Our Rides in Words, Photos & Videos

[reed scott]

I

I want to thank you and others for taking me/us along on some of these beautiful adventures. Green pastures and Shetland Ponies first thing in the morning. Terrific.


Aside: I do have a question about included photos. I see some full size and others reduced in size. How is that accomplished?

By choosing 'thumbnail' as opposed to full size in the pic transfer ( from your file to the board ) function.

 

[Cowlitz]

Where's "here"?

In latitude range, NZ is equivalent to Spain. Topography wise the South Island is (very) different compared to the UK.

Cheers

Washington the State. The work would have been on the South Island and this was three decades ago. It was a large timber company recruiting. The pay would have been half of what it was here though.

We have steep ground, rain, glaciers etc. and even deserts. It all depends on what side of the mountains you are on. Unfortunately, this corner of the U.S. has been discovered.

On the wet side of the state:

On the dry side, about the same elevation:

If you don't like the weather, a few hours drive and you can be in another climate

 

[kahn]

Washington the State. The work would have been on the South Island and this was three decades ago. It was a large timber company recruiting. The pay would have been half of what it was here though.

We have steep ground, rain, glaciers etc. and even deserts. It all depends on what side of the mountains you are on. Unfortunately, this corner of the U.S. has been discovered.

On the wet side of the state:
View attachment 122414
On the dry side, about the same elevation:
View attachment 122415
If you don't like the weather, a few hours drive and you can be in another climate

I was just explaining to someone about the impact of the Convergence Zone and freezing level on snow accumulation. East of Everett, Mt Dickerman is always an interesting example of both the convergence zone and the general winter freezing or snow level. You'd be hiking along in Spring and there'd be some snow but as you reached about 4,000 feet or so, suddenly the snow accumulation would increase greatly from inches of a foot to 4, 5 or 6 feet in depth. Below that level over most of Winter it would generally rain and so not a lot of accumulation. Above 4,000 feet or so, it would be snow much of Winter and so tons of snow.

The Convergence Zone is the term applied to weather conditions east of the Olympic Mts. They tend to block incoming storms and the winds diverge around them and then re-converge east. Depending on the wind direction, the convergence swings a bit north or south, focusing rain/snow differently. It generally tends to focus just north of Seattle but again, varies. And, yes, the east/west divide in Washington state as well as Oregon and Calif is quite dramatic. I like how it affects those areas.

 

[PatriciaK]

Washington the State. The work would have been on the South Island and this was three decades ago. It was a large timber company recruiting. The pay would have been half of what it was here though.

We have steep ground, rain, glaciers etc. and even deserts. It all depends on what side of the mountains you are on. Unfortunately, this corner of the U.S. has been discovered.

On the wet side of the state:
View attachment 122414
On the dry side, about the same elevation:
View attachment 122415
If you don't like the weather, a few hours drive and you can be in another climate

I love our State!

 

[kahn]

I love our State!

Let's not go overboard. As I just wrote elsewhere, it is 46F (7.x C) and raining hard. It is quite miserable out there. But it might be sunny on the other side of the Cascades (it is NOT).

 

[Stefan Mikes]

42 km To Just Buy Salt, Sweetener, Bread & Nespresso

I woke up early in the morning with a terrible feeling I was not interested in riding anymore. As I live in a secluded area with very few access roads, any ride means covering the same boring area again! Fortunately for me, @mogulman asked how you connected a Garmin Edge to Vado SL (in another thread). I decided to pay a visit to Jacek at his business to ultimately find out! And, I discovered I was missing salt, a sweetener, bread and coffee capsules! What a good reason for riding to the Wola quarter of Warsaw!

It was very warm and sunny. The Spring Has Come!

An unusual sight: Garmin displaying Polish headings Fortunately, a Wahoo cannot "speak" my native tongue

I can buy proper bread and inexpensive nespresso capsules in Carrefour Market only. Fortunately, I could find one nearby Jacek's business.

I took a long route for a better workout. Here, the notorious Moszna Stack as seen from 6.5 km (10x zoom).

The borough of Ożarów Mazowiecki uses EU money (among others) for restoration of historical places, and you also can find a signpost leading to such locations. That way, I could find some interesting places just 3,400 m away from where I live: in Gołaszew. Here, a chapel from the 2nd half of 19th c.

A mansion from 1858. That almost modern, delicate structure was designed by an architect who was fascinated with Far East.

A late 19th c. granary.

I was pedalling with the "fitness assistance" of 35/100% SL. This kind of setting makes you pedal hard if you want to move at a decent speed, with the motor rewarding your effort. I only used up the charge of a single Range Extender for the ride!

 

[Chargeride]

The saga continues..
I present to you the only full suspension, electric, hub drive, mullet fatbike in the world.

Cartridge (it is how @Brix calls you, haha!)
Buy yourself a decent e-bike please... A Levo?

 

[Chargeride]

42 km To Just Buy Salt, Sweetener, Bread & Nespresso

I woke up early in the morning with a terrible feeling I was not interested in riding anymore. As I live in a secluded area with very few access roads, any ride means covering the same boring area again! Fortunately for me, @mogulman asked how you connected a Garmin Edge to Vado SL (in another thread). I decided to pay a visit to Jacek at his business to ultimately find out! And, I discovered I was missing salt, a sweetener, bread and coffee capsules! What a good reason for riding to the Wola quarter of Warsaw!

It was very warm and sunny. The Spring Has Come!

View attachment 122420View attachment 122421
An unusual sight: Garmin displaying Polish headings Fortunately, a Wahoo cannot "speak" my native tongue

View attachment 122422
I can buy proper bread and inexpensive nespresso capsules in Carrefour Market only. Fortunately, I could find one nearby Jacek's business.

View attachment 122423
I took a long route for a better workout. Here, the notorious Moszna Stack as seen from 6.5 km (10x zoom).

View attachment 122424
The borough of Ożarów Mazowiecki uses EU money (among others) for restoration of historical places, and you also can find a signpost leading to such locations. That way, I could find some interesting places just 3,400 m away from where I live: in Gołaszew. Here, a chapel from the 2nd half of 19th c.

View attachment 122425
A mansion from 1858. That almost modern, delicate structure was designed by an architect who was fascinated with Far East.

View attachment 122426
A late 19th c. granary.

View attachment 122427
I was pedalling with the "fitness assistance" of 35/100% SL. This kind of setting makes you pedal hard if you want to move at a decent speed, with the motor rewarding your effort. I only used up the charge of a single Range Extender for the ride!

So how is the cost of living going in Poland?
Everythings gone up about 10%, building materials more like 30%, I do some occasional work for a friend fitting boilers as Im gas registered.
He's paying me £50 a day extra straight off the bat, this is just going to spiral out of control.
So what Im actually saying is I cant afford a Levo on my pension

 

[mikeschn]

42 km To Just Buy Salt, Sweetener, Bread & Nespresso

I woke up early in the morning with a terrible feeling I was not interested in riding anymore.

Stefan,

Are you sure it's not the wine, causing a lack of serotonin?

Mike...

 

[Chargeride]

Thats my biggest fear, a few years back I was driving to the mountains with the bike and a total lack of interest washed over me, I actually turned back.
Its part of the reason I ride my stupid creations, its an extra level of involvement and consequence.
Building something and having it survive or be an improvement is just a bit of extra feedback.
I guess posting the rides here helps as well, I do like to read about other peoples rides and Stefan does put a lot of effort into his reports, and they come thick and fast, I dont think hes posted a boring one yet.

 

[DiggyGun]

Thats my biggest fear, a few years back I was driving to the mountains with the bike and a total lack of interest washed over me, I actually turned back.
Its part of the reason I ride my stupid creations, its an extra level of involvement and consequence.
Building something and having it survive or be an improvement is just a bit of extra feedback.
I guess posting the rides here helps as well, I do like to read about other peoples rides and Stefan does put a lot of effort into his reports, and they come thick and fast, I dont think hes posted a boring one yet.

Stefan always has better food than me…

We shop in a number of Polish shops as Mrs DG is Polish. I must admit that their choice is more interesting than some of the offerings in the UK supermarkets. Plus their meat and deli counter has some great choices.

 

[PatriciaK]

Let's not go overboard. As I just wrote elsewhere, it is 46F (7.x C) and raining hard. It is quite miserable out there. But it might be sunny on the other side of the Cascades (it is NOT).

I learned long ago not to expect "nice" weather on a regular basis until after 15 July... Too many July 4th fireworks displays enjoyed while bundled up in sleeping bags, sipping hot chocolate !

Plus, the north end of Whidbey gets half the rain Seattle does, and is well out of the way of the dreaded convergence zone .

 

[kahn]

I learned long ago not to expect "nice" weather on a regular basis until after 15 July... Too many July 4th fireworks displays enjoyed while bundled up in sleeping bags, shipping hot chocolate !

Plus, the north end of Whidbey gets half the rain Seattle does, and is well out of the way of the dreaded convergence zone .

I can recall many a WET, well, VERY WET 4th of July. I can specifically remember the one where my sister was here from Tucson and we drove to Myrtle Edwards where the fireworks were at that time. It was in the middle 50's and she was wearing down jackets from both myself and my partner. She was freezing. That may also be the same 4th of July when campers from "normal" parts of the US were camping at Mt Rainier covered in SNOW.

And I also remember fleeing to the EAST side for the warmth and sun only to be rained on, on 4th of July. I've commented that coming from NYC, June was summer. NOT here. As you note, they claim that the jet stream does not settle down till the second week in July. I remember training for Ramrod (Ride around Mt Rainier in one day) and having to buy summer weight tights since it was so damn cold. I also remember we did not do the ride due to the forecast - we had no sag help. Yes, they had to take people off the ride suffering from hypothermia in the sleet!!! (and I'm chuckling now as I type type this since it just seems to ridiculous - I should have moved decades ago!)

 

[Stefan Mikes]

So how is the cost of living going in Poland?
Everythings gone up about 10%, building materials more like 30%, I do some occasional work for a friend fitting boilers as Im gas registered.
He's paying me £50 a day extra straight off the bat, this is just going to spiral out of control.
So what Im actually saying is I cant afford a Levo on my pension

Oh yes. The inflation is very high here, too. And I can fully understand you cannot afford a better e-bike. I only think your creation might turn very dangerous for you, taken into account where and how you're riding.

Stefan,

Are you sure it's not the wine, causing a lack of serotonin?

Mike...

Don't take everything I'm writing literally, Mike I often use figures of speech and other tricks to try making my writing more interesting. Honestly, it is the greatest joy for me when I'm back in the saddle, pedalling! And the fifth of May was as Spring-like as it only could be with its very warm and sunny weather! If we're talking about the lack of serotonin, it was the lack of sunshine and many months of cold weather, rather.

Stefan always has better food than me…

We shop in a number of Polish shops as Mrs DG is Polish. I must admit that their choice is more interesting than some of the offerings in the UK supermarkets. Plus their meat and deli counter has some great choices.

I like the food of Poland, true. However, I like the British food when I am in the Isles, as it is so different from ours. The English Full Breakfast is one of the best of human inventions for me! (And I like British sausage too because it is so different!)

English Full Breakfast at Goldsmith's Cafe, 25 Lewisham Way, London SE14 6PP, United Kingdom. The best place I could find. And the price was so attractive as for the expensive London!

 

[Surly]

I wouldn't feed that to a pig. Wrong in every way, what sort of tw@ puts chips on an english breakfast, sausages look old, bacon is cheap shite, no mushrooms, no black pudding. Possibly the worst example ever - but it is london.

 

[reed scott]

I wouldn't feed that to a pig. Wrong in every way, what sort of tw@ puts chips on an english breakfast, sausages look old, bacon is cheap shite, no mushrooms, no black pudding. Possibly the worst example ever - but it is london.

OK. Surly, We need a pic of a good English breakfast.

 

[Surly]

OK. Surly, We need a pic of a good English breakfast.

When i next make one i shall take a picture for you, it might cause controversy though - i put maple syrup on

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Let me tell you about my weekend ride plan.

We had a talk with Jacek on Thursday when we met. I said: 'Brother, it is my dream to see the castle of Liw but it has always been too distant! Ideas?' and he replied: 'Funny you mention that. Did you know my Mum's family roots originated in the area?' And he opened Strava Route Planner, increasing the ride distance each time! 'Well' -- he wrote to me -- 'I started with a Metric Century but I think 107 km would be more appropriate to avoid sands on out trip!' And I'm going to tell him we should visit the village of Urle, too. (Urle is a place inhabited by Mikulskis, no relationship!)

What if I started the trip with riding my Vado to him and back? (I'm afraid to think about yet another Imperial Century!)

Riding less than a Metric Century on a full power e-bike is for sissies! (I could not fail noticing Jacek increased the ride distance to 111 km when I was away!!!)

 

[Twin Valley]

Spring has truly sprung in our area with the first grass cutting, sea of dandelions, and endless yard work - loaded up the Levo and drove an hour to the mountains, pedalled for an hour or two and got bogged down in snow and ice in the high country. But surely nothing can be a better tune-up for one's mood than breathing in the fresh mountain air filtered by the towering evergreens. To top it off we had many sightings of elk, whitetail deer and the bald-headed eagles were making a pass through on their migration. I believe Art (Prairie Dog) detailed an excellent review of this trip over the Highwood Pass last year but obviously we were a bit early in our push to the summit this year. As it turned out we changed our plans after reaching the snow covering 3 or 4 inches of ice and looked to the southern facing ridges in the area and were rewarded following an old trail up into a basin south of what is called the pickle jar lakes a popular summer destination for hikers. It didn't hurt that one of my biking partners was a recently retired head of forestry in the area and pretty much knew every trail and its destination. Wished I could report a picnic of the Diggy Gun standards but alas that will have to remain a summer goal but the cold ale (well a couple) sure tasted good arriving home!

 

[DiggyGun]

I had a lovely full English yesterday at the Super Sausage Cafe in Potterspury, as I had to to take my Nevo3 GT Vario GX for a service.

The cafe has been voted “Britain’s Best Cafe” a number of times and is extremely popular with Bikers.