Chargeride
Well-Known Member
Brains motor has come back restricted, hes gutted
2025 - Our Rides in Words, Photos, Maps and Videos
- Thread starter Saratoga Dave
- Start date
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
I'm sure you would recognise Polish lager
(Something I never drink!)I have my own Ambassador in South LondonThough that has begun to change, more and more I'm seeing an awareness developing, your army gets mentioned daily
Are you considering rejoining
RabH
Well-Known Member
I was going to do a ride last Tuesday when the weather was really nice but it was very windy, I then noticed today was looking perfect for a long ride! It was much colder than it has been recently but with light winds from the NW I just had to go for it, it was around zero degrees at 8.50am when I set off for the borders town of Peebles! My heated gloves made a comeback and kept my fingers nice and toasty while the temp was hovering around zero! I made my way down the back roads to Allanton and joined the main road east for a few miles before turning off and tackling the big climb up to Climpy, that sure warmed me up nicely! I then enjoyed the big descent down into Forth and took the back road up to Braehead, then it was time for the awesome descent down into Carnwath!
I then headed down another awesome descent into Newbigging and turned east on to the back road to Dunsyre, this road runs alongside the Pentland and Coulter Hills and is very quiet and very scenic!
After passing through the tiny village of Dunsyre I enjoyed the descent down into Dolphinton, some of the road is in excellent condition and some is potholed so it was taken with care but still amazing! I then joined the main road to West Linton and turned off at the village on to the back road towards Romannobridge before joining the main road again for a few miles passing through Lamancha and Cowdenburn before turning on to the back road to Eddleston! I have used this road a couple of times before but in the other direction which is a 3 mile climb, so today it was a cracking 3 mile descent and the road is amazing!
Part way down I stopped for a photo of the Cloich Hills to the south!
At the end of the road I used the new cycle path to Eddleston and then joined the main road into Peebles where I stopped for lunch before heading to the bridge over the River Tweed in the centre of town for a couple of photos!
From Peebles I headed west on the main road for a few miles, I spotted some snow on the far away peaks of the Tweedsmuir Hills!
I then turned SW and took the back road to Stobo and stopped for a photo of the Tweedsmuir hills and the River Tweed!
The daffodils were in full bloom along here, I don't think they were enjoying the 6C temp today...
At the end of the road I turned north for Broughton where I had another nice view of the Tweedsmuir hills!
At Broughton I turned west on to the awesome back road to Biggar!
The hills were looking amazing here also!
I arrived in Biggar and I was planning to take the road to Symington from there but I came across a huge line of cars due to roadworks in the town so I decided to head north towards Libberton, its also a great road with some lovely scenery!
A rare glimpse of sunshine here!
I was just about to head up the big climb to Libberton and saw a back road signposted for Thankerton, so I chose that instead and it turned out to be a very nice road! Eventually it joined the road I usually take for Thankerton and I stopped for this photo of the River Clyde with Thankerton and Tinto Hill in the background!
A closer view of Tinto Hill!
After Thankerton I turned north for Pettinain and was going to take the main road to Lanark but changed my mind when I saw a back road signposted for Carstairs and decided to check that out instead! This was my first time using this road and I timed it nice as they are going to close it soon to do some resurfacing work, some parts are pretty rough! This road also passes over the River Clyde and they built a pretty substantial bridge over it, its called C29 Clyde Bridge!
A short time later I arrived in Carstairs and from there I took the back roads towards Yieldshields, where I passed the Alpacas!
Just before arriving at Yieldshields I spotted some young goats bouncing on a trampoline, not a sight you see every day...of course as soon as I stopped for photos they scattered so I persevered and eventually they ignored me and hopped back on the tramploline!
From there I headed over the back road to Carluke then back into Allanton before taking on the big climb up to Kirk of Shotts, I was very glad I had lots of juice left in my final battery ( I got 43 miles each from my first two) and ramped the assist up to level 3 to blast up the climb! I then tackled the big climb past the Blackhill transmitters again and enjoyed the big descent down into Plains before turning west for home! It was a truly epic ride, one of my best ever in cold weather! I will have no problem sleeping tonight, that took a lot out of me and I loved it!
Attachments
Jeremy McCreary
Bought it anyway
- Region
- USA
- City
- Carlsbad, CA
Is your friend's name "Brain" or "Brian". Thought surely the latter, but I keep seeing the former.
If "Brain", good for him! When people refer to me as a body part, it's seldom that complimentary.
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
That Tinto shot is lovelyView attachment 190576
I was going to do a ride last Tuesday when the weather was really nice but it was very windy, I then noticed today was looking perfect for a long ride! It was much colder than it has been recently but with light winds from the NW I just had to go for it, it was around zero degrees at 8.50am when I set off for the borders town of Peebles! My heated gloves made a comeback and kept my fingers nice and toasty while the temp was hovering around zero! I made my way down the back roads to Allanton and joined the main road east for a few miles before turning off and tackling the big climb up to Climpy, that sure warmed me up nicely! I then enjoyed the big descent down into Forth and took the back road up to Braehead, then it was time for the awesome descent down into Carnwath!
View attachment 190579
I then headed down another awesome descent into Newbigging and turned east on to the back road to Dunsyre, this road runs alongside the Pentland and Coulter Hills and is very quiet and very scenic!
View attachment 190580
View attachment 190581
View attachment 190582
After passing through the tiny village of Dunsyre I enjoyed the descent down into Dolphinton, some of the road is in excellent condition and some is potholed so it was taken with care but still amazing! I then joined the main road to West Linton and turned off at the village on to the back road towards Romannobridge before joining the main road again for a few miles passing through Lamancha and Cowdenburn before turning on to the back road to Eddleston! I have used this road a couple of times before but in the other direction which is a 3 mile climb, so today it was a cracking 3 mile descent and the road is amazing!
View attachment 190583
Part way down I stopped for a photo of the Cloich Hills to the south!
View attachment 190585
At the end of the road I used the new cycle path to Eddleston and then joined the main road into Peebles where I stopped for lunch before heading to the bridge over the River Tweed in the centre of town for a couple of photos!
View attachment 190586
View attachment 190587
From Peebles I headed west on the main road for a few miles, I spotted some snow on the far away peaks of the Tweedsmuir Hills!
View attachment 190588
I then turned SW and took the back road to Stobo and stopped for a photo of the Tweedsmuir hills and the River Tweed!
View attachment 190589
The daffodils were in full bloom along here, I don't think they were enjoying the 6C temp today...
View attachment 190590
At the end of the road I turned north for Broughton where I had another nice view of the Tweedsmuir hills!
View attachment 190591
At Broughton I turned west on to the awesome back road to Biggar!
View attachment 190592
View attachment 190593
View attachment 190594
The hills were looking amazing here also!
View attachment 190595
View attachment 190596
I arrived in Biggar and I was planning to take the road to Symington from there but I came across a huge line of cars due to roadworks in the town so I decided to head north towards Libberton, its also a great road with some lovely scenery!
View attachment 190597
A rare glimpse of sunshine here!
View attachment 190598
View attachment 190599
I was just about to head up the big climb to Libberton and saw a back road signposted for Thankerton, so I chose that instead and it turned out to be a very nice road! Eventually it joined the road I usually take for Thankerton and I stopped for this photo of the River Clyde with Thankerton and Tinto Hill in the background!
View attachment 190600
A closer view of Tinto Hill!
View attachment 190601
View attachment 190602
After Thankerton I turned north for Pettinain and was going to take the main road to Lanark but changed my mind when I saw a back road signposted for Carstairs and decided to check that out instead! This was my first time using this road and I timed it nice as they are going to close it soon to do some resurfacing work, some parts are pretty rough! This road also passes over the River Clyde and they built a pretty substantial bridge over it, its called C29 Clyde Bridge!
View attachment 190603
A short time later I arrived in Carstairs and from there I took the back roads towards Yieldshields, where I passed the Alpacas!
View attachment 190604
Just before arriving at Yieldshields I spotted some young goats bouncing on a trampoline, not a sight you see every day...of course as soon as I stopped for photos they scattered so I persevered and eventually they ignored me and hopped back on the tramploline!
View attachment 190605
View attachment 190606
From there I headed over the back road to Carluke then back into Allanton before taking on the big climb up to Kirk of Shotts, I was very glad I had lots of juice left in my final battery ( I got 43 miles each from my first two) and ramped the assist up to level 3 to blast up the climb! I then tackled the big climb past the Blackhill transmitters again and enjoyed the big descent down into Plains before turning west for home! It was a truly epic ride, one of my best ever in cold weather! I will have no problem sleeping tonight, that took a lot out of me and I loved it!
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
Its a running joke, when he broke three ribs, the nurse wrote his name as brain above the bed.
Jeremy McCreary
Bought it anyway
- Region
- USA
- City
- Carlsbad, CA
Another intrepid ride. Nothing deters this man!
Climpy's an odd name. Looked it up...
Still, "climpy" really sounds like it should be UK slang for something — and probably not something good. I can hear it now...
"The chips were good, but the fish was climpy."
"Don't you get climpy with me, young man!"
"That may be the climpiest umbrella I've ever seen!"
"Sometimes that bloke drives me absolutely climpy!"
But what should "climpy" actually mean? PM me your proposals with examples in use. I'll post a selection in the off-topic section.
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Chargeride
Well-Known Member
Drawing a blank on climpy, sounds too much like Windoze Clippy.
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
I am absolutely goosed, they took me to Wales, climbed four 200Oft mountains, straight up and down.
I am so unfit.
I am so unfit.
Jeremy McCreary
Bought it anyway
- Region
- USA
- City
- Carlsbad, CA
Feeling climpy now, are we?
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
More Limpy
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
I cant be rsed posting the pics, heres my climb video.
RabH
Well-Known Member
Insane but amazing, lets just hurtle down a cliff face with no front brakes!
Those views were spectacular! 
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
I love going down rabbit holes from random posts, Westfield Beach New Brunswick.
Firstly Ive never heard of New Brunswick, then thats nearish to Magnetic Hill Zoo and the Bay of Fundy.
Magnetic hill was in the news many moons ago, where cars seem to roll up the hill.
Firstly Ive never heard of New Brunswick, then thats nearish to Magnetic Hill Zoo and the Bay of Fundy.
Magnetic hill was in the news many moons ago, where cars seem to roll up the hill.
Chazmo
Active Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Central Massachusetts
The ice and snow is finally melted in certain areas that I love to ride. Here is a shot of my Juiced RipCurrent S beside a pond in Holden, MA that has mostly unfrozen. This was during a 25 mile ride today from my house shortly after a trail section in Holden that has finally become passable.
Chazmo
Active Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Central Massachusetts
spectacular! What was the air temperature around this ride, JG?
JGcycle
Two-Wheeled Shaker
- Region
- Canada
- City
- Saint John
Thanks. It was about 6c and mostly sunny--not bad for the middle of March (in these parts.)
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Visiting Magda & A Longer Return
This Sunday, I had an appointment with my daughter Magda to see her at the Social Care Home. The Saturday before, I rode my Vado SL (with Ortlieb Quick Rack installed) to a shopping mall. There, I and Magda connected by video, and my daughter was leading me among the supermarket shelves to find the items she needed. She gave me enormous help as I wouldn't find the things myself!
Again, riding my Vado SL but with no equipment, as everything I needed was a small backpack. There is always an issue what to wear during early Spring when there is between 10 and 5 C, cold wind is blowing but the day is beautifully sunny. I wear a mixed bag of winter and spring clothes, in which my Helly Hansen sailing jacket plays the major role: it is perfect zipped or unzipped, depending on the weather condition! (I think it was my best buy of 2022!)
We had a wonderful meeting with Magda. My daughter wears a hairband we had selected together.
I was unsure which return route I should select. Chose the Northern Route for more kilometres. So I found myself by Klimatyczna Cafe in Leszno.
"Hey, Stefan!" -- a lady waved at me -- "Could you remind me who you are?" -- "I'm your neighbour from the same town!" -- she laughed. Ah, Beata! The point is we only are Strava "followers", and the last and only time I met Beata before was an encounter in the same cafe! It is not that you always meet friends in Klimatyczna but the chance to meet a cycling friend is pretty high there!
"I was not sure it was you Stefan when I saw you through the window walking a bike. I thought you were an e-biker?" -- she inquired -- "Beata, it indeed is an e-bike! Only it is lightweight, sporty, equipped with a small motor and a small battery! I often ride it on gravel group rides". Both Beata and her riding mate Tomek (both arrived on road bikes) were very interested with my Vado SL. Tomek said if not the Range Extender, he would think it was a regular pedal bike!
Well, my Fearless could be indeed taken for a traditional bike! (I liked the return way as it was many kilometres with a tailwind).
Even if I had cheesecake and coffee at the cafe, I needed a more proper lunch. I had this warm bun with beef and onion at my local BP service station near to the sunset.
I used high assistance: 80/80% for any headwind ride and 60/60% downwind. On the latter, I was often riding above the 25 km/h speed limiter, which helped saving some battery charge.
I took the shortest way to Magda, which only was 18.3 km. (According to Strava, I had a way better workout than I could expect from riding the big Vado!)
This Sunday, I had an appointment with my daughter Magda to see her at the Social Care Home. The Saturday before, I rode my Vado SL (with Ortlieb Quick Rack installed) to a shopping mall. There, I and Magda connected by video, and my daughter was leading me among the supermarket shelves to find the items she needed. She gave me enormous help as I wouldn't find the things myself!
Again, riding my Vado SL but with no equipment, as everything I needed was a small backpack. There is always an issue what to wear during early Spring when there is between 10 and 5 C, cold wind is blowing but the day is beautifully sunny. I wear a mixed bag of winter and spring clothes, in which my Helly Hansen sailing jacket plays the major role: it is perfect zipped or unzipped, depending on the weather condition! (I think it was my best buy of 2022!)
We had a wonderful meeting with Magda. My daughter wears a hairband we had selected together.
I was unsure which return route I should select. Chose the Northern Route for more kilometres. So I found myself by Klimatyczna Cafe in Leszno.
"Hey, Stefan!" -- a lady waved at me -- "Could you remind me who you are?" -- "I'm your neighbour from the same town!" -- she laughed. Ah, Beata! The point is we only are Strava "followers", and the last and only time I met Beata before was an encounter in the same cafe!
It is not that you always meet friends in Klimatyczna but the chance to meet a cycling friend is pretty high there!"I was not sure it was you Stefan when I saw you through the window walking a bike. I thought you were an e-biker?" -- she inquired -- "Beata, it indeed is an e-bike! Only it is lightweight, sporty, equipped with a small motor and a small battery! I often ride it on gravel group rides". Both Beata and her riding mate Tomek (both arrived on road bikes) were very interested with my Vado SL. Tomek said if not the Range Extender, he would think it was a regular pedal bike!
Well, my Fearless could be indeed taken for a traditional bike! (I liked the return way as it was many kilometres with a tailwind).
Even if I had cheesecake and coffee at the cafe, I needed a more proper lunch. I had this warm bun with beef and onion at my local BP service station near to the sunset.
I used high assistance: 80/80% for any headwind ride and 60/60% downwind. On the latter, I was often riding above the 25 km/h speed limiter, which helped saving some battery charge.
I took the shortest way to Magda, which only was 18.3 km. (According to Strava, I had a way better workout than I could expect from riding the big Vado!)
Last edited:
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