2023 - Our Rides in Words, Photos, Maps and Videos

[Chargeride]

Finally got out on the bike, tried to climb Moel Famau from the other side on proper bike tracks.
One day of sun, so went for it.

It was a great day out trying to find tracks to the top, eventually found an awesome, quiet footpath no one was using, so I went for a quick cheeky blast at a very severe gradient.

And, she conked out again.

Had to descend and push back up aroun 1500ft of fire roads

Even Im embarrassed to show what utter botch carnage caused it, its not like I didnt know, its not like I didnt keep mentioning it.
Poorly wrapped join in phase wires, turned the tape into carbon and eventually fused them together.

Dont judge.

Anyway, walking and descending makes for good exercise and an appreciation of the noises of the forest .

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Yes, reported a lot in UK, I dont think most people here understand the outcome, kinda lost in bigger news though.

It might be of interest to you the British Poles mostly voted for the Civic Coalition.

Only 144,391 Polish imigrants in the UK voted, which means a very small turnout there (the estimated number of Polish immigrants in Britain is 500-600 thousand).

 

[DiggyGun]

Today was a nice day for a ride, bright sun and dry. Started off chilly, but got warmer and there was still a nice bit of warmth in the Sun. A bit windy though and, sometimes quite blustery. Had to use Turbo a couple times going up some hills into the wind.

Some pictures of Stowe;
The Corinthian Arch

The Temple of Friendship

Some old buildings in Buckingham;
St Peter’s and St Paul’s Church

The Oddfellows Hall

St Mary the Blessed Virgin Church in Addington looking splendid in the Sun.

Since putting the combination of the Kinekt XR seat post and the Ergon SC Core Prime saddle together, the ride has never been more comfortable.

DG…

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Teasing @Chargeride and @DiggyGun to visit Warsaw next year, possibly with their wives!

The Trzaskowski Bridge (near to be completed) is a 452 m (1,483 ft) MUP Vistula crossing with the special focus on cyclists. It will be fun to climb the promised 6% grade incline to get onto that bridge! The temporary name for the bridge comes from the popular progressive President of Warsaw. My friend Jerzy who has a completely opposite political preference to mine swears he would never ride that bridge! (Let us see...)

 

[Chargeride]

It might be of interest to you the British Poles mostly voted for the Civic Coalition.

View attachment 164835
Only 144,391 Polish imigrants in the UK voted, which means a very small turnout there (the estimated number of Polish immigrants in Britain is 500-600 thousand).

Youre making me dig into Polish politics.

 

[DiggyGun]

Teasing @Chargeride and @DiggyGun to visit Warsaw next year, possibly with their wives!

Mrs DG previously worked in Warsaw for three years.

However, I have never been to Warsaw, but have been to other parts of Poland.

Maybe next year…

DG…

 

[Prairie Dog]

Captured from yesterday’s 40km ride as we neared home base. It’s always nice to see a splash of fall colors in the neighborhood provided (in this image) by the mountain ash and Swedish Aspens. This would be my last ride with the Missus as she departed for Japan this morning. I’ll be joining her in three weeks time but I expect things might look a lot different around here by then. Light snow is in the forecast after this weekend.

Today’s solo ride had me cross paths with a good friend who I hadn’t seen in a while. Some minor surgery had Dave sidelined for a few days but he was back on his road bike after a short hiatus. He was just starting his 50 km ride as I was almost halfway through my usual route. We stopped and chatted for a bit and discussed how it would be great to head out on the trails together this winter on our fat bikes.

I managed a decent 28kph average over the 40km ride.

I’m always a bit apprehensive as I approach any rural intersection. A typical two way stop along MacKenzie and Delburne Road. With the exception of farm machinery, most vehicles whiz by here at over 100 kph.

Back in town, these folks were busy putting the finishing touches on their Halloween display. The ghostly figures get lit up at night for the trick or treaters.

 

[DaveMatthews]

Captured from yesterday’s 40km ride as we neared home base. It’s always nice to see a splash of fall colors in the neighborhood provided (in this image) by the mountain ash and Swedish Aspens. This would be my last ride with the Missus as she departed for Japan this morning. I’ll be joining her in three weeks time but I expect things might look a lot different around here by then. Light snow is in the forecast after this weekend.

View attachment 164967

Today’s solo ride had me cross paths with a good friend who I hadn’t seen in a while. Some minor surgery had Dave sidelined for a few days but he was back on his road bike after a short hiatus. He was just starting his 50 km ride as I was almost halfway through my usual route. We stopped and chatted for a bit and discussed how it would be great to head out on the trails together this winter on our fat bikes.

View attachment 164968
I’m always a bit apprehensive as I approach any rural intersection. A typical two way stop along MacKenzie and Delburne Road. With the exception of farm machinery, most vehicles whiz by here at over 100 kph.

View attachment 164969

Back in town, these folks were busy putting the finishing touches on their Halloween display.

View attachment 164970

Speaking of mountain ash, it looks as though we are finally dampening the fires... https://firesmoke.ca/forecasts/current/
Lovely colours BTW!

 

[Prairie Dog]

Speaking of mountain ash, it looks as though we are finally dampening the fires... https://firesmoke.ca/forecasts/current/
Lovely colours BTW!

Excellent. That’s news that I haven’t heard in quite a while. Were you folks affected by the atmospheric river that hit the west coast?

 

[DaveMatthews]

Excellent. That’s news that I haven’t heard in quite a while. Were you folks affected by the atmospheric river that hit the west coast?

Oh yeah... was raining torrents this morning and for a day or so previous.
Looking forward to Saturday to get out on a ride!

 

[Prairie Dog]

Oh yeah... was raining torrents this morning and for a day or so previous.
Looking forward to Saturday to get out on a ride!

Maybe this will cheer you up. I spotted this Stance E + 2 in Amber Glow striking a pose on the showroom floor at a LBS in Calgary and immediately thought of you.

 

[DaveMatthews]

Maybe this will cheer you up. I spotted this Stance E + 2 in Amber Glow striking a pose on the showroom floor at a LBS in Calgary and immediately thought of you.

View attachment 164973

Yeah, there's one at my LBS as well. The price is up there now! Mine was $4200, and now they are $4700!

 

[Prairie Dog]

Yeah, there's one at my LBS as well. The price is up there now! Mine was $4200, and now they are $4700!

Looks like there are still several sizes available on sale along with the floor model. These are 2022 models that the shop likely wants out the door.

Giant Stance E+ 2

Steep climbs, technical descents, longer days on the trail. With a smooth suspension setup and a seamless boost of pedaling support, this E-bike gives you the power and technology to ride the...

www.thebikeshop.com

 

[DaveMatthews]

Looks like there are still several sizes available on sale along with the floor model. These are 2022 models that the shop likely wants out the door.

Giant Stance E+ 2

Steep climbs, technical descents, longer days on the trail. With a smooth suspension setup and a seamless boost of pedaling support, this E-bike gives you the power and technology to ride the...

www.thebikeshop.com

That's a deal!

 

[Djangodog]

We were riding through Brownsville Vermont yesterday and met this group. The grey Harleys are a 1915 and 1916. Both are F head V twins and both have done the Cannonball Run.

 

[Chargeride]

These pics from my Moel Famau ride sum up the feeling I get from riding the bike in the tiny bits of wilderness I can grab in our busy Isle.

You know it's a tourist spot when the singletrack road has to have double yellow no parking all the way from the valley floor.

But there are moments of magic on a quiet day when its just you and the crunch of your fat tyres on a rarely used fire road.

The wide angle lens always flattens the hill, but that is actually stupidly steep.
The rear tyre slipped into a rut resulting in me sliding off the bike and rolling down it.
No damage done, no one was watching.

Bald fat tyres are absolutely useless in muddy ruts, but with a motor to help me along I have to have a challenge or its just commuting.

 

[DiggyGun]

In the past few days we’ve had heavy rain here, so not been able to get out.

Had a dry spell today, so a quick short ride to take advantage of the opportunity.

DG….

 

[Prairie Dog]

No ride for me yesterday but I might head out on the trails today or tomorrow before things start to get interesting.

I didn't waste time putting these bad boys back on but will likely hold off riding the fatty for now. We need a lot more snow than what we're expecting next week.

 

[BlackHand]

We were riding through Brownsville Vermont yesterday and met this group. The grey Harleys are a 1915 and 1916. Both are F head V twins and both have done the Cannonball Run.

That's really cool. Looks like they added 'modern' front brakes?

Love to see older vehicles still performing their purpose and not just being a museum or show piece.

 

[rob feature]

Riding around Copper Mountain, CO a few weeks ago