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

[DaveMatthews]

Treacherous stuff, that black ice! Invisibility and zero friction is a vicious combination. Glad to hear that the studded bike tires work so well.

Black ice actually figured into our decision to leave our beloved Denver home for SoCal. As we got more and more of it in our Denver neighborhood over the last decade, it became harder and harder to avoid on mandatory winter dog walks.

Often had to walk with spiked hiking poles, but as dog walker-in-chief, still managed to fall on black ice 3 times in our last 2 winters there. As a seventy-something, that just wasn't sustainable.

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Then came our first long post-retirement vacation — 2 winter months in La Jolla, just north of San Diego. Above, La Jolla Shores beach, March, 2022.

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With "We really need to move before somebody gets hurt" in the back of our heads, it wasn't much of a leap to "Hey, let's move here!"

Can't blame you a bit mate.
Although much cooler here, the ice and snow are somewhat rare.

 

[Chargeride]

I wonder, do clipless cleats help in the ice?

 

[Chazmo]

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Another lovely day for a bike ride so I made the most of it, it was a bit chilly but ok for the end of December with a temp of 6C! A chilly NE wind made it feel much colder though but it was only around 15mph, I decided to head SE for Biggar as I hadn't been down there for a while! I made the right choice as it was just amazing and I even had many dry roads which is almost unheard of in winter here! I was able to use the back roads as there was no ice around so I made my way down to Allanton and over the back road to Carluke and up the climb to Yieldshields!

This is the awesome road from Yieldshields to Carnwath!

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I used a back road I haven't been on for a long time, past the White Loch near Carnwath and stopped for a couple of photos!

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From Carnwath I turned south towards Libberton and enjoyed this cracking descent on the way!

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I had lovely views all around on this amazing road!

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This is a tough climb but I had a tailwind helping me!

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Then a flatter part before a nice descent!

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The next part of the descent with a nice view of the Pentland and Coulter Hills!

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Then the big descent near Biggar with amazing views of the stunning Coulter Hills!

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Almost in Biggar now and another lovely view across the fields and rolling hills!

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From Biggar I turned SW towards Symington and stopped for a short break and a snack and grabbed another couple of photos!

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A short time later I passed over the bridge over the River Clyde where I had a nice view of Tinto Hill!

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The view to the north near Symington wasn't too shabby either!

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After passing through Symington I stopped for more photos at the top of the climb, looking east with the Pentland and Coulter Hills providing a specatacular backdrop!

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I joined the main A73 here and stopped after a couple of miles for this photo looking east, there was very little traffic on this normally busy road thanks to the Christmas holidays!

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At Hyndford Bridge I made my way up the climb to Lanark but turned on to the Carstairs road to avoid the busy town, from Carstairs I headed towards Carluke on the main A721 which was also quiet! Its a big climb but the wind was helping, I stopped for this photo looking east part way up the climb!

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This was looking SE from the same spot!

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Time was getting on so it was time to get my head down and make sure I got home before dark, I used the back roads once again from Carluke to Allanton and up the big climb to Hareshaw where I used the main road home this time with very little traffic around! What a brilliant ride on a glorious but chilly day, 7200 miles now and I should get 1 more ride before the year end! I have covered 481 miles in December, which is probably my best December ever and I should get well past 500 miles on Monday or Tuesday!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Looks like a beautiful day for a ride, Rab!

 

[Chazmo]

Treacherous stuff, that black ice! Invisibility and zero friction is a vicious combination. Glad to hear that the studded bike tires work so well.

Black ice actually figured into our decision to leave our beloved Denver home for SoCal. As we got more and more of it in our Denver neighborhood over the last decade, it became harder and harder to avoid on mandatory winter dog walks.


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Often had to walk with spiked hiking poles, but as dog walker-in-chief, still managed to fall on black ice 3 times in our last 2 winters there. That footbridge in the distance was especially prone.

View attachment 203849
As a seventy-something, that just wasn't sustainable. Then came our first long post-retirement vacation — 2 winter months in La Jolla, just north of San Diego. Above, La Jolla Shores beach, March, 2022.

View attachment 203850
With "We really need to move before somebody gets hurt" in the back of our heads, it wasn't much of a leap to "Hey, let's move here!"

Ice is definitely problematic. The good news is that you can spot it on trails (if you’re observant, that is). The bad news is that sometimes the entire trail is covered and you can’t avoid it. As far as traction goes, it doesn’t really matter how fat the tires are, although I suppose lower tire pressure would help. Studs are really the only answer, and I’ve decided I’m not that brave. I’ve slipped and fallen enough on icy conditions to last a lifetime.

Wow, beauty pix there, Jeremy. The snowy one is a recent one of Denver? Did you ride this? Sorry if I lost the narrative.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Ice is definitely problematic. The good news is that you can spot it on trails (if you’re observant, that is). The bad news is that sometimes the entire trail is covered and you can’t avoid it. As far as traction goes, it doesn’t really matter how fat the tires are, although I suppose lower tire pressure would help. Studs are really the only answer, and I’ve decided I’m not that brave. I’ve slipped and fallen enough on icy conditions to last a lifetime.

What is problematic, however, is a single 45Nrth Wratchild Fat Tire (studded) is around two hundred and fifty bucks A lot less expensive for narrower studded tyres The price of a good studded fat tire somehow defeats owning an inexpensive fattie, eh

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Wow, beauty pix there, Jeremy. The snowy one is a recent one of Denver? Did you ride this?

Thanks! The winter photo was from our Denver house in 2021. Riding very little at that time, and definitely not with ice or snow on the ground. The dog had to be walked, and doing it on ice was scary enough for my taste.

Our black ice mostly came from overnight refreezing of snowmelt from earlier in the day. (Denver's often intense winter sun could melt a lot of snow, even when the air was well below freezing.) That scenario was becoming a lot more common in Denver — and our neighborhood seemed especially prone.

 

[stompandgo]

Im doing a little local ride tomorrow, I planned it and then realised it passes 32 pubs, the coincidence is astounding.

That may be your longest ride of the year.

Time-wise, that is.

 

[Chargeride]

It was cancelled, freakin freezin, ice everywhere, waited till it warmed up, then it was too late, try again tomorrow

 

[Dima]

) Dutdutki is a local national space ( with folk crafts ) food , beverages , ,master classes ( with ability to buy something ) and so on!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

It was cancelled, freakin freezin, ice everywhere, waited till it warmed up, then it was too late, try again tomorrow

Chris! It was 0 C (perceived -6 C), humid, windy, some part of the trail was frozen, the Vistula was frozen too, yet I and Tommy have successfully completed our MOSTy 500 GRVL lap Don't be a pussy Be a fighter!

So I achieved my yearly goal of 7500 km this year today

BRIDGEs GRVL LAP

A photo from Praga Harbour, after an epic climb onto the escarpment (Tommy's front derailleur failed, so he had to walk his Marin up the hill).

At the finish line, below Warsaw Mermaid 1937.

Said Mermaid as seen from the Boulevards.

Holy Cross Bridge. A very misty day!

Earlier that morning. My brother prepares for his two laps in the MOSTy 500 GRVL RELAY RACE.

The actual relay and briefing. Artur (left) has just finished his three 37.5 km laps. Jacek will need to do a lap at midnight (black ice forecast!) and later at night complete the last 14 km lap as a team.

A single lap.

Warsaw Eye (temporary). See the PKiN shrouded in the mist.

53 km for the day.

This year achievements. A weak year, as for me!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Guys, now it has happened. Heavily snowing and black ice expected for the night rides of Jacek!
I've prepared my Schwalbe Marathon Winter Plus 50-622 tyres; he arrives at 21:00 and we are going to install the tyres on his wider gravel rims. Whatever, my brother's gonna survive the night!

 

[Chargeride]

OK new ride planned, pendle bridleway, starting near Burnley, 20 miles 3000ft, reservoirs and sheep.
Going with Brian on the Levos starting at Loveclough, all very ferrets and stonewalls

 

[edobici_forza]

Chris! It was 0 C (perceived -6 C), humid, windy, some part of the trail was frozen, the Vistula was frozen too, yet I and Tommy have successfully completed our MOSTy 500 GRVL lap Don't be a pussy Be a fighter!

Earlier that morning. My brother prepares for his two laps in the MOSTy 500 GRVL RELAY RACE.

Chilly, chilly Stefan! So very cool that you rode with your brother! I guess I would try to ride in that severe weather. but nothing like that in Northern California, Maybe close in my Upstate NY hometown area?

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Chilly, chilly Stefan! So very cool that you rode with your brother!

No no, Ed. I rode with my friend Tommy (the big guy). My skinny brother Jacek (orange jacket) was a part of the relay race. The things have developed greatly overnight! Here are some details.

The actual rules of the MOSTy (BRIDGEs) 500 GRVL Relay Race are as follows:

• There is a 37.5 km long gravel loop routed tightly to the river in Warsaw; this is a "lap"
• A team may consist of 2 or 3 or 4 people, and it must consist of riders of both sexes
• A 500 km ride made of the "laps" must happen between the Xmas Eve and New Year's Eve
• Any team member must ride for at least 2 laps
• The laps have to be recorded to Strava
• The team who finishes the 500 km ride in the shortest time wins.

Now, we are experiencing a weather breakdown. Black ice, snowing, frost, strong wind. A female member of one of the teams crashed thrice and probably broke her wrist! (So that team is eliminated). Regarding the team of my brother Jacek (three man and a woman), any member of the team had completed two or three laps on Saturday. Now, someone had to complete 2 1/2 laps on the Sunday night! And there was black ice on that night...

Jacek arrived to me late on the Saturday's evening. We installed the 50 mm studded tyres on his gravel wheels and off he drove. Turns out, the female rider could not make her lap because of black ice. According to her statement, it was Jacek to complete the race for his team as only he had proper tyres for the weather!

I cannot wait to learn more!

As I can understand, Jacek was the person riding at night, and his female team-mate was monitoring his progress.

I'm positively shocked how dedicated and brave people the team are!

P.S. Yes, he completed the race for the team! As he wrote me: "I had some slips on the ice but the spiked tyres held!"

 

[stompandgo]

Best of luck to the female rider. Heal up quick.