Our Rides in Words, Photos & Videos

[Prairie Dog]

True Art, but there are so many places in the world that would welcome our "problems". Anything further I could add to top up would be political so I won't, as it has no business in here with our ebikes.

Duly noted. Back to the topic at hand. Let's hope that we can get out for a ride before conditions become too sloppy.

 

[reed scott]

No politics. Absolutely. I'm just extremely impressed with the Red Deer area. I know of nothing like it anywhere in Texas. Rich folks and their gated communities and golf courses are one thing but true public areas and advantages such as PD shows us makes me truly envious. More communities should try to create such wonderful play lands for their populace.

 

[Deleted member 18083]

I finished my audiobook, Peter May's The Man With No Face.
It's one of his earlier publications and I enjoyed it. It was written in 1981, and so the technology we take for granted now, wasn't there. No cell phones, no internet, etc.

Audiobooks without end?

Chapter 73… at last!

As always, I'm making heavy weather of listening to the audiobooks that I'm force-fed by my one-per-month Audible subscription. Of course, there are always 'bargain' temptations to get one hooked on a new series, and in January it was the 'complimentary' prequel to Ken Follett's Kingsbridge trilogy. That makes four books, instead of three, and, as I always buy the complementary Kindle edition, everyone's a winner, especially Amazon.

An hour or so into this morning's ride I was almost four-fifths of the way through the third book of Ken Follett's Middle Ages mayhem. Only nine hours to go! How many more dastardly deeds await. Will the villainous lord escape the Black Death – the loathsome prior didn't – and will the thwarted lovers be wed. More significantly, will I be able to take a break before diving headlong into the fourth book of the 'trilogy'?

 

[Prairie Dog]

No politics. Absolutely. I'm just extremely impressed with the Red Deer area. I know of nothing like it anywhere in Texas. Rich folks and their gated communities and golf courses are one thing but true public areas and advantages such as PD shows us makes me truly envious. More communities should try to create such wonderful play lands for their populace.

Not to worry, Reed. We love and enjoy all of the public amenities provided to us in our relatively small community which includes the excellent trail/pathway system. The Riverbend Ring also depends on the hard work of volunteers and groups including the local Nordic Ski Assoc which establishes, sets and maintains the ski tracks that can be seen on the sides of the runs. I have yet to see the machine/device that creates the distinctive corduroy or corrugated pattern in the center of the trails.

 

[Art Deco]

Not to worry, Reed. We love and enjoy all of the public amenities provided to us in our relatively small community which includes the excellent trail/pathway system. The Riverbend Ring also depends on the hard work of volunteers and groups including the local Nordic Ski Assoc which establishes, sets and maintains the ski tracks that can be seen on the sides of the runs. I have yet to see the machine/device that creates the distinctive corduroy or corrugated pattern in the center of the trails.

When they bring out the zamboni ?, that's a clue to stay away ...

 

[RandallS]

Audiobooks without end?

Chapter 73… at last!

As always, I'm making heavy weather of listening to the audiobooks that I'm force-fed by my one-per-month Audible subscription. Of course, there are always 'bargain' temptations to get one hooked on a new series, and in January it was the 'complimentary' prequel to Ken Follett's Kingsbridge trilogy. That makes four books, instead of three, and, as I always buy the complementary Kindle edition, everyone's a winner, especially Amazon.

An hour or so into this morning's ride I was almost four-fifths of the way through the third book of Ken Follett's Middle Ages mayhem. Only nine hours to go! How many more dastardly deeds await. Will the villainous lord escape the Black Death – the loathsome prior didn't – and will the thwarted lovers be wed. More significantly, will I be able to take a break before diving headlong into the fourth book of the 'trilogy'?

@David Berry
I don't hear of many other bikers who listen to audiobooks.
We love them and try to keep a good selection of different length listens to be available for road trips.

I really enjoy solo rides with a good book, but limit my listening when on the road or when it's busy on the paths.
I remember listening to cassette tapes on trips to the west coast, and I have a selection of CDs too.
Now it's Audible.com like yourself or stuff from the library (via an app called LIBBY), all on my phone.

If you've heard an especially good one, DM me here and I will do likewise if desired.

 

[Deleted member 18083]

After (or before?) the rain …

Pine Mountain Road, Wanora, QLd
8.55 am (today)​

There have been clouds hanging around for the last few days; there's even been a bit of rain with some areas receiving a generous share of the greening stuff.

Yesterday dawned perfect (photo below) and I ventured out before the sky's mood changed. It certainly did; by late afternoon the rain was sluicing down. The garden loved it but I was apprehensive this morning and kept to local roads (above) so that a quick exit could be made if necessary.

Brisbane Valley Rail Trail, Wanora, QLD
6.55 am, (yesterday)​

 

[ChezCheese:)]

Audiobooks without end?
View attachment 80405
Chapter 73… at last!

As always, I'm making heavy weather of listening to the audiobooks that I'm force-fed by my one-per-month Audible subscription. Of course, there are always 'bargain' temptations to get one hooked on a new series, and in January it was the 'complimentary' prequel to Ken Follett's Kingsbridge trilogy. That makes four books, instead of three, and, as I always buy the complementary Kindle edition, everyone's a winner, especially Amazon.

An hour or so into this morning's ride I was almost four-fifths of the way through the third book of Ken Follett's Middle Ages mayhem. Only nine hours to go! How many more dastardly deeds await. Will the villainous lord escape the Black Death – the loathsome prior didn't – and will the thwarted lovers be wed. More significantly, will I be able to take a break before diving headlong into the fourth book of the 'trilogy'?

Aren't audiobooks available free to download from your public library? If not, I have library privileges at three different library systems, and I can send you my login details if you would like to check out ebooks and audiobooks from them. I am allowed 20 titles out at a time, and there is no way I can consume 60 books at any one time.

 

[RandallS]

Aren't audiobooks available free to download from your public library? If not, I have library privileges at three different library systems, and I can send you my login details if you would like to check out ebooks and audiobooks from them. I am allowed 20 titles out at a time, and there is no way I can consume 60 books at any one time.

The library systems work great and I use mine all the time. However I've been an Audible member since 2005 and have a very large library.

Our method is always use the library first but for some book series that we already own, we top those up with the paid versions from Audible.
Case in point - Phillip Kerr's excellent Bernie Gunther novels, we own them all, while some of his other works, we were OK to wait for availability at the library.

I haven't read a physical book in ages - but I have shelves full of ones that don't seem to be available digitally "just in case"...
Not likely as my eyes aren't the best - I have been wearing glasses since I was 5.

 

[Dallant]

Finally got back on the bike and some of the trails are mostly snow-free. I did need to walk the bike now and then, just to be careful. It was a beautiful, semi-warm day!

 

[Prairie Dog]

Just getting caught up to speed with this late submission from Monday's ride which featured a duet of sorts. After being sheared off of its bar mount following an unplanned dismount, my Garmin continued to record the ride stats inside my jacket pocket.

It was a relatively cool morning when I met up with a friend of mine here in town and we decided to hit the trails while the conditions were still prime. Kelvin and I are both members of a cycling meetup group based out of Millet, Alberta. He also happens to own a 2020 Turbo Levo Comp which is a bike that I've always coveted. Likewise, I was also quite envious of the 29" Ice Spiker Pros that he had installed on his bike and it was fortuitous that he was able to obtain them from a shop right here in town. Regrettably, I was stymied in my search so late in the season for those same sought-after tires which appear to have been sold out everywhere.

As expected, he blew me off on the single track runs at both Heritage Ranch and The Pines as we eventually made our way out to Riverbend via this more technical route. I was never able to catch up to him regardless of how hard I tried. Kelvin is a former dirt biker and his skill set in negotiating the narrow trails is obvious in the video footage. Skiing every week likely helps with his conditioning. I wisely took his suggestion of actively using only rear braking when cornering which allowed me to pivot/slide the rear end out for quicker exits on the narrow and twisty sections. Unfortunately, the snow on both sides of the trail made it particularly challenging. Once you're in the deeper stuff, you're stuck.

Stop over at Bower Ponds along the way to Riverbend.

I hope to get in a few more runs under his tutelage before the spring thaw. Then it's off with the studded Wrathchilds and on with the Maxxis Dissectors as I'll be content with riding the trails here for a good portion of the summer months. Hopefully, this won’t greatly impact any of the e-road trips that I've planned. It should be an epic summer of riding regardless.

The Trance handled itself extremely well on the snow-covered single track and with a bit more guidance from Kelvin I’m hoping to fine tune my trail skills and perhaps see more, or better yet, fewer views of his (bike’s) rear end.

Ride on!!

 

[Art Deco]

Ok. So it looks like you are racing in the snow. Death wish?

 

[reed scott]

Ok. So it looks like you are racing in the snow. Death wish?

Boys will be boys.

 

[Chargeride]

February Metric Century (With A Merry Gang)

I woke up at 5:20 a.m. I got on the train at 7:21 (where I met my contact Przemek). At 8:06, Przemek, Staszek, Ania and I rode out in direction of Wilanów (The Lover's Bridge) to meet the last group member, Janek. If I rode alone, I would just take city roads with my Vado. The Merry Gang's philosophy is "We don't ride roads inside cities". That led to some humiliating situation in which the Gang had to haul my Vado upstairs onto an overpass... So grateful I was!

The Merry Gang:

• Przemek (Przemysław), a dedicated gravel cyclist, riding a gravel bike. His longest trip was 211 km.
• Staszek (Stanisław), a competing cyclist: gravel, road, off-road. He chose a hardtail MTB for the trip. His personal best is 256 km.
• Ania (Anna), an avid roadie, with 253.8 km max daily trip distance. A petite riding a road bike.
• Janek (Jan), a young man of hot blood (he's not afraid of cold at all!) riding a Giant hardtail. His max achievement is a metric century.

The gang is a group of cyclist who met one another via FB groups with a motto: "We hate riding bikes. We love long bike rides"

View attachment 80275
The Merry Gang in Cieciszew, on a popular cycling route from Warsaw to Góra Kalwaria (Mt. Calvary) along the River Vistula. (L to R): Staszek, Przemek, Ania, and Janek.

View attachment 80276
A group selfie taken by Przemek with Samsung Note (it includes a camera remote). The phone was supported on the pannier on my Vado's rack

View attachment 80277
A bikers' cafe in Góra Kalwaria. Poland has become a cycling nation. We could see plethora of cyclist on that cold, windy day.

View attachment 80278
Staszek devouring a cake. (Because of covid, we could not enjoy staying inside the cafe). To my credit, I only ate a single grape and two raisins on the whole trip (I need to further reduce my body mass!) Ah, unsweetened coffee was delicious there!

View attachment 80279
Przemek was expected to be the subject of that photo. See the bike at the left: How is it supported?!

View attachment 80280
The Merry Gang as pictured by Przemek.

View attachment 80282
Our Mt. Calvary is indeed a cycling city. See the roadie on a Specialized bike (There are several cycling related murals in Góra Kalwaria).
P.S. Michał Kwiatkowski, 2014 World Champion (Ponferrada).

View attachment 80283
I found Góra Kalwaria to be a gorgeous small city. It must be wonderful in the warm season! Here, "Officer's Mess" restaurant and "Barracks" hotel inside former military barracks.

View attachment 80285
After the Gang split in my neighbourhood, I already knew it would be a metric century. As nobody was watching, I simply went into 100% Turbo mode for the last 12 km Yes, bought post-ride ales, too!

View attachment 80286
The westward trip leg meant riding into significant headwind. At some point I couldn't stand the thought of the Gang suffering. I rode to the front and shouted "Ride behind me!" Przemek was giving me speed and route directions from behind me, and the peloton was properly drafting Przemek made the pack ride into the woods... Frozen and melting puddles, bumps, mud. Ania was riding her road bike... Poor darling! How brave she was!

View attachment 80287
It was cold. We got drizzle after passing Tarczyn. Still, the metric century made! Ania even made 70+ miles! And Staszek rode for 82 miles!!!

@Art Deco: The "obituary" you wrote made my day! Thank you!

@Jimfastcar: RideWithGPS, Strava, and Mapy.cz

Its a reminder as much as we like to look at lovely pics of ebikes, its the ultimate goal of bringing people together and their ability to level the playing field that is their greatest strength.
Great post.
I realise I look like a bit of a loner.
I'll have to put the band back together.
They sent me this great pic from the woods.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Ok. So it looks like you are racing in the snow. Death wish?

On the contrary, I've never felt safer on a bike. Downhill skiers face the same or greater risks and go even faster. Just need to be wary of one’s limitations.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Boys will be boys.

Two 60 + year old boys!

 

[RandallS]

@Prairie Dog Darn it that looked fun! Hopefully can join you on one of those soon and see how a HT matches up on that terrain.

 

[Art Deco]

On the contrary, I've never felt safer on a bike. Downhill skiers face the same or greater risks and go even faster. Just need to be wary of one’s limitations.

Not to mention that I've heard downhill sking is quite dangerous. But if you felt safe, you probably are safe . Good enough for me.

 

[Art Deco]

Its a reminder as much as we like to look at lovely pics of ebikes, its the ultimate goal of bringing people together and their ability to level the playing field that is their greatest strength.
Great post.
I realise I look like a bit of a loner.
I'll have to put the band back together.
They sent me this great pic from the woods.

View attachment 80542

I think they like you. There's even an empty bike waiting...

 

[reed scott]

View attachment 80525
View attachment 80526
View attachment 80528
Just getting caught up to speed with this late submission from Monday's ride which featured a duet of sorts. After being sheared off of its bar mount following an unplanned dismount, my Garmin continued to record the ride stats inside my jacket pocket.

It was a relatively cool morning when I met up with a friend of mine here in town and we decided to hit the trails while the conditions were still prime. Kelvin and I are both members of a cycling meetup group based out of Millet, Alberta. He also happens to own a 2020 Turbo Levo Comp which is a bike that I've always coveted. Likewise, I was also quite envious of the 29" Ice Spiker Pros that he had installed on his bike and it was fortuitous that he was able to obtain them from a shop right here in town. Regrettably, I was stymied in my search so late in the season for those same sought-after tires which appear to have been sold out everywhere.
View attachment 80529
View attachment 80530
As expected, he blew me off on the single track runs at both Heritage Ranch and The Pines as we eventually made our way out to Riverbend via this more technical route. I was never able to catch up to him regardless of how hard I tried. Kelvin is a former dirt biker and his skill set in negotiating the narrow trails is obvious in the video footage. Skiing every week likely helps with his conditioning. I wisely took his suggestion of actively using only rear braking when cornering which allowed me to pivot/slide the rear end out for quicker exits on the narrow and twisty sections. Unfortunately, the snow on both sides of the trail made it particularly challenging. Once you're in the deeper stuff, you're stuck.
View attachment 80531View attachment 80532View attachment 80533View attachment 80534
Stop over at Bower Ponds along the way to Riverbend.
View attachment 80535
I hope to get in a few more runs under his tutelage before the spring thaw. Then it's off with the studded Wrathchilds and on with the Maxxis Dissectors as I'll be content with riding the trails here for a good portion of the summer months. Hopefully, this won’t greatly impact any of the e-road trips that I've planned. It should be an epic summer of riding regardless.

The Trance handled itself extremely well on the snow-covered single track and with a bit more guidance from Kelvin I’m hoping to fine tune my trail skills and perhaps see more, or better yet, fewer views of his (bike’s) rear end.

Ride on!!

Oh crap! Serious vertigo. Can't watch.