Our Rides in Words, Photos & Videos

[Chargeride]

Im back with the missus in the Peak District, actually staying in Castleton.
He and her friends did the Trespass walk, which is a famous trespass in the 30s by ordinary folk to demand the right to roam in the countryside, which we didnt have.

Radware Captcha Page

If you look at the picture on that link of the actual walkers, bearing in mind this is the 30s, between wars, they do look..how should I say...a certain type, though I have no reference and that might be ordinary folk or university students.

They got p1ss wet through and recorded a 100mph wind on the hilltop using one of those handheld windspeed devices.
It was only 8 miles and it took them 6 hours.

I took a different route alone on my hubdrive, which requires a lot more rider pedal input, exhausted but exhilerated, I set out earlier to miss the rain and had a much better time for it.

No pictures yet, all in the video camera, except I set off in the night to find a shop only to be told there isn't one..only pubs.

You cant beat a cosy fireside old English pub while staying in a remote village in the countryside.
So I had a beer instead.

 

[RandallS]

Geez, where's the snow?

This is relatively normal ... it will be back, end of February and early March are the times we typically get the most snow.

 

[RandallS]

Oh David! Of how high quality those gravel roads are!


OK, let us sort it out.

• White Borscht or Żur (zhoor) or Żurek are basically the same thing: a thick soup made of soured flour (rye or wheat) and meat, sausage being used in most of cases. Half of boiled egg is mandatory. It is especially popular during the winter time as it is nourishing.
• Red Borscht made of red beet can be vegetarian (that's the most pure form of "Clear Polish Red Borscht") or made with meat. If you put a lot of vegetables into red borscht (especially potato and green peas), you're getting the Ukrainian Borscht.
• Szczawiowa is the sorrel soup and it should not be confused with borscht. It is more summer type of soup as you can pick sorrel at that season.
  
  View attachment 114192
  White Borscht or Żur (the name must come from Sauer/Sour). Mine looked better but I incidentally deleted the photo. By the way, the restaurant opened their wedding hall for us to be able to host so many people!

In the 80's I worked in Northern Alberta and one place we went to was a community called La Crete.
It was initially settled by French Canadians, hence the name, but is now home to a large Mennonite community.

One of the regular staples in the café we'd eat at, was a White Borscht (they called it "summer" borscht) which was mainly a potato and sausage (Mennonite of course) and often had cabbage in it.
I think it had shredded cabbage too, but no beets. I can't abide beets for some reason. I liked it - especially in the winter when it can be quite cold as La Crete is rather northern.

La Crête, Alberta

• Latitude: 58.187466
• Longitude: -116.406998

Interesting fact about La Crete, is at one time (maybe still), it had one of the highest %/population of Tourette's syndrome in the world.
It may have been clustered in one family branch and not throughout the entire community but I can't remember all the details, but I will admit that when I first experienced a resident having an episode (in that same café) it was an eye opener. Thankfully the server explained it to us and we really didn't see much of it when we were there.

 

[RandallS]

Im back with the missus in the Peak District, actually staying in Castleton.
He and her friends did the Trespass walk, which is a famous trespass in the 30s by ordinary folk to demand the right to roam in the countryside, which we didnt have.

Radware Captcha Page

If you look at the picture on that link of the actual walkers, bearing in mind this is the 30s, between wars, they do look..how should I say...a certain type, though I have no reference and that might be ordinary folk or university students.

They got p1ss wet through and recorded a 100mph wind on the hilltop using one of those handheld windspeed devices.
It was only 8 miles and it took them 6 hours.

I took a different route alone on my hubdrive, which requires a lot more rider pedal input, exhausted but exhilerated, I set out earlier to miss the rain and had a much better time for it.

No pictures yet, all in the video camera, except I set off in the night to find a shop only to be told there isn't one..only pubs.
View attachment 114216


You cant beat a cosy fireside old English pub while staying in a remote village in the countryside.
So I had a beer instead.

Having to settle for a beer in an English Pub - oh the HORROR!

 

[kahn]

@Catalyzt That looks like interesting terrain and nice shots. Thanks for risking death to show them to us!

 

[kahn]

@redzed Ah, I tracked you to Vancouver Island. Nice. Years ago, we backpacked in Strathcona Provincial Park. I think the name attracted us and it was remote.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Gang of Five, or "I Didn't Subscribe To Bike-Walking!"

The dreadful 8:00 am in Grodzisk Mazowiecki, or WGM (usual time to start Sunday gravel rides with Przemek and his Gang). This time, a female companion Joana joined us. She's lucky as her brother is an avid cyclist, serving her with all help related to her bike, bike-fitting etc. Interestingly, Joana rides a "gravelized" version of Triban road bike (by Decathlon), which has been acclaimed the best affordable road bike in Poland. It is believed Tribans are made by Peugeot, and because of their price and quality these are hardly available!

The Gang of Five on their return to Grodzisk Mazowiecki at noon. L to R: Joana, Michał J, Michał K, and Przemek The Gravelman. The fifth Gangster is taking this photo!

It would have been just a regular gravel-cycling ride with those great people of WGM but it was spoilt at some moment...

Michał J (who was the group leader that time) decided to ride into the woods. Yes, we got the snowy photo but later...

...we discovered the trail was not rideable because of two long stretches of frozen water. We had to walk our bikes the cross-country way!

After all of us emerged from the woods, I asked for a break, and gave a little speech:
-- Not sure if all of you are aware of the nature of my ailment but I simply cannot walk. I went for a ride because yes I can pedal but I didn't subscribe to bike-walking! Could that be respected?

Believe or not but the group leader did that again! That time, he led the group into a tree felling area... You never ride into any area where lumberjacks have damaged fire-roads and felled some trees!

Przemek carried my fully loaded Vado over the largest tree trunk and assisted my walking. Were it not him, I would be in a big trouble!

I had to express myself very clearly at that time: "I will ride with anyone and anywhere as long as we can be riding. No walking, please!" And guess what the tall guy tried to do for the third time? When I saw yet another "fire-road", it ended up with my mutiny! After we made the requested detour, any other roads were rideable!

Joana was very happy about riding with us. She had been unsure whether she would make the 60+ km distance but she made it, and even earned a Queen of Mountain title on some segment! She was even grateful for some walking as that meant resting for her! And she described the trip as "ideal, tailor-made for me!"

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Graveloza Bolimoza Vid (28 seconds)

You can see me riding in the front of the pack in the first video clip and as the last rider in the other scene. Easy to distinguish because of the HiVis yellow jacket!

 

[Catalyzt]

Bill, for me the scariest thing about driving in Canada and the US was having the steering wheel on the wrong side of the vehicle! At least it's a reminder that things are different.

If one is riding an ebike? Brake levers are on opposite sides! For us, the front brake is applied using one's right hand.

Once, over post-ride refreshments, a friend who had cycled a good deal in Europe explained in convoluted detail what the connection was between the side of the road one cycled on and the positioning of brake levers. I suspect this explanation might have been influenced by an overdose of caffeine. (Note to SM: Brisbane group rides usually commence at sunrise and, therefore, don't customarily feature IPAs on the post-ride refreshment list.)

Ah, you are reminding me of my trip to Sydney, the Blue Mountains, and finally Kakadu in about 1994.

Most of the time, my friend drove... I've known him since we were five years old, but he's been living in London for over 10 years, so it was just easier for him to drive, but on the run from Darwin to Kakadu, it made more sense to split up the driving responsibilities.

I was totally fine until I had to make a turn-- the right turns, I'd usually execute correctly, winding up in the left lane, but for the left turns, I instinctively headed towards the right lane. At first, my friend would yell, "Left lane!" but after he got sick of that, he started using a tactic that seemed more like behavioral conditioning-- he'd just whack my left shoulder. Worked pretty well, and also didn't disrupt the flow of conversation!

 

[Chargeride]

Graveloza Bolimoza Vid (28 seconds)

You can see me riding in the front of the pack in the first video clip and as the last rider in the other scene. Easy to distinguish because of the HiVis yellow jacket!

You seem welcome in every group Stefan, you must have a robust personality...or you buy all rhe cakes.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

You seem welcome in every group Stefan, you must have a robust personality...or you buy all rhe cakes.

It is a longer story how traditional cyclists react to e-bikers. I have only had literally two incidents to be called "a cheater". The number plate on my Vado attracts the attention, and is a great conversation starter. Typical questions are about the battery range (and that's the hardest to explain). I typically say it is too complicated, and it mostly depends on your own input, average speed, elevation gain and the season.

Traditional cyclists are fascinated about e-bikes. It is only hard for them to admit they cannot afford an e-bike, and besides younger people basically need no e-bike. I had a conversation with Michał J, today's group leader. He told me he was thinking to convert a bike to an electric one. I made a face and said "Don't. Don't be a yokel" To which he replied "I cannot afford a good e-bike", to which I answered "Why would you need an e-bike in the first place?"

And we made a little race, which he won. He won because the chainring in my Vado was too small! Yet, it is good to let someone else win once in a while. They like you for that!

 

[kahn]

@Stefan Mikes At this time of year 8AM does not exist when it pertains to bike riding. Too damn cold. Now I am an early morning person but riding in the chill is completely unnecessary. Of course, sometimes it does not really warm that much anyway. But still....

In the summer when it was predicted to reach 108F (42C) I was out of the house before 7:30 and home by 10.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

@Stefan Mikes At this time of year 8AM does not exist when it pertains to bike riding. Too damn cold. Now I am an early morning person but riding in the chill is completely unnecessary. Of course, sometimes it does not really warm that much anyway. But still....

In the summer when it was predicted to reach 108F (42C) I was out of the house before 7:30 and home by 10.

I need to wake up at 5AM for that kind of a ride. At 7AM I'm de-freezing the windshield of my car (-5 C). As I drive to the meeting point, the temperature rises to -2C. When we start riding, it is -1 C to reach +5 C on the ride.

Przemek is a family man. Early mornings on Sundays mean minimum traffic. As we end the ride by noon, he has a plenty of time to take care of his wife and daughter, which I respect very much. Meanwhile, I ride up a McD for a lunch. As I reach my flat, I put everything battery-powered on the charging, take a shower, and cut a nap by 7PM Why not?

One more photo from Graveloza Bolimoza. I'm easy to spot there (Did you notice everyone's wearing a helmet? When I tell stories from Poland, some people do not believe me!)

 

[mschwett]

today, a 50 mile ride on which i made a last minute decision to reverse the main loop in a way which let me descend a road i hadn't yet ridden (very nice!) but also turned the climb into a 1,350 foot uninterrupted slog, during which i refused to turn my motor assist on, having "already made it this far!"

unseasonably warm winter weather (approx 74f/23c) made a pit stop for sports drinks and water at the 1/3 point an absolute necessity.

 

[fooferdoggie]

nothing outstanding on this ride just went to another state. crossed Inez freeway bridge about 1.5 miles noisy as hell hate riding across it. Did see the window and somehow a dead cat on the bike path. no clue how it got there it was a long ways from any residence. when you come off you get a nice little forested section. went to check out this wildlife refuge for some riding paths but it was just some grass paths and would be impossible to get our tandem past the gate. got some some good views of Mt hood

 

[mschwett]

nothing outstanding on this ride just went to another state. crossed Inez freeway bridge about 1.5 miles noisy as hell hate riding across it. Did see the window and somehow a dead cat on the bike path. no clue how it got there it was a long ways from any residence. when you come off you get a nice little forested section. went to check out this wildlife refuge for some riding paths but it was just some grass paths and would be impossible to get our tandem past the gate. got some some good views of Mt hood

nice ride! my father retired long ago to the hills above camas, brings back memories to see that map. always loved the views of mt hood from along/around the river.

 

[RabH]

It was my lucky day today, the weather forecast wasn't looking very nice when I looked last night! When I woke this morning it was very wet but the sky was clearing so I decided to just go for it and hope the rain would stay away! It actually rained all day yesterday, proper heavy rain so many of the roads were flooded (at least I had no ice to contend with like Stefan) but I picked a route that was passable! I couldn't believe my luck when the sun made an appearance and it was pretty warm for the time of year, light winds sure helped in that respect!

You can see from the calm water that the wind was very light!

I had a nice view of the hills today!

The Grangemouth oil refinery!

We have another storm coming on Wednesday which will last into Thursday with 60mph winds, after that the weather is still looking pretty nasty so my cycling will be very limited for at least the next week! I'm so glad today turned out so good, although I would have been happier with a longer ride but my time was limited!

 

[Chargeride]

I may have

nice ride! my father retired long ago to the hills above camas, brings back memories to see that map. always loved the views of mt hood from along/around the river.

I may have posted this before, but back in 97 we approached MtHood in a hired jeep on holiday, you could see the snow being blown off the top and it looked very foreboding.
On the radio was a news report that four climbers were stuck near the summit in extreme winds and mountain rescue were on their way up.
It felt terrifying, you felt you could have seen them with good binoculars.
We never heard what happened.

 

[Chargeride]

Made a vid, a few cute shots around the Peak District and me climbing up the high offroad paths.
Just amazing to get a few hours rain free.

 

[Catalyzt]

Made a vid, a few cute shots around the Peak District and me climbing up the high offroad paths.
Just amazing to get a few hours rain free.

Great video, Charger! I can really see the advantage of the fat-tire thing... even with FS, as someone who's riding on 2.3s, I find myself squeezing imaginary brakes when I see some of those ruts and the bigger rocks in your vids!

Don't you hate coming around a blind curve and seeing half the trail washed away-- and a nice, big drop where it used to be? I still get psyched out a lot in those situations... if I just keep my eyes focused on where I want to go, I'm usually fine, but the temptation to look down-- and have my front wheel turn where I'm looking, which is exactly the wrong direction-- is very strong. Fighting my inner lemming!

Just stunning. Love the English countryside... I may have told this story before, but backpacking in 1975, I remember hiking as fast as we could to get to the only little pub for miles around, and getting there at 9:52-- a good eight minutes before drinking-up time, so we thought we were fine. Unfortunately, the barman said, "Sorry, lads. Very strict here, can't serve you." (Or something like that.) Despondent, we thanked him politely, left and began walking away...

When we were about 30 feet from the door, we heard a voice shout to us, and spun around to find an eight-pack of half pints flying through the air towards us! We caught it, and looked at the bartender with astonishment. "No law against giving it away," he laughed, and sent us on our way with a hearty wave.