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

[DaveMatthews]

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.
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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
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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. View attachment 196468

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Really nice walk, an so much better than wandering around looking in shop windows.
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The MUP out at the edge of the harbor looked nice too and had great views.

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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.

Glad to see you had a great time mate!
I've never considered myself a radical, more like just a normie.
Mud and puddles await your next visit...

 

[BlackHand]

Well being radical IS the new normal here. Being normal is radical.

 

[Chargeride]

I would be the same, Im terrified of heights

 

[Mr. Coffee]

"Body asking shadow: how do you keep up?"
-- Han Shan (Cold Mountain), c. 800 CE

 

[Watana Bob]

I would be the same, Im terrified of heights

Hell Chris, the places you ride I'd be terrified too!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Elektroza Bolimoza (A Gravel Group Ride)
Saturday, July 5th, 2025

I set off for a ride in Bolimów Landscape Park (BPK) with two friends.

Anna is a petite female of my age group riding a (Swiss made) Flyer, drive belt and IGH e-bike powered by a Bosch Performance Line motor, 47 mm tyres. You've heard of Tomek: a big man riding a steel Marin traditional bicycle. I chose my Fearless, a Vado SL with a Range Extender, 42 mm aggressive gravel tyres, the motor set to 55/55% assistance (Assist 1x rider's leg power).

BPK is famous of its Strade Bianche, or premium gravel "bicycle freeways". Here, the #33.

A fun collage Because of my meticulously selected assistance level (and recently well trained legs) as well as for the fact I was the navigator, I was always in the front of the group.

The gear that has positively changed my cycling life: a Camelbak M.U.L.E. 14 Pro hydration backpack. It is a shiznit! Anything that touches your body is a breathable mesh. The backpack is profiled the way it is not touching your back; on contrary, the air current is cooling your back and removes sweat! The bladder compartment is insulated, so your drink never gets warm even on a hot day and a long ride! The 3 litre bladder, with its smart system of check valves works like a charm. Take the mouthpiece of the tube into your mouth, take several gulps then drop the tube. A set of strong magnets will automatically overtake the tube and attach it to its holder! Moreover, the storage part can keep everything I might need on a ride! The backpack is totally comfortable! Bye-bye, the rear rack and the pannier! (The thing has even got a pocket for a Range Extender...) Now, my water-bottle cage has been freed, so I can carry a spare Range Extender there! The thing is even NOT OVERLY EXPENSIVE!

A photo stop. Anna rode her Flyer in TOUR mode (Level 2) for most of the ride. I think it also is 1x the rider leg power mode.

More photos!

Riding Strada Bianca #34.

"Awww! How lovely! Let's stop for a photo!" The Polish Summer is now in the full bloom.

A rest at 25th kilometre by the Bolimów Lake.

Swimming was not allowed, unfortunately! The day was very warm, up to 29 C.

This gangway over River Rawka was once built by some enthusiast activists.

"Dear passer-by! Once you are here, please raise your eyes towards the sky and thank the builders of this little bridge!"

Halfway the trip, 30.5 km. I felt tired. Helped myself with some energy gel bought for a race. Description: "Nutritious. Contains an agent to speed up burning your body fuel into your leg energy. Contains caffeine. The mild version". It helped!

A stork, the symbol of prosperity for the village. See also a jet airplane contrail

At "Police Station '77" restaurant in Nieborów. The theme here is the Communist Poland of 1970s Long waiting time to be seated, a slow service, the specialty being goose or other poultry. Not for me! I enjoyed Cold Soup and some pasta.

Bad news
As we finished, a bad news struck: As there was a general housework at (late) Jazza's home, I was strongly asked to collect my all-tube guitar amplifier combo (that Jazza had allowed me to store there) on the same day! I was away and currently owned no car! Anna winked at me: "I will help you. Let's ride!" So we rode.

We intentionally didn't check the train timetable: It is what it is. We all were as highly motivated as we pedalled very hard! (Anna went SPORT then TURBO). We were at the destination over half an hour ahead the train! So we had some ice-cream

How did it end up?
We rode trains then e-bikes to Anna's home. Then we threw my e-bike into Anna's SUV. She was as kind as to take me to Jazza's home. We collected my guitar amp; Anna will help me sell it. I returned home "on the wheels". Thus, I made my 50-mile workout for the day!

 

[Mulezen]

The road is my dead end one just as I was setting out for my version of a long ride (21m). As soon as I put my phone away a doe and fawn walked across. Here are a neighbor's cattle. When mine got out this is where they ran. My place is through the break in the distant tree line though by bike two miles away.

 

[JGcycle]

A few pics from today's 32km ride:

 

[Chargeride]

Elektroza Bolimoza (A Gravel Group Ride)
Saturday, July 5th, 2025

I set off for a ride in Bolimów Landscape Park (BPK) with two friends.

View attachment 196490
Anna is a petite female of my age group riding a (Swiss made) Flyer, drive belt and IGH e-bike powered by a Bosch Performance Line motor, 47 mm tyres. You've heard of Tomek: a big man riding a steel Marin traditional bicycle. I chose my Fearless, a Vado SL with a Range Extender, 42 mm aggressive gravel tyres, the motor set to 55/55% assistance (Assist 1x rider's leg power).

View attachment 196491
BPK is famous of its Strade Bianche, or premium gravel "bicycle freeways". Here, the #33.

View attachment 196492
A fun collage Because of my meticulously selected assistance level (and recently well trained legs) as well as for the fact I was the navigator, I was always in the front of the group.

View attachment 196494
The gear that has positively changed my cycling life: a Camelbak M.U.L.E. 14 Pro hydration backpack. It is a shiznit! Anything that touches your body is a breathable mesh. The backpack is profiled the way it is not touching your back; on contrary, the air current is cooling your back and removes sweat! The bladder compartment is insulated, so your drink never gets warm even on a hot day and a long ride! The 3 litre bladder, with its smart system of check valves works like a charm. Take the mouthpiece of the tube into your mouth, take several gulps then drop the tube. A set of strong magnets will automatically overtake the tube and attach it to its holder! Moreover, the storage part can keep everything I might need on a ride! The backpack is totally comfortable! Bye-bye, the rear rack and the pannier! (The thing has even got a pocket for a Range Extender...) Now, my water-bottle cage has been freed, so I can carry a spare Range Extender there! The thing is even NOT OVERLY EXPENSIVE!

View attachment 196495
A photo stop. Anna rode her Flyer in TOUR mode (Level 2) for most of the ride. I think it also is 1x the rider leg power mode.

View attachment 196496
More photos!

View attachment 196497
Riding Strada Bianca #34.

View attachment 196498
"Awww! How lovely! Let's stop for a photo!" The Polish Summer is now in the full bloom.

View attachment 196499
A rest at 25th kilometre by the Bolimów Lake.

View attachment 196500
Swimming was not allowed, unfortunately! The day was very warm, up to 29 C.

View attachment 196501
This gangway over River Rawka was once built by some enthusiast activists.

View attachment 196502
"Dear passer-by! Once you are here, please raise your eyes towards the sky and thank the builders of this little bridge!"

View attachment 196503
Halfway the trip, 30.5 km. I felt tired. Helped myself with some energy gel bought for a race. Description: "Nutritious. Contains an agent to speed up burning your body fuel into your leg energy. Contains caffeine. The mild version". It helped!

View attachment 196504
A stork, the symbol of prosperity for the village. See also a jet airplane contrail

View attachment 196505
At "Police Station '77" restaurant in Nieborów. The theme here is the Communist Poland of 1970s Long waiting time to be seated, a slow service, the specialty being goose or other poultry. Not for me! I enjoyed Cold Soup and some pasta.

Bad news
As we finished, a bad news struck: As there was a general housework at (late) Jazza's home, I was strongly asked to collect my all-tube guitar amplifier combo (that Jazza had allowed me to store there) on the same day! I was away and currently owned no car! Anna winked at me: "I will help you. Let's ride!" So we rode.

View attachment 196506
We intentionally didn't check the train timetable: It is what it is. We all were as highly motivated as we pedalled very hard! (Anna went SPORT then TURBO). We were at the destination over half an hour ahead the train! So we had some ice-cream

How did it end up?
We rode trains then e-bikes to Anna's home. Then we threw my e-bike into Anna's SUV. She was as kind as to take me to Jazza's home. We collected my guitar amp; Anna will help me sell it. I returned home "on the wheels". Thus, I made my 50-mile workout for the day!

View attachment 196507

Ha Storks, we have just reintroduced them after a short 600 year abscence.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

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Last shot: Your ebike in its happy place at the foot of a giant generator, just basking in the EMF.

 

[Nvreloader]

A new way of recharging your batts, with EMF?

Question for those that KNOW,
does that head revolve around the main base for varying wind directions or are they fixed one direction?
I think that they would need to revolve around, for the best efficiency. (never seen one in person, only photo's).
Tia

 

[Nvreloader]

In the 4th photo from the top,
it appears that the power line on the left side is about to fall down,
if that generator base is straight up/down....

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Ha Storks, we have just reintroduced them after a short 600 year abscence.

It is quite interesting. Storks fly in Poland from Africa in the Spring. After having babies, they leave for the rest of the year for Africa. I wonder if storks would live in the UK all year long or escape for Africa to never come back again?

 

[JGcycle]

In the 4th photo from the top,
it appears that the power line on the left side is about to fall down,
if that generator base is straight up/down....

That shot was taken with wide angle lens, which causes distortion--the poles and the wind turbine are perpendicular.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Two Tasks To Complete
Sunday July 6th, 2025

On early Sunday morning, I realized the front wheel of my Vado SL was slowly losing air. Unwilling to do a repair, I chose my Vado 6.0 for the ride. I wanted to travel lightly, so used Specialized Smart Control option to ensure the return on the battery after over 50 miles ridden (more on that later).

My two tasks to complete were:

• Do a little favour exchange with my brother Jacek at the Wolumen Market in Warsaw (11:00)
• Visit my daughter Magda (14:00).

Anything in between was optional Predicting possible contingencies, I added an hour to the planned ride time for either case.

Riding to Our Home Estate

Komoot can plan quite interesting routes if you really try. The trip from my place to the Warsaw neighbourhood of Wawrzyszew was not boring at all! (Here, a perfect gravel road on the site of pre-WW2 Babice Broadcasting Company).

Jacek trades electronics in Wolumen Market every second Sunday (as an extension of his electronics business). A fun fact: Our Grandpa and then Jacek's Dad (we are indeed first cousins but feel like brethren) owned a 3.3 hectare (8.15 acres) gardening farm in the same Wawrzyszew since 1973! Wawrzyszew (once a village) is now a big housing estate of Warsaw.

Having extra time, I had a breakfast then had to locate Jacek's big van in the crowded market first. When I saw him, I pointed at my watch: 'It's eleven sharp! See how punctual I am!'

Riding to see Magda

The day was hot (31 C). Specialized Smart Control was extremely conservative in its estimates. A heavy Vado ridden below 35% assistance feels like a piece of junk even if the cruising speed is decent. I had to ride through the sands of Kampinos National Park then it was a very very long boring road westwards...

Even if -- having a Camelbak -- I was not thirsty, I got tired by riding long kilometres upwind at a low assistance! I needed calories!

I ended up in Klimatyczna Cafe for ice-cream and a single Espresso. I had just 20 minutes extra time before the next appointment! See how red in the face I was: both sun tanned and overheated!

Komoot can do miracles. For several years now, I haven't thought you could reach the Social Care Home in Bramki from Klimatyczna in less than 12 km! Komoot showed me a 10 km route: just at the cost of riding 200 m of sandy gravel... When I saw my daughter, I proudly said: 'It is 14:00 sharp. Can you see how punctual I am?'

Smart Control is a strange beast. It is extremely conservative to absolutely make sure you will get to your destination still on the battery. It is underpowering you for the most of ride to put you in 100% TURBO when you are near the finish line The only two uses of it I can see are:

• You must set off for a ride with a partly depleted battery and achieve your riding goal, or
• You go single battery on a course of known Distance/Elevation Gain but are unfamiliar with the terrain and want to be on the safe side.

Smart Control is known of many faults, and Specialized App is unreliable for ride recording in general (especially when you need to turn the motor off or leave the e-bike, for example, to have lunch). I use it very rarely!

Ride Map.

 

[Mulezen]

^ That ice cream!!!!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

^ That ice cream!!!!

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Specialized App is unreliable for ride recording in general (especially when you need to turn the motor off or leave the e-bike, for example, to have lunch).

Odd. I have the latest Android version and use it on every SL ride — 174 to date. It's been quite reliable for me, including when the bike gets turned off (by me or by itself) during recordings.

Only one glitch in my experience: If I turn on the bike before opening the app, it sometimes gets in an odd state that fails to record rider power. Opening the app first is guaranteed to prevent problem.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Question for those that KNOW,
does that head revolve around the main base for varying wind directions or are they fixed one direction?

Yes, the base and tower are planted. The nacelle rotates automatically to keep the rotor pointed into the wind. The blades feather automatically when the wind gets too strong.

Huge forces and torques involved. For maximum efficiency, turbines in a wind farm have to be arranged just so.

Had occasion to do a deep dive into the engineering behind these very sophisticated electromechanical machines in the course of a modeling project. If you like big machines, worth looking into.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Odd. I have the latest Android version and use it on every SL ride — 174 to date. It's been quite reliable for me, including when the bike gets turned off (by me or by itself) during recordings.

Jeremy, I don't think you use Smart Control, do you? User @GuruUno has described Smart Control/Specialized App glitches more than enough. It might be also dependent on the specific e-bike model.

In my own case, there were 4 motor off states on the ride. After the motor on, Smart Control was recovering, only it not necessarily reported the correct distance to the destination (I was correcting it manually). After the 81 km ride was completed, I only got a single recording for the first 21 km (Leg 1) but nothing beyond... It was a Vado 6.0. Smart Control is more reliable with Vado SL, proven.