Our Rides in Words, Photos & Videos

[DiggyGun]

Oh we do much worse than that.

We are complicated…

 

[kahn]

Here's what I've been doing rather than biking. Well, doing the early work threw my back out quite painfully. I have managed to bike a few times as only mounting/dismounting seems to stir it up- coughing, sneezing and laughing don't go over well. Sports Medicine doc said I've got a frozen something or other at the base of the spine. What's suppose to be a hinge is some rigid confluence of spine and pelvis. But PT is still two weeks off.

So, the gardening and two most recent rides:

So, what would have taken me weeks (already has!) took them about an hour... Oh, those stock tanks replaced rotting wooden raised beds that we put in about 30 years ago (when my back and most other parts still worked).

And I will ask in the Specialized forum why I get no cadence or power

 

[Bilbo625]

Oh we do much worse than that.
Tyres, diameter inches, width mm
pressure in them psi, weight in grams.

You should try aviation where altitude is in feet, runway visibility is in meters and speed is in knots. But hey, it all works!

 

[ChezCheese:)]

View attachment 118259


Beautiful photo!

 

[kahn]

@David Berry - were you flooded again? I heard something on the news as I was waking up. Hope all is okay.

 

[DiggyGun]

The weather today was a lot colder then it had been of late. It’s been around 16oC, but today is 6oC with a wind of 6mph, making it feel like 4oC, so a bit nippy.

At least it’s not raining, so on with a few more layers and off we go, I even had to put my Gore skull cap on.

However, during the ride I had to put my Gore lobster mittens on as the headwind was a bit cold.

Our first lunch stop, a favourite spot of ours. The Churchyard in Addington, which is always a nice place to relax.

Our second lunch stop. This is a new place for us, the Memorial Gardens in Swanbourne. Ridden past it many times, but never noticed it before. Again, a nice relaxing place to have a spot of lunch.

We did a figure of eight around the villages for a change. And these are the stats for today.

 

[Chargeride]

Reading your posts makes me realise how little of my own country I have visited, even though I think Ive visited a lot.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

The Most Disappointing Full Power Turbo Ride (Ice Cream Ride v.2)

I have got a shipment of SQlab Innerbarends 410/402 with 710 grips from the same brand. I had to collect them at a parcel locker 3.5 km away. Normally, I would have ridden my Vado SL to pick the parcel up but my plan was to ride to Klimatyczna for ice cream again

To make it simpler for you: I drove to "The Junkyard by The Tank" in Pruszków, where I unloaded my "big" Vado, and then rode it to the parcel locker. And then I went westwards to Leszno in 100% Turbo Mode! I had a funny incident en route: I spotted a roadie; as he seemed to be riding in the same direction as me, I overtook him, merrily saying "Hi!" and he returned the greeting. I was at 35 km/h when the roadie sprinted and overtook me! "Oh, you..." Now, I followed him. At 38 km/h, I overtook him again! Now, he was smart and was simply drafting. It was me who lost the leg power first I let him overtake me, and we had a chat:

-- Why, a number plate on your bike? Is it an electric?
-- Yes, it is. A fast one. Mind you, you are racing with a disabled person!

I followed him, and when I was again riding two abreast with him, I said:
-- Forgive me my little jest. I'm not capable to compete with a roadie for a longer distance!
-- That's clear! -- He smiled, and we parted our ways.

Unshaven, bad hair, enjoying Rose Ice Cream at Klimatyczna

Studying Innerbarends by Almond cheesecake

After leaving Klimatyczna, I started considering to improve my Strava E-Bike Course Records...

After the attempt at the 579 -> Pilaszków segment. I was aware it didn't go well...

To make a long story short: My results of today were not fantastic as for a full power e-bike. Yes, very good trip average speed. The previous records not beaten. Vado SL has turned out to be a fast e-bike, provided a solid tailwind. And that result was the most surprising...

A Course Record and a King Of Mountain titles on two so different e-bikes! The average speed for the big Vado was 40.1 km/h.

 

[Mulezen]

I look forward to your opinion on the inner barends

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I look forward to your opinion on the inner barends

I will make a separate thread in "Parts & Accessories" tomorow. I have successfully used the 411 model for a long time on my Vado SL. Now, I am addicted to these grips!

 

[fooferdoggie]

I did this ride to climb to the top of this hill behind our house. my Karoo said I hit 22 degrees on the steepest part and ride by gps shows 18.9 but this thing is so hard to climb even in turbo and me putting out 450 watts I can hardly get up it. I wish I tried it when I had the 11-42 cassette rather then the 11-32. I need more of a spin to climb it well and I Was down to 32 rpms. got my heart rate to around 160 getting up there. found burned down house and when I defended through this huge cemetery found this very expensive crypts right on the road. its a bit weird to have such fancy crypts right next to the road. only 13 miles total but burned almost 500 calories.

Afternoon Ride

13.6 mi, +1157 ft. Bike ride in Johnson City, OR

ridewithgps.com

 

[Chargeride]

Well I borrowed the bike and went back up a big hill with friend, an Orange Surge RS, omg, I was utterly goosed, even in turbo it only has half the power of my midrive, 7 grand bike as well , but thems the rules.
Fantastic day out, only horizontal snow storm forced us back.
Im so glad I kept going, I felt like turning back the whole way, but with my friends support I got to one of the high peaks.
I havent exercised like that for twenty years, both legs went into severe cramp at the top, my age is catching me up

Watch 5cxfli | Streamable

Watch this video on Streamable.

streamable.com

 

[DiggyGun]

Didn’t go out riding today, drove 82 miles each way to order some new cycling glasses. These were the ones I selected.

They are larger than my current ones, which have a prescription insert. To be honest, I was finding them uncomfortable to wear and the insert was a bit on the small side and I was often getting blurred views because of the slightly thick insert frame.

Plus this morning, we too had horizontal snow, but it didn’t last long, the temperature was 1oC, with a wind of 20mph, making it feel like -5oC.

However, on the drive back from Surrey, I noticed that the temperature was 12oC and it was quite bright. But when I got towards Beaconsfield, the skies darkened, the temperature plummeted and the snow started and stayed till I got home.

Nothing like @Prairie Dog gets and it was soon gone, but it is now cold at 1oC, but feels like -3oC.

Hopefully, it will be OK for a ride tomorrow.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Plus this morning, we too had horizontal snow, but it didn’t last long, the temperature was 1oC, with a wind of 20mph, making it feel like -5oC.

However, on the drive back from Surrey, I noticed that the temperature was 12oC and it was quite bright. But when I got towards Beaconsfield, the skies darkened, the temperature plummeted and the snow started and stayed till I got home.

Nothing like @Prairie Dog gets and it was soon gone, but it is now cold at 1oC, but feels like -3oC.

Hopefully, it will be OK for a ride tomorrow.

I’m sure that it beats riding in the rain which luckily, we don’t have to endure over the winter season here. I can’t imagine what it’s like not being able to ride due to wet precip worse if it’s of the horizontal kind. As long as we bundle up, we can still ride even when it’s snowing and cold out.

 

[Cowlitz]

The intent was to take a long ride this afternoon. That didn't happen. I started to pull over for a sip of water and remembered that my water bottle was on the kitchen counter. I rode a couple more miles and turned back.

On the way up, the wind was blowing smoke across the road. It's on an uphill section so I had to breathe, and then cough. On the way home, the wind had switched. This was a fruit orchard last year. I expect it will be houses next year. That'll add more traffic to my unsafe part of this ride. Part of it being unsafe is that there is no speed enforcement at all and cars fly up and down.

This is where I turned around. It burned in 2014, I think. That was my up and down ride today.

 

[DiggyGun]

I’m sure that it beats riding in the rain which luckily, we don’t have to endure over the winter season here. I can’t imagine what it’s like not being able to ride due to wet precip worse if it’s of the horizontal kind. As long as we bundle up, we can still ride even when it’s snowing and cold out.

In the UK we don’t get a lot of snow, but when we do get a good fall, the whole country grinds to a halt. That’s mainly because it is so infrequent and the Councils don’t want to tie up cash in salt or equipment that may only be used once a year.

What we do get is rain, a lot of it. Our winters are like this, grey and damp.

 

[fooferdoggie]

man my wife went to see her mom and I have to keep myself entertained. I wanted to throw my bike on the bus to the beach but I can't get the battery extender and I need it for all the hills. so instead of the 8 miles to work I made it 15 miles. up through the cemetery then back down to work burned 450 calories about the same as the commute both ways. the rode home charged the battery a bit then 15.5 miles up to Mt Tabor an extinct volcano vent in the middle of portland. 7 to 9% grades to the top so not a big deal. but the two rides another 700 calories
those concrete roads suck so rough.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

It Looks Like April Fools' Day...

March 31st, 2022 started for me early in the morning, when -- freezing because of the cold weather -- I installed Innerbarends on my big Vado (I was working outdoor). Then, I installed Innerbarends on my Vado SL (indoors). Finally, I had to ride to Jakoobcycles (the nearest LBS) so the owner could drill a hole in a new SQlab grip (for installing a mirror there). After that, I rode for essential shopping. That made nice 17 km on that pretty cold day.

Innerbarends Review

Upon my return, I discovered I forgot buying milk... But I had enough for the day! In the evening, I was already crawing for milk! Reluctantly, I put my warm clothes on and took my Vado SL in my hand... I was ready for yet another 7.5 km ride! To discover that a little countryside store nearby was still open!

You might laugh at me but I suffer from "intermittent claudication" which means struggling with pain whenever I have to walk. It was more practical for me to ride for less than a kilometre than walking!

 

[RabH]

Back to full winter gear today but at least it was much nicer than yesterday, ice and snow made riding impossible so March ended with 450 miles! Although it was very cold the sun was shining and the roads were dry so I had a great ride on mostly back roads! Conditions like this were just perfect for cycling, despite the cold!

The Campsie hills were looking inviting in the sun today, but I'm certain the sheltered parts would be iced over! I may head that way on Sunday as its looking milder, the last time I went round anti clockwise so it would be good to do the opposite this time!

I'm hoping April will be good to me but next week isn't looking very promising at the moment, hopefully the Spring weather will return soon! I really enjoyed my ride today, I saw quite a few cyclists enjoying the sun also and well wrapped up just like me! No nutters wearing shorts and short sleeves today, no doubt they will be out at the weekend and freezing their bollocks off just to look cool!

 

[Taylor57]

Didn’t go out riding today, drove 82 miles each way to order some new cycling glasses. These were the ones I selected.
View attachment 118465
They are larger than my current ones, which have a prescription insert. To be honest, I was finding them uncomfortable to wear and the insert was a bit on the small side and I was often getting blurred views because of the slightly thick insert frame.

Plus this morning, we too had horizontal snow, but it didn’t last long, the temperature was 1oC, with a wind of 20mph, making it feel like -5oC.

However, on the drive back from Surrey, I noticed that the temperature was 12oC and it was quite bright. But when I got towards Beaconsfield, the skies darkened, the temperature plummeted and the snow started and stayed till I got home.

Nothing like @Prairie Dog gets and it was soon gone, but it is now cold at 1oC, but feels like -3oC.

Hopefully, it will be OK for a ride tomorrow.

How much$?