2026 - Our Rides in Words, Photos, Maps and Videos

[Chargeride]

And accidently strangled the passenger

 

[Stefan Mikes]

15-20 years ago, I went on a business trip to the Netherlands. I stopped in the UK to pick up a colleague. He insisted that they always use a taxi service to get to the distribution warehouse about two hours outside of Amsterdam instead of renting a car. The nearest restaurant to the hotel was one and a half to two miles away. So we walked to get dinner every night because we didn't have a rental car. I found out later that he didn't want to rent a car because they drive on the right side of the road in the Netherlands and he was used to driving on the left. I could have strangled him.

I just want to remind the people of a great nation across the pond walking there is not doable at all Been to Beaumont TX, could not do it

My Vado SL motor is down after 19,000 km
The Clutch #2, the one in the motor responsible for connecting the crankarm to the drivetrain has failed. Which leaves me with only one bike, Vado 6.0.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Meanwhile...

I'm quite surprised how comfortably I can ride during the real winter! Not the Canadian one, not the one of northern United States but the real Polish winters (I admit, quite rare in the recent years) can be pretty harsh. It is down to the proper clothing, of course.

The new "100%" Accuri 2 OTG goggles and a winter Rebelhorn balaclava. 100% is a French sports clothing company. After I bought my first pair of Over-The-Glasses goggles, I learned that extreme downhill MTB champion Kilian Bron wore MTB goggles from 100% too (so I didn't feel like an idiot) Rebelhorn is a motorcycle clothing company in Poland.

To get a discount from 100% France, I added a new pair of gloves to the order. These gloves are named Hydromatic Brisker. Well, not quite appropriate for -12C, these gloves appear good for a mild winter or for riding a bike in pouring rain for many hours I keep them to a little warmer times!

P.S. -17 C (1.4 F) early in the morning here.

 

[Chargeride]

Rebel horn.
The clothing inspired by that Rhino that doesnt ride with the pack!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Greetings From Frosty And Snowy Poland

Temperature ranging from -10 to -8°C. Light snow. Riding my Vado 6.0 on regular 47 mm gravel tyres, mostly with traffic. No driver even honked at me today! I expect some 60 km for the day and around 3 h net pedalling

Several people congratulated me on my courage and some cyclists (turned runners) asked me for the brands of my winter shoes and gloves

Because of low temperature, I experience a higher battery draw than usual. Only 8 km remaining to reach home!

P.S. Reached home, eating fast-food sushi now

 

[Chargeride]

Oh look it's 15 degrees warmer here than Poland, god knows the Po's are used to it

 

[teskow]

The Norwegians say. There is no such thing as bad weather just bad clothing.

 

[Chargeride]

Went to the beach on a Saturday, lots of people.
Get oorf my beach !!!

 

[Rás Cnoic]

Got out for a couple of hours this afternoon in the brittle sunshine post Storm Goretti (sounds like an 80s Columbus steel tubed Italian thoroughbred with chromed lugs) and before the buckets of rain due tomorrow. My 5 year old battery drained faster than I expected, From 90% down to 13% in 20 miles & 2000ft of climbing, mostly at 75/75 as I've not been out much recently. It's old now and of course it was very cold here last week or so in the garage. Think I'll get Blevo app (if that still works?) and check actual battery health, Specialized app cheerfully tells me that battery is 100%! which I sincerely doubt.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I think I'll get Blevo app (if that still works?) and check actual battery health

It works, please get it!

The Norwegians say. There is no such thing as bad weather just bad clothing.

Perhaps it's Norwegian but we are all familiar with the German "Es gibt kein schlestes Wetter nur falsche Kleidung"

 

[Chargeride]

I'm watching the Dakar, this is the yearly event where I have to tip my hat to the French.
They do absolutely nail so many reaches of the human spirit.
Yes, we showed them how to climb, how to ski, how to jump off things, how to party on the beaches.
But they took it and ran with it.

OK, its in Saudi Arabia for all kinds of reasons, but the spirit is still there.

Viva la France spirit, you glorious miserable buggers.