Our Rides in Words, Photos & Videos

[DiggyGun]

My fav is syrup.
shortened from.... Syrup of figs
It means wig.
seen the syrup on that guy!

It seems it was also used by west coast American criminals in the early 1900s

Don’t ask what Crown and Anchor means…

 

[Cowlitz]

The sun came out and the mole people emerged. I took off on my Must Ride My Bike To Save Postage trip to Omak. I did have to get off a couple of times and push due to muddy, soft spots on the unpaved stretch. Stopped at the grocery store to get water because I got thirsty and didn't have any along. Also got potatoes and cheese. Pretty exciting! Here's the store in Okanogan. When I first arrived there was a firetruck and fire people up on the roof. Inside, workers were wandering around sniffing for any burning smell. They were still open for business, regardless of any electrical fires, or lack of.

See, many of the parking lot glaciers are gone.

Here's a look at the downtown area.

Somewhere in all that is a building that made the news for an old mural found on a wall during renovations. I think it might be the one hidden by the trees and Dish van.

Here's the courthouse where I've managed to escape jury duty twice, so far. We have such a little population that chances of getting a jury duty summons is quite good. I don't like that.

Then it was back north, to home. I rode on the other side of the river on pavement and there wasn't much traffic. I stopped to take a picture of some art. This artist has metal sculptures all over the valley. There's another near this one, but I'd have to wade through some snow to get a good picture of it, or walk the track. I'll get it later.

My ride stats: 12 miles, some up, some down, some flat.

Oh, the brake thing--they don't like getting wet or muddy. They are fine when dry. They are caliper brakes, but feel a bit different when wet.

 

[PatriciaK]

The sun came out and the mole people emerged. I took off on my Must Ride My Bike To Save Postage trip to Omak. I did have to get off a couple of times and push due to muddy, soft spots on the unpaved stretch. Stopped at the grocery store to get water because I got thirsty and didn't have any along. Also got potatoes and cheese. Pretty exciting! Here's the store in Okanogan. When I first arrived there was a firetruck and fire people up on the roof. Inside, workers were wandering around sniffing for any burning smell. They were still open for business, regardless of any electrical fires, or lack of.
View attachment 113961
See, many of the parking lot glaciers are gone.

Here's a look at the downtown area.
View attachment 113962
Somewhere in all that is a building that made the news for an old mural found on a wall during renovations. I think it might be the one hidden by the trees and Dish van.

Here's the courthouse where I've managed to escape jury duty twice, so far. We have such a little population that chances of getting a jury duty summons is quite good. I don't like that.
View attachment 113963
Then it was back north, to home. I rode on the other side of the river on pavement and there wasn't much traffic. I stopped to take a picture of some art. This artist has metal sculptures all over the valley. There's another near this one, but I'd have to wade through some snow to get a good picture of it, or walk the track. I'll get it later.
View attachment 113964
My ride stats: 12 miles, some up, some down, some flat.

Oh, the brake thing--they don't like getting wet or muddy. They are fine when dry. They are caliper brakes, but feel a bit different when wet.

Are those horses by the same guy that did the herd up on the bluff by I-90 at Vantage?

 

[Stefan Mikes]

A gravel-cycling weekend ahead!
On Saturday, I'm giving the Graveloza cycling club the last chance. The group ride shall start at 9:30 from a hotel in Nieborów. There are two groups planned: recreational people would ride for 75 km at decent but not killing speed; and the die-hards are offered a 100 km route to be ridden at crazy speed! (No mistake, I would be riding with the slower group on my heavy Vado!) The ride is expected to end with a get-together at a Nieborów restaurant.

All within the Bolimów Landscape Park.

There would also be a private group ride on Sunday with Przemek the Gravelman. Vado SL that time as I know Przemek and his buddies wouldn't let me down!

I'm so excited!

 

[BlackHand]

Are those horses by the same guy that did the herd up on the bluff by I-90 at Vantage?

I believe it's a different artist though they have similar styles.

 

[Cowlitz]

Are those horses by the same guy that did the herd up on the bluff by I-90 at Vantage?

No. These are done by a guy with the name of Marchand. He's kind of local and a tribal member.

 

[kahn]

I believe it's a different artist though they have similar styles.
View attachment 113980

I was too lazy to hike up there after dealing with Ancient Lakes and the long drive. "The 200-foot line of life-size charging horses, the creation of David Govedare of Chewelah, Washington, captures a mystical spirit from a time when real wild horses roamed the steppes. Titled "Grandfather Cuts Loose the Ponies,"

 

[RabH]

I finally got a day without howling winds although it was pretty nippy at-5C, much prefer this to crazy winds though! The downside was the back roads were a no go due to ice so it was a case of picking my route carefully to avoid the traffic and the low sun! I headed east and passed through Dario Franchitti's (3 time Indy 500 winner) home town of Bathgate where his family still live as far as I know! This was the scene a couple of miles after I set off!

The loch was partially frozen today!

A few miles later and the sun was starting to melt the frost!

Almost half way now and the scenery was looking pretty awesome in the sun!

Another wet and windy weekend in store and the rest of the week isn't looking very promising, so I made sure I got a proper ride in today! That was probably my least hilly route for quite some time, normally I do this route in the opposite direction and its around 3500ft of climbing, only 2600ft today!

 

[kahn]

@RabH You are at it quite consistently and are to be admired. Keep it up!

 

[Prairie Dog]

Much of the same today. More freeze and thaw temps over the past few days have created havoc on the local trails. Oh well, what’s one to do.

Thankfully, there were still sections of trail such as this where I was at least able to ride and obtain some semblance of enjoyment.

Fortunately, I was riding uphill on this occasion and not descending.

37 days and counting until the first day of spring…wishful thinking.

 

[Cowlitz]

I might have to return, without the Demon Dog tomorrow if the weather is the same.

I took the Demon Dog and Radmini up north to find a dog friendly trail or road. The trail had not been plowed, so I turned west and headed up the Similkameen River. Just shy of the metropolis of Nighthawk, I unloaded bike and dog and we went on a paved road then north to the Canadian Boundary. There is a border crossing there, but in this time of Covid, not feasible for me. There were no trucks blocking it either. A beauty day. Not one car went by. Beautiful mountain views--and I forgot my camera.

If tomorrow is warm, I think I'll take the Gazelle and park further away and redo it. I'll try to take some mountain peak pictures. Also, there are giant chunks of ice--very thick in the river.

The important mission of running the Demon Dog and lowering her energy level was completed.

 

[kahn]

Much of the same today. More freeze and thaw temps over the past few days have created havoc on the local trails. Oh well, what’s one to do.

View attachment 114038
View attachment 114040View attachment 114041View attachment 114042View attachment 114039

Thankfully, there were still sections of trail such as this where I was at least able to ride and obtain some semblance of enjoyment.

View attachment 114043

Fortunately, I was riding uphill on this occasion and not descending.

View attachment 114047
View attachment 114045
View attachment 114049

37 days and counting until the first day of spring…wishful thinking.

You're persistent but I will have to take it under advisement whether you are to be admired or admitted. I do like the mirror effect of the ICE!

 

[kahn]

Just my usual simple variations on the 15+ mile loop.

But the kite surfer added some interest and there were small waves where it is usually rather calm.

 

[RandallS]

I picked up a new FS MTB the other day, a Liv Intrigue X E+3, and was itching to get out and try it on some trails and see what the difference would be from my Fathom E+1 (Hard Tail). I was going to wait until my fenders arrived, but Nose Hill (and area) beckoned!

Here's the new ride, overlooking an area called Nose Creek Park - this was towards the end of the ride and the bike was getting a bit dirty.

The details and route.

The weather was hovering around the freezing mark, but the typical Alberta sunshine had a lot of the surfaces pretty soft, so the bit's of ice that still remain are shrinking to the point that you could typically ride beside them and stay on dirt. However, some of that dirt is now mud - and Nose Hill mud is slippery yet sticky. There were some places where I had to be very careful as the tires were clogged up pretty good, but for the most part it was fine.
80% dry and fast, 15% muddy and slippery and 5% icy.

A few randonm shots - you have to get a Rocky Mountains view from time to time.



Just before this shot of me and my opinion of the new bike, I'd come down a tricky descent where I found out just how good the brakes are on the new ride, and had an "event" with a 3 latter acronym. Bopped my nose a bit and christened the bike with a couple of drops of blood on the handlebars (should have taken a picture of that!) but it was a very brief nose bleed and no harm.



Backing up a bit on ride chronology, while up on the plateau, I ran into a older oriental gent riding a Fathom E (2019). Tried to have a chat, but his English was very poor so we did a bunch of gesturing and the like.
I was able to comprehend that his son gave him his bike when he upgraded in the fall. Not sure what the mound of rocks was about, although maybe it was some foreshadowing for my wipeout about 5 minutes later...



Guess what was waiting for me when I got home - you got it, the Fenders.
I guess I know what I am doing today (OK - maybe tomorrow) - cleaning the bike and installing the fenders (and some paint protection).

The verdict on the new ride - love it!
The 29" wheels are going to take some getting used to, and it will likely take a while to dial in the suspension and cockpit fit, but as-is it's pretty close.
The trail riding was substantially more comfortable with the suspension, and the few technical bits were easier as the rear tire spent more time on the ground.
I'm looking forward to attacking a few spots that I ALWAYS failed on my Fathom due to wheel hop around roots and rocks (it has to be the bike - not the rider's technique right? )

Audiobook for this ride - Eion Colfer's "Screwed" .

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Graveloza Bolimoza (A Big Group Ride)

First thing I spotted on a local road while driving towards Nieborów was a crashed car in a ditch. I slowed my Renault down. Then, I fancied my car's steering was down. It was not. It was black ice. I slowed down even more. Upon arriving with my Speed Vado to a hotel's parking lot, I crashed. Simply riding into yet another ice skate rink. That time, the fall was fortunately soft; no extra pain. And then all gravel cyclists who gathered in the parking lot could hear a loud BANG! It was yet another driver who hit a lamp post.

My first encounter with the Graveloza CC was negative. The leader, Mat, had learnt a lot on the way. This time, he could organize a perfect gravel-cycling group ride. Around 45 people (including 5-6 persons of the fair sex) of Mazovia and the Land of Łódź joined. People got a fair choice:

• Ride in the recreational group at lower speed and with shorter route; we won't let you down but try not to be a sucker Or,
• Ride with the performance group. Don't ask for mercy

Approximately 30 people chose the "easier" group, and 14 or 15 hard-dies went on the 100 km speed ride. Some of them commented later they had chosen the wrong group...

I'm certainly somewhere there, in the last row.

An unplanned stop at 12th kilometre. Two of participants got flats. While Polish roads are rather clean, the supple gravel tyres cannot agree with Polish gravel

Three strong men helping meant the tyre was back on the rim in seconds! (Maxxis Rambler tyre didn't stand!)

I cannot stop laughing! Several months ago I went on a private Bolimoza myself. Unawares, I met a point where some bog cut the road into two. At that time, I recklessly rode into a 100 m long and deep puddle. No harm to motor but my shoes got totally wet and I started freezing! On last Saturday, we got at the exactly the same point! It was not feasible to ride because of mud and puddles. After a long walk with our bikes, some people got very tired. That made a split into a faster and a slower group. I was travelling in the middle.

A stop at a countryside grocery store (41.6 km). We were waiting for the tail-group to join us.

You can recognize me by the yellow jacket, strong tail-light, and the number plate

I was trying to catch up with the fast front group of the peloton. Therefore, I rode in Turbo mode and had a good chance. Only I lost my way... Still, I was not the last one back in Nieborów!

[Lost picture]
Me riding a causeway (on grass!) at a beautiful artificial lake.

[Lost picture]
Polish White Borscht with Sausage and Egg.

[Lost picture]
Schabowy (Polish schnitzel) with potato and carrot salad

[Lost picture]
A lunch with the cycling club.

It was a fantastic adventure!

It seems gravel cyclists are able to accept an e-biker in their society. Yes, they are not totally happy. On the other hand, they were genuinely interested with a Speed E-Bike!

 

[Mulezen]

I've taken three short rides this week with it warmer out. They missed Strava because of a new phone and ineptness. I was a weak rider (Jan/medical) with legs like spaghetti, but as Stefan reported above what was Turbo made for if not this. My only exercise recently was with a chain saw helping to clear the local roads after the ice storm...four days of relying on my wood stove...but beautiful. The snow picture was from my back deck, the others from the short rides.

 

[Deleted member 18083]

Pine Mountain Gravel Ride…

Riding my local area's gravel roads.

 

[kahn]

@Stefan Mikes Damn. I want to see the

"Polish White Borscht with Sausage and Egg."

What is WHITE borscht? Oh, do you folks have "Shav" or Sorrel or Sour Grass Soup? Grandma use to make it. Well, she made everything. Vegetarian beet borscht and meat beet borscht and stuffed cabbage and and and....

 

[kahn]

31 miles and about 1,100 feet of gain and I feel every inch of it!

That's once again, Mt Baker (I zoomed in) up near the Canadian Border about 80-90 miles as a crow flies. It is one of our volcanoes and there's a vent up at the top that roars like a freight train and smells like sulfur

 

[BlackHand]

Big thumbs up for a nice ride through Edmonds, Woodway and Innis Arden!

I'll be vicariously enjoying everyone's rides for a while...