2023 - Our Rides in Words, Photos, Maps and Videos
- Thread starter Saratoga Dave
- Start date
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
What app is this?
keithj69
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Central Florida
BlackHand
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Western WA
As usual when the weather is half decent I biked the 2 miles to church, then 'got lost' for about 2 hours on my way home.
It's hard to tell from the picture, but this is about a 14% grade up wet leaves. I was surprised the Johnny Watt's hung in there pretty well until I slipped 2 pedal strokes in a row about 6 feet from the top. Not bad for tires with about 5500 miles on them.
I was a little surprised to see the I was close to 3000ft of climbing as I neared home, so I went around the block to add one last climb
The timing getting home was just about perfect: I was just a little damp, but by the time I had changed and gotten a snack the rain had settled in and the leaves were too wet for me to do anything about the yard. Oh well !
It's hard to tell from the picture, but this is about a 14% grade up wet leaves. I was surprised the Johnny Watt's hung in there pretty well until I slipped 2 pedal strokes in a row about 6 feet from the top. Not bad for tires with about 5500 miles on them.
I was a little surprised to see the I was close to 3000ft of climbing as I neared home, so I went around the block to add one last climb
The timing getting home was just about perfect: I was just a little damp, but by the time I had changed and gotten a snack the rain had settled in and the leaves were too wet for me to do anything about the yard. Oh well !
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Prairie Dog
Well-Known Member
- Region
- Canada
- City
- Red Deer
Flight over to Japan went off without a hitch and the boxed bike made it through to its final destination. Should arrive at the family home in a couple of days so I'm hoping to get a ride in asap.
No end to the variety of food that you can select from here. Dinner tab came to a little over 4000 yen or $26 USD including tax.
Shot of the Tokyo Skytree taken from our hotel room in Oeno.
No end to the variety of food that you can select from here. Dinner tab came to a little over 4000 yen or $26 USD including tax.
Shot of the Tokyo Skytree taken from our hotel room in Oeno.
Jeremy McCreary
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Carlsbad, CA
The sunsets here just won't quit! Yesterday's was the 4th jaw-dropper in a row:
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Prairie Dog
Well-Known Member
- Region
- Canada
- City
- Red Deer
Gorgeous!
Prairie Dog
Well-Known Member
- Region
- Canada
- City
- Red Deer
Captured this sunrise emerging over the Tokyo skyline as we were about to leave for the countryside yesterday morning.
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
On The Benefits Of The Healthy Competition, Or Jerzy's Big Day!
I have a great pleasure to announce my close friend Jerzy Bańkowski (76) has just completed 10,000 km on his pedal bike this year!
Some say Strava is just a snobbery. I do not think so. It all started when our friend, Professor Bogusław got jealous of my achievements, and started riding his road bike everyday and all year long, sometimes several times a day (12,365 km YTD). Our mutual friend, Ania The Roadie followed the suit (11,264 km YTD). I was riding hard to at least be close to my esteemed competitors and Jerzy was riding in our footsteps Necessary to mention, the last days were actually last for my friend, as he cannot risk catching pneumonia during cold weather. So, even if it is hard to call our efforts "competing" (how can, say, a 76-yo traditional cyclist compete with an e-biker? It is another discipline!), Strava helped us ride more, and be motivated!
KUDOS to Jerzy! He needed no e-bike to achieve what he has achieved. And he will never ride an e-bike!
Friends. As Jerzy got old, he didn't even think he would make friends with people younger than him, and younger than me. Now, he has many friends, is liked, and respected!
I have a great pleasure to announce my close friend Jerzy Bańkowski (76) has just completed 10,000 km on his pedal bike this year!
Some say Strava is just a snobbery. I do not think so. It all started when our friend, Professor Bogusław got jealous of my achievements, and started riding his road bike everyday and all year long, sometimes several times a day (12,365 km YTD). Our mutual friend, Ania The Roadie followed the suit (11,264 km YTD). I was riding hard to at least be close to my esteemed competitors
and Jerzy was riding in our footsteps Necessary to mention, the last days were actually last for my friend, as he cannot risk catching pneumonia during cold weather. So, even if it is hard to call our efforts "competing" (how can, say, a 76-yo traditional cyclist compete with an e-biker? It is another discipline!), Strava helped us ride more, and be motivated!KUDOS to Jerzy! He needed no e-bike to achieve what he has achieved. And he will never ride an e-bike!
Friends. As Jerzy got old, he didn't even think he would make friends with people younger than him, and younger than me. Now, he has many friends, is liked, and respected!
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RabH
Well-Known Member
Amazing effort by you both, StefanOn The Benefits Of The Healthy Competition, Or Jerzy's Big Day!
I have a great pleasure to announce my close friend Jerzy Bańkowski (76) has just completed 10,000 km on his pedal bike this year!
View attachment 166434
Some say Strava is just a snobbery. I do not think so. It all started when our friend, Professor Bogusław got jealous of my achievements, and started riding his road bike everyday and all year long, sometimes several times a day (12,365 km YTD). Our mutual friend, Ania The Roadie followed the suit (11,264 km YTD). I was riding hard to at least be close to my esteemed competitors
KUDOS to Jerzy! He needed no e-bike to achieve what he has achieved. And he will never ride an e-bike!
View attachment 166435
Friends. As Jerzy got old, he didn't even think he would make friends with people younger than him, and younger than me. Now, he has many friends, is liked, and respected!
Jerzy is such an inspiration, big respect to him!
Jeremy McCreary
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Carlsbad, CA
So it really is the Land of the Rising Sun!
Twin Valley
Well-Known Member
fooferdoggie
Well-Known Member
not something you see every day. they cross at 90 degrees lights and signals so someone messed up bad. gonna be a firing.
Prairie Dog
Well-Known Member
- Region
- Canada
- City
- Red Deer
Yersterday was my first official ride in Japan and I was longing to get back in the saddle after almost a full week off. Sai decided that a good way to shake off the cobwebs would be a ride up to Minobusan, one of the holiest of Buddhist temples in Japan. So off we rode. Minobusan's shukubo (temple lodges) were established as simple accommodation for novice monks and pilgrims visiting the sacred mountain. Over the centuries, shukubo have evolved and now welcome all travellers.
I was a short 8.6 km to the top but involved a good deal of climbing over a number of switchbacks. My legs were feeling the burn half way up but I finally settled in and got my second wind.
Heading along the main road through town. No bike infrastructure to speak of but traffic which was mostly local is understandably light. I imagine it gets much busier when the giant weeping Sakura (cherry blossom) up at the top of Minobusan is in full bloom.
Passing under the Somon Gate. The outer gate of the Kuon-ji Temple which was built in 1665 and crafted by the head priest of the temple at the time. The three Kanji symbols read ‘open, meeting, gate’. It is a message to those who pass through the gate that having faith in the sacred teachings will open their minds and allow them to reach enlightenment.
Cruising up to Monai Shopping Street which is usually crowed with Buddhist worshippers during pilgrimages.
More climbing as Sai puts into high gear.
One of several switchbacks leading up to the top of Minobusan.
The final push to the top.
The Sanmon Gate and main gate to the Kuonji Temple. The Bodaitei’s 287 steps seen in the center of Sanmon is the stairway to enlightenment up to the temple. We’ve walked this same route several times but cycling takes it to a whole new level. On this occasion we decided to forgo the stairs and headed back down toward home instead. I knew that I would foolishly pay the price the next morning if I chose to do the climb.
The main hall of Kuon-Ji Temple. It’s considered disrespectful to ride along this sacred promenade but we much preferred walking our bikes to take in the spectacular surroundings and deep history of this hallowed site.
The large bell (ogane) signals the start of service each morning and early evening. The striking five storey pagoda was built in early Edo (1602-1868). It was destroyed in a fire in 1875 but was rebuilt to its existing glory in 2009. All of the material was locally sourced and it pillars were harvested from trees grown on Mt Minobu.
Kuon-Ji was designated a registered tangible cultural property in 2018. I can certainly see why.
We head back home along the local backroads.....
...and settle down to a heartwarming bowl of traditional oden (one pot stew), grilled fish, miso soup and rice.
I was a short 8.6 km to the top but involved a good deal of climbing over a number of switchbacks. My legs were feeling the burn half way up but I finally settled in and got my second wind.
Heading along the main road through town. No bike infrastructure to speak of but traffic which was mostly local is understandably light. I imagine it gets much busier when the giant weeping Sakura (cherry blossom) up at the top of Minobusan is in full bloom.
Passing under the Somon Gate. The outer gate of the Kuon-ji Temple which was built in 1665 and crafted by the head priest of the temple at the time. The three Kanji symbols read ‘open, meeting, gate’. It is a message to those who pass through the gate that having faith in the sacred teachings will open their minds and allow them to reach enlightenment.
Cruising up to Monai Shopping Street which is usually crowed with Buddhist worshippers during pilgrimages.
More climbing as Sai puts into high gear.
One of several switchbacks leading up to the top of Minobusan.
The final push to the top.
The Sanmon Gate and main gate to the Kuonji Temple. The Bodaitei’s 287 steps seen in the center of Sanmon is the stairway to enlightenment up to the temple. We’ve walked this same route several times but cycling takes it to a whole new level. On this occasion we decided to forgo the stairs and headed back down toward home instead. I knew that I would foolishly pay the price the next morning if I chose to do the climb.
The main hall of Kuon-Ji Temple. It’s considered disrespectful to ride along this sacred promenade but we much preferred walking our bikes to take in the spectacular surroundings and deep history of this hallowed site.
The large bell (ogane) signals the start of service each morning and early evening. The striking five storey pagoda was built in early Edo (1602-1868). It was destroyed in a fire in 1875 but was rebuilt to its existing glory in 2009. All of the material was locally sourced and it pillars were harvested from trees grown on Mt Minobu.
Kuon-Ji was designated a registered tangible cultural property in 2018. I can certainly see why.
We head back home along the local backroads.....
...and settle down to a heartwarming bowl of traditional oden (one pot stew), grilled fish, miso soup and rice.
DaveMatthews
Well-Known Member
Fantastic!
The video was stunning! Sometimes I want to skip around/ahead on vids but I was riveted watching yours. The scenery was killer, and the descent was awesome!
The video was stunning! Sometimes I want to skip around/ahead on vids but I was riveted watching yours. The scenery was killer, and the descent was awesome!
Prairie Dog
Well-Known Member
- Region
- Canada
- City
- Red Deer
Thanks Dave. So glad you enjoyed the footage. There was no possible way to bomb down the descents with such narrow streets and blind corners. It’s hard to believe tour buses make their way along the same roads. Minobu is such a beautiful place to visit or stay and I couldn’t ask for a better hostess.
More riding today as we visit one of Sai’s aunts to deliver a few Canadian souvenirs and likely more climbing to come so I’ve been told.
BlackHand
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Western WA
On The Benefits Of The Healthy Competition, Or Jerzy's Big Day!
I have a great pleasure to announce my close friend Jerzy Bańkowski (76) has just completed 10,000 km on his pedal bike this year!
View attachment 166434
Some say Strava is just a snobbery. I do not think so. It all started when our friend, Professor Bogusław got jealous of my achievements, and started riding his road bike everyday and all year long, sometimes several times a day (12,365 km YTD). Our mutual friend, Ania The Roadie followed the suit (11,264 km YTD). I was riding hard to at least be close to my esteemed competitors
KUDOS to Jerzy! He needed no e-bike to achieve what he has achieved. And he will never ride an e-bike!
View attachment 166435
Friends. As Jerzy got old, he didn't even think he would make friends with people younger than him, and younger than me. Now, he has many friends, is liked, and respected!
Hey that's great! I just passed 5000 km ytd this morning.
JGcycle
Well-Known Member
- Region
- Canada
- City
- Saint John
Congrats on passing the 5k mark.Hey that's great! I just passed 5000 km ytd this morning.
