2020 : Our Rides in Words, Photos & Videos

[Prairie Dog]

I always enjoy reading your post trip reviews Stefan. So descriptive and unique particularly the commentary about the mayo factory. Had me running to the pantry to gather fixings for a BLT!

 

[Twin Valley]

another ride in the east Kootenays - Windermere (Canadian version) valley - as the roads and trails ice up one can keep a faster pace going up than down but the e-bike is such a motivator to keep riding through the winter months where my regular mtn bike would have been stored for the season by now

 

[Camac]

Eleven of us turned out for our regular Sunday ride yesterday. All on ebikes, we rode the Paeroa to Thames section of the Hauraki Rail Trail. A fraction under 70k round trip. The trail is flat and straight for long sections with crossings for the farmers to move their herds from grazing to milking shed. Temperature was 23C and we were up and back between milkings so the track was dry.
We stopped on the wharf at Thames for a fish-n-chip lunch and watched the Shags diving for fish. While there one of the other customers appeared to be moving to the beach for summer but had too much furniture and not enough car left over. Here's his solution

For the return journey we appointed our Youngest rider (at 65) as leader and she got the bit between her teeth and went like hell. Half way back when she stopped we sacked her and appointed a 70 year old. Our average age would be around 75 and as tail-end-charley I was making hard work of it. A too large icecream got me going again although our new (old) leader had learnt the same habits of the previous one.
Some months ago David Berry posted a photo of the entrance to the Karangahake tunnel on the Paeroa to Waihi section of the Hauraki rail trail. The photo showed a not too wide bridge crossing a river, then a road and then straight into a tunnel. Here is the other end of that tunnel. If you zoom in you can see a light truck passing over the top of the tunnel and that white light is what everybody has been looking for. The light at the end of the tunnel (a mile away)

 

[Prairie Dog]

A perfect spot to couch surf!

 

[Deleted member 18083]

Better than going to work …

Bramble Bay, Redcliffe Peninsula
9.00 am; 30 km​

Today was predicted to be hot… so there was really only one place to go, the Moreton Bay Cycleway. It was certainly cooler but still muggy with a sea mist that was not keen to disperse.

I decided to 'forget about' photos until I saw this lone paddle-boarder who appeared reluctant to make the most of the calm waters and cross to the other side of Bramble Bay. And then an angler came down with buckets of a size that clearly indicated the confidence she had in her ability!

On the right is one of those watery 'fun' parks that has spent most of 2020 deflated. Better times ahead? Not on a Monday morning!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

You're extreme with your trip distances, David!

 

[Rás Cnoic]

In Quest Of New Routes

I admit I haven't ridden for a week. A lot of work, the darkness coming fast, cold weather... Excuses. I got worried to see my body mass going up! So I set up a 40+ mile route made the way I perhaps could see some roads I haven't been to yet on my weekly visit to see my daughter?

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I made the first stop at the 22nd kilometre in Kraśnicza Wola. There is a guy living in the house behind my back who could see me riding e-bikes over there last winter. I met him in the summer when he approached me to talk about e-bikes there

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Izdebno Kościelne (Church Izdebno) is the village I used to pass for many times but I've never taken a photo of the wooden church there.

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A ruined building in the Cegłów Common. There are many passers-by here. When I ride in the place, the locals can see a Sci-Fi e-bike ridden by an Alien here. People actually stare at me whenever I'm riding there

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Our Mazovia Voivodship (province) is quite well-off, with a lot of European funding. A lot of new good roads have been constructed recently. I happened to ride up here through one of few gravel roads remaining. The name of the village is Żaby (Frogs)

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It was a nice November day. Up to 12 C, mild wind, sunny. Still, I had to wear balaclava, goggles and gloves.

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A lot of area there had been "de-farmed", that is, officially reassigned from agricultural to housing use. If anybody of you wants a 4.9 acre homestead there, just give the owner an offer

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The Białuty mayonnaise plant. I don't recommend their product to anyone, as Białuty Mayonnaise is completely tasteless. I personally love the Kielecki. Hellmann's can do as well.

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In quest of new routes. That specific road was not hopeless. I had to ride two segments of dirt road "paved" with the demolition debris. Hated that. There was also a road segment made of high quality asphalt suddenly broken by 250 metres of dirt road because "some locals put their private claim on the road ownership"

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Sugar-beet, or Poland's "grey gold". Sugar production campaign is at full speed now. Although corn-syrup is more and more used, beet-sugar is one of the most important Polish products. I know a thing or two about it as I was working as the sugar-plant shift-manager-deputy near to the end of my University years.

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The ride metrics. I was using Specialized Smart Control to make the ride on the single battery in reasonable time. Smart Control is just perfect! It left me with 10% of battery at the end of the ride. The calories burnt is something I entered by hand from my Vado's computer.

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The ride map. I have to admit it was very hard to find any new route in the neighbourhood. Not after many thousand of kilometres ridden there...

Look how flat your region is!! The direct opposite of my area. Fascinating info there Stefan. After nearly 9 months of Covid/lockdowns/no international travel, these glimpses into other rides, terrain and weather make me really want to travel.

 

[RabH]

I caught a break in the awful weather today, still very windy but not a problem for a powerful e bike! The first 25 miles were in a lovely 30mph tailwind, the opposite on the way back of course but with the extra battery I could afford to use active assist all the way back! Lots of ups and downs as always and it was so much fun, it was just a joy to get out again!

I tried a new road today and I was greeted with this wonderful sight!

Just up the hill from there and this was the scene, muck in lads!

The next 2 days are looking awful but Thursday is looking promising so hopefully another 50 miler coming up!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

still very windy

30mph

I cannot stand reading that!

 

[RabH]

I cannot stand reading that!

You wouldn't like Scotland much then, 45mph winds tomorrow!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I wouldn't probably liked Stavanger Norway either

 

[RabH]

I wouldn't probably liked Stavanger Norway either

Similar climate to Scotland but colder! I don't mind winds when they aren't cold!

 

[Rás Cnoic]

Similar climate to Scotland but colder! I don't mind winds when they aren't cold!

Yes we had 45+ mph gusts on Saturday down here on Dartmoor as the storm hit. I was blown home on my ride, though the first half was pretty brutal with wind and rain in face. I was wet and muddy and happy as the wind drove me home though floods and flying leaves! Had assist off most of the way home, which was good as I'd used far more then expected battling headwinds on way out.

 

[Prairie Dog]

@RabH - Highland cattle are certainly interesting creatures with their shaggy coats. Says something about the hardy weather that you folks receive on that side of the pond.

 

[Mulezen]

You're extreme with your trip distances, David!

Says the pot calling the kettle black

 

[RabH]

@RabH - Highland cattle are certainly interesting creatures with their shaggy coats. Says something about the hardy weather that you folks receive on that side of the pond.

The highlands of Scotland do get it bad, we are lucky in central Scotland as we very seldom get very low temps!

@Rás Cnoic Winds like that are scary though, especially if its a crosswind! I'm sure having it behind you was a blast though!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Says the pot calling the kettle black

Oh no! See how long trips are ridden by David almost everyday! 120 km (75 miles) so often!
RabH's riding a lot, too. I presently need to sit at the office and make some money )

Similar climate to Scotland but colder! I don't mind winds when they aren't cold!

Stavanger is on Golfstrom and it is not colder than your part of Scotland. Winds are terrible there, though. You call 0 degrees C "cold"?

 

[RabH]

Oh no! See how long trips are ridden by David almost everyday! 120 km (75 miles) so often!
RabH's riding a lot, too. I presently need to sit at the office and make some money )


Stavanger is on Golfstrom and it is not colder than your part of Scotland. Winds are terrible there, though. You call 0 degrees C "cold"?

I miss my longer rides, they just aren't possible at the moment! Zero is warm I only really feel the cold around -5C! Windchill is the worst, I hate cold winds!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

So, there is no frost in Stavanger. However, winds of 50 mph and stronger are a norm there. Once I lived in a good hotel in Stavanger (when I say "good" and "Norway" in one sentence it means "excellent"). The wind was so strong it was making the room window deflect, and that let cold air in. I had to find a countermeasure. Took a hair-dryer from the bathroom and turned it on for 10 minutes...

 

[Mulezen]

Oh no! See how long trips are ridden by David almost everyday! 120 km (75 miles) so often!
RabH's riding a lot, too. I presently need to sit at the office and make some money )

For another eBike I’m sure