Our Rides in Words, Photos & Videos

[Deleted member 18083]

Share the trail?

No way!​

Long-necked Freshwater Turtle
BVRT, SE Queensland​

I was brought to a sudden stop by this little soup bowl-size fellow clawing, not paddling, its way along the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail. (Yes, that really is the full width of the rail trail: it's better elsewhere.)

What I know about turtles and tortoises – none of the latter in Australia – is negligible, so I had best not comment. Are they everyone's favourite reptiles?

Glad to have met you!

 

[Bilbo625]

I only suffer acrophobia but can master the fear in need.

View attachment 116757
The sight of Wrocław Main Square from the Penitent's Bridge, 45 metres above the ground, March 2017.

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252 steps to get there. I climbed them on my bad legs! And was counting the steps!

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Three penitents

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Can you see fear in my eyes? Oh yes.

Your '252 steps' photo was very nicely composed.

 

[Deleted member 18083]

Sandy reminder of the flood…

Brisbane River
Lowood, Queensland
​

The Brisbane River at Lowood (about an hour's ride from home) is back to its normal level, but the floodplain bears the marks of the recent rains. I think what happened was that the floodgates of the Wivenhoe Dam were opened and a vast quantity of mud and sand and gravel from the bed of the lake was released. I doubt that the farmers will be pleased to have had their green pastures beside the river buried beneath twenty or thirty centimetres of river gravel! Such is life.

 

[DiggyGun]

Another day out on a disused railway line, this time in Northamptonshire. It is now called the Brampton Valley Way, which closed in 1965. It was used for a small Iron Ore Quarry and used to run from Northampton to Market Harborough. At one end now, is a preserved railway line called the Northampton and Lamport line.

Quite interesting to see some if the old railway infrastructure and paraphernalia in place.

Although basically a straight line the trail trail does have some interesting features, including two tunnels that you can go through which was good fun. We use Moon USB lights, which have a high lumen rating, mine on full power is 4000 lumens, so the tunnels were nicely lit up.

The weather was extremely kind to us today with virtually no wind and the temperature around 12oC. However, with the sun out, we actually had to remove the gloves and some layers as we got too warm.

All was going well, until I got a puncture at about 20 miles, unfortunately, that was about ten miles from our van. Luckily it hadn’t gone completely down, but was soft. So I checked it over and found nothing sticking out. Took the risk of re-inflating the tyre using my CO2 kit, pumped up OK and so we rode the ten miles or so back to the van with no further issues.

So far it has stayed up. Looks like the WeldTite sealant is doing its job, but will check it again in the morning to see if all OK.

Here are some photos from today.

Today‘s stats.

 

[kahn]

Another day out on a disused railway line, this time in Northamptonshire. It is now called the Brampton Valley Way, which closed in 1965. It was used for a small Iron Ore Quarry and used to run from Northampton to Market Harborough. At one end now, is a preserved railway line called the Northampton and Lamport line.

Quite interesting to see some if the old railway infrastructure and paraphernalia in place.

Although basically a straight line the trail trail does have some interesting features, including two tunnels that you can go through which was good fun. We use Moon USB lights, which have a high lumen rating, mine on full power is 4000 lumens, so the tunnels were nicely lit up.

The weather was extremely kind to us today with virtually no wind and the temperature around 12oC. However, with the sun out, we actually had to remove the gloves and some layers as we got too warm.

All was going well, until I got a puncture at about 20 miles, unfortunately, that was about ten miles from our van. Luckily it hadn’t gone completely down, but was soft. So I checked it over and found nothing sticking out. Took the risk of re-inflating the tyre using my CO2 kit, pumped up OK and so we rode the ten miles or so back to the van with no further issues.

So far it has stayed up. Looks like the WeldTite sealant is doing its job, but will check it again in the morning to see if all OK.

Here are some photos from today.
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Today‘s stats.
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Really neat route with the relics along the way.

 

[Chargeride]

I only suffer acrophobia but can master the fear in need.

View attachment 116757
The sight of Wrocław Main Square from the Penitent's Bridge, 45 metres above the ground, March 2017.

View attachment 116758
252 steps to get there. I climbed them on my bad legs! And was counting the steps!

View attachment 116759
Three penitents

View attachment 116760
Can you see fear in my eyes? Oh yes.

Yes, I actually get nervous climbing inside a building, sort of buildup to the eventual exposure.
That looks like a 2 polish desserts smirk to me

 

[Stefan Mikes]

The Internet reminds me exactly two years ago @David Berry caught a flat with his "undestructible" tubeless tyre on his Trek Powerfly. It happened to him in the outback, no GSM coverage. David was lucky though! Three other men on a ride suddenly appeared behind him. As they had a pickup car and a driver, all four bikes and all the guys got a lift. The adventure cost David only 20 AUD. Lucky man!

The Internet never forgets

 

[Deleted member 18083]

The Internet reminds me exactly two years ago @David Berry caught a flat with his "undestructible" tubeless tyre on his Trek Powerfly. It happened to him in the outback, no GSM coverage. David was lucky though! Three other men on a ride suddenly appeared behind him. As they had a pickup car and a driver, all four bikes and all the guys got a lift. The adventure cost David only 20 AUD. Lucky man!

The Internet never forgets

Let's return to that ride almost exactly two years ago (2020-03-14). I won't put a link to the post because that might reactivate a dormant thread: and we don't want to do that again (do we?)!

A photo of the area has been included to help set the scene (a similar trip on 2020-03-17).

Definitely not the place, or the time, to run into trouble…​

​

With Jason, Alan and Bill out of sight down the Blackbutt Range, I was on my own again. Even the unseen bellbirds (Manorina melanophrys) who had made their presence known by their constant bell-like calls were gone. No snakes or kangaroos, although the latter would be out soon.​

​

​

Would I reach Linville before needing to swap batteries – the one whose presence in my Ortlieb E-Mate bag has already been surmised? I had left the top of the range with the Powerfly's Purion display showing 7 km left in Eco assist. With half of the 20 km descent behind me, the prediction had increased to 11 km. Who needs regenerative charging (not possible on a centre-drive)?​

​

Such thoughts were suddenly dispelled. Whoosh! Instant flat. So much for tubeless tyres…​

In my opinion the Trek Powerfly has one major flaw; its tyres are almost impossible to prise off the rims. What should I do? Attempt the impossible and risk being left with an ebike in pieces (it's happened before) or commence the two-hour walk to Linville?​

​

What happened? This from familiar voices.​

​

Jason, Alan and Bill rolled to a halt behind me! This was not possible; they'd headed off down the range ahead of me! They were more interested in helping me out of my impossible situation than explaining how they'd pulled off the impossible. Definitely good friends to have. (They had taken a side trail to visit the site of an old fettlers' camp.)​

​

Impossible was banished from my vocabulary and ten minutes later – or maybe it was fifteen – we were on our way to meet Kaye who would soon be my driver back to Toogoolawah.​

​

Dave, you ride ahead this time! I did so cautiously.​

​

My wallet was lighter by twenty dollars which should be retrieved by Trek's mechanics when they fit a replacement tyre today.​

​

Squint at the tyre photo and you might just see the missing AU$20 note, a bit of dirty orange plastic trying to escape through the slit.​

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Impossible was banished from my vocabulary

That sentence got deep into my mind. The tire slash was only one of many "impossible" events in a streak that plagued you in those times... Good that's over!

 

[ChezCheese:)]

What's a fettler? A typo for settler, or something else?

 

[Chargeride]

Let's return to that ride almost exactly two years ago (2020-03-14). I won't put a link to the post because that might reactivate a dormant thread: and we don't want to do that again (do we?)!

A photo of the area has been included to help set the scene (a similar trip on 2020-03-17).

Definitely not the place, or the time, to run into trouble…​

​

With Jason, Alan and Bill out of sight down the Blackbutt Range, I was on my own again. Even the unseen bellbirds (Manorina melanophrys) who had made their presence known by their constant bell-like calls were gone. No snakes or kangaroos, although the latter would be out soon.​

​

View attachment 116848​

​

Would I reach Linville before needing to swap batteries – the one whose presence in my Ortlieb E-Mate bag has already been surmised? I had left the top of the range with the Powerfly's Purion display showing 7 km left in Eco assist. With half of the 20 km descent behind me, the prediction had increased to 11 km. Who needs regenerative charging (not possible on a centre-drive)?​

​

Such thoughts were suddenly dispelled. Whoosh! Instant flat. So much for tubeless tyres…​

View attachment 116847​

In my opinion the Trek Powerfly has one major flaw; its tyres are almost impossible to prise off the rims. What should I do? Attempt the impossible and risk being left with an ebike in pieces (it's happened before) or commence the two-hour walk to Linville?​

​

What happened? This from familiar voices.​

​

Jason, Alan and Bill rolled to a halt behind me! This was not possible; they'd headed off down the range ahead of me! They were more interested in helping me out of my impossible situation than explaining how they'd pulled off the impossible. Definitely good friends to have. (They had taken a side trail to visit the site of an old fettlers' camp.)​

​

Impossible was banished from my vocabulary and ten minutes later – or maybe it was fifteen – we were on our way to meet Kaye who would soon be my driver back to Toogoolawah.​

​

Dave, you ride ahead this time! I did so cautiously.​

​

My wallet was lighter by twenty dollars which should be retrieved by Trek's mechanics when they fit a replacement tyre today.​

​

Squint at the tyre photo and you might just see the missing AU$20 note, a bit of dirty orange plastic trying to escape through the slit.​

Bushwack repairs..
Cut the tyre off, ride on the rim.
warning, may cause carnage

 

[Chargeride]

Ive painted myself into a corner by hiring the car and now the missus, who's holiday this is for ,after a tough year..now wants to go every where in it and I get that face when I mention ebikes.
I will admit that the sheer awesomeness of this place is coming clear as we drive around.
Valley of the Nuns, I so wanted to ride an ebike around that disused road on the cliffside.

Watch t0lk15 | Streamable

Watch this video on Streamable.

streamable.com

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Ive painted myself into a corner by hiring the car and now the missus, who's holiday this is for ,after a tough year..now wants to go every where in it and I get that face when I mention ebikes.

That's called a "guilty pleasure" in English, isn't. Sometimes we just need to drive cars!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

800 Wh of the SL Energy On Board!

+11 C? What clothes to wear for such a warm but not too warm weather? I deserted the office past noon. It would be a deadly sin not to ride during such weather! Vado SL was the ride this time, not without a reason!

My beloved local bike path, running along the small River Raszynka and surrounded by ponds. The path bears a funny name, being "The Stony-Road Race Memorial Bike Path" I can only imagine a group of roadies riding that path before it was paved!

A big number of swans lives on these ponds. I haven't seen so many swans in a single place for a very long time!

At Specialized Warsaw. As you can see, an SL Range Extender Battery weighs just under one kilogram. It comes with a water-bottle cage and an elastic rubber band to fix the Range Extender Cable plug in place. I bought as many as two range extenders. Therefore, the "installed charge" for my Vado SL has risen to 800 Wh. Now, I can zoom together with gravel cyclists on the lightweight e-bike at will!

For your information: A single Range Extender costs an equivalent of US$387 right now here.

Just after the batteries' purchase, I rode to the nearby META ("The Finish Line") bar. Here, my favourite Zhur, or Sour Rye Soup.

Pancake filled with mushroom and ham. The total meal cost including tea was US$11 (If you are interested).

At the wretched Ursynów Tunnel of the Southern Beltway of Warsaw. We've been waiting for that tunnel for a too long time! (It is operating now).

I stopped using the bathroom scales Hopefully, I didn't get too many extra kilograms during the Winter!

I felt it was a slow ride, and I came back tired. Need more workout!

I forgot to tell you the maximum ambient temperature on the ride was +16 C, and the minimum was +7 C!

 

[DiggyGun]

Didn’t go out riding today as absolutely pouring it down with rain.

Therefore, I decided to give my rear tyre a good check over to see if I could find the cause of the puncture

Didn’t take long to find the culprit. A thorn still sticking in there, with a small amount WeldTite sealant being visible.

So pulled the thorn out and a little more of the sealant ouzed out. Cleaned the area up to make sure that there were no further problems and interestingly you could see some of the Kevlar fibres poking out.

So far, very impressed with the sealant in it doing it’s job, whereas, other ones I’ve used in the past haven’t been that successful.

 

[Deleted member 18083]

What's a fettler? A typo for settler, or something else?

Whoops! My oversight again (someone asked previously).

I have no idea what the 'railroad' equivalent is.

 

[kahn]

Didn’t go out riding today as absolutely pouring it down with rain.

Therefore, I decided to give my rear tyre a good check over to see if I could find the cause of the puncture

Didn’t take long to find the culprit. A thorn still sticking in there, with a small amount WeldTite sealant being visible.

So pulled the thorn out and a little more of the sealant ouzed out. Cleaned the area up to make sure that there were no further problems and interestingly you could see some of the Kevlar fibres poking out.

So far, very impressed with the sealant in it doing it’s job, whereas, other ones I’ve used in the past haven’t been that successful.

View attachment 116912

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That is one nasty thorn. The last one I had was almost hair like and not much longer but stiff and long enough to flat me out. The bike shop showed it to me and it was shorter than an eyelash but not really any thicker.

I keep mulling tubeless.....

 

[DaveMatthews]

That is one nasty thorn. The last one I had was almost hair like and not much longer but stiff and long enough to flat me out. The bike shop showed it to me and it was shorter than an eyelash but not really any thicker.

I keep mulling tubeless.....

I'm a tubeless fan.
When I got my Fathom in 2018 I got 3 flats in 4 months (blackberry thorns).
Went tubeless with Stans sealant and haven't had a flat since.
Have I pulled out thorns? Yes, but no flats.

 

[DiggyGun]

That is one nasty thorn. The last one I had was almost hair like and not much longer but stiff and long enough to flat me out. The bike shop showed it to me and it was shorter than an eyelash but not really any thicker.

I keep mulling tubeless.....

I’m considering going tubeless, when I need to replace the tyres.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Tubeless are fine if:

• Your wheels are ready for it
• You never replace the tires for the Winter.