2020 : Our Rides in Words, Photos & Videos

[Chargeride]

Heres my Wellhouse vid, I also rode up the overflow channel and it was a slippy as a greased icecube.

 

[RabH]

Another gorgeous day here, not often we get 2 in a row I think it will be a while before this smile disappears after a truly awesome ride in the Scottish countryside, I've said it many times but I will say it again, I love this amazing bike! The only thing that spoiled my day was an idiot in a car that almost killed me just after I left home, thankfully I anticipated that he wasn't going to stop when it was my right of way! My years of riding motorbikes taught me this lesson, always ride defensively!

It was quickly forgotten about, so glad it happened right at the start and it was all golden form there on! I really am so lucky to live in such an amazing part of the world, it truly is biking heaven!

 

[FlatSix911]

Heres my Wellhouse vid, I also rode up the overflow channel and it was a slippy as a greased icecube.

Nice video... very professional!

 

[Deleted member 18083]

A place to take a break …

48 km; 9.50 am
Scarborough, looking west across Deception Bay​

 

[Stefan Mikes]

the only thing that spoiled my day was an idiot in a car that almost killed me just after I left home, thankfully I anticipated that he wasn't going to stop when it was my right of way! My years of riding motorbikes taught me this lesson, always ride defensively!

Oh, how true. Had a similar happening as of today (not as dramatic) and the defensive style of riding helps a lot.

A Grand "Smart Sam" Tyre Test (Vado) - Mixed Terrain Ride

Some of you might have already known my opinion on Turbo Vado: "The e-bike that loves the road". Whenever I was riding off-road with the Vado, I was regretting that. The reason was quite banal: The otherwise excellent Electrak 2.0 tyres were perfect for road (very low rolling resistance, extremely good road grip, hard to puncture) but they "hated" unpaved roads. My main worry was these tyres could not cope with loose sand (and there is plenty of sand in Mazovia).

@FlatSix911 and @TS25 were patiently explaining to me I just needed different tyres for my Vado and they have eventually convinced me. Their advice was "try Schwalbe Smart Sam". I was afraid of harsher ride on tyres of less air volume; and of noise of knobby tyres. I shouldn't have worried as it turned out.

I had two rides on Friday: A shorter one early in the morning (to prove the tyres could do in the local forest), and a longer afternoon one in deliberately mixed terrain. What great tyres! Silent on paved surfaces, aggressive off-road. Less cushioning action was countered with the inflation pressure close to the rated minimum; and the suspension handlebars as well as seat-post worked more actively. Of course, the 1.75" tyres are not the 2.6" (as are on my Trance E+), and the lack of suspension hurts a little but not that much as I was afraid of!

On the early morning forest ride. The temp was 8 C (46 F)!

My chosen route deliberately involved more of off-road and gravel roads than of blacktop/macadam (or it felt so). Interestingly, the road construction (at least in Mazovia) is actively continued and more and more local roads are of high quality. For instance, the street I live at has been recently paved with macadam, and that street had been a dirt one for the whole time before! Regarding the weather (which was sunny), I was oppressed with strong cold wind (took no windbreaker with me) and I returned home rather chilled.

There was a lot of sand (over hard) on my way. I found with pleasure the Smart Sam tyres were able to handle such surface well. I met some issues with deeper sand but even that could be ridden over.

In the infamous Mazovian sands.

I visited the "mansion of Józef Chełmoński" in Kuklówka Zarzeczna. Chełmoński was a realist painter, and he moved into this house in 1889, where he lived until his death in 1914. I'm sure the house looked far better when the painter lived there...

"Storks", one of Chełmoński's best known paintings.

A lot of forest paths, easier or harder.

On a rail trail. That's a novelty for Poland.

At a windmill lover. He had a plenty of windmills in his garden!

An apple-tree that belonged to no-one. I could not resist it and ate an apple. What a taste! How juicy it was! (I think I can understand Adam & Eve now...)

I've been to these crossroads for many times, and I used to describe the place as "backwoods". How much has it changed over half a year! Let us start with a new asphalt road leading to this junction...

I was just eating a piece of kiełbasa at a bus shelter in Kraśnicza Wola when a gentleman approached me:
-- Good day and bon appetite! Wasn't it you zooming around there for couple of times? I can recognise the red helmet, the powerful headlight, and you were just zooming at high speed by my house?! -- Yes, that was me! -- What the heck this vehicle is?! A registered bicycle? So fast?!

And we had a good half an hour talk. Surprising how many people think e-bike is about pushing the throttle... (which is technically forbidden in the EU). The man was enchanted. He only saddened after he learned that specific e-bike cost four-thousand dollar discounted price. (You can buy a car for half of that in Poland. Very old car but you can).

Fifty well spent miles. All in 25/25% Eco mode. I needed a solid workout!

 

[FlatSix911]

Oh, how true. Had a similar happening as of today (not as dramatic) and the defensive style of riding helps a lot.

A Grand "Smart Sam" Tyre Test (Vado) - Mixed Terrain Ride

Some of you might have already known my opinion on Turbo Vado: "The e-bike that loves the road". Whenever I was riding off-road with the Vado, I was regretting that. The reason was quite banal: The otherwise excellent Electrak 2.0 tyres were perfect for road (very low rolling resistance, extremely good road grip, hard to puncture) but they "hated" unpaved roads. My main worry was there tyres could not cope with loose sand (and there is plenty of sand in Mazovia).

@FlatSix911 and @TS25 were patiently explaining to me I just needed different tyres for my Vado and they have eventually convinced me. Their advice was "try Schwalbe Smart Sam". I was afraid of harsher ride on tyres of less air volume; and of noise of knobby tyres. I shouldn't have worried as it turned out.

I had two rides on Friday: A shorter one early in the morning (to prove the tyres could do in the local forest), and a longer afternoon one in deliberately mixed terrain. What great tyres! Silent on paved surfaces, aggressive off-road. Less cushioning action was countered with the inflation pressure close to the rated minimum; and the suspension handlebars as well as seat-post worked more actively. Of course, the 1.75" tyres are not the 2.6" (as are on my Trance E+), and the lack of suspension hurts a little but not that much as I was afraid of!

View attachment 65767
On the early morning forest ride. The temp was 8 C (46 F)!

View attachment 65755
My chosen route deliberately involved more of off-road and gravel roads than of blacktop/macadam (or it felt so). Interestingly, the road construction (at least in Mazovia) is actively continued and more and more local roads are of high quality. For instance, the street I live at has been recently paved with macadam, and that street had been a dirt one for the whole time before! Regarding the weather (which was sunny), I was oppressed with strong cold wind (took no windbreaker with me) and I returned home rather chilled.

View attachment 65756
There was a lot of sand (over hard) on my way. I found with pleasure the Smart Sam tyres were able to handle such surface well. I met some issues with deeper sand but even that could be ridden over.

View attachment 65757
In the infamous Mazovian sands.

View attachment 65758
I visited the "mansion of Józef Chełmoński" in Kuklówka Zarzeczna. Chełmoński was a realist painter, and he moved into this house in 1889, where he lived until his death in 1914. I'm sure the house looked far better when the painter lived there...

View attachment 65759
"Storks", one of Chełmoński's best known paintings.

View attachment 65762
A lot of forest paths, easier or harder.

View attachment 65761
On a rail trail. That's a novelty for Poland.

View attachment 65763
At a windmill lover. He had a plenty of windmills in his garden!

View attachment 65764
An apple-tree that belonged to no-one. I could not resist it and ate an apple. What a taste! How juicy it was! (I think I can understand Adam & Eve now...)

View attachment 65765
I've been to these crossroads for many times, and I used to describe the place as "backwoods". How much has it changed over half a year! Let us start with a new asphalt road leading to this junction...

I was just eating a piece of kiełbasa at a bus shelter in Kraśnicza Wola when a gentleman approached me:
-- Good day and bon appetite! Wasn't it you zooming around there for couple of times? I can recognise the red helmet, the powerful headlight, and you were just zooming at high speed by my house?! -- Yes, that was me! -- What the heck this vehicle is?! A registered bicycle? So fast?!

And we had a good half an hour talk. Surprising how many people think e-bike is about pushing the throttle... (which is technically forbidden in the EU). The man was enchanted. He only saddened after he learned that specific e-bike cost four-thousand dollar discounted price. (You can buy a car for half of that in Poland. Very old car but you can).

View attachment 65766
Fifty well spent miles. All in 25/25% Eco mode. I needed a solid workout!

Excellent review and color commentary!

 

[Sierratim]

Oh, how true. Had a similar happening as of today (not as dramatic) and the defensive style of riding helps a lot.

A Grand "Smart Sam" Tyre Test (Vado) - Mixed Terrain Ride

Some of you might have already known my opinion on Turbo Vado: "The e-bike that loves the road". Whenever I was riding off-road with the Vado, I was regretting that. The reason was quite banal: The otherwise excellent Electrak 2.0 tyres were perfect for road (very low rolling resistance, extremely good road grip, hard to puncture) but they "hated" unpaved roads. My main worry was there tyres could not cope with loose sand (and there is plenty of sand in Mazovia).

@FlatSix911 and @TS25 were patiently explaining to me I just needed different tyres for my Vado and they have eventually convinced me. Their advice was "try Schwalbe Smart Sam". I was afraid of harsher ride on tyres of less air volume; and of noise of knobby tyres. I shouldn't have worried as it turned out.

I had two rides on Friday: A shorter one early in the morning (to prove the tyres could do in the local forest), and a longer afternoon one in deliberately mixed terrain. What great tyres! Silent on paved surfaces, aggressive off-road. Less cushioning action was countered with the inflation pressure close to the rated minimum; and the suspension handlebars as well as seat-post worked more actively. Of course, the 1.75" tyres are not the 2.6" (as are on my Trance E+), and the lack of suspension hurts a little but not that much as I was afraid of!

View attachment 65767
On the early morning forest ride. The temp was 8 C (46 F)!

View attachment 65755
My chosen route deliberately involved more of off-road and gravel roads than of blacktop/macadam (or it felt so). Interestingly, the road construction (at least in Mazovia) is actively continued and more and more local roads are of high quality. For instance, the street I live at has been recently paved with macadam, and that street had been a dirt one for the whole time before! Regarding the weather (which was sunny), I was oppressed with strong cold wind (took no windbreaker with me) and I returned home rather chilled.

View attachment 65756
There was a lot of sand (over hard) on my way. I found with pleasure the Smart Sam tyres were able to handle such surface well. I met some issues with deeper sand but even that could be ridden over.

View attachment 65757
In the infamous Mazovian sands.

View attachment 65758
I visited the "mansion of Józef Chełmoński" in Kuklówka Zarzeczna. Chełmoński was a realist painter, and he moved into this house in 1889, where he lived until his death in 1914. I'm sure the house looked far better when the painter lived there...

View attachment 65759
"Storks", one of Chełmoński's best known paintings.

View attachment 65762
A lot of forest paths, easier or harder.

View attachment 65761
On a rail trail. That's a novelty for Poland.

View attachment 65763
At a windmill lover. He had a plenty of windmills in his garden!

View attachment 65764
An apple-tree that belonged to no-one. I could not resist it and ate an apple. What a taste! How juicy it was! (I think I can understand Adam & Eve now...)

View attachment 65765
I've been to these crossroads for many times, and I used to describe the place as "backwoods". How much has it changed over half a year! Let us start with a new asphalt road leading to this junction...

I was just eating a piece of kiełbasa at a bus shelter in Kraśnicza Wola when a gentleman approached me:
-- Good day and bon appetite! Wasn't it you zooming around there for couple of times? I can recognise the red helmet, the powerful headlight, and you were just zooming at high speed by my house?! -- Yes, that was me! -- What the heck this vehicle is?! A registered bicycle? So fast?!

And we had a good half an hour talk. Surprising how many people think e-bike is about pushing the throttle... (which is technically forbidden in the EU). The man was enchanted. He only saddened after he learned that specific e-bike cost four-thousand dollar discounted price. (You can buy a car for half of that in Poland. Very old car but you can).

View attachment 65766
Fifty well spent miles. All in 25/25% Eco mode. I needed a solid workout!

"Storks" is a beautiful painting. Thank you for sharing.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

"No ride today! Need to conserve stamina for tomorrow's 122 km ride! Perhaps just small shopping..." -

- I wrote that to my Facebook friends in the morning.

Indeed. The "little shopping" eventually ended with:

1. A new windbreaker (Decathlon)
2. Set of bike brushes (Decathlon)
3. Chain tool, good up to 12-speed chains (Decathlon)
4. Chain links - similar to Missing Link (Decathlon)
5. Degreaser-lube (Decathlon)
6. Two loaves of bread (Podkowa Leśna)
7. A bottle of rum (Podkowa Leśna)

Looking for excuses to ride out is nasty...

 

[RandallS]

What kind of Rum?

 

[Stefan Mikes]

My favourite is Captain Morgan Gold Spiced Rum. Are you getting that in Canada? It is made in Scotland... But the store had no Cpt (probably all area is empty on that brand because of mine & Brix' activity over past two weeks) So I settled on the Bacardi equivalent.

 

[RandallS]

My favourite is Captain Morgan Gold Spiced Rum. Are you getting that in Canada? It is made in Scotland... But the store had no Cpt (probably all area is empty on that brand because of mine & Brix' activity over past two weeks) So I settled on the Bacardi equivalent.

We get most anything here including that one, but my favorite Rum is Mount Gay from Barbados. I am not a fan of Spiced rum for some reason. I can buy the Mount Gay amber Rum in very large bottles from Costco (very popular big store, I think they've opened some in Europe). I don't think I've ever had a Rum I didn't enjoy when on vacation in Barbados.

 

[FlatSix911]

Got back on the horse today... the first ride since my ACL/MCL injury 2 weeks ago.

Man, I missed the wind in my face!

 

[Deleted member 18083]

Clouds over the South Pacific …

52 km; 10.22 am
Queens Beach & Osbourne Point
Redcliffe Peninsula​

Compare the sky with that in the photo of the Shorncliffe Pier (post #2644) taken two hours before. Grey skies gone! Nothing, well almost nothing, will disturb the bank of clouds

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Clouds over the South Pacific …

It looks like the Summer always were in Australia, disregarding of the season...

 

[Chargeride]

Back into cellphone reception.
Its not good having your own thoughts in bed at night
The hotel gave us a little booklet and this was the map of the area in it, all thats missing is Mordor and the Misty Mountains .

Stefan thankyou, I had a little peak at your channel and see you in a different light..in a good way of course.

 

[Chargeride]

Clouds over the South Pacific …

View attachment 65938

52 km; 10.22 am
Queens Beach & Osbourne Point
Redcliffe Peninsula​

Compare the sky with that in the photo of the Shorncliffe Pier (post #2644) taken two hours before. Grey skies gone! Nothing, well almost nothing, will disturb the bank of clouds

View attachment 65939

Always showing off with that fancy sidestand

 

[Sierratim]

The temps had dropped a bit and the smoke had cleared for at least the morning so I set off at 10AM yesterday for a loop ride I'd been wanting to do.

I laid the route out in Kamoot and downloaded the map as I'd be out of range for much of the day. I also brought a power bank for the phone so I could keep the screen on all day.

I logged 44.3 miles on Kamoot vs 45.2 on the Specialized display, not a bad correlation! Just over 6,000 feet of climbing on a route that included just under 10 miles of gravel and dirt roads. I got home just before 4PM having finished 4 of my 5 water bottles and ~1/2 of my snacks.

The first dirt section was a downhill headed to the Purdon Crossing bridge over the South Yuba River. Hard to see in the pic but these sections are badly rutted by winter storms.

The Purdon Crossing bridge was right where I left it earlier in the summer. Not many people here for a late summer Saturday morning.

The river's swimming holes were beautiful, but empty at 11AM.

After finishing my first water bottle I headed up Purdon Grade towards the San Juan Ridge, or as the locals call it, 'The Ridge'. It's a 24 mile long geologic feature that became home to groups of 'free thinkers' in the '60's. It became known for its prolific marijuana crop rivaling the Emerald Triangle of Humboldt County to the NW. It's still relatively remote despite some better roads. It's best to stay on established roads and pay attention to private property signs. Some still take their privacy very seriously up on The Ridge.

Mother Truckers Market at Purdon Road and Tyler Foote Crossing Road on The Ridge. Originally a frut and vegtable truck in the 70's Mothers has grown into the local hangout as well as the source of everything vegitartian on The Ridge, unless you grow it yourself of course.

More a bit later. My wife says I have chores to do...

 

[Sierratim]

I turned onto Tyler Foote Road and came across this area just before the Cruzon Grade;

Remnants of hydraulic mining from nearly 140 years ago.

The North Columbia school house has been the site of popular poetry readings for decades, but not this year. The sign says "Population ? Elevation 3015". Snow country.

After more than an hour of climbing the Cruzon Grade I spied my lunch stop;

Still miles to go, but not as steep, and then some downhill!

Ready for lunch. It's about 12:30PM now.

Originally named Humbug by the earliest miners due to the lack of 'color' they found. Hydraulic mining changed everything.

Hydraulic mining was so successful that at its peak it brought over 10,000 people to Humbug, CA

Hydraulic mining washed rock and dirt into local creeks and rivers that eventually was responsible for flooding in lower valley towns like Yuba City and Marysville. Marysville constructed dikes around the town to help prevent flooding. It was said that hydraulic mining was responsible for a foot per year of fill in San Francisco bay. This contined until 1884 when the Sawyer decision outlawed hydraulic mining. Local hard rock mining continued until closed as a non-essential industry during WWII.

More later. Dinner's ready!

 

[Twin Valley]

To quote Rab H this weekend provided a pair of awesome rides. The smoke from the U.S. fires lessened (thoughts and prayers to our southern neighbors dealing with these devastating forest fires) and we could once again see the peaks along the surrounding ranges (Purcells and Rocky mountains). On Saturday we followed along the grand opening of the legacy trail - a 24 km paved trail on the west side of Lake Windermere - at the half way point before turning back home we managed to find a spot on a balcony of an Invermere pub overlooking the lake that even had Guiness on tap - not as perfect as was poured on on past trips to Europe but a Guiness nevertheless. This morning as I left for some mountain trekking with my brother-in-law who like Stefan loves his Giant Trance e-bike we met this momma black bear and cubs - luckily she was more interested in the berry bushes than my lunch in the back pack. We had a good climb up Fairmont Ridge along "Spirit Trail" single track and even with e-bikes on turbo there were sections my breathing was louder than our bear bells clanging away.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

The Last Ride of This Summer (75 Miles in Mixed Terrain)

The Summer ends today, on Monday. We are not getting summer temperatures anymore, nights are very cold, and the wind is painfully cold when you're riding. Jacek has never ridden for 75 miles (I have once myself), so I developed a route to enable both of us cover such a distance, and, specifically, it was to involve some off-road riding (so Jacek could make some use of Giant Trance E+). (I had replaced tyres in my Vado to make it off-road ready as well).

At 10:39 a.m. on Sunday, we rode off from Jacek's place. I wore full long base layer, padded shorts, cycling jersey, windbreaker, and full-face helmet (the latter protects ears against the wind). Jacek wore even warmer clothes (he hates cold). We were equipped with spare batteries, a lot of isotonic drinks, snacks, and all tools that might save us on a long ride. Can you guess what important item was forgotten by Jacek?

At the midway point. The bridge in Wyszogród (over Rivers Bzura and Vistula) is one of the prettiest in Poland. Unfortunately, the weather was not really photogenic. (Besides, the feces flow to Vistula was eventually stopped; no bad smell in Wyszogród).

Kampinos National Park was a natural environment for the Trance E+ that Jacek rode. Vado with Smart Sam tyres could do on forest paths although the ride was somewhat tiresome, especially on my arms (because of lack of front suspension).

You'd rather like to have full suspension here. I had to stand on pedals often.

On the Bone-Shaker

Jacek is paranoiac regarding to be seen on road, hence his bright, colourful clothes. Here, at a park in Leoncin, he was explaining the bicycle chain stretch by the example of chainsaw. (It seems the Trance chain is to be replaced very soon!)

After I said I had enough of off-road, we switched to asphalt roads. Jacek had repaired the front Maxxis Rekon tyre and made it tubeless again. (Rekon tyres are less aggressive than the stock downhill ones delivered with the Trance, and a little bit less noisy).

The small town of Wyszogród as seen from the bridge (the pic was taken during riding - you are not allowed to stop on that bridge).

It was warmer in the early afternoon. Yet the cold downwind made my neck and shoulders hurt.

Our steeds cooling down. I noticed the motor and the battery can get pretty warm on an intensive ride!

A road-sign read "DEAD END". After some km, we indeed had to ride a narrow single-track and get through a narrow wooden gangway. Walk assistance was of great help there!

My decision to plan an off-road route was just silly. The route-planner told us to ride for many, many kilometres through dirt roads only!

ENOUGH! -- I yelled at the top of my lungs. My arms were hurting, and my bones were shaken enough.

We switched to paved roads. If you think the rest of the trip was easy, you are very very wrong We met more off-road segments...

At 46 km to the destination. I was very hungry at that point. The plan was to replace batteries and get home in Sport/Turbo mode. My battery was replaced. What had Jacek forgotten to take? His battery key...

My brother is an amazing person. He chose to ride in the "It's 0.75 x You" mode from the very beginning and only played with the speed limiter as necessary. Often, he set the limiter to 25 km/h and pedalled as hard as to go past the limiter setting. Then the motor was cutting off and Jacek rode solely on pedal power! The actual distance we covered was 120.9 km (a tad more than 75 miles), and he arrived home with 28% of the 625 Wh battery left! Kudos to him!

After we crossed the Marshall Piłsudski Bridge in Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki at crazy speed of 37 km/h (Jacek increased the speed limit for a while, still in 75% ECO), I asked for a break to put all my clothes on again. The temperature instantly dropped to 10 C (50 F)! We were riding the last 14 km like madmen but that was already Jacek's neighbourhood, so he was in the lead. We did a "victory loop" in his village to make up the distance to true 75 miles...

The last remark I have is: If you want to keep your Vado (Class 3) really fast, use slick tyres such as Electrak 2.0. Replacing them with Smart Sam made my Vado off-road capable but the road speed was greatly reduced. As I could normally go above 40 km/h (25 mph) on Electraks in Turbo mode, I could get at 37 km/h (23 mph) on Sam Smarts only. Everything has its price...

Ride map & stats.