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

[Chargeride]

Is the sky in London always that filled with contrails on clear days?

Heathrow airport is the second busiest international airport in the world.
I was sat with the missus in a quiet square in London and a 747 casually skimmed the rooftops.
No one batted an eye.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Heathrow airport is the second busiest international airport in the world.
I was sat with the missus in a quiet square in London and a 747 casually skimmed the rooftops.
No one batted an eye.

Gospel truth!

Battersea Power Station, 10th July 2022.

 

[MartsEbike]

Could you write your ride details (e.g. assistance modes used, battery use, experience) in the respective thread?

Hi Stefan, I will do proper write up soon! I must say I don't think my first ride out was really representative of what this bike can do. The bike performed well but I wasn't at my best. I was somewhat sleep deprived (4-5 hours each day) having worked 5 nights in a row beforehand. I also hadn't eaten properly before setting off, so I was running on little more than 2-3 cups of coffee, and a chocolate brownie I picked up from the cafe at Ashridge! I also didn't dress properly for the occasion, wearing too many layers. I expected it to be colder as the evening approached but it stayed rather mild.. You do get a proper work out on this bike and I ended up a bit hot and sweaty after my ride! Suffice to say nearer the end of the ride I was making liberal use of Turbo mode! (I noticed after my ride it was actually to "Battery Friendly" pre-set, offering 60/100 assistance).

If it wasn't for having a new bike to play with I wouldn't have gone out for a ride yesterday! I normally set aside a recovery day after my nights shifts!

Ride 2 will be today or tomorrow and I'll include more stats from the bike itself.

 

[Chargeride]

First failure, free hub packed in, luckily we carry the magic straps of repair.

Trying to find the right parts is a nightmare, its just a free for all out there, generic parts, original parts,
repair kits, bike manufacturer named parts.
Its an FH 521, searching for it leads down a rabbit hole.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Its an FH 521, searching for it leads down a rabbit hole.

Cannondale FH-521 Freehub, K81011

Cannondale FH-521 Freehub, K81011, FREE UK Delivery, Price: £44.99. Cannondale FH-521 Freehub, K81011 Bearings sits 15mm deep from edge of freehub body.

www.cannondalespares.com

 

[Chargeride]

Allright smarty pants.
Cheers Stefan, we has problems with it being 10 or 11 speed, I couldnt get the gears back on, but it just needed compressing, I'll order that one.

 

[Chargeride]

Till then its spoke straps, luckily it still freewheels via the motor.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Allright smarty pants.
Cheers Stefan, we has problems with it being 10 or 11 speed, I couldnt get the gears back on, but it just needed compressing, I'll order that one.

All HG freehub bodies are good from 9 to 11 speeds. I guess you could buy any HG compatible freehub body good for 12x148 mm rear hub spacing.
FYI, the issue is when you need 12 speeds. Then you need a Shimano Microspline driver or SRAM xD driver. Not your case, luckily. I have never replaced any of my freehub bodies, fortunately.

 

[Chargeride]

So he takes the video with his 360 camera and just lets it make a video itself, fully auto.

 

[MartsEbike]

Till then its spoke straps, luckily it still freewheels via the motor.

View attachment 185145

Damn.... I never thought about this before but I might just put a handful of cable ties to my saddle bag just in case!

 

[BlackHand]

Damn.... I never thought about this before but I might just put a handful of cable ties to my saddle bag just in case!

What do you think @Chargeride carries in that backpack of his? It's chock full of zipties and duct tape - at the start of the ride, that is

True confessions though - his isn't the only Haibike held together with zip ties. My rear fender and rack have been held stable on my bike with zip ties after 1 bolt fell out and the other fender mount point subsequently snapped.

 

[MartsEbike]

What do you think @Chargeride carries in that backpack of his? It's chock full of zipties and duct tape - at the start of the ride, that is

True confessions though - his isn't the only Haibike held together with zip ties. My rear fender and rack have been held stable on my bike with zip ties after 1 bolt fell out and the other fender mount point subsequently snapped.

DUCT TAPE! I'm going to need a bigger saddle bag!

 

[RabH]

I had a choice of getting out on the bike yesterday on a very windy but 'dry' day or going out today with lighter winds but more chance of rain! I chose yesterday and made the most of the 35mph winds but got soaked in the process! Ironically the rain was minimal today... Anyway I really enjoyed the ride despite getting soaked again, it wasn't heavy rain but that stuff that just doesn't let up!

I headed out to Uphall which meant 22 miles with a truly awesome tailwind, using bike paths where possible! At Uphall I backtracked to Dechmont to head up Burnhouse road which would have a very strong crosswind component at some parts but as it was nearly all steep uphill I would be going slowly, I certainly wouldn't have enjoyed descending it! I then used the back roads to Cairpapple and even braved the climb directly into the wind, after the climb there is a huge descent which was protected from the wind so I hurtled down at just over 42mph!

At Torphicen I enjoyed yet more descending down to Westfield and then headed up the big climb to Heights but avoided the highest part due to crazy crosswinds as its very exposed, I opted to take the road to Slamannan instead as its more protected by tree cover and the road is like a rollercoaster so it was a real blast even in the wet! From Slamannan I took the main road to Greengairs as once again it was well protected by tree cover and thankfully it was pretty quiet anyway! From Greengairs it was a short ride to home and a well earned hot shower!

Amazingly October turned out to be my best month of the year so far with 645 miles covered, it has also been a month of some really crazy weather but luckliy I had almost a full week of decent weather so that sure helped! I was resetting my bike display when I got home and noticed it was showing exactly 35000 miles, what are the odds of that happening? My actual mileage is 35286 due to a display problem a while back! No photos this time as it wasn't the day for taking any...

 

[Watana Bob]

View attachment 185189

I had a choice of getting out on the bike yesterday on a very windy but 'dry' day or going out today with lighter winds but more chance of rain! I chose yesterday and made the most of the 35mph winds but got soaked in the process! Ironically the rain was minimal today... Anyway I really enjoyed the ride despite getting soaked again, it wasn't heavy rain but that stuff that just doesn't let up!

I headed out to Uphall which meant 22 miles with a truly awesome tailwind, using bike paths where possible! At Uphall I backtracked to Dechmont to head up Burnhouse road which would have a very strong crosswind component at some parts but as it was nearly all steep uphill I would be going slowly, I certainly wouldn't have enjoyed descending it! I then used the back roads to Cairpapple and even braved the climb directly into the wind, after the climb there is a huge descent which was protected from the wind so I hurtled down at just over 42mph!

At Torphicen I enjoyed yet more descending down to Westfield and then headed up the big climb to Heights but avoided the highest part due to crazy crosswinds as its very exposed, I opted to take the road to Slamannan instead as its more protected by tree cover and the road is like a rollercoaster so it was a real blast even in the wet! From Slamannan I took the main road to Greengairs as once again it was well protected by tree cover and thankfully it was pretty quiet anyway! From Greengairs it was a short ride to home and a well earned hot shower!

Amazingly October turned out to be my best month of the year so far with 645 miles covered, it has also been a month of some really crazy weather but luckliy I had almost a full week of decent weather so that sure helped! I was resetting my bike display when I got home and noticed it was showing exactly 35000 miles, what are the odds of that happening? My actual mileage is 35286 due to a display problem a while back! No photos this time as it wasn't the day for taking any...

View attachment 185191

Congrats Rab for going 1.4 times around the planet !

 

[Stefan Mikes]

it was showing exactly 35000 miles

Congratulations!

I had a choice of getting out on the bike yesterday on a very windy but 'dry' day

We also experience strong winds here in Mazovia.

The plan for this weekend: All (10) cycling capable bridges of Warsaw. The route is 41 km long. I have checked: It is not 100% bike paths but closely (I actually think of making this trip even more sophisticated )

 

[Chargeride]

A few rides
Noped out of this one, already up to the hub, found a way through the field.

This the moment the pawls in the freehub failed, spoilt that day

Explored more of Ringmore, its a bleedin Disneyland of thatched cottages

Mid fall at Dartmoor

It was this for eight miles. I cried like a baby the entire time

Everything was impossible, muddy, slippy and knackering

It started off so well

Better days at Garra Rock

This rock was as slippy as wet ice, you just had to cross it in straight lines, sort of tacking down the lanes

No idea in Totnes

A beautiful coastal ride from Wembury led us to Plymouth, you can see the fort

 

[JGcycle]

A couple of pics from today's 20km ride:

 

[Stefan Mikes]

t was this for eight miles. I cried like a baby the entire time

I would ask myself the question "Why do it?"

Better days at Garra Rock

My man!

 

[MartsEbike]

A couple of pics from today's 20km ride:

View attachment 185243View attachment 185244

Jealous of the blue skies and sunshine! This was my day yesterday. Photo taken around 2pm. Murky, misty and grey! Don't you just love British weather!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Jealous of the blue skies and sunshine! This was my day yesterday. Photo taken around 2pm. Murky, misty and grey! Don't you just love British weather!

Would you prefer sunshine but 1 C instead of 12-13? That's Poland in November for you!