2020 : Our Rides in Words, Photos & Videos

[Cowlitz]

We hit 104 yesterday. I went on a ride this morning when it was around 90 to go see what was at the airport. Some fires broke out yesterday and they were moving pretty fast. So, there are at least 5 helicopters flying out of our airport. I saddled up Old Snuffy and headed that way. Unfortunately, the ride to the airport was not pleasant. Apparently the trucks hauling gravel for the chip seal work are using that route also. That would be regular dump trucks. trucks with trailers, and belly dumps. All went by me. I resorted to turbo mode to get up a hill where they could pass me safely. It was not fun.

As I got to the airport, I saw an orange helicopter heading north. Then saw this.

And watched it fly off to the northeast.

This helicopter was a twin of the one I saw flying away as I rode up to the airport.
The

Then, at the other end were the two Department Of Natural Resources helicopters which have been here for a couple of weeks. They were getting started up to go to work. Behind were the SEATS, Single Engine Air Tankers (I think) which have pontoons on them and scoop up water from lakes to dump on fires. They are awkward looking beasties.

Now I'll tell my fire story which involves a helicopter.

My fire fighting was done during the 1970s and 80s. I was a timber person so it wasn't my day job. For this story, I went on a 20 person crew made up of whoever was left at the district. It was a very busy year for fires in Oregon. We were sent to a fire and it wasn't too bad. After a week, we were getting ready to go home. Then, a dry lightning storm came through and we were sent to another area of Oregon. We were being flown into an area where we dug line and then hiked out. One day, the helicopter came in with smoke billowing out and landed. The mechanics tinkered with it, and we were told to get on. I suggested that they take it out on a test flight first and got snarled at and told to GET ON. So, I did. These were the olive green Hueys and they seemed worse for wear. A really big guy got on and the helicopter kind of settled. Then, to help with my uneasiness, and this ruined any joy at all of riding in helicopters, a crewmember said, "Just think, we're flying low bid on a surplus helicopter. We did make it to the landing area OK, but I never felt comfy in one again.

 

[Mulezen]

In that green Huey I would’ve been sitting on my helmet out of habit.
90 degrees this morning as I rode out to a breakfast nook for a breakfast sandwich 8 miles away...that sat mighty heavy as the temperature climbed the Next 15miles. Happy for AC.

 

[Art Deco]

Another attempt to bike on water:

I Rode the Manta5 Hydrofoil eBike, and it's Even More Epic Than it Looks | Digital Trends

I took a break from the madness of the CES 2020 showfloor to test ride the Hydrofoiler XE-1: a hydrofoil ebike from New Zealand upstart Manta5. It was exactly as fun as it sounds.

www.digitaltrends.com

 

[Deleted member 18083]

The ice and helicopters page?

Southern Alps, NZ​

Time out on a not-so-recent cycling and tramping trip to New Zealand – mid-summer, I might add (seriously big mountains over there).

We all know that Stefan wouldn't have opted out of riding up there on his Monster.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

We all know that Stefan wouldn't have opted out of riding up there on his Monster.

Stefan likes this (2014):

 

[Anna]

No "next time" I feel no desire for technical riding! Only fire-roads!

Stephan, any damage to the Monster after tossing it over the log? . (I am inspired to take more ‘chances’ with my Intrigue.) What a wonderful read... at times I held my breathe and laughed out loud!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Stephan, any damage to the Monster after tossing it over the log?

Actually, no. These MTBs are tough beasts (unless they are made of carbon fibre, heheh) There are some scratches on the motor "rockguard" where the bike was rubbing against the rock when it was being pulled over boulders but it is a normal thing (that's why it's called rockguard). Again, I'm delighted with the capabilities of the "full" e-MTB, especially during the fast descents in rocky terrain. The ride was so smooth, and the bike was maintaining the traction and stability the whole way! It's worthwhile to add I rode with the tyre inflation pressure of 1.5 bar (22 psi) only, which was improving traction and made the ride even softer.

On the first day, I was riding with the front and rear suspension in the "Firm" setting by my mistake (I discovered it only on the next morning by looking at o-rings on both dampers). Even that didn't make the ride unpleasant as "firm" suspension still works. The second day was ridden with the suspension in "Open" mode, which certainly helped on the Great Owl rocky descent (2/3 of the front suspension travel was used, and more on the rear damper).

How did I damage my DSLR camera? Quite interesting thing. It was in the Ortlieb pannier mounted on Topeak Tetra Rack M2, the pannier cushioned with Ortlieb Inserts, the camera and lenses inside, the whole thing was properly closed with provided strings and the flap was closed. On the Silver Road descent, I was riding fast when I heard a BANG! and stopped immediately. The pannier was laying on the rocks. I said something nasty, lifted the pannier, attached it to the rack and continued the descent the whole way down to Rzeczka. The point is, the pannier underwent so dramatic acceleration that its top locks "thought" the pannier was to be detached by a human. I opened the bag to find the very heavy wide-angle lens with the bayonet mount torn off from the camera, and the camera's magnesium alloy case was cracked! Honestly, I did't care. Such things do happen. (No damage to the lenses, as I took only steel ones on the trip).

On last Tuesday, I went to the authorised Ricoh/Pentax shop in Warsaw. The camera might be repaired, I wonder what the cost would be (I'll be told by the shop). (I would have not taken the Pentax camera on the ride but I needed quality pictures from both mountain ranges).

The rideable part of the Yellow/Green trail that led me to believe the track was to be made -- and it ended with the "point of no return". (Upon my return to the hotel, I discovered my hands and bike grips were stained with tree-resin! At least that was pleasant smell).

Just before it got really tough. I liked the (blue) Race Face Ride platform pedals. These have no pins but plastic contact points that hold feet firmly in place but don't hurt shins or calves as much as the steel pins in other pedals do.

It is hard to me to get the fact all people in Silesia spoke German only 75 years ago. This interesting building in Szczytna (Rückers) is a former Renaissance mansion house of 1545 (when the Austrian House of Habsburg was ruling the area). Unfortunately, the building is neglected and serves no purpose.

The Silesian architecture is very much different from one found in ethnic Poland although churches of the same era are similar to one another.

 

[Deleted member 18083]

Shadows on the shed …

Borallon, Brisbane Valley​

Being caught outside after sunset doesn't worry me nearly so much as riding directly into or away from a low sun.

The shadows cast onto the old shed's corrugated steel cladding should have warned me: Go home! (and relax with one of those 'after ride beverages' that are celebrated in another EBR Forum thread). Forty minutes after taking this photo, I was riding in the opposite direction directly into a blinding fireball! Some people have to learn the hard way.

And so ended Wednesday.

 

[RabH]

Yet another windy day but not as bad as yesterday, only 30mph this time so I ventured a little further! The tailwind was very enjoyable on the way out, I was flying along! The headwind on the way back was a different story of course, my battery took a pounding with the wind and the hills! 676 miles now covered this month, I should pass 700 on Friday (rain tomorrow), the last time I passed 700 in a month was March 2012, that was 752 miles so I won't be beating my record as we are getting a 1 day heatwave, 26C is too hot for me!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

as we are getting a 1 day heatwave, 26C is too hot for me!

Haha! We had 31 C yesterday, and the 25 C we're experiencing now seems too cold to me

 

[PatriciaK]

Sunny, windy 12.2 mile morning on Whidbey Island.

Saw some llama and goats

The West side of the island is frequently foggy in the morning

And, someone left their shoes on the rocky beach

Back on the east side of the island, the sun was shining!

Didn't ride very fast, between the wind, the hills, and my DH negotiating both on his acoustic dino bike , but it was a pleasant way to spend the morning!

 

[Cowlitz]

Why we have working forests and why we keep our forests stocked. Rode by this place this morning and this is just a fraction of their fencing. The crop of cannabis must not be seen.

 

[ruffruff]

End of the road! Can't go any further on the Mn Greenway Trail.
It ends at the Mississippi River in St. Paul

 

[E-Wheels]

End of the road! Can't go any further on the Mn Greenway Trail.
It ends at the Mississippi River in St. PaulView attachment 60642

Maybe an extra meter

 

[Alaskan]

Great riding weather on Tuesday for a 40 mile loop with my roady buddies. Heading out on a longer ride with them today.

 

[PatriciaK]

End of the road! Can't go any further on the Mn Greenway Trail.
It ends at the Mississippi River in St. PaulView attachment 60642

Cool fenders!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Great riding weather on Tuesday for a 40 mile loop with my roady buddies. Heading out on a longer ride with them today.

How does look it like in practice? Is there any speed conflict between you and your road-cycling friends?

 

[Twin Valley]

Great riding weather on Tuesday for a 40 mile loop with my roady buddies. Heading out on a longer ride with them today.

View attachment 60670

View attachment 60671

View attachment 60674

no privacy for your riding buddy in the background watering the grass, ah, our senior gotta go when you gotta go, too funny

 

[Stefan Mikes]

A question to anybody having the experience:

A 84 km (50+ miles) route on roads, in mountains, elevation gain of 1500 m (4500 ft). I would make it on Vado with two 600 Wh batteries. Feasible in 1 day?

 

[Deleted member 18083]

84 km route on roads, in mountains, elevation gain of 1500 m (4500 ft). I would make it on Vado with two 600 Wh batteries.

Feasible in one day?

Furthest on 1 x 500 Wh (Trek Powerfly 5) : 101 km
Furthest on 2 x 500 Wh (R&M Homage) : 148 km

On these rides the batteries ran flat and the motor stopped. (I had a backup battery in my Ortlieb E-Mate pannier bag.)

Furthest on the Homage with the Trek PowerPack as backup (not exhausted) : >180 km.

At the end of yesterday's ride (133.5 km) the Homage's Kiox indicated that I had around 10 km left. Actually, I had contemplated riding back to the car (another 70 km) but that would have kept me out well after dark. I was feeling tired and needed an excuse.: train fare (~US$1.70) well spent.

Stefan, one of the factors that needs to be factored in is fatigue at the end of the ride. For example, had I continued yesterday I'd have had to use the third battery at the same rate as the regular two. No way! The additional battery is there to be used up as if there's no tomorrow, even if there always is a 'tomorrow' where ebikes are concerned!