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

[RunForTheHills]

I always hide my gun in Museums

It's Texas. Years ago a friend and coworker, who had just moved to the San Francisco Bay Area from Houston, came to work put out because he had left his shotgun on his back seat and a cop saw it and told him that was a bad idea in California.

 

[Chazmo]

It's Texas. Years ago a friend and coworker, who had just moved to the San Francisco Bay Area from Houston, came to work put out because he had left his shotgun on his back seat and a cop saw it and told him that was a bad idea in California.

I get the joke, but that’s a brain-dead idea anywhere (including Texas).

 

[RunForTheHills]

I get the joke, but that’s a brain-dead idea anywhere (including Texas).

No, it's a true story. Happened 25 years ago and my friend has since moved back to Houston and fell out of touch.

 

[Chazmo]

No, it's a true story. Happened 25 years ago and my friend has since moved back to Houston and fell out of touch.

Indeed. True life is always stranger than fiction.

 

[BlackHand]

Grits are a southern dish. It's not really a thing here in California. Glad you found something you could eat!

I remember 30 years ago, right after I moved to North Carolina I went to a diner and asked if I could have hash browns instead of grits with my breakfast.

The waitress looked at me and said, "Honey, I can get you a side plate with hash browns, but there's going to be grits on your plate whether you want them or not."

 

[Chargeride]

First saw grits back in 95 Daytona.
Trying to get the chef to put baked beans on the plate.
He gave us a look like we'd ordered fried axle grease.

 

[dodgeman]

Stefan I wonder if someone you’re working for had that sent to your room? Breakfast for free is pretty common for some hotel chains, usually the cheaper to mid priced places and it’s usually a buffet and isn’t anything fancy.

 

[mschwett]

haven't done one of these rides outside the city in quite a while. it was really nice to get out there, even if i a little bittersweet that i used to do these roads faster and without a motor

the route. about 48 miles and 4,000 feet. it was a calm, perfect morning, warm in the sun and a little cool in the shade.

we start near the sleepy town of ross, median home price $4,000,000.

after a quick roll through san anselmo and fairfax, we start going up the first climb, around 600 feet. later in the day this climb can get brutally hot, no issues today.

at the top of this one, ready for a long gradual descent towards one of my favorite roads ever.

things have fully dried out here, in "golden" state mode.

classic northern california scenery.

before entering the forest, a quick stop to finish my gatorade.

sir francis drake road through samuel taylor park is one of the nicest places you can ride a bike, flowy, smooth, surrounded by redwoods.

a little cool, and no traffic.

once you pop out, around 5 miles later, there's a short steep-ish climb into the open coastal landscape.

and after dropping down past the tiny town of olema, i turned south to take CA route 1 towards stinson beach. this is one of my least favorite stretches of road, some nice live oaks but annoying rollers that are sometimes a little too steep on the up, and the occasional misbehaved motorist.

but we're at the end of this section, about to turn left and go up over those hills.

quick break.

looks more comfortable than it would be.,

time to climb. about a 1500 foot climb in a bit over 4 miles, it's rarely steeper than 10%, but lots of 8% sections and few if any flat spots.

i really like this "climbing" screen in my ride app, gives you a clear idea how much longer you've got, how relatively steep the part you're on and about to on is, and so on.

still going!

and made it to the top for a quick break back under the redwoods.

i think about 50000000 cyclists have taken this picture

no photos of the descent, because it's steep, windy, a little rough, and would be totally unsafe to take a hand off the hoods. but at the midway point down, have to stop and admire alpine lake on a glassy day.

water levels are good.

couldn't really capture the odd sensation of looking over the edge at the low side of the dam / spillway.

looking back where we came, can confirm the sign.

but now we're going back up, and after a few miles we can see where we were.

and after some more windy descending, including a few incredibly fun smooth flowy fast sections, a quick stop for a soda. i am pretty sure putting a diet dr pepper in your cage is not UCI approved.

it was a really nice ride. i took it very easy for the most part, averaging a little over 15mph and with the bike doing about 30% of the work of the whole ride. use around two thirds of the battery.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

haven't done one of these rides outside the city in quite a while. it was really nice to get out there, even if i a little bittersweet that i used to do these roads faster and without a motor

the route. about 48 miles and 4,000 feet. it was a calm, perfect morning, warm in the sun and a little cool in the shade.
View attachment 211135

we start near the sleepy town of ross, median home price $4,000,000.
View attachment 211109

after a quick roll through san anselmo and fairfax, we start going up the first climb, around 600 feet. later in the day this climb can get brutally hot, no issues today.
View attachment 211110

at the top of this one, ready for a long gradual descent towards one of my favorite roads ever.
View attachment 211112

things have fully dried out here, in "golden" state mode.
View attachment 211113

classic northern california scenery.
View attachment 211114

before entering the forest, a quick stop to finish my gatorade.
View attachment 211115

sir francis drake road through samuel taylor park is one of the nicest places you can ride a bike, flowy, smooth, surrounded by redwoods.
View attachment 211116

a little cool, and no traffic.
View attachment 211117

once you pop out, around 5 miles later, there's a short steep-ish climb into the open coastal landscape.
View attachment 211118

and after dropping down past the tiny town of olema, i turned south to take CA route 1 towards stinson beach. this is one of my least favorite stretches of road, some nice live oaks but annoying rollers that are sometimes a little too steep on the up, and the occasional misbehaved motorist.
View attachment 211119

but we're at the end of this section, about to turn left and go up over those hills.
View attachment 211120

quick break.
View attachment 211121

looks more comfortable than it would be.,
View attachment 211122

time to climb. about a 1500 foot climb in a bit over 4 miles, it's rarely steeper than 10%, but lots of 8% sections and few if any flat spots.
View attachment 211123

i really like this "climbing" screen in my ride app, gives you a clear idea how much longer you've got, how relatively steep the part you're on and about to on is, and so on.
View attachment 211125

still going!
View attachment 211124

and made it to the top for a quick break back under the redwoods.
View attachment 211126

i think about 50000000 cyclists have taken this picture
View attachment 211127

no photos of the descent, because it's steep, windy, a little rough, and would be totally unsafe to take a hand off the hoods. but at the midway point down, have to stop and admire alpine lake on a glassy day.
View attachment 211128

water levels are good.
View attachment 211129

couldn't really capture the odd sensation of looking over the edge at the low side of the dam / spillway.
View attachment 211130

looking back where we came, can confirm the sign.
View attachment 211131

but now we're going back up, and after a few miles we can see where we were.
View attachment 211133

and after some more windy descending, including a few incredibly fun smooth flowy fast sections, a quick stop for a soda. i am pretty sure putting a diet dr pepper in your cage is not UCI approved.
View attachment 211134

it was a really nice ride. i took it very easy for the most part, averaging a little over 15mph and with the bike doing about 30% of the work of the whole ride. use around two thirds of the battery.

Gorgeous ride.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Stefan I wonder if someone you’re working for had that sent to your room? Breakfast for free is pretty common for some hotel chains, usually the cheaper to mid priced places and it’s usually a buffet and isn’t anything fancy.

I need to see the final hotel bill

I admit the cocktail party and today's dinner of the corporation were of very high quality!

 

[Chazmo]

haven't done one of these rides outside the city in quite a while. it was really nice to get out there, even if i a little bittersweet that i used to do these roads faster and without a motor

the route. about 48 miles and 4,000 feet. it was a calm, perfect morning, warm in the sun and a little cool in the shade.
View attachment 211135

we start near the sleepy town of ross, median home price $4,000,000.
View attachment 211109

after a quick roll through san anselmo and fairfax, we start going up the first climb, around 600 feet. later in the day this climb can get brutally hot, no issues today.
View attachment 211110

at the top of this one, ready for a long gradual descent towards one of my favorite roads ever.
View attachment 211112

things have fully dried out here, in "golden" state mode.
View attachment 211113

classic northern california scenery.
View attachment 211114

before entering the forest, a quick stop to finish my gatorade.
View attachment 211115

sir francis drake road through samuel taylor park is one of the nicest places you can ride a bike, flowy, smooth, surrounded by redwoods.
View attachment 211116

a little cool, and no traffic.
View attachment 211117

once you pop out, around 5 miles later, there's a short steep-ish climb into the open coastal landscape.
View attachment 211118

and after dropping down past the tiny town of olema, i turned south to take CA route 1 towards stinson beach. this is one of my least favorite stretches of road, some nice live oaks but annoying rollers that are sometimes a little too steep on the up, and the occasional misbehaved motorist.
View attachment 211119

but we're at the end of this section, about to turn left and go up over those hills.
View attachment 211120

quick break.
View attachment 211121

looks more comfortable than it would be.,
View attachment 211122

time to climb. about a 1500 foot climb in a bit over 4 miles, it's rarely steeper than 10%, but lots of 8% sections and few if any flat spots.
View attachment 211123

i really like this "climbing" screen in my ride app, gives you a clear idea how much longer you've got, how relatively steep the part you're on and about to on is, and so on.
View attachment 211125

still going!
View attachment 211124

and made it to the top for a quick break back under the redwoods.
View attachment 211126

i think about 50000000 cyclists have taken this picture
View attachment 211127

no photos of the descent, because it's steep, windy, a little rough, and would be totally unsafe to take a hand off the hoods. but at the midway point down, have to stop and admire alpine lake on a glassy day.
View attachment 211128

water levels are good.
View attachment 211129

couldn't really capture the odd sensation of looking over the edge at the low side of the dam / spillway.
View attachment 211130

looking back where we came, can confirm the sign.
View attachment 211131

but now we're going back up, and after a few miles we can see where we were.
View attachment 211133

and after some more windy descending, including a few incredibly fun smooth flowy fast sections, a quick stop for a soda. i am pretty sure putting a diet dr pepper in your cage is not UCI approved.
View attachment 211134

it was a really nice ride. i took it very easy for the most part, averaging a little over 15mph and with the bike doing about 30% of the work of the whole ride. use around two thirds of the battery.

I miss Marin! Looks great, @mschwett

 

[Chargeride]

Good news, Specialized have backed down and given Gary a replacement battery for free, no warranty whatsoever of course.
My concern is where the company being ultra cautious and running a BMS that deaded the battery with the slightest issue, and will companies push for a more accomodating approach in the software

 

[LandoftheGiants]

I wonder if there are many night riders here? I was thinking of starting a thread to share our experiences. I do most of my rides at night now, it's quiet, peaceful and very few cars about. At least in my rural location. There is nothing like riding up a long stretch of rural highway under a full moon, the whole road to yourself, just you and the stars and the creatures of the night.

I do most of my ebiking at night and now my exercise cycling as well. I was out last night, Sunday night is great, absolutely no one around. Just a 20km run with a bit of sprinting, no moon but the cree headlamps are quite powerful and I know where all the ridges and potential potholes are now too. When you have the road to yourself you can sit right out in the curbside wheeltrack, away from all the rubbish. Also any cars approaching from the rear typically show up in the mirror when they are still far away, and even if you aren't looking the noise carries at night giving me plenty of time to move right over.

Last night was typical, a slow start through town as I got into the zone and warmed up and then a nice 20 km/h pace along the first flat stretch out to the turnoff to another town. The road then follows a Brook for most of the way and crosses it a couple of times. Lots of cattle and the odd hare darting across the road. Out at the turnaround point I stop for a few minutes to take a breather, listening to the rapids across the road. Then it's lights back on and off down a gentle hill back the way I came. Unfortunately there are no 'exercise' loops that I can take out here like I did back in the city, it's all out and back and sometimes up and back various sideroads as well, like the branches on a tree. It's all exercise though and that's what I'm out there for on the pushbikes. The e-bike though is another matter and I have a couple of loops for that, ones with decent hills I have no interest in tackling on pedal power alone. If I was 35 again, sure. But at 65 you learn not to bust a gut, I'm no skinny little guy either and 104kg is a lot to lift up hills.

 

[Chargeride]

Most of my night riding is after getting kicked out of the pub at closing time.

 

[Chargeride]

This Welsh Valley ride by embns Steve Jones is pure pleasure and interesting too
I need to get down there

 

[RabH]

Another blustery day with some squally rain showers around, could I get lucky again after Friday's dry ride? Well yes and no but luckily I only got caught in a couple of short showers and didn't really get wet! Once again we had a 25mph wind, this time from the west! My plan was to head out to Linlithgow so I had a nice tailwind for the first 20 miles, I used the cycle path at Hillend Loch where I stopped for a couple of photos!

A short time later I passed the Black Loch!

I had a long descent to Avonbridge from here and stopped for a couple of photos on the way down!

The Campsie Hills way in the distance to the NW!

The Ochil Hills to the north!

From Avonbridge it was time for some big climbs before the rollercoaster road to Standburn, the descent from Standburn all the way to Linlithgow is a real gem! My average speed was nudging 18mph as I arrived in Linlithgow and I decided to head for the canal to grab some photos!

From the canal it was a beast of a climb up to Beecraigs Country Park, thankfully after the steep part this descent gives you a short breather before the road ramps up again!

I stopped for this photo looking east just before the descent!

The view to the north part way down!

I could see the Forth bridges from here also!

After the climb I had another cracking descent before this big climb, this is from near the top of the hill looking down with Beecraigs Country Park in the background!

Burnhouse road to Dechmont has been closed for a while to repair collapsed drains, thankfully it was fully open again so I decided to tackle the full road this time!

The start is a 20% climb just after the turn through the trees in this photo!

Then its all ups and downs for 5 miles, it really is such an amazing road!

I had stunning views of the Ochils to the north and the Pentlands to the south!

This part of the road is just incredible!

Near the bottom now at Dechmont!

From Dechmont I headed SW on the cycle path to Whitburn where I took the cycle path north to Armadale and joined the back road west to Blackridge! The headwind was hard work now...

I continued SW at Blackridge on the very narrow back road that leads to the main road between Harthill and Salsburgh, some big climbs and big descents once again! This one is way more fun the other way!

I reached the main road and had only covered 40 miles at this point and the weather had cleared up nicely so I decided to have fun on my local back roads between Kirk of Shotts and Allanton with a big loop, some of the best roads to ride a bike in my area!

I ended up doing another 22 miles and they were just brilliant, not a flat road in sight and I loved every minute! My bike was spotless when I arrived home, what a bonus that was!

@mschwett I loved reading your ride report, what a beautiful area to ride a bike and that Scott is one gorgeous looking bike!

 

[JGcycle]

A few pics from today's 23km ride: