Ooooh….I want those bakery treats!Kabacki Gravel #13 (modified) Solo Ride
A couple of weeks ago, one Michał A., a popular group ride animator led his 13th escapade southwards of Warsaw. I was ill on that weekend and could not participate. Last Saturday, I decided to replicate that group ride myself. I discovered the parking lot -- located in the southern quarter of Warsaw -- was adjacent to an LBS by the name of "RoadBike". And when I was almost ready to ride -- and found out the weather was far colder than forecast, I noticed Michał opening the store! It was because he has started working for RoadBike recently!
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"Michał, do you have any windbreakers for sale? Large size?" - and indeed he found something for me! He was aware I would be using the route he had created, and was interested how I would like that.
It was rather cold (10 C/50 F), a suggestion of drizzle, and there was a 32 km/h (20 mph) wind blowing. I wouldn't have survived without the windbreaker!
View attachment 117935
A barrier at the entry to the Chojnowski Landscape Park. Poland (and especially the Central Mazovia) sports very few real gravel roads; it is either asphalt or dirt. If you want to be a "gravel cyclist" here, you actually need to look for the gravel roads!
View attachment 117936
Many fireroads here are made of gravel.
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Pretty rare gravel roads outside the forest...
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I was actually not aware where I was riding to: I was just following the route. To my big surprise, the route led me to a larger town of Góra Kalwaria. Here, a cafe by name Góra Kawiarnia is a popular stop for roadies. Despite of poor weather, there still were many roadies in! You can find even the most expensive bikes on the hanger, and nobody steals them! (The place seems to be sacred, and free of theft).
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The photo was taken by a friendly employee of the adjacent LBS.
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The name of the cake was "Carbon". The girl behind the bar told me the cake was made with Active Carbon. I'm still unsure if she was joking!Still, the cake was delicious!
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Roadies have to eat a lot!
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The cafe is 100% cycling oriented and connected with an LBS that carries, i.a., Bianchi bikes.
After leaving the cafe, I followed a small peloton struggling with headwind. I can proudly announce I was capable of riding at the peloton speed for 6 kilometres! I was probably getting on the nerves of roadies but fortunately we parted our ways somewhere
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The return way was hard because of the wind. I stopped in the Chojnowski Landscape Park for a little lunch consisting of several Berliners (a Berliner is a type of a frankfurter, a trademark of a Polish meat company). Pay attention to my new Pathfinder Pro tyres. Worth every cent! Inflated to the proper pressure, they let me ride faster than usually, and the tyres were delightfully compliant!
View attachment 117944
Upon my return to the parking lot, I noticed the LBS was still working. I entered the store and just said "Thank you!" to Michał. And I rose my thumb up.
Our Rides in Words, Photos & Videos
RabH
Well-Known Member
Another lovely day for a bike ride, chilly start once again and the fog made an appearance but quickly burnt off! The difference in temperature when the fog descended was unreal, so glad the sun won the day! Just light winds so it felt really pleasant when the sun was out! I had only just started my ride and had 4 layers on and it was feeling nippy. I was just leaving my home town when a roadie passed in the opposite direction wearing shorts and short sleeves!
The local loch was looking nice this morning, you can see how light the winds were from the lack of ripples! Believe it or not but that is actually 2 women swimming in the freezing cold loch, you couldn't pay me to dip my toes in that!
It was nice to see so many cyclists out today, I'm sure they were getting their rides in before the cold snap returns on Wednesday, 17C this afternoon and a high of 5C on Wednesday with a possibility of some snow! It was good to see one of my back roads getting some lovely new tarmac, I will enjoy descending this one soon!
I was really enjoying my ride in the sun but I could see the mist and fog descending when I reached Linlithgow! Linlithgow Bridge in the fog!
A few miles later and the view was very different!
On reaching the top of the big climb the view of the Firth of Forth was non existent, it was probably shrouded in fog all day! Normally you can see the oil refinery from up here!
Time for the descent now, love this road so much! Somebody obviously had an accident here, bits of car bumper all over the place and the wall was damaged!
I had such a great ride today, I finally passed 1000 miles for the year (1032) March has been good to me, 420 miles so far! Possibly one more ride before the end of the month...
Attachments
DiggyGun
Well-Known Member
- Region
- United Kingdom
- City
- Buckinghamshire
Today’s ride was another local circular route.
However, the weather wasn’t as kind today. The temperature was 11oC with a wind of 7mph, bringing the temperature down to 9oC. Although, at times it did feel colder than that.
Our first picnic stop.
This is a route marker from the National Cycle Network, No. 51. These are dotted along all of them and each carries a code, but you need all of them to work out the full meaning.
Our second picnic stop.
Our stats.
However, the weather wasn’t as kind today. The temperature was 11oC with a wind of 7mph, bringing the temperature down to 9oC. Although, at times it did feel colder than that.
Our first picnic stop.
This is a route marker from the National Cycle Network, No. 51. These are dotted along all of them and each carries a code, but you need all of them to work out the full meaning.
Our second picnic stop.
Our stats.
Prairie Dog
Well-Known Member
- Region
- Canada
- City
- Red Deer
Your images of the local loch are stunning. My first thought before reading your comments about the swimmers was that they were birds. Turns out they actually were.View attachment 117949
Another lovely day for a bike ride, chilly start once again and the fog made an appearance but quickly burnt off! The difference in temperature when the fog descended was unreal, so glad the sun won the day! Just light winds so it felt really pleasant when the sun was out! I had only just started my ride and had 4 layers on and it was feeling nippy. I was just leaving my home town when a roadie passed in the opposite direction wearing shorts and short sleeves!
The local loch was looking nice this morning, you can see how light the winds were from the lack of ripples! Believe it or not but that is actually 2 women swimming in the freezing cold loch, you couldn't pay me to dip my toes in that!
View attachment 117951
View attachment 117952
It was nice to see so many cyclists out today, I'm sure they were getting their rides in before the cold snap returns on Wednesday, 17C this afternoon and a high of 5C on Wednesday with a possibility of some snow! It was good to see one of my back roads getting some lovely new tarmac, I will enjoy descending this one soon!
View attachment 117953
View attachment 117954
I was really enjoying my ride in the sun but I could see the mist and fog descending when I reached Linlithgow! Linlithgow Bridge in the fog!
View attachment 117955
A few miles later and the view was very different!
View attachment 117956
On reaching the top of the big climb the view of the Firth of Forth was non existent, it was probably shrouded in fog all day! Normally you can see the oil refinery from up here!
View attachment 117957
Time for the descent now, love this road so much! Somebody obviously had an accident here, bits of car bumper all over the place and the wall was damaged!
View attachment 117958
I had such a great ride today, I finally passed 1000 miles for the year (1032) March has been good to me, 420 miles so far! Possibly one more ride before the end of the month...
Congrats on reaching the 1K mile marker and you’re only ¼ into the year. Well done RH!
Prairie Dog
Well-Known Member
- Region
- Canada
- City
- Red Deer
Kudos to your lovely wife for making those picnics stops something to look forward to DG. In our household, that task is usually left to me which requires zero prep time for our road rides. Fruit/trail mix and a few Stinger Waffles…I think that I need to take a cue from your better half.
RabH
Well-Known Member
I thought they were "birds" at first also until I heard them nattering, I was wondering where the voices were coming from!Your images of the local loch are stunning. My first thought before reading your comments about the swimmers was that they were birds. Turns out they actually were.
Congrats on reaching the 1K mile marker and you’re only ¼ into the year. Well done RH!
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
111 km of gravel cycling in a group of 10 men. Over 50 km of upwind riding. Terribly tired.
ChezCheese:)
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Kitsap Co, WA
Don't overdo things, Stefan. Moderation in all things.
Nvreloader
Western Nevada
- Region
- USA
I hope these show up OK. Here is some of the back county areas, I spend time riding in.
This photo is looking East at the Humbolt Range, the highest peak on the left is Star Peak almost 10,000' elevation. The light color strip is I-80 going EB and about 4000'.
This is looking SW into Trinity Mtn Range, as far as you can see is Decomposed Granite Rock, and this road is going down into the bottom.
Going down.......!
This photo is looking East at the Humbolt Range, the highest peak on the left is Star Peak almost 10,000' elevation. The light color strip is I-80 going EB and about 4000'.
This is looking SW into Trinity Mtn Range, as far as you can see is Decomposed Granite Rock, and this road is going down into the bottom.
Going down.......!
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Nvreloader
Western Nevada
- Region
- USA
I hope these show up OK. Here is some of the back county areas, I spend time riding in.
This photo is looking East at the Humbolt Range, the highest peak on the left is Star Peak almost 10,000' elevation. The light color strip is I-80 going EB and about 4000'.
This is looking SW into Trinity Mtn Range, as far as you can see is Decomposed Granite Rock, and this road is going down into the bottom.
Going down.......!
Nvreloader
Western Nevada
- Region
- USA
This is looking South into the upper end of Lovelock Valley, in the notch between the rounded hills, is the upper end of the valley, elevation about 4000',
I am about 6000'.
Don
D
Deleted member 18083
Guest
Avoiding 'overdoing things' …
This time, I stopped for a coffee (thanks Mario!) beneath the tumbled-over trees of Moora Park and watched the sun rise out of the Pacific. No rush.
Looking forward to the report, Stefan!
Trivia: The posts running between the pier and rock wall are relics from a time when it was deemed appropriate to separate sharks and bathers. I have no idea why, or even when, the nets strung between the posts were removed; maybe, it was because of new enlightened attitudes towards wildlife, sharks included.
Although I set off from home at almost exactly the same time as Stefan posted his exhausted message – 8:00 pm in Poland; 4:00 am in Queensland – I had, yet again, the gentlest of rides up the coast. Oh, the joy, even if not the exhausted satisfaction, of not having to keep up with a peloton of gravel enthusiasts!
This time, I stopped for a coffee (thanks Mario!) beneath the tumbled-over trees of Moora Park and watched the sun rise out of the Pacific. No rush.
Looking forward to the report, Stefan!
Moora Park, Brisbane
Trivia: The posts running between the pier and rock wall are relics from a time when it was deemed appropriate to separate sharks and bathers. I have no idea why, or even when, the nets strung between the posts were removed; maybe, it was because of new enlightened attitudes towards wildlife, sharks included.
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fooferdoggie
Well-Known Member
ran out of steam wanted to do 42 miles but could not manage on eco and not sure if the bike would do it on tour. Everyone and their dog came to see the cherry blossoms. its been dead the last two years.
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Brotherhood of Men, or Through Orchards to Warka
Gravel cyclists are certainly not any sissies. When the ten die-hard men met one another at 9:30 am on Sunday in the "R - RoadBike" LBS, it was 2-3 C outside! We got hot coffee and enjoyed life. Half an hour later, the outside temperature rose to +9 C (to get at +14 C at the warmest point of the ride, and to drop to +8 C at the end).
9 men in the picture, and the tenth of them taking this photo
We were riding -- mostly by paved roads and downwind -- to Góra Kalwaria first. My big Vado is now equipped with Specialized Electrak 2.0 Armadillo/Gripton tyres. I appreciate these tyres only now! They are extremely fast rolling on pavement, very suple off-road (if deflated to 3 bar), and puncture resistant. I switched the (75%) Turbo on and disappeared at distance. I could create a big gap between me and my buddies, so I could take the pictures above.
One segment was a difficult off-road part, involving sand and ruts. I crashed. In a slow, very well controlled manner! No damage!
At Góra Kawiarnia Cafe (which I presented yesterday). I was hungry so selected a tart, and I recommended trying the "Carbon" cake to my mate Marcin. He will be certainly more lightweight after eating that!
We passed the Czersk Castle by a series of dangerous descents and climbs over cobblestone roads to eventually hit the promised part: "Through Orchards to Warka". As some of you already know, there is enormous area of orchards in the area (that's why Poland is a major producer of apple and other fruit). So we rode through orchards for a long time!
Someone has to catch a flat on a gravel-cycling group ride. It is a rule. No one is left alone or behind! (See another orchard to the left).
No-one is to be left behind. A mate got a colic. We waited for him and let him rest for a while.
Sand, sand, sand! The only thing my Electrak tyres could not handle was the sand.
In Warka. By the monument of Hetman Stefan Czarniecki, who won a decisive Battle of Warka against the Swedish in 1656. Another hero, the Polish-American Casimir Pulaski also had his roots in Warka (although he was born in Warsaw). Nowadays, Warka (literally: Brew) hosts an enormous brewery making lagers. Lager beer is not my kettle of fish but for example the "Królewskie" (Royal) Beer is made in Warka.
The return to Warsaw was terrible for all of us. All 50+ km ride was against a strong headwind! I got weak for some part of the ride. Later, it seems the food I ate in Warka helped restoring my strength, and we even tried some Keirin (with me in the front as the pacing motorcycle)
This picture reflects the spirit of gravel cycling very well Camaraderie, and a lot of fun because of the difficulties en route
Ride Map.
Gravel cyclists are certainly not any sissies. When the ten die-hard men met one another at 9:30 am on Sunday in the "R - RoadBike" LBS, it was 2-3 C outside! We got hot coffee and enjoyed life. Half an hour later, the outside temperature rose to +9 C (to get at +14 C at the warmest point of the ride, and to drop to +8 C at the end).
9 men in the picture, and the tenth of them taking this photo
We were riding -- mostly by paved roads and downwind -- to Góra Kalwaria first. My big Vado is now equipped with Specialized Electrak 2.0 Armadillo/Gripton tyres. I appreciate these tyres only now! They are extremely fast rolling on pavement, very suple off-road (if deflated to 3 bar), and puncture resistant. I switched the (75%) Turbo on and disappeared at distance. I could create a big gap between me and my buddies, so I could take the pictures above.
One segment was a difficult off-road part, involving sand and ruts. I crashed. In a slow, very well controlled manner! No damage!
At Góra Kawiarnia Cafe (which I presented yesterday). I was hungry so selected a tart, and I recommended trying the "Carbon" cake to my mate Marcin. He will be certainly more lightweight after eating that!
We passed the Czersk Castle by a series of dangerous descents and climbs over cobblestone roads to eventually hit the promised part: "Through Orchards to Warka". As some of you already know, there is enormous area of orchards in the area (that's why Poland is a major producer of apple and other fruit). So we rode through orchards for a long time!
Someone has to catch a flat on a gravel-cycling group ride. It is a rule. No one is left alone or behind! (See another orchard to the left).
No-one is to be left behind. A mate got a colic. We waited for him and let him rest for a while.
Sand, sand, sand! The only thing my Electrak tyres could not handle was the sand.
In Warka. By the monument of Hetman Stefan Czarniecki, who won a decisive Battle of Warka against the Swedish in 1656. Another hero, the Polish-American Casimir Pulaski also had his roots in Warka (although he was born in Warsaw). Nowadays, Warka (literally: Brew) hosts an enormous brewery making lagers. Lager beer is not my kettle of fish but for example the "Królewskie" (Royal) Beer is made in Warka.
The return to Warsaw was terrible for all of us. All 50+ km ride was against a strong headwind! I got weak for some part of the ride. Later, it seems the food I ate in Warka helped restoring my strength, and we even tried some Keirin (with me in the front as the pacing motorcycle)
This picture reflects the spirit of gravel cycling very well
Camaraderie, and a lot of fun because of the difficulties en route Ride Map.
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Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Some anecdotes...
As we were waiting for some stragglers, a Frankenstein "e-bike" zoomed by us at very high speed, perhaps 60 km/h or more. One of my mates exclaimed: "Stefan, a friend of yours!" My immediate answer was: "He is no friend of mine. My friends are all pedalling" BTW, I have become a member of the South Warsaw Cycling Club!
Can you see that tall man in the center? He's exactly 2.00 m tall and is still too tall for an XXL gravel bike. He also is a Performing Cyclist (I could see him in action during a Graveloza tour). When I rode up to the front on the group, and we tried to do some Keirin upwind, I consistently kept at the front of the peloton. On some occasion, the tall guy wanted to give me a change, and he overtook me. No way! I pressed on my pedals harder and just replaced him again! He only gasped from the surprise and giggled from amusement (Grandpa Stefan not giving up!)
As we were waiting for some stragglers, a Frankenstein "e-bike" zoomed by us at very high speed, perhaps 60 km/h or more. One of my mates exclaimed: "Stefan, a friend of yours!" My immediate answer was: "He is no friend of mine. My friends are all pedalling"
BTW, I have become a member of the South Warsaw Cycling Club!Can you see that tall man in the center? He's exactly 2.00 m tall and is still too tall for an XXL gravel bike. He also is a Performing Cyclist (I could see him in action during a Graveloza tour). When I rode up to the front on the group, and we tried to do some Keirin upwind, I consistently kept at the front of the peloton. On some occasion, the tall guy wanted to give me a change, and he overtook me. No way! I pressed on my pedals harder and just replaced him again!
He only gasped from the surprise and giggled from amusement (Grandpa Stefan not giving up!) Some anecdotes...
View attachment 118077
As we were waiting for some stragglers, a Frankenstein "e-bike" zoomed by us at very high speed, perhaps 60 km/h or more. One of my mates exclaimed: "Stefan, a friend of yours!" My immediate answer was: "He is no friend of mine. My friends are all pedalling"
Can you see that tall man in the center? He's exactly 2.00 m tall and is still too tall for an XXL gravel bike. He also is a Performing Cyclist (I could see him in action during a Graveloza tour). When I rode up to the front on the group, and we tried to do some Keirin upwind, I consistently kept at the front of the peloton. On some occasion, the tall guy wanted to give me a change, and he overtook me. No way! I pressed on my pedals harder and just replaced him again!
I love this group! They sound so fun, welcoming, & encouraging.
And I want some of that fabulous food.
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
Havent read any posts, just nipping in to post mine.
Got a quick ride in to a bridleway near Moel Artur in North Wales, it didn't go terribly well, as in the bike pretty well packed in, but only resulted in bit of exercise in the sunshine, so
still a win.
I really need to buy some proper cycling gear
So I came across a herd of cows on the path, no chance of pushing through them, so I climbed up into the field with the bike, walked off to film something, looked around to find they had climbed up to investigate it and were licking the seat, no cows were hurt in this photograph.
I really wasnt expecting to find a modern luxury house half way down this path, very nice indeed, the only access is via this rough track.
OK, Wesh language lesson time, how would you pronounce that?
I do notice that anything important is only written in English, not suggesting anything, the standing English joke is there no Welsh word for Bed and Breakfast
It says, I presume , Please keep the bridleway clear, this sign reminds me of the classic sign that was put up in Wales a few years back, the Welsh translation, bearing in mind it was an official council road sign printed on metal sheet...said ' insert Welsh translation here', oh we laughed.
This was the 'bad' bit, the cutting out fault I thought I had fixed suddenly got much worse and I had to push the bike back to the van over the top of the hill, funnily enough it worked enough to pull me up alongside it, which helped considerably, except for the banging of the shins on the pedal every 10ft.
Final Welsh lesson, this says..if it's a direct translation from the English below
'Think sheep, please keeps dogs on a lead near livestock'
And finally, I dont usually use footpaths in sensitive areas, but needs must in this situation and I was only pushing it anyway, but the walk up the freaking massive hill sapped me so much I had to have a rest halfway through lifting it over.
Im borrowing a proper emtb on Wednesday, so that should be different.
Got a quick ride in to a bridleway near Moel Artur in North Wales, it didn't go terribly well, as in the bike pretty well packed in, but only resulted in bit of exercise in the sunshine, so
still a win.
I really need to buy some proper cycling gear
So I came across a herd of cows on the path, no chance of pushing through them, so I climbed up into the field with the bike, walked off to film something, looked around to find they had climbed up to investigate it and were licking the seat, no cows were hurt in this photograph.
I really wasnt expecting to find a modern luxury house half way down this path, very nice indeed, the only access is via this rough track.
OK, Wesh language lesson time, how would you pronounce that?
I do notice that anything important is only written in English, not suggesting anything, the standing English joke is there no Welsh word for Bed and Breakfast
It says, I presume , Please keep the bridleway clear, this sign reminds me of the classic sign that was put up in Wales a few years back, the Welsh translation, bearing in mind it was an official council road sign printed on metal sheet...said ' insert Welsh translation here', oh we laughed.
This was the 'bad' bit, the cutting out fault I thought I had fixed suddenly got much worse and I had to push the bike back to the van over the top of the hill, funnily enough it worked enough to pull me up alongside it, which helped considerably, except for the banging of the shins on the pedal every 10ft.
Final Welsh lesson, this says..if it's a direct translation from the English below
'Think sheep, please keeps dogs on a lead near livestock'
And finally, I dont usually use footpaths in sensitive areas, but needs must in this situation and I was only pushing it anyway, but the walk up the freaking massive hill sapped me so much I had to have a rest halfway through lifting it over.
Im borrowing a proper emtb on Wednesday, so that should be different.
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
The net should be between the beach and the water.
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
A Specialized Turbo Levo SL comes to one's mind
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
Orange emtb actually
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