Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
The AI graphics for the tomorrow's Apple Ride, by the organiser
"Chainring & Fire!" (Me with a cigarette in my mouth, haha!)2026 - Our Rides in Words, Photos, Maps and Videos
- Thread starter RabH
- Start date
The AI graphics for the tomorrow's Apple Ride, by the organiser
"Chainring & Fire!" (Me with a cigarette in my mouth, haha!)
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
40mph winds tomorrow, Im up early to get blasted
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Ooh-oh! It is just before six ante meridium here. All packed. Riding for 30 km to the start line at Green Nero Caffe Kabaty in South Warsaw. Good I have perfect lighting on my big Vado!
edobici_forza
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- San Mateo, CA
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
Yeah, just went out 40mph wind in my face, waiting till ten
edobici_forza
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- San Mateo, CA
Brave man! Ride safe!
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
Still raining, in house..not brave.
Also Magura brakes actually hurt your ears with a single drop of rain.
I really need to replace them, they are ridiculous.
Also Magura brakes actually hurt your ears with a single drop of rain.
I really need to replace them, they are ridiculous.
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
The Photo Of The Day
Zapiekanka (a.k.a. Polish Casserole) in Corner Bistro, Warka. I'll have a story to tell (later). When Pawel saw the size, he moaned "it's impossible to have it all!" to which the proprietor Karol smiled: "No soft play with us!"
Zapiekanka (a.k.a. Polish Casserole) in Corner Bistro, Warka. I'll have a story to tell (later). When Pawel saw the size, he moaned "it's impossible to have it all!" to which the proprietor Karol smiled: "No soft play with us!"
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Raining, windy, the temps below 10 C (50 F) yet I had a good time in a group of nine
Still riding home with 12 km to go, expecting 72 miles for the day 
"Alfer's Apple Group Ride"
Three of us had finished the notorious Sudovia Gravel 2025. We are not afraid of a little of rough weather
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
I gave up, you forget how cold cold is.
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
I do respect your choice and can understand the punishing wind.
Please understand a rider with a lot of experience of riding in the rough weather may have a different mental approach. Just for you to understand, my clothes were:
- A regular summer cycling jersey
- A top-end waterproof but breathable windbreaker
- Long thick bibs
- Regular socks and FiveTen cycling shoes
- Warm membrane gloves (an autumn model)
- A balaclava and a helmet.
Cheers, mate!
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Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Of course, mate, I was wrong. England does experience harsh Winters
(A photo from London).edobici_forza
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- San Mateo, CA
I need to find some Fall foliage !
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
"Alfer's Apple" XC/Gravel Group Ride (Warka)
10th October 2026
Alfer is an unusual person, a man of many talents. He started his competing career in Cross Country (XC) cycling many years ago, recently riding gravel. A popular and extremely likeable person, he is a kind of mentor to me. He could gather as many as 10 people on that rainy, windy and cold Saturday, a private event. 8 riders on flat handlebar bikes and only two gravel bicycles say a lot about the participants!
I've decided convert a big number of photos and video takes into a single reel, less than 2 minutes. Enjoy!
Highlights
My riding on that day
At some point, my front wheel fell into a big pothole. The front mudguard may need to be removed. I only hope the drivetrain didn't suffer as well (perhaps simple adjustment would do!)
Ride Map.
10th October 2026
Alfer is an unusual person, a man of many talents. He started his competing career in Cross Country (XC) cycling many years ago, recently riding gravel. A popular and extremely likeable person, he is a kind of mentor to me. He could gather as many as 10 people on that rainy, windy and cold Saturday, a private event. 8 riders on flat handlebar bikes and only two gravel bicycles say a lot about the participants!
I've decided convert a big number of photos and video takes into a single reel, less than 2 minutes. Enjoy!
Highlights
- Riding from Kabaty in the southernmost Warsaw to Góra Kalwaria (a hard climb, a famous cycling cafe, photos under a cycling mural)
- Passing plum, pear and apple orchards starting from Czersk (with the castle that can only be photographed from that single position)
- Several steep climbs en route
- A visit in "Nasza Tłocznia" (Our Press), a modern business for apple juice and apple products. We were heartily welcomed and got warm apple juice from a samovar (a big electric kettle). We really needed that!
- Collecting apples and skylarking in an apple orchard. Oh my. I started feeling cold, so rode towards Warka at a high speed and waited for the group in a bus shelter en route
- Getting to a singletrack by River Pilica from Warka Museum and Park
- Lunch in Bistro Na Rogu (Corner Bistro)
- The bistro started its operation exactly on the World Apple Day, and I was one of a very few launch customers
- Now, I brought 8 people, and the owner never had that many guests in one go before!
My riding on that day
- Left home at 6:03. Cycled for 30 km to Green Caffe Nero in Kabaty
- Rode for an additional 66.9 km together with the group
- Took the train and left with the rest at a remote train stop in Warsaw
- Cycled for 23.6 km home
- 120.5 km for the day
At some point, my front wheel fell into a big pothole. The front mudguard may need to be removed. I only hope the drivetrain didn't suffer as well (perhaps simple adjustment would do!)
Ride Map.
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Chargeride
Well-Known Member
I watched the vid, I laughed at the guy holding his face, its what I do after filming everyone else myself.
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
Another banger from Steve Jones, got part of that planned for next week.
Im not going on a day like that though.
Im not going on a day like that though.
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Warsaw MTB Training Ground
The "hopping garden" at the bottom of Kazurka Hill in south Warsaw.
The largest city of Poland is located in Flatpoland (as it is ironically called by enthusiast cyclists). Many of the active part of youth crave about mountain biking though. While the hill itself (133 m a.s.l.) offers some technical singletracks, the kids and young adults practice the technical skill in the man made "sand gardens" below it. Very popular. I could see a young man preparing his full suspension MTB as early as 7:30 am there (to avoid potential crowds and the forecast raining).
Well, the latest days in our country are marked with a sad viral phenomenon of teenagers preparing acts of violence in schools and false bomb alarms by 15-yo kids. The police has arrested many but we already have had some assaults... As Alfer's partner put it: "I prefer the kids jumping in the rock gardens to ones wielding knives in the schools..."
The "hopping garden" at the bottom of Kazurka Hill in south Warsaw.
The largest city of Poland is located in Flatpoland (as it is ironically called by enthusiast cyclists). Many of the active part of youth crave about mountain biking though. While the hill itself (133 m a.s.l.) offers some technical singletracks, the kids and young adults practice the technical skill in the man made "sand gardens" below it. Very popular. I could see a young man preparing his full suspension MTB as early as 7:30 am there (to avoid potential crowds and the forecast raining).
Well, the latest days in our country are marked with a sad viral phenomenon of teenagers preparing acts of violence in schools and false bomb alarms by 15-yo kids. The police has arrested many but we already have had some assaults... As Alfer's partner put it: "I prefer the kids jumping in the rock gardens to ones wielding knives in the schools..."
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
Im now getting polish videos, including this rather mysterious observation of Polska.
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Liam Carpenter is the man! I've watched him since "In Germany we don't say" times.
@Chargeride:
Willy: The only reason you have a German passport is 'cause of me
Liam: Keep it.
Liam: You know what? Actually, I might need it. Brexit.
That bald Pole's smirk!
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