Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Portuguese, dummy!
2026 - Our Rides in Words, Photos, Maps and Videos
- Thread starter RabH
- Start date
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
Oh yeah its PL for Poles, I regret letting their tyres down now.
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Portugal, the strongest ally of Britain since ever! How could you!
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
Never let them guess your next move
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
Tourist pictures at Dunkeld, transferring to Glentress, stopped for inner tubes and Whiskey
edobici_forza
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- San Mateo, CA
This morning I rode Old La Honda Road, one the default roadie climbs in this area usually connected to 3 more for crazy long rides. This was my first time on the Creo.
This was a scoping ride, since I want to ride on my other bike this summer, not sure if I can, so I will try a couple of more times on the Creo to scope out the tough sections. It is essentially a 3.3 mile continuous climb with an average grade . Last time was 10 yrs ago, or so, on the steel LeMond road bike. It was tough, but I made it.
As I was getting ready to go back down Old La Honda, a Triumph Tiger Sport 800 zoomed by ( VIDEO LINK ), as the motos do on Skyline Boulevard / HWY 35. Years ago when I was riding motos, I occasionally rode here. The speed limit is up to 50mph. But the fancy sports cars and sportbikes, like to push it!
Last month, I was hesitant, riding about 2 miles on this road with ZERO shoulder… I was on my MTB, on the return leg, to avoid climbing another 1600 ft up the trail. But I mounted my bright rear light, for this leg.
There was a landslide on Old La Honda many years ago, so they have a traffic signal to make one section near the top a one direction only route. Very common in this hilly area. Photo below.
I went to both cafes for coffee and a good pastry — both are closed on Mondays. Double denied! Booo!
This was a scoping ride, since I want to ride on my other bike this summer, not sure if I can, so I will try a couple of more times on the Creo to scope out the tough sections. It is essentially a 3.3 mile continuous climb with an average grade . Last time was 10 yrs ago, or so, on the steel LeMond road bike. It was tough, but I made it.
As I was getting ready to go back down Old La Honda, a Triumph Tiger Sport 800 zoomed by ( VIDEO LINK ), as the motos do on Skyline Boulevard / HWY 35. Years ago when I was riding motos, I occasionally rode here. The speed limit is up to 50mph. But the fancy sports cars and sportbikes, like to push it!
Last month, I was hesitant, riding about 2 miles on this road with ZERO shoulder… I was on my MTB, on the return leg, to avoid climbing another 1600 ft up the trail. But I mounted my bright rear light, for this leg.
There was a landslide on Old La Honda many years ago, so they have a traffic signal to make one section near the top a one direction only route. Very common in this hilly area. Photo below.
I went to both cafes for coffee and a good pastry — both are closed on Mondays. Double denied! Booo!
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Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
The trees are impressive!
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
I just want to show you how the Varmia Gravel "Cobblestone Segment" looked like
Not me, not me! (This road is 100 years old).
As we gave Pawel J (far left) a warm welcome, we helped the daughters of the next finisher welcome their Dad (an Ultra rider) Cowbells, a chequered flag, everything! You can see me standing in the background.
Not me, not me! (This road is 100 years old).
As we gave Pawel J (far left) a warm welcome, we helped the daughters of the next finisher welcome their Dad (an Ultra rider)
Cowbells, a chequered flag, everything! You can see me standing in the background.
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RabH
Well-Known Member
Respectfully, you are in Scotland so it's whisky...
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
Climbed to the top of Golfie, remains of a reservoir
Lovely views, stupid heat
No great effort in Turbo
This was outstanding in real life, you burst out of a root filled descent to be met with a switchback clinging on to a ludicrously exposed steep gravel 60 degree slope
This is the end of it, luckily you cant see the drop when on the trail
This is a local guy, hes high up in European Enduro
Faded trendy coffee shop
Irn Bru vodka, no brainer
Lovely views, stupid heat
No great effort in Turbo
This was outstanding in real life, you burst out of a root filled descent to be met with a switchback clinging on to a ludicrously exposed steep gravel 60 degree slope
This is the end of it, luckily you cant see the drop when on the trail
This is a local guy, hes high up in European Enduro
Faded trendy coffee shop
Irn Bru vodka, no brainer
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Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
A photo from Varmia Gravel 2026
As I said, any Finisher was a winner (L to R): Yours Sincerely, Pawel J, Marcin G (the good spirit of Varmia Gravel, a most enjoyable person of Varmia-Masuria capital city of Olsztyn). Photo courtesy Mateusz Klimek.
As I said, any Finisher was a winner
(L to R): Yours Sincerely, Pawel J, Marcin G (the good spirit of Varmia Gravel, a most enjoyable person of Varmia-Masuria capital city of Olsztyn). Photo courtesy Mateusz Klimek.
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
"Heat": A Varmia Gravel 2026 (184 km) Classic Ride. A Video by Pawel Jonca
You can turn the Auto-translate CCs on. Pawel had a crash early and hurt his knee. Incidentally, the man who rode behind him was a fully equipped pharmacist! The scenes from the start and the finish include a video footage I made myself.
The scenes from the start and the finish include a video footage I made myself.
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Chargeride
Well-Known Member
So many roads being expanded across Scotland
We rode from Keiss to John O groats on the coastal footpath.
15 miles of epic scenery, huge dropoffs and endless slog
I was too scared to make it across to the castle, very exposed climb with 100 ft drops into the sea.
Made it to the sign spot, Im confident no one has ever biked that path
We rode from Keiss to John O groats on the coastal footpath.
15 miles of epic scenery, huge dropoffs and endless slog
I was too scared to make it across to the castle, very exposed climb with 100 ft drops into the sea.
Made it to the sign spot, Im confident no one has ever biked that path
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DaveMatthews
Dave's not here. Cheating since 2018
- Region
- Canada
Noice...
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
We rode back along the road, obviously a very well cycled path for the lands end to John O groats attempts.
We were both bored stiff within a mile.
The very thought if it, the horizon creeps towards you at a glacial pace, fantastic scenery becomes a static curse as you pedal in an endless torturous futility while cars, local van drivers and tourist coaches roar by or sit behind waiting to overtake which hideously amplifys your snail like pace.
Oh to revisit the the glorious mindset that Rab must have, maybe Ive lost something precious.
I would literally rather sit in prison than endure such mental cruelty.
I have long spoilt my love of road cycling by destroying my attention span with the constant front wheel distraction of offroad terrain.
The Euro 15.5mph limit becomes farcical as I wait for the bike to slow below it after a downhill reprieve, then you sit in and out of power and having to constantly limit your effort to stay below it while your brain is craving just a miniscule more momentum to end the torture, it feels like Im going to talk at half speed.
Apart from that its fantastic.
We were both bored stiff within a mile.
The very thought if it, the horizon creeps towards you at a glacial pace, fantastic scenery becomes a static curse as you pedal in an endless torturous futility while cars, local van drivers and tourist coaches roar by or sit behind waiting to overtake which hideously amplifys your snail like pace.
Oh to revisit the the glorious mindset that Rab must have, maybe Ive lost something precious.
I would literally rather sit in prison than endure such mental cruelty.
I have long spoilt my love of road cycling by destroying my attention span with the constant front wheel distraction of offroad terrain.
The Euro 15.5mph limit becomes farcical as I wait for the bike to slow below it after a downhill reprieve, then you sit in and out of power and having to constantly limit your effort to stay below it while your brain is craving just a miniscule more momentum to end the torture, it feels like Im going to talk at half speed.
Apart from that its fantastic.
Chazmo
fat-tire biker
- Region
- USA
- City
- Central Massachusetts
From my turn-around point on my usual 20mi round-tripper. My friend, Matt, joined me with his crazy-light Specialized analog road bike, proving yet again that riding the rail trail around here can be done on skinny tires. But, yeah, I didn’t drag him to any of the single tracks I often take.
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
More tourist pics because we decided to drive the NC500 to Ullapool
Yes theres a town called Tongue and this Waltons cosplay cafe had 150 quid nightshirts for sale.
The scenery starts off moody and distant but completely untouched
Then as you descend the west coast it becomes a magic trail through true wilderness, dramatic and awe inspiring.
If youre looking at western scotland on a map these are the parts that look like a sunken mountain range and there is just an endless repeat of steep terrifying ,windy descents into incredible peripheral vision filling sea lochs.
Much of the road is singletrack with passing places, which gives an extra feeling of disconnection.
If you are ever here and want the full package, the west coast NC500 delivers.
Perfectly cyclable, but you share the road with traffic, we saw around 50 cyclists in 140 miles.
Its hard to capture the experience from a moving van, but the backdrop is as good as anything Ive seen including northern Canada.
Theres no summit cafes, heavily worn trails or coach filled carparks.
Its just raw into the distance
Yes theres a town called Tongue and this Waltons cosplay cafe had 150 quid nightshirts for sale.
The scenery starts off moody and distant but completely untouched
Then as you descend the west coast it becomes a magic trail through true wilderness, dramatic and awe inspiring.
If youre looking at western scotland on a map these are the parts that look like a sunken mountain range and there is just an endless repeat of steep terrifying ,windy descents into incredible peripheral vision filling sea lochs.
Much of the road is singletrack with passing places, which gives an extra feeling of disconnection.
If you are ever here and want the full package, the west coast NC500 delivers.
Perfectly cyclable, but you share the road with traffic, we saw around 50 cyclists in 140 miles.
Its hard to capture the experience from a moving van, but the backdrop is as good as anything Ive seen including northern Canada.
Theres no summit cafes, heavily worn trails or coach filled carparks.
Its just raw into the distance
RabH
Well-Known Member
Yesterday was a day of ups and downs in more ways than one but who needs gears anyway...
I have been waiting for the right conditions to head to the beautiful Isle of Arran on the west coast of Scotland again, I had actually booked the ferry for today but on checking the weather again on Tuesday it was showing 30C for Thursday and only 20C for Wednesday! So it was a no brainer to change days, thankfully very easy to do because I was travelling by bike! The ferry from Ardrossan leaves at 6.55am so it was a very early start as I live 50 miles away, I arrived at the port at 5.40am and the car park doesn't open until 6am so just a short wait to park the car!
Waiting to board the 33 year old ferry, MV Calendonian Isles!
The crossing to Brodick only takes 55 minutes so in no time at all I was leaving the ferry at Brodick!
Not a bad view to start my ride off!
I was doing the clockwise circuit so it was a left turn out of the port and I was heading south towards Lamlash, it starts with a big climb and I passed about 6 roadies on the way up! As soon as I crested the climb I was attempting to go up the gears and the shifter was extremely loose, no resistance in the cable whatsoever! I continued on at this point with the intention to stop in Lamlash and check the bike over, my first thought was a gear cable issue and I was pretty sure that it was going to be frayed at the shifter like it has before a few times! Stupid Rab hadn't brought a spare gear cable though...
It turned out it wouldn't have helped, more on that later...Anyway I was messing about with it and got the shifter to move up the gears and as much as I tried I couldn't get it to go down the gears! I decided to cable tie the derailleur in a gear that would get me up the massive hills, so I cycled around Arran on a single speed bike...
This was my view while I was attempting to fix the bike, the stunning Holy Isle!
I had already wasted almost an hour and my return ferry was at 13.55, my intended 70 miler was history and I would be glad just get round the island with no issues! My disappointment was short lived though as even with 1 gear the bike performed flawlessly, that's the beauty of Arran with big climbs and big descents so you don't really need lots of gears! I continued south through Whiting Bay and on to the southern tip of the island, where it was time to turn west!
Pladda Lighthouse with Ailsa Craig jutting out of the water in the background!
These roads pretty much sum up Arran!
A little further along the coast I had this view of Ailsa Craig!
This descent was sublime even with 1 gear, I was freewheeling at over 35mph! I forgot to mention the wind was very light, another good reason for picking Wednesday!
The stunning views just kept coming at every turn, hence I ended up with over 300 photos...
I was nearing Blackwaterfoot and stopped for some photos looking towards the village, just incredible views!
The tiny harbour in the centre of the village!
I was now heading north for Lochranza on this lovely smooth tarmac with the mountains looking amazing in the background!
Its not all smooth roads though, some of the coast roads are pretty rough in places but the views and wildlife make up for them!
The seals were enjoying the warm sunshine!
The one on the left here looked like it was going to topple off the rocks...
I was nearing the village of Catacol when I stopped for this photo, I could see the Lochranza ferry in the distance heading for the port!
I was hoping I would catch it arriving at Lochranza but just missed it by minutes, I did catch it leaving though!
Lochranza is right on the northern tip of the island, it was time to turn SE up this beast of a climb!
Its only a 2 mile climb though and the descent down into Sannox was beckoning me, its a damn scary one I have to admit but so exhilarating! I hit just over 44mph freewheeling down it...
This is near the bottom looking back up!
The stunning views were around every corner!
I arrived in Brodick just as my ferry was arriving, perfect timing!
On my way back to Ardrossan!
One final stunning view of Arran, the highest peak is called Goat Fell and stands at 2867ft!
Despite the gear issues I had a truly amazing day, I would encourage any road cyclist to visit this wonderful island and enjoy the spectacular views and incredible roads!
On to the bike, it turned out the cable wasn't frayed but it was jammed and took a lot of effort to remove! After removing it I checked the shifter and it was moving up and down the gears flawlessly with the bike upside down, as soon as I had the bike back on its wheels it wouldn't go down the gears at all! A Google search followed and I discovered many people have had the same problem and it seems it's just a case of freeing everything off with WD40 and waiting, time will tell if it works but so far no joy! It might be time for a new shifter and that won't be cheap...
For now I'm riding a single speed and hoping it solves itself given time...
@Chargeride The roads I ride are mostly quiet, I'm very blessed to live where I do and I totally get what you are talking about!
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