2025 - Our Rides in Words, Photos, Maps and Videos
- Thread starter Saratoga Dave
- Start date
BlackHand
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Western WA
I stopped to watch the mist burn off Echo Lake on the way in this morning. If you look carefully you can see a heron flying right along the horizon line.
The heron settled under the yellow tree that was just glowing in the morning sun
Meanwhile, I looked down and saw this guy scampering in front of me, probably just getting home from a long night of carousing with friends
I got out of work about 15 min before sunset and went up to Golden Gardens. Got there just before the sun went down
Turning around, this is just looking down the parking lot but the trees in the evening light almost look like they are on fire.
The heron settled under the yellow tree that was just glowing in the morning sun
Meanwhile, I looked down and saw this guy scampering in front of me, probably just getting home from a long night of carousing with friends
I got out of work about 15 min before sunset and went up to Golden Gardens. Got there just before the sun went down
Turning around, this is just looking down the parking lot but the trees in the evening light almost look like they are on fire.
Jeremy McCreary
Bought it anyway
- Region
- USA
- City
- Carlsbad, CA
Looks like the Canada geese are mounting an assault on that building.
They're a formidable triphibious adversary — by air, water, and land. By the time we left Denver in 2022, they'd pretty much taken over the whole metro area. No getting rid of them with their federal protection.
JGcycle
Two-Wheeled Shaker
- Region
- Canada
- City
- Saint John
They sure are formidable ground assault troops--they really "assault" the ground with their "bombs".
Mulezen
Well-Known Member
I took them for ICE on Pigeon patrol
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Celestynów-Otwock MTB (A Mazovian Landscape Park Ride)
I'm preparing for this Saturday's 50 mile ride in Mazovian Landscape Park (MPK). There is a great interest, so I'm afraid I could gather a crowd of gravel cyclists (please, no!) If the route is not verified (especially the initial part), the participants would totally lose their confidence in the organiser (that is, me). I'm so glad I made the effort to take a long train ride and verify the Part 1 of the route!
Many stations on that railway line have already been beautifully renovated while others are currently under the reconstruction.
The blue line is the corrected course. The red one is the recording of my reconnaissance . Now I know how to lead the group without any hesitation! (Safe crossing the road #50 looked problematic on the map).
Well, the recon was a simple thing. However... Did I ride trains for an hour and half just to stop there? Certainly not! Before leaving home, I let Komoot find an off-road course to Otwock. (Otwock allows me taking a single S1 train for just 7 PLN or USD1.90, and the S1 leaves every half an hour)! Well, Komoot does not make a difference between gravel cycling and MTB, at least it is the same map...
It all looked "Mazovian gravel" in the beginning...
...until it wasn't gravel or hardpack anymore
Mazovia is a post-glacial area with a lot of sand! I admit I walked my Vado there.
I didn't take any pictures at difficult places. Suffice to say, I had to climb several steep overgrown sand dunes on tree-roots and then descend them
My mental approach has greatly changed since my early gravel cycling days. I used to moan and chicken out. Nowadays, I'm focused on riding a bike in a safe, predictable way. I now find such adventures interesting and amusing!
Treat or trick? I had a choice to walk my e-bike in deep sand or take a single-track. Here: a makeshift bridge over a dried out creek (two concrete rings and several tree branches laid between them).
Just to make sure I was riding in the correct forest!
I love riding the "carpet of dead leaves"!
At some place, the trail turned into a proper dirt fire-road. Now, It became easier to ride!
The approach to Otwock turned out to be a beautiful "strada bianca" or proper compacted gravel!
On the return to my neighbourhood, I could collect a new shipment: Two different pairs of Endura winter socks. Combined with Endura waterproof cycling shoes, I'll have my feet warm this Autumn and Winter! (36 km total for the day).
I'm preparing for this Saturday's 50 mile ride in Mazovian Landscape Park (MPK). There is a great interest, so I'm afraid I could gather a crowd of gravel cyclists (please, no!) If the route is not verified (especially the initial part), the participants would totally lose their confidence in the organiser (that is, me). I'm so glad I made the effort to take a long train ride and verify the Part 1 of the route!
Many stations on that railway line have already been beautifully renovated while others are currently under the reconstruction.
The blue line is the corrected course. The red one is the recording of my reconnaissance . Now I know how to lead the group without any hesitation! (Safe crossing the road #50 looked problematic on the map).
Well, the recon was a simple thing. However... Did I ride trains for an hour and half just to stop there? Certainly not! Before leaving home, I let Komoot find an off-road course to Otwock. (Otwock allows me taking a single S1 train for just 7 PLN or USD1.90, and the S1 leaves every half an hour)! Well, Komoot does not make a difference between gravel cycling and MTB, at least it is the same map...
It all looked "Mazovian gravel" in the beginning...
...until it wasn't gravel or hardpack anymore
Mazovia is a post-glacial area with a lot of sand! I admit I walked my Vado there.I didn't take any pictures at difficult places. Suffice to say, I had to climb several steep overgrown sand dunes on tree-roots and then descend them
My mental approach has greatly changed since my early gravel cycling days. I used to moan and chicken out. Nowadays, I'm focused on riding a bike in a safe, predictable way. I now find such adventures interesting and amusing!
Treat or trick?
I had a choice to walk my e-bike in deep sand or take a single-track. Here: a makeshift bridge over a dried out creek (two concrete rings and several tree branches laid between them).Just to make sure I was riding in the correct forest!
I love riding the "carpet of dead leaves"!
At some place, the trail turned into a proper dirt fire-road. Now, It became easier to ride!
The approach to Otwock turned out to be a beautiful "strada bianca" or proper compacted gravel!
On the return to my neighbourhood, I could collect a new shipment: Two different pairs of Endura winter socks. Combined with Endura waterproof cycling shoes, I'll have my feet warm this Autumn and Winter! (36 km total for the day).
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
Stefan is getting more adventurous, ditching the pannier next for those narrow bits.
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
Took Dan on a ride through Rivington to Entwistle, tried a new start, got completely lost in a wet wood that had also been greased it would seem
Beautiful, but so slippy, every fall could end you up in the river below.
Simply magical remains of Lord Levers extended trails.
Ended up really struggling to get out, you could have slid down here as fast as riding with the wheels locked on or not
It was Dans first time and his battery extender was causing mayhem again, constant bad contacts.
He brought contact cleaner and emptied the can spraying and cleaning
Route blocked by tower maintenance
We had to ride the entire fence, but it wasnt too muddy.
Entwistle reservoir
Strawburry Duck pub, love this place, full of cute alcoves
Staring to lose light just as beginning the ride over high moors
Just a few joggers because of the on off rain.
This feels like another world in real life
This looked daunting because of the speed of the flow, but it was a cinch.
Over the high hills via a farmers path that joined to Weavers Way.
Dan fell off and was so tired he reduced his speed to a crawl, I got bored and started riding the trenches, the gopro makes it look much brighter than it is.
We had been out four hours and Dan was too tired to even call in for a beer.
The corrugated trail rattled my top jockey wheel bolt loose, it resulted in a massive bang and crunch as the chain folded up around the cassette, I walked back and found the
bolt, bearing and wheel, it was a miserable repair in the wet, but saved the ride.
Beautiful, but so slippy, every fall could end you up in the river below.
Simply magical remains of Lord Levers extended trails.
Ended up really struggling to get out, you could have slid down here as fast as riding with the wheels locked on or not
It was Dans first time and his battery extender was causing mayhem again, constant bad contacts.
He brought contact cleaner and emptied the can spraying and cleaning
Route blocked by tower maintenance
We had to ride the entire fence, but it wasnt too muddy.
Entwistle reservoir
Strawburry Duck pub, love this place, full of cute alcoves
Staring to lose light just as beginning the ride over high moors
Just a few joggers because of the on off rain.
This feels like another world in real life
This looked daunting because of the speed of the flow, but it was a cinch.
Over the high hills via a farmers path that joined to Weavers Way.
Dan fell off and was so tired he reduced his speed to a crawl, I got bored and started riding the trenches, the gopro makes it look much brighter than it is.
We had been out four hours and Dan was too tired to even call in for a beer.
The corrugated trail rattled my top jockey wheel bolt loose, it resulted in a massive bang and crunch as the chain folded up around the cassette, I walked back and found the
bolt, bearing and wheel, it was a miserable repair in the wet, but saved the ride.
Last edited:
Watana Bob
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
Beautiful JG!
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Shoes wet? Considered waterproof cycling shoes perhaps?
Endura UK
Buy MT500 Burner Flat Waterproof Shoes - Black online with Endura UK. Buy online now.
www.endurasport.com
The clipless version exists, too. (I think Endura has brick and mortar stores in Britain, too).Chargeride
Well-Known Member
Autumn is beautiful.
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
Waterproof shoes, wearing jeans, hardly worth the effortShoes wet? Considered waterproof cycling shoes perhaps?
Designed in the UKEndura UK
Buy MT500 Burner Flat Waterproof Shoes - Black online with Endura UK. Buy online now.
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Your feet would be always warm and dry. I started wearing the Endura shoes I showed to you and now my poor feet never freeze out!
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
I'll give it a thought when England moves next to Russia
stompandgo
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
@Chargeride , you were so lucky to have found that jockey wheel out there in the boonies. The bolts come with Loctite from the factory, but if they've been removed for cleaning, it might need some more.
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
Yes, but it also feels a bit squishy, I cant tighten it with a definite stop, worried it might be stripped, doesnt look like it.
As you say, I'll put some loctite on to be sure.
