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

[Stefan Mikes]

Back In The Saddle

The first thing I did on Friday's morning was 'disarming' both wheels of my Vado 6.0. As everything was clean and I put the winter tyres in storage, I discovered I had no talcum powder or starch I had learnt a lesson: you prime the inner of the tyres with a slippery powder or expect issues with the inner tubes! Well, took my Vado SL (on winter tyres) for a 6+ km ride to buy the talcum powder

Tyre replacement was the the easiest as far as I can remember. Everything including pulling the tyre bead onto the rim was too easy! Worrying! I took a leave from work and rode Roadrunner East.

The temperature approached 17 C, and stayed at 16 for the most of the ride. It was almost windless. What more can a cyclist ask for?

A photo from my live taken by Specialized Warsaw.

They say there's something called "telephone". I could have given Specialized Warsaw a phone call in advance but I hadn't Turned out, the showroom Vado SL 2 6.0 Carbon "left" the store some days ago but the new delivery of alloy Vado SL 2 was expected only next week! Turned out, the personnel was working hard on rearranging the showroom and putting new products on shelves, so I could not even buy new fingerless gloves! What a shame!

I consoled myself with a delicious pizza at the nearby META Bar

65.6 km. I had fun on a part of my return ride. For several kilometres, any airplane departing from Warsaw Chopin Airport was climbing from behind me, then over my head, and only then I could see the aircraft!

I could wear lighter clothes but I was still wearing my sailing jacket (only zipped by the sunset when the temperature dropped to 10 C); bibs were necessary, and a light balaclava helped. To my big surprise, I felt pretty strong, so the ride was just a pleasure! (I rode at standard ECO setting).

Even more beautiful weather is promised for Saturday. Certainly, I'm doing the first Góra Kalwaria/Mount Calvary ride this year!

 

[Chargeride]

That mooch about.
Lambanana just outside the tunnel.

Completely unnecessary tower at the Birkenhead station

This is the Great Float, built into docks around a natural tidal inlet, Im pretty sure this wreck has been left artistically

This ferry is causing headaches for Scotland, Caledonian MacBrayn, lots of political turmoil over delays and repairs.
They service the inner and outer Hebrides

More converted warehouses, these are really nice, but its such a weird remote ex industrial landscape

Im literaly riding the edge of fenced off building works, there is nothing here but these apartments

Very impressive, but theyve been here for years and left empty with no landcaping or access.
I know they look like those new popup storage units, but I do like them, very striking, but its like riding around some movie where everyone has died except you.

This is the entrance to the new tunnel, the cliff started to collapse and emergency repairs were required, people fences and gardens went over the edge.

Imagine having this in your back garden, made in the days when a water tower wasnt something to leave with rivets and a big tank. The trouble they went to, unheard of these days.

The same latitude as Nova Scotia and we can have palm trees, thankyou gulf stream.

Another water tower, the investment into appearance and respect for the community is all but lost in my view.
Its simplistically sending a message that the state cares about your daily experience.
Suburbian utility nowadays is bean checked into grey minimalism.

This is britains most popular drag artist, stage name Lily Savage, proper old school drag of ripping the shh out of everyone with cutting put downs.
Paul O'Grady, he suddenly dropped the character and became a much loved tv presenter and the media front for Battersea dogs home, it was such a stark opposite to his character.
Turned out he was a great big dog loving softy who kept crying at every poor stray.
He was born in the Wirral and sounded Scouse.

I just love mooching, used 4 bars, out for four and a half hours, including half hour wait for the ferry back.
7 quid for a half hour tourist Sunday crossing, very atmospheric, asked everyone if they knew which dock the CSS Alabama was built in.
Still drawing a blank on that one.
Ive found the dock the Shenandoah ended her days, but its been filled in.
I will make that video one day
No punctures, no wheels fell off, great day out.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Thank you so much Chris for this report (and the YT video!) I was in Birkenhead only once, and that was a nice residential area but we didn't explore the town really.

Did you know the sailing ship Alabama was built in Birkenhead?

When the Alabama's keel was laid
Roll Alabama roll
She was laid in the yard of Johnathan Laird
Oh roll Alabama roll
She was laid in the yard of Johnathan Laird
Roll Alabama roll
She was laid in the town of Birkenhead
Oh roll Alabama roll...

Polish version, several versions including an Irish reel!

 

[Chargeride]

Thank you so much Chris for this report (and the YT video!) I was in Birkenhead only once, and that was a nice residential area but we didn't explore the town really.

Did you know the sailing ship Alabama was built in Birkenhead?

When the Alabama's keel was laid
Roll Alabama roll
She was laid in the yard of Johnathan Laird
Oh roll Alabama roll
She was laid in the yard of Johnathan Laird
Roll Alabama roll
She was laid in the town of Birkenhead
Oh roll Alabama roll...

Polish version, several versions including an Irish reel!

Yes, Ive just written that .
It caused so much chaos in the civil war that America demanded Canada in repatriations for extending the war by two years.
I think we paid up several million.
And here we are in 2025 and theyre after it again.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

asked everyone if they knew which dock the CSS Alabama was built in.

Doctor told me I was getting blind and should go for eye surgery! Seriously!

I was wondering how one could get to Birkenhead and back. I only thought of the Tunnels but now know it is a ferry, too!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Back from Mt. Calvary Classic Ride. It was 22 C when I took that photo in the afternoon!

Tired. Made almost 97 km in 30% assistance and returned on the fumes! Later.

 

[Chargeride]

Heres me planning a ride, its 30 miles out..Im like, wheres the nearest train to get home.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Mt. Calvary Classic Ride 2025 #1 & On The Wheels
Saturday 8th March 2025

I was highly motivated for the Saturday ride as the forecast weather should be just splendid. Rode for 4.3 km to catch a train to Warsaw and then I took Metro as far south as it could travel (the route was shortened due to repairs on the line!)

I could pack my jacket to the backpack instantly at the metro station! Here at the Jeziorka Estuary, the temperature already reached 17 C and it was going up!

I think the wind blew from S (headwind); it was weak but noticeable. I was steadily pedalling towards Góra Kalwaria at only 30% assistance of my big Vado (for the reasons I'll explain later).

Cieciszew, which is a mandatory stop for most road cycling groups. A grocery shop (which is also open on Sundays) is the place roadies can replenish their food and drinks.

Approaching Góra Kalwaria (Mt. Calvary). This single climb is the steepest in the flat province of Mazovia! Of course it is no challenge for the full power Vado but you would need to try harder on a Vado SL!

Góra Kawiarnia (Mt. Cafe) is the mecca for Warsaw road cycling! I thought the round thing was a fountain but now I think it is a sundial surrounded by a bench for more seating. Important: You could leave even the most expensive bike or gear there and nobody would dare to steal it! Enjoy the ride break!

Inside Mt. Cafe. The waiting time was a mere 10 minutes. The cafe has recently expanded; I think they now have at least three coffee expressos, making the waiting time bearable. (I took a Wild Rose Jam pączek with coffee).

My friend Paweł (with his buddy Jarek) arrived some 20 minutes after me. What a fine, unassuming and polite man he is!

Paweł -- who is a Marin brand fan -- has recently bought a carbon Marin Headlands Two gravel bike. Compared to his earlier Marin Four Corners steel bike, the new stead is a luxury to ride!

I decided to return to Warsaw together with the two guys. We had fun on Mt. Calvary descent! My mates overtook me downhill, which made me irritated a little bit As the road flattened, I went full Turbo and showed them their place, haha! However, I had some issues to control the e-bike on the following bends (the front on the bike went in a sort of wobble but I regained the control). My max speed was 56.6 km/h, which is easy in the mountains but rare in Mazovia!

Later, I suggested to my mates we could take a "gravel shortcut" towards Gassy to let Paweł test his gravel bike. I must proudly announce I was very fast in rough terrain, which only proves a properly configured Vado 6.0 is the thing!

We rode very fast, which made me tired. I said good-byes to my mates at the Jeziorka Estuary. The temperature reached 22 C! The Mount Calvary Route was busy but it was nothing compared to what you could see in the warm season when pelotons zoom every several seconds!

I finished my main ride at META Bar (grilled pork neck). Now, I asked my FB friends if I should continue home On The Wheels or by trains? They said: "Go On The Wheels, it will be fun!"

On The Wheels, Range Anxiety, Returning on the Fumes
The degraded Blue battery of my Vado can now only hold 492 Wh of energy. I set the assistance to 30/30% (sub-ECO) because I knew the energy consumption would be around 1% per kilometre. I had 39% battery left at META and 32 km to go. The assistance would stop at 5% battery. Would I manage returning home still on the battery? (I admit I was already very tired...)

I stopped at a service station 12 km from home. Several sesame bars and coffee helped restoring the body strength.

4 km from home, 11% battery, a flyover on the way, cold. Would I win?

It was actually 6.5% battery at the ride end, and I pedalled for 96.26 km (almost 60 mi) that day. I'd say, 1.5 km left in the battery!

The main part of the ride.

Train station and On The Wheels rides.

 

[Chargeride]

Nice ride, nice golden helmet.
I was out for seven hours today, unbelievable heat.
Sunburned in March, completely knackered.

 

[RabH]

A rare Sunday ride, I'm usually too busy these days or the weather is awful but today everything just clicked into place and I had one of those sensational rides that make you grin from ear to ear! Mist and fog lingered all morning but I had things to do anyway,the temp was around 10C but felt much colder in the light (10-15mph) but very cold ENE wind! Late in the morning the mist and fog finally cleared so I had lunch and set off around 12.20pm with a ride out to Kirknewton! I started riding east and decided to take on the big climb from Plains up past the Blackhill Transmitters to warm me up as it felt bitterly cold riding into that wind!

The first part of the climb is really steep before the road flattens and soon ramps up again!

Part way up now, this is looking back down!

Then I got a very pleasant surprise, they had laid lovely new tarmac further up the climb!

I then passed the Highland cows up on the hill enjoying the sunshine before heading down the descent to join the road from Salsburgh to Harthill!

The road to Harthill starts with another big climb and is followed immediately by a big descent, it was a very cold descent though as it was right into that chilly wind again! I then turned south for Longridge which was yet another big climb followed by a big descent, yes I was on a rollercoaster today... I was going to turn east at the bottom of the descent and head through Stoneyburn again but I remembered about a quiet back road I haven't taken for a while just a little further up the road so I went for a little change of scenery! The road passes through Loganlea and Addiewell and eventually West Calder, from there I joined the main A71 all the way east out to Kirknewton! Not my favourite road but its much quieter on a Sunday and I made it to Kirknewton without any issues!

It was now time to turn SW on the A70, a much quieter main road and one of the best roads in the country! I had a little touch of deja vu along this road when a couple of roadies passed me and just like my last ride it was a couple, I didn't bother chasing them down this time as I was stopping for a snack and some photos!

The Pentland Hills weren't so picturesque today thanks to the haze!

A little further and I stopped for more photos and one of the locals was checking me out!

It looked like a young Clydesdale and it was already massive!

I then heard a motorbike approaching so quickly grabbed a photo!

I was now approaching the Harperrig Reservoir, another big climb!

This is the view from the top of the climb looking back along the A70!

It was difficult to get a nice photo of the reservoir from here due to the bright sun, this one came out ok though!

I made my way to the western side of the reservoir to take some photos with the sun now behind me!

Then I continued along the awesome A70, stopping for many more photos along the way!

The highest point at just over 1100ft, looking west!

Looking east now!

Then it was time for lots of descending and lots of twists and turns and I hit 40.7mph down one of them, it really is one of the best cycling/motorcycling roads around!

A clearer view of the Pentlands at last!

I was just about to set off again when I heard another motorbike approaching!

I turned off the A70 just before Carnwath and headed north towards Auchengray, opting for the back road towards Braehead this time! I timed it nice to catch the train passing to the south!

At the end of the road I had the option of turning north up to Braehead but chose the easier option and continued west and joined the quiet back road to Yieldshields, another really fun road which included the steepest descent of the day where I hit 41.7mph and almost had both wheels in the air over the bridge at the bottom of the descent! Its one of those hump backed bridges where you can't see what is coming the other way so I chose the safe option and slowed down...

This road is also in really good condition!

At Yieldshields I turned north for Carluke and enjoyed the awesome descents down into Morningside, then turned north towards Allanton and over the back roads to Hareshaw! Then I turned west to Newhouse at 67 miles with only 3 miles to go! This ride was up there with some of my best ever rides, the only downside was the 6 miles on the A71 from West Calder to Kirknewton! Every other road was just amazing and the weather was just perfect for the time of year!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Plane-Spotting at Warsaw Chopin Airport WAW/EPWA

I removed the temporary rear rack and mudguards and easily swapped the tyres for Specialized Tracer Pro 42-622 in tubed setup on my Vado SL this morning. As fine as the tubeless is, the setup is too complicated and I miss necessary items! My plan was to ride along the Southern Beltway of Warsaw. Unlike many express- and motorways, the SBW is missing long contiguous service roads, so I decided to ride around our major airport and spend some time on plane-spotting. (The weather was nice but not as warm as it was on Saturday!)

I'm impressed with the continuous improvements done to Poland's infrastructure! There was a short 10% ascent and then a dangerous descent to cross a railway. Now, a nice escarpment with mild grade has been constructed, and the same happens to the other side now, too! I chose that point for plane-spotting site #1.

LOT Polish Airlines Embraer 195-E2 on its final to Runway 11 of the airport. LOT operates only Boeing and Embraer airplanes now.

A weak ESE wind was making the approach at 110 degrees perfect. Here an Airbus 319 of Carpatair, a Romanian charter airline.

I rode up one of plane spotter-mounds available around the airport. Such a mound has a staircase, safety barrier, benches, and a dustbin. Lovely! I met some boys with a 150-600 mm Sigma lens on their camera; soon, other people with powerful lenses arrived, too! Funny to think a 10x lens on a Samsung smartphone can do almost the same

At an aircraft cemetery, which also is a training range for fire-fighters. I can only guess but these airplanes could be the Yak-40, formerly used by our Government.

A little sad view...

"Eighty knots!" A LOT airplane on its take-off roll. See City of Warsaw in the background. The Chopin Airport is one of a very few ones located inside the city!

"Positive rate. Gear up. Flaps up"

I was talking about the ongoing improvements to the country's infrastructure. The Kinetic Street used to be a pathetic potty gravel road. It is under paving now!

I arrived to another plane-spotter point at the end of the Runway 15. There was a horse herd

One of airplanes I could spot there. The departures were using Runway 15.

Instrument Landing System array of antennas at the beginning of Runway 29.

On 14 March 1980, the flight PL007 from NYC was approaching Runway 15. Captain Paweł Lipowczan declared the intention of go-around due to landing gear issue. Soon after, one of four tail mounted engines of Soviet made IL-62 underwent an uncontained failure, immediately destroying the neighbouring engine. Cpt. Lipowczan managed to avoid hitting any populated area and crashed the aircraft in the abandoned former Russian Fort VI short of the airport. All 87 people on board perished including a Polish pop singer Anna Jantar and the U.S. amateur boxing team. I can remember that day very well!

Chopin Airport has a good safety record. Post WW2, there were only four accidents:

• 1980, LOT 007, IL-62, uncontained engine failure, fatal crash short of airport, all died
• 1987, LOT, IL-62, engine fire, fatal crash 5,700 m from Runway 33, Kabacki Forest, all died
• 1993, Lufthansa 2904, Airbus A320, inadequate brake action, 2 fatal cases
• 2011, LOT 016, Boeing 767, emergency "no landing gear" landing, no casualties ("The miracle at Okęcie")

Ride map and POI.

 

[Chargeride]

I flew to Yugoslavia on what I presume was a Soviet era plane, it had a distincive tail rudder design.
On landing at the airport the papers all had that same back end sticking out of a mountainside with the rest of the plane rolling down in bits on fire.

On the way home I had a pilot in full uniform sat next to me, he was reading some aviation magazine and the centre page was that goddam tail again sticking out of the remains of a plane crashed at an airport.
He noticed me looking and turned to me with a big grin .

They were a funny lot in Yugoslavia, they were odd in a way I cant describe, very mysterious and stand offish.
All the money had three noughts added with a pen and the shops all had really grphic adlt magzines in those spinny carousel holders.
Ah well its gone now, Im sure it will kick off again

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I flew to Yugoslavia on what I presume was a Soviet era plane, it had a distincive tail rudder design.
On landing at the airport the papers all had that same back end sticking out of a mountainside with the rest of the plane rolling down in bits on fire.

On the way home I had a pilot in full uniform sat next to me, he was reading some aviation magazine and the centre page was that goddam tail again sticking out of the remains of a plane crashed at an airport.
He noticed me looking and turned to me with a big grin .

They were a funny lot in Yugoslavia, they were odd in a way I cant describe, very mysterious and stand offish.
All the money had three noughts added with a pen and the shops all had really grphic adlt magzines in those spinny carousel holders.
Ah well its gone now, Im sure it will kick off again

I had to use an AI based translator to get your message

I was to Serbia a year after the war with NATO. A strange country it was indeed.