Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Easter 2022 Metric Century
I got fooled by the weather. When your outside thermometer (located in the shadow) reads +11 C, and you can see magnificent sunshine, you'd think it is the Spring? The mistake was to wear my "one level more lightweight" cycling clothes before I drove with my big Vado to Leszno late on Easter Sunday.
My plan was to ultimately test my Vado 5.0 off-road, riding on deflated Electrak tyres.
The magical place, or the inlet of the Wilków Road (that I love so much). There is a tourist resting place nearby, where I deflated the front tyre to 2 bar (30 psi) and the rear one was deflated to 2.5 bar (35 psi). I continued riding westwards.
As I didn't actually like the exact route (which I had defined myself), I turned into the forest soon. The danger of doing so is you can get easily lost! And I got actually lost. Now, without the network coverage, it is rather difficult to re-route your ride! Fortunately enough, Wahoo lets you pick a point where you intend to go on its offline map. It is tricky with a Wahoo computer (Garmin fares better here) but I was eventually able to find my point of interest on the map and be lead by my Wahoo there.
The Kobendza Oak. The largest oak tree in the Kampinos National Park was named after Professor Kobendza who initiated the concept of creating of the Park. Note: Soon later, I rode over the site of my recent CRASH
I was very careful on this Sunday!
Something I'm not sure I'm fond of. For many centuries, people used to live in the Kampinos Forest. Actually, they lived together with the Forest. For recent many years, the naturalists have postulated "returning the Forest to the Nature". Properties in so many villages have been bought out by the State, and the people were asked to leave. Now, you often meet such depopulated locations in the KPN...
My Vado on the trail. Don't be misled by the sunshine! It was actually cold...
The Verdict
My ride of Easter 2022 has eventually convinced me my full power Vado (that specific version) was not suited the best for forest rides! The e-bike is too heavy (especially with the pannier necessary to carry the spare battery), and it has no suspension. It is a bone-shaker (disregarding the tyre inflation pressure). It is actually sluggish off-road, and this e-bike cannot be ridden fast enough there. Just ride onto the pavement, and my Vado becomes a Highway Star! I consider using my Vado SL for off-road rides in the future.
Once I got onto paved roads, I started riding at a pretty high speed southwards. The deflated tyres were cushioning any asphalt imperfection so delightfully!
I rode up the Magda's Social Care Home in a very short time. The employee happily packed a bag with my daughter's personal belongings so I could carry them to the hospital.
I covered the 17 km to the hospital in no time (compared to my Vado SL). It was like riding a motorcycle! (Each of my e-bikes has its own role, as it turns out). I was admitted to the hospital ward without any issues.
On the return way to Leszno, I was heading northwards through my neighbourhood. The headwind was not strong: it was terribly cold! Everything is closed down on Easter. I was lucky enough to find a petrol station where I could drink a cup of warm coffee. I continued through the "Road That Does Not Exist" to eventually reach my car. I was stiff from the cold! (The photo was taken with the 10x telephoto of my Samsung S21 Ultra phone).
Ride Map, etc. (Note: it was a northerly wind). I was crossing River Utrata for too many times on that day!
I got fooled by the weather. When your outside thermometer (located in the shadow) reads +11 C, and you can see magnificent sunshine, you'd think it is the Spring? The mistake was to wear my "one level more lightweight" cycling clothes before I drove with my big Vado to Leszno late on Easter Sunday.
My plan was to ultimately test my Vado 5.0 off-road, riding on deflated Electrak tyres.
The magical place, or the inlet of the Wilków Road (that I love so much). There is a tourist resting place nearby, where I deflated the front tyre to 2 bar (30 psi) and the rear one was deflated to 2.5 bar (35 psi). I continued riding westwards.
As I didn't actually like the exact route (which I had defined myself), I turned into the forest soon. The danger of doing so is you can get easily lost! And I got actually lost. Now, without the network coverage, it is rather difficult to re-route your ride! Fortunately enough, Wahoo lets you pick a point where you intend to go on its offline map. It is tricky with a Wahoo computer (Garmin fares better here) but I was eventually able to find my point of interest on the map and be lead by my Wahoo there.
The Kobendza Oak. The largest oak tree in the Kampinos National Park was named after Professor Kobendza who initiated the concept of creating of the Park. Note: Soon later, I rode over the site of my recent CRASH
I was very careful on this Sunday!Something I'm not sure I'm fond of. For many centuries, people used to live in the Kampinos Forest. Actually, they lived together with the Forest. For recent many years, the naturalists have postulated "returning the Forest to the Nature". Properties in so many villages have been bought out by the State, and the people were asked to leave. Now, you often meet such depopulated locations in the KPN...
My Vado on the trail. Don't be misled by the sunshine! It was actually cold...
The Verdict
My ride of Easter 2022 has eventually convinced me my full power Vado (that specific version) was not suited the best for forest rides! The e-bike is too heavy (especially with the pannier necessary to carry the spare battery), and it has no suspension. It is a bone-shaker (disregarding the tyre inflation pressure). It is actually sluggish off-road, and this e-bike cannot be ridden fast enough there. Just ride onto the pavement, and my Vado becomes a Highway Star!
I consider using my Vado SL for off-road rides in the future.Once I got onto paved roads, I started riding at a pretty high speed southwards. The deflated tyres were cushioning any asphalt imperfection so delightfully!
I rode up the Magda's Social Care Home in a very short time. The employee happily packed a bag with my daughter's personal belongings so I could carry them to the hospital.
I covered the 17 km to the hospital in no time (compared to my Vado SL). It was like riding a motorcycle! (Each of my e-bikes has its own role, as it turns out). I was admitted to the hospital ward without any issues.
On the return way to Leszno, I was heading northwards through my neighbourhood. The headwind was not strong: it was terribly cold! Everything is closed down on Easter. I was lucky enough to find a petrol station where I could drink a cup of warm coffee. I continued through the "Road That Does Not Exist" to eventually reach my car. I was stiff from the cold! (The photo was taken with the 10x telephoto of my Samsung S21 Ultra phone).
Ride Map, etc. (Note: it was a northerly wind). I was crossing River Utrata for too many times on that day!
Last edited:
severe asthma flare up 
!
