2025 - Our Rides in Words, Photos, Maps and Videos

[Chargeride]

Decided to actually start on my teenage cyclocross bike, spraying it matt black, a lugless welded cromo frame from 1977 with knock in sealed bearing BB.
I bought a pack of 6 rear wheel bearings for my Kawasaki Enduro and they are the exact same bearings for the BB.

These are the original converted glue on tubs that are 45 years old, holding air overnight.

And these are the stickers Ive ordered, plus high rise flat bars.
I might do some road work with the crew, just need some new tubs, difficult to source.

 

[stompandgo]

Congratulations, Stefan.

 

[stompandgo]

Love, love, love that last photo. If I'd written the song "My Favorite Things", biking to the beach would've gotten top billing.

Riding variably thick layers of loose sand on hard pack is always an adventure. Never know when you'll hit that hidden deep pocket that grabs or wrenches your front wheel beyond the point of recovery.

Happens on my 38 mm (1.5") and 2.3" hybrid tires, just a thicker critical sand depth with the latter. Keeping the front wheel pointed dead ahead no matter what helps. Have yet to fall, but more than a few ungraceful sudden stops.

Thank you.

Right now, I'm not carrying a pump or CO2, just relying on the tire protection, but I'll bring a pump now. My Tesoro has 55-622 Schwalbe Big Ben block tread tires. I'm not trying to ride in soft sand, just loose sand and gravel. Should I air down? I have 34psi in them now.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

Decided to actually start on my teenage cyclocross bike, spraying it matt black, a lugless welded cromo frame from 1977 with knock in sealed bearing BB.
I bought a pack of 6 rear wheel bearings for my Kawasaki Enduro and they are the exact same bearings for the BB.
View attachment 196006

These are the original converted glue on tubs that are 45 years old, holding air overnight.
View attachment 196008

And these are the stickers Ive ordered, plus high rise flat bars.
I might do some road work with the crew, just need some new tubs, difficult to source.
View attachment 196009

Nice! Challenge (Italian?) used to make tubs, dunno if they still do. How wide are those bad boys- 19 or 20mm?!! How times have changed.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Thank you.

Right now, I'm not carrying a pump or CO2, just relying on the tire protection, but I'll bring a pump now. My Tesoro has 55-622 Schwalbe Big Ben block tread tires. I'm not trying to ride in soft sand, just loose sand and gravel. Should I air down? I have 34psi in them now.

I don't air down for the any of the surfaces I mentioned above. Running both the 38 mm and 2.3" tires at 35-40 psi.

The only other surface I wish I could ride is deep, loose dry sand. And even 2.3" is way too narrow for that, no matter how much air you let out.

One last thing: When left to walk your ebike across deep loose sand or cobble to get to the good stuff, walk mode is your friend.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

My Tesoro has 55-622 Schwalbe Big Ben block tread tires.

My neighbor has very similar stock tires on his Aventon Level.2.

No problem on low-tide sand. That's him headed for the Oceanside Pier.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Another last thing: Some sandy beaches have pockets of quicksand — typically near the low-tide swash line where ground water from the last high tide or other sources drains from beach to ocean. Here it's often marked by coarser grains, a subtly different color, or small rivulets in the sand just upbeach.

Vastly softer than the sand around it. Another good reason to keep a respectful distance from the water.

Possibly final last thing: Rinse your bike well after all salt and sand exposures.

 

[stompandgo]

I might do some road work with the crew, just need some new tubs, difficult to source.

What kind are you looking for? What size?

 

[Chargeride]

Thanks, but just found them dirt cheap on Amazon.

 

[Chazmo]

So, a “tub” is a tubular tire? Is that a British thing, or is it universal? New to me, and I’m pretty sure that’s what I have on my 1980’s Fuji Allegro road bike...

...glue on tubs that are 45 years old, holding air overnight.

For real? That’s astonishing!

 

[Saratoga Dave]

First lock on the Erie Canal where it leaves the Hudson heading to the Mohawk River and westbound. This is the Waterford Wall, a great place to go check out the boats and chat with the cruisers. Busy today, will stay that way all summer. Very popular stop on the Grand Loop or whatever the proper term is.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

First lock on the Erie Canal where it leaves the Hudson heading to the Mohawk River and westbound. This is the Waterford Wall, a great place to go check out the boats and chat with the cruisers. Busy today, will stay that way all summer. Very popular stop on the Grand Loop or whatever the proper term is.View attachment 196031

What a wonderful place to poke around on an ebike!

 

[DaveMatthews]

First lock on the Erie Canal where it leaves the Hudson heading to the Mohawk River and westbound. This is the Waterford Wall, a great place to go check out the boats and chat with the cruisers. Busy today, will stay that way all summer. Very popular stop on the Grand Loop or whatever the proper term is.View attachment 196031

OOF!!! Me jelly!

 

[stompandgo]

If I was single and made of money, the Grand Loop, any variant, would be on my top ten list.

 

[RabH]

With a really nice forecast today I had a rare Sunday ride and what a ride it was, certainly one of my best ever! It was one of those rare days when everything just clicked, it will live long in my memory and I should say a thank you to @Chargeride for his recent post regarding the beautiful Scottish Borders town of Peebles! It was my 3rd ride there this year and certainly not my last, my last visit was in April when I cycled from Peebles to Moffat after driving down! This time I left from my doorstep just before 7am with light winds which were forecast to increase in strength as the day progressed to around 25mph from the SW!

Being a Sunday I decided to use the main roads for a change, I took the A73 down to Carluke and turned east towards Carnwath! I continued east from there down into Newbigging where I left the main road and took the back road towards Dunsyre! It started off very cloudy with some mist hanging around so the photo opportunities were sparse at this early hour! From Dunsyre I enjoyed the awesome descent down into Dolphinton where I joined the main A702 towards West Linton! I then took the country road through West Linton towards Romannobridge and joined the main A701 through Lamancha and then took the fantastic rollercaoster back road towards Shiplaw! The weather had really improved now so it was time to start grabbing some photos, the road to Shiplaw starts with this big climb!

This was at the top of the climb looking back down!

The road is around 3.5 miles long and is just incredible to ride, the final part is a huge descent and a real buzz! At the end of the road it was time to join the cycle path south towards Peebles, its a new path and in great condition!

I arrived in Peebles and headed to the bridge in the centre of town for a snack and a break and some photos, the River Tweed flows through the town!

I enjoyed my break and was raring to go again, it was getting very warm now (for here) and I was glad the wind was now picking up and I was riding into a direct headwind out of town! The town is surrounded by many hills all around and they were looking amazing in the sun today!

After a couple of miles on the main road I took the back road towards Stobo Village, the amazing views just continued!

Eventually I reached another bridge over the Tweed and stopped for this photo!

A short time later I had another nice view of the surrounding hills!

At the end of the road I turned north towards Broughton and the stunning views just kept coming!

I then turned west and took the back road towards Biggar, its one of my favourite roads and with views like this you can see why!

The road is in great condition also and its very twisty!

At the 67 mile mark I arrived in Biggar and turned north towards Carnwath, I stopped for a snack after the first climb and grabbed a couple of photos, these new houses were just built last year and they have such a great view over the fields!

I then decided not to take the road to Carnwath and opted to take the Elsrickle road instead, it starts with a big climb and ends with a huge descent! I also had the wind right at my back and hurtled down the descent at almost 42mph! I stopped for this photo of the Coulter Hills in the distance just before taking the descent!

At Elsrickle I decided to take the amazing road to Dunsyre, eventually it joins the road I used early in my ride! I had a big descent followed by a big climb right away!

The amazing views just kept coming!

I continued through Dunsyre and turned into the wind again towards Newbigging, I was very glad of the headwind as it was keeping me nice and cool! I grabbed this photo at Newbigging before heading up the big climb through Kaimend!

At Kaimend I took the back road north towards Auchengray, another big climb which is followed by a really nice descent! I turned off before Auchengray to take the back road to Braehead, yet another big climb!

The descent down to Wilsontown was very welcome after the climb, of course the road ramps up again! At the end of the road I headed north towards Longridge, enjoying this breathtaking rollercoaster on the way down to Briech!

I kept going north passing through Whitburn and then up the cycle path into Armadale where I turned west towards Blackridge and the 100 miles appeared on my gps! From Blackridge it was 11 miles west to home directly into a 25mph headwind which was very welcome, it kept me from overheating as it was 24C now! It doesn't sound like much but when you are used to 16C most of the summer its hot! What a brilliant day that was, just amazing from start to finish! I only need 133 miles now to reach 40000 miles on my amazing 2018 Giant Road E+1 Pro, what a bike it has been! I don't think I will have any trouble sleeping tonight, I'm nodding off already and its only 7.50pm...

 

[dodgeman]

Another epic ride @RabH . The River Tweed? For some reason I find it funny and it’s another name I’d think you made up but I saw that sign in your picture to back up your claim. In the U.S. it’d be the River Flannel.

I rode 24 miles today, it’s still hot and humid but a little better so I rode early. Very light winds which is a huge bonus. A picture of a barn and windmill. The windmills like this have mostly disappeared and were used to pump water at one time. The second picture is the road I just came on to get the first picture, straight with soybeans on both sides.

 

[Chazmo]

Gosh, so serene, dodgeman!

 

[Chargeride]

View attachment 196060

With a really nice forecast today I had a rare Sunday ride and what a ride it was, certainly one of my best ever! It was one of those rare days when everything just clicked, it will live long in my memory and I should say a thank you to @Chargeride for his recent post regarding the beautiful Scottish Borders town of Peebles! It was my 3rd ride there this year and certainly not my last, my last visit was in April when I cycled from Peebles to Moffat after driving down! This time I left from my doorstep just before 7am with light winds which were forecast to increase in strength as the day progressed to around 25mph from the SW!

Being a Sunday I decided to use the main roads for a change, I took the A73 down to Carluke and turned east towards Carnwath! I continued east from there down into Newbigging where I left the main road and took the back road towards Dunsyre! It started off very cloudy with some mist hanging around so the photo opportunities were sparse at this early hour! From Dunsyre I enjoyed the awesome descent down into Dolphinton where I joined the main A702 towards West Linton! I then took the country road through West Linton towards Romannobridge and joined the main A701 through Lamancha and then took the fantastic rollercaoster back road towards Shiplaw! The weather had really improved now so it was time to start grabbing some photos, the road to Shiplaw starts with this big climb!

This was at the top of the climb looking back down!

View attachment 196067
The road is around 3.5 miles long and is just incredible to ride, the final part is a huge descent and a real buzz! At the end of the road it was time to join the cycle path south towards Peebles, its a new path and in great condition!

View attachment 196068
I arrived in Peebles and headed to the bridge in the centre of town for a snack and a break and some photos, the River Tweed flows through the town!

View attachment 196069
View attachment 196070
View attachment 196071
I enjoyed my break and was raring to go again, it was getting very warm now (for here) and I was glad the wind was now picking up and I was riding into a direct headwind out of town! The town is surrounded by many hills all around and they were looking amazing in the sun today!

View attachment 196072
After a couple of miles on the main road I took the back road towards Stobo Village, the amazing views just continued!

View attachment 196073
Eventually I reached another bridge over the Tweed and stopped for this photo!

View attachment 196074
A short time later I had another nice view of the surrounding hills!

View attachment 196075
At the end of the road I turned north towards Broughton and the stunning views just kept coming!

View attachment 196076
View attachment 196077
I then turned west and took the back road towards Biggar, its one of my favourite roads and with views like this you can see why!

View attachment 196078
View attachment 196079
View attachment 196080
View attachment 196081
The road is in great condition also and its very twisty!

View attachment 196082
At the 67 mile mark I arrived in Biggar and turned north towards Carnwath, I stopped for a snack after the first climb and grabbed a couple of photos, these new houses were just built last year and they have such a great view over the fields!

View attachment 196083
View attachment 196084
View attachment 196085
I then decided not to take the road to Carnwath and opted to take the Elsrickle road instead, it starts with a big climb and ends with a huge descent! I also had the wind right at my back and hurtled down the descent at almost 42mph! I stopped for this photo of the Coulter Hills in the distance just before taking the descent!

View attachment 196086
At Elsrickle I decided to take the amazing road to Dunsyre, eventually it joins the road I used early in my ride! I had a big descent followed by a big climb right away!

View attachment 196087
The amazing views just kept coming!

View attachment 196088
View attachment 196089
View attachment 196090
I continued through Dunsyre and turned into the wind again towards Newbigging, I was very glad of the headwind as it was keeping me nice and cool! I grabbed this photo at Newbigging before heading up the big climb through Kaimend!

View attachment 196091
At Kaimend I took the back road north towards Auchengray, another big climb which is followed by a really nice descent! I turned off before Auchengray to take the back road to Braehead, yet another big climb!

View attachment 196093
The descent down to Wilsontown was very welcome after the climb, of course the road ramps up again! At the end of the road I headed north towards Longridge, enjoying this breathtaking rollercoaster on the way down to Briech!

View attachment 196095
I kept going north passing through Whitburn and then up the cycle path into Armadale where I turned west towards Blackridge and the 100 miles appeared on my gps! From Blackridge it was 11 miles west to home directly into a 25mph headwind which was very welcome, it kept me from overheating as it was 24C now! It doesn't sound like much but when you are used to 16C most of the summer its hot! What a brilliant day that was, just amazing from start to finish! I only need 133 miles now to reach 40000 miles on my amazing 2018 Giant Road E+1 Pro, what a bike it has been! I don't think I will have any trouble sleeping tonight, I'm nodding off already and its only 7.50pm...

Lovely Rab, it rained a bit on me, but the warm wind dried me off very quickly, was the festival still on?

 

[Chargeride]

Another epic ride @RabH . The River Tweed? For some reason I find it funny and it’s another name I’d think you made up but I saw that sign in your picture to back up your claim. In the U.S. it’d be the River Flannel.

I rode 24 miles today, it’s still hot and humid but a little better so I rode early. Very light winds which is a huge bonus. A picture of a barn and windmill. The windmills like this have mostly disappeared and were used to pump water at one time. The second picture is the road I just came on to get the first picture, straight with soybeans on both sides.
View attachment 196098View attachment 196099

big sky

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

After a couple of miles on the main road I took the back road towards Stobo Village, the amazing views just continued!

Absolutely stunning photo! Imagine an album of truly inspiring cycling music. Here's the cover.