Our Rides in Words, Photos & Videos

[Prairie Dog]

I hit the trails yesterday with a friend and together we rode a full compliment of our favorite singles starting at Garden Hts and continuing on in consecutive fashion along the Bluff, the local MTB Park, The Pines singletrack and finally Heritage Ranch. We even managed to squeeze in a decent hill climb for good measure. I can’t say how happy I was to make the swap over to knobby tires as the studs were becoming a liability. Even root infested hills were greeted with a hefty thumbs up.

This short section of mud along the Bluff single stopped us dead in our tracks. In fact, it was so sticky that so much clay had accumulated on the brake components causing my front wheel to seize up. I picked up a stick, scraped off what I could and carried on.

With snow no longer in the picture, we could once again set our sights on riding up this hill just after exiting the Bench/Bluff trail.

The local MTB park was deserted but we weren’t convinced that the conditions were sufficiently dry so it came as a complete surprise to us that they were in superb shape…a bit loamy but otherwise tons of traction for the knobbies to bite into.

That's one tight hairpin turn.

Kelvin doing his best impression of a tree hugger.

Just another day at the office.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Hi, Mike! Thank you for your first post here!

 

[Deleted member 18083]

Time to check the stats …

The Bog Hole
Pine Mountain, SE Queensland
​

Ebiking has slowed down since the beginning of the year.

January: 31 rides in the same number of days, resulting in a total that surprised me.

February saw a return to normality; March's effort would have been described by my primary school teachers as 'David must try harder' – back in the 1950s, teachers could include such words of encouragement in school reports.

And April? With a few days to go, I realised that the did-not-ride days far outnumbered the did-ride's. Worse, the month's total would be too embarrassing to admit! I sneaked out from home three times yesterday and twice today, partially rectifying the matter. Of course, each ride required a stop at a picnic table – strictly in order to check the stats, you understand.

 

[Chargeride]

Looks like the London police are confiscating overpowered ebikes, most of them look like chinese bought and probably not speed restricted.

 

[PatriciaK]

Finally!!! Got out on my Flow!!! Just 5 miles... It started to rain... Felt so great to ride again !

 

[Chargeride]

Quite a lot of them are fast food delivery bikes from other pictures.
Theres going to be a huge backlash from that, mostly immigrant, minimum wage earners during an economic disaster, using epower to earn a living wage.
This wont go well

 

[Stefan Mikes]

This wont go well

Probably less battery fires and safer roads.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Unnamed Route

I wanted go on a metric century southwards on Saturday. However, we had an online party with @Brix the night before I woke up too late and in bad shape! When I got better, I thought I might take my Vado SL for a ride northwards against a mild NNW wind as well. The weather was so beautiful, I decided to wear Summer cycling clothes! Lucky me I took a windbreaker with me, too! And an extra Range Extender inside a small backpack (REs are truly lightweight! 1 kg or 2.2 lb).

When quickly planning my trip with RideWithGPS, I noticed the default name was "Unnamed Route". And that became the name of my trip!

The ride to the border of the Kampinos National Park just took 34 minutes.

When I was happily drafting the route, I overlooked the fact it would lead through roads I really hated, such as this totally damaged access gravel road...

...or that cobblestone one!

Meanwhile, I felt hungry (it was already early afternoon!), so I changed the route and rode to the "Na szlaku" (On The Trail) biker restaurant in Palmiry (25th kilometre). I started with this excellent, generously hopped alcohol free Ale. There are not many of such ales around but Miłosław Bezalkoholowe really rules!

There was a very limited selection of the food on the day (the cook had probably left for May Holidays), so I only ate the Ukrainian Borscht. The variety is made not only with the red beet but also plenty of vegetables and meat.

There are not many gravel roads in Central Mazovia. Local gravel cyclists make that deficiency up with riding in forests and on any bad roads they can find

Here, my "gravelized" Vado SL shone:

• Lowly attached handlebars with Innerbarend "hoods"
• Full Redshift Shock Stop suspension system (front & rear)
• Specialized Pathfinder Pro 2Bliss gravel tyres
• Before entering the forests, I deflated the tyres down to 3 bar (45 psi) front, 3.4 bar (50 psi) rear. Such pressure was good for asphalt, too!

I could ride these rather flat cobblestones with no pain there!

It took me many kilometres to find the first decent gravel road!

Already in the Hollander Land (50th kilometre). I crossed the River Vistula embankment for some rest. Sun was shining, frogs croaking, birds singing. What you can see is not the river; it is rather a bay (proper Vistula flows behind the green island in the background).

A Mascarpone & Blueberry Cake "At Marta's" in Secymin Polski. Now, I started riding with the mild tailwind. It felt cold.

The return ride over the ridge of the "Carpathians" sand dune inside the KPN.

A traditional visit to Klimatyczna Cafe I could enjoy the sweets outside! At last!

To my big surprise, RideWithGPS found a road I have never ridden before! It was a mud road, full of dried up ruts (@mikeschn - see it!)

The average assistance was about 70/70% (SL), and I used 510 Wh of batteries: the second Range Extender was necessary!

 

[mikeschn]

Interesting ride as always! Did that dirt road with ruts shake you up some?

Do you plan your cafe stops when you plan your route for the day?

Mike…

P.S. You’re up late tonight!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Did that dirt road with ruts shake you up some?

It was surprisingly soft (not ideal, though). The issue there is not to crash!

Do you plan your cafe stops when you plan your route for the day?

Oh yes, I do I learned of all interesting food stops in the area from road and gravel cyclists! However, my decision to make a detour for Borscht was a spontaneous one (the restaurant was not that far off my route plan!)

P.S. You’re up late tonight!

Getting up in 2 1/2 hours A "Gravel Master Race Reconstruction" group ride!

 

[fooferdoggie]

got in 44 miles today mostly in the rain. 12 miles for a haircut and some groceries then a 31 mile ride out to Troutdale. hoping some action at the small airport but nothing.
but longest my wife has been able to ride.

 

[Deleted member 18083]

Quiet country roads …

Pine Mountain, SE Queensland
4 km from home​

It was a day for pottering in the garden but I did escape for a quick ride, the first for the new month on a day that couldn't decide whether to be wet or dry. That hardly mattered: it was cool with a hint – imagination needed – of autumn.

 

[mikeschn]

Quiet country roads …

View attachment 122002

Pine Mountain, SE Queensland
4 km from home​

It was a day for pottering in the garden but I did escape for a quick ride, the first for the new month on a day that couldn't decide whether to be wet or dry. That hardly mattered: it was cool with a hint – imagination needed – of autumn.

That doesn't look like autumn to me... When do you lose your leaves, typically?

Mike...

 

[Chargeride]

got in 44 miles today mostly in the rain. 12 miles for a haircut and some groceries then a 31 mile ride out to Troutdale. hoping some action at the small airport but nothing.
but longest my wife has been able to ride.
View attachment 121984View attachment 121985View attachment 121986

At what point did someone say at an airport management meeting.
We need a giant fork.
edit...Ah..its the food plaza, that might be a spork.

 

[fooferdoggie]

At what point did someone say at an airport management meeting.
We need a giant fork.
edit...Ah..its the food plaza, that might be a spork.

ya before the airport. it most be new I did not see it last time I was up there.

 

[Deleted member 18083]

That doesn't look like autumn to me... When do you lose your leaves, typically?

Mike...

Mike, shedding of bark (in spring; photos in November) is the major indicator of seasonal changes. No 'fall' in the subtropics! We're about 600 km closer to the equator than San Diego.

 

[kahn]

Mike, shedding of bark (in spring; photos in November) is the major indicator of seasonal changes. No 'fall' in the subtropics! We're about 600 km closer to the equator than San Diego.

View attachment 122035

View attachment 122036

Great TEXTURE.

 

[RabH]

The nice weather has gone but it was still a good day for cycling, the rain did threaten at times but thankfully it stayed dry! Not the most scenic route this time but I had an awesome ride once again, mainly back roads so very little traffic! I got a nice surprise when I discovered they have fially fixed one of my favourite roads which has been neglected for years, lovely smpooth tarmac to enjoy! Today I was climbing it so I'm looking forward to descending it soon!

The lambs are growing fast, I was surprised they didn't run when I stopped to take some photos!

This road was also repaired recently, today I was descending it which was pretty awesome!

I haven't used this road for months so it was time to put that right today, its littered with farms so it can be pretty messy in wet conditions!

I just love this descent!

Nice boat on the canal today!

Glenskirlie Castle! Looks a bit modern https://www.glenskirliecastle.co.uk/

Another awesome day on the bike, I'm hoping the weather plays ball and I can get out again this week!

 

[DiggyGun]

Part One: The Honeymoon

We’ve just finished our honeymoon and did a weeklong cycling trip in the Lake District, followed by the same in the Peak District.

I’ve broken this down into four posts, the preamble, (this one) and one for each week in the different National parks and an epilogue.

Initially, we were going on an escorted coach tour to Morocco for the honeymoon. However, we did not fancy three weeks on a coach wearing a mask. Additionally, travelling through six different countries, each with their own rules for COVID, would we get back OK if there was a new outbreak.

So, we had a re-think. And, as Mrs DG has seen so little of the UK being here for just over three years and the effects of COVID, we thought that we would see some of the nice scenery that It has to offer.

We did the New Forest last year and did part of Exmoor in February this year. We are doing the Broads in June, so slowly working out way through the National Parks.

End of Part One and onto Part Two…

 

[ChezCheese:)]

View attachment 121956
Meanwhile, I felt hungry (it was already early afternoon!), so I changed the route and rode to the "Na szlaku" (On The Trail) biker restaurant in Palmiry (25th kilometre). I started with this excellent, generously hopped alcohol free Ale. There are not many of such ales around but Miłosław Bezalkoholowe really rules!

YES!! Miłosław is really a great non-alcoholic ale. Wish it was available in bottles here in the US, instead of cans.