Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
The SI unit of mass is kilogram
2026 - Our Rides in Words, Photos, Maps and Videos
- Thread starter RabH
- Start date
That's a nice bike, ever think of just putting some sort of DIY kit on it? Not stumping for them but a Keyde hub drive is ultra simple to install, works pretty well for me including 10-16% grades (with low gear and a good amount of effort) and you get to keep your 3x drivetrain.View attachment 215888
Possibly my last analog ride for a while, dependent on my new bike arriving this week...no updates as yet though but Friday will be 20 working days since I placed my order and they say they usually deliver within the 20 days so here's hoping I get some good news shortly! No news about my motor from the motor centre as yet, they list 15 working days for a turnaround but its only been 5 days so the wait continues in the hope my circuit board is good...
This was my last ride this month and I only managed 285 miles from a paultry 5 rides, 216 analog and 69 e bike miles! I have been enjoying the old Hybrid but the e bike is way more fun, especially given the hills here and the incessant 20+ mph winds! The tailwinds sure are fun but those headwinds are brutal...
I could have picked a much easier start to my ride, with a lot of climbing for the first 5 miles or so! My plan was to use the back roads to Hareshaw and head down to Allanton, I was a little worried the Hareshaw road might be flooded after yesterdays monsoon weather but it was fine!
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The final descent down to Allanton was amazing but then it was back to the climbs from Allanton over the back roads to Carluke and yet more climbing up to Yieldshileds!
I had a very nice view of the Pentland Hills at Yieldshields!
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This descent was a lot of fun and the view wasn't too shabby either!
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I passed these beautiful Clydesdale horses and the black and white one jumped, I'm not sure if it was the horse or me that got the bigger fright...
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The Alpacas were enjoying the sunshine!
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Another fun descent!
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The narrow twisty road to the White Loch near Carnwath, I stopped for a few photos at the loch!
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Tinto Hill in the background!
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The cycle path at Carnwath, just a short one though!
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From Carnwath I joined the A70 to enjoy the 20-25mph tailwind from the SW, I had another stunning view of the Pentlands a short time later!
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Love this road, its mostly in good condition!
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It was a gradual ascent at this point but the tailwind made it a breeze today, just after this I had some tougher climbs though but I was looking forward to the descents coming soon! I stopped for many photos along the A70!
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Then came the best part, I was really flying here!
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Cobbinshaw Reservoir!
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The Ochil Hills in the background, these windfarms are everywhere now!
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More nice views of the Pentlands from the A70!
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The final photo before turning north towards Harburn, one of my favourite roads!
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It starts with a big climb and then its mostly descending down through Harburn and on to West Calder! Now it was time to turn into the wind pretty much all the way home, 20 miles of 20-25mph headwind was tough going! I used the cycle paths as much as possible to shelter from the wind but by the time I got home I was running on fumes, what a great day though!
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Chargeride
Well-Known Member
Its stupidly warm tonight, just walked the shops, its like a summer night in the south of France, except the shops are open.
Aushiker
Well-Known Member
- Region
- Australia
- City
- Walyalup, Western Australia
Do you use a range extender battery on this bike? I am curious as to what you estimate the range is without a range extender battery?Eighty miles?
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I had a little crisis between the 90-100th km but the last bar of Bounty from my backpack could restore my stamina
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Vado SL "Fearless".
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Andrew, I use as many as four Range Extenders on my long Vado SL 1 rides. The main battery is equivalent to two REs, so I would say the main battery range on the 50/100% assistance could be around 52-60 km. However, it is not that simple as it sounds. First of all, the Specialized system allows setting the Assist and the Max Motor Power freely for many scenarios: long range or performance.
My ailing legs only deliver on average 55 W on a calm ride or 80 W when I really try, so I need a ton of assistance. See these scenarios for the main battery range:
- 35/100% assistance (leg power times 0.63, motor power up to 240 W), average leg power 84 W, range 80 km
- 55/55% assistance (leg power * 0.99, motor power up to 132 W), average leg power 85 W, range 81 km
- 60/60% assistance (leg power * 1.08, motor power up to 144 W), average leg power 99 W, range 77 km.
Above 60/60% assistance (or from 50/100%), the battery range starts dropping off the cliff. My usual scenario on gravel "races" is 80/80% assistance. In such a case, I need Range Extenders:
Each Range Extender weighs 1.0 kg. The active one is mounted and connected as #1 here. #2 waits in the water bottle cage. #3 and 4 are secured in the pannier. I use a 3 litre hydration pack and also can carry more water in the pannier.
Four Specialized Range Extenders weigh the same as a single big spare battery for a full power e-bike but the weight is nicely distributed here.
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RabH
Well-Known Member
Thank you but having just shelled out on a new bike its not something I would really consider! I might revisit it if my motor from my old bike is unrepairable though...as a last resort!
Jeremy McCreary
Bought it anyway
- Region
- USA
- City
- Carlsbad, CA
Gorgeous fall colors— and your bike's in fall camouflage!
Really miss the fall color we got in Colorado. Here in coastal SoCal, most trees either stay green year round or just brown up and drop their leaves in a matter of days, no other colors involved.
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Great Lakes Gravel 2026 photos by Mateusz Klimek
My brother is waving the chequered flag.
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RabH
Well-Known Member
I managed to squeeze another analog ride in and got October off to a good start, yet another blustery day of course and silly me decided to take on a load of climbs on the way back into a 20-25mph headwind...
I will probably pay for it tomorrow, I made my way NE with a lovely tailwind to Shieldhill and stopped for a few photos!First time I have used water bottles for many years, the on/off valve on my camelbak bladder decided to stick closed!
Campsie Hills to the west in the background!
The undulating road to Shieldhill!
The Ochil Hills to the north!
The big descent down to Glenn Village was beckoning me, over 40mph on the old Hybrid which doesn't happen very often but it was wind assisted of course!
The 40mph part with a stunning view of the Ochils!
From Glen Village I enjoyed another lovely descent down into Falkirk and Polmont where I headed east towards Linlithgow, I turned south towards Whitecross with the intention to avoid Linlithgow only to be thwarted by a road closure that wasn't signposted...
After tackling the big climb in the distance I wasn't amused, I did enjoy the descent though!
The view from the top of the climb made up for it!
So I was forced to head east into Linlithgow, I stopped for a couple of photos of the viaduct!
I only skirted Linlithgow though and turned SW towards Westfield immediately, directly into a strong headwind with lots of climbing! I passed over the canal and stopped for photos!
This lucky cyclist had the wind at his back on the flat!
Another photo a little further up the climb, a very impressive and well built stone wall!
The climbing continued up through Westfield and on to Avonbridge with a big descent before it was time to take on this on the back road to Slamannan! Thankfully the big hill to the south sheltered me a little from the wind, it was still very tough but I made it all the way up!
Then it was mostly descents all the way to Slamannan before the climbing started again up the back road to Longriggend, after cresting the climb I stopped for a break and some snacks and grabbed some photos!
The Campsies!
The awesome road to Longriggend!
The last part of the road to the village is very exposed and its also a gradual climb, it took a lot out of me I can tell you...
Thankfully it was mostly descents and flat roads all the way home now until the very end with some big climbs to home! Another awesome day despite the wind, any dry day is a good day here! All going well my next ride should be on the new bike, I can't wait to try it out! Of course the weather isn't looking good next week so far...Chargeride
Well-Known Member
Hes back, all the cars get off the road!
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
Gentle ride for our bashed up hero, started with a chinese coach being rescied by a unimog
Missed the first few offroad miles, the start was a bit hairy for Dan
This was where a huge fire burned during the heatwave, its completely destroyed
Three F15s flew over, the noise was incredible
Long way down
Hopefully it will all grow back next spring
This was much harder than it looks, the rocks were very slippy
The ony 'road' to this cottage was completely off road and went for miles
We are still on it
This is druids circle, dated back 5000 years, they found a burial chamber and a childs remains in an urn in the middle
Still on the road to the cottage, thats Snowdonia
Descending into Llanfairfechan, still on the cottage road
Yup, you guessed it
We watched that rain shower speed off the mountains and across the town
Finally a tarmac rd, that some trip to the shops when you forget the milk.
Lan for feckin at feckin last
Dans freehub packed in, so had to shorten the ride again, I nipped up this bit for a view, it was insanely steep and wet polished granite further up.
Had to walk it down
Fecking fechan
Thats onehuge stone quarry dominating the town, we coastal pathed it back, nursing Dans freehub
Missed the first few offroad miles, the start was a bit hairy for Dan
This was where a huge fire burned during the heatwave, its completely destroyed
Three F15s flew over, the noise was incredible
Long way down
Hopefully it will all grow back next spring
This was much harder than it looks, the rocks were very slippy
The ony 'road' to this cottage was completely off road and went for miles
We are still on it
This is druids circle, dated back 5000 years, they found a burial chamber and a childs remains in an urn in the middle
Still on the road to the cottage, thats Snowdonia
Descending into Llanfairfechan, still on the cottage road
Yup, you guessed it
We watched that rain shower speed off the mountains and across the town
Finally a tarmac rd, that some trip to the shops when you forget the milk.
Lan for feckin at feckin last
Dans freehub packed in, so had to shorten the ride again, I nipped up this bit for a view, it was insanely steep and wet polished granite further up.
Had to walk it down
Fecking fechan
Thats onehuge stone quarry dominating the town, we coastal pathed it back, nursing Dans freehub
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