
My otherwise excellent ride plan had a little flaw: perhaps a kilometre of riding in the bushes and another kilometre of deep sand. As I was taking this photo, MG already reached Warka!
The monument of Duke Stefan Czarniecki is the only proof it was the Warka Main Square! The square was filled with booths selling local food and produce (mostly run by Countryside Women Circles). There also was a stage for performing bands. I felt very uncomfortable in the crowd, so I escaped the festival soon!
I was later told the festival was full of local food. No, I preferred finding a bistro outside, no single customer on that day! I asked the owner: "Could you please get me a hamburger at your discretion?" For me, a hamburger is the last option... I admit that one was tasty and nourishing (which I needed very much!) And well, a bottle of apple juice, what else?
Escaping Warka!
A good friend (and very experienced cyclist) helped me with the fastest and most comfortable route from Warka to home.
My actual little crisis began around the 90th km. It was the sunset. I lost my stamina. It was getting cold and dark.
I ate my last chocolate bar. Turned the tail-light on. Put an excellent (and expensive) windbreaker on my torso. At the Metric Century, I already felt good and knew the Gran Fondo 130 would be certainly completed!
Range Extender Use
Assistance 50/100% (a moderate assistance that rewards the pedalling effort). Almost windless. "Discharge RE first": in any case I was discharging each battery until its cutoff.
RE 1: 26 km (regular conditions, mixed terrain, mostly asphalt)
RE 2: 24 km (some climbing, harsh terrain)
RE 3: 31 km (asphalt, some elevation loss)
Then I attached the RE 4, turned using both the main battery and RE on, increased the assistance to 60/100%, and rode for the next 49 km with a lot of the juice still available in the remaining batteries.
For me, that was the last Summer ride! The temperature on my return at 20:00 was just 9 C!
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Chargeride
Well-Known Member
So many polish towns sound like a bad electrical contact.
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Cannot fully comprehend this joke (don't even try explaining it!)
Try this pronunciation: vahr-kah Indeed, "warka" exactly means "a batch of brew"! No wonder one of the largest Poland's breweries making Lager is located in the city! I don't drink any concern beer but as Polish Lager is rather strong (compared to the British "sex in kayak") it is appreciated by many UK visitors Warka Strong is as strong as an average American IPA
Another man from Warka, Casimir Pulaski a.k.a. "The father of the U.S. Cavalry" is depicted on the label.Alcohol free Warka. (Had in Warka two years ago).
Festival free Warka Main Square.
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RabH
Well-Known Member
Possibly my last analog ride for a while, dependent on my new bike arriving this week...no updates as yet though but Friday will be 20 working days since I placed my order and they say they usually deliver within the 20 days so here's hoping I get some good news shortly! No news about my motor from the motor centre as yet, they list 15 working days for a turnaround but its only been 5 days so the wait continues in the hope my circuit board is good...
This was my last ride this month and I only managed 285 miles from a paultry 5 rides, 216 analog and 69 e bike miles! I have been enjoying the old Hybrid but the e bike is way more fun, especially given the hills here and the incessant 20+ mph winds! The tailwinds sure are fun but those headwinds are brutal...
I could have picked a much easier start to my ride, with a lot of climbing for the first 5 miles or so! My plan was to use the back roads to Hareshaw and head down to Allanton, I was a little worried the Hareshaw road might be flooded after yesterdays monsoon weather but it was fine!
The final descent down to Allanton was amazing but then it was back to the climbs from Allanton over the back roads to Carluke and yet more climbing up to Yieldshileds!
I had a very nice view of the Pentland Hills at Yieldshields!
This descent was a lot of fun and the view wasn't too shabby either!
I passed these beautiful Clydesdale horses and the black and white one jumped, I'm not sure if it was the horse or me that got the bigger fright...
The Alpacas were enjoying the sunshine!
Another fun descent!
The narrow twisty road to the White Loch near Carnwath, I stopped for a few photos at the loch!
Tinto Hill in the background!
The cycle path at Carnwath, just a short one though!
From Carnwath I joined the A70 to enjoy the 20-25mph tailwind from the SW, I had another stunning view of the Pentlands a short time later!
Love this road, its mostly in good condition!
It was a gradual ascent at this point but the tailwind made it a breeze today, just after this I had some tougher climbs though but I was looking forward to the descents coming soon! I stopped for many photos along the A70!
Then came the best part, I was really flying here!
Cobbinshaw Reservoir!
The Ochil Hills in the background, these windfarms are everywhere now!
More nice views of the Pentlands from the A70!
The final photo before turning north towards Harburn, one of my favourite roads!
It starts with a big climb and then its mostly descending down through Harburn and on to West Calder! Now it was time to turn into the wind pretty much all the way home, 20 miles of 20-25mph headwind was tough going! I used the cycle paths as much as possible to shelter from the wind but by the time I got home I was running on fumes, what a great day though!
Jeremy McCreary
Bought it anyway
- Region
- USA
- City
- Carlsbad, CA
Oh, so you do notice headwinds!
A typical RabH post might begin, "I debated riding south to Framingham but decided on the 50 miles north to Rammingshire despite the 35 mph headwind."
Hope you get your ebike soon.
DaveMatthews
Dave's not here. Cheating since 2018
- Region
- Canada
Nicely done sir.View attachment 215888
Possibly my last analog ride for a while, dependent on my new bike arriving this week...no updates as yet though but Friday will be 20 working days since I placed my order and they say they usually deliver within the 20 days so here's hoping I get some good news shortly! No news about my motor from the motor centre as yet, they list 15 working days for a turnaround but its only been 5 days so the wait continues in the hope my circuit board is good...
This was my last ride this month and I only managed 285 miles from a paultry 5 rides, 216 analog and 69 e bike miles! I have been enjoying the old Hybrid but the e bike is way more fun, especially given the hills here and the incessant 20+ mph winds! The tailwinds sure are fun but those headwinds are brutal...
I could have picked a much easier start to my ride, with a lot of climbing for the first 5 miles or so! My plan was to use the back roads to Hareshaw and head down to Allanton, I was a little worried the Hareshaw road might be flooded after yesterdays monsoon weather but it was fine!
View attachment 215889
View attachment 215890
The final descent down to Allanton was amazing but then it was back to the climbs from Allanton over the back roads to Carluke and yet more climbing up to Yieldshileds!
I had a very nice view of the Pentland Hills at Yieldshields!
View attachment 215891
This descent was a lot of fun and the view wasn't too shabby either!
View attachment 215892
View attachment 215893
I passed these beautiful Clydesdale horses and the black and white one jumped, I'm not sure if it was the horse or me that got the bigger fright...
View attachment 215894
The Alpacas were enjoying the sunshine!
View attachment 215895
Another fun descent!
View attachment 215896
The narrow twisty road to the White Loch near Carnwath, I stopped for a few photos at the loch!
View attachment 215897
View attachment 215898
Tinto Hill in the background!
View attachment 215899
View attachment 215900
View attachment 215901
The cycle path at Carnwath, just a short one though!
View attachment 215902
View attachment 215903
From Carnwath I joined the A70 to enjoy the 20-25mph tailwind from the SW, I had another stunning view of the Pentlands a short time later!
View attachment 215904
Love this road, its mostly in good condition!
View attachment 215905
It was a gradual ascent at this point but the tailwind made it a breeze today, just after this I had some tougher climbs though but I was looking forward to the descents coming soon! I stopped for many photos along the A70!
View attachment 215906
Then came the best part, I was really flying here!
View attachment 215907
Cobbinshaw Reservoir!
View attachment 215908
The Ochil Hills in the background, these windfarms are everywhere now!
View attachment 215909
More nice views of the Pentlands from the A70!
View attachment 215910
View attachment 215911
The final photo before turning north towards Harburn, one of my favourite roads!
View attachment 215912
It starts with a big climb and then its mostly descending down through Harburn and on to West Calder! Now it was time to turn into the wind pretty much all the way home, 20 miles of 20-25mph headwind was tough going! I used the cycle paths as much as possible to shelter from the wind but by the time I got home I was running on fumes, what a great day though!
View attachment 215913
View attachment 215914
Looking forward to hear what you think of the new steed. Hope it's soon!
