2025 - Our Rides in Words, Photos, Maps and Videos

Saratoga Dave

Saratoga Dave

Well-Known Member
So, the calendar rolls over yet again… what will it be this time? Will RabH decide to test the 7000 mile barrier? Will Stefan figure out a way to sneak into the Tour de France? Will Art outrun a bear? Will Dave Matthews get a Fender guitar?

This place is very much about the people, though of course it’s these bikes that bring us here. For me it is the beginning of my 10th year here (and my sixth ebike). Many have been here longer than that! The place ebbs and flows like a five set tennis match, but it keeps going.

There are many new things to discuss, arguments to be had, friends to be made, stories to be told, so let’s go!
 
From Start To META (Mieczysław 2025)

We Poles party on Sylwester (Dec 31st) and then cure hangover on Mieczysław (Jan 1st) :) I admit I had a little too much rum on New Year's Eve and woke up with hangover on Mieczysław :)
A lovely Polish saying is: "Na kaca najlepsza jest praca!" The English "A workout is the best cure for hangover" is somewhat lost in the translation! :D
Several days ago, the owner of META Bar invited me to come on the first day of the new year. With strong SW wind being my ally, I set off for a ride at 12:31 (p.m. of course!)

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I call this riding direction '1 No Trump' (a bridge card game bid). Strava tells me I rode that segment for 161 times in 2024. Nothing strange; it is the only practical opening to ride eastwards from my place!

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A place I somehow like: Aeronautics Street.

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A low traffic road I often take: Count's Road (like in an aristocratic title). It is located south of Warsaw Chopin Airport, and one can see many aeroplanes descending there. See new housing estate. It looks Poland is in a good economic shape, as new estates "grow like fungi after raining"! :)

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Whenever I can, I ride in Kabacki Wood. It is a big natural reserve in Warsaw South, whole within the city limits. Warsawers love recreating there! The surface is hardpack, which is very easy to ride except after heavy raining, or with snow and ice.

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"My" Specialized Warsaw LBS. Around 32 km (20 mi) from the place where I live. That's where I bought my Vado SL, and got my big Vado rebuilt on the warranty.

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14:04. META Bar, or my favourite cycling friendly bar of Warsaw. Polish "Meta" exactly means "the finish line". The establishment owns a big garden, which is cut off for winter.

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I was warmly welcomed by the host and patrons. The owner offered a drink: Hazelnut Vodka or clear vodka or Jägermeister or... moonshine! :D

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The atmosphere was festive! (FYI: My liver could process the contents of this small glass of Hazelnut Vodka in 48 minutes :) I never ride under influence!)

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I always take Countryside Pizza with Gorgonzola in META. It is baked in a wood fired oven.

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Before I left, I sat in one of the benches and engaged in a conversation with a road cyclist who came there for post-ride beer. Despite cold weather, some Polish people still ride their bikes!

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For some reason, I always had the wind on my side, even if it made the perceived temperature chilly. This time, I took the benefit from the excellent Warsaw bike infrastructure that allows you travelling from the very south to the very north of the city by bike paths. There are even indicators whether you can expect a green or a red light on the next junction! (Returned from Warsaw City Centre by train).

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!
 
Last edited:
Snow and Ice

All my riding plans have collapsed! We are getting a snowfall. A short walk outside proved the local road was under ice. Now, I need to winterize both my e-bikes:
  • "Disarming" tubeless on Vado SL and replacing the tyres with Schwalbe Marathon Winter Plus 35-622 (tubed). The good thing is now both SKS Speedrocker mudguards would fit.
  • On any ice-free day riding my Vado to my brother for swapping tubed Pathfinder Pro 47-622 for Schwalbe Marathon Winter Plus 50-622.
Meanwhile, @BlackHand took the lead in the Electric Bike Review Riders Club on Strava :)
 
Yup, we are expecting snow, its unlikely in our neck of the woods, but I can hope.

I posted a compilation short video, it was a bit loud, never edit when drunk..

Anyway had to take it down, you cant edit the thumbnail on shorts and of the entire three minutes the algorithm decided to auto pick me coming off the beach past a ten year old girl in beach wear, its like one frame as I bump up the ramp, it totally looked like Id chosen it like some perv.
Says it all of the algorithm coding.

Thank god I looked, have to cut that bit out ..and put a twenty year old instead :)
 
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