Our Rides in Words, Photos & Videos
Readytoride
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Virginia
A Solar day
I made a big mistake last night. I texted G at about 9pm and asked if she wanted to ride in the morning with me. I warned her I was planning on getting on my bike at 6am because of the forecasted 95°f (35°c) heat by noon, and because I was expecting a construction crew at our place by 9am.
Woke up at 5:30am, noticed no return text from G, and decided 6am was too early for anything other than a return to sleep. At 6am my phone dinged a text. Eyes closed, I felt around on the night table for the phone and opened one eye to read the message. It was from G. It read "I'm just getting up. Was thinking I might ride for a few [miles] but this is too early".
I mentally agreed, placed the phone on the night table and was just heading back to dreamsville when the phone dinged again. This message read "I'll get dressed."
What? Now?!!
I think it took 30 seconds for me to leap put of bed, get dressed, fill the water bottles, and roll the Gazelle out of the garage to a gorgeous morning full of clear skies and cool temps. Met G at her place and we took off on a 10 mile gravel road ride that, due to the gorgeous morning, soon extended towards 15 miles. Our early morning tour had looped us back 2 miles from home with G, who was having a grand time on the ride, ready to do an additional 5 to 10 more miles ...when my phone dinged. The message was from hubby. It read "They're here!!
I hit the call button and told him "I'm 2 miles from home and heading back now." One mile later G spilt off on the Y intersection to her house yelling back a goodbye while I booked it home on my road. Didn't even bike all the way up the driveway but raced through the open gate to the lower field where the Solar Foundation Company crew was waiting for me to make an executive decision on an adjustment to the direction of the new ground array structure.
It was 8:09am
This was the rest of my day (watching with great excitment):
The company doing the trenching for the wires from the solar array to our house arrived at noon and began work on the 120' of underground boring. Subterranean rocks slowed their progress, and then the thunderstorms rolled in, so they will be returning tomorrow to finish trenching. Both jobs will be inspected and approved by the county on the 5th and the solar panels will be installed on the array on the 7th. The solar company technician overseeing the work of both companies left at the end of the day with a big smile and an armful of fresh veggies from our gardens to bring home to his wife.
Rain and more miserable heat is forecast for tomorrow morning, so I plan to take the day off, relax, and watch the Tour de France on TV.
(The building to the left in the pictures is our carriage house, newly re-sided just 2 months ago. Behind it is the barn.)
I made a big mistake last night. I texted G at about 9pm and asked if she wanted to ride in the morning with me. I warned her I was planning on getting on my bike at 6am because of the forecasted 95°f (35°c) heat by noon, and because I was expecting a construction crew at our place by 9am.
Woke up at 5:30am, noticed no return text from G, and decided 6am was too early for anything other than a return to sleep. At 6am my phone dinged a text. Eyes closed, I felt around on the night table for the phone and opened one eye to read the message. It was from G. It read "I'm just getting up. Was thinking I might ride for a few [miles] but this is too early".
I mentally agreed, placed the phone on the night table and was just heading back to dreamsville when the phone dinged again. This message read "I'll get dressed."
What? Now?!!
I think it took 30 seconds for me to leap put of bed, get dressed, fill the water bottles, and roll the Gazelle out of the garage to a gorgeous morning full of clear skies and cool temps. Met G at her place and we took off on a 10 mile gravel road ride that, due to the gorgeous morning, soon extended towards 15 miles. Our early morning tour had looped us back 2 miles from home with G, who was having a grand time on the ride, ready to do an additional 5 to 10 more miles ...when my phone dinged. The message was from hubby. It read "They're here!!
I hit the call button and told him "I'm 2 miles from home and heading back now." One mile later G spilt off on the Y intersection to her house yelling back a goodbye while I booked it home on my road. Didn't even bike all the way up the driveway but raced through the open gate to the lower field where the Solar Foundation Company crew was waiting for me to make an executive decision on an adjustment to the direction of the new ground array structure.
It was 8:09am
This was the rest of my day (watching with great excitment):
The company doing the trenching for the wires from the solar array to our house arrived at noon and began work on the 120' of underground boring. Subterranean rocks slowed their progress, and then the thunderstorms rolled in, so they will be returning tomorrow to finish trenching. Both jobs will be inspected and approved by the county on the 5th and the solar panels will be installed on the array on the 7th. The solar company technician overseeing the work of both companies left at the end of the day with a big smile and an armful of fresh veggies from our gardens to bring home to his wife.
Rain and more miserable heat is forecast for tomorrow morning, so I plan to take the day off, relax, and watch the Tour de France on TV.
(The building to the left in the pictures is our carriage house, newly re-sided just 2 months ago. Behind it is the barn.)
Mulezen
Well-Known Member
The same humid air as above in R2R's post. I stopped at the mysterious (to me) tree-shrouded nunnery. I don't believe the house to the left of them is affiliated. On the other side of the road I saw this deer in the same place I saw an albino one 18 moths ago.
I've been experiencing growing pains adjusting to the Nyon...and I havent tried to use the map yet. Some problems I've resolved...unlike COBI I no longer have use of Strava and the readout of my Apple Watches' BPM. In fact it seems to block the sampling in the watch itself. Some problems like synching and dialup Wifi is a consequence of living in third world America.
I've been experiencing growing pains adjusting to the Nyon...and I havent tried to use the map yet. Some problems I've resolved...unlike COBI I no longer have use of Strava and the readout of my Apple Watches' BPM. In fact it seems to block the sampling in the watch itself. Some problems like synching and dialup Wifi is a consequence of living in third world America.
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Chargeride
Well-Known Member
I spoke to my friend, the crew were up in Scotland and the last diehard acoustic rider picked up his new ebike on the way.
Its one of the ultralight bikes with only a 350wh battery , because he thinks ebikes are cheating and always wants that..Im working harder than you'.
Straight away he puts his fancy carbon wheels on it, at the end of the first day hes looking a knackered and the big climb at the end finished him off.
Hes a bit confused so one of the lads has a go on it, the motors not kicking in, he hadnt transferred the wheel magnet and just ignored the errors because he didnt understand the screen anyway.
6 hours of riding with a turned off ebike, while the rest were quite often in turbo.
Im impressed.
Hes not in this pic because theyd stopped to wait for him.
What a gnarly bunch.
Its one of the ultralight bikes with only a 350wh battery , because he thinks ebikes are cheating and always wants that..Im working harder than you'.
Straight away he puts his fancy carbon wheels on it, at the end of the first day hes looking a knackered and the big climb at the end finished him off.
Hes a bit confused so one of the lads has a go on it, the motors not kicking in, he hadnt transferred the wheel magnet and just ignored the errors because he didnt understand the screen anyway.
6 hours of riding with a turned off ebike, while the rest were quite often in turbo.
Im impressed.
Hes not in this pic because theyd stopped to wait for him.
What a gnarly bunch.
kahn
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- northWET washington
Compared to our Puget Sound that temperature sounded warm which also sent me to the internet. Very interesting and not so warm:
National Center for Cold Water Safety - What is Cold Water?
coldwatersafety.org
D
Deleted member 18083
Guest
Kahn, I bet there are surfers around the world who are as interested in their pastime as we are in ours. I checked surf-forecast.com and came up with the following chart for brave Queensland surfers: six degrees difference between winter (now) and summer.
Readytoride
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Virginia
Truer words never spoken.
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
White Trousers Left In Płock...
The exhausting professional tour seemed to be over: The last part being three days of training with a customer in Płock, and Friday meant a long car ride to Cracow to serve yet another client. Returning by a train today. As I and the driving colleague were wearing shorts and T-shirts because of a heatwave, I didn't inspect my baggage carefully enough on leaving Płock. And it seems that I left my new elegant trousers at the hotel (the hotel manager does not know whether the pants have been found by one of the maids or not yet).
When I get the confirmation the clothes are there...
...that would mean my longest e-bike ride ever! Perfect weather with almost windless conditions. Just to collect lost trousers in Płock? The reason for a ride as good as any!
The exhausting professional tour seemed to be over: The last part being three days of training with a customer in Płock, and Friday meant a long car ride to Cracow to serve yet another client. Returning by a train today. As I and the driving colleague were wearing shorts and T-shirts because of a heatwave, I didn't inspect my baggage carefully enough on leaving Płock. And it seems that I left my new elegant trousers at the hotel (the hotel manager does not know whether the pants have been found by one of the maids or not yet).
When I get the confirmation the clothes are there...
...that would mean my longest e-bike ride ever! Perfect weather with almost windless conditions. Just to collect lost trousers in Płock? The reason for a ride as good as any!
kahn
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- northWET washington
You have a lot of pluck planning that extended ride to Plock.White Trousers Left In Płock...
The exhausting professional tour seemed to be over: The last part being three days of training with a customer in Płock, and Friday meant a long car ride to Cracow to serve yet another client. Returning by a train today. As I and the driving colleague were wearing shorts and T-shirts because of a heatwave, I didn't inspect my baggage carefully enough on leaving Płock. And it seems that I left my new elegant trousers at the hotel (the hotel manager does not know whether the pants have been found by one of the maids or not yet).
When I get the confirmation the clothes are there...
View attachment 127733
...that would mean my longest e-bike ride ever! Perfect weather with almost windless conditions. Just to collect lost trousers in Płock? The reason for a ride as good as any!
* Just in case the definition is way down the list:
"2. Resourceful courage and daring in the face of difficulties; spirit."
Mulezen
Well-Known Member
They look like volunteers in the forests of Ukraine
kahn
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- northWET washington
@Stefan Mikes
Borshch is official Ukrainian!
news.yahoo.com
Borshch is official Ukrainian!
UNESCO declares borshch protected Ukrainian heritage at risk from Russian invasion
Ukraine claimed victory in an age-old culinary dispute with Russia on Friday after the United Nations' cultural agency placed a traditional beetroot soup on its list of protected Ukrainian cultural heritage. Paris-based UNESCO announced in a statement that it had placed borshch, a rich crimson...
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
I have a feelingWhite Trousers Left In Płock...
The exhausting professional tour seemed to be over: The last part being three days of training with a customer in Płock, and Friday meant a long car ride to Cracow to serve yet another client. Returning by a train today. As I and the driving colleague were wearing shorts and T-shirts because of a heatwave, I didn't inspect my baggage carefully enough on leaving Płock. And it seems that I left my new elegant trousers at the hotel (the hotel manager does not know whether the pants have been found by one of the maids or not yet).
When I get the confirmation the clothes are there...
View attachment 127733
...that would mean my longest e-bike ride ever! Perfect weather with almost windless conditions. Just to collect lost trousers in Płock? The reason for a ride as good as any!
Mike, the bald headed guy leaning forward is only 55, he is farmer, so that might explain things..he looks about 75.
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
What if borscht is made only with beetroot (the clear, or Polish borscht?) Will we Poles be deprived of that?@Stefan Mikes
Borshch is official Ukrainian!
UNESCO declares borshch protected Ukrainian heritage at risk from Russian invasion
Ukraine claimed victory in an age-old culinary dispute with Russia on Friday after the United Nations' cultural agency placed a traditional beetroot soup on its list of protected Ukrainian cultural heritage. Paris-based UNESCO announced in a statement that it had placed borshch, a rich crimson...
Because the other variety was always "Ukrainian" here!P.S The fate of my trousers is unknown yet. In the worse case, I will at least eat lunch at "Karczma" anyway!
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
Weve only just got Dave back and now weve lost Stefans trousers.
DaveMatthews
Well-Known Member
I just got home from a ride and now I'm panting.
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
Stinking hot day, wifes away climbing a mountain in Wales Pen Y Fan, so I went on a solo pub crawl/bike ride up the coast on Friday.
Now the felled trees have been cleared after the storm, I actually like the look of the result, it got a bit of a Rainforest vibe.
Its funny how change can be unsettling, but its also the spirit of life.
So I bought the great British snack from the Fish and chip shop near the Railway station after a few ciders in the Beerstation next door, which I keep calling the Babestation for some reason connected to late night tv in the triple channel numbers.
Scooted down the beach and scoffed it on a high dune....pure bliss.
Rode up the beach past the crowds and lifeguards at Ainsdale, Ive posted the monument on the roundabout before, but never looked into it.
Turns out it celebrates two 1930s Transatlantic flights to New York that took off from the beach because there was no runway long enough for a plane with that much fuel.
They filled the wings with pingpong balls for bouyancy in case they had to ditch.
Even Amelia Earhart was consulted for the trips , the second trip being sponsored by an American newspaper who wanted the very first pictures of George VI coronation.
www.lancashirepast.com/2018/08/18/early-transatlantic-flights-via-southport/
Jumped the train back to Freshfield from Birkdale, bikes travel free and it perfectly hugs the coast, dropping me off right by the dunes.
Found a random huge tree stump deposited on the beach, it totally looked like a meteorite from a distance.
My confidence with drone is coming along nicely and soon I'll actually use it properly.
All round a great day, I stayed out till 11pm and of course its still light here in the UK at that time, sat outside a pub, but then had to ride home in warm rain.
Heres a vid of me climbing round the back of a dune to scoot down the front, a little bit happy from ciders.
Now the felled trees have been cleared after the storm, I actually like the look of the result, it got a bit of a Rainforest vibe.
Its funny how change can be unsettling, but its also the spirit of life.
So I bought the great British snack from the Fish and chip shop near the Railway station after a few ciders in the Beerstation next door, which I keep calling the Babestation for some reason connected to late night tv in the triple channel numbers.
Scooted down the beach and scoffed it on a high dune....pure bliss.
Rode up the beach past the crowds and lifeguards at Ainsdale, Ive posted the monument on the roundabout before, but never looked into it.
Turns out it celebrates two 1930s Transatlantic flights to New York that took off from the beach because there was no runway long enough for a plane with that much fuel.
They filled the wings with pingpong balls for bouyancy in case they had to ditch.
Even Amelia Earhart was consulted for the trips , the second trip being sponsored by an American newspaper who wanted the very first pictures of George VI coronation.
www.lancashirepast.com/2018/08/18/early-transatlantic-flights-via-southport/
Jumped the train back to Freshfield from Birkdale, bikes travel free and it perfectly hugs the coast, dropping me off right by the dunes.
Found a random huge tree stump deposited on the beach, it totally looked like a meteorite from a distance.
My confidence with drone is coming along nicely and soon I'll actually use it properly.
All round a great day, I stayed out till 11pm and of course its still light here in the UK at that time, sat outside a pub, but then had to ride home in warm rain.
Heres a vid of me climbing round the back of a dune to scoot down the front, a little bit happy from ciders.
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
Angry face for that joke
DaveMatthews
Well-Known Member
Success!Angry face for that joke
Twin Valley
Well-Known Member
Another ride close to home today (to earn happy hour) with a long weekend as part of our Canada Day (Friday) combined with our American neighbor's July 4th weekend (Monday) best to stay away from major highways. Snapped a picture of the prickly wild rose bushes which is a hardy perennial shrub brightening up the countryside across our province at this time of the year. Apparently, in the thirties (even before my time) the students of Alberta got to vote for what our provincial flower would be and that is what they chose.
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