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
I've been known to go way past turnaround points just to have a good excuse to fly all the way home in SPORT with the Carrot Effect turned up to 11.
I need a warning sign for people behind me on coast rides:
This is pursuant to Rule 37: All coast rides shall include at least one beach stop to commune with the ocean.
Maybe it's the same with you.
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
I had the most epic ride yesterday, probably the first one in my life where I considered calling in helicopter rescue, this is the famous rickety toll bridge over the ship
canal, it was going to be demolished for years, but they decided to save it
It descends into Trafford, which is the name of the Manchester United football teams stadium, Old Trafford, and it is old.
Granite fences and gas lights
A beautiful bridle way skimming the Mersey, found a lamb out of its field, of course it ran in front of me and they will run for miles, luckily it spotted a gap quite
quickly and saved my guilt of getting it completely lost.
The path to the disused railway bridge was ludicrously overgrown, complete with face height brambles
The work they have done to stop people climbing it, what a hideous eyesore at a high point.
Then a ride to the lock crossing to get me back over the canal, this is a clear path on google maps, the bright sun was too much for my old gopro, even -1 exposure
was over saturating, I reall need to buy the DJI with much better dynamic range.
I didnt know if I could get the bike over the locks and then i was met with a motorbike that had just come over it.
So industrial, but the trees and the age of so much of it gives it a post 28 days feel at times.
I tried a completely random trail on the way back ,this is the one that tested my mettle, i should have really turned back after coming across this a mile into it.
These cars must have been driven for miles before being burnt out, there is no way out of here without bushwacking through dense brush.
I came across that bridge under repair, they had built a long road in, but there was no one about and a huge fence dug into the bush was blocking a quick escape, so I carried on.
It got darker and scarier and more remote, then the path abruptly ended with some hillbilly style, rusty welded fencing and no entry signs.
After checking my map I realised I had reached another river across my path, and the ancient bridge was completely fenced off, there was one bit where people had pulled away
the barrier, but it was sat over a twenty foot drop, I managed to pull the bike up and over from the most precarious starting point.
This completely exhausted me.
So I'm on my way, but have zero clue if this path continued, zooming in on maps just revealed fields and trees for miles, I was genuinely reaching that ominous feeling, but the
thought of riding all the way back kept me going.
I can only describe the next four miles as extreme tension, the path alternated between barely there to this.
Eventually I heard the M6 and my spirits rose, but I wasnt out of it yet, I realised with a sinking feeling I was stuck between the river and the canal on a strip of land, but there was aroad so it must lead somewhere and they must need to maintain this part of the bridge.
I followed it for miles to be met with this, the fence went right out over the river to the left, I considered trying to climb it , but really how could I get the bike over that?
So I bush rode alongside the fence and luckily found a gap, the feeling of relief as I realised civilisation was back was incredible.
That increasing doom like mental state that had set in as I rode alone through a disused path that just seem to wander through the woods, all I needed was crows following me
to finish off the house of horrors effect.
These emotions are the spice of life, all the time I was thinking I could just whack to the road, but it was a good mile of impenetrable bush.
Great day, got home covered in cuts and aching limbs.
canal, it was going to be demolished for years, but they decided to save it
It descends into Trafford, which is the name of the Manchester United football teams stadium, Old Trafford, and it is old.
Granite fences and gas lights
A beautiful bridle way skimming the Mersey, found a lamb out of its field, of course it ran in front of me and they will run for miles, luckily it spotted a gap quite
quickly and saved my guilt of getting it completely lost.
The path to the disused railway bridge was ludicrously overgrown, complete with face height brambles
The work they have done to stop people climbing it, what a hideous eyesore at a high point.
Then a ride to the lock crossing to get me back over the canal, this is a clear path on google maps, the bright sun was too much for my old gopro, even -1 exposure
was over saturating, I reall need to buy the DJI with much better dynamic range.
I didnt know if I could get the bike over the locks and then i was met with a motorbike that had just come over it.
So industrial, but the trees and the age of so much of it gives it a post 28 days feel at times.
I tried a completely random trail on the way back ,this is the one that tested my mettle, i should have really turned back after coming across this a mile into it.
These cars must have been driven for miles before being burnt out, there is no way out of here without bushwacking through dense brush.
I came across that bridge under repair, they had built a long road in, but there was no one about and a huge fence dug into the bush was blocking a quick escape, so I carried on.
It got darker and scarier and more remote, then the path abruptly ended with some hillbilly style, rusty welded fencing and no entry signs.
After checking my map I realised I had reached another river across my path, and the ancient bridge was completely fenced off, there was one bit where people had pulled away
the barrier, but it was sat over a twenty foot drop, I managed to pull the bike up and over from the most precarious starting point.
This completely exhausted me.
So I'm on my way, but have zero clue if this path continued, zooming in on maps just revealed fields and trees for miles, I was genuinely reaching that ominous feeling, but the
thought of riding all the way back kept me going.
I can only describe the next four miles as extreme tension, the path alternated between barely there to this.
Eventually I heard the M6 and my spirits rose, but I wasnt out of it yet, I realised with a sinking feeling I was stuck between the river and the canal on a strip of land, but there was aroad so it must lead somewhere and they must need to maintain this part of the bridge.
I followed it for miles to be met with this, the fence went right out over the river to the left, I considered trying to climb it , but really how could I get the bike over that?
So I bush rode alongside the fence and luckily found a gap, the feeling of relief as I realised civilisation was back was incredible.
That increasing doom like mental state that had set in as I rode alone through a disused path that just seem to wander through the woods, all I needed was crows following me
to finish off the house of horrors effect.
These emotions are the spice of life, all the time I was thinking I could just whack to the road, but it was a good mile of impenetrable bush.
Great day, got home covered in cuts and aching limbs.
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stompandgo
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
There's no maybe about it, brother.
Watana Bob
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
You ride some crazy places Charge!
stompandgo
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
Mad Max
Mulezen
Well-Known Member
I get a vibe from Clockwork Orange
The weather today was decidedly better than yesterday's...temp mid-80s again...but humidity way down. I rode 7 miles further (18m) at a significantly lower HR average...and this includes a stint with a big diesel pickup shadowing me. Just a few more rides until outpatient surgery grounds me for a few weeks.
The corn at the end of my road...it hasn't been in long but has benefited from the soggy weather.
fooferdoggie
Well-Known Member
I hve been wanting to try this trail, it is the banks/vernonia bike trail it is about 20 miles on through the woods. but the problem is getting to it from where I live. it is 40 , miles away and the trail is 20 miles so ya a little much for me. 1100 feet of climbing to get to it then about 1500 feet more. The light rail gets somewhat close 12 or so miles and 2 hours or so. there is another bus that gets within 1/4 miles, but I don't know if they let a bike on.
so my wife went to her moms so I was free so I hopped on the train well, the first of two, that's only a mile from my house and rode to the start of my ride. I mapped it out and the route was through the countryside to banks oregon. Of course the one street I needed to go on what under construction and blocked off. but it was just bare compacted dirt and no one was around so I walked my bike though it as I had no clue how to go around it. Later, it would have been maybe 2 miles to get around it. I ate my lunch after the 12 mile right at the start of the trail. I did not take many pics of the trail as I hate to stop and it was mostly trees. they had 3 bike stations and several bathrooms as they had camping or just rest stops for cars along it.
the path was nice rough in places a long trestle bridge to cross. I had about 7 miles to go and I decided I should turn around I did not know how steep it was and I was starting to run out of steam and I would have 25 miles back. if I went the last 7 or so it would have been 4 more miles. I was at 55% on my two batteries so I did not know if I could crank upo the assist that long. so I turned around and hopped on the train. but it would take a hour to get home from the stop by my work so I ripped off grabbed an energy drink and some tacos and ride the 9 miles home with some energy to spare. so almost 62 miles but I don't know if I could have broken my record doing 78 miles that would be crqazy for me. for some reason my HR was way high for the effort. in fact on the train home my apple watch popped up with an alert my HR was above 120 while I was resting even now its still above 90.saw and passed so many fat tired e bikes. on the downhills I was coasting faster then they were going on their motors. one of my favorites was the roomba lown mower mowing the pristine green lawn.
I have a link to someone else's video it would be better then my non narrated one.
so my wife went to her moms so I was free so I hopped on the train well, the first of two, that's only a mile from my house and rode to the start of my ride. I mapped it out and the route was through the countryside to banks oregon. Of course the one street I needed to go on what under construction and blocked off. but it was just bare compacted dirt and no one was around so I walked my bike though it as I had no clue how to go around it. Later, it would have been maybe 2 miles to get around it. I ate my lunch after the 12 mile right at the start of the trail. I did not take many pics of the trail as I hate to stop and it was mostly trees. they had 3 bike stations and several bathrooms as they had camping or just rest stops for cars along it.
the path was nice rough in places a long trestle bridge to cross. I had about 7 miles to go and I decided I should turn around I did not know how steep it was and I was starting to run out of steam and I would have 25 miles back. if I went the last 7 or so it would have been 4 more miles. I was at 55% on my two batteries so I did not know if I could crank upo the assist that long. so I turned around and hopped on the train. but it would take a hour to get home from the stop by my work so I ripped off grabbed an energy drink and some tacos and ride the 9 miles home with some energy to spare. so almost 62 miles but I don't know if I could have broken my record doing 78 miles that would be crqazy for me. for some reason my HR was way high for the effort. in fact on the train home my apple watch popped up with an alert my HR was above 120 while I was resting even now its still above 90.saw and passed so many fat tired e bikes. on the downhills I was coasting faster then they were going on their motors. one of my favorites was the roomba lown mower mowing the pristine green lawn.
I have a link to someone else's video it would be better then my non narrated one.
Jeremy McCreary
Bought it anyway
- Region
- USA
- City
- Carlsbad, CA
Boy, would I love to have a 20-mile bike trail like that a short train ride from my house!
Bike infrastructure here is very good, but the longest such trail I know of close by is only 9 mi long. Most are 1-2 mi long and poorly connected.
fooferdoggie
Well-Known Member
ya it was pretty cool that long. we have some as long but I ride them almost every day going to work. at least part of them usually riding on the road is faster overall. If you can transport your bike this path would be a breeze easy slopes for the most part, one section of switchbacks and signs saying steep slope, walk your bike.it was like you call that steep I have been on paths with 20% grades this was maybe 15% looking closer at the route I had done all the climbing the rest of the 7 miles would have been downhill. but then I would have had to climb back up 400 feet on the way back. I want to get my wife on the tandem on it as she loves the woods but I don't think I can get the tandem there.
Saratoga Dave
Well-Known Member
Kind of an interesting ride this morning. Started at my LBS where they bled my back brakes on the Stance - the brake lever was hitting the handlebar. At some point took the rear wheel off, put it all back together and off I went.
Started ride from a parking area about two miles away, got on the bike and the pedals just spun and jammed. Steve never put the chain back on the sprockets properly and it promptly ended up between the small cog and the frame. Extracted that, spun everything around and try again.
First really big hill, bike won’t stay in second or first gear at all, skipping all over the place. Damn! Fortunately on a Stance you almost never use either of those gears, and as this was mostly a paved ride, almost all of it is spent way down the cassette in the higher gears anyway. Several times over 30mph going down some large hills.
End of the ride, pick up the bike to put it on the rack, and the rear wheel falls right out of the dropouts. Bike came up off the ground, wheel did not. I could have been killed any number of times on this one. He’d never tightened the rear quick release axle down.
And they say the Tour is dangerous!
Started ride from a parking area about two miles away, got on the bike and the pedals just spun and jammed. Steve never put the chain back on the sprockets properly and it promptly ended up between the small cog and the frame. Extracted that, spun everything around and try again.
First really big hill, bike won’t stay in second or first gear at all, skipping all over the place. Damn! Fortunately on a Stance you almost never use either of those gears, and as this was mostly a paved ride, almost all of it is spent way down the cassette in the higher gears anyway. Several times over 30mph going down some large hills.
End of the ride, pick up the bike to put it on the rack, and the rear wheel falls right out of the dropouts. Bike came up off the ground, wheel did not. I could have been killed any number of times on this one. He’d never tightened the rear quick release axle down.
And they say the Tour is dangerous!
DaveMatthews
Dave's not here. Cheating since 2018
- Region
- Canada
Dayum Dave, that was close! I recall after getting my dropper installed the motor bolts came loose and jammed my pedal rotation on a ride.
Obviously the tech forgot to torque them back up after the install.
Glad you're OK!
Gionnirocket
Well-Known Unidentified Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Y. O.
And that's why I do my own work... Add there's much less downtime and no humping the bike around town.
The kid a the LBS is thinking about his girlfriend and who he's gonna find to get him beers tonight.
How many new scratches were on the bike as well?
The kid a the LBS is thinking about his girlfriend and who he's gonna find to get him beers tonight.
How many new scratches were on the bike as well?
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Chargeride
Well-Known Member
omg I love that tressle ride, 360 as well.
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
Nearly finished, got a retro Hurst derallieur for ten quid, looks like new, waiting for chain, bought one new front tub to make sure it fits.
Give me siix months and I'll have a motor on it.
Give me siix months and I'll have a motor on it.
Mulezen
Well-Known Member
The weather looking good I went towards the river in search of tomatoes and baked goods. The farmer's market must have shut for the holiday (the 4th) but the vegetable stand five miles further was open. The man in yellow passed me earlier in a Peloton. An Alvis farm truck blew close by us earlier and I let it feel the weight of my tongue to the amusement of a few in the group. I like to know who I shake my fist at. The brick house is where the Patriarch resides. The corn picture yesterday comes from a field he leases on my road. Alas the weekend self-serve/pay bake hut was not operating either. I guess I'll make it.
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Levo.
BlackHand
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Western WA
High trestles are neat. We were up in Victoria, CA last weekend. Kind of frustrating to be in such a bike friendly city sans bike, but my son and I took the dog and walked the first few miles of the Galloping Goose trail.
The dog LOVES going on trails, tugs at the leash if you slow down and heaven forbid someone in the group gets in front of him, he'll choke himself trying to get out in the lead
But get on a trestle, and he acts like a hobbit climbing the steps of Mt Doom. We had to practically drag him across. One of the many things he is deathly afraid of.
Really nice walk, an so much better than wandering around looking in shop windows.
The MUP out at the edge of the harbor looked nice too and had great views.
Oh, @DaveMatthews , CBP didn't ask me anything about radical Canucks I might be in contact with. But my wife voiced sone concerns when I asked her to try and get a picture of the mud in Mud Bay and then be on the alert for nemesis puddles on our way to the Tsawwassen ferry.
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