Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
So, the Forum was down for a pretty long while?
My ICRI Commutes
Monday 12th and Tuesday 13th of June, 2023
Now, I could use my Vado SL as a commuter e-bike to visit the Industrial Chemistry Research Institute for my professional purposes two times this week! I am a process engineer working in the process simulation business; one of our customers and my first employer company asked for a two-day training in the software we sell and support. As you know, I am reluctant to drive my old car. It is not only about the car but also about the all-day traffic jam in and around Warsaw, and difficulty to find a parking place in Warsaw. (For certain reasons, using public transportation in my case was not practical at all!)
Hint: I would love to commute on my full power Vado (no sweat) but tell me how would you transport a heavy e-bike in a small lift/elevator of an old high-rise? I could put my lightweight Vado SL into that small compartment vertically! And I could carry that e-bike with a single hand downstairs!
I could afford looking semi-formal during my training sessions: trainers, blue jeans, shirt, and a jacket, and the helmet for the ride, of course (I carried the laptop and everything else I needed for work in a Specialized Tailwind pannier).
No pictures from the training: it was totally successful. The first day was easy for riding: warm, dry, and nice wind to cool me on the ride.
I completed the afternoon with late lunch in the Milk Bar "Sady". What you can see in the picture, could be well served 40 or 50 years ago!
Upon returning home, I found a shipment with my new Specialized Echelon II helmet While women buy shoes and hand-bags, I cannot resist buying a new helmet!
The next day started with rain showers. Oh-oh. I just pulled a thin windbreaker onto the jacket, took my Abus helmet with a raincover and I pedalled against the drizzle and headwind. It was cold! I only repeated to myself: "You are setting off for a 160 miler this Saturday! Practise endurance!" Not that hot coffee at a service station and drying my gloves with a hand dryer didn't help a little! The afternoon was dry and sunny; my clothes could dry during the training!
Another lunch at "Sady": Sorrel Soup with Egg, Pork Meatball with Potato, and a salad. I won't be at "Sady" again for a few months so I had to take the opportunity!
Whichever way I tried, it was always 50 km return trip I have put several labels for Warsaw. The city is pretty extensive with a big part on the right bank of the Vistula (while the central quarters are located on the left hand bank tall escarpment of the river). I need to mention the history of Warsaw as a big city only dates back to 1916. The historical Warsaw was a really small city by area because it had been surrounded by a ring of Russian fortresses making sure those damn Poles would not start yet another independence uprising again!
My ICRI Commutes
Monday 12th and Tuesday 13th of June, 2023
Now, I could use my Vado SL as a commuter e-bike to visit the Industrial Chemistry Research Institute for my professional purposes two times this week! I am a process engineer working in the process simulation business; one of our customers and my first employer company asked for a two-day training in the software we sell and support. As you know, I am reluctant to drive my old car. It is not only about the car but also about the all-day traffic jam in and around Warsaw, and difficulty to find a parking place in Warsaw. (For certain reasons, using public transportation in my case was not practical at all!)
Hint: I would love to commute on my full power Vado (no sweat) but tell me how would you transport a heavy e-bike in a small lift/elevator of an old high-rise? I could put my lightweight Vado SL into that small compartment vertically! And I could carry that e-bike with a single hand downstairs!
I could afford looking semi-formal during my training sessions: trainers, blue jeans, shirt, and a jacket, and the helmet for the ride, of course (I carried the laptop and everything else I needed for work in a Specialized Tailwind pannier).
No pictures from the training: it was totally successful. The first day was easy for riding: warm, dry, and nice wind to cool me on the ride.
I completed the afternoon with late lunch in the Milk Bar "Sady". What you can see in the picture, could be well served 40 or 50 years ago!
- Cold Soup with Egg
- "Breton Beans" strongly seasoned by me with available salt, ground sweet pepper and Herbal Pepper and a bun
- Cucumber salad
- "Tymbark" apple and peach juice.
Upon returning home, I found a shipment with my new Specialized Echelon II helmet While women buy shoes and hand-bags, I cannot resist buying a new helmet!
The next day started with rain showers. Oh-oh. I just pulled a thin windbreaker onto the jacket, took my Abus helmet with a raincover and I pedalled against the drizzle and headwind. It was cold! I only repeated to myself: "You are setting off for a 160 miler this Saturday! Practise endurance!" Not that hot coffee at a service station and drying my gloves with a hand dryer didn't help a little! The afternoon was dry and sunny; my clothes could dry during the training!
Another lunch at "Sady": Sorrel Soup with Egg, Pork Meatball with Potato, and a salad. I won't be at "Sady" again for a few months so I had to take the opportunity!
Whichever way I tried, it was always 50 km return trip I have put several labels for Warsaw. The city is pretty extensive with a big part on the right bank of the Vistula (while the central quarters are located on the left hand bank tall escarpment of the river). I need to mention the history of Warsaw as a big city only dates back to 1916. The historical Warsaw was a really small city by area because it had been surrounded by a ring of Russian fortresses making sure those damn Poles would not start yet another independence uprising again!