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

[Stefan Mikes]

Southport

I was to Southport (many years ago)!
North of Liverpool, aye?

 

[Chargeride]

I was to Southport (many years ago)!
North of Liverpool, aye?

Yes, about 20 miles up the coast

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

So yes, night riding with a crew of acoustic riders, who luckily are twice as fit as me and have been doing it for five years every thursday night.

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This is Stan, he's on 29x3 and this is steep, but the Haibike is faultless and its very easy for me to climb, in fact
the biggest issue is catching him up constantly and losing my flow.
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Very spooky and my borrowed light kept dropping, leaving me to discover roots and holes about 5ms before I hit them.
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He took us on crazy paths through a little used part of the forest at break neck speed, it takes 100% concentration not to crash
or impale yourself on a tree.
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It turns out he's built most of these tracks himself over the years, even digging out switchbacks, so keeping up with him is quite a
challenge, even though he is manualling.
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We bumped into the Southport crew, they all admitted they were buying ebikes, but at this point
my freehub had totally gone and was an advert for the extra stresses on components...and botch repairs.
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Brians dog towed me a mile home with ease, it absolutely crackers and at one point got me to 12mph, I kept showing concern for
its heart, but the lads just laughed, sure enough at the vans it was bouncing over everyone with delight.
That dog loves going out on the rides, it must have ran three times what we rode and we did 4.7 miles.
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Guess you went from e-bike to d-bike on that ride!

I'll let myself out.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Yes, about 20 miles up the coast

It was April 2005. I wanted to spend a nice time in Liverpool together with my wife. I booked air-tickets first. Then, I discovered there was no accommodation available in Liverpool because of the Grand National horse-races We found a hotel in Southport. All would be well if not the "industrial action" on the railways... (That was the first time I learned how you could disguise the unpleasant term "going on strike" )

On that very day Charles married Camilla Parker-Bowles

April 9th, 2005

In a Southport hotel. April 8th, 2005.

During the "industrial action" and figuring out how to get to Southport at 7 p.m. (It eventually ended up in a taxi shared with other travellers). April 8th, 2005.

A wannabe Beatle April 9th, 2005.

 

[Chargeride]

Ha that's awesome Stefan, thats the first pic I've seen of your wife, she totally reminds me of someone.
Great memories, my friend used to be the manager of the Cavern in the late 90s, we had some amazing nights
there, Southport outside of recent horrors was a top end Victorian sea resort, the housing stock is incredible, but a little musty.
You can buy eight bedroom mansions for 500K, no one wants them.
I was there today getting my van fixed.
Edit, Heather Graham, not identical, just reminded me straight away.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

An Imperial Stout Brewery Ride

My initial plan was to just ride to Klimatyczna Cafe to reduce my distance loss to @fooferdoggie this week...

A pretty unusual "reversed mullet" setup of my Vado SL with a 37 mm winter tyre in the front and a 42 mm gravel one in the rear

I guess apples do not necessarily agree with me. I felt bad after that portion of apple-pie but fortunately Black Tea helped.
As I was sitting in the cafe, I recollected the premiere of a very special beer should take place on that Friday! Błonie, with its Artezan Brewery was some 10 km away only!

Finding as many as three flavour of that unique beer (Coffee, Vanilla, Classic) in the fridge at the brewery shop (you have to give a door-bell ring to be admitted inside).

Artezan Samiec Alfa (Alpha Male) is a 13% Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout. When RateBeer.com was a popular thing, Samiec Alfa was in the list of 100 best world ales three years in a row!

Hard to guess how many bottles fit this pannier (usually meant for e-bike batteries and tools), eh? (Four of them).

As I looked at the Wahoo thermometer by the brewery, I got a little shock. The ambient temperature dropped to -4 C! No worries though. It was an afternoon during which I thought something could go wrong, so I wore Gore-Tex trousers and a pair of heavy winter gloves! I pedalled home as fast as possible to keep myself warm!

As I reached home, temperature increased to -3 C

Everything you might want to know about my Vado SL batteries post ride. I rode at SL 85/85% assistance. The main battery was at +8 C as it is internally heated up by its own resistance as long as you use the assistance.

Ride Map.

 

[fooferdoggie]

I have only commuted this week no after-work rides only 100 miles so far.

 

[RabH]

A rare Saturday ride, with 50mph gusts coming tomorrow and Monday I just had to get out today while it was rideable! The weather during the week was truly awful with 3 days of freezing fog! This morning there was black ice everywhere but by midday the temp had reached 5C so I deemed it safe and headed east with a 25mph tailwind pushing me along nicely! The forecast was showing rain around 4pm but with darkness falling around that time I was always going to be home before that and hoping to beat the rain! I tested the local cycle paths for ice and thankfully they were fine so I used them as much as possible and with that lovely tailwind I was flying along, I arrived in the outskirts of the capital city Edinburgh where I turned north into Kirkliston which was my turning point at 26 miles!

It was time to head west into the 25mph headwind now, the difference in temp was immediately noticeable but for the time of year it wasn't bad! I was now heading towards Linlithgow again, passing through Winchburgh and Threemiletown! I knew Linlithgow would be very busy on a Saturday afternoon so I turned south just as I reached the town and tackled the big climb up past the canal centre, eventually the road joins the big climb up to Beecraigs Park so the climbing continued for over 5 miles before the awesome descent down into Torphicen! That was very welcome after all that climbing, I decided to pass through the main village this time instead of taking the fast decent down the back road as I was worried about ice on the untreated road! The good things is its still a big descent but then a big climb also but just a short one, before reaching the main road which leads to Westfield!

At Westfield I turned south and enjoyed the big descent down to Bridgehouse where it was time to start climbing again, another 5 mile climb up to Heights and then a nice descent down into Blackridge where I turned west for home with 49 miles covered! The sky was now looking a bit threatening and before long it started raining and the mist came down also, with almost 10 miles still to go I have to admit it was a bit miserable but I stamped on the pedals and battled the elements and made it home just before dark! Once again the bike was filthy but despite the last 10 miles of mist and rain I enjoyed getting out again, that 26 miles with the tailwind was just incredible and I was grinning from ear to ear! I didn't have time for photos today, I made my mind up early about that as I would have ended up arriving home in total darkness for sure! My new total is now 6458 miles so I'm more than happy with that if I don't get out again this year, any opportunities will be taken of course!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

e-BRIDGEs 2024 E-Bike Strava Segment Attempt #1

Failed. In my opinion, it is virtually impossible to ride a 30.0 km gravel segment with off-road parts and keep an ideal course. Necessary to mention I made navigational mistakes twice or three times, and still the GPX route was not exactly what would match the Segment. I got really irritated.

A 30 km ride (the total for the day 51+ km). I rode my Vado SL in SL Turbo mode throughout all the segment, 25 km/h restriction. Average speed 20.6 km/h.
Several photos (none from the Segment).

At the top of Agricola near to Royal Baths and Ujazdów Castle, one of steep descents of Warsaw.

After having completed the Segment. "Nice to see you", or Gdański Bridge.

Warsaw New Town. While any tourist spends most of their time in the nearby Old Town, the beautiful New Town is mostly ignored.

Nicolaus Copernicus Statue. Polish Academy of Sciences is in the background. The street at the right leads to New World and Holy Cross streets.

The view at Holy Cross Basilica, and Cracow Suburb Street.

Cracow Suburb, a "must walk" place of Warsaw

 

[Chargeride]

Looks beautiful, I dont have navigation on the handlebars, so I stop a lot, but it also leads me to take interesting looking trails that look like they are going the right way, and then Im happy lost.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Looks beautiful, I dont have navigation on the handlebars, so I stop a lot, but it also leads me to take interesting looking trails that look like they are going the right way, and then Im happy lost.

This time, I tried following the course to the letter. And yes, could see some new places such as "Meadow-Upon-Vistula" or "Asphalt Trail on the Rubbish Mound" The issue is, riding a Segment must be precise, and you shall never stop!

 

[Rás Cnoic]

Looks beautiful, I dont have navigation on the handlebars, so I stop a lot, but it also leads me to take interesting looking trails that look like they are going the right way, and then Im happy lost.

Same. Can't be arsed with nav apps. All I have is the OS maps on my phone in mt handlebar bag so I stop if lost and pull out phone and check map. It also shows any interesting farm lanes or bridleways nearby worth exploring. If I was to set a predetermined route I'd miss so much around me.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Same. Can't be arsed with nav apps. All I have is the OS maps on my phone in mt handlebar bag so I stop if lost and pull out phone and check map. It also shows any interesting farm lanes or bridleways nearby worth exploring. If I was to set a predetermined route I'd miss so much around me.

Sounds like we both like to follow our noses on rides and don't mind stopping to figure out where to head next. Ebikes really shine as exploration platforms, and I love taking advantage of that.

But strictly as a matter of taste, I still like to see where I am on a real-time GPS map on my handlebars — if only to have a better understanding of the landscape and route options around me. The map in the Specialized app usually suffices, but I sometimes stop to see what RideWithGPS and Google Maps have to add. The former has the best (USGS) topo base map, and the latter, the best shaded relief base map.

Sometimes I'll use RideWithGPS to preview the distances, climbs, and travel times involved in an unfamiliar ride. But that first draft is seldom the route actually taken. And the last thing I want is some app bugging me about upcoming turns.

Again, just a matter of taste.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

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?

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).

 

[Rás Cnoic]

Sounds like we both like to follow our noses on rides and don't mind stopping to figure out where to head next. Ebikes really shine as exploration platforms, and I love taking advantage of that.

But strictly as a matter of taste, I still like to see where I am on a real-time GPS map on my handlebars — if only to have a better understanding of the landscape and route options around me. The map in the Specialized app usually suffices, but I sometimes stop to see what RideWithGPS and Google Maps have to add. The former has the best (USGS) topo base map, and the latter, the best shaded relief base map.

Sometimes I'll use RideWithGPS to preview the distances, climbs, and travel times involved in an unfamiliar ride. But that first draft is seldom the route actually taken. And the last thing I want is some app bugging me about upcoming turns.

Again, just a matter of taste.

Yes that Spesh map is rubbish. This is the OS map I turn to when I check where the hell I am- Can tell down to which field or woods I'm stuck in! And v important the contour lines so I can see if a farm track becomes a cliff.

 

[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!