Chargeride
Well-Known Member
I'll be doing an epic ride on Thursday with the crew, Stefan won't like it, my rss won't like it, my brakes won't stop me, I probably won't make it.
Last one home is a pssy.
Last one home is a pssy.
2025 - Our Rides in Words, Photos, Maps and Videos
- Thread starter Saratoga Dave
- Start date
Jeremy McCreary
Bought it anyway
- Region
- USA
- City
- Carlsbad, CA
Excellent on both counts! Lots of yummy potassium-rich foods that you can eat now besides bananas.Hahaha! Jeremy, you made me smile!
I used the day for determining my medical shape. Turned out that (despite my ailments) there is nothing to worry about. For instance, my diabetes is well controlled. Interestingly, I'm low on potassium! The doctor's verdict: 'You are riding a lot and sweat the element out! You need to eat potassium!'
Potassium happens to be one of my pet elements from my geochem days. Mantle minerals have to pack their atoms very tightly to survive at mantle pressures. In most cases, the K+ ion is way too big and low-charge to find a home in their atomic lattices. So when you find a lot of K+ in a lava erupted directly from molten mantle, you know something odd's going on down there.
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Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
My plan for Saturday is to make a metric century just to have the best Polish food in the whole Mazovia. It will be sunny, very cold with a massive headwind on the way to Nasielsk. I'm going to hate it!
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
I expect the stats on my desk Monday morning
Saratoga Dave
Well-Known Member
Hey Chazmo
I’ve heard a little about this trail but take it that it’s a bit of a work in progress… where is this section and does it look like that for any appreciable distance? Looks like it might rate a ride over from the Saratoga area some fine day.
I’ve heard a little about this trail but take it that it’s a bit of a work in progress… where is this section and does it look like that for any appreciable distance? Looks like it might rate a ride over from the Saratoga area some fine day.
RabH
Well-Known Member
Today's forecast was wall to wall sunshine, only the sun didn't get the memo!
Not that it bothered me as the weather was just perfect for cycling with a temp of 15C and light winds! Due to weather and family issues my bike has sat idle for a full week so it was such a relief to get the wheels turning again today and with conditions perfect it was a very memorable and very enjoyable ride! I had a rough plan in my head which involved using main roads for the first few miles but I quickly knocked that stupid idea on the head and took to the back roads...I was on the back road to Hareshaw after leaving the main road and lo and behold I got to the top of the climb and came across a road closed sign! There were no signs warning of the closure but thankfully the workers let me through, I certainly wasn't keen on rejoining the main road! I made my way out to Yieldshields and stopped for a couple of photos before heading down this fun descent!
I took so many photos today and on checking them when I got home I had managed to ruin so many by blocking part of the photos with my fingers, it was my first time wearing fingerless gloves this year so I guess I need to be more careful... After a few miles of awesome riding on the back roads I spotted these youngsters roaming freely with no parents in sight, I guess the farmer was giving the parents a break from the little rascals!
The roads here are just amazing and almost totally free of traffic!
I was nearing the end of the back road just before arriving in Carstairs Village and grabbed this photo with Tinto Hill in the background, another fun descent this one!
From Carstairs I took the road down to Hyndford Bridge and I was going to use the back road to Thankerton but the main road wasn't too busy so I decided to chance it and it paid off, another few miles and I had a closer view of Tinto Hill!
The main A73 was very quiet today which was a real bonus!
I then turned off the main road to take the road to Symington, I had such a great view of the Pentland and Coulter Hills from here and timed it perfectly to catch the train passing!
A few miles later I stopped on the bridge over the River Clyde for a photo, the river is pretty low at the moment despite some very heavy rain recently!
I then arrived in Biggar where I turned north for Newbigging, I recently used this road in the opposite direction which was a huge climb so I was looking forward to descending it today! I stopped for a snack break before tackling the big climb before the descent and grabbed some photos!
This was the start of the climb!
Then came the steep part!
I then spotted a grouse in the field and managed to catch it before it disappeared, these birds are very difficult to photograph so I was quite chuffed with the result!
Then came the descent, that sure was a blast!
As the road flattened I stopped for more photos of the surrounding hills!
This is at the bottom of the descent, the bit over the bridge was amazing!
I then started up the climb to Newbigging, a nice gradual climb this one before the road ramps up into Kaimend! I turned on to the back road through the village to take the road to Auchengray, another big climb followed by a big descent! I arrived in Auchengray and continued north into Woolfords which was another big climb and then a very fast descent down into the valley, at the end of the road I turned NE for West Calder and then turned SW through Addiewell and Stoneyburn and of course the wind had now made its presence known! I checked my weather app and it was showing a SW wind around 18mph, it sure wasn't showing that earlier in the day!
So I switched to level 2 assist and was breezing along, at the end of the road I usually turn north for Longridge but decided to continue SW through Fauldhouse for a change and continued into the wind all the way to Shotts! I chose this way because I knew I would now have a cracking descent most of the way to Hartwood, despite being into the wind I was flying along and loving it!
Once I reached Hartwood it was time to climb again, my second battery was down to 37% so I chose the easier climb up to Hareshaw and I was rewarded with this wonderful sight! 
From there I took my usual back roads home and arrived just in time for dinner with a clean bike, I actually caught a heavy shower on the road from Shotts to Hartwood but it only lasted for a minute so I lucked out! What a brilliant ride that was, it was just incredible and apart from my mad decision to use the main road at the start it was pretty much a perfect ride!
Attachments
Saratoga Dave
Well-Known Member
Nothing blooming around here, but we got to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. This is part of the Erie Canal before they refill it after the winter finally ends over the next couple of weeks. Nice day for a ride.
Dave from Vancouver can see that I have carefully followed his stuff transporting ideas for a Stance! Have to say I really like this bike, bit of a tank that it is. Certainly has plenty of oomph!
DaveMatthews
Well-Known Member
Nicely done sir! I'll admit I had my trepidations regarding the rack, but mine has held up really well. Hoping the same for you mate.
And yeah... although the bike is a bit of a tank, it more than makes up for it by being able to pretty much go anywhere.
Love the colour on yours as well.
Chazmo
Active Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Central Massachusetts
Hello, Dave,
The MA Central Rail Trail is a wonderful resource within a few miles of my house. Most of the time when I’m out riding Fättie I’m either following this trail or riding in and out of sections of it as my rides allow.
Mass Trail Tracker
Explore detailed maps, descriptions, and timelines about rail trails across Massachusetts.
Some details about my rides: If I’m heading out (west) for round trips from my house this is how it goes...
If you zoom in on West Boylston, you'll see the green line (groomed/stone-dust surface) that runs from the Quinapoxet river basin to Manning Street in Holden representing about a 4 mile trail ride. This is a beautiful ride crossing the river multiple times with two bridges and also containing the aforementioned wool mill with stonework from the 1800s. I am a lucky man to be able to ride this almost every day, not that I doubt there are magnificent rides in Saratoga!!!
So, the green line ends at Manning street in Holden. When you cross Manning there’s a super-fun hill climb/descent (shown in dotted orange) which has been under construction to build switchbacks for a couple of years now. I used to do laps on this hill as I was first learning to ride my Fättie. Last season I was able to ride up and over it taking the original single tracks and some of the switchbacks… Right now it’s unpassable due to the construction on the Manning St side, so I road-ride around it.
After the hill, heading west in Holden, you have a short stint down Mill Street to get to the next green line section which starts with switchbacks and continues for about 3 miles or so until you hit Princeton Road which is where Maple Spring Pond is. This is my usual turn-around spot, Dave. I’ve shared a few pictures of that lovely spot with you guys a couple of times. That pond is about 10 miles from my house, i.e., accounting for a 20 miles round tripper.
The MCRT keeps going though, and if you follow the map there’s a bunch of road (with a little bit of trail) before you get to the longest section of trail in Rutland. This section is about 8 miles of awesome ride all the way to Barre, which is 25 miles from my house. Several times I did that ride to Barre last year and I intend to do it frequently this year. That’s a 50 mile round tripper. Those are VERY good days!
It’s kind of a schlep for you to come out here from Saratoga, but if you (or others here) want to come out for a visit, maybe we can arrange something!
Chazmo
Active Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Central Massachusetts
By the way, @Saratoga Dave , that is an exceptionally beautiful bike! The color is outstanding.
You need to get it a little dirtier though.
You need to get it a little dirtier though.
JGcycle
Two-Wheeled Shaker
- Region
- Canada
- City
- Saint John
I really like the colour of your bike--wow.
Saratoga Dave
Well-Known Member
I pretty much knew I was going to buy that bike the moment it hit the shop. Color really jumps out, and I was already a big Giant ebike fan after six years with my Toughroad, now in the custody of my son.
I’m working on getting it a little dirty, but it sure looks great clean! The power it puts out is really impressive. I did add a dropper post right away, I don’t ride it that low!
I’m working on getting it a little dirty, but it sure looks great clean! The power it puts out is really impressive. I did add a dropper post right away, I don’t ride it that low!
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Giant can make gorgeous shiny colours on its e-bikes. Only avoid the matte.
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
A quick heads up, it's April fools Day, don't forget.
How strange they should ban ebikes in Poland today.
How strange they should ban ebikes in Poland today.
DaveMatthews
Well-Known Member
They kicked their paint game up 2019 and later indeed...
DaveMatthews
Well-Known Member
I know you're kidding, cuz it's still only the 31st where I am
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
It's bad in Britain as well, time for the asbestos hat
www.independent.co.uk
Met Office warns of sunburn risk as temperatures soar to 22C across UK
Temperatures are set to peak at 22C on Thursday
www.independent.co.uk
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