2020 : Our Rides in Words, Photos & Videos

[RabH]

Another lovely local ride today, I never get bored of these roads and I have ridden them for over 50 years! Siesta time for the locals! Except the beautiful white one which was waiting patiently for a partner to go for a trot!

Just over 32 miles in darkening skies with very little wind, I did actually get a little rain near the end of my ride but not even enough to get wet! I was very lucky indeed as just after I returned home the heavens opened (this was supposed to happen after 1pm but arrived 2 hours early) Some days you get lucky and this was my day!

 

[steve mercier]

Found another cool road today. Plus a bonus spur to a little cabin.

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Is that your cabin?

 

[steve mercier]

Oh, no, Steve, the stock saddle in the Giant is a grim joke I changed the saddle on the next day after the purchase. The suspension is set up totally properly (I was testing it again even yesterday). It must be the too high pressure in the tyres!

If you have a shock pump you can experiment with dropping the pressure way down the in the shocks. Then slowly add more until you get it where you like. Even if the sag is in the recommended zone it does not mean you must keep it there.

 

[Cowlitz]

My technique for riding on washboard sections, which might be what Stefan called grated, is to slow down and vocalize an AAHHHHHHHH loudly so you can hear your voice rattling along with the bike.

There is a paper written somewhere about how washboard is formed. It actually has to do with the shape of the soil bits and cannot be stopped from forming, unless the road is paved. I tried being a road engineer for a short time and then went back to forestry which was less time in front of a computer and more time in the woods.

 

[Cowlitz]

Is that your cabin?

I think that is one of the huts that can be rented to use in the winter? There is a hut system for cross country skiers to use in that area.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

Is that your cabin?

I think that is one of the huts that can be rented to use in the winter? There is a hut system for cross country skiers to use in that area.

Yes, that is the original Rendezvous Hut. You can rent them (there are five of them) out (winter or summer) at http://rendezvoushuts.com . Sometimes during the summer months you may encounter cows.

My cabin is slightly larger and has running water, electricity, laundry, wifi, and a garage.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

If you have a shock pump you can experiment with dropping the pressure way down the in the shocks. Then slowly add more until you get it where you like. Even if the sag is in the recommended zone it does not mean you must keep it there.

All sorted out, Steve! Will report.

My technique for riding on washboard sections, which might be what Stefan called grated, is to slow down and vocalize an AAHHHHHHHH loudly so you can hear your voice rattling along with the bike.

Had that before I applied advices from the Forum friends! That is, today

 

[Saratoga Dave]

My cabin is slightly larger and has running water, electricity, laundry, wifi, and a garage.

And beer, of course.

 

[Twin Valley]

Today we went to town (Nanton, Alberta) to pedal with our grand-daughter - this small town (pop 1800) houses a Lancaster bomber that still fires up on special occasions among other smaller fighter planes of a bygone era; many local farmers and retired folks have put in countless volunteer hours as the command centre has gradually expanded and become a destination point for tourists - more importantly for those of us who like to bike are the well developed network of bike trails throughout the town and area - riding with our grand-daughter got me thinking that as seniors this social isolation experience has to be a lot easier for us than for children who suddenly are growing up without school and friends - we do our best to offer outdoor experiences for our grandkids as (for them and us) alternatives to our personal devices at home, we also just made it back from our trek when the sky opened up

 

[Saratoga Dave]

Nice hot day today! Great 39 (really? Couldn't do 40?) mile ride today out in the countryside across the river.

At least there's some water in the Tomhannock Reservoir, unlike the Erie Canal yesterday.

Here's one for you, Stefan, with that super duper Trance of yours. Up you go!

Not a lot of gravel on this ride, but miles of these lovely secondary roads, no traffic to speak of and nice views coming off the ridges (Rennselaer County is NOT flat). This is actually a pretty good downhill, the picture doesn't begin to show it.

 

[steve mercier]

Here is a quaint little old fixer upper...the cabin ,not the wife.

 

[steve mercier]

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Before The Online Business Meeting... (Vado Morning Ride)


My brother Jacek insists we ride a 109-km trip on the coming Saturday (it was me who decided what the route should be). With gradually growing trip distances, I need to more and more carefully tune the assistance levels to complete the trip still on the battery on one hand, and to keep up with the "Speedy Jacek" on the ride on the other. Testing, testing, testing. The other thing I was cautious of was whether decreasing the tyre pressure would significantly improve the ride comfort. Full success with both matters, and everything at another day of perfect riding weather!

With the online business meeting scheduled to 13:30, it required a very very quick morning ride!

My favourite stop at the 12th kilometre.

A shortcut through a variety of local roads. Reducing tyre pressure from 4 to 3 bar (58 -> 43 psi) resulted in much smoother ride, especially on the gravel. No "AAAAHHH!" anymore @Cowlitz!

Construction workers building yet another bike path in Młochów. The photo's blurry because of my speed on the Vado

The 1810 palace in Młochów, an example of a 19 c. Mazovian countryside estate residence. Sadly enough, the borough who is the property owner has no idea what to do with the building, so it is in sorry state now. I feel the palace will be reconstructed; it just requires time and money.

The park itself is maintained to the perfection. I could see gardeners working permanently there. There even are new bike lanes in the park!

Every lamp-post in the park is decorated with a flower pot. Respect for the gardeners!

I ended up the ride with 50% battery left, which gives the conservative range of 65 km (some 40 mi) per battery (45% assistance, 80% max motor power). The max speed was 46 km/h (over 28 mph).

Of course I was back well before the meeting started. The wind was weak.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

After The Business Meeting Ended... (Trance Evening Ride)

It is unusual for me to have two bike rides on the same day. I haven't had enough yet. I re-tuned the suspension of the Monster in the early morning and reduced the tubeless tyre pressure from 2.2 to 1.8 bar (32 -> 26 psi). The ride's become plush. Thank you all who helped me resolve the vibration issue, including Steve Mercier! I rode in the nearest forest, Las Młochowski.

It was an erratic ride, no plan, just zooming inside and outside the forest, constantly changing the ride direction, riding fast and enjoying the ride. Pure fun! A Pole would describe my trip as "Stefan riding as a drunken hare" Yes, I was drunken with joy!

Abundance of bike paths in the "Garden City of Podkowa Leśna", which is the tiniest of Mazovian towns (population 3300). Three towns around: Podkowa Leśna, Milanówek and Brwinów hold the status of Garden Cities, which, among others means the houses can only have one upper storey and no flat roofs are allowed.

Podkowa Leśna (lit. Horseshoe Grove) has been established in 1920-30s with the "Garden City" concept in mind from the very beginning. It is the only Garden City of the three that is completely green. I'm lucky to live in the greenest part of the neighbouring Brwinów.

The easiest way to start the adventure in Las Młochowski is to ride one of its many fire-roads.

I was decidedly not alone in the Forest. These two young girls looked gorgeous! I wish I were younger...

I rode completely off-road, cutting the forest on the grass outside of paths sometimes. I found myself in the clearing where lumberjacks have just finished their work but the site was not cleaned yet... I had to ride over that... Believe me or not but the Giant Trance E+ can ride over fallen logs easily, as long as the log is not too thick (so the bottom bracket doesn't hit the wood). I even rode through a thicker log! What a fun!

31 years ago, on June 4th 1989, Poland ceased to be a Communist country and joined the Free World (I voted for that!). Taking a rest and having some snacks at the Borough Office in Nadarzyn. As you can see, it was a windless evening.

One of several single tracks in the Młochów Forest. These are very easy but at least lead through some "hillies"

That log lay too high to be ridden over. Ah, I've replaced the saddle with the "sporty" Specialized one I had in my collection. The best decision ever: that saddle has been made for the MTB riding (but decidedly not for the Vado).

The Trance vs. cobblestone. And the winner is... the Trance! Again, thank you for your suggestions to re-tune the suspension and decrease the tyre pressure!

Pre-WW2 Officers' Casino in Podkowa Leśna, now a restaurant.

Post-ride beer

I'd never fancy you could zoom through the forest so fast!

 

[FlatSix911]

Sunset ride... a beautiful evening in the San Francisco Bay Area.

 

[Deleted member 18083]

In case of emergency …

Gateway Motorway (Highway One), Brisbane​

I ran out of time today!

The Gateway Bikeway alongside Highway One took me from A to B in fifteen minutes instead of the thirty minutes that the quiet, scenic route through the wetlands beyond the hill would have entailed. Sometimes, necessity prevails.

Note the distant line of cumulus clouds over the warm waters of the South Pacific. (The east coasts of continents have warm currents; the west coasts cold.)

And the 'hill' mentioned above… it's actually the revegetated mound of the Brisbane garbage tip which, probably, should be referred to as a 'resource recovery facility' in the cliche-ridden vernacular of today's local government bodies. But no more snide comments: the Brisbane City Council provides me with excellent bikeways even though we pay our council rates elsewhere (Ipswich).

 

[Stefan Mikes]

It is still amusing me David the Australian driving rules are British

 

[RabH]

Yet another ride today, 3 days in a row which doesn't happen very often so I will enjoy it while I still can! Just under 38 very enjoyable miles today in blustery but dry conditions! I didn't really have a plan so just went with the flow and it ended up working out perfectly, I love it when it all comes together and you get home very contended indeed! I made a friend today, isn't he/she a beauty? I think it liked my bike, if only I knew horse language...

This was my 61st ride already this year, only 8 more to match last years total, all due to the lockdown of course! 2,521 miles now covered so I only need another 1,378 to match last years total Next ride should be Sunday, all going well and weather permitting!

 

[Deleted member 18083]

A video from Riese & Müller …

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R&M Load 60 in Norway​

(Click for story, photos & video.)​

 

[Mr. Coffee]

Oh boy...