Chargeride
Well-Known Member
Just crossed into Scotland.
Weather not letting us down.
Weather not letting us down.
2025 - Our Rides in Words, Photos, Maps and Videos
- Thread starter Saratoga Dave
- Start date
RabH
Well-Known Member
No need to wash your feet crossing the border then...
Art Deco
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Selinsgrove Pennsylvania
Usually it's not even that precise. "Maybe a half day drive" is as accurate as it gets without mapping software.When I was in Texas, I saw 900 miles to some city on a road-sign. It is unbelievable to me how big the U.S. is.
Once, mschwett made me aware the distance from San Francisco to Los Angeles was approximately the same as from Warsaw to Budapest
Now, you can understand why I feel more at home in the UK, which is actually smaller by area than Poland, only travelling there is slower than it is in Poland
But, Jeremy please do not lie. You do not measure U.S. distances in miles. It is hours
I say: 'It is 32 km to Specialized Warsaw'. An American would say "It is 6 hours to the next Giant LBS"
Art Deco
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Selinsgrove Pennsylvania
Gotta be able to depend on something, I guess. It's been pissing down here daily in Pennsylvania for about 3 weeks, which sounds pretty normal for the Scots. Rab is just used to it.
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
The rain continued, but as we approached the more mountainous regions it became very atmospheric, this is a hopeless distant windscreen shot., but the very Canadian looking pine forests looks amazing as they steam off the rain.
After a few drinks they took me off into a stunning forest trail that turned into utter insanity, unwalkable sheer muddy single track descents complete with ice level slippy slabs next to exposed 10ft drops.
I battle on to much applause when I caught them up only to find they had all suffered multiple falls and were covered in mud themselves.
Tbh its a good workout for ageing reflexes and muscles, no photos as I was hanging on for dear life.
The fact that I was on bald fat tyres, no rear suspension or dropper post just made it almost hilarious.
They are sending me to a place called Tarland 2 which has less extreme trails.
Pitlochry is just beyond gorgeous.
I'll take some pics today
After a few drinks they took me off into a stunning forest trail that turned into utter insanity, unwalkable sheer muddy single track descents complete with ice level slippy slabs next to exposed 10ft drops.
I battle on to much applause when I caught them up only to find they had all suffered multiple falls and were covered in mud themselves.
Tbh its a good workout for ageing reflexes and muscles, no photos as I was hanging on for dear life.
The fact that I was on bald fat tyres, no rear suspension or dropper post just made it almost hilarious.
They are sending me to a place called Tarland 2 which has less extreme trails.
Pitlochry is just beyond gorgeous.
I'll take some pics today
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
The Tension Before The Race Start...
Paul (checking the time) and my brother Jacek (Hi-Vis vest) just before the start of the Mazovian Gravel 200, a 219 km gravel race.
Many stories to tell, later!
Paul (checking the time) and my brother Jacek (Hi-Vis vest) just before the start of the Mazovian Gravel 200, a 219 km gravel race.
Many stories to tell, later!
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Chargeride
Well-Known Member
Chazmo
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Central Massachusetts
What an absolutely beautiful picture. Where is that, Charge?
Chazmo
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Central Massachusetts
Hope you had a good race/luck, Stefan.
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
I didn't start myself (no e- format) but my brother and many friends did
Instead, I and my buddy Tomek set off for an alternative 50 mile gravel trip to kill the time before our mates could return from their races. A lot to tell! Chillout on Zegrzyńskie Lake after our buddies came back from their race formats. The big man is my riding mate Tomek.
There was a sharp turn in deep sand in the 200 km format. A photographer had set their trap there...
My friend Rafał crossing River Fiszor.
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Chazmo
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Central Massachusetts
A couple of cool shots from my daily ride:
Newly stone-dust surfaced section of the MA central rail trail at the peak of a hill. This is a panorama shot right from the peak. They’ve been building switchbacks and working on this hill for a couple of years. They are (finally) almost done with the work!!!!
Steep overlook of a heavily-used section of the rail trail. The footbridge at the lower left crosses the Quinapoxet River which feeds the Thomas Basin of the Wachusett Reservoir. The reservoir is a secondary to the Quabbin, which serves the Boston area. Ironically, my town (which is one of four that was flooded to make the reservoir) does not get its water from it. The town has well water. Life is strange.
Newly stone-dust surfaced section of the MA central rail trail at the peak of a hill. This is a panorama shot right from the peak. They’ve been building switchbacks and working on this hill for a couple of years. They are (finally) almost done with the work!!!!
Steep overlook of a heavily-used section of the rail trail. The footbridge at the lower left crosses the Quinapoxet River which feeds the Thomas Basin of the Wachusett Reservoir. The reservoir is a secondary to the Quabbin, which serves the Boston area. Ironically, my town (which is one of four that was flooded to make the reservoir) does not get its water from it. The town has well water. Life is strange.
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
Its the bottom half of the Blue berm trail at Tarland mtb trails, just inland from Aberdeen, the view is the edge of the Cairngorm national park.
Ive never ridden such long and fast continuos steep switchbacking berms, it was epic, only had one moment nearly riding over the berm, out of hundreds.
My friend Brian rode my fattie for one descent, he called it utterly unusable
.I was on his Velo, it felt like a hovercraft by comparison, I could keep up with him riding my haibike with barely any effort.
We actually drove past Balmoral castle on the way to the trails, didnt stop, riding to be done
BlackHand
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Western WA
A banana holder? Brilliant!
Could've used one of those on this ride. Lost banana found on the ride back down a couple hours later...
DaveMatthews
Dave's not here. Cheating since 2018
- Region
- Canada
Poor lost banana... wandering alone in the wilderness, only to succumb to dehydration in the heat.
The butterfly tried so hard to provide some shade, but as we all know it has difficulty hovering in one spot.
This sad banana story is not very good... in fact it is rather unapeeling...
Shut up Dave...
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Everybody loves Rafał for his great sense of humour
He made his buddies all buy Chinese cycling jerseys with Pilsner Urquell logo. He said: "When the brand discovers how great cyclists we are, we're gonna be rich!"
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Sunday:
Visited Magda
I rode to see my daughter in the morning, and we had a great time together. I was told I should come on a working day after lunch to take Magda to the huge park the Social Care Home owns. (The lesson learnt).
I was riding my big Vado that developed worrying symptoms: Intermittent power loss and "NO BATTERY" messages. As a Vado expert I know the battery and e-bike electrical connectors should be cleaned...
Slow Food At McDonald's!
I spotted this mural on my return way in Błonie.
I usually drop into the Błonie McDonald's for lunch after I have met Magda, and have always been satisfied with the food, service, and cleanliness. This Sunday, I was made wait for my simple order for as long as 15 minutes! Obviously, I expressed my honest opinion on Google Maps...
Donated My Tracers Pro To Tomek
"If you want to ride, you need to be riding". I am fond of Tomek, and know he's not rich. His rear tyre was totally worn. Now, I owned a pair of good Tracer Pros I didn't need anymore. Tomek agreed he would give those tyres the second life, so I found a good pretext for yet another Sunday ride! (However, I took a train to Warsaw to make the trip feasible).
It was hot! Yes, it is a suntan on my face
Tomek was extremely lucky with my help: his rear tyre and the inner tube just gave up before I arrived! I taught Tomek several new things. For instance, he didn't know his tyres required a pretty high pressure because he is a big and heavy man!
We also made sure the wheels were centered on the bike. (It is the QR system, not thru-axle).
Marin Muirwoods, a steel bike of 13 kg or 29 lbs. Notice huge tyre clearance! Marin is one of the most popular bike brands in Poland, only not in e-bikes.
Return On The Wheels
A Power Place I often take a short rest at.
A ride home on a pleasant Summer like afternoon is one of greatest joys a cyclist can ask for. With the temperature dropping to nice 17 C, I was zooming on my Vado SL, inputting surprisingly high leg power (as for me), and nicely fast (constant 26 km/h or 16 mph) at moderate assistance. The new Rhombus Pro tyres run under low pressure of 2.6 bar (38 psi) were silent, fast rolling and comfortable. I rode as if dreaming. Arrived home three minutes after dark.
I rode for 219.2 km this week. Meanwhile, @fooferdoggie seems to have waken up! @BioWheel still has a chance to get to the second place (because of the time zone!)
Visited Magda
I rode to see my daughter in the morning, and we had a great time together. I was told I should come on a working day after lunch to take Magda to the huge park the Social Care Home owns. (The lesson learnt).
I was riding my big Vado that developed worrying symptoms: Intermittent power loss and "NO BATTERY" messages. As a Vado expert
I know the battery and e-bike electrical connectors should be cleaned...Slow Food At McDonald's!
I spotted this mural on my return way in Błonie.
I usually drop into the Błonie McDonald's for lunch after I have met Magda, and have always been satisfied with the food, service, and cleanliness. This Sunday, I was made wait for my simple order for as long as 15 minutes! Obviously, I expressed my honest opinion on Google Maps...
Donated My Tracers Pro To Tomek
"If you want to ride, you need to be riding". I am fond of Tomek, and know he's not rich. His rear tyre was totally worn. Now, I owned a pair of good Tracer Pros I didn't need anymore. Tomek agreed he would give those tyres the second life, so I found a good pretext for yet another Sunday ride! (However, I took a train to Warsaw to make the trip feasible).
It was hot! Yes, it is a suntan on my face
Tomek was extremely lucky with my help: his rear tyre and the inner tube just gave up before I arrived! I taught Tomek several new things. For instance, he didn't know his tyres required a pretty high pressure because he is a big and heavy man!
We also made sure the wheels were centered on the bike. (It is the QR system, not thru-axle).
Marin Muirwoods, a steel bike of 13 kg or 29 lbs. Notice huge tyre clearance! Marin is one of the most popular bike brands in Poland, only not in e-bikes.
Return On The Wheels
A Power Place I often take a short rest at.
A ride home on a pleasant Summer like afternoon is one of greatest joys a cyclist can ask for. With the temperature dropping to nice 17 C, I was zooming on my Vado SL, inputting surprisingly high leg power (as for me), and nicely fast (constant 26 km/h or 16 mph) at moderate assistance. The new Rhombus Pro tyres run under low pressure of 2.6 bar (38 psi) were silent, fast rolling and comfortable. I rode as if dreaming. Arrived home three minutes after dark.
I rode for 219.2 km this week. Meanwhile, @fooferdoggie seems to have waken up!
@BioWheel still has a chance to get to the second place (because of the time zone!)
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fooferdoggie
Well-Known Member
you got me too soon just added 15 more miles so 195.5 this week.View attachment 195395
I rode for 219.2 km this week. Meanwhile, @fooferdoggie seems to have waken up!
Catalyzt
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
Charge, your photography has improved a lot since I last was checking this thread more regularly-- and it wasn't bad at all back then, either.
This looks like the Caspar Friedrich exhibit I saw at the Met in NYC a few months ago.
The trees-bleeding-fog thing does seem a bit like North America, but the rest of it looks much more like the British Isles... maybe it's the light, something about the perspective in the clouds.
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Mazovian Gravel 2025: Meeting Friends
I started in Mazovian Gravel twice (2023 and 2024). I tried to be an e-bike ambassador but failed my mission. While I could ride in the race (paying a lot of money for that!), I was always classified as "Finished, no place". There's nothing for me there unless the organizers allow a proper e-Sprint format as Gravel.Love does! However, I travelled to Nieporęt Beach very early in the Saturday morning to meet friends there!
Zegrzyńskie Lake is an artificial reservoir created at the confluence of Rivers Narew and Bug (R. Narew later joins the Vistula) in 1963. Nowadays, the Lake is very clean, is a great recreation and inland sailing area.
Friends!
This man approached me and reminded we were riding together in Mazovian Gravel 120 2024. His real name Artur told me nothing. I only recognized him after he admitted his pseudonym was "Antek the Welder"
According to Poland's Road Code, an unattended cycling group cannot be larger than 15. Such groups were released from the start line every five minutes. A policeman controlled the exit onto the road, and was stopping cars as each group was riding out. Top: Paul and Jacek, the race partners. Bottom: the man closest to the camera is Banana Holder Rafał
Mazovia In A Pill (a.k.a. Mazovian Special 80)
The organizers had also created an unusual format for Sunday by name of Mazovian Special 80. A very strange format if you ask me. Not a race, just an excursion, no time measured but the participants had to pay the equivalent of 60 Euro. For what?! I said to Tomek: 'OK. We are NOT riding Mazovian Special; it is to occur tomorrow. Let's ride Mazovia In A Pill on the same route today!'
Let me describe the route by Tomek's own words:
"It was a nice trip indeed. Everything you can find in Mazovia, only in a pill:
Let me just mention one thing he forgot about: there were NO HILLS whatsoever!
Tomek and I after our return to the Nieporęt Beach. Now, we were watching the tracker app to determine the positions of Jacek, Paul, Paweł, and Rafał.
Mazovian Gravel: The Finish Line
Paul Newbery finishing hard after 219 km in 9 h 2 min and 49 s. He finished 33rd overall, and 4th Masters. Paul had a crash on the sandy corner, right in the front of the photographer! (Paul rides a Polish made carbon Kross RS bike).
Jacek Mikulski was 36th overall, 5th Masters (less than seven minutes after Paul). He was dropped by Paul because Jacek spent too much time on a pit-stop while replenishing water. Jacek was expected to catch up with Paul but experienced as many as two flats! He was diabolically fast with the fixes (he had practiced that well before the race). After an instant inner tube replacement, he was shooting the wheel with a CO2 cartridge and sprinted again! Suffice to say both repairs took him only 4:30! (Jacek rides a Marin DSX 3).
Some hilarious stories
Paweł Jońca rode in the MG 120 (133 km) format. Any participant of 200 or 120 had to cross the wide River Fiszor. Paul and Jacek caught up with Paweł when he was already on the other bank, filming. Paweł said he filmed Jacek running across the Fiszor, as it was a race! (Jacek later told me he had practised that part as well!). We should see the video in a few days!
A rider crossed the finish line at a high speed; someone gave him a high five but the rider forgot unclip his cleated shoe from the "clipless SPD pedal". The bike behaved like a bronco in a rodeo! It was jumping this way or another! Fortunately, the cowboy could tame his steed!
The chillout
Jacek posing
Tomek welcomed his own buddy Piotr, too. See how big Tomek is!
Green: Mazovian Special 80
Blue: Mazovian Gravel 120
Red: Mazovian Gravel 200.
I didn't show Mazovian Gravel 500.
An Accident
A friend Marek rode in Mazovian Special 80 on Sunday. Not a race but he was riding fast to assess his own racing shape. When he was riding a bike path on 60th kilometre, a stupid old cyclist playing with a smartphone rode onto grass and spilled across the path.
Marek rode behind at 35 km/h and did an OTB, hitting his helmeted head against the pavement. The helmet cracked but saved my friend's brain. Marek ended with a forehead injury (caused by the internal helmet band) and broke a finger.
The ambulance arrived only after one hour. Marek was examined and offered a hospital ride but without the bike. Marek said no thank you and rode to the finish line at a reduced speed. Then he packed his bike and drove to a private clinic.
He asked me to spread the word:
ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET!
I started in Mazovian Gravel twice (2023 and 2024). I tried to be an e-bike ambassador but failed my mission. While I could ride in the race (paying a lot of money for that!), I was always classified as "Finished, no place". There's nothing for me there unless the organizers allow a proper e-Sprint format as Gravel.Love does! However, I travelled to Nieporęt Beach very early in the Saturday morning to meet friends there!
Zegrzyńskie Lake is an artificial reservoir created at the confluence of Rivers Narew and Bug (R. Narew later joins the Vistula) in 1963. Nowadays, the Lake is very clean, is a great recreation and inland sailing area.
Friends!
- Top: Paul (a Polonized Welsh) and my brother Jacek. Both are senior but very able gravel cyclists (or, Masters).
- Middle left: Andrzej "Bearded". As I was racing for 263 km in 2023, I had a support car with Jacek As I was riding a road, Jacek approached me, opened the window and shouted "Speed up! The Bearded is chasing you!" So Andrzej became The Bearded
- Middle right: The Pilsner man at the left is "Banana Holder" Rafał
- Bottom: Pawel Jonca, a senior graphic artist, now riding a carbon Marin Headlands 2. He is a great documentalist, and his own material shall emerge this Thursday.
This man approached me and reminded we were riding together in Mazovian Gravel 120 2024. His real name Artur told me nothing. I only recognized him after he admitted his pseudonym was "Antek the Welder"
According to Poland's Road Code, an unattended cycling group cannot be larger than 15. Such groups were released from the start line every five minutes. A policeman controlled the exit onto the road, and was stopping cars as each group was riding out. Top: Paul and Jacek, the race partners. Bottom: the man closest to the camera is Banana Holder Rafał
Mazovia In A Pill (a.k.a. Mazovian Special 80)
The organizers had also created an unusual format for Sunday by name of Mazovian Special 80. A very strange format if you ask me. Not a race, just an excursion, no time measured but the participants had to pay the equivalent of 60 Euro. For what?! I said to Tomek: 'OK. We are NOT riding Mazovian Special; it is to occur tomorrow. Let's ride Mazovia In A Pill on the same route today!'
Let me describe the route by Tomek's own words:
"It was a nice trip indeed. Everything you can find in Mazovia, only in a pill:
- Sand: it was there
- Mud: it was there
- Gravel: it was there
- Forest paths, singletracks, double tracks and fire-roads: it was all there
- Asphalt of class 1 , 2 and 3: it was all there
- Bike paths of class 1, 2, 3, and even 4 (which I do hate!) were there
Let me just mention one thing he forgot about: there were NO HILLS whatsoever!
Tomek and I after our return to the Nieporęt Beach. Now, we were watching the tracker app to determine the positions of Jacek, Paul, Paweł, and Rafał.
Mazovian Gravel: The Finish Line
Paul Newbery finishing hard after 219 km in 9 h 2 min and 49 s. He finished 33rd overall, and 4th Masters. Paul had a crash on the sandy corner, right in the front of the photographer! (Paul rides a Polish made carbon Kross RS bike).
Jacek Mikulski was 36th overall, 5th Masters (less than seven minutes after Paul). He was dropped by Paul because Jacek spent too much time on a pit-stop while replenishing water. Jacek was expected to catch up with Paul but experienced as many as two flats! He was diabolically fast with the fixes (he had practiced that well before the race). After an instant inner tube replacement, he was shooting the wheel with a CO2 cartridge and sprinted again! Suffice to say both repairs took him only 4:30! (Jacek rides a Marin DSX 3).
Some hilarious stories
Paweł Jońca rode in the MG 120 (133 km) format. Any participant of 200 or 120 had to cross the wide River Fiszor. Paul and Jacek caught up with Paweł when he was already on the other bank, filming. Paweł said he filmed Jacek running across the Fiszor, as it was a race!
(Jacek later told me he had practised that part as well!). We should see the video in a few days!A rider crossed the finish line at a high speed; someone gave him a high five but the rider forgot unclip his cleated shoe from the "clipless SPD pedal". The bike behaved like a bronco in a rodeo! It was jumping this way or another! Fortunately, the cowboy could tame his steed!
The chillout
Jacek posing
Tomek welcomed his own buddy Piotr, too. See how big Tomek is!
Green: Mazovian Special 80
Blue: Mazovian Gravel 120
Red: Mazovian Gravel 200.
I didn't show Mazovian Gravel 500.
An Accident
A friend Marek rode in Mazovian Special 80 on Sunday. Not a race but he was riding fast to assess his own racing shape. When he was riding a bike path on 60th kilometre, a stupid old cyclist playing with a smartphone rode onto grass and spilled across the path.
Marek rode behind at 35 km/h and did an OTB, hitting his helmeted head against the pavement. The helmet cracked but saved my friend's brain. Marek ended with a forehead injury (caused by the internal helmet band) and broke a finger.
The ambulance arrived only after one hour. Marek was examined and offered a hospital ride but without the bike. Marek said no thank you and rode to the finish line at a reduced speed. Then he packed his bike and drove to a private clinic.
He asked me to spread the word:
ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET!
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