Learning To Ride Slowly (Or, a KPN Ride With Agata)
Agata, an architect. She likes riding off-road, she loves riding in the Kampinos National Park (KPN) -- of which all secrets she knows, and she rides a nice cyclocross traditional bike. (Yes, her bike's aggressive tyres seem to be too narrow but we are working on that now)
So rode we off from her place in Warsaw at 10:00 a.m with a promise we would be riding mostly off-road. Out of respect to the Traditional Cyclist, I rode my Trance E+ solely in Eco mode, even decreasing the assistance to 75% later to equalise chances.
We were promised sunny weather. No. It was dreary and it even rained a little. We both wore good clothes though (with a reserve, just in case) and we felt warm (except of our infrequent stops).
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This time, I took my repaired Pentax DSLR with me. The first planned stop occurred at the "Biker's Pub", a cafe made by cyclists for cyclists. We had coffee there, and Agata could eat apple plum-pie there (I could not, darn diabetes!)
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At the Biker's Pub.
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Now, in the middle of pandemics, the ruling party PiS managed to infuriate many Poles, especially women with their new anti-abortion measures. Mass protests driven mostly by the youth happen everyday. The motto of the protests is ***** *** (or, the Movement of Eight Asterisks) that translates to F**K PiS.
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Joe Cocker.
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Agata.
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Don't even try to make me smile I'm actually smiling here, and that still makes me Mr. Serious When I don't smile though, I look bad...
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As an architect, Agata is interested with places, buildings, and history. The National Forest Service bought out many villages inside the KPN making the locals move to other places. Villages have been demolished. All because of the idea that inhabited areas should be returned to Nature. Stupid idea if you ask me. It looks someone is interested to keep this specific house.
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Agata talking to an old man, one of few survivors. He was telling her some interesting facts about the area.
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The Epic Crash. I'm standing just after getting up after falling with my e-bike. We climbed onto one of very few ride-able hills in the KPN and continued downhill. I was pursuing Agata. As a heavy man riding an MTB, I rode much faster than she did. Suddenly, her bike buried itself in deep sand. A crash was imminent. I pulled brake levers hard and graciously fell together with my Monster, avoiding the crash Believe or not but I'm the World Champion of Falling With The Bike No damage, no pain, nothing. I just stood up as if nothing had happened at all! Remember: Wear helmet (and gloves). On a fall, stay on your bike with hands on the grips, feet planted on the pedals, move your elbows and knees inside, and hide your head between your shoulders. It works! (The bike will take the impact, not you).
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We rode out late. With slow off-road speed, we were jeopardised with returning through the forest at dark. Agata suggested a shortcut. It turned out to be crowded with hikers, cyclists, children and unleashed dogs! As we call it: "It's like Marszałkowska Street during rush hours"! We had to ride at the pace of the slowest hikers, walk our bikes over gangways, or just ride through deep mud... It was just 2400 metres but it got me more tired than the whole ride!
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Low average speed made miracles on the battery consumption. I finished the ride with 56% of the 625 Wh Giant battery! Notice the speed > 20 mph 24.4 km/h where I had to avoid the collision