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

[Stefan Mikes]

Grubooloza

I was quite pleased to meet my old friend Joanna 'Makenzen' at the start line of yet another Fat Man XC group ride. Makenzen is a totally recumbent bike person. I was interested how she would fare on a ride involving a lot of off-road. You need to be aware early December in Mazovia terrain means cold, mud, deep puddles, and mostly potholes but the sand is packed (it was the day I was actually happy I had the Redshift seat-post as it worked very hard under me!)

The group initially was ten or eleven riders. Here, on a classic 'opening route' for all gravel/MTB cyclists leaving south Warsaw into the woods.

I cannot remember that railway crossing ever closed before! (A diesel locomotive).

An unusually early stop at 8th kilometre. I could enjoy warm tea from my new thermal mug!

I warned Fat Man we could not climb the Czarnów Hills because of the recumbent bike. My own ride plan required turning right (no issues) but I was advised to make the detour to the left. Which ended up in several loops we made being completely lost! Only thorough consulting digital maps helped us leave that damned area!

Or, you're riding dirt roads along the woods' edge and you meet Nativity play actors in impeccably clean costumes! Turned our they were members of a choir walking to a rehearsal while female Angels took a car ride instead We later met the Devil and other actors, too!

As the main group was expected to ride off-road as much as possible, I elected riding "Mazovian gravel" terrain (as that was doable for the recumbent). So we arrived at Górki Szymona, a nice recreational area on the ponds.

It was the first time someone explained to me that there actually were two Zalesie: Upper and Lower (I have never grabbed that idea before!) We lost all hope to catch up with the group, so I briefly created a gravel cycling route between Zalesie Upper and Zalesie Lower

We arrived in Mariano Italiano, an excellent Italian restaurant.

Soon, we were joined by five remaining members of the group!

And we returned to South Warsaw together with the group.

Ride Map. Makenzen rode over 70, and I over 50 km on the day.

 

[RabH]

A trouble free ride today, my new tyre is due to arrive tomorrow and with this afternoon being so nice I had to get out! I actually found a small hole in my damaged tyre which I'm sure had a thorn in it, so I used a tyre boot to be safe and did a few circuits around town before chancing a longer ride, thankfully without any issues! For a change we had a northerly wind so I decided to head out to Breich and take on the big climb up towards Forth which is way easier with a tailwind, not that it was a strong one but around 15mph which was nice!

In the morning it was pouring down but the forecast was showing a dry afternoon and amazingly it was correct! No ice today so I used the back roads as much as possible, the road down to Allanton is always great fun and when I arrived there I took the back roads to loop around the town which brought me out at the eastern side where I joined the main road all the way to Breich! Thats where I headed up the climb towards Forth before enjoying the awesome descent through Wilsontown, its one of those roads which just makes you grin from ear to ear when you ride it!

I then headed up the climb into Braehead before plunging down the big descent towards Carnwath, another awesome piece of road! I turned west part way down to take the back roads to Yieldshields and I didn't see a single car for miles, the main reason I love to take these roads! The roads were still wet from the morning rain and my bike was absolutely filthy but I was just loving it! From Yieldshields I took the back road to Carluke which is another amazing road especially since they resurfaced it earlier this year!

I then enjoyed some nice descents down into Morningside where I turned north into the wind back up to Allanton, from there it was a headwind all the way home on pretty much the same roads I used at the start of the ride and I arrived home in full daylight for a change and gave the bike a much needed wash! A fun ride indeed in perfect cycling conditions and no issues with my tyre!No photos today, I just wanted to ride the bike and have fun with no distractions! There was a lot of climbing but the descents were just amazing and the 17.4mph average says it all!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

My First "Night BRIDGES Reversed" (A Gravel Group Ride)

"Night BRIDGES" is a regular Monday event for Warsaw gravel cyclists under the auspices of Gravel.Love foundation. On the proper "Night BRIDGES" a big group of extremely strong riders zooms recreational gravel paths along the River Vistula at a very high speed; they usually ride anti-clockwise. The route includes some technical segments, too. Gravel.Love has announced an additional group ride on the "reversed" course and to be ridden at a way lower speed for last Tuesday. My brother had explained me the details of the route and encouraged me to take part in the ride. I thought it would be wise to take my Vado 6.0 for the ride for more motor power.

By the Warsaw Mermaid (1937) at 18:39. The ride would start at 19:00. The light display on the Holy Cross Bridge pillar is for Tadeusz Mazowiecki, a Polish statesman and Prime Minister especially important during the transition of Poland from Communism to a democratic state (died 2013).

The ride started at 19:00 sharp. There was five of us, including one female rider (who I knew from other group rides).

The motor settings for the 'slow' ride. Wrong! Too weak! It should be 30, 40, and 100%! At one place we had to ride up a high river embankment. Had I 100% Turbo, I would ride it up easily! I got surprised and 40% assistance turned out to be too little!

The ride turned out to be just wonderful! It was not exactly easy but I was keeping up with the group. The views were gorgeous! Just fancy a group of several bikes with their tail-lights quietly zooming gravel paths among the trees, little climbs and descents, and the delicate tyre noise on the gravel! I regret I was unable to be taking photos or a short movie!

A 3 minute stop by the Praga Harbour. The weather was gorgeous: not less than 4 C, dry, clear, no wind perceived. I could ride without the goggles!

The "no drop" rule was observed here. On rare occasions where I got slowed down by technical obstacles, the group would wait for me. Once, I literally followed the GPX course that led into some bushes; I got a Messenger call: 'Stefan, you are asking for trouble. Please immediately return. We are waiting for you!' Nice people indeed!

At the finish line!

I had a look at my watch and said 'It was a great pleasure to ride with you! I need to catch my return train! Good-bye!' and only set my TURBO to 100% as I had to climb the Tamka, one of a few harder climbs in Warsaw

A coffee robot at Warsaw-City train station. I usually take a mug of hot chocolate there.

The top metrics include my rides between the Warsaw-City and the Mermaid. The other stats are for the gravel group ride. It takes the Monday riders some 1 h 30 min to complete the loop! (My total Tuesday distance was 55.8 km including the commutes where I live).

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Friend D and I took a lazy coast ride north to Oceanside and back yesterday. Plan A was to head inland from the Oceanside Pier on the San Luis Rey River trail then head home the same way when we felt like it.

But when we reached the pier, we saw a nearly deserted beach at very low tide. Time for Plan B.

First, we rode the firm sand north to the Oceanside Harbor jetty. That's D's white Aventon Level.2 at lower right.

The jetty (background) separates the mouth of the San Luis Rey River on our side from the harbor on the other side. I keep saying that I'm gonna leave beach riding to my old hub-drive, but I just couldn't resist on this glorious late fall day.

The Oceanside Harbor's a great place to knock around on a bike. But this time, D had just one objective — saltwater taffy from his favorite source a few blocks away.

I stood guard outside while he went in.

That's when I noticed a rather curious sign with no clear connection to any nearby shop or bar or restaurant. No idea what that's all about.

Taffy's not a favorite of mine, but D insisted that I try this blue and yellow piece from a bin labeled "Assorted Tropical Fruits". Don't normally eat off bike saddles as a matter of policy, but it was wrapped, so I gave it a try.

No clue what flavor it was supposed to represent, but yummy enough that I went in for my own bag, here laid out back home. Don't wanna know all the artificial flavors and colors involved.

From the candy shop, we turned back toward the sand and the pier. That's D riding ahead with our northbound tracks in the foreground. He was on 2.3" hybrid tires. Had so little sinkage on my 1.5" (38 mm) hybrids that I rode with no motor the whole time.

Ran out of beach against the incoming tide here, then backtracked till we found a way back up to the road over the boulder revetment. Got in some 3 miles of sand in all.

Last photo stop in Oceanside before dashing home to south Carlsbad. Sometimes the most interesting waves in a surf shot are the smallest.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

This photo could go to Specialized catalogue!

 

[Chargeride]

Another Storm hit us last night, attempted to take a look at the beach, but the rain was ridiculous, plus its pitch black.
This one was called Darragh which is an Irish name if you didnt guess.

This is the first time Ive seen advice on not driving through floods, possibly EVs?
Theyre not really anymore vulnerable, but certainly much more of a hassle if they do sink.

Drivers warned over flooded roads after danger to life alert issued for Storm Darragh

The weather bureau is warning residents across affected areas that Storm Darragh could cause power cuts and travel delays

www.independent.co.uk

 

[MartsEbike]

Another Storm hit us last night, attempted to take a look at the beach, but the rain was ridiculous, plus its pitch black.
This one was called Darragh which is an Irish name if you didnt guess.

This is the first time Ive seen advice on not driving through floods, possibly EVs?
Theyre not really anymore vulnerable, but certainly much more of a hassle if they do sink.

Drivers warned over flooded roads after danger to life alert issued for Storm Darragh

The weather bureau is warning residents across affected areas that Storm Darragh could cause power cuts and travel delays

www.independent.co.uk

On modern ICE cars the air intake can be lower than you expect. Sometimes it's lower than the grill on the front of the car would suggest, and if water gets in the engine it will hydrolock it - which can lead to a world of pain...We're talking very expensive damage which will probably lead to your insurer just writing off the vehicle.

The maximum recommended depth is just 10cm!!!!!

How to drive through floodwater and heavy rain | The AA

Driving through floodwater or rain can be challenging for any driver. Read our advice on driving in adverse weather and what to do during torrential rain.

www.theaa.com

 

[Stefan Mikes]

The maximum recommended depth is just 10cm!!!!!

There is a story in my life... In July 1997, I drove my brand new car to Katowice in South Poland and left it in a car park. I got into a Diesel car the wife of my Old Manager was driving, with himself on board of course. We headed towards the Czech Republic. The terrible flood of 1997 had just begun.

As we entered Czech Silesia, we asked drivers of big lorries which way we should take. They all spoke a kind of East European "patois" but could explain the correct way.

As we were riding through Czech Silesia, we could see coal mines and steelworks disappearing under the water. We reached a small town of Odry, where the big River Odra/Oder had its springs. Kathleen was trying all possible directions but we were getting in such deep water than the exhaust bubbled underwater! (Were it a petrol car, our ride would have ended there, and we would be running for dear life!) Eventually, K found the only suitable road. We were directed by Civil Defence members onto surrounding hills. From there, we could observe the town disappearing under water, and the rapid evacuation.

As we reached a motorway bridge in Olomouc (which was very high), the Police started blocking the traffic, and we were the last ones to cross that bridge: the water was just bubbling under the road!

It was a long and eventful trip. I left my party only in Bratislava Slovakia three days later, found a coach to Kraków and a train to Katowice where I could pick up my car.

Meanwhile South-West Poland was experiencing the worst flood of the century!

 

[MartsEbike]

Rufford Ford is a warning to anyone that wants to try drive through water.

This road has now been closed by the council due to all the shenanigans that use to go on.

 

[RabH]

We have more nasty weather approaching but it was ok this morning so I didn't hesitate and set off just after 9am with a SSE wind around 20mph, I decided to head into the wind which was around 22 miles down to Lesmahagow! It was another day of big climbs and big descents which suits me just fine, the first big descent down into Garrion Bridge in the Clyde Valley was spoiled by roadworks though and I got held up by slow moving trucks on the way down! Not to worry as there were many more to come, my original plan was to head to Rigside and take the A70 out to Lanark but as I reached Lesmahagow I changed my mind and took the road to Lanark via Brocketsbrae instead as I hadn't used it for a while and its a really good road!

I passed through Blackwood and Kirkmuirhill on my way down and stopped for some photos, some blue sky in the first ones but it didn't last long!

I joined the cycle path at Kirkmuirhill for a mile or so and took more photos while enjoying the quiet and very smooth path!

At Brocketsbrae I had a bit of a climb before this awesome descent, Lanark is way in the distance here!

A mile or so further down and another nice twisty descent to enjoy!

Lanark was getting close now!

Then came the steepest part of the descent at Kirkfieldbank, the brakes got a good workout on this one!

I passed through the village and took a couple of photos of the River Clyde before tackling the beast of a climb up to Lanark!

I arrived in Lanark and immediately turned north towards Cleghorn and managed to pass over the railway line just before the barriers came down for a passing train, with the wind at my back it was an easy climb today! Just after passing over the rails I stopped for more photos with Tinto Hill in the background!

I think the Clydesdale horses thought I had some food for them as they galloped towards me!

I continued north and stopped for some photos near Harelaw with the Pentland Hills in the background, before turning east towards Carnwath!

Just before Carnwath I turned north again towards Braehead, a big climb this one but I had a 20mph tailwind helping! I stopped to change to my 2nd battery part way up the climb at the 37 mile mark, this is looking back down the hill with Tinto Hill in the background!

Then came the steep climb up to Braehead!

Near the top now, looking back down!

After passing through Breahead I enjoyed the descent and at the fork in the road I picked the road to Wilsontown which I love descending but today it was a big climb but pretty easy with the tailwind! I continued north up the climb past the Levenseat recycling centre!

I was now looking forward to the fast descent down into the valley near Breich, just over 42mph with that lovely tailwind today! The descent continues after passing through the traffic signals on the A71, before the road ramps up again through Longridge! Then its another awesome descent down into Whitburn and then up the climb into Armadale, using the lovely cycle path once again! At Armadale I turned west for Blackridge, initially on the cycle path before joining the quiet back road into the village! The sky was now looking a bit ominous, the rain wasn't supposed to start until around 2pm and it was only 1pm! It wasn't looking good out to the west where I would be heading shortly!

Sure enough just after I passed through Blackridge heading west for home it started spitting rain, thankfully not heavy so that was a relief! It rained almost all of the last 12 miles to home but luckily it stopped soon after I arrived home and I got to wash the bike in the dry! Another cracking ride that took a lot out of me but the bike made it easier of course, I used to arrive home dripping in sweat before the e bike came along! The weather tomorrow is looking abysmal but spare a thought for the SW of the country in England and Wales where they have a rare red weather warning in place, I hope everyone stays safe!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

A fast ride, Rab!

 

[RabH]

A fast ride, Rab!

It wasn't really Stefan, only 16.7mph average while my last ride was 17.4mph average!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

It wasn't really Stefan, only 16.7mph average while my last ride was 17.4mph average!

And your limiter is 15.5 mph
So your climbs are fast and the descents are very fast!

 

[Chargeride]

View attachment 187073

We have more nasty weather approaching but it was ok this morning so I didn't hesitate and set off just after 9am with a SSE wind around 20mph, I decided to head into the wind which was around 22 miles down to Lesmahagow! It was another day of big climbs and big descents which suits me just fine, the first big descent down into Garrion Bridge in the Clyde Valley was spoiled by roadworks though and I got held up by slow moving trucks on the way down! Not to worry as there were many more to come, my original plan was to head to Rigside and take the A70 out to Lanark but as I reached Lesmahagow I changed my mind and took the road to Lanark via Brocketsbrae instead as I hadn't used it for a while and its a really good road!

I passed through Blackwood and Kirkmuirhill on my way down and stopped for some photos, some blue sky in the first ones but it didn't last long!

View attachment 187074
View attachment 187075
View attachment 187076
I joined the cycle path at Kirkmuirhill for a mile or so and took more photos while enjoying the quiet and very smooth path!

View attachment 187077
View attachment 187078
View attachment 187079
View attachment 187080
At Brocketsbrae I had a bit of a climb before this awesome descent, Lanark is way in the distance here!

View attachment 187081
A mile or so further down and another nice twisty descent to enjoy!

View attachment 187082
Lanark was getting close now!

View attachment 187083
Then came the steepest part of the descent at Kirkfieldbank, the brakes got a good workout on this one!

View attachment 187084I passed through the village and took a couple of photos of the River Clyde before tackling the beast of a climb up to Lanark!

View attachment 187085View attachment 187086I arrived in Lanark and immediately turned north towards Cleghorn and managed to pass over the railway line just before the barriers came down for a passing train, with the wind at my back it was an easy climb today! Just after passing over the rails I stopped for more photos with Tinto Hill in the background!

View attachment 187087
View attachment 187088
I think the Clydesdale horses thought I had some food for them as they galloped towards me!

View attachment 187089
I continued north and stopped for some photos near Harelaw with the Pentland Hills in the background, before turning east towards Carnwath!

View attachment 187093
View attachment 187094
View attachment 187095
View attachment 187096
Just before Carnwath I turned north again towards Braehead, a big climb this one but I had a 20mph tailwind helping! I stopped to change to my 2nd battery part way up the climb at the 37 mile mark, this is looking back down the hill with Tinto Hill in the background!

View attachment 187097
Then came the steep climb up to Braehead!

View attachment 187098
Near the top now, looking back down!

View attachment 187099
After passing through Breahead I enjoyed the descent and at the fork in the road I picked the road to Wilsontown which I love descending but today it was a big climb but pretty easy with the tailwind! I continued north up the climb past the Levenseat recycling centre!

View attachment 187100
View attachment 187101
I was now looking forward to the fast descent down into the valley near Breich, just over 42mph with that lovely tailwind today! The descent continues after passing through the traffic signals on the A71, before the road ramps up again through Longridge! Then its another awesome descent down into Whitburn and then up the climb into Armadale, using the lovely cycle path once again! At Armadale I turned west for Blackridge, initially on the cycle path before joining the quiet back road into the village! The sky was now looking a bit ominous, the rain wasn't supposed to start until around 2pm and it was only 1pm! It wasn't looking good out to the west where I would be heading shortly!

Sure enough just after I passed through Blackridge heading west for home it started spitting rain, thankfully not heavy so that was a relief! It rained almost all of the last 12 miles to home but luckily it stopped soon after I arrived home and I got to wash the bike in the dry! Another cracking ride that took a lot out of me but the bike made it easier of course, I used to arrive home dripping in sweat before the e bike came along! The weather tomorrow is looking abysmal but spare a thought for the SW of the country in England and Wales where they have a rare red weather warning in place, I hope everyone stays safe!

I love that bridge.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

Mornin' Darragh.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Meanwhile in Warsaw. +1°C. (Photo taken from the Southern Bridge at 12:36 CET).

 

[Chargeride]

Just ridden the beach , not too much damage, but the wind force is insane.
I couldnt turn the fatbike without being blown over.
The wind was blowing down the beach, 20mph no peddling in a zipped up jacket.
Into the wind, full power, third gear, max I could get was 7mph.
I rode up the dune and was hit by a shotblast, it felt like my face was being burned off, I truly thought I was going to bleed.

Absolutely awesome.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

Just ridden the beach , not too much damage, but the wind force is insane.
I couldnt turn the fatbike without being blown over.
The wind was blowing down the beach, 20mph no peddling in a zipped up jacket.
Into the wind, full power, third gear, max I could get was 7mph.
I rode up the dune and was hit by a shotblast, it felt like my face was being burned off, I truly thought I was going to bleed.

Absolutely awesome.

The messages responding to that weather report I showed are hilarious. Everyone in Ireland reporting on rampaging sheds & in particular the crowd favourite; trampolines on the loose!!

 

[fooferdoggie]

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

The messages responding to that weather report I showed are hilarious. Everyone in Ireland reporting on rampaging sheds & in particular the crowd favourite; trampolines on the loose!!

These severe weather events can have traumatizing but seldom-discussed effects on wildlife.

Imagine the heartache when they return for a much-needed distraction from their tooth-and-claw existence, and their beloved trampoline's just vanished.
;^}