Our Rides in Words, Photos & Videos

[Prairie Dog]

My Year's 2021 Summary

(This year in 50 seconds).

I wish you a lot of health. Not because of Xmas & New Year. On every single day now and in 2022.
And I wish you EBR Forum friends at least as many happy kilometres or miles as I could experience in 2021...

View attachment 109958
E-Biking achievements.

View attachment 109957
No bear spray needed in Poland outside Bieszczady Mts!

Congrats Stefan! That’s quite the accomplishment. No way I could even come close to what you and @RabH pull off each season. I did, however, manage to get some decent climbs in this summer.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Art, a kilometre up is worth a hundred on the flat, I think Let's us not forget two other members with even more impressive stats such as @David Berry or @fooferdoggie, and I'm sure there are others here, too!

 

[DiggyGun]

My Year's 2021 Summary

(This year in 50 seconds).

I wish you a lot of health. Not because of Xmas & New Year. On every single day now and in 2022.
And I wish you EBR Forum friends at least as many happy kilometres or miles as I could experience in 2021...

View attachment 109958
E-Biking achievements.

View attachment 109957
No bear spray needed in Poland outside Bieszczady Mts!

Congratulations Stefan and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours.

 

[DiggyGun]

Thanks for the glove info. I have a terrible time with cold hands.

No problems, I’ll keep the group updated with how they are.

 

[Art Deco]

My Year's 2021 Summary

(This year in 50 seconds).

I wish you a lot of health. Not because of Xmas & New Year. On every single day now and in 2022.
And I wish you EBR Forum friends at least as many happy kilometres or miles as I could experience in 2021...

View attachment 109958
E-Biking achievements.

View attachment 109957
No bear spray needed in Poland outside Bieszczady Mts!

Congratulations! May the wind always be at your back, and your battery always at full charge ...

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Congratulations Stefan, awesome effort this year! Your challenge next year is to beat my total in the same number of rides as me, which was 151! Only joking before you try to attempt it, you really should be proud of your achievements!

Rab: Not sure what the Future holds (the future at work could mean far more work). As soon as the Winter is over, I shall own three batteries for the big Vado and two Range Extenders for Vado SL. Meaning longer rides in about the same time I will certainly focus on long gravel rides in groups and I want to beat the double metric century for sure!

The Christmas will be spent with Jacek and Renata (my closest family now), and the Boxing Day shall mean an offroad ride with Jacek!

 

[kahn]

No problems, I’ll keep the group updated with how they are.

I'm used to the LOBSTER mitts where two finger sections and then the thumb. I like this POINTER version and it might make hitting the power buttons on the Creo easier to manage.

 

[DiggyGun]

I'm used to the LOBSTER mitts where two finger sections and then the thumb. I like this POINTER version and it might make hitting the power buttons on the Creo easier to manage.

As this was the first time I used them, I had no issues with hitting the power button or using the brakes

 

[kahn]

As this was the first time I used them, I had no issues with hitting the power button or using the brakes

I just checked and neither REI nor a local shop carries them. I see Amazon has them but I'd be guessing about size. I see the local shop has Gore's thermal gloves and they might fit the same. I was just there today picking up my bike.

 

[DiggyGun]

I just checked and neither REI nor a local shop carries them. I see Amazon has them but I'd be guessing about size. I see the local shop has Gore's thermal gloves and they might fit the same. I was just there today picking up my bike.

The thermal gloves are not as warm, I’ve got them also.

Measure your hand and if you look on the actual Gore website, you will be able to work out what size you need.

I went for 2XL although I’m normally a medium, that way I can add an additional liner glove if required, but having said that, they do not appear to be too cumbersome.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

A Christmas related anecdote!

The supply chain disruption has affected big supermarkets in Poland: No season decorations or season food anymore there, and the shelves are ravaged. Surprisingly, small businesses fare quite well! I am a big fan of Gefilte Fish but have no conditions to make it myself in the new small flat I live in now. I went on a grocery shopping with my Vado SL yesterday. I bought "them little ears", or very small dumplings stuffed with fungi in a little store in Brwinów (5.5 km away). Yet Gefilte Fish? Ouch. I learned there was a respected fish store in Milanówek, at the town's marketplace. So I rode up there to see this...

Oh yes. The store was indeed good. But the line! The queue was as long as in them "good ole times" of the Communist era... I had to stand in line for half an hour to just buy a small pack of Gefilte Fish Oh yes, I could buy a large pack of 8 pieces but first of all I'm alone and secondly the large pack would not fit into my pannier! Still, it was good to be there and talk with the people... They are such cheerful and friendly nowadays unlike it was during the old times...

Which reminds me I need to go for a short ride to buy vinegar!

 

[kahn]

@Stefan Mikes re: Gefilte Fish. I have made it two or three times - too smelly! I generally stockpile Gefilte Fish and when I check my pantry, I tend to ignore the "pull dates" or "use by dates!" But those small jars expensive.

Vinegar. I thought you'd be out there buying Slivovitz

 

[RabH]

Possibly my final ride of 2021 as the weather is looking a bit grim next week, we shall see... I made sure I reached my 5,000 miles today just in case! It started a bit misty but at least it wasn't freezing so I could use the quiet back roads again, the town was crazy today with all the Christmas shoppers so I made a quick exit to get away from the madness! The sun actually made an appearance but was followed by some rain which wasn't forecast...not a lot of photos due to conditions but I did manage to grab a few!

Its been quite a while since I used this awesome road, I couldn't believe it when I met a huge articulated truck which filled the whole road though! Its tight in a car so the driver was very brave to tackle it, I'm guessing he was visiting one of the many farms and probably knows the road well!

This looks like a road for @Chargeride or @Stefan Mikes a bit soft for @Prairie Dog

Another of my favourite roads and the easterly wind made it a real blast today! It gets a bit rough about a mile or so further on but nothing I can't handle with my road tyres!

I'm 1,200 miles down on last year but considering the year I have had I can't be unhappy about that! I have had some really great rides this year including 5 imperial centuries, the highlight being my 102 mile ride to the beautiful Trossachs! It started like this at 4.40am!

Then I was greeted with this after 50 miles of mist!

I would just like to thank everyone for their amazing contributions to this excellent thread, I hope you all have a lovely Christmas with your loved ones! This years stats below!

 

[RandallS]

Not the best stats for 2021, really dropped off since August, but i do anticipate a renewed focus for 2022.
Merry Christmas to all, and hoping you all a healthy and prosperous 2022.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Vinegar. I thought you'd be out there buying Slivovitz

Fred: Neither Slivovitz nor any Brandy! You will laugh to learn I still keep a bottle of vintage 2016 Czech Apple/Pear Brandy (100 proof) I got in August this Summer from our friend Vlasta in Trutnov After opening the bottle and tasting a small glass, I put the cap back and am waiting for some "hooch" lover to accept the gift The point is, any spirit containing either fusel oil or methanol (or both) does not belong to my world. Good Ale/Stout? Excellent! Wine? I'm your man! Rum or clear vodka? Long drinks are okay! But no moonshine please!

This looks like a road for @Chargeride or @Stefan Mikes a bit soft for @Prairie Dog

I would hesitate riding there Chargeride would be at home on that field!

Your goal met. Congratulations, Rab!

Not the best stats for 2021, really dropped off since August, but i do anticipate a renewed focus for 2022.

Congratulations, Randall! You mostly ride off-road and your stats are excellent!

 

[Prairie Dog]

Not the best stats for 2021, really dropped off since August, but i do anticipate a renewed focus for 2022.
Merry Christmas to all, and hoping you all a healthy and prosperous 2022.


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Nice Randall. I’m intrigued to see where that new ride of yours will take you in '22!

 

[Prairie Dog]

I decided to close out this year with a final ride last night to our town center to view the city hall park light decorations. I slipped out to take a few shots of the adorned trees as well as the ice carvings that were lit up at the Parkland Garden Center. It was a brisk -27C wind chill so I bundled up in full winter apparel before heading out.

 

[fooferdoggie]

Portland Oregon rain and 37 degrees on Christmas eve with freezing coming next week. it was really coming down this morning and really dark.

 

[DiggyGun]

Went back to Buckingham to explore Bourton Park further. Found it to be very nice and peaceful. Mind you we couldn’t believe how many park benches that were there.

The weather today was a balmy 8oC with virtually no wind chill. However, the heavens opened on our way home and it never stopped raining all the way home.

I was nice and dry, but the wife’s Regatta waterproof trousers aren’t exactly waterproof as she found out. They are now destined for the bin and we’ve ordered some new Berghaus ones for her.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Xmas Eve Flat (Snowcrash)

That's unbelievable!
I discovered I had not enough of Coke Zero for the holiday. Despite of a snowcrash, I bravely rode out on my Vado SL. Just a kilometre away, my bike began behaving erratically. What gives? A rear wheel flat! On Marathons Winter Plus! (I still don't know the reason and will find out in the morning). Had to walk my e-bike back home... (I hardly can walk, so what?) Irritated very much, I went back to the parking lot with a battery, produced my big Vado from the trunk of my car and completed my chore in several minutes

Never ever before setting up my Vado for the ride and packing it back was so quick! And I can tell you: that heavy powerful e-bike is a dream if you need to ride in a snowcrash, and especially upwind...