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

[edobici_forza]

@Catalyzt, it's great to have you back. That descent would be my nightmare.
@Jeremy McCreary, nice new tires.

This Tuesday night ride is starting to become a habit. It's a bit chaotic at times, but the boss and I are working on it. One of the main guys pushing it was a college wrestler. He used to work out on ergs and broke two of them. He has no jump or sprint but he is Hulk Hogan on the bike. I learned that there are "sprint points" on this ride that he goes for. So I used the power of the TQ and had some fun in High to take one of them from him. We do need to define these points better, and the group needs some serious paceline discipline training. I feel safe with them, though, so I will probably keep going throughout the season.

I took this shot in Hyannisport before the return to the shop. I can't imagine the maintenance costs on a home that close to the ocean.

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I could identify the location of your photo even before reading your post! I am on the other coast now. It is so different!
I grew up near Albany NY, had a few trips (unfortunately, not on a bike) to the Mass and NH coast...it is so beautiful!! Also Maine.

 

[Chargeride]

Holy crp, thats a serious ticket.
No chance in the UK, there are only civil trespass laws at most.
You might get a emoto seized or your teeth knocked out.

 

[Chargeride]

So 690 for a recon motor and they keep his old one.
The bike is four 1/2 years old, so this is its third motor and third battery.
Gary is the most anal maintenance, greaser replacer of tiny parts at the slightest wear that I know and hardly rides like some teenager on vodka red bulls.

I havent heard back yet on mine

 

[stompandgo]

I grew up near Albany NY, had a few trips (unfortunately, not on a bike) to the Mass and NH coast...it is so beautiful!! Also Maine. I could identify the location of your photo even before reading your post! I am on the other coast now. It is so different!

Thank you. The northern west coast and east coast are different, that's for sure. I came here from western MA, about 90 minutes from Albany. I used to work races in your area. The Hudson River valley is gorgeous.

As for reporting analog bike rides, I see no problem with it, especially as e-bike regulation changes. I want to see where everyone is riding, no matter what bike they are on.

 

[edobici_forza]

Holy crp, thats a serious ticket.
No chance in the UK, there are only civil trespass laws at most.
You might get a emoto seized or your teeth knocked out.

Yeah it is a bit limiting here. I did the 3 miles all downhill and the guy I mentioned got the tickets with his friend so 600$ to the county ! Ridiculous ! I won't chance it again myself. I know the trail well, as I have ridden it on full sus MTBs, it is a bear to climb back up, which I just did on my Exie.

 

[edobici_forza]

My first serious ride since I experienced clinical death for 10 minutes on 7/14/25. 27 miles and 2,880 feet of vertical on Nightmare, the Canyon Grizl ON: CF 7, 36 pounds, 60nm of torque. Did not go through Griffith Park, rode around it to conserve battery, but I had 36% left by the end of the ride.

17 miles were completely unassisted, no motor. The toughest part started around mile 10, Los Flores Motorway, about 2.2 miles averaging 10% with a max grade of 19%. I made it just a bit past Mt. Tongva, and it's the same as it always is up there-- wild, remote, beautiful, only saw about six other people, very hot on the climb, but then I know the deal: Take a few pictures, but don't linger, because the temperature starts dropping FAST about an hour before sunset.

As you can see, this is kind of right at the edge of what Nightmare can manage. The grade was no problem-- she could have done a bit steeper, and for a bit longer, and so could I, though I would have had to stop and rest more. The surface is considerably trickier to manage on this bike than on Seeker, the 46 pound Motobecane eMTB w/ 40nm of torque, mostly because of the sandy stretches. It's tricky on the descent because the bike actually handles better on sand at 12 MPH than it does below 10 MPH, but that only works if the sand ends in a straightaway runout with harder surface. When the sand ends in a curve, you just have to go slow and stay balanced, there's nothing for it. Some minor fishtailing, but workable, harder descending than climbing, and whoa-- I wondered why they offer this bike with a dropper post. Now I understand-- a gravel bike puts far more of your weight on the front wheel, and it takes concentration to remember to keep your weight hanging -- somewhat -- off the back.

What all of this also means is that it's critical to descend no less than 40 minutes before sunset. Seeker was more forgiving, and it didn't matter if I didn't read the surface perfectly in late twilight. Not on this bike! Here's a shot of the toughest segment...


This is the view towards La Canada Flintridge from a mile or two past Mt. Tongva, about three miles and 500 vertical feet short of Verdugo Peak, where I went in 2021... or 23? I don't remember. I got onto Verdugo Motorway, but didn't get to the point where Brand Park Motorway joins it, so ALL of this trail was new to me.


On the other side, you can see Griffith Park, it's just too irritating to downconvert and post the photos.

The takeaway from this ride is that it SHOULD be possible to ride the ENTIRE spine of the Verdugos on this bike with only the stock battery and without buying the supplemental one. The stretch I rode has the steepest grade and the longest stretch over 10%. My range calculations seem to be pretty close-- still figure this bike at just over 40 miles with just over 4,000 feet of vertical. The entire spine, round trip, would be 37 miles and about 3,800 feet of vertical, so if I do it, it's gonna be tight! Will definitely have a support vehicle on call for that one in case I run out of juice! Though if it's getting too close, I can always shut off the motor for most of the 12 mile run on surface streets back home, which is mostly downhill, and save 10% for the final climb to my house.

Surprisingly capable bike. Very happy with its performance under these conditions. Nothing ever felt dangerous.

That was a blast!

Damn brother! Glad you are still powering rides! Clinical death is not a minor thing...most, very likely missed those words! Ride on!!

 

[edobici_forza]

I went back to Area51 with Dan today.
Thi is the old Horse training circuit
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These paths are unmarked and just used by anyone who doesnt cause a nuisance
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Unsigned footpaths are fair game if you behave yourself
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They see very little maintenance
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As long as you stay on the path and dont carve through the farmers fields
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This bridge is close to collapse
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And the path isnt always clear
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Dan bought a truck off the owner of this cottage.
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More parts of the cafe
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It has live Satellite feeds
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Theres a bridleway right next to it
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Another unsigned path to the top of Ormskirk hill.
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The wet weather earlier this year makes for serious foilage
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I hit 15mph, crazy Euro speeds
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100yr old pumping station still in use
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I think these are miniature Shetland ponies
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The Leeds Liverpool canal was started just before the revolutionary war and the banks called in the loans when it kicked off.
It didnt start again till 1791.
Funnily enough it then transported 80% of the US cotton to mills across England
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I wish we had Bridleways in California!

 

[RabH]

After last Sundays big ride I took a bit of a break while our weather was too hot for the bike, instead I treated my sister to a sailing trip round beautiful Loch Katrine on the Sir Walter Scott steamship on Tuesday! The weather was just perfect and we had such a fantastic day, it was her birthday treat!

Yesterday I took her up to St Andrews for the day, another glorious day and with the sea breeze it was a perfect 17C for a nice refreshing walk along the seafront! It was 26C at home, way too hot for us...

On to today and it was time to get the bike back out with much cooler temps returning, although it was a very windy day with 35-40mph gusts from the SW! The temp was perfect for cycling though, I just had to pick my route carefully to avoid dangerous crosswinds! I set off at 7.30am to avoid the afternoon rain, using back roads as much as possible!

Telegraph road which leads to Longriggend!

Then it was the awesome back road to Slamannan!

From Slamannan I took the awesome road to Avonbridge, I had a cracking tailwind down this descent!

From Avonbridge I continued east through Westfield before taking on the big climb up to Torphicen, quickly followed by the big climb up to Beecraigs Country Park!

I stopped for this photo part way up!

After passing the country park I had a very fast twisty descent to enjoy before heading for the western end of the park, I was in 2 minds about going down this amazing descent but it takes you into busy Linlithgow so I gave it a miss this time!

The alternative was this descent, I managed to cook my brakes going down as I arrived at the 90 degree turn further down a bit too quickly...

Some photos before the descent!

The Pentland Hills to the east!

The Forth bridges!

The Ochil Hills to the north!

The big climb after the descent!

As I crested the climb I had an audience...

I was still heading east so I was loving the tailwind, the road after the climb is a long straight one and I stopped for some photos on the way!

At the end of the road I turned south towards Uphall but I spotted a back road just after turning and decided to explore and I was heading east again! What a road this was, this descent was incredible and with a strong tailwind it was a total blast!

Further down I came to a fork in the road, left was Winchburgh and right was Broxburn so I chose right! Imagine my surprise a short time later when I came across this! Its not every day you see a cockpit of an aircraft in somebody's garden...

I then came across this and had to stop for a photo!

I was just about to head off when I heard a dirt bike and decided to stay put and see what developed, I then heard the engine roar and this guy shot up the cliff face! One for @Chargeride and his mates!

I then spotted another dirt bike and decided to get my phone ready for a video and it paid off! Hopefully this will work...it must take balls of steel to attempt that! I was wondering if they would be brave enough to come back down but they took another route, can't blame them...

Watch 20260529_095301 | Streamable

Watch "20260529_095301" on Streamable.

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I then arrived in Broxburn where it was time to turn west and battle the wind, it was hard going so level 2 assist was selected! I passed through Uphall and Dechmont before turning north to get out of the wind, a 3 tough 3 mile climb but it was way more fun that fighting that wind! The road takes you into Bathgate eventually but I decided to turn off and head up the Cairnpapple climb!

Its worth it for the views at the top and I had the wind at my back again!

Then I had the corkscrew to enjoy!

From the top of the climb at the other end, what a road it is!

I then headed back down into Torphicen where I turned NW and headed down the Avon Gorge, a big descent followed by a bigger climb! It can be busy with trucks but I got lucky today and although there were many cars they gave me lots of room! I continued NW through Maddiston and Brightons and turned west towards Hallglen and up the big climb into Slamannan and over the back roads to home! What a brilliant ride that was, just incredible despite the windy conditions! On checking my monthly mileage I have covered exactly 666, glad I'm not superstitious... as I may have to leave it at that with the weekend looking rather wet!