2024 - Our Rides in Words, Photos, Maps and Videos

[Rás Cnoic]

Jeremy, Ras, Chris: I guess nobody of you treats E-Biking as a discipline of sport; I do, and as you may know I took part in as many as four gravel races, two of them being E-Bike Race. You need to navigate on a gravel race as your ride is tracked and you must follow the course. The other situation is competing on Segments. A Segment is a predefined route on which different riders try to get the best result. You need to navigate if you want to be classified, especially if the Segment is defined in a rough terrain with many alternate paths.

The third situation is a Gravel or XC Group Ride, adventure cycling. A big group of riders start together and they follow a predefined course, which is usually off beaten paths (a good Gravel route in Poland shall involve at least 50% off asphalt). Riders are constantly dropped, small groups are formed; someone might experience a flat or another technical issue; on recreational group rides a small group assists the wretch until the problem is solved. You may be last and suddenly you discover you are a way forward than you thought. You simply need navigation to follow the Group Ride, for instance to meet your co-riders at a cafe or a restaurant or a shop on the trail.

Finally, there are all types of long rides where you simply explore an area you don't know. How can one do it without the GPS navigation? Consult the map? Oh, that slows you down, and chances are you'd make a gross navigational error (GPS navigation finds an alternate route for you shall it happen).

Let me guess people: No one of you uses a GPS car navigation? Seriously?

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A 92 mile total ride, of which 62 mile was a gravel group ride of 45 riders. (Vado SL). Nobody could do that without any GPS navigation (at least on a smartphone).

Turning Pro Stefan? Good on ya! Ineos recently lost Tom Pidcock, they must be looking for a replacement, give them a shout.

My racing days are long behind me. Didn't have any phone apps back then or phones for that matter, just marshals with flags and whistles.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Jeremy, Ras, Chris: I guess nobody of you treats E-Biking as a discipline of sport

Left all discipline behind when Mistress Scarlet and I parted ways. Now I have a Vado SL to make it hurt so good. But this time, I'm the one who must be obeyed.

Let me guess people: No one of you uses a GPS car navigation? Seriously?

Of course I do. Not at all equivalent.

Finally, there are all types of long rides where you simply explore an area you don't know. How can one do it without the GPS navigation? Consult the map? Oh, that slows you down, and chances are you'd make a gross navigational error (GPS navigation finds an alternate route for you shall it happen).

On the bike, I use GPS mapping mainly to see where I am now, where I've been, and where whim might take me next.

On the bike, I generally don't need or want a navigation app telling me where to go, but the gain/pain ratio works out occasionally. Have a good sense of direction and a good read on landcapes. No gross navigational errors yet, but many delightful serendipities to show for it.

There's no "should" here. It's all a matter of taste and temperament. Wife can't go down the block now without her nav lady's instructions. I think it's the silliest thing ever for places she goes often. But I assure you, no good comes of telling her so.

 

[teskow]

"I assure you, no good comes of telling her so."
Amen to that one brother.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Magda: A Xmas Gathering At SCH

I was very afraid of snowing on Sunday. Fortunately, the white cr*p had melted overnight and I could set off before 10:00 to see my daughter in her Social Care Home. Something told me I should wear very carefully for that day! So double merino wool long johns, Gore-Tex trousers, two thermal layers under my sailing jacket, double socks, shoe covers, winter gloves... I was right! It started with +1 C but there was a very strong westerly wind! Suffice to say I was achieving 20 km/h with a difficulty while riding my Vado 6.0 at a massive 60% assistance! Had to assume an "aero position" with my hands on Innerbarends, forearms on the horizontal, my torso huddled, and the helmet top pointing forward, so what I could see was my front wheel and some road surface It was occasionally raining, too!

I was on time at the SCH. Sweets and lemonade were prepared at multiple tables.

The empty stage soon filled up with the residents playing their roles in the show.

I was very much impressed with the Ukrainian carer from Odessa who assumed the responsibilities as a singing and music teacher at SCH. People from Black Sea have no slightest relationship with Poland. Yet, the carer mastered Polish to the level she could flawlessly sing in Polish! What drew my attention, however, was a single defect. Polish "L" is pronounced hard, very hard. The carer had no issue with the "L" except the single word: 'Hallelujah' Hers was "Awwe-wujah" as she pronounced the "L" as the Eastern Slavic "Л" (Polish has a special character "Ł" to make these two sounds different).

The whole crew. Magda is in the centre disguised as a flower.

Magda during the "God Is Born", or the most solemn Polish Christmas carol.

Magda was.so happy to see me! We spent a good time together, and I promised to bring her a Samsung tablet on 19th.

The return way was fun! I got a strong tailwind into my back. For the last kilometres, I went on a regular highway (which I hate, such boring it is!) and switched to 100% Turbo Assisted by both the motor and tailwind, I went above the speed limiter, and the max speed was 47.1 km/h (29.27 mph)! I was at home in no time!

Ride map. See how the principal river of the area, the Utrata affects the road system. As I turned south before Kopytów, I could not find a single road heading East!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Heavy Raining And A Strong Gale

Over several years of e-biking, I managed to create a nice collection of clothes for any weather Monday was the day I needed to ride at least to a pharmacy to collect the monthly portion of my medications. The weather outside looked scary. The westerly wind blew at 36 km/h with gusts up to 72 km/h, and it was pouring! At least, it was warmer than in the days before, 10 down to 6 C. As I had to do the pharmacy ride, I pulled on, i.a., a waterproof trouser/shoe cover, and my waterproof sailing jacket.

The e-bike choice was obvious: it had to be the Vado 6.0 with mudguards and a strong motor. During the weather like that, it is full power TURBO to shorten the ride time!

After the first ride. The outside of my garb was soaked with water! It was not dramatic inside though thanks to the inner membranes of my jacket and motorcycle gloves. The 12.6 km ride took less than 32 minutes, and I was some 50 minutes outside.

In the evening, I needed to do some grocery shopping. I thought the ride would be short, so I would not spend time to pull the trouser cover on. The TURBO ride took less than a quarter; now, most of my clothes required drying!

Only 19.2 km for the day!

 

[Saratoga Dave]

Thank heaven, we finally got a day where the sun came out, the temp hit 50 degrees and the snow is gone, even the last couple inches that fell two days ago. Called my riding buddy and it was off to the Saratoga National Battlefield, closed for the winter to cars but plowed anyway, and today everything was just wet.

Last Fall a major update was performed here, with all the informational kiosks replaced with new ones and a whole bunch of additional ones installed as well. All the pathways have been repaved and several have been extended so on top of all this amazing history around you, it is all a hell of an even better place to ride. It’s always popular with the local bike clubs anyway… I was amazed that we were the only cyclists out there today, at least that we saw. For anybody in this region, whether as a journey through history or just a damn good bike ride, I highly, highly recommend it.

I’ve posted on this place before, but a couple of quick shots. A cannon overlooking the Hudson river, a nasty surprise to the British army that was expecting a quick trip down to Albany to fight there:

And a random shot of Chris coming down off one of the exhibit loops:

After almost a month off the bike due to all kinds of crazy weather, this felt great on my Creo today. Hopefully I can get out again tomorrow before it all turns to winter again. Don’t dare ride on regular roads this time of year, you might as well just lay down and let someone run you over. Has to be paths or restricted access stuff like this park. My new mountain ebike has been stashed for the winter, so the Creo is the only option. Not a bad one, obviously!