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

[Chargeride]

As an only child with quite the preference for soloing life, I completely read the room wrong for shared rides, its an issue of leading a life where you are the main character.
The wifes running club outings are social events with a cycling problem, and breakdowns, minor crashes, wrong turns are all part of the enjoyment, building a shared experience to reminisce or gently rib.
Looks like a great day out, I think you might have started something.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Joined my first-ever meet-up group ride today. Had no idea how these things work and some anxiety about keeping up, but it all worked out great!
Elevation profile with blue grade overlay. Had no problem keeping up on the flats with no assist, but definitely needed some help on those 3 big climbs on the right. Matching the pace of nearby riders was a snap with the Vado SL's very clever MicroTune mode.

This very informal group, the EX-Y Riders, meets every Wednesday morning at the Encinitas YMCA for rides of 20-30 miles around north San Diego County. The rides are open to all -- including ebikers -- and no one gets dropped. The pace is "conversational"
The ride ended with coffee, pastries, and friendly conversation at a Starbucks about 7 mi from home. You could tell that most of the participants had been riding together for years. Most were roadies in lycra, but they made me feel welcome all the same.

Looked like a fun outing with decent elevation. Keep hanging out with those roadies and perhaps this could be the beginning of a Lycra evolution of sorts for you.

Group rides are fun from a social aspect. I’ve been on a few during the winter season but following single file for almost the entire length of the ride becomes tiresome after a few sessions. I suspect many come for the complimentary beer at the start of the ride.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Guys, I've just watched two YT videos. The first one was what the Brits thought of Poles/Poland, and the other was what the Poles thought of Brits/Britain.

One Polish woman said: ' Yes, that's what comes to my mind. Trips. The fact that you can walk through someone's field and it's so natural. Like, it doesn't surprise anyone that someone walks on their property, on their private property. No! It is such a cool way to spend your time, and they like to walk in nature a lot'.

I told you many times: Polish private properties like fields are not fenced because nobody sane would walk (or ride) into a private property here! Especially as we have so much public grounds! The Brits have their Rights of Way, something still making Poles shocked!

 

[MartsEbike]

Guys, I've just watched two YT videos. The first one was what the Brits thought of Poles/Poland, and the other was what the Poles thought of Brits/Britain.

One Polish woman said: ' Yes, that's what comes to my mind. Trips. The fact that you can walk through someone's field and it's so natural. Like, it doesn't surprise anyone that someone walks on their property, on their private property. No! It is such a cool way to spend your time, and they like to walk in nature a lot'.

I told you many times: Polish private properties like fields are not fenced because nobody sane would walk (or ride) into a private property here! Especially as we have so much public grounds! The Brits have their Rights of Way, something still making Poles shocked!

We are lucky to have all of these paths and rights of way! It's so second nature to us Brits that it's hard to comprehend how other nations do it.

I took the screenshot below from RWGPS, the brown lines are "cycling roads, tracks, and paths with unpaved surfaces" - and it doesn't cover the full extent either - showing many dead-ends that in reality are not dead-ends but lead somewhere! It offers so much scope for walking, hiking and riding. Worth noting the map below doesn't include "Paved surfaces" - like offical cycle routes. If you include them aswell you can almost cover the entire country with minimal road riding. Mind you some paths are harder to navigate than others, and some are not always suitable for cycling but walking/hiking. That said it's a great thing to have.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

Legally there are a number of rights of way in England and Wales (things are much more liberal in Scotland with 'Right To Roam') There are official footpaths (walkers only) Bridleways (Horses, walkers and cyclists since 1985) and Byways - open to all including cars but often rough so jeeps or tractors more suitable. There is a further wrinkle with 'permissive' paths, bridleways or roads, these are also accessible but the landowner can revoke the permission. Farmers with animals can close off paths at certain times of year for instance. Most of these footpaths & bridleways are ancient and were recognised as far back as the Doomsday Book. However the ramblers association, horse trekking groups & cyclists groups all recommend vigilance as landowners and property developers are always trying to get permissions revoked. There are legal loopholes that if a route falls off county council maps over a period of years it can be legally removed from the official paths network. 2026 is the next big reassessment of legal footpaths - and thanks to the previous Tory government they kept this date quiet to help large landowners quietly remove paths and bridleways, so if you use ones in your area no harm to check their status and alert these activist groups to make sure they are counted and recognised as legal rights of way.

Conversely one of the problems with modern mapping apps is they are international in nature and don't seem to care about which local routes are legal or not. This has caused a backlash when bikes go down private tracks or roads following a route on an app. I notice that Komoot now (finally!) tells you if some of the routes are legal or if you need to dismount and walk your bike through them - a lot of younger mountain bikers don't realise that bikes are illegal on the open moor except on bridleways for instance. Currently I'm very aware about all this on Dartmoor as a powerful rich land owner near here is attempting through the courts to ban wild camping on Dartmoor. It's been to appeal and is now with the High Court and we're waiting the final result. Currently Dartmoor is the only wild space in England where it is legal to wild camp (Wild meaning you carry all camping gear with you on foot, horse or bike so not like camper vans or official camp sites.) This means any illegality on Dartmoor is coming under sharper focus. The land owner is a city millionaire who bought a huge Estate on the moor ten years ago and who got annoyed with the general public walking and camping on his estate and interrupting his Stag shoots - where he flies in Russian Oligarchs to go hunting! As you can imagine most of the locals are outraged that he is trying these legal tricks and support Dartmoor Park authority in this court case.

Anyway the bridleways and byways are a gift to exploring the countryside but need to be protected.

protest at the attempt to ban wild camping earlier this year at Hound Tor Dartmoor:

Here's a good article about the laws & official Ordnance Survey footpaths and bridleways with short green dashes (paths) and long green dashes (bridleways)

https://www.bikeradar.com/features/routes-and-rides/uk-cycling-footpath-laws

 

[Stefan Mikes]

We are lucky to have all of these paths and rights of way! It's so second nature to us Brits that it's hard to comprehend how other nations do it.

My history knowledge tells me there was no serfdom in Britain (or, at least in England), and a free man could carry weapon. While serfdom was a norm during certain ages on the continent, and only the nobles could carry the arms. It could be the one principal difference.

@Rás Cnoic also thank you for the enlightening explanation!

 

[Rás Cnoic]

My history knowledge tells me there was no serfdom in Britain (or, at least in England), and a free man could carry weapon. While serfdom was a norm during certain ages on the continent, and only the nobles could carry the arms. It could be the one principal difference.

@Rás Cnoic also thank you for the enlightening explanation!

I think, but have no firsthand knowledge, that a similar footpath/bridleway network exists in Western European countries like France. What their legal status is now I don't know. Maybe someone on here has cycled in rural France and has an up to date idea.

In Ireland the picture is very different, due to history - The Great Famine in the mid 19C created a demand for land reform to prevent such a catastrophe happening again - on the eve of the famine just 5% of land was owned by Irish people the rest by mostly English or Anglo Irish landowners in giant estates, most of whom where absentee landowners living in England. Over the later part of the 19C this coalesced into the Land League a mass movement for change and eventually this was a major factor in the war of independence. If Britain couldn't be relied upon to prevent the deaths by starvation and disease of the tenant population under its care, it was better to go it alone and make our own provisions. (Population of Ireland on eve of Famine in 1840s 8.5Million, by 1890 reduced by death and emigration to under 4 million. Today it's still lower then 1840, around 6.8m North & South I think - for comparison rest of UK in 1840 was around 20 million, now 64 million) After Independence the foreign owned estates were broken up (Irish Government having to repay UK for this until the 1970s!) and most land in Ireland became family owned small & medium sized farms. Much more healthy for the country! However the preexisting ancient patchwork of paths were lost in this change and now access through farmland is rare. I grew up on an Irish farm and the idea that people could just walk through our fields was alien, unthinkable! And never happened. Living in England & on Dartmoor I see what a brilliant resource it is to have this ancient network of paths, what a link to ancient times and how the country is (or should) be owned by all it's citizens and so this right to roam (responsibly of course) is important for all. I find it very interesting different countries rights of way and how history shapes us all.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

In Ireland the picture is very different, due to history

Thank you even more! I was interested how it looked in Ireland but was ashamed to ask (a very complicated history!)

 

[Rás Cnoic]

The Irish Govt has spent a lot in recent years on cycling greenways. Pretty impressive actually and although most of these are more for recreational cycling, unlike Germany or Holland with commuter belt cycling highways, they are looking more at integrated travel - so for example a new motorway proposal between the cities of Cork & Limerick, a major & busy road 60 miles long, is now planned to have a cycle route alongside the entire way. This is great & hopefully this kind of thinking will continue. There is a general election today so be interesting to see what new Govt emerges!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

My first instinct was to ask whether the Irish Govt even worked but then recollected I was thinking of another part of the Green Island The one with Derry!

 

[RabH]

A challenging but record breaking ride!

I finally had a decent morning for cycling with no danger of ice, 6C with a blustery 25mph southerly wind! It was a very dull overcast day but it was dry, my plan was to do 50-60 miles which would leave me with only 20 or so miles to break my record of 6223 miles from 2020! I only charged my batteries to 85% to stop me going crazy and overdoing things, that went out the window... I decided to battle the wind and head sourh for the Clyde Valley, I stopped on one of the bridges for a couple of photos!

Another mile or so and I had more photo opportunites, I just love these corkscrew hedges!

I continued along the valley and stopped for more photos!

I then started the climb up to Kirkfieldbank and had this view of the River Clyde part way up the climb!

Soon after I stopped at this waterfall where it was difficult to get a decent photo, I had to climb a huge slippery bank which took me back to my childhood!

Then it was time to climb out of the valley up to Lanark, a very hard climb which got my heart pumping! I was intending to head north from Lanark up over the railway crossing at Cleghorn but changed my mind and decided to stop for an early lunch and head for Biggar instead which would mean a longer ride but I would have that 25mph southerly wind at my back for a good 25 miles from Biggar all the way to West Calder! I joined the main A73 from Hyndford Bridge and passed Tinto Hill where the sun was attempting to break through for the first time!

Its a great road but can be busy!

Soon I had some nice views of the Pentland and Coulter Hills just before arriving in Biggar!

I had now covered 34 miles and my first battery was down to 25% but I managed another 6 miles before changing to my second battery, thanks to the strong tailwind! A mile or so after Biggar I stopped for a couple of photos looking west!

Then I started up the big climb towards Libberton, part way up I stopped for these photos of the Pentlands and Coulters!

Near the top of the climb now looking back down, its a tough climb but the photo doesn't do it justice!

I then enjoyed some nice descents before the next big climb near Carnwath!

At Carnwath I continued north and I was loving that tailwind, it was at this point I thought I might have a go at beating my record from 2020 as my second battery was doing well! At this point I hasd covered 42 miles which would mean another 40 was required to equal my record, I continued north passng through Auchengray and Woolfords and on to West Calder! From here I turned west towards Stoneyburn and then north again up the big climb through Longridge and Whitburn and then on to the cycle path up to Armadale!

Then I turned west and took the back road to Blackridge with 66 miles now in the bag, normally I turn west at Blackridge for home but I knew it would be only 10 miles this way so I decided to head up over Heights which starts with a big climb and some cracking descents on the rollercoaster road near Avonbridge! I stopped for this photo before the final big descent!

On the way down my bike felt strange, it was weaving so I knew it was a rear wheel puncture and I had covered exactly 70 miles when it happened! I popped the tyre off and couldn't find anything sharp inside so stuck a new tube in and set off again, I tackled another big climb up towards Shieldhill and turned west for Slamannan! After just 3 miles I had another rear wheel puncture, once again I removed the tyre and checked thoroughly and couldn't find anything again! This was my last spare tube and the rain had now started to fall and to make matters worse darkness was approaching fast! I was now really worried I would get another puncture, trying to repair it in the dark and wet would be a real challenge!

The other problem was my battery was now taking a pounding as I was now taking on a very strong headwind! I passed through Slamannan and took the back road to Longriggend and the rain continued and darkness had now arrived, I was petrified of another puncture! At Longriggend I turned south for Caldercruix and thankfully my tyre was holding up, the battery was another story though as I was now down to 26%! At least I only 1 had one more climb at Caldercruix before the roads would be slightly downhill until I reached my home town and I knew I would need to preserve my battery for the final climbs! Thankfully I made it up the final climb where my battery cut off right at the top, I was very lucky!

So I had covered 85 miles which meant I had passed my 2020 total by 3 miles and still have a full month left, when I stopped at my garage I checked my rear tyre and it was soft but luckily not totally flat! I got lucky for sure, tomorrow I will check it properly but may just order a new one as it has done almost 8000 miles now! I never would have imagined arriving home in the dark after leaving at 9.20am, if it wasn't for the punctures I would have been home around 15.30 at the latest!

 

[Chargeride]

The British attitude is based on our fundamental approach to humanity.
As long as you are polite, you can circumnavigate most laws.

Which clearly includes.
Sorry chaps , this is ours now, where can we put our flag ?

I might ride down a farmers track with no obvious right of way, but if goes near his house, thats a whole different ball game..not the done thing at all.

You may see me remark to rights of way that goes right through someones garden, but of course if I met the owners, the done thing is to confirm your surprise at the invasion of privacy, then they reply with confirmation that it is a public path, followed by a suitable joke.
You will then confirm your intention to pass through and never be seen again by asking if its the way to some distant town.

These are simple rules the world should adopt...

 

[Chargeride]

Guys, I've just watched two YT videos. The first one was what the Brits thought of Poles/Poland, and the other was what the Poles thought of Brits/Britain.

One Polish woman said: ' Yes, that's what comes to my mind. Trips. The fact that you can walk through someone's field and it's so natural. Like, it doesn't surprise anyone that someone walks on their property, on their private property. No! It is such a cool way to spend your time, and they like to walk in nature a lot'.

I told you many times: Polish private properties like fields are not fenced because nobody sane would walk (or ride) into a private property here! Especially as we have so much public grounds! The Brits have their Rights of Way, something still making Poles shocked!

Brits have a very skewed view of Poland, not helped by the media and the Poles coming here describing their country as some post communist dystopia sxxx hole.

We spent many decades thinking Polish people watched tractor factory documentaries and nihilist cartoons about despair and hopelessness featuring worker mouse and politico cat .

Its amusing that the reality is the opposite, but as you may have observed it grinds my gears that such stereotypes are reinforced by an agenda in the bank for future use.

The internet has destroyed that power, though it has simply morphed into ' polands worst town' clickbait videos.

England is slowly realising its our country that is the wasteland now

 

[Saratoga Dave]

View attachment 186848

A challenging but record breaking ride!

I finally had a decent morning for cycling with no danger of ice, 6C with a blustery 25mph southerly wind! It was a very dull overcast day but it was dry, my plan was to do 50-60 miles which would leave me with only 20 or so miles to break my record of 6223 miles from 2020! I only charged my batteries to 85% to stop me going crazy and overdoing things, that went out the window... I decided to battle the wind and head sourh for the Clyde Valley, I stopped on one of the bridges for a couple of photos!

View attachment 186849
View attachment 186850
Another mile or so and I had more photo opportunites, I just love these corkscrew hedges!

View attachment 186851
View attachment 186852
View attachment 186853
I continued along the valley and stopped for more photos!

View attachment 186854
View attachment 186855
View attachment 186856
I then started the climb up to Kirkfieldbank and had this view of the River Clyde part way up the climb!

View attachment 186857
Soon after I stopped at this waterfall where it was difficult to get a decent photo, I had to climb a huge slippery bank which took me back to my childhood!

View attachment 186858
Then it was time to climb out of the valley up to Lanark, a very hard climb which got my heart pumping! I was intending to head north from Lanark up over the railway crossing at Cleghorn but changed my mind and decided to stop for an early lunch and head for Biggar instead which would mean a longer ride but I would have that 25mph southerly wind at my back for a good 25 miles from Biggar all the way to West Calder! I joined the main A73 from Hyndford Bridge and passed Tinto Hill where the sun was attempting to break through for the first time!

View attachment 186859
Its a great road but can be busy!

View attachment 186860
Soon I had some nice views of the Pentland and Coulter Hills just before arriving in Biggar!

View attachment 186861
View attachment 186862
View attachment 186863
View attachment 186864
View attachment 186865
I had now covered 34 miles and my first battery was down to 25% but I managed another 6 miles before changing to my second battery, thanks to the strong tailwind! A mile or so after Biggar I stopped for a couple of photos looking west!

View attachment 186866
View attachment 186867
Then I started up the big climb towards Libberton, part way up I stopped for these photos of the Pentlands and Coulters!

View attachment 186868
View attachment 186870
View attachment 186871
Near the top of the climb now looking back down, its a tough climb but the photo doesn't do it justice!

View attachment 186869
I then enjoyed some nice descents before the next big climb near Carnwath!

View attachment 186872
At Carnwath I continued north and I was loving that tailwind, it was at this point I thought I might have a go at beating my record from 2020 as my second battery was doing well! At this point I hasd covered 42 miles which would mean another 40 was required to equal my record, I continued north passng through Auchengray and Woolfords and on to West Calder! From here I turned west towards Stoneyburn and then north again up the big climb through Longridge and Whitburn and then on to the cycle path up to Armadale!

Then I turned west and took the back road to Blackridge with 66 miles now in the bag, normally I turn west at Blackridge for home but I knew it would be only 10 miles this way so I decided to head up over Heights which starts with a big climb and some cracking descents on the rollercoaster road near Avonbridge! I stopped for this photo before the final big descent!

View attachment 186873
On the way down my bike felt strange, it was weaving so I knew it was a rear wheel puncture and I had covered exactly 70 miles when it happened! I popped the tyre off and couldn't find anything sharp inside so stuck a new tube in and set off again, I tackled another big climb up towards Shieldhill and turned west for Slamannan! After just 3 miles I had another rear wheel puncture, once again I removed the tyre and checked thoroughly and couldn't find anything again! This was my last spare tube and the rain had now started to fall and to make matters worse darkness was approaching fast! I was now really worried I would get another puncture, trying to repair it in the dark and wet would be a real challenge!

The other problem was my battery was now taking a pounding as I was now taking on a very strong headwind! I passed through Slamannan and took the back road to Longriggend and the rain continued and darkness had now arrived, I was petrified of another puncture! At Longriggend I turned south for Caldercruix and thankfully my tyre was holding up, the battery was another story though as I was now down to 26%! At least I only 1 had one more climb at Caldercruix before the roads would be slightly downhill until I reached my home town and I knew I would need to preserve my battery for the final climbs! Thankfully I made it up the final climb where my battery cut off right at the top, I was very lucky!

So I had covered 85 miles which meant I had passed my 2020 total by 3 miles and still have a full month left, when I stopped at my garage I checked my rear tyre and it was soft but luckily not totally flat! I got lucky for sure, tomorrow I will check it properly but may just order a new one as it has done almost 8000 miles now! I never would have imagined arriving home in the dark after leaving at 9.20am, if it wasn't for the punctures I would have been home around 15.30 at the latest!

Wow, another killer ride, Rab! So, whaddaya think? 6500 for the year?? A nice good looking number!

I learned a long time ago you never scroll past a RabH ride report. And some day, you’re going to have to have that Road e bronzed and turned into a statue!

 

[RabH]

Wow, another killer ride, Rab! So, whaddaya think? 6500 for the year?? A nice good looking number!

I learned a long time ago you never scroll past a RabH ride report. And some day, you’re going to have to have that Road e bronzed and turned into a statue!

6500 should be easily achievable but of course the weather could play a part! I hope I get many more years of use Dave, I'm approaching 36000 and would love to take it to 50000 at least! I pulled my tyre off today and for the life of me I can't find anything that would have caused the punctures, my third tube was totally flat when I was washing the bike 30 minutes after I got home! On checking the tubes they all had a fair sized pin hole suggesting a thorn but I can't see it, new tyre ordered to be safe!

 

[Chargeride]

After visiting the English Riviera, I stumbled across this classic Pathe News film of its heyday, 1968, I was five and lived down the coast.

The Narrators voice is nostalgia exemplified.

 

[MartsEbike]

After visiting the English Riviera, I stumbled across this classic Pathe News film of its heyday, 1968, I was five and lived down the coast.

The Narrators voice is nostalgia exemplified.

I went down a rabbit hole watching British Pathé videos on Youtube. It was a different world! Fascinating watching it back today!

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

After visiting the English Riviera, I stumbled across this classic Pathe News film of its heyday, 1968, I was five and lived down the coast.

The Narrators voice is nostalgia exemplified.

Fun blast from the past — including the narration. For a few years starting around 10, I would have been both a "bucket-and-spade" and a bikini enthusiast.

But hard to imagine the English wanting to add a "dash of French flavoring" to anything.

 

[Chargeride]

Hilariously we pretty well built the French Riveria as a health resort and we also started Skiing in France as a tourist activity.
The Promenade des Anglais, Cannes Cote d'azur were tourists destinations concieved by the English.

And the French never got over it.

Thats why they still blank us at the resorts.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

A Cake Instead of Pork-Chop!

The plan for Saturday was to ride for 74 km with a stop for a pork-chop in Żyrardów. However, I overslept the best morning hours so a shorter ride was the only option left.

Leszno (Mazovia) as seen from 2.5 km in a straight line. The church is one of the landmarks of this large village. See the wall of trees in the background: It's where the huge Kampinos National Park has its south border.

Leszno in Mazovia is known from the only one fun-fact: It hosts the soccer/football club where the superstar Robert Lewandowski started his career Why do I always write Leszno (Mazovia, MZ)? It is because there is a city of Leszno in West Poland. Once, the owner of the cafe in Leszno (MZ) got a big order for a wedding cake. Turns out, the customer thought the cafe was located in Leszno (Greater Poland)! All ended well but now I always specify what Leszno we are talking about!

One Hundred Ash Tree Avenue. That road, which is straight and almost flat is a part of a series of roads where road cyclists have their regular workouts. When there is a massive westerly wind, roadies ride up there to beat their KOM/QOM records for Strava!

One of so many defunct smoke stacks of Poland. These are used as towers for telecoms.

In Klimatyczna Cafe & Patisserie. For those who do not know it yet, it is a cycling friendly cafe in Leszno MZ, and it is located just 18.5 km from my place! I used to be a regular customer there but have to admit it was my first visit there in six months!

It ended up with two pieces of different cheesecake, Flat White and black tea!

It is a family business with pretensions to sell quality stuff. Nowadays, the owner's daughter and her boyfriend start taking the business over!

While I was enjoying my dessert, the owner started putting the paintings on the easels.

Then I went outside and met a freshly arrived roadie there. He rode a Superior. Superior is a relatively new Czech brand making excellent traditional bikes and e-bikes, which started to be known, and it is successfully selling its products in Europe, even in Norway. The man said he enjoyed the weather and was ready to ride home in Warsaw at night!

Perhaps I was complaining a little on the bike infrastructure (another Forum thread) but I must say there are not many reasons to complain. Here, on a new bike path from Leszno MZ to Błonie. A catch? Missing a two kilometre bike path segment on the #579!

As I approached Błonie, there was a man walking on the bike path even if he had a sidewalk available. I slowed down, and warned the man verbally. He turned towards me and exclaimed in awe: "Man! Your headlight is as powerful as the one in the car!" Hard to deny. The low-beam headlight provides 1100 lumen at 12 W

Ride Map.