Our Rides in Words, Photos & Videos

[Akrotiri]

Postcards From My First Kayaking After Almost 40 Years

To my defence, I have to say I rode on my Vado SL (61.7 km in 2 h 41 min) both to and from Renata's place The village of Sobieski, to where we rode together just a week ago is one of kayaking centres for River Wkra. (This time, Renata took us there with her car).

View attachment 94403
I wonder why men always take the back-seat in a kayak

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I forgot taking mineral water with me. We stopped in Joniec, I climbed a hill to buy water and this despicable "no-beer" at a bar. So-called IPA seen here is a disgrace (actually it was a lager as Żywiec cannot handle top-fermentation process).

View attachment 94405
The river was full of kayakers!

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A ruined water-mill.

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It looks I have found another pastime for me (but e-biking will remind my main passion!)

Nice photos Stefan! I haven’t been kayaking in 20 years. If I have time this August I just might.

As for the IPA I too have been disappointed several times lately. Casual drinkers discovered IPA beer and it’s led to a lot of noobreweries having a go at producing an IPA. Leffe makes a really good one and it’s my go to IPA as does Duvel triple hop citra. I highly recommend .

 

[kahn]

After a very busy last two months office relocating from Belgium to Athens (woohoo!)I finally had the time for a Sunday roll through Athens agora. Some pics I took today at various locations. As many of you already know there are literally hundreds of archaeological sites in Athens alone so of course these are just some of the sites close to my home in nearby kolonaki.

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Oh, to be able to roll by ATHENS. Oh, my. It has been over 50 years, oy vey! THANKS very much.

 

[Deleted member 18083]

Group Ride…

Fairney Brook
Brisbane Valley Rail Trail​

It was our monthly group ride: thirty ebikes in a row, but fortunately we disintegrated into mini-pelotons for most of the time (coffee stop excepted).

In the photo, you can see some remains of the old bridge across the Fairney Brook – concrete foundations and a few ironwood stumps. The concrete bike path is a twenty-first century addition!

Fairney View
Brisbane Valley Rail Trail​

 

[PowerflyLee formerly known as CheetahLee]

Great going Stefan, sadly my trip for kayaking ended quite quickly, flat tire about 4 km away. My own fault, I should have taken the Powerfly, turns out the fat tire bike was too light, I kept lifting the front wheel about a foot off the ground every time I started up again after a traffic light. The first time scared the beejesus out of me! Will try again tomorrow

Just another hot day!

Got the flat right after I stopped for some ice and drinks

The Sun will come out tomorrow!!!

 

[mschwett]

Today I had originally planned on a ±90 mile round trip, but didn't get moving early enough and just didn't have the energy. Some bad news from my electrophysiologist (a specialized kind of cardiologist) also put a bit of a damper on my enthusiasm.

Instead of the long ride I strung together a couple of my favorite closer-to-home spots for a nice relaxed 50 miles. Weather was cool, foggy/cloudy mostly with bright sun in places. By noon, the winds up the marin headlands were BRUTAL - used a little assist in spots I normally turn it off, and felt at high risk of literally being blown over. Nonetheless, a nice ride and I felt much better after than before!

51.99 miles / 83.66km
1:32 moving time, 14.71 mph / 32.67kph average speed
2,804 feet / 855 meters gained
59 watt hours used, 2259 calories burned.

https://www.relive.cc/view/v26MxKLVMEO relive video!

car-free streets in the presidio, and a group of riders... about to be passed



foggy morning on the bridge


my favorite short climb up camino alto, sun's out!


after a long MUP and windy road around the peninsula (no pics), back to the waterfront in tiburon



soon, the climb up to the top of hawk hill.... and then the descent down towards the pacific.


after a mellow ride through the valley, a tunnel connects back to the golden gate


even after a really nice ride in the "country," i'm always happy to be back in the city.

 

[PowerflyLee formerly known as CheetahLee]

A little romp around the area.


View from the Sand Lot.

And to all a good night...

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Vado 5.0 with assistance kept at 40/40% and with two 600 Wh batteries.

I have dreamt of making a 100-miler since I bought my first e-bike. It took almost two years before I felt ready for it. The weather was just ideal: balmy air, sunshine when you needed it and clouds when you felt hot from effort. Wind either non-existing or irrelevant, or even blowing behind your back.

You'll need that map to understand where I have been to. The top frame is for my "greater neighbourhood", or, where I can ride for metric centuries or 70/75-milers. The area inside the orange frame is the Central Poland's Orchard Land; it's BIG. South of River Pilica, forested area begins.

I virtually spent all day riding among orchards. Now, there is season for (sour) cherries in Poland; the sweet/black/Rainier cherries have been already eaten

Polish horticulture is BIG. Here's a typical layout of a village in the area: orchards everywhere, the farmhouse surrounded by fruit trees, and some space made for a local church. Interestingly, all roads there are asphalt, of varying quality. Gardeners need access roads to their orchards; and they have money and influence. (Expect gravel roads only where cereals are grown in the area).

I stopped at a park in Biała Rawska for a sandwich

Orchards, orchards everywhere! Big storks are the symbol of Polish countryside prosperity.

The direction sign showed I should turn left to Nowe Miasto. Mapy.cz (Czech bike GPS navigation app) directed me to the right though, not without the reason. Soon, my Grizzle and I found ourselves on the River Pilica.

Pilica and Wkra are Mazovian rivers big on kayaking. First of all, I took a swim in Pilica. Then, elderly kayakers went with an avalanche of questions about my S-Pedelec Vado (that number plate!) Third, I learned I could take the ferry across Pilica. To where? I consulted the map: The route looked okay, giving me even more kilometres. I was taking a rest when a lady shouted:
-- The ferry arrives! Hurry up or you might wait for another hour!

The ferryman (in white) was so bored he was ready to take me as the single passenger for five zloties (not much more than a U.S. dollar). Luckily for him, he could carry as many as three people, and a car later. A kayaker (in red) offered his help just for fun. As you can see, the ferry was manually propelled!

Unusual meeting at an unusual place. "All-world-directions crossroads", as the senior lady on a recreational ride named it. We had a deep conversation together there. She had mistakenly taken me for a friend of hers, and after discovering her mistake, she started with "It is good to talk".

Because of my extended ride, I rode in Nowe Miasto nad Pilicą (New Town-upon-Pilica) on last electrons. Actually, I rode for last 700 metres unpowered, to discover an obstacle: the town was located on a steep hill Having all possible streets available, that idiot GPS app confronted me with a steep, cobblestone road. I gave up and swapped the batteries before the climb, done in Turbo mode.

Nowe Miasto nad Pilicą is known for two things:

• Polish Air Forces are big in the area, hence the MiG-15 on a monument, commemorating all Polish military pilots killed in war or accident.
• Monks. It is not easy to spot a monk right in a Polish street but it is the norm in Nowe Miasto/P.

When having a lunch there, I could understand how badly covid hit the gastronomy businesses in our country. Once a prosperous Polish-cuisine restaurant, "Kapitalna" turned into a pizza/hamburger takeaway bar. I was very sorry for the owner, and her cousin working as a waitress there.

Some 20 km after leaving Nowe Miasto, I bonked. (I simply had had my lunch too late). Took a long rest, and having had leaden legs, I continued my ride. Meanwhile, pizza could feed my body and to my surprise, I partly regained my strength (orchards, orchards everywhere! The signage reads "Horses" )

At some point of my return trip, I was approached by a man riding a light motorcycle. He was extremely curious about my Vado, and he didn't want to let me go, so we rode side by side talking. His next question was "how fast can you ride on your e-bike?" To which I pressed the + button and simply left him standing My top speed there was 48.7 km/h. He chased me and when I slowed down to take a turn, he said: "You were at 55 km/h! Impressive!" to which I replied: "That was downhill. Easy! I only got over 48 on the flat". And we rode and rode, talking.

-- Fifteen grands? Man, you can get a 2-3 kW conversion kit for four grands...
-- Mate, if I wanted to be ridden, I would have bought a motorbike!

19:40 on 24th of July 2021. 7.1 km from the finish line. And then I turned the Turbo mode on

Points of Interest.

 

[PatriciaK]

View attachment 94432
Vado 5.0 with assistance kept at 40/40% and with two 600 Wh batteries.

I have dreamt of making a 100-miler since I bought my first e-bike. It took almost two years before I felt ready for it. The weather was just ideal: balmy air, sunshine when you needed it and clouds when you felt hot from effort. Wind either non-existing or irrelevant, or even blowing behind your back.

View attachment 94433
You'll need that map to understand where I have been to. The top frame is for my "greater neighbourhood", or, where I can ride for metric centuries or 70/75-milers. The area inside the orange frame is the Central Poland's Orchard Land; it's BIG. South of River Pilica, forested area begins.

View attachment 94434
I virtually spent all day riding among orchards. Now, there is season for (sour) cherries in Poland; the sweet/black/Rainier cherries have been already eaten

View attachment 94435
Polish horticulture is BIG. Here's a typical layout of a village in the area: orchards everywhere, the farm surrounded by fruit trees, and some space made for a local church. Interestingly, all roads there are asphalt, of varying quality. Gardeners need access roads to their orchards; and they have money and influence. (Expect gravel roads only where cereals are grown in the area).

View attachment 94436
I stopped at a park in Biała Rawska for a sandwich

View attachment 94437
Orchards, orchards everywhere! Big storks are the symbol of Polish countryside prosperity.

View attachment 94438
The direction sign showed I should turn left to Nowe Miasto. Mapy.cz (Czech bike GPS navigation app) directed me to the right though, not without the reason. Soon, my Grizzle and I found ourselves on the River Pilica.

View attachment 94439
Pilica and Wkra are Mazovian rivers big on kayaking. First of all, I took a swim in Pilica. Then, elderly kayakers went with an avalanche of questions about my S-Pedelec Vado (that number plate!) Third, I learned I could take the ferry across Pilica. To where? I consulted the map: The route looked okay, giving me even more kilometres. I was taking a rest when a lady shouted:
-- The ferry arrives! Hurry up or you might wait for another hour!

View attachment 94440
The ferryman (in white) was so bored he was ready to take me as the single passenger for five zloties (not much more than a U.S. dollar). Luckily for him, he could carry as many as three people, and a car later. A kayaker (in red) offered his help just for fun. As you can see, the ferry was manually propelled!

View attachment 94441
Unusual meeting at an unusual place. "All-world-directions crossroads", as the senior lady on a recreational ride named it. We had a deep conversation together there. She had mistakenly taken me for a friend of hers, and after discovering her mistake, she started with "It is good to talk".

Because of my extended ride, I rode in Nowe Miasto nad Pilicą (New Town-upon-Pilica) on last electrons. Actually, I rode for last 700 metres unpowered, to discover an obstacle: the town was located on a steep hill Having all possible streets available, that idiot GPS app confronted me with a steep, cobblestone road. I gave up and swapped the batteries before the climb, done in Turbo mode.

View attachment 94443
Nowe Miasto nad Pilicą is known of two things:

• Polish Air Forces are big in the area, hence the MiG-15 on a monument, commemorating all Polish military pilots killed in war or accident.
• Monks. It is not easy to spot a monk right in a Polish street but it is the norm in Nowe Miasto/P.

When having a lunch there, I could understand how badly covid hit the gastronomy businesses in our country. Once a prosperous Polish-cuisine restaurant, "Kapitalna" turned into a pizza/hamburger takeaway bar. I was very sorry for the owner, and her cousin working as a waitress there.

View attachment 94456
Some 20 km after leaving Nowe Miasto, I bonked. (I simply had had my lunch too late). Took a long rest, and having had leaden legs, I continued my ride. Meanwhile, pizza could feed my body and to my surprise, I partly regained my strength (orchards, orchards everywhere! The signage reads "Horses" )

At some point of my return trip, I was approached by a man riding a light motorcycle. He was extremely curious about my Vado, and he didn't want to let me go, so we rode side by side talking. His next question was "how fast can you ride on your e-bike?" To which I pressed the + button and simply left him standing My top speed there was 48.7 km/h. He chased me and when I slowed down to take a turn, he said: "You were at 55 km/h! Impressive!" to which I replied: "That was downhill. Easy! I only got over 48 on the flat". And we rode and rode, talking.

-- Fifteen grands? Man, you can get a 2-3 kW conversion kit for four grands...
-- Mate, if I wanted to be ridden, I would have bought a motorbike!

View attachment 94459
19:40 on 24th of July 2021. 7.1 km from the finish line. And then I turned the Turbo mode on

View attachment 94460
Points of Interest.

Congratulations! What a FABulous ride!

 

[BlackHand]

Headed over on the ferry today to the Kitsap Peninsula. Strava and COBI don't seem to like ferry rides, so I'm missing the Edmonds side of things but that was just an additional 3 miles on both ends of the ride making for a nice 50 mile ride.

After getting off the ferry - and resetting my navigation which decided I should just turn around and get back on the ferry back to Edmonds to finish my ride I headed up to Point No Point the northernmost tip of the Kitsap Peninsula and home of the oldest lighthouse in WA state along with some interesting driftwood sculptures/furniture.

From there I headed over to Port Gamble, a well-preserved historic timber town, which had a working sawmill for 142 years until 1995. These days it's mostly gift and craft shops, but a nice place to stretch your legs and get a snack before getting back in the saddle. Afterwards I hit the Port Gamble Heritage Park for some nice trail time. The park has a little bit of everything and was my first chance to ride some single track that I could measure in miles instead of on feet and yards. We've been lucky so far this year and haven't had any of the smoke from the fires to the South, East, and North impact our air quality.

After making my way to to the southern end of the park it was back to Kingston to catch the ferry home to Edmonds. It's so nice just riding straight up to the ferry terminal on a bike instead of waiting in the miles long line with all the cars.

 

[Deleted member 18083]

Is it a bird; is it a…

New Farm, Brisbane​

Another encounter of the long-necked variety. It cannot compete with BlackHand's driftwood giraffe above, and neither could I quite figure it out!

Yes, I do realise this is a crane… but how does it work? My guess is that the upper girder sections flip out once and then yet again to make the contraption almost three times as long. The cable with the flag flying from it is anchored amongst far more concrete blocks than I could count; but why is the pylon leaning?

Clearly (?), the thing won't be able to rotate; so does it simply (another ?) lift things up and move them from left to right and drop them down?

I think I'll ride that way next Monday and see this 'giraffe' in action.

 

[ChezCheese:)]

Headed over on the ferry today to the Kitsap Peninsula. Strava and COBI don't seem to like ferry rides, so I'm missing the Edmonds side of things but that was just an additional 3 miles on both ends of the ride making for a nice 50 mile ride.

View attachment 94467
After getting off the ferry - and resetting my navigation which decided I should just turn around and get back on the ferry back to Edmonds to finish my ride I headed up to Point No Point the northernmost tip of the Kitsap Peninsula and home of the oldest lighthouse in WA state along with some interesting driftwood sculptures/furniture.
View attachment 94470 View attachment 94471 View attachment 94472

From there I headed over to Port Gamble, a well-preserved historic timber town, which had a working sawmill for 142 years until 1995. These days it's mostly gift and craft shops, but a nice place to stretch your legs and get a snack before getting back in the saddle. Afterwards I hit the Port Gamble Heritage Park for some nice trail time. The park has a little bit of everything and was my first chance to ride some single track that I could measure in miles instead of on feet and yards. We've been lucky so far this year and haven't had any of the smoke from the fires to the South, East, and North impact our air quality.
View attachment 94473 View attachment 94474 View attachment 94476
After making my way to to the southern end of the park it was back to Kingston to catch the ferry home to Edmonds. It's so nice just riding straight up to the ferry terminal on a bike instead of waiting in the miles long line with all the cars.

The remaining trees in the Port Gamble Forest Heritage Park are the first project of OurForestFund.org: we are collecting donations to buy the timber rights to prevent more trees from being logged. The purple fireweed you've artfully placed at the bottom of the photo looking across to Mt. Rainier is hiding one of the extensive clearcuts in the middle of the PGHFP. This coming Friday-Saturday is the "West Fest", a mountain bike festival put on by Evergreen Mtn Bikes association. We will be there promoting the project to save the trees and collecting donations. Look for us under this banner...

 

[Deleted member 18083]

Them and us …

Click photos to view full-size.​

Brisbane; 8:15 am
M5, Fig Tree Pocket​

Going my way?

I think it's a good idea – actually, an essential planning requirement – to require cycleways to be placed alongside arterial roads. Here is an example. Generally, I avoid this bikeway linking the western suburbs and Brisbane Central; however, I had left home rather late and decided to ride alongside this once-adequate* 1980s motorway.

* 'Adequate' forty years ago because there were fewer people (about half the number) then.

I crossed the Brisbane River four times, the last being on the outside of the Story Bridge. The designers back then – before I rode my first kiddie trike – hadn't heard of bikeways. The green bolt-on extension for pedestrians and cyclists was a recent addition. Beyond the ferry, is a low-level MUP for city commuters.

Story Bridge, Brisbane River​

And downstream of Brisbane Central cars can't follow us…

Brisbane Riverwalk; 9:20 am​

 

[Deleted member 18083]

We are collecting donations to buy the timber rights to prevent more trees from being logged. This coming Friday-Saturday is the "West Fest", a mountain bike festival put on by Evergreen Mtn Bikes association.

Good to know that cyclists are supporting this cause.

 

[PatriciaK]

10-12 mile ride on the base to check back status turned into a just over 2 mile "bikus interruptus" when I noticed a rythmic bumping sensation on the front wheel. Headed back home so my "mechanic", who has been riding my bike on occasion (and who insists he has not taken it off road on any bumpy trails!) could diagnose and repair. The bead is squished under the rim (technical description) on about a 6-inch section (hmmm ... Wonder how THAT happened?!). He's attending to it now, and we'll try again on another route later.

For the 2 miles we rode, back felt just fine .

 

[Art Deco]

Wonder how THAT happened?! "Bikus CurbUpUs" ? ...

 

[Art Deco]

Them and us …

View attachment 94531

Brisbane; 8:15 am
M5, Fig Tree Pocket​

Going my way?

I think it's a good idea – actually, an essential planning requirement – that cycleways be placed alongside arterial roads. Generally, I avoid this bikeway linking the western suburbs and Brisbane Central; however, I had left home rather late and decided to substitute being on this once-adequate* 1980s road motorway for riding next to it.

* Adequate in the 1980s because there were fewer people (about half the number) then.

I crossed the Brisbane River four times, the last being on the outside of the Story Bridge. The designers back then – before I rode my first kiddie trike – hadn't heard of bikeways. The green bolt-on extension for pedestrians and cyclists was a recent addition. Beyond the ferry, is a low-level MUP for city commuters.

View attachment 94532

Story Bridge, Brisbane River​

And downstream of Brisbane Central cars can't follow us…

View attachment 94533

Brisbane Riverwalk; 9:20 am​

Wow. It's like "an Escape From the Traffic" scene, and they had to go over the water to find some space. Impressive.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Them and us …

View attachment 94531

Brisbane; 8:15 am
M5, Fig Tree Pocket​

Going my way?

I think it's a good idea – actually, an essential planning requirement – that cycleways be placed alongside arterial roads. Generally, I avoid this bikeway linking the western suburbs and Brisbane Central; however, I had left home rather late and decided to substitute being on this once-adequate* 1980s road motorway for riding next to it.

* Adequate in the 1980s because there were fewer people (about half the number) then.

I crossed the Brisbane River four times, the last being on the outside of the Story Bridge. The designers back then – before I rode my first kiddie trike – hadn't heard of bikeways. The green bolt-on extension for pedestrians and cyclists was a recent addition. Beyond the ferry, is a low-level MUP for city commuters.

View attachment 94532

Story Bridge, Brisbane River​

And downstream of Brisbane Central cars can't follow us…

View attachment 94533

Brisbane Riverwalk; 9:20 am​

The imagery quality is astounding!

 

[kahn]

Headed over on the ferry today to the Kitsap Peninsula. Strava and COBI don't seem to like ferry rides, so I'm missing the Edmonds side of things but that was just an additional 3 miles on both ends of the ride making for a nice 50 mile ride.

View attachment 94467
After getting off the ferry - and resetting my navigation which decided I should just turn around and get back on the ferry back to Edmonds to finish my ride I headed up to Point No Point the northernmost tip of the Kitsap Peninsula and home of the oldest lighthouse in WA state along with some interesting driftwood sculptures/furniture.
View attachment 94470 View attachment 94471 View attachment 94472

From there I headed over to Port Gamble, a well-preserved historic timber town, which had a working sawmill for 142 years until 1995. These days it's mostly gift and craft shops, but a nice place to stretch your legs and get a snack before getting back in the saddle. Afterwards I hit the Port Gamble Heritage Park for some nice trail time. The park has a little bit of everything and was my first chance to ride some single track that I could measure in miles instead of on feet and yards. We've been lucky so far this year and haven't had any of the smoke from the fires to the South, East, and North impact our air quality.
View attachment 94473 View attachment 94474 View attachment 94476
After making my way to to the southern end of the park it was back to Kingston to catch the ferry home to Edmonds. It's so nice just riding straight up to the ferry terminal on a bike instead of waiting in the miles long line with all the cars.

A friend and I doing Edmonds from Greenlake talked about Hannsville just this morning. A month or so ago, we took the Seattle-Kingston Passenger ferry from downtown. Rode to Indianola and then Paulsbo for lunch and Agate Pass and Winslow back to downtown and home (hated Gunderson Rd). On that ride we also mentioned Hannsville (I don't know if I've ever been there) and Port Gamble (a number of visits). So it might still be in the cards. How's that park trail for a road bike tire? Looks, perhaps narrow.

 

[PatriciaK]

Wonder how THAT happened?! "Bikus CurbUpUs" ? ...

Not by me, but all seems well now, thank goodness .

 

[BlackHand]

A friend and I doing Edmonds from Greenlake talked about Hannsville just this morning. A month or so ago, we took the Seattle-Kingston Passenger ferry from downtown. Rode to Indianola and then Paulsbo for lunch and Agate Pass and Winslow back to downtown and home (hated Gunderson Rd). On that ride we also mentioned Hannsville (I don't know if I've ever been there) and Port Gamble (a number of visits). So it might still be in the cards. How's that park trail for a road bike tire? Looks, perhaps narrow.

You ride a Creo, right? That explains how you were able to get your bike on the fast ferry. My tires and fenders rule that ferry out for me last I checked.
The trails are all linked together by the service/logging roads and those are in good shape with few ruts and very little washboarding. The singletracks I tried do have a fair number of roots but not much loose stuff so I guess it would depend on your skill/comfort level. Gravel tires would be better for sure.

I took Gunderson as well. I grew up in the country cycling on 2 lane roads with no shoulders, deep ditches, and cars going 45-55. Not great but I almost prefer it to roads like 104 where the shoulder is almost wide enough and cars dont feel like they need to slow down or give you space.