Our Rides in Words, Photos & Videos

[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$?

 

[Prairie Dog]

It’s nice to see everyone posting photos of green surroundings and flora in bloom. It certainly gives me something to look forward to. One might think this to be an April Fools prank but it’s just another typical spring day in Central Alberta. This photo was taken couple of blocks from home after this morning’s ride on the trails. I can’t seem to convince myself to do the seasonal wheel/tire swap just yet. However, I have faith that the wait will be short lived as recent rising temps are serving notice of warmer times ahead.

 

[DiggyGun]

How much$?

They were £268 for varifocal in Polycarbonate. For single vision in CR39, they were £125.00

 

[reed scott]

View attachment 118529

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!

View attachment 118530
View attachment 118531

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!

View attachment 118532
View attachment 118533

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!

Yeah, we canceled April Fools day on our side of the pond. Things are so screwed up and silly over here we figured who needs a special day for that crap this year?

 

[Csubi]

Did a ride along Mt. Seymour River, up to the Watershed / Dam. Still riding the 2005 Specialized Hardrock BBSHD while I wait for my WW Hydra.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Winter's back full scale in Poland. No rides this weekend.
P.S. Or, maybe? Przemek The Gravel Man wants to teach me how to ride in the snow on gravel tyres...

 

[Chargeride]

I feel the UK is completely back to 'normal' in a 10 dollars a gallon petrol/gas sort of way.
Id forgotten how busy it used to be and the entire population seems to have slightly adjusted their habits, or maybe its just an illusion from short memory.
Prices and living costs are skyrocketing to the point where it could even affect my simple pastime.
Driving to a cycling spot and eating in a cafe has pretty well doubled, that mountain ride cost me 50 quid in diesel and 20 quid in the cafe, shared cost on that one, but local solo rides could become the norm and that might be a good thing...
I cant justify or afford 500 a month to scoot off to beauty spots.
I might get a road bike!!!

 

[DiggyGun]

I feel the UK is completely back to 'normal' in a 10 dollars a gallon petrol/gas sort of way.
Id forgotten how busy it used to be and the entire population seems to have slightly adjusted their habits, or maybe its just an illusion from short memory.
Prices and living costs are skyrocketing to the point where it could even affect my simple pastime.
Driving to a cycling spot and eating in a cafe has pretty well doubled, that mountain ride cost me 50 quid in diesel and 20 quid in the cafe, shared cost on that one, but local solo rides could become the norm and that might be a good thing...
I cant justify or afford 500 a month to scoot off to beauty spots.
I might get a road bike!!!

I know how you feel. We put our bikes in the back of the van, drive somewhere and then cycle.

In March we had a holiday and drive to different places each day. Did 790 miles in the van and 165 miles on the bike. Works out at about £130 in Diesel. It does add up.

We do a lot of local rides where we live, but it is nice to see different places.

We were out yesterday whilst it was bright but cold, about 4oC. Had to cut it short as the skies darkened very quickly, got very cold and windy. Then it started hailing which became very painful. Although we were well wrapped up, our faces were stinging from the hail and when we got home our faces were very red.

Consequently, only did about five miles.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

April Fools' in the UK...

...and in Poland.

 

[DiggyGun]

View attachment 118590
April Fools' in the UK...

View attachment 118591
...and in Poland.

You have to remember that in the UK, when we have the merest amount of snow the whole country grinds to a halt…

 

[Chargeride]

And rightly so, only the scottish and the vikings are built for snow

 

[RabH]

Yeah, we canceled April Fools day on our side of the pond. Things are so screwed up and silly over here we figured who needs a special day for that crap this year?

Speaking of April Fools, our local paper used to print some classics back in the day! The one that sticks in my mind is the time they had a big story on the front page about a new phenomonon called smart water, it said the local indoor swimming pool had invested in it and you can actually go for a swim without getting wet!

 

[Mulezen]

And rightly so, only the scottish and the vikings are built for snow

Throw in a few Canadians

 

[kahn]

You have to remember that in the UK, when we have the merest amount of snow the whole country grinds to a halt…

Seattle does not do well either. Too many hills.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

The most depressing thing here is March typically involves a period of warm weather. As it does not make sense to ride on studded tyres anymore, I replaced them with summer ones. And now... Fortunately, snow managed to melt in the streets and I had a 7.3 km ride to collect a digital Schwalbe manometer from the parcel locker. I see a chance for a 50 km ride on Sunday. I'm afraid of the morning ice though.

 

[fooferdoggie]

took a 4 mile jog before I rode home up in the rich hills of portland. I routed to a lookout location called Pittock Mansion but my route missed the entrance. but still it was a good amount of climbing and some good views. I didn't know the trolly went up here too. some serious houses up here
Love this view of the bridge I ahve seen it from top too but it has so much chainlink its hard to get a good view from it.

 

[Chargeride]

It Looks Like April Fools' Day...

View attachment 118509

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!

Claudication is quite debilitating Ive read, thankfully you dont get it riding.
Of course my legs are hurting today and Ive convinced myself Ive got it now.

 

[Prairie Dog]

I decided to ride the east side of the river along the Bench Trail (aka The Bluff) this morning before the ground conditions were to become too sloppy. At 10am it was already +1C. I discovered that the route was somewhat of a mixed bag but still remained very rideable. Studded tires were very much a requirement….at least they would be for me.

This is what it was like back on March 5 when I rode the Bluff with Manchester Ian. On that occasion we exited out near the top and didn’t bother riding the section leading down to the river as it would have been difficult given the amount of snow that we encountered that day.



Quite a noticeable difference three weeks later. This section of the single track had transformed into a slurry of snow/ ice near the top and a muddy rut down at the bottom.

At the top of the bluff, it was completely dry and thankfully so especially on the steep decent down.

The trail leading back down towards the river was soft and loamy but once again free of ice.


Once the trail bottomed out near the river, things started to get a bit swampy.

My favorite place to stop and reflect as the Trance basks on a log.

Further up the near the end of the trail, someone was kind enough to clear the way of this tree which had toppled down sometime during the winter months.



One more frozen obstacle to deal and I'm home free.



A clean run through the Bluff without any incidents to report. As for the bike, it faired rather well despite the sloppy conditions.