D
Deleted member 18083
Guest
A change of direction?
Near Marburg, Queensland
Saratoga Dave
Well-Known Member
Very nice! I’ve done a Chestertown/Brant Lake/back side of Schroon Lake loop a few times, nice riding with a stop at the Adirondack General Store. I never heard of Burnt Pond though, looks like another pretty place.
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
113 km (70 miles) made in Lesser Poland today in 5 hours 7 minutes net ride. 29°C but dry air (I loved it!) Kraków - Nowa Huta - Niepołomice - Bochnia - Wieliczka - Kraków. A fantastic route combining many types of terrain; I managed to miss my way and I unwillingly invaded (theoretically guarded/monitored) ash dumpsite of a powerplant; some would call it "urbex" 
I wasted an hour there.
The DSLR pictures will have to wait by Monday evening Central European time.
Me in the front of the Royal Castle in Niepołomice.
Waiting for lunch (and ice cream) in a nice small restaurant in Niepołomice. For your information, my lunch cost $9.50. I wonder whether food in the States is still very cheap; please tell me.
Ride map.
Ride stats.
II rode the last segment in full Turbo mode. It was the race to reach my destination before the smartphone battery died. I won
I wasted an hour there.The DSLR pictures will have to wait by Monday evening Central European time.
Me in the front of the Royal Castle in Niepołomice.
Waiting for lunch (and ice cream) in a nice small restaurant in Niepołomice. For your information, my lunch cost $9.50. I wonder whether food in the States is still very cheap; please tell me.
Ride map.
Ride stats.
II rode the last segment in full Turbo mode. It was the race to reach my destination before the smartphone battery died. I won
Sierratim
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Nevada City, CA & Paradise Valley, AZ
$9.50 USD for lunch is what we'd expect to pay at a sandwich shop. Eating out is relative,y expensive to buying fresh foods and preparing meals at home. Overall food is a small portion of our monthly expenses.113 km (70 miles) made in Lesser Poland today in 5 hours 7 minutes net ride. 29°C but dry air (I loved it!) Kraków - Nowa Huta - Niepołomice - Bochnia - Wieliczka - Kraków. A fantastic route combining many types of terrain; I managed to miss my way and I unwillingly invaded (theoretically guarded/monitored) ash dumpsite of a powerplant; some would call it "urbex"
The DSLR pictures will have to wait by Monday evening Central European time.
View attachment 57888
Me in the front of the Royal Castle in Niepołomice.
View attachment 57893
Waiting for lunch (and ice cream) in a nice small restaurant in Niepołomice. For your information, my lunch cost $9.50. I wonder whether food in the States is still very cheap; please tell me.
View attachment 57895
Ride map.
View attachment 57896
Ride stats.
II rode the last segment in full Turbo mode. It was the race to reach my destination before the smartphone battery died. I won
steve mercier
Well-Known Member
Today I discovered that the city of New Westminster is closing Front street to traffic on weekends this summer allowing access to this excellent passage between Coquitlam and New West. You can see the Skytrain passing upper left.
steve mercier
Well-Known Member
It was at this spot I also discovered that I had forgotten to charge my 3rd and final battery for this trip. It had only 1 bar when I inserted it into the bike so I limped home from here using a mixture of Eco and Off. zzz...zzzz....zzz
Twin Valley
Well-Known Member
Enjoying our 40th anniversary
with a relaxing ride along a country road that we had to ourselves
RabH
Well-Known Member
@Stefan Mikes Great effort there Stefan, especially in 29 degree heat! 
I hope to get some longer rides in soon as they have finally lifted our travel restrictions but it will be another 2 weeks before I can start the longer rides due to commitments!
@Twin Valley Happy 40th Anniversary!
I left this morning with threatening clouds all around but amazingly it stayed dry for once, no bike cleaning required this time!
It was a very satisfying 40 mile trip of ups and downs as you can see from the profile image, the roads are much busier now but I was mostly on back roads which were such a joy with very little traffic around!
Not many bikes around, I think most people are back at work now! I still have no idea when I'm going back yet but I'm not bothered too much while the government are paying most of my wages, I will make the most of these cycling days while they last! Only another 34 miles to reach 3,000 miles for 2020, what a year this has been!
I hope to get some longer rides in soon as they have finally lifted our travel restrictions but it will be another 2 weeks before I can start the longer rides due to commitments!@Twin Valley Happy 40th Anniversary!
I left this morning with threatening clouds all around but amazingly it stayed dry for once, no bike cleaning required this time!
It was a very satisfying 40 mile trip of ups and downs as you can see from the profile image, the roads are much busier now but I was mostly on back roads which were such a joy with very little traffic around!Not many bikes around, I think most people are back at work now! I still have no idea when I'm going back yet but I'm not bothered too much while the government are paying most of my wages, I will make the most of these cycling days while they last! Only another 34 miles to reach 3,000 miles for 2020, what a year this has been!
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steve mercier
Well-Known Member
Some awesome pics there RabH !@Stefan Mikes Great effort there Stefan, especially in 29 degree heat!
@Twin Valley Happy 40th Anniversary!
I left this morning with threatening clouds all around but amazingly it stayed dry for once, no bike cleaning required this time!
Not many bikes around, I think most people are back at work now! I still have no idea when I'm going back yet but I'm not bothered too much while the government are paying most of my wages, I will make the most of these cycling days while they last! Only another 34 miles to reach 3,000 miles for 2020, what a year this has been!
View attachment 57930
Readytoride
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Virginia
Epic Heat Wave, Epic Lawn Ornaments, Non-Epic Rides
Nothing extraordinary for me lately. Just a few short local rides since we are on our 12th straight day of 90°F+ heat (32°C+), so any rides have to be in the morning, which, unfortunately, is when we are moving and stacking 100s of hay bales for next year's supply of hay. That's a lot of bales stacked, and a lot of sweat expended. If water and fruit juice were alcoholic, I'd be falling down drunk 24/7. Luckily they aren't, nor am I.
Everyone who is smart is staying out of the sun, relaxing inside in the AC, or finding shade to keep cool. Animals, too. Took a shot of a group of very smart Angus cows almost invisible, reclining in the coolness of the deep shade.
Although virus cases are rising everywhere again, the government is reluctant to risk keeping the restless populace under too much lockdown. So a lot of venues are reopening, including sports. While some are going to be engaging athletes without spectators, it turns out polo will be open to hosting spectators. This shot of a polo grounds being watered was taken on a ride last week, the high intensity sprinkler getting the grounds green and ready for the players on horseback.
I bumped into one of my polo playing neighbors during my bike ride yesterday on my gravel road as he was driving his truck home from polo practice at a farm just midway down the respective road. He said, amidst deep, thirsty swigs of his oversized water bottle, that he was exhausted and that it had been exceptionally hot out on the fields. Temps were already well into the 90sF, soon to be topping off at 101°F (38°C) only a few hours later. Their game was scheduled for 7pm that night which, fortunately, would see the temps receding down into the 80s (29°C) by that time. I wished him and his teammates luck. There was no way I'd want to spectate the game in that heat.
The majority of local gravel roads have, for me at least, become less inviting as the heat and dry spell continues. Passing cars kick up a choking cloud of dust, and long stretches of popular road beds have sadly degenerated into teethrattling washboards from the vehicular traffic. The paved roads have suddenly become far more inviting, not only for their smoother surface, but for the speed which allows a much better breeze to keep one's self cool while riding.
But it seems like my picky reasons for avoiding some of my local gravel roads are not a deterrent to the unabated appearance of huge numbers of non-local cyclists coming out "to the countryside" to enjoy a few hours cycling on the gravel byways. Either by themselves or with a companion, or two, or eight, not a day goes by that I don't see all varieties and numbers of bikes zipping down our roads, the riders all sharing that happy smile that says "life on a bike is the best life, the only life".
Truth is, bikes can take us a world of places as fast as we can turn the pedals, but still go slow enough to catch sight, and stop to capture, the eccentricities of human nature, including someone's idea of the perfect lawn ornament, that are certainly "picture worthy". Don't ask. I simply have no answers.
A ride the other day turned a milestone for my 1 1/2 month old Vado: 500 miles logged. The 1 1/2 year old LaFree has 2,982 miles on it. Not too bad for a 2020 Mother's Day present, and for a 2019 Mother's Day present as well.
Nothing extraordinary for me lately. Just a few short local rides since we are on our 12th straight day of 90°F+ heat (32°C+), so any rides have to be in the morning, which, unfortunately, is when we are moving and stacking 100s of hay bales for next year's supply of hay. That's a lot of bales stacked, and a lot of sweat expended. If water and fruit juice were alcoholic, I'd be falling down drunk 24/7. Luckily they aren't, nor am I.
Everyone who is smart is staying out of the sun, relaxing inside in the AC, or finding shade to keep cool. Animals, too. Took a shot of a group of very smart Angus cows almost invisible, reclining in the coolness of the deep shade.
Although virus cases are rising everywhere again, the government is reluctant to risk keeping the restless populace under too much lockdown. So a lot of venues are reopening, including sports. While some are going to be engaging athletes without spectators, it turns out polo will be open to hosting spectators. This shot of a polo grounds being watered was taken on a ride last week, the high intensity sprinkler getting the grounds green and ready for the players on horseback.
I bumped into one of my polo playing neighbors during my bike ride yesterday on my gravel road as he was driving his truck home from polo practice at a farm just midway down the respective road. He said, amidst deep, thirsty swigs of his oversized water bottle, that he was exhausted and that it had been exceptionally hot out on the fields. Temps were already well into the 90sF, soon to be topping off at 101°F (38°C) only a few hours later. Their game was scheduled for 7pm that night which, fortunately, would see the temps receding down into the 80s (29°C) by that time. I wished him and his teammates luck. There was no way I'd want to spectate the game in that heat.
The majority of local gravel roads have, for me at least, become less inviting as the heat and dry spell continues. Passing cars kick up a choking cloud of dust, and long stretches of popular road beds have sadly degenerated into teethrattling washboards from the vehicular traffic. The paved roads have suddenly become far more inviting, not only for their smoother surface, but for the speed which allows a much better breeze to keep one's self cool while riding.
But it seems like my picky reasons for avoiding some of my local gravel roads are not a deterrent to the unabated appearance of huge numbers of non-local cyclists coming out "to the countryside" to enjoy a few hours cycling on the gravel byways. Either by themselves or with a companion, or two, or eight, not a day goes by that I don't see all varieties and numbers of bikes zipping down our roads, the riders all sharing that happy smile that says "life on a bike is the best life, the only life".
Truth is, bikes can take us a world of places as fast as we can turn the pedals, but still go slow enough to catch sight, and stop to capture, the eccentricities of human nature, including someone's idea of the perfect lawn ornament, that are certainly "picture worthy". Don't ask. I simply have no answers.
A ride the other day turned a milestone for my 1 1/2 month old Vado: 500 miles logged. The 1 1/2 year old LaFree has 2,982 miles on it. Not too bad for a 2020 Mother's Day present, and for a 2019 Mother's Day present as well.
Last edited:
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
No time to post the Lesser Poland stories yet, but...
Something for @Readytoride and @Anna
Equestrians met on a nasty trail.
-- Have you ever ridden a horse? -- the badass seen at the front asked me.
-- Oh, yes, I rode our Kary bareback when I was a little kid!
-- We see you're riding an e-bike. I use to ride horses and bikes, but not the electric kind.
--You must have missed something in your life I wish you would never need to ride an e-bike! A lot of health to you!
(It took me 15 seconds to jump off the Vado, remove the DSLR camera from the pannier, ask for the permission to shoot the photo and actually make it. Shot with a 135 mm, 1975 Pentax telephoto lens)
Something for @Readytoride and @Anna
Equestrians met on a nasty trail.
-- Have you ever ridden a horse? -- the badass seen at the front asked me.
-- Oh, yes, I rode our Kary bareback when I was a little kid!
-- We see you're riding an e-bike. I use to ride horses and bikes, but not the electric kind.
--
(It took me 15 seconds to jump off the Vado, remove the DSLR camera from the pannier, ask for the permission to shoot the photo and actually make it. Shot with a 135 mm, 1975 Pentax telephoto lens)
Mulezen
Well-Known Member
The horse folk around my farm seem ultra polite and definitely appreciate my bell. They always have a ‘good morning’ for me.
A question?...I’ve thought of carrying equine treats, the ones I give Hank the donkey and his flighty young painted filly GF. Would giving a few of these to Horses and donkeys in my travels bother the human owners?
A question?...I’ve thought of carrying equine treats, the ones I give Hank the donkey and his flighty young painted filly GF. Would giving a few of these to Horses and donkeys in my travels bother the human owners?
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
70 Miles with Vado Over Lesser Poland
(Will you object if I post many photos?)
Why "Lesser" Poland? Very long time ago in the history, Poland was a small land of the Polan and Vistulan tribes, with the first historical prince Mieszko I, who made Poland recognized as a Christian country in 966, with the first King Bolesław I The Brave (crowned 1025) and occupying a narrow strip of land extending from southeast to northwest. The northwestern part was called the Greater Poland and the southeastern one was the Lesser Poland. These names of the two regions are in use until this day. Cracow (Kraków) in Lesser Poland became the capital of Poland in 1040, under the Duke Casimir I The Restorer (who failed to become the King in those times of turmoil).
I set off with my Vado from North Cracow at 8:42 a.m. sharp. I will spare you my "urbex story" when I missed my way and was making off-road circles in the guarded & monitored area of a power-plant I lost an hour there.
On a floodbank in Kraków Nowa Huta (New Steelworks) quarter of Cracow.
Wonderful ponds created in the former gravel pits. The area is private, with a single camping & beach and it is possible to pay the owners for fishing. No swimming or fishing elsewhere and under no condition.
A female cyclist riding a River Vistula floodbank.
A magical place. When I saw a similar photo taken by my friend Kalon before, I decided I needed to duplicate his metric century trip, using his own digital route map.
Me happy in Niepołomice.
In a small royal city of Niepołomice. Our good King Casimir The Great built a castle there in the half of 14th century. The castle was a summer residence of Polish Kings before the capital city was moved to Warsaw in 1596. We call King Casimir "the great" because that very King didn't wage any wars (unless he was forced to) but rather he used to rebuild Poland. "Casimir found Poland made of wood and left it made of brick" as a famous motto makes us to remember the good King.
Gorgeous Niepołomice. I could stay there for whole Summer.
At the best restaurant in Niepołomice. If you do not take a seat before 12 p.m., you'll be sent off to the other restaurant that is not that good. The reason is the locals have regular lunches at "Jakubowe Smaki" (eating out everyday is not that common in Poland) and there is no vacant table during the lunch time. I was offered the worst (but still vacant) table. Note: I take my diet seriously: A small portion of potato pancake with goulash and a small portion of ice-cream!
Lesser Poland sports -- I think -- the best bike path system in Poland. Here, at the "bike station" by the Velo 4 "bike freeway" in Niepołomice Forest. A spacious shelter, a toilet, a bike self-repair station, etc, etc. Unluckily, mosquitoes know a lot of people gather there I had a long talk about e-bikes with the family from Silesia. Unfortunately, the pater familias cannot afford buying as many as four e-bikes for the whole family even if he dreams about that.
At the Velo 4. Long kilometres of perfect, straight tarmac bike paths. The couple of roller-blade skaters had a chat with me. Fancy how many kilometres do these people make a day? 80-100 km (50-60 miles)!
An awesome hanging gangway over River Raba:
Wild roses near to the foot-bridge.
The foot-bridge is 155 m (508 ft) long and wobbly.
Polish Kings owned land, cities, and industry. One of the most profitable industries was salt-mining as salt used to be very expensive. (Poland and Denmark are the only two European countries to mine salt today). Here, the "spa salt mine" in Bochnia, that proudly calls itself "The Royal Mining City". It started to be very warm when I rode up Bochnia. My return route began there.
By misunderstanding with the route planner app, I was directed onto some hills. Here, the "Via Regis Antiqua", a bike trail leading through the roads old Polish Kings used long time in the past. I found my "speed" Vado was not as a perfect climber as a proper e-MTB would be but there always is the Turbo mode, you know...
If you looked carefully, you might be able to see Tatra Mountains from there.
Eventually, I managed to hit a proper highway. Tenths of climbs... If I lived in the area, it is not I wanted to own an e-bike. I would have to own it!
The Royal City of Wieliczka was the most beautiful of all of them. The city sports a world's wonder, the Wieliczka Salt Mine, which is one of the most astonishing places to see (you are taken by a lift deep below ground level to see the actual mine, which is a wonder of Nature and Art). Pictured are: The Salt Mine Castle (top), or the 17th c. offices of the salt-mine, and the Middle Castle, now a restaurant.
My personal best: 113 km in 5 h 7 mins. The last 18 km ride segment meant a race to get to my destination still with some energy in the smartphone battery. It was an epic ride in Super Sport and Full Turbo modes through the largest arteries of Cracow, moving with the traffic. I won the race. As soon as I saved my Endomondo record, the battery died
The ride stats and map.
(Will you object if I post many photos?)
Why "Lesser" Poland? Very long time ago in the history, Poland was a small land of the Polan and Vistulan tribes, with the first historical prince Mieszko I, who made Poland recognized as a Christian country in 966, with the first King Bolesław I The Brave (crowned 1025) and occupying a narrow strip of land extending from southeast to northwest. The northwestern part was called the Greater Poland and the southeastern one was the Lesser Poland. These names of the two regions are in use until this day. Cracow (Kraków) in Lesser Poland became the capital of Poland in 1040, under the Duke Casimir I The Restorer (who failed to become the King in those times of turmoil).
I set off with my Vado from North Cracow at 8:42 a.m. sharp. I will spare you my "urbex story" when I missed my way and was making off-road circles in the guarded & monitored area of a power-plant
I lost an hour there.On a floodbank in Kraków Nowa Huta (New Steelworks) quarter of Cracow.
Wonderful ponds created in the former gravel pits. The area is private, with a single camping & beach and it is possible to pay the owners for fishing. No swimming or fishing elsewhere and under no condition.
A female cyclist riding a River Vistula floodbank.
A magical place. When I saw a similar photo taken by my friend Kalon before, I decided I needed to duplicate his metric century trip, using his own digital route map.
Me happy in Niepołomice.
In a small royal city of Niepołomice. Our good King Casimir The Great built a castle there in the half of 14th century. The castle was a summer residence of Polish Kings before the capital city was moved to Warsaw in 1596. We call King Casimir "the great" because that very King didn't wage any wars (unless he was forced to) but rather he used to rebuild Poland. "Casimir found Poland made of wood and left it made of brick" as a famous motto makes us to remember the good King.
Gorgeous Niepołomice. I could stay there for whole Summer.
At the best restaurant in Niepołomice. If you do not take a seat before 12 p.m., you'll be sent off to the other restaurant that is not that good. The reason is the locals have regular lunches at "Jakubowe Smaki" (eating out everyday is not that common in Poland) and there is no vacant table during the lunch time. I was offered the worst (but still vacant) table. Note: I take my diet seriously: A small portion of potato pancake with goulash and a small portion of ice-cream!
Lesser Poland sports -- I think -- the best bike path system in Poland. Here, at the "bike station" by the Velo 4 "bike freeway" in Niepołomice Forest. A spacious shelter, a toilet, a bike self-repair station, etc, etc. Unluckily, mosquitoes know a lot of people gather there
I had a long talk about e-bikes with the family from Silesia. Unfortunately, the pater familias cannot afford buying as many as four e-bikes for the whole family even if he dreams about that.At the Velo 4. Long kilometres of perfect, straight tarmac bike paths. The couple of roller-blade skaters had a chat with me. Fancy how many kilometres do these people make a day? 80-100 km (50-60 miles)!
An awesome hanging gangway over River Raba:
- No bike riding
- No motorised vehicles
- Monitoring active
- Up to 20 people allowed on the bridge
- No running
- You have to walk your bike.
Wild roses near to the foot-bridge.
The foot-bridge is 155 m (508 ft) long and wobbly.
Polish Kings owned land, cities, and industry. One of the most profitable industries was salt-mining as salt used to be very expensive. (Poland and Denmark are the only two European countries to mine salt today). Here, the "spa salt mine" in Bochnia, that proudly calls itself "The Royal Mining City". It started to be very warm when I rode up Bochnia. My return route began there.
By misunderstanding with the route planner app, I was directed onto some hills. Here, the "Via Regis Antiqua", a bike trail leading through the roads old Polish Kings used long time in the past. I found my "speed" Vado was not as a perfect climber as a proper e-MTB would be but there always is the Turbo mode, you know...
If you looked carefully, you might be able to see Tatra Mountains from there.
Eventually, I managed to hit a proper highway. Tenths of climbs... If I lived in the area, it is not I wanted to own an e-bike. I would have to own it!
The Royal City of Wieliczka was the most beautiful of all of them. The city sports a world's wonder, the Wieliczka Salt Mine, which is one of the most astonishing places to see (you are taken by a lift deep below ground level to see the actual mine, which is a wonder of Nature and Art). Pictured are: The Salt Mine Castle (top), or the 17th c. offices of the salt-mine, and the Middle Castle, now a restaurant.
My personal best: 113 km in 5 h 7 mins. The last 18 km ride segment meant a race to get to my destination still with some energy in the smartphone battery. It was an epic ride in Super Sport and Full Turbo modes through the largest arteries of Cracow, moving with the traffic. I won the race. As soon as I saved my Endomondo record, the battery died
The ride stats and map.
Last edited:
Sierratim
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Nevada City, CA & Paradise Valley, AZ
Are all Polish cities so clean?70 Miles with Vado Over Lesser Poland
(Will you object if I post many photos?)
Why "Lesser" Poland? Very long time ago in the history, Poland was a small land of the Polan and Vistulan tribes, with the first historical prince Mieszko I, who made Poland recognized as a Christian country in 966, with the first King Bolesław I The Brave (crowned 1025) and occupying a narrow strip of land extending from southeast to northwest. The northwestern part was called the Greater Poland and the southeastern one was the Lesser Poland. These names of the two regions are in use until this day. Cracow (Kraków) in Lesser Poland became the capital of Poland in 1040, under the Duke Casimir I The Restorer (who failed to become the King in those times of turmoil).
I set off with my Vado from North Cracow at 8:42 a.m. sharp. I will spare you my "urbex story" when I missed my way and was making off-road circles in the guarded & monitored area of a power-plant
View attachment 57997
On a floodbank in Kraków Nowa Huta (New Steelworks) quarter of Cracow.
View attachment 57999
Wonderful ponds created in the former gravel pits. The area is private, with a single camping & beach and it is possible to pay the owners for fishing. No swimming or fishing elsewhere and under no condition.
View attachment 58000
A female cyclist riding a River Vistula floodbank.
View attachment 58001
A magical place. When I saw a similar photo taken by my friend Kalon before, I decided I needed to duplicate his metric century trip, using his own digital route map.
View attachment 58016
Me happy in Niepołomice.
View attachment 58002
In a small royal city of Niepołomice. Our good King Casimir The Great built a castle there in the half of 14th century. The castle was a summer residence of Polish Kings before the capital city was moved to Warsaw in 1596. We call King Casimir "the great" because that very King didn't wage any wars (unless he was forced to) but rather he used to rebuild Poland. "Casimir found Poland made of wood and left it made of brick" as a famous motto makes us to remember the good King.
View attachment 58004
Gorgeous Niepołomice. I could stay there for whole Summer.
View attachment 58005
At the best restaurant in Niepołomice. If you do not take a seat before 12 p.m., you'll be sent off to the other restaurant that is not that good. The reason is the locals have regular lunches at "Jakubowe Smaki" (eating out everyday is not that common in Poland) and there is no vacant table during the lunch time. I was offered the worst (but still vacant) table. Note: I take my diet seriously: A small portion of potato pancake with goulash and a small portion of ice-cream!
View attachment 58006
Lesser Poland sports -- I think -- the best bike path system in Poland. Here, at the "bike station" by the Velo 4 "bike freeway" in Niepołomice Forest. A spacious shelter, a toilet, a bike self-repair station, etc, etc. Unluckily, mosquitoes know a lot of people gather there
View attachment 58008
At the Velo 4. Long kilometres of perfect, straight tarmac bike paths. The couple of roller-blade skaters had a chat with me. Fancy how many kilometres do these people make a day? 80-100 km (50-60 miles)!
View attachment 58009
An awesome hanging gangway over River Raba:
View attachment 58010
- No bike riding
- No motorised vehicles
- Monitoring active
- Up to 20 people allowed on the bridge
- No running
- You have to walk your bike.
Wild roses near to the foot-bridge.
View attachment 58011
The foot-bridge is 155 m (508 ft) long and wobbly.
View attachment 58012
Polish Kings owned land, cities, and industry. One of the most profitable industries was salt-mining as salt used to be very expensive. (Poland and Denmark are the only two European countries to mine salt today). Here, the "spa salt mine" in Bochnia, that proudly calls itself "The Royal Mining City". It started to be very warm when I rode up Bochnia. My return route began there.
View attachment 58013
By misunderstanding with the route planner app, I was directed onto some hills. Here, the "Via Regis Antiqua", a bike trail leading through the roads old Polish Kings used long time in the past. I found my "speed" Vado was not as a perfect climber as a proper e-MTB would be but there always is the Turbo mode, you know...
View attachment 58014
If you looked carefully, you might be able to see Tatra Mountains from there.
View attachment 58015
Eventually, I managed to hit a proper highway. Tenths of climbs... If I lived in the area, it is not I wanted to own an e-bike. I would have to own it!
View attachment 58017
The Royal City of Wieliczka was the most beautiful of all of them. The city sports a world's wonder, the Wieliczka Salt Mine, which is one of the most astonishing places to see (you are taken by a lift deep below ground level to see the actual mine, which is a wonder of Nature and Art). Pictured are: The Salt Mine Castle (top), or the 17th c. offices of the salt-mine, and the Middle Castle, now a restaurant.
View attachment 58018
My personal best: 113 km in 5 h 7 mins. The last 18 km ride segment meant a race to get to my destination still with some energy in the smartphone battery. It was and epic ride in Super Sport and Full Turbo modes through the largest arteries of Cracow, moving with the traffic. I won the race. As soon as I saved my Endomondo record, the battery died
View attachment 58019
The ride stats and map.
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Surprisingly, yes, they are. It is uncommon to get a flat tyre
Anna
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
Dallant
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
You need to do a book!70 Miles with Vado Over Lesser Poland
(Will you object if I post many photos?)
Why "Lesser" Poland? Very long time ago in the history, Poland was a small land of the Polan and Vistulan tribes, with the first historical prince Mieszko I, who made Poland recognized as a Christian country in 966, with the first King Bolesław I The Brave (crowned 1025) and occupying a narrow strip of land extending from southeast to northwest. The northwestern part was called the Greater Poland and the southeastern one was the Lesser Poland. These names of the two regions are in use until this day. Cracow (Kraków) in Lesser Poland became the capital of Poland in 1040, under the Duke Casimir I The Restorer (who failed to become the King in those times of turmoil).
I set off with my Vado from North Cracow at 8:42 a.m. sharp. I will spare you my "urbex story" when I missed my way and was making off-road circles in the guarded & monitored area of a power-plant
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On a floodbank in Kraków Nowa Huta (New Steelworks) quarter of Cracow.
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Wonderful ponds created in the former gravel pits. The area is private, with a single camping & beach and it is possible to pay the owners for fishing. No swimming or fishing elsewhere and under no condition.
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A female cyclist riding a River Vistula floodbank.
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A magical place. When I saw a similar photo taken by my friend Kalon before, I decided I needed to duplicate his metric century trip, using his own digital route map.
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Me happy in Niepołomice.
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In a small royal city of Niepołomice. Our good King Casimir The Great built a castle there in the half of 14th century. The castle was a summer residence of Polish Kings before the capital city was moved to Warsaw in 1596. We call King Casimir "the great" because that very King didn't wage any wars (unless he was forced to) but rather he used to rebuild Poland. "Casimir found Poland made of wood and left it made of brick" as a famous motto makes us to remember the good King.
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Gorgeous Niepołomice. I could stay there for whole Summer.
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At the best restaurant in Niepołomice. If you do not take a seat before 12 p.m., you'll be sent off to the other restaurant that is not that good. The reason is the locals have regular lunches at "Jakubowe Smaki" (eating out everyday is not that common in Poland) and there is no vacant table during the lunch time. I was offered the worst (but still vacant) table. Note: I take my diet seriously: A small portion of potato pancake with goulash and a small portion of ice-cream!
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Lesser Poland sports -- I think -- the best bike path system in Poland. Here, at the "bike station" by the Velo 4 "bike freeway" in Niepołomice Forest. A spacious shelter, a toilet, a bike self-repair station, etc, etc. Unluckily, mosquitoes know a lot of people gather there
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At the Velo 4. Long kilometres of perfect, straight tarmac bike paths. The couple of roller-blade skaters had a chat with me. Fancy how many kilometres do these people make a day? 80-100 km (50-60 miles)!
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An awesome hanging gangway over River Raba:
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- No bike riding
- No motorised vehicles
- Monitoring active
- Up to 20 people allowed on the bridge
- No running
- You have to walk your bike.
Wild roses near to the foot-bridge.
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The foot-bridge is 155 m (508 ft) long and wobbly.
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Polish Kings owned land, cities, and industry. One of the most profitable industries was salt-mining as salt used to be very expensive. (Poland and Denmark are the only two European countries to mine salt today). Here, the "spa salt mine" in Bochnia, that proudly calls itself "The Royal Mining City". It started to be very warm when I rode up Bochnia. My return route began there.
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By misunderstanding with the route planner app, I was directed onto some hills. Here, the "Via Regis Antiqua", a bike trail leading through the roads old Polish Kings used long time in the past. I found my "speed" Vado was not as a perfect climber as a proper e-MTB would be but there always is the Turbo mode, you know...
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If you looked carefully, you might be able to see Tatra Mountains from there.
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Eventually, I managed to hit a proper highway. Tenths of climbs... If I lived in the area, it is not I wanted to own an e-bike. I would have to own it!
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The Royal City of Wieliczka was the most beautiful of all of them. The city sports a world's wonder, the Wieliczka Salt Mine, which is one of the most astonishing places to see (you are taken by a lift deep below ground level to see the actual mine, which is a wonder of Nature and Art). Pictured are: The Salt Mine Castle (top), or the 17th c. offices of the salt-mine, and the Middle Castle, now a restaurant.
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My personal best: 113 km in 5 h 7 mins. The last 18 km ride segment meant a race to get to my destination still with some energy in the smartphone battery. It was an epic ride in Super Sport and Full Turbo modes through the largest arteries of Cracow, moving with the traffic. I won the race. As soon as I saved my Endomondo record, the battery died
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The ride stats and map.
steve mercier
Well-Known Member
Stefan which of your mid- drive bike motors feels more powerful?
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