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

[Saratoga Dave]

I didn’t know a thing about the Grand Loop till a few years ago biking along the wall and I got talking to a retired Boeing engineer. He and his wife were on a year long journey around the whole thing, fulfilling a longtime Bucket List item doing it. Since then I make a point of chatting with whoever is hanging out on the transom of some of these boats… some real stunners come through here. It’s five minutes from my house right down along the Waterford Flight of 5 Locks. Erie Canal culture is strong around here.

Jeremy, I have to say it looks like you live in a hell of a nice environment as well! That Vado is certainly serving you well. In a related thought, it is amazing how many people I have met and conversed or ridden with in the past six or seven years since I got back into cycling whom I never would have even seen driving by in a car. Slowing down can really open up your life!

 

[Chargeride]

Don't worry this is the last one

Descending from the mtb trail climb behind Peebles

Never go over these at an angle in the wet, you will hit the Tarmac, which incidentally was invented in Scotland, no England, no Scotland.

The cafe at Glentress MTB centre.

This is the cycle path through the golf course to Innerleithen from Glentress

Nice little pump track for the kids

Gorgeous bridge over the Tweed.

The grass is always greener.

I overshot the path by a good few miles, it was worth it.

The sign just says look out for forestry machinery.

Unbelievable climb up to this monument overlooking the town

Not sure what this is, the Jesus Olympics?

This shot shows how steep that climb was.

No matter where you go, kids on their phones.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

overshot the path by a good few miles, it was worth it.

The invisible hand of the gods of cycling led you to this gorgeous spot. Must be a pain to share one hand with 2 other guys.
;^}

Unbelievable climb up to this monument overlooking the town

Not sure what this is, the Jesus Olympics?

So many questions. For starters, why are all those people on the right watching a scalp massage?

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Varmia Gravel 2025: The Race Day
Saturday, 28th June 2025

Historical note
Today's Varmia-Masuria (our northerly voivodeship) has the history dating back to Teutonic Knights, who conquered and civilized the area (including the today's Russian exclave of Kaliningrad/Koenigsberg/Królewiec). After Poland had tanned the Teuton hide, a cunning Teuton Duke Albrecht created a Protestant state of Ducal Prussia, while the Crown of Poland got the part named Royal Prussia. Varmia, a part of Royal Prussia was a Bishopric owned by the Catholic Church. As Nicolaus Copernicus spent most of his life in Frombork/Varmia, we perceive him as a Pole, even if he certainly had some German roots. Today, Varmia is a quaint area full of of lakes, steep post-glacial hills and... rough cobblestone roads Oh yes, I can tell you something about the latter!

The race base was located in Majdy near Olsztyn/Allenstein (the province capital city) on a big Lake Wulpink. At 9:00, the girls started the Classic gravel race (100 miles).

Alfer was the author (design and production) of any graphics used in Varmia Gravel. He also started in the Sprint 50-mile (2,477 ft elevation gain) race on a carbon hardtail MTB and took the 5th place in 2 hours and 56 minutes! (Despite white hair, he is in his early 40s).

9:30. My brother Jacek and his riding mate Krzysiek start their Classic race.

My only but dangerous competitor, Bartosz. He is posing with my Fearless Bartek signed to eSprint just for fun! He rode his wife's 2021 full carbon Trek e-Caliber, rode mostly on his leg power, and used only 125 Wh from the battery! He rode for 3 hours and 21 minutes, taking the 11th place in Sprint, and 1st in eSprint. When he was overtaking other gravel bike riders on climbs, he always smiled and shouted: "I'M CHEATING!"

10:03. My group is about to start. The man in grey jersey and yellow helmet is Paweł. He used to be a roadie, then he was starting in triathlon, now it was his first gravel race. He rode a full suspension Merida MTB. As his smartwatch/sports watch went bananas, he needed a navigator, so he asked me: "Sir, may I join you on the ride?" to which I replied the Leslie Nielsen way: "Yes, you may. Know I ride rather slowly! And don't Shirley me!"

Alfer was a speed demon! He started 6 minutes after us but caught up with us in eight minutes, was joyful, and taking pictures. Bartek (my direct competitor) started together with Alfer but it took him 17 km or 35 minutes to overtake us!

Having Paweł as a reliable companion was the best thing that could occur to me! I now felt a racer and decided to take the best place possible! As we were climbing, I was an example for Paweł (whenever I was passing another rider on a climb, I was smiling and saying 'E-bikes are made for that!' When we were descending on rough cobblestones or in sand, Paweł was riding very fast on his MTB, so I was motivated to catch up with him soon!

A sample Varmia Gravel photo: Varmia is full of old cobblestone roads, and we had to climb them or descend on them!

There was the hardest climb: almost a kilometre of cobblestones with the max grade of 10%. At the summit, the organizer painted a smiley with orange coloured spray (Besides, I love climbing on cobblestones! A way better than sand!)

As we reached a pit-stop in Bolejny/Boleyn I could not resist stopping there for a slice of watermelon and a cup of Hydra isotonic drink. So we wasted precious 8 minutes there.

Our route took us to Masuria. Immediately, sandy roads appeared... Aargh! Here, a wooden bridge over River Łyna (the main river of Varmia). We spent a short time for photos there.

A Range Extender swap stop (1 minute). Lake Łańskie.

My trusty mate Paweł.

As we reached a town-like village of Ruś, and were descending a very steep cobblestone road, we were slowed down by a big group of schoolkids on an excursion; each and every kid was walking their bicycle! Eventually, we reached the bottom, where I shouted: 'Paweł, STOP! I made a navigation error! We need to go back!' As we turned back, Paweł only groaned... It was an extremely steep cobblestone climb now! As we reached the half of the height, we found the proper turn, followed by a 10.2% grade cobblestone climb! (At that place, some riders were walking their bikes!) It was a costly mistake but we managed to overcome it!

As we approached the last segment, a street called Adam and Eve, I shouted at Paweł: 'You know the way! Now, let's race!' and I sprinted towards the finish line (He came 3 seconds after me, so it was 21st and 22nd place of 36).

As good friends at the finish. I finished with the time of 4 hours and 8 minutes. Not a bad time as for a Vado SL, eh? Used 570 Wh of batteries' charge.

With the eSprint winner Bartek. We won a free entry to the September Great Lakes GRVL, and promised to each other to race there!

With the merriest Varmian guy I met so far

Jacek and Krzysiek finishing their race! Unfortunately, Krzysiek "bonked" on the ride, so they were 96th and 97th of 182.

VG Sprint/eSprint. Wahoo had listed 12 serious climbs en route, mostly on cobblestones.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

A sample Varmia Gravel photo: Varmia is full of old cobblestone roads, and we had to climb them or descend on them!

A picture-book photo! I'm totally stealing it.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Since then I make a point of chatting with whoever is hanging out on the transom of some of these boats… some real stunners come through here. It’s five minutes from my house right down along the Waterford Flight of 5 Locks. Erie Canal culture is strong around here.

Great to have built-in enertainment a quick bike ride from home. Perfect place to meet interesting people.

Jeremy, I have to say it looks like you live in a hell of a nice environment as well! That Vado is certainly serving you well.

It certainly is, and I owe you a big one for that. Once I started dithering out loud here about the wisdom of an SL with my legs and hills, you were one of the first to encourage me to ignore the motor and battery specs and give it a try. Worked out brilliantly!

In a related thought, it is amazing how many people I have met and conversed or ridden with in the past six or seven years since I got back into cycling whom I never would have even seen driving by in a car. Slowing down can really open up your life!

Agree, I've also met lots of interesting folks on my bike — and largely because of the bike.

Many older members talk of life in 3 stages: Avid cycling in younger years, then decades of little or none for whatever reason, then a joyous ebike-enabled late-life return.

In the adult LEGO world, we call that time away from the hobby our "dark ages". My cycling dark ages lasted 25 years. Not sure what I was thinking, but grateful that moving to this year-round cycling paradise at 74 finally snapped me out of it.

 

[Chazmo]

Varmia Gravel 2025: The Race Day
Saturday, 28th June 2025

View attachment 196117
Historical note
Today's Varmia-Masuria (our northerly voivodeship) has the history dating back to Teutonic Knights, who conquered and civilized the area (including the today's Russian exclave of Kaliningrad/Koenigsberg/Królewiec). After Poland had tanned the Teuton hide, a cunning Teuton Duke Albrecht created a Protestant state of Ducal Prussia, while the Crown of Poland got the part named Royal Prussia. Varmia, a part of Royal Prussia was a Duchy owned by the Catholic Church. As Nicolaus Copernicus spent most of his life in Frombork/Varmia, we perceive him as a Pole, even if he certainly had some German roots. Today, Varmia is a quaint area full of of lakes, steep post-glacial hills and... rough cobblestone roads Oh yes, I can tell you something about the latter!

View attachment 196118
The race base was located in Majdy near Olsztyn/Allenstein (the province capital city) on a big Lake Wulpink. At 9:00, the girls started the Classic gravel race (100 miles).

View attachment 196119
Alfer was the author (design and production) of any graphics used in Varmia Gravel. He also started in the Sprint 50-mile (2,477 ft elevation gain) race on a carbon full suspension MTB and took the 5th place in 2 hours and 56 minutes! (Despite white hair, he is in his early 40s).

View attachment 196120
9:30. My brother Jacek and his riding mate Krzysiek start their Classic race.

View attachment 196121
My only but dangerous competitor, Bartosz. He is posing with my Fearless Bartek signed to eSprint just for fun! He rode his wife's 2021 full carbon Trek e-Caliber, rode mostly on his leg power, and used only 125 Wh from the battery! He rode for 3 hours and 21 minutes, taking the 11th place in Sprint, and 1st in eSprint. When he was overtaking other gravel bike riders on climbs, he always smiled and shouted: "I'M CHEATING!"

View attachment 196122
10:03. My group is about to start. The man in grey jersey and yellow helmet is Paweł. He used to be a roadie, then he was starting in triathlon, now it was his first gravel race. He rode a full suspension Merida MTB. As his smartwatch/sports watch went bananas, he needed a navigator, so he asked me: "Sir, may I join you on the ride?" to which I replied the Leslie Nielsen way: "Yes, you may. Know I ride rather slowly! And don't sir me!"

View attachment 196123
Alfer was a speed demon! He started 6 minutes after us but caught up with us in eight minutes, was joyful, and taking pictures. Bartek (my direct competitor) started together with Alfer but it took him 17 km or 35 minutes to overtake us!

Having Paweł as a reliable companion was the best thing that could occur to me! I now felt a racer and decided to take the best place possible! As we were climbing, I was an example for Paweł (whenever I was passing another rider on a climb, I was smiling and saying 'E-bikes are made for that!' When we were descending on rough cobblestones or in sand, Paweł was riding very fast on his MTB, so I was motivated to catch up with him soon!

View attachment 196124
A sample Varmia Gravel photo: Varmia is full of old cobblestone roads, and we had to climb them or descend on them!

There was the hardest climb: almost a kilometre of cobblestones with the max grade of 10%. At the summit, the organizer painted a smiley with orange coloured spray (Besides, I love climbing on cobblestones! A way better than sand!)

As we reached a pit-stop in Bolejny/Boleyn I could not resist stopping there for a slice of watermelon and a cup of Hydra isotonic drink. So we wasted precious 8 minutes there.

View attachment 196125View attachment 196126
Our route took us to Masuria. Immediately, sandy roads appeared... Aargh! Here, a wooden bridge over River Łyna (the main river of Varmia). We spent a short time for photos there.

View attachment 196127
A Range Extender swap stop (1 minute). Lake Łańskie.

View attachment 196128
My trusty mate Paweł.

As we reached a town-like village of Ruś, and were descending a very steep cobblestone road, we were slowed down by a big group of schoolkids on an excursion; each and every kid was walking their bicycle! Eventually, we reached the bottom, where I shouted: 'Paweł, STOP! I made a navigation error! We need to go back!' As we turned back, Paweł only groaned... It was an extremely steep cobblestone climb now! As we reached the half of the height, we found the proper turn, followed by a 10.2% grade cobblestone climb! (At that place, some riders were walking their bikes!) It was a costly mistake but we managed to overcome it!

As we approached the last segment, a street called Adam and Eve, I shouted at Paweł: 'You know the way! Now, let's race!' and I sprinted towards the finish line (He came 3 seconds after me, so it was 21st and 22nd place of 36).

View attachment 196130
As good friends at the finish. I finished with the time of 4 hours and 8 minutes. Not a bad time as for a Vado SL, eh? Used 570 Wh of batteries' charge.

View attachment 196131
With the eSprint winner Bartek. We won a free entry to the September Great Lakes GRVL, and promised to each other to race there!

View attachment 196132
With the merriest Varmian guy I met so far

View attachment 196133
Jacek and Krzysiek finishing their race! Unfortunately, Krzysiek "bonked" on the ride, so they were 96th and 97th of 182.

View attachment 196134
VG Sprint/eSprint. Wahoo had listed 12 serious climbs en route, mostly on cobblestones.

Nice job, Stefan! Looks like you had fun!

 

[Chazmo]

My cycling dark ages lasted 25 years.

Pretty much ditto, Jeremy. So glad I came back to it during an era when bikes have made it something old farts can do!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Nice job, Stefan! Looks like you had fun!

"Whoever has completed Sudovia Gravel in 2025 will have fun in any other race"

 

[Chargeride]

Varmia Gravel 2025: The Race Day
Saturday, 28th June 2025

View attachment 196117
Historical note
Today's Varmia-Masuria (our northerly voivodeship) has the history dating back to Teutonic Knights, who conquered and civilized the area (including the today's Russian exclave of Kaliningrad/Koenigsberg/Królewiec). After Poland had tanned the Teuton hide, a cunning Teuton Duke Albrecht created a Protestant state of Ducal Prussia, while the Crown of Poland got the part named Royal Prussia. Varmia, a part of Royal Prussia was a Duchy owned by the Catholic Church. As Nicolaus Copernicus spent most of his life in Frombork/Varmia, we perceive him as a Pole, even if he certainly had some German roots. Today, Varmia is a quaint area full of of lakes, steep post-glacial hills and... rough cobblestone roads Oh yes, I can tell you something about the latter!

View attachment 196118
The race base was located in Majdy near Olsztyn/Allenstein (the province capital city) on a big Lake Wulpink. At 9:00, the girls started the Classic gravel race (100 miles).

View attachment 196119
Alfer was the author (design and production) of any graphics used in Varmia Gravel. He also started in the Sprint 50-mile (2,477 ft elevation gain) race on a carbon full suspension MTB and took the 5th place in 2 hours and 56 minutes! (Despite white hair, he is in his early 40s).

View attachment 196120
9:30. My brother Jacek and his riding mate Krzysiek start their Classic race.

View attachment 196121
My only but dangerous competitor, Bartosz. He is posing with my Fearless Bartek signed to eSprint just for fun! He rode his wife's 2021 full carbon Trek e-Caliber, rode mostly on his leg power, and used only 125 Wh from the battery! He rode for 3 hours and 21 minutes, taking the 11th place in Sprint, and 1st in eSprint. When he was overtaking other gravel bike riders on climbs, he always smiled and shouted: "I'M CHEATING!"

View attachment 196122
10:03. My group is about to start. The man in grey jersey and yellow helmet is Paweł. He used to be a roadie, then he was starting in triathlon, now it was his first gravel race. He rode a full suspension Merida MTB. As his smartwatch/sports watch went bananas, he needed a navigator, so he asked me: "Sir, may I join you on the ride?" to which I replied the Leslie Nielsen way: "Yes, you may. Know I ride rather slowly! And don't sir me!"

View attachment 196123
Alfer was a speed demon! He started 6 minutes after us but caught up with us in eight minutes, was joyful, and taking pictures. Bartek (my direct competitor) started together with Alfer but it took him 17 km or 35 minutes to overtake us!

Having Paweł as a reliable companion was the best thing that could occur to me! I now felt a racer and decided to take the best place possible! As we were climbing, I was an example for Paweł (whenever I was passing another rider on a climb, I was smiling and saying 'E-bikes are made for that!' When we were descending on rough cobblestones or in sand, Paweł was riding very fast on his MTB, so I was motivated to catch up with him soon!

View attachment 196124
A sample Varmia Gravel photo: Varmia is full of old cobblestone roads, and we had to climb them or descend on them!

There was the hardest climb: almost a kilometre of cobblestones with the max grade of 10%. At the summit, the organizer painted a smiley with orange coloured spray (Besides, I love climbing on cobblestones! A way better than sand!)

As we reached a pit-stop in Bolejny/Boleyn I could not resist stopping there for a slice of watermelon and a cup of Hydra isotonic drink. So we wasted precious 8 minutes there.

View attachment 196125View attachment 196126
Our route took us to Masuria. Immediately, sandy roads appeared... Aargh! Here, a wooden bridge over River Łyna (the main river of Varmia). We spent a short time for photos there.

View attachment 196127
A Range Extender swap stop (1 minute). Lake Łańskie.

View attachment 196128
My trusty mate Paweł.

As we reached a town-like village of Ruś, and were descending a very steep cobblestone road, we were slowed down by a big group of schoolkids on an excursion; each and every kid was walking their bicycle! Eventually, we reached the bottom, where I shouted: 'Paweł, STOP! I made a navigation error! We need to go back!' As we turned back, Paweł only groaned... It was an extremely steep cobblestone climb now! As we reached the half of the height, we found the proper turn, followed by a 10.2% grade cobblestone climb! (At that place, some riders were walking their bikes!) It was a costly mistake but we managed to overcome it!

As we approached the last segment, a street called Adam and Eve, I shouted at Paweł: 'You know the way! Now, let's race!' and I sprinted towards the finish line (He came 3 seconds after me, so it was 21st and 22nd place of 36).

View attachment 196130
As good friends at the finish. I finished with the time of 4 hours and 8 minutes. Not a bad time as for a Vado SL, eh? Used 570 Wh of batteries' charge.

View attachment 196131
With the eSprint winner Bartek. We won a free entry to the September Great Lakes GRVL, and promised to each other to race there!

View attachment 196132
With the merriest Varmian guy I met so far

View attachment 196133
Jacek and Krzysiek finishing their race! Unfortunately, Krzysiek "bonked" on the ride, so they were 96th and 97th of 182.

View attachment 196134
VG Sprint/eSprint. Wahoo had listed 12 serious climbs en route, mostly on cobblestones.

I like that course, it looks very memory building for later nostalgia.

 

[RabH]

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

I didn't see any signs of a festival, just the cycling festival I was enjoying! I did see signs of a classic car show in the area, managed to catch this 1972 Sunbeam Stiletto passing! I had 5 versions of these in my younger days, my first one was a Hillman Husky van which never made it to the road because I wrecked it in a yard where my dad kept his trucks, maybe I shouldn't have attempted that jump...I also saw a Ford Capri and a Rover 3500TC, they almost killed me with their fumes!

 

[Chargeride]

That looks like a Hillman Imp

 

[RabH]

That looks like a Hillman Imp

Actually you are correct, it must be the Sunbeam Imp Sport as the Stiletto is a fastback! I had 2 standard Hillman Imps, the Husky van, a Singer Chamois and the Imp Sport which had servo brakes and I almost went through the windscreen when I pressed them... Essentially they are all the same except for the Husky which looked like a miniature hearse! I got confused because the DVLA has it listed as a Sunbeam rather than a Hillman...

 

[dodgeman]

I didn't see any signs of a festival, just the cycling festival I was enjoying! I did see signs of a classic car show in the area, managed to catch this 1972 Sunbeam Stiletto passing! I had 5 versions of these in my younger days, my first one was a Hillman Husky van which never made it to the road because I wrecked it in a yard where my dad kept his trucks, maybe I shouldn't have attempted that jump...I also saw a Ford Capri and a Rover 3500TC, they almost killed me with their fumes!

View attachment 196144

I hope you stopped them to tell them they are driving on the wrong side of the rode.

 

[Chargeride]

Its spelt ryde.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Varmia Gravel 2025: Life around the races
Friday June 27th. Sunday June 29th.

Friday

This is how my talented brother made his Toyota RAV4 a bike transport. See the board to mount two e-bikes using the thru-axles!

After 3.5 hour car ride, we landed in Pizza Romana bar in Dorotowo (2 km away from the race base). The pizzeria was recommended by the organizers and now I saw why!

The Polish cycling brand KROSS (the race sponsor) makes very good Shimano based e-bikes. Unfortunately, they make Bafang powered e-bikes too. The Chinese found a backdoor to the EU by building a re-assembly factory in Wrocław Poland. Now, they can claim their garbage is "Made in the EU", which is good for them, for example because of government subsidies to e-bike buyers (to qualify, an e-bike must be "made in the EU").

Hotel Wulpink was the race base. A free camping with toilets and showers, free parking, a restaurant, access to the lake and other attractions were provided. We lived in a hotel room, breakfast included.

The Prologue time-trial stage race begun soon after we arrived. The racers were released in 1-minute intervals.

Only three girls took part in the 3-day Staged Race. (Spoiler alert: the middle one won the Female category).

The first racer completed 35 km in 56:40! Mind you, it was a gravel race! The Staged Race is for true racers only; they do not enjoy the scenery only watch their GPS computer! (Pictured: the 8th and the 13th).

One amazing Waldek from Sudovia brought anything you needed for a bonfire party! Using stored wood and his own gas-torch, he made a bonfire then shared his provisions with anyone who joined. I and Jacek brought own food and beer and we had a good time! At 23:30, the main organizer approached and said: 'Men, are you aware you are racing in the morning?' Jacek went to bed immediately. I left the party at midnight

Sunday

The morning after the race (Sunday), I woke up with a hangover (as we were also partying on the Saturday night; I drank a way more than at the bonfire on Friday!) Had an early breakfast, took some rest in the beautiful surroundings, and then...

...rode for 15 km to the nearest service station to buy something. I had the last Range Extender available! "No better cure for a hangover than a workout!"

In the early afternoon on Sunday, Bartek showed me the TREK e-Caliber (2021) of his wife. A nice thing. He made the e-bike all carbon himself!

A nice thing indeed if ridden by a right person!

Jacek transported me home, where I arrived around 16:00.

 

[Chargeride]

Thats giving off great vibes, I had that feeling in Scotland, tall stories around a camp fire.
Bafang actually make some of the most reliable bike motors in the world, obviously now they are speccing up to modern tech, teething problems will appear, but a standard bbshd is near indestructable.
The rear stays on that Trek, looks unhealthy, give it a burger.

 

[Chargeride]

Retro acoustic coming along.
Tidying my mothers garage not so much.

Cotterless cranks and push in sealed bearing were cutting edge in 1977.

 

[Nvreloader]

Not sure what this is, the Jesus Olympics?
View attachment 196113

The image shows one of the carved stone slabs located at Pirn Hill Fort near Innerleithen in the Scottish Borders.

• Pirn Hill Fort: is an Iron Age hill fort site.
  
  
• The carved stone slabs, created by local artist Mary Kenny, depict two thousand years of Innerleithen's history.
  
  
• The slabs are set on a circle of stone cairns, which represent the circumference of a typical Iron Age dwelling.
  
  
• Pirn Hill offers commanding views of the Tweed Valley and the village of Innerleithen.

The image shows one of the carved stone tablets located on Pirn Hill Fort near Innerleithen, Scotland.

• Location:
  Pirn Hill Fort is an Iron Age hill fort located on a modest summit northeast of Innerleithen, offering commanding views of the Tweed Valley.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Bafang actually make some of the most reliable bike motors in the world, obviously now they are speccing up to modern tech, teething problems will appear, but a standard bbshd is near indestructable.

"Friends do not let friends buy Bafang"

The rear stays on that Trek, looks unhealthy, give it a burger.

The man is heavy yet he was able to zoom all those Varmian cobblestone climbs and descents at the average speed of 24.16 km/h with the maximum speed of 46.65 km/h, mostly on his leg power, and the e-Caliber didn't collapse under him