Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
A Frosty Warsaw Sunday Ride
After having slept for the entire Saturday, I decided I wouldn't let the sunny Sunday go to waste. As it was still -9 C (16 F) at 11 a.m., I put triple socks on my feet completed with my usual skiing suit.
I took the Aleje (one of the principal roads) to reach Warsaw. I got pretty tired to counter a significant headwind. Here, my usual stop at the 12th kilometre, where I always sing the song called "Hair". Like, "There goes a soldier with long hair, military police running after him in the Aleje, and you wear, wear, wear long hair as we do! There's a hippie with long hair, he turned from Krucza and walks in the Aleje..."
As I reached Warsaw, it turned out the bike (and pedestrian) infrastructure was unrideable. So I found a way to continue by streets with (really sparse) traffic. As I was approaching the City, the chain of my Vado dropped. Why? I replaced it, and instantly the chain snapped on the ride attempt as I was by Sobieski Hotel in Zawisza Square. Uh-oh. I knew I would fix the chain but not in this frost! Walked the e-bike to Warszawa-Ochota, which is probably the smallest train station of Warsaw.
A warm season photo. The ticket hall inside is tiny!
I had to negotiate the repair with a female guard inside. She was a lovely person! Showed me the place to safely work on the bike, and later let me in the (otherwise paid) toilet so I could wash my greasy hands! As I was done with removing the broken chain link, my chain tool snapped itself... Moreover, I didn't take the quick-link pliers with me! There is a technique that could be used instead. With the bike in its normal orientation, you join the two loose ends of the chain with a Quick-Link at the chain top. Now, you need a force to make the link snap into the position. You just need to kick the right pedal strongly from the top, and that's it Of course, I had many spare master links with me. (I will never ever leave the quick-link pliers at home anymore!) After the repair (and thanking the lady!), I had no slightest issues with my Vado, and I could warm up inside the station building as a bonus!
"Fregata", a historical restaurant bar in Saska Kępa was full with families arriving there for lunch. I was early enough to secure a small table for myself! Polish (or, Clear) Borscht was an excellent warmer, and Pierogi Ruskie is my favourite meal
Me doing a "live" by Fregata. The high temperature was -4 C (25 F).
As I found myself on the left bank of the Vistula and stopped by Legia Stadium, I felt I lost the motivation (so I considered returning by train). Then I decided I didn't want to be a "French puppy" and visualised the return by city streets and main roads. Again, the drivers must have completely understood a cyclist riding a road at frost was a necessity not a malicious act. No one honked on me or otherwise expressed their dissatisfaction! As I was moving with the tailwind, pedalling was surprisingly easy now!
Until I stopped at one of my favourite BP service stations for coffee. I realized it was freaking cold again! So... I produced a spare cardigan from my backpack The last 12 km at -9 C were easy!
General ride map.
In the city.
A note on the battery use
The frost is significantly reducing the effective e-bike battery charge. With my new battery, I returned with just 13% of the battery left only after a 60 km ride, and I was not using any excessive assistance!
After having slept for the entire Saturday, I decided I wouldn't let the sunny Sunday go to waste. As it was still -9 C (16 F) at 11 a.m., I put triple socks on my feet completed with my usual skiing suit.
I took the Aleje (one of the principal roads) to reach Warsaw. I got pretty tired to counter a significant headwind. Here, my usual stop at the 12th kilometre, where I always sing the song called "Hair". Like, "There goes a soldier with long hair, military police running after him in the Aleje, and you wear, wear, wear long hair as we do! There's a hippie with long hair, he turned from Krucza and walks in the Aleje..."
As I reached Warsaw, it turned out the bike (and pedestrian) infrastructure was unrideable. So I found a way to continue by streets with (really sparse) traffic. As I was approaching the City, the chain of my Vado dropped. Why? I replaced it, and instantly the chain snapped on the ride attempt as I was by Sobieski Hotel in Zawisza Square. Uh-oh. I knew I would fix the chain but not in this frost! Walked the e-bike to Warszawa-Ochota, which is probably the smallest train station of Warsaw.
A warm season photo. The ticket hall inside is tiny!
I had to negotiate the repair with a female guard inside. She was a lovely person! Showed me the place to safely work on the bike, and later let me in the (otherwise paid) toilet so I could wash my greasy hands! As I was done with removing the broken chain link, my chain tool snapped itself...
Moreover, I didn't take the quick-link pliers with me! There is a technique that could be used instead. With the bike in its normal orientation, you join the two loose ends of the chain with a Quick-Link at the chain top. Now, you need a force to make the link snap into the position. You just need to kick the right pedal strongly from the top, and that's it Of course, I had many spare master links with me. (I will never ever leave the quick-link pliers at home anymore!) After the repair (and thanking the lady!), I had no slightest issues with my Vado, and I could warm up inside the station building as a bonus!"Fregata", a historical restaurant bar in Saska Kępa was full with families arriving there for lunch. I was early enough to secure a small table for myself! Polish (or, Clear) Borscht was an excellent warmer, and Pierogi Ruskie is my favourite meal
Me doing a "live" by Fregata. The high temperature was -4 C (25 F).
As I found myself on the left bank of the Vistula and stopped by Legia Stadium, I felt I lost the motivation (so I considered returning by train). Then I decided I didn't want to be a "French puppy" and visualised the return by city streets and main roads. Again, the drivers must have completely understood a cyclist riding a road at frost was a necessity not a malicious act. No one honked on me or otherwise expressed their dissatisfaction! As I was moving with the tailwind, pedalling was surprisingly easy now!
Until I stopped at one of my favourite BP service stations for coffee. I realized it was freaking cold again! So... I produced a spare cardigan from my backpack
The last 12 km at -9 C were easy!General ride map.
In the city.
A note on the battery use
The frost is significantly reducing the effective e-bike battery charge. With my new battery, I returned with just 13% of the battery left only after a 60 km ride, and I was not using any excessive assistance!
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