Jeremy McCreary
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Carlsbad, CA
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
Memories from Płock
A week without e-bikes! I and my Hungarian colleague/friend both went to Płock, a city 120 km northwest of Warsaw to provide training to the oil company last week.
The City On The Vistula
Płock was the capital of Poland for 59 years since 1079. Later, it became the capital of one of three ducal provinces of Mazovia before the land was incorporated in the Crown of Poland in 1529. The Cathedral Hill here.
The main part of Płock is located on a high escarpment of the Vistula. Here, the view on the river and the low part of the city on the other bank.
Because of the wealth of the oil company, the old part of the city has been made gorgeous in recent years. The only thing I dislike there is the fact all the Old Town has been paved with cobblestone!
Riders Zone (Specialized Płock)
A new broom sweeps clean The new CEO of Specialized (formerly the Dyson man) is making changes to the bicycle company to make it profitable. Our Mazovia is a 5 million people province with 3 million in greater Warsaw and 117 thousand in the second richest city of Płock. There were many "Specialized dealers" who did not sell the quota. The new broom swept all the dealers clean only leaving four of them: three in Warsaw and one in Płock. I had to see that single unicorn of Płock! How come that LBS could survive the purge?
I rode an e-scooter to get there. Funnily, the battery on the TIER died exactly at the moment I stopped by the Riders Zone!
I got, like, stunned when I got inside! What the store had on the floor was mostly e-bikes, and those were almost all Specialized e-bike models in different sizes and colours!
The store owner, a nice and sporty grey bearded man approached me, and we had a long and interesting talk. I introduced myself, and then we were walking, me excited with so many models available! 'Is that one the Vado 4.0?' -- 'No sir, you have missed the radar at the rear rack! That's the 5.0!' and so on. The only Specialized e-bike he didn't have was the Levo SL 1.2 (but he would get one soon!) His demo e-bike fleet consisted of two Vado SL 4.0, one Vado SL 5.0, a Levo, and a Vado 5.0. The man told me that if I stayed in Płock the next time, he would gladly rent one of the demo e-bikes to me (we all know the rules don't we)
I was really impressed, also with the service area in the open view (so any customer could watch the techies working). The Riders Zone is a privately owned LBS, so the owner must have invested a lot of money to fill the showroom with so many e-bikes! I must revisit that store again, this time on my e-bike!
Karczma pod Strzechą (The Inn Under The Thatched Roof)
I and colleague used to dine in the Inn Under The Thatched Roof, a Polish cuisine restaurant. Although Polish and Hungarian cuisine differ, they also share some similarities and we both were very happy with the food of the Inn. (Even the word for "inn", which is karczma or kárcsma is the same in both languages!)
Pork meatballs
Beef roulade
Beetroot Cold Soup with warm potatoes. The meal is unknown to Hungarians who eat Fruit Cold Soup in the summer.
Ruthenian or Ukrainian (ruskie) Pierogi
Pork chop, the absolute Polish classic!
I liked my stay in Płock but dreamed of returning to my e-bike rides! And yes, I started riding already on last Friday, just after returning from the business travel!
A week without e-bikes! I and my Hungarian colleague/friend both went to Płock, a city 120 km northwest of Warsaw to provide training to the oil company last week.
The City On The Vistula
Płock was the capital of Poland for 59 years since 1079. Later, it became the capital of one of three ducal provinces of Mazovia before the land was incorporated in the Crown of Poland in 1529. The Cathedral Hill here.
The main part of Płock is located on a high escarpment of the Vistula. Here, the view on the river and the low part of the city on the other bank.
Because of the wealth of the oil company, the old part of the city has been made gorgeous in recent years. The only thing I dislike there is the fact all the Old Town has been paved with cobblestone!
Riders Zone (Specialized Płock)
A new broom sweeps clean
The new CEO of Specialized (formerly the Dyson man) is making changes to the bicycle company to make it profitable. Our Mazovia is a 5 million people province with 3 million in greater Warsaw and 117 thousand in the second richest city of Płock. There were many "Specialized dealers" who did not sell the quota. The new broom swept all the dealers clean only leaving four of them: three in Warsaw and one in Płock. I had to see that single unicorn of Płock! How come that LBS could survive the purge?I rode an e-scooter to get there. Funnily, the battery on the TIER died exactly at the moment I stopped by the Riders Zone!
I got, like, stunned when I got inside! What the store had on the floor was mostly e-bikes, and those were almost all Specialized e-bike models in different sizes and colours!
The store owner, a nice and sporty grey bearded man approached me, and we had a long and interesting talk. I introduced myself, and then we were walking, me excited with so many models available! 'Is that one the Vado 4.0?' -- 'No sir, you have missed the radar at the rear rack! That's the 5.0!'
and so on. The only Specialized e-bike he didn't have was the Levo SL 1.2 (but he would get one soon!) His demo e-bike fleet consisted of two Vado SL 4.0, one Vado SL 5.0, a Levo, and a Vado 5.0. The man told me that if I stayed in Płock the next time, he would gladly rent one of the demo e-bikes to me (we all know the rules don't we) I was really impressed, also with the service area in the open view (so any customer could watch the techies working). The Riders Zone is a privately owned LBS, so the owner must have invested a lot of money to fill the showroom with so many e-bikes! I must revisit that store again, this time on my e-bike!
Karczma pod Strzechą (The Inn Under The Thatched Roof)
I and colleague used to dine in the Inn Under The Thatched Roof, a Polish cuisine restaurant. Although Polish and Hungarian cuisine differ, they also share some similarities and we both were very happy with the food of the Inn. (Even the word for "inn", which is karczma or kárcsma is the same in both languages!)
Pork meatballs
Beef roulade
Beetroot Cold Soup with warm potatoes. The meal is unknown to Hungarians who eat Fruit Cold Soup in the summer.
Ruthenian or Ukrainian (ruskie) Pierogi
Pork chop, the absolute Polish classic!
I liked my stay in Płock but dreamed of returning to my e-bike rides! And yes, I started riding already on last Friday, just after returning from the business travel!
Prairie Dog
Well-Known Member
- Region
- Canada
- City
- Red Deer
Looks delish. I assume that those main courses were consumed over several days because that is a ton of grub for one sitting. Better start riding that bike asap.
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Of course
Especially as the portions served were of decent size (unlike in most of Polish restaurants). On one evening, I risked taking a two course dinner and almost regretted that! Chargeride
Well-Known Member
I hate to be a doomer, but they need to get on top of this.
www.dailymail.co.uk
Fire that killed mother and two children 'started by charging e-bike'
Gemma Germeney, 31, her son Oliver Peden, four, and daughter Lilly Peden, eight, died after the blaze at the family's two-storey maisonette in Cambridge on Friday.
dodgeman
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Macomb, Illinois
Once again life gets in the way of bike riding. We had a major wind event last Thursday. We got lucky, our power was out just 5 hours, others it was 4 or 5 days. We lost some metal fascia off my garage, my wife’s nephew had major tree damage. They have 10 acres, they just bought the place 3 weeks ago, got married 2 months ago, and are gone on vacation. The wife and I hauled my tractor over and took chainsaws with and got most of it cleaned up, maybe one more day will get it. A neighbor with a skid steer did at least half of it, maybe more.
A couple of pictures, my damage is the first picture and the nephews place the rest. The grain bins are from an area nearby.
A couple of pictures, my damage is the first picture and the nephews place the rest. The grain bins are from an area nearby.
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
All Warsaw River Crossings (A @Brix Birthday Celebration Ride)
I usually go on some unusual ride around the July 3rd, which is the birthday of my partner Brix (who lives in London). This year, I honoured her by a 122 km ride including not only all bridges of Warsaw but also the southernmost and northernmost ferries across the Vistula! My ride was Fearless, or my Vado SL. (I took a new liking to my Vado SL as a long distance e-bike after completing the Mazovian Gravel Race!) I had invited members of some FB cycling group on the ride, and promised to be at the Gassy Ferry at 9 am. Started the ride at 6:14 am, had a breakfast at a service station and then vigorously pedalled to reach the ferry at 8:45.
As I was on a similar ride (only shorter and ridden with my powerful Vado 6.0) in February (and reported that), I will only show you the most interesting photos from my latest ride this time!
Nobody invited was waiting for me (I was naïve to think anybody would ride to Gassy as early on Sunday!) Yes, there were several cyclists riding up there but those people only wanted to see how that river crossing looked like. One of them, a slim man with grey moustache was riding a Direct Drive hub-motor e-bike! I asked him about his mountain climbing experiences, and he told me he had to walk his e-bike up the steepest climbs! (I was riding in the same area and never had to walk my mid-drive motor e-bike!) Everybody took a wild interest in my Vado SL. A 17 kg stealthy e-bike?! Oh, they liked that!
It took me 41 km (25 mi) to just get to the Vistula crossing. Eventually, I was the only passenger on the first daily trip of the ferry. Paid 7 PLN (US$ 1.72) to the ferryman; their fuel cost per a crossing is PLN 3.50 (86 US cents), so they are always profitable!
The crossing #2 was possible only after a relative long ride segment including gravel (The Ann of Jagiellon Southern Bridge of Warsaw). Then I was following the Zawadowski Embankment...
Two weeks ago, the route of the Mazovian Gravel 500 led through the Zawadowski (some 300 riders on that route). As a friend of mine reported: 'There was a slightly plump woman in beige walking her little dog. All she could see was an avalanche of gravel bikes taking the space up the horizon. Shocked, she exclaimed: "They surely overdid it!"'
The City of Warsaw as seen from the "Photographer's Viewpoint", the Siekierkowski Bridge, crossing #3.
Crossing #6, the Świętokrzyski (Holy Cross) Bridge. The closest view at the City of Warsaw, the 1937 Warsaw Mermaid, and the bridge itself.
Warsaw has more water-trams than I thought! (All of them are free of charge!) Also, there is the Trzaskowski Bridge during its construction. Mr. Rafał Trzaskowski is the progressive President of Warsaw. He decided the city needed a MUP bridge between the Park of Fountains and the Old Praga, and I just cannot wait to include that new bridge to the quiver of the bridges I have ridden on!
Crossing #7. The Warsaw Old Town as seen from the Stanisław Kierbedź (a bridge builder) Bridge ramp. The official name of the bridge is "Silesian-Dombrovian" which is funny as the people of the two neighbouring regions are not necessarily fond of each other (It was the Communist rule trying to "unite" the nation in early 1950s, how foolish!)
Crossing #8, the Gdański Bridge.
I was such a lucky person! As soon as I rode onto the bridge, a violent rainfall broke. I (and other riders) could protect ourselves below the upper part of the bridge (that interesting construction is a dual bridge with two levels: Railway, motor traffic, trams, pedestrians and cyclists). See the man in blue at the bottom photo: he's totally soaked! (I spent the time talking with a 70-yo man riding a beautiful lightweight TREK fitness bike; he got that marvel from his children for birthday!).
A MUP bridge across the Royal (or Żerań) Canal. (Can you see Poland is a cycling country?)
Crossing #10 & 11. Because of the odd number of river crossings, I had to take the Marie Curie (Northern) Bridge both ways! It was the 90th km of my ride. Two kilometres farther, my main battery/Range Extender charge dropped to 3/0 %, so I could continue my ride on Range Extenders only!
The 12th and last Vistula Crossing! The water-tram named Dudek (Hoopoe) could take 10 people and their bikes in, from Tarchomin to the Park of Młociny (free of charge). There were only 27 km remaining to get back home!
I'm back in the saddle! I have cycled for 331 km (205.7 mi) since I returned home on Friday! (I must say it: without any throttle)
I usually go on some unusual ride around the July 3rd, which is the birthday of my partner Brix (who lives in London). This year, I honoured her by a 122 km ride including not only all bridges of Warsaw but also the southernmost and northernmost ferries across the Vistula! My ride was Fearless, or my Vado SL. (I took a new liking to my Vado SL as a long distance e-bike after completing the Mazovian Gravel Race!) I had invited members of some FB cycling group on the ride, and promised to be at the Gassy Ferry at 9 am. Started the ride at 6:14 am, had a breakfast at a service station and then vigorously pedalled to reach the ferry at 8:45.
As I was on a similar ride (only shorter and ridden with my powerful Vado 6.0) in February (and reported that), I will only show you the most interesting photos from my latest ride this time!
Nobody invited was waiting for me (I was naïve to think anybody would ride to Gassy as early on Sunday!) Yes, there were several cyclists riding up there but those people only wanted to see how that river crossing looked like. One of them, a slim man with grey moustache was riding a Direct Drive hub-motor e-bike! I asked him about his mountain climbing experiences, and he told me he had to walk his e-bike up the steepest climbs! (I was riding in the same area and never had to walk my mid-drive motor e-bike!) Everybody took a wild interest in my Vado SL. A 17 kg stealthy e-bike?! Oh, they liked that!
It took me 41 km (25 mi) to just get to the Vistula crossing. Eventually, I was the only passenger on the first daily trip of the ferry. Paid 7 PLN (US$ 1.72) to the ferryman; their fuel cost per a crossing is PLN 3.50 (86 US cents), so they are always profitable!
The crossing #2 was possible only after a relative long ride segment including gravel (The Ann of Jagiellon Southern Bridge of Warsaw). Then I was following the Zawadowski Embankment...
Two weeks ago, the route of the Mazovian Gravel 500 led through the Zawadowski (some 300 riders on that route). As a friend of mine reported: 'There was a slightly plump woman in beige walking her little dog. All she could see was an avalanche of gravel bikes taking the space up the horizon. Shocked, she exclaimed: "They surely overdid it!"'
The City of Warsaw as seen from the "Photographer's Viewpoint", the Siekierkowski Bridge, crossing #3.
Crossing #6, the Świętokrzyski (Holy Cross) Bridge. The closest view at the City of Warsaw, the 1937 Warsaw Mermaid, and the bridge itself.
Warsaw has more water-trams than I thought! (All of them are free of charge!) Also, there is the Trzaskowski Bridge during its construction. Mr. Rafał Trzaskowski is the progressive President of Warsaw. He decided the city needed a MUP bridge between the Park of Fountains and the Old Praga, and I just cannot wait to include that new bridge to the quiver of the bridges I have ridden on!
Crossing #7. The Warsaw Old Town as seen from the Stanisław Kierbedź (a bridge builder) Bridge ramp. The official name of the bridge is "Silesian-Dombrovian" which is funny as the people of the two neighbouring regions are not necessarily fond of each other
(It was the Communist rule trying to "unite" the nation in early 1950s, how foolish!)Crossing #8, the Gdański Bridge.
I was such a lucky person! As soon as I rode onto the bridge, a violent rainfall broke. I (and other riders) could protect ourselves below the upper part of the bridge (that interesting construction is a dual bridge with two levels: Railway, motor traffic, trams, pedestrians and cyclists). See the man in blue at the bottom photo: he's totally soaked! (I spent the time talking with a 70-yo man riding a beautiful lightweight TREK fitness bike; he got that marvel from his children for birthday!).
A MUP bridge across the Royal (or Żerań) Canal. (Can you see Poland is a cycling country?)
Crossing #10 & 11. Because of the odd number of river crossings, I had to take the Marie Curie (Northern) Bridge both ways!
It was the 90th km of my ride. Two kilometres farther, my main battery/Range Extender charge dropped to 3/0 %, so I could continue my ride on Range Extenders only!The 12th and last Vistula Crossing! The water-tram named Dudek (Hoopoe) could take 10 people and their bikes in, from Tarchomin to the Park of Młociny (free of charge). There were only 27 km remaining to get back home!
I'm back in the saddle! I have cycled for 331 km (205.7 mi) since I returned home on Friday! (I must say it: without any throttle)
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Chargeride
Well-Known Member
200 miles , its only tuesday.
That all looks very smart indeed, Im reminded of the video the Polish PM sent to France
.
Sorry to be political, but it was such a glorious dunk.
That pic of the little ferry looks like is a model boat!
That all looks very smart indeed, Im reminded of the video the Polish PM sent to France
.Sorry to be political, but it was such a glorious dunk.
That pic of the little ferry looks like is a model boat!
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Was it not one of our former Presidents?Im reminded of the video the Polish PM sent to France
Sorry to be political, but it was such a glorious dunk.
One of them, Mr. Aleksander Kwaśniewski "didn't pour his drink into his collar" as we say 
BlackHand
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Western WA
After a long week at work my wife told me not to stay late at work on Friday and surprised me when I got home telling me to put the bike rack on the car she was going to take me somewhere so I could ride wherever I wanted. 2 hours and a ferry ride later we were on Whidbey Island headed towards Deception Pass.
It was far too late to bike the 50 miles to the hotel. But I had her drop me off about an hour before sunset so I could ride the last 22 miles. Got a good workout averaging nearly 20 mph.
So many deer! I stopped counting after 15. Had a good sized buck bound in front of me across the road just a little ways up from this pic
Entering Coupeville
Pulled into Oak Harbor just after sunset to find the carnival in town.
Kudos to my wife for for finding a hotel that was both dog and ebike friendly!
Saturday was a nice 66 miles (+1 mile vertical) across Deception Pass then around most of Fidalgo Island and spending time with the family in Anacortes before heading home.
Deception Pass is one of the prettiest spots in WA state - and one of the busiest.
The view from Washington Park in Anacortes with the Olympics in the far distance and the San Juan Islands closer.
The bridge/causeway across Fidalgo Bay
It was far too late to bike the 50 miles to the hotel. But I had her drop me off about an hour before sunset so I could ride the last 22 miles. Got a good workout averaging nearly 20 mph.
So many deer! I stopped counting after 15. Had a good sized buck bound in front of me across the road just a little ways up from this pic
Entering Coupeville
Pulled into Oak Harbor just after sunset to find the carnival in town.
Kudos to my wife for for finding a hotel that was both dog and ebike friendly!
Saturday was a nice 66 miles (+1 mile vertical) across Deception Pass then around most of Fidalgo Island and spending time with the family in Anacortes before heading home.
Deception Pass is one of the prettiest spots in WA state - and one of the busiest.
The view from Washington Park in Anacortes with the Olympics in the far distance and the San Juan Islands closer.
The bridge/causeway across Fidalgo Bay
Attachments
Readytoride
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Virginia
Yesterday was the 4th of July - a regular calendar day everywhere except in the US where it holds an auspicious place as our Independence Day and, with businesses and government offices closed to facilitate freedom from work obligations, it comes complete with family gatherings, barbeques, hot dogs, Apple pie, and fireworks at dusk. It's a very noisy, very raucous, very social day, bar none.
Turns out it was also the start to a crystal clear morning of perfect temperatures (for the moment), quiet roads, and freshly washed countryside courtesy of over an inch of drenching rainfall the previous evening.
I set off solo on the Rivian Blue Gazelle at 8:30am, beating the rising heat and humidity to enjoy 24 miles of green countryside in the county just south of ours. After the smoke haze from the Canadian fires had obscured our views for weeks not too long ago, it was nice to see the extensive line of blue mountains collectively posing proudly against the horizon. Even views of 20 miles distances were as sharp and crisp as a paper cutout.
My route encompassed vast fields of hay, horses, and cattle, as well as the inevitable ocean of cattle corn. The growth of the corn had been a bit encumbered by June's month long drought, but almost overnight made up for the deficit thanks to July's almost daily rains. The intense dark green of a sea of juvenile stalks rising in harmony as far as the eye could see on both sides of the road made for quite an oceanic vista.
I amused myself parking my bike next to the bigger stalks for an impromptu photo.
I didn't have too much time to dally taking photos, et al, because the infamous Virginia summer heat and humidity was already starting it's daily incursion, sending anyone of any measure of intelligence running inside to the comfort of air conditioning. My bike's AC was courtesy of my speed on these paved roads. The faster I went, the cooler the air. And indeed, as the morning and my miles lengthened, the faster I needed to cruise to keep the sweat at bay. I wasn't the only cyclist to be taking advantage of the holiday and clean air, and speed to keep the breezes blowing. Waves hello were exchanged with every cyclist in passing, but little else as we zipped by one another at a good pace.
I did stop at one point to check the ripeness of the wild roadside summer blackberries and wineberries, but there was precious little ready for picking. In a week these berries will be bursting with color and delicious juices, ready for both humans and wildlife feasting.
While the field below still had its windrows of hay waiting to be baled, most of the local hay fields had been shorn a week or so prior, the hay either rolled or baled as desired, and then stored away to be used as winter forage for livestock at the end of the year. A second cutting would be ready by August and, if the weather gods were in a generous mood with the rains, maybe a third cutting could be on the books in late September. As of now, the rains were most appreciated by the ponds which had suffered the greatest in a very dry June.
By the time I had snapped my last photo, the humidity had risen to barely tolerable levels if one was standing still. It was now a race to cover the final miles before the temps became unbearable. I gave, and received back, the briefest of waves from the final cyclist who passed me going the opposite way, he being clearly on the same page as I to get back home asap. But his smile was every bit as broad as mine, both of us sharing the same delight at beginning our day long, and evening long, holiday celebrations with a morning bike ride in the countryside.
A happy 4th of July indeed!
Turns out it was also the start to a crystal clear morning of perfect temperatures (for the moment), quiet roads, and freshly washed countryside courtesy of over an inch of drenching rainfall the previous evening.
I set off solo on the Rivian Blue Gazelle at 8:30am, beating the rising heat and humidity to enjoy 24 miles of green countryside in the county just south of ours. After the smoke haze from the Canadian fires had obscured our views for weeks not too long ago, it was nice to see the extensive line of blue mountains collectively posing proudly against the horizon. Even views of 20 miles distances were as sharp and crisp as a paper cutout.
My route encompassed vast fields of hay, horses, and cattle, as well as the inevitable ocean of cattle corn. The growth of the corn had been a bit encumbered by June's month long drought, but almost overnight made up for the deficit thanks to July's almost daily rains. The intense dark green of a sea of juvenile stalks rising in harmony as far as the eye could see on both sides of the road made for quite an oceanic vista.
I amused myself parking my bike next to the bigger stalks for an impromptu photo.
I didn't have too much time to dally taking photos, et al, because the infamous Virginia summer heat and humidity was already starting it's daily incursion, sending anyone of any measure of intelligence running inside to the comfort of air conditioning. My bike's AC was courtesy of my speed on these paved roads. The faster I went, the cooler the air. And indeed, as the morning and my miles lengthened, the faster I needed to cruise to keep the sweat at bay. I wasn't the only cyclist to be taking advantage of the holiday and clean air, and speed to keep the breezes blowing. Waves hello were exchanged with every cyclist in passing, but little else as we zipped by one another at a good pace.
I did stop at one point to check the ripeness of the wild roadside summer blackberries and wineberries, but there was precious little ready for picking. In a week these berries will be bursting with color and delicious juices, ready for both humans and wildlife feasting.
While the field below still had its windrows of hay waiting to be baled, most of the local hay fields had been shorn a week or so prior, the hay either rolled or baled as desired, and then stored away to be used as winter forage for livestock at the end of the year. A second cutting would be ready by August and, if the weather gods were in a generous mood with the rains, maybe a third cutting could be on the books in late September. As of now, the rains were most appreciated by the ponds which had suffered the greatest in a very dry June.
By the time I had snapped my last photo, the humidity had risen to barely tolerable levels if one was standing still. It was now a race to cover the final miles before the temps became unbearable. I gave, and received back, the briefest of waves from the final cyclist who passed me going the opposite way, he being clearly on the same page as I to get back home asap. But his smile was every bit as broad as mine, both of us sharing the same delight at beginning our day long, and evening long, holiday celebrations with a morning bike ride in the countryside.
A happy 4th of July indeed!
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RabH
Well-Known Member
Back on my local roads today after a few days of crazy weather, quite a few floods around but I picked my route wisely to avoid them! I set off at 5.45am to avoid the morning traffic once again, even at that time some of the roads were fairly busy but I didn't have any problems! It was a very hilly ride as usual but my legs were feeling strong after Thursdays big ride and my awesome bike sure helps in that regard! It was such a beautiful clear morning, a bit crisp but I don't mind that and with roads like this to enjoy what's not to like?
A couple of views of the Tinto Hills from Kilncadzow!
I love this little house and garden just as you leave Kilncadzow!
The road from here to Carstairs is one of my favourites, rising and falling all the way and today I had the 15mph wind at my back so it was even more fun!
I as I approached Carstairs there were signs saying the road was closed, I decided to chance it and it paid off! The main road through the village had been dug up almost right across the width of the road but no problem for the bike! I passed through Carstairs and was now heading for the eastern side of Lanark, I picked this route to avoid the busy town centre!I love this view across the fields just before arriving in Lanark, especially in the morning sun!
As soon as I approached Lanark I took the road down to Hyndford Bridge and joined the main A73 towards Symington, another awesome road to ride and the views are pretty nice also!
I passed through Symington and was now heading for Biggar where I would turn north towards Elsrickle, its always a tough decision which road to take here as the road direct to Carnwath is so much fun also! I chose Elsrickle though as it meant I had the wind at my back for the big descent before the climb up to Elsrickle!
Another view of the Tinto hills in the distance before reaching Elsrickle!
Nice views from Elsrickle also, one of the road I just descended at 40.5mph!
From Elsrickle it was time to turn west into the wind towards Carnwath, another very nice road to ride and luckily it was quiet! Just before I took this picture the road twists and turns and just drops away and is in really nice condition, it just makes you smile riding roads like these! This is the straight part which is actually a really nice descent going in this direction!
Soon it would be time to climb again though, up past the tiny village of Kaimend where I stopped for more photos! This is part way up the climb looking back at the Tinto hills once again!
I finished the climb up to Carnwath and enjoyed the descent down into the town before heading due north up the big climb to Braehead, one last photo taken part way up the climb!
After the big climb up to Braehead its straight into another lovely descent down into the valley before the yet another climb up to Forth where I decided to take the back road up to Climpy which is yet another big climb, I'm a glutton for punishment!
Soon after the top of the climb the road drops away once again down towards the main A71 which I would join and follow west into Allanton before taking the biggest climb of the day up to Shotts! I didn't go all the way up the climb though as there is a nice quiet back road which has been resurfaced recently and although it was directly into the wind it was truly sublime with the lovely smooth tarmac!
I was only a few miles from home now and enjoyed the back roads to Newhouse and not content with all the climbing I had already done, I picked the back road which passes under the M8 motorway between Glasgow and Edinburgh! Yet another big climb ensued which was taken in assist level 4 as my legs were starting to feel it!
This road leads me directly to my home town passing my old high school which I attended from 1970 to 1974, it was brand new in 1970! What a brilliant ride that was, I just picked the perfect route today and arrived home with a huge smile on my face!Attachments
Prairie Dog
Well-Known Member
- Region
- Canada
- City
- Red Deer
As usual, another stellar report, Rab.The road from here to Carstairs is one of my favourites, rising and falling all the way and today I had the 15mph wind at my back so it was even more fun!
I don’t know what the road leading to your village of Carstairs is like but the road out of Carstairs, AB is much like any other rural town here with the bonus of distant glimpses of the Rockies. Wonder how our versions of Banff compare?
PatriciaK
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Pacific Northwest and Piedmont Triad
Is the bridge on the Tommy Thompson all repaired? It was out of service last fall when we left because of vandalism
. Beautiful ride!
RabH
Well-Known Member
Our Carstairs is a blink and you'll miss it village...As usual, another stellar report, Rab.
BlackHand
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Western WA
Yes, no sign of vandalism and fully open. I appreciated the porta-toilets at the west end too!Is the bridge on the Tommy Thompson all repaired? It was out of service last fall when we left because of vandalism
Beautiful ride!
FYI - RWGPS tried to route me through the Naval Air Station to use the road between Ault field and the water. Needless to say, the nice young men at the gate did not see fit to let me ride through the base.
PatriciaK
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Pacific Northwest and Piedmont Triad
Yeah, the Navy is funny like thatYes, no sign of vandalism and fully open. I appreciated the porta-toilets at the west end too!
FYI - RWGPS tried to route me through the Naval Air Station to use the road between Ault field and the water. Needless to say, the nice young men at the gate did not see fit to let me ride through the base.
. Fortunately, I have ID.Good to know about the bridge - will put the bikes on the rack and head up there to ride soon - no way in hell I would attempt that stretch of RT 20 in the summer time on the bike (though I know @Mr.Coffee has also done so - you're both braver than I).
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
I'm having shorter but interesting rides as of recently.
Traditional Polish Pea Soup. It has to be as thick as the spoon should be standing in it! The price per serving is some US$3.40.
Apart from the above: Nothing interesting! 5,658 km ridden this year (I'm not Rab!)
- Rode to McD in Żyrardów just to have fun and more kms (there are other McD nearer to my place!). On my return the other way, I discovered I was out of a sports drink! Could get dehydrated and as I found there was very hard to find any grocery store around! Had to zoom through potted gravel, loose gravel, rutted dirt and a muddy forest singletrack on my Vado SL to get to the nearest open grocery store before closing! To find a spare bottle of drink at the bottom of my pannier after my return home. Haha!
- Learned how to wash my e-bikes with a low pressure spray in a modern manual car wash in my neighbourhood
- Started rebuilding my Old Home post-fire. It took me two years to take that decision! I have also found my Old Home was visited by a cat-burglar for several times. As there was not much to steal, the man stole several items I could live without Now, the rubble has been removed from the property, and the greenery was trimmed, making any further theft rather difficult.
- Found a traditional open-air restaurant bar by name of "Partisan Cuisine"
Traditional Polish Pea Soup. It has to be as thick as the spoon should be standing in it!
The price per serving is some US$3.40.Apart from the above: Nothing interesting!
5,658 km ridden this year (I'm not Rab!)
PatriciaK
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Pacific Northwest and Piedmont Triad
First ride back on my La Free since returning to the PNW, and being down for 2 WEEKS with the COVID we picked up on our flight day home. 4.6 mostly flat, truly grueling Kilometers - I feel like I just did one of Rab's rides 
. Perhaps I was pushing it on my 3rd day out of bed... So disheartening to be knocked out of shape so quickly!
Anyway, here it is:
. Perhaps I was pushing it on my 3rd day out of bed... So disheartening to be knocked out of shape so quickly!Anyway, here it is:
D
Deleted member 57338
Guest
hello all. finally got myself out here. rode my bike with the new racks and panniers to the grocery store. picked up a few items we need to complete the recipe for a crab/shrimp boil we intend to have this weekend. My friend on the Eastern Shore knows a distributor who assures they will be some fat "local#1s" that won't disappoint. Our daughter has asked us to invite her boyfriends parents over, therefore the reason for the feast. Hmmmm, interesting???
I wanted to do a little more than "to the store and back", and the clouds were awesome, so i veered of to put on a few extra miles.
A couple of old barns back on Brick Church rd and another off of Hawks Hill.
the old Brick Church and cemetery. So quiet back here, it is a nice refuge from the hustle and bustle. Now nestled within the local orchard, I believe a maintenance building has been erected and a big debris pile right beside. The cemetery is in need of care, the old bell has disappeared and all the big trees have been cut. but it is still an awesome cloud day!
Hiedelburg Group New Windsor Quarry recently returned to service. The beginning of the 7mi (11.2km) conveyer leading to the plant.
more conveyor
more conveyor with plant still a few miles off.
I wanted to do more but thought it best to get the veggies home. Its blazin hot with humidity, but at least it is not hazy or smokey.
I wanted to do a little more than "to the store and back", and the clouds were awesome, so i veered of to put on a few extra miles.
A couple of old barns back on Brick Church rd and another off of Hawks Hill.
the old Brick Church and cemetery. So quiet back here, it is a nice refuge from the hustle and bustle. Now nestled within the local orchard, I believe a maintenance building has been erected and a big debris pile right beside. The cemetery is in need of care, the old bell has disappeared and all the big trees have been cut. but it is still an awesome cloud day!
Hiedelburg Group New Windsor Quarry recently returned to service. The beginning of the 7mi (11.2km) conveyer leading to the plant.
more conveyor
more conveyor with plant still a few miles off.
I wanted to do more but thought it best to get the veggies home. Its blazin hot with humidity, but at least it is not hazy or smokey.
