Our Rides in Words, Photos & Videos

Early start …

Shorncliffe Pier

Shorncliffe Pier, Brisbane​
With South East Queensland's COVID lockdown over, I rose early and drove down to the bay, arriving around sunrise. The clouds that had been threatening to spoil our local farmer's haymaking (post #2766; previous page) had brought rain. Too bad.

As usual, my first stop (23 km into the ride) was at Mario's mobile café (Cocoa Biscotti). With a mug of flat white and a brioche, I sat down by the pier and waited for the sun to add a bit of colour to my day. It didn't. The day remained bleak but I did not care because, once again, we were free to go wherever we wanted. For me 'anywhere' was a long ride up the bayside cycleway.

Moora Park, Shorncliffe
 
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David Berry said:
With South East Queensland's COVID lockdown over, I rose early and drove down to the bay, arriving around sunrise. The clouds that had been threatening to spoil our local farmer's haymaking (post #2766; previous page) had brought rain. Too bad.

As usual, my first stop (23 km into the ride) was at Mario's mobile café. With a mug of flat white and a brioche, I sat down by the pier and waited for the sun to add a bit of colour to my day. It didn't. The day remained bleak but I did not care because, once again, we were free to go wherever we wanted. For me 'anywhere' was a long ride up the bayside cycleway.
Click to expand...
Very nice. Life in South East Queensland looks pretty sweet to me from this far side of the pond. :cool:
 
David Berry said:
Early start …

View attachment 95917
Shorncliffe Pier, Brisbane​
With South East Queensland's COVID lockdown over, I rose early and drove down to the bay, arriving around sunrise. The clouds that had been threatening to spoil our local farmer's haymaking (post #2766; previous page) had brought rain. Too bad.

As usual, my first stop (23 km into the ride) was at Mario's mobile café (Cocoa Biscotti). With a mug of flat white and a brioche, I sat down by the pier and waited for the sun to add a bit of colour to my day. It didn't. The day remained bleak but I did not care because, once again, we were free to go wherever we wanted. For me 'anywhere' was a long ride up the bayside cycleway.

View attachment 95921
Click to expand...
What are winter time temperatures down there?
 
Incredible Lower Silesia & Sudetes
(Sun Aug 8th, 2021)

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As we drove from Mazovia to Lower Silesia (and specifically, to the Kłodzko Valley), we were greeted by the "Welcoming Cyclist" sculptures in Bardo. I could also see the first real MTB singletrack in my life. These singletracks are created by the Euroregion Glacensis, and bear the common name of Singletrack Glacensis (Glacensis is the Latin name for Kłodzko).

We settled at a hotel in Kłodzko and instantly went for a ride.

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Top: A tomb of a Polish lord who fought Hussites hard until he eventually got killed by them.
Centre, bottom: The large village of Stary Wielisław (Altwillmsdorf) has declared itself as bike friendly :)

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In Polanica-Zdrój (Zdrój means Springs or a resort). We didn't like it there. Too crowded, too noisy, too much of festivity.

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Springs Park in Polanica.

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The (Commie style) soda fountain, and a candyfloss bowl.

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We left Polanica for another resort, Duszniki-Zdrój. We even didn't ride to the Springs Park but enjoyed the town square.
Note: Frederic Chopin was treated against tuberculosis in Duszniki-Zdrój. For that reason, the city organizes annual Chopin Festivals.

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A pillory.

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No, he is not doing that :D Jacek taking a panorama with his iPhone.

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Picturesque post-German building.

As we left Duszniki-Zdrój, the ride was mostly downhill. At some junction, I touched the brake rotor with my fingers. To burn them. I'm so glad my Vado is equipped with TRP Zurich brakes; and that I inspected them prior to our tour! Also, the decision to swap the chainring for a 38T one was more than right. I and Jacek have already been on a 14% grade climb, and there will be steeper ones! I cannot estimate the battery range in the mountains...

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An intriguing female cyclist at Baron von Münchhausen Castle (1840), Szalejów Dolny, Kłodzko Valley, Lower Silesia, Poland.

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An unexpected urbex :D She was really missing a young and strong companion to complete her mission! :)

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What a picturesque area!

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At Kłodzko Fortress, which was an important fortification in 17th and 18th centuries, belonging to the Austrian first, the Prussian next.

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A Gothic bridge of 1390, Kłodzko (German: Glatz, Latin: Glacensis).

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Ride Map and Metrics.
 
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No e-bike rides for me since we're visiting family in Western PA. I did find my old BCA 10 speed from 1983 out in a barn where it's been sitting for the last 30+ years except for occasional niece/nephew rides in the driveway. Was surprised to find that the original tubes and tires still hold air. So after wiping off the cobwebs and wiping down the chain I've taken it for some rides the last couple of days through my old routes around the Amish/farm country around here. Keeping the rides short and close to where I'm staying as the bike is a bit creaky especially in the front hub. 14 miles the yesterday and 16.5 today.
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Because of the rolling terrain and many cricks, creeks, and rivers the farmland is very patchworked with small fields mixed in with forests and wetlands. It's really a joy to ride in - every 5 minutes brings completely different scenery.
Bridge closed
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I even felt nostalgic about having to avoid road apples :) (road apples are the emissions of Amish buggies, in case you're unfamiliar)
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BlackHand said:
No e-bike rides for me since we're visiting family in Western PA. I did find my old BCA 10 speed from 1983 out in a barn where it's been sitting for the last 30+ years except for occasional niece/nephew rides in the driveway. Was surprised to find that the original tubes and tires still hold air. So after wiping off the cobwebs and wiping down the chain I've taken it for some rides the last couple of days through my old routes around the Amish/farm country around here. Keeping the rides short and close to where I'm staying as the bike is a bit creaky especially in the front hub. 14 miles the yesterday and 16.5 today.
View attachment 95975 View attachment 95978
Because of the rolling terrain and many cricks, creeks, and rivers the farmland is very patchworked with small fields mixed in with forests and wetlands. It's really a joy to ride in - every 5 minutes brings completely different scenery.
View attachment 95983 View attachment 95984 View attachment 95985
I even felt nostalgic about having to avoid road apples :) (road apples are the emissions of Amish buggies, in case you're unfamiliar)
View attachment 95986View attachment 95987
Click to expand...
Bet if you pull that hub apart, clean it and grease it ... go another 30 years. Still a good lookin bike.
 
Around The Kłodzko Valley
(Mon Aug 9th, 2021)

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Mikulski Brothers celebrate conquering the Puchaczówka Pass climb by the hardest access ascent.

It has been my dream to circumnavigate the Kłodzko Valley since my youth. (The Valley is packed with sightseeing attractions to the level you'd need a car and two week vacation to see the most of them). The farthest point of my dream trip was Międzylesie (Mitterwald, or Between-Forests) in the South, near to the Czech border. (The mountain ridges define the frontier between the two countries).

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Lower Silesia (and especially the Kłodzko Valley) is picturesque. People decorate the valley with artefacts and flowers there (many other regions prefer creating religious symbols instead). Top: A bus shelter. Centre: Even if the first segment of the trip was fairly easy, we encountered an extreme ascent somewhere (taking a short rest afterwards). Bottom: Arrived in the famous Lądek-Zdrój.

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The area is full of resorts (Zdrój denotes Springs or Spa). Lądek-Zdrój was made famous in the 1981 comedy movie "Miś" (Teddy Bear). A guy orders sending a telegram to London. The post-office clerk is unaware of the very existence of London and tries to find the city in the directory for similarly sounding Polish locations.
– There's no such a city. There's Lądek, Lądek-Zdrój...

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Unlike the crowded Polanica-Zdrój, Lądek-Zdrój is peaceful and quaint. Bottom: Drinking healing water right from the spring! 😁 It did me good (Jacek hated it).

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At the Puchaczówka Pass in the Śnieżnik (Snow Mountain) massif. Jacek and I took the most steep climb from the east (e-bikes, aye?) Traditional cyclists take the western climb as it is long but far easier. Our riding direction allowed us long descending for 10 km at high but controllable speed and taking easier bends on the way down. (There was just a single cyclist climbing together with us, and he was riding a Cube e-MTB).

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The Śnieżnik Massif is huge, and the peak itself is one of the tallest in Poland and Czech Republic. The Puchaczówka Pass is the only road that dares enter the massif. Bottom: The low part of the massif with the Pass indicated.

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The first 600 Wh battery of my Vado was good for 61 km. I was very tired and hungry when we reached Międzylesie at the 75th kilometre. The town was badly hit by former covid restrictions. The pizza bar was the only place to get some food there!

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The return way was downhill and downwind, therefore easy. German architecture of the area makes the region look interesting.

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Here, the picturesque (and very old) town of Bystrzyca Kłodzka.

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St. John of Nepomuk, the Czech patron of Lower Silesia. Bystrzyca Kłodzka is the "City of Two Rivers" that join there.

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Jacek has used the whole usable charge of his 625 Wh battery for the ride. He tells me not to ask him for taking the spare battery for his rides anymore! Here, potato pancakes at our hotel. Bad surprise was to discover the (presumably Czech) Kozel lager was now being made by a Polish beer concern and was not good at all!

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Jacek's Garmin ride map shows the geography very well.

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Ride map and metrics. Assistance levels: 45/60, 60/80, and 100/100%.
 

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Stefan Mikes said:
It has been my dream to circumnavigate the Kłodzko Valley since my youth. (The Valley is packed with sightseeing attractions to the level you'd need a car and two week vacation to see the most of them). The farthest point of my dream trip was Międzylesie (Mitterwald, or Between-Forests) in the South, near to the Czech border. (The mountain ridges define the frontier between the two countries).
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Once again, great write up Stefan. 👍 It’s true that you’d need a car to take in all of those attractions but there is so much more that you would miss seeing from a vehicle compared to bike touring. Nice to know that you were able to live out your dream. Kudos to you.:)
 
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