2020 : Our Rides in Words, Photos & Videos

[Stefan Mikes]

Famed polar explorer Ranulph Fiennes is credited with “There is no bad weather, only inappropriate clothing.”

Nobody knows. It is a well known German saying.

 

[Taylor57]

Inspired by @Readytoride I'm going to try adding in a bit of storytelling.
Yesterday was one of those blissful Fall days so I headed out to one of the most beloved cycle rides in the Black Hills, Spearfish Canyon
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There was still plenty of color to be enjoyed in this beautiful canyon though it did decrease in the higher elevations

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I meandered to one of three waterfalls in the canyon and it's most beautiful picnic spot ,Roughlock Falls. The water here is so clear . I visited with a dad and his little boy as they watched the trout .
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Further down is one of the filming sites for Dances With Wolves. Lots of people were here as well having picnics and getting their feet in the frigid waters.

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Headed back to the car, pretty much all downhill so the last 15 miles used no assist, just nice pedaling and the speed that comes from the decline. 30 miles today and each one full of beauty.
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Wonderful pics. Our ebikes our awesome to get us off our couches and office chairs and "smell the roses"

Well done!

 

[SoCalDave]

Nobody knows. It is a well known German saying.

You are correct about nobody knows. An equivalent statement probably initiated at various times in numerous places around the planet where people had to be outdoors in difficult weather. When you look at Ranulph Fiennes incredible record of human powered exploration/endurance in some of the most atrocious weather on the planet, he has certainly earned the right to say it, even if he did not originate the saying!

PS, I really enjoy your photos, maps, writing and geographical/history lessons that accompany your bike trips. You are a good ambassador for travel in Poland, when travel starts happening again.

 

[Taylor57]

Cool to be hangin with smart people

 

[Deleted member 18083]

Home from the sea …

Scarborough Boat Harbour
9.00 am, 45km​

Just imagine heading north to the Great Barrier Reef in that beautiful red motor yacht, the Elena M.

Well, it's not going to be with me at the helm, so dream on!

• 00 km : Kalinga Park — start
• 23 km : Shorncliffe — coffee stop
• 25 km : Sandgate Beach — horses
• 30 km : Ted Smout Bridge
• 40 km : Redcliffe Beach — walker
• 45 km : Scarborough Boat Harbour — red motor yacht
• 60 km : Deception Bay — dog and her people
• 75 km : Murrumba Downs at the end of this ride is where my wife, Jen, who has advanced Alzheimer's, is in residential care. I parked the car near a railway station and made the much shorter return trip by train.

 

[Keith M]

R & M seems to be a quite popular brand Down Under

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One might think a German company would sell to the entire European Union, yet no

Indeed Stefan. Why, I wonder.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Indeed Stefan. Why, I wonder.

I believe there are two factors: The countries listed are rich, so probability of finding well-off potential buyers is high there. The other factor is establishing an authorised and capable dealer in a given area.

Which reminds me of Moustache Bikes, the French company. I was thinking of buying a Moustache e-bike. The Polish representative for Moustache is such a hopeless LBS that they are even incapable to create a proper Web page in their online store with all current models, specs, and price. I would have never ordered a bike from such an LBS; and Moustache refuse selling their bikes to an individual customer in Poland themselves.

 

[Keith M]

I believe there are two factors: The countries listed are rich, so probability of finding well-off potential buyers is high there. The other factor is establishing an authorised and capable dealer in a given area.

Which reminds me of Moustache Bikes, the French company. I was thinking of buying a Moustache e-bike. The Polish representative for Moustache is such a hopeless LBS that they are even incapable to create a proper Web page in their online store with all current models, specs, and price. I would have never ordered a bike from such an LBS; and Moustache refuse selling their bikes to an individual customer in Poland themselves.

Surely Deutschland (home R&M) market is affluent? Re Moustasche. Gee the Friday is appealing. Unfortunately for we antipodeans the nearest dealer is Nouvelle Caladonie, a tiny French 'terrirory' in the South Pacific ocean.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Surely Deutschland (home R&M) market is affluent?

Of course it is... Judging from David's and your stories, at least R&M e-bikes are available for the luckier Ozzies @PDoz here is from your country, @pmcdonald and others are here too. Now, the market situation for e-bikes is bad. Lucky us who bought our steeds at the right time!

I'm not hijacking this thread anymore but tell me what is so specific for Australia you're wearing the neck cover on your rides? Sunshine or insects?

 

[Deleted member 18083]

Two horses …

Sandgate Beach
7.55 am, 25 km​

There, I've exhausted my entire equine knowledge bank!

Thoroughbreds returning from a morning dip in the sea?

What I can comment on with certainty…

• Moreton Bay Cycleway is just visible on the extreme left (25 km on map).
• Ted Smout Bridge (about 3 km with dedicated cycleway) can be seen in the distance from left edge to between the riders.
• It was a most enjoyable ride and, yes Stefan, I did remember long sleeves, a wide brim and SPF50 for UV protection.

 

[RabH]

That is seriously impressive, even with a tail wind. And a top speed of 41.5mph??!! I would need rocket boosters on my bike just to stay up with you.

Its mostly down to my amazing bike but thank you! I think riding a horse 100 miles over 2 days is way more impressive, I never even imagined that was possible!

The winds disappeared today thankfully and for the time of year it wasn't too cold! I only needed 28 miles to reach 5,000 for the year so with 36 wonderful miles covered on amazing roads, I have passed 5,000 miles for the first time since 2012! I never thought I would ever come close to that again, especially after my dad had a stroke in 2013 and life changed instantly! In 2014 I had a viral illness which floored me for half the year!

At 92 years of age dad is still fighting and thanks to my amazing e bike so am I, with the lows come the highs so enjoy every minute you can! As I'm typing this the rain is battering down, so glad I didn't stay out too long!

 

[Deleted member 18083]

Low tide …

Deception Bay, looking NNE
9.40 am, 60 km​

It's not only the couple and their dog who are taking advantage of the tide's retreat: tens of thousands of tiny sand bubbler crabs have been hard at work filtering the sand, eating detritus and plankton, then depositing the discarded material as pellets just a few millimetres across. When the tide returns, all trace of their industry will be removed while the little fellows endure their predicament in a bubble of air down their burrows.

On the 'horizon' (divided into rough quarters)…

• mangroves — looking north
• Beachmere on mainland (low) — between couple and dog
• Bribie Island (even lower)
• entrance to Moreton Bay — looking northeast (towards Alaska?)

And let's not forget our customary photobomber: the distant bank of clouds hanging over the warm East Australian Current.

One more thing: the photo was taken whilst on Moreton Bay Cycleway (as with the horses and motor yacht). Up close and personal with the sea!

And now it's almost 6.00 am, way past time to start Friday's ride!

 

[Deleted member 18083]

Taking a break by the sea …

Moreton Bay Cycleway
Redcliffe Beach, 8.45 am, 40 km​

The photo was taken looking NNE into the open Pacific, here called the Coral Sea (because of the Great Barrier Reef). The low sand island on the right is Moreton Island.

 

[Readytoride]

Two horses …

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Sandgate Beach
7.55 am, 25 km​

There, I've exhausted my entire equine knowledge bank!

Thoroughbreds returning from a morning dip in the sea?...

Probably (based on the exercise riders helmets, saddles, and shortened stirrups on the one horse) these two racehorses are returning from "breezing" (a racehorse's working gallop) on the hard packed sand at the edge of the water. That type of exercise is really good for the legs and tendons. Easier on the horses, too, because they can breeze in a straight line on a beach, evenly distributing the workout over all 4 legs, while at a track they are always galloping a large oval which burdens the inside legs.

And now you know.

 

[Readytoride]

@RabH - congrats on achieving the 5k mileage goal! Those photos are stunning and your area is sincerely beautiful.

 

[Deleted member 18083]

Easier on the horses, too, because they can breeze in a straight line on a beach, evenly distributing the workout over all 4 legs, while at a track they are always galloping a large oval which burdens the inside legs.

Being Queensland horses, these two would be accustomed to racing clockwise (right-handed). Ditto New South Wales, but the remainder of Australia goes the 'wrong' way round (anti-clockwise or left-handed). Was there a bit of pro/anti-colonialism (British, that is) in the history of the sport?

On my way back from this morning's short ride, I pulled over to chat to a lady out for a ride on the rail trail. "Dear old boy needs to take it slowly these days," she said. Well, of course, I had not the slightest idea how to judge a horse's age!

One thing that we all need to know is how to pass a horse on a trail, especially from behind. Slow down, call out, ring a bell, chat to the rider… anything, in fact, to alert the horse without startling it?

 

[Deleted member 18083]

Looking east …

Moreton Bay seen from Shorncliffe
7.30 am, 23 km​

Map on previous page. I didn't get the photos in the right order!

 

[rdowns]

Enjoying these warm fall days so took my bike into the hills again today . Rode through the old ghost town of Hannah, following

the creek as it meandered, rushed, pooled, curved and fell

This great little Forest Service Campground cozies right up next to it. We used to sled there many years ago.

Found a cool old cemetery I never noticed from a car

i have always loved this ancient looking cottage (not truly old but charming nonetheless)

Another remnant from the Homestake Mine and their extensive water system. You can see where they divert the water for the pumping station ( I think that is the correct way to say it.)

Open range area means cows in the yard and here are some being herded along the road. These crossed in front of me, I paused to let them go and then the "cowboy" on his 4 wheeler moved them along.

About 22 miles and ended up with just a light jacket in this higher elevation, not bad for October in the mountains.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Looking east …

A terrific picture!

 

[Deleted member 18083]

The gate …

Brisbane Valley Rail Trail
Wanora, 5.45 am​

How many times have I been through this gate? A thousand?

Every last time – and from either direction! – I've chosen the 'low road'. This is about 6 km, or just over twenty minutes at my speed, from home. Maybe, I'll slip out again this evening before the sun flees to light up the lives of those of us living in the western hemisphere.