Our Rides in Words, Photos & Videos

[Prairie Dog]

Not much going on here what with most of the province in a heat wave plus it’s likely the worst time to catch a cold. We did drive out to the countryside and admired some of the golden fields of canola that are so prominent during this time of the summer. With any luck, I hope to get back on the bike for short ride tomorrow.

 

[fooferdoggie]

35 mile ride just to a trail in the middle of the city. Ice did this last year I forgot about the start of this path.
My wife had a hard to holding the bike and I goofed the picture showing How steep and short this is. its only 100 feet at most with this turn at the bottom damp too. no way willing to risk this on the tandem that short and steep with that turn. she had to hold her hand brake to keep the bike stopped.

 

[Readytoride]

View from the (almost) top of the mountain.

Taken at the apex of an 18 mile round trip that would have been longer except that I kept stopping to visit with neighbors and acquaintances enroute thus allowing the sneaking arrival of an unexpected thunderstorm theoretically due to arrive at 1pm in the afternoon, that instead put in an unwelcomed appearance hours earlier in mid-morning. Being close enough to home to get back and stay dry, I lucked out. No so with the dozens of other cyclists out enjoying the splendid morning and splendid views from splendid bikes on the splendid roads. They got spectacularly, splendidly wet.

Not a big deal. The rides in my neck of the woods are well worth a bit of Saturday morning showers.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

The Wet Dozen (Wolno Gravel Jam)

I ate too little for the Saturday's early breakfast. Half past seven I pedalled to a quaint town of Podkowa Leśna for some grocery shopping (making it the first 18 km for the day on my Wahoo), and then I rode to a large pond in Chrzanów Mały half past ten, making it 32 km already (all on Vado SL).

Last week, I read an event invitation on FB that looked too good to be true. It promised a reasonably long (68 km) gravel group ride that was to finish with a barbecue including free beer! The event was to begin and end at a "cable park for wakeboarding" called Wake for Friends by Wolno foundation; all these terms were new to me. To my big surprise, the event was organized by brothers Rafał and Roland, and I rode gravel with Roland before!

After we intercepted some new riders en route, the group became a dozen.

"The order of battle". Rafał (who took this photo) in the lead, a girl named Sylwia in the rear guard, and yours truly always in the tail of the group

Those people were simply too strong for me. I rode my Vado SL in 75/75% assistance and that level barely let me following the group. At times, I had to help myself with SL Turbo mode to just catch up with the group! And the ride was fun. It was very fast disregarding was it packed fine gravel, loose gravel, forest dirt fire-road, a muddy single-track, sand, or asphalt. I felt as if I was racing! Adrenalin! Adventure!

Early on the ride one Mariusz riding a road bike with gravel tyres caught a flat. He did the field repair expertly in a few minutes. It is important to mention no-one was ever left alone on that ride!

Shortly, I was able to lift my SL over the barrier. I would have never been able to do that with my big Vado!

Crossing river Pisia-Tuczna. The river crossing made of metal plates had been in a good shape until recently. Now, we had to walk our bikes through it!

At a fishing farm in Grzegorzewice. No-one took fish for their meal (the prices for fish were exorbitant!) I had a thick tomato soup, a big piece of cheesecake, ice-cream, and coffee. At that time, I realised why I had been so weak: Too little food in the morning! The meal and the rest helped me to regain my strength!

When we were just mounting our stallions, the first droplets of rain fell. Everyone produced jackets from their baggage! The issue was the air temperature. A jacket would have helped staying dry but it would make any of us overheated soon. Several people took their rain jackets off, and I unzipped mine... And then IT RAINED Many of us got soaked soon. I was half soaked but my cycling shoes became totally wet! And temperature dropped dramatically... People doubled their cycling effort! I had to pedal as a madman and was glad the meal made me stronger. And Sylwia left with me to encourage me while riding through a muddy single-track!

10 km before the finish line, we were already riding asphalt. And I had enough. A look at the battery level... and I switched to the Turbo mode. And started spinning. I simply left all the group far behind! Then, I noticed (in my mirror) two guys sprinting. They caught up with me and were drafting. I saw an overpass in front of me and hoped I could attack more! No way, both guys were following me as if an invisible rope were connecting us! A fast descent, a junction and I signalled a stop. Then I looked at who those two guys were.

-- Ah. Mariusz! You told me you were a peloton rider, right. And you, Bartek? Too? -- How loud we were all laughing!

We were in my direct neighbourhood now. Although both guys had GPS navigation, they asked me to remain in the lead. And we were riding in the head of the "race". Which I -- surprisingly -- won Good that was not a race! Oh my... The Vado SL is by no means a bad e-bike, no...

And the promises turned out to be true. We got the free barbecue and beer! And music!

"You do not call that thing beer. It is a Lager!" Notice my soaked clothes.

Ola, one of these strong gravel cycling women. We met at a Graveloza group ride before. She badly fell on black gravel just before the ride end! Bartek: One of the two sprinters.

Rafał (left): The group leader.

Sylwia, the rear-guard.

And the rain and cold returned, that time for real. People were able to carry all the ready food to a big hut just before a heavy rainfall. I was freezing in my wet clothes. After we have eaten and the rain stopped, I encouraged the people to gather around the grill so we could warm our bodies up. Part of my clothes got dry in the process. Not the shoes. Not the shorts, though. I installed a spare Range Extender on my Vado, said good-byes, and rushed in full Turbo towards my place. Just 12 km... to end the day with 110 km

What a day! What an event! What people! It was worthy to get soaked to ride with them!

A very good day! (Wahoo tells me my maximum speed was 43.8 km/h).

 

[Deleted member 18083]

My picnic spot…

Waiting for the ferry.
Brisbane River, Newstead​

I took a break, with suitable refreshments—hot chocolate, fruit cake and local fruit in season (mandarin, banana, papaya)—in the shade of an African sausage tree (Kigelia africana) in the grounds of Newstead House beside the Brisbane River.

You can tell that it is the middle of winter: not many flowers and only one person waiting for the ferry wearing shorts.

The bikeway can be seen in the foreground, beyond the shrubs, and between the new apartment blocks—baby boomers are now retirees—and the river. The photo was taken looking upstream.

And now it's time for me to prepare a steaming mug of cocoa before settling in to watch the fifteenth stage of the Tour de France: the pros should reach Carcassonne some time after 1:00 am.

Photo in direction of yellow arrow.​

 

[Djangodog]

The Wet Dozen (Wolno Gravel Jam)

I ate too little for the Saturday's early breakfast. Half past seven I pedalled to a quaint town of Podkowa Leśna for some grocery shopping (making it the first 18 km for the day on my Wahoo), and then I rode to a large pond in Chrzanów Mały half past ten, making it 32 km already (all on Vado SL).

Last week, I read an event invitation on FB that looked too good to be true. It promised a reasonably long (68 km) gravel group ride that was to finish with a barbecue including free beer! The event was to begin and end at a "cable park for wakeboarding" called Wake for Friends by Wolno foundation; all these terms were new to me. To my big surprise, the event was organized by brothers Rafał and Roland, and I rode gravel with Roland before!

View attachment 129247
After we intercepted some new riders en route, the group became a dozen.

View attachment 129248
"The order of battle". Rafał (who took this photo) in the lead, a girl named Sylwia in the rear guard, and yours truly always in the tail of the group

Those people were simply too strong for me. I rode my Vado SL in 75/75% assistance and that level barely let me following the group. At times, I had to help myself with SL Turbo mode to just catch up with the group! And the ride was fun. It was very fast disregarding was it packed fine gravel, loose gravel, forest dirt fire-road, a muddy single-track, sand, or asphalt. I felt as if I was racing! Adrenalin! Adventure!

View attachment 129257
Early on the ride one Mariusz riding a road bike with gravel tyres caught a flat. He did the field repair expertly in a few minutes. It is important to mention no-one was ever left alone on that ride!

View attachment 129259
Shortly, I was able to lift my SL over the barrier. I would have never been able to do that with my big Vado!

View attachment 129260
Crossing river Pisia-Tuczna. The river crossing made of metal plates had been in a good shape until recently. Now, we had to walk our bikes through it!

View attachment 129261
At a fishing farm in Grzegorzewice. No-one took fish for their meal (the prices for fish were exorbitant!) I had a thick tomato soup, a big piece of cheesecake, ice-cream, and coffee. At that time, I realised why I had been so weak: Too little food in the morning! The meal and the rest helped me to regain my strength!

When we were just mounting our stallions, the first droplets of rain fell. Everyone produced jackets from their baggage! The issue was the air temperature. A jacket would have helped staying dry but it would make any of us overheated soon. Several people took their rain jackets off, and I unzipped mine... And then IT RAINED Many of us got soaked soon. I was half soaked but my cycling shoes became totally wet! And temperature dropped dramatically... People doubled their cycling effort! I had to pedal as a madman and was glad the meal made me stronger. And Sylwia left with me to encourage me while riding through a muddy single-track!

10 km before the finish line, we were already riding asphalt. And I had enough. A look at the battery level... and I switched to the Turbo mode. And started spinning. I simply left all the group far behind! Then, I noticed (in my mirror) two guys sprinting. They caught up with me and were drafting. I saw an overpass in front of me and hoped I could attack more! No way, both guys were following me as if an invisible rope were connecting us! A fast descent, a junction and I signalled a stop. Then I looked at who those two guys were.

-- Ah. Mariusz! You told me you were a peloton rider, right. And you, Bartek? Too? -- How loud we were all laughing!

We were in my direct neighbourhood now. Although both guys had GPS navigation, they asked me to remain in the lead. And we were riding in the head of the "race". Which I -- surprisingly -- won Good that was not a race! Oh my... The Vado SL is by no means a bad e-bike, no...

And the promises turned out to be true. We got the free barbecue and beer! And music!

View attachment 129263
"You do not call that thing beer. It is a Lager!" Notice my soaked clothes.

View attachment 129264View attachment 129265
Ola, one of these strong gravel cycling women. We met at a Graveloza group ride before. She badly fell on black gravel just before the ride end! Bartek: One of the two sprinters.

View attachment 129266
Rafał (left): The group leader.

View attachment 129267
Sylwia, the rear-guard.

And the rain and cold returned, that time for real. People were able to carry all the ready food to a big hut just before a heavy rainfall. I was freezing in my wet clothes. After we have eaten and the rain stopped, I encouraged the people to gather around the grill so we could warm our bodies up. Part of my clothes got dry in the process. Not the shoes. Not the shorts, though. I installed a spare Range Extender on my Vado, said good-byes, and rushed in full Turbo towards my place. Just 12 km... to end the day with 110 km

What a day! What an event! What people! It was worthy to get soaked to ride with them!

View attachment 129268
A very good day! (Wahoo tells me my maximum speed was 43.8 km/h).

I sounds like you had a great day. It’s easy to make new friends when you share a passion.

 

[kahn]

About 3,000 miles to the east in Claremont New Hampshire. My father was from Rhode Island. He was sent out to Oregon and Washington to fight forest fires, put in telephone poles and build a trestle in Tillamook. He especially loved Tillamook. Your pictures help to explain his love of Oregon and Washington.

It was a tough life, but he was a tough guy and it was a good fit and it probably helped him to survive his time in the Army Air Corps and as a POW.

Thank you for sharing your pictures. I will look forward to seeing them.

It’s beautiful here as well, but quite different. The grave belongs to Charles Bronson and looks toward Mt. Ascutney, Brownsville Vermont. I have no complaints regarding my rides.

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Many of your small towns have character. Most out this way are like small strip mall cities or towns. No iconic town squares and not really many covered bridges (g). I remember some town in Vermont - most of it buildings, retaining walls, church were made of marble or granite. Use to downhill ski in Rutland.

 

[dodgeman]

Not much exciting scenery around here so if I see a decent looking barn I’ve decided to snap a pic.

 

[RabH]

Time for another epic ride, an early one due to the heat coming later (Only 24C but too hot for me) I left at 5am this morning with rain threatening, they said it would be heavy around 6am so I was prepared to get wet as it wasn't cold! I only got a few sprinkles, another wrong forecast which I'm glad to report! It was time to visit Ayrshire again, it has been too long! Some of the best roads are around Ayrshire, so I knew I was in for a treat! Not quite in Ayrshire yet but only a few miles to go! This is the Eaglesham Moor road which was totally deserted in the early hours, I just love getting out early!

The Whitelee Wind Farm up on the Moor, its absolutely huge and stretches for miles!

After the big climb its time for the lovely descent and Ayrshire starts as you pass through the trees!

The amazing roads just keep coming, this road passes through Moscow (the Ayrshire version which is just a small village) and descends all the way to the town of Galston!

I still had the roads all to myself, I was in cycling heaven! After Galston I was heading for the village of Sorn, this is just before Sorn and is aptly named Sornhill...it just keeps climbing and climbing!

Eventually I arrived in Sorn and I finally had a tailwind! So far I was into a headwind and with all the climbing my first battery was starting to deplete, I managed just over 49 miles with 3500ft of climbing so I still had over 50 miles to go and still lots of climbing to come, at least I now had a tailwind which made quite a difference! Still the roads were a joy to ride, it was mostly overcast but I wasn't complaining!

I was now on my way to the town of Muirkirk where I would turn north with yet more climbing ahead but with some lovely descents to enjoy with the tailwind almost directly behind me! The awesome roads were still bringing a big smile to my face!

The descending had to come to an end and it was time for more climbing, looks like somebody crashed through the barrier! This is looking back down at the road I just climbed!

I was now heading for the town of Strathaven (pronounced Strayven) and it was time to share the roads with the crazy Sunday drivers, thankfully most were well behaved except for a total idiot in a powerful Range Rover who almost caused a head on collision with another car while overtaking round a blind bend at insane speed!

Getting close to home now and I had my final food break at Garrion Bridge which takes you over the River Clyde before the big climb up the Horsley Brae, I was part way up when I noticed traffic lights just before the steep part of the climb! I wasn't trying to go up kerbs this time and just let the traffic sit behind me until I found a safe part to leave the road and take to the pavement!

The River Clyde at Garrion Bridge!

I was now on my favourite back roads again away from all the traffic and although I was pretty tired by now I was loving it!

Thankfully my second battery was doing well and I had enough juice left for the final climbs home, what a fantastic ride I had! I will have a break for the next 2 days, its going to be 28C tomorrow and 29C on Tuesday so I will stay indoors and keep cool! I know some of you get it way hotter than that but its way above my comfortable temps, I'm used to cold weather! It will be 19C for the remainder of the week, a perfect temp for me! Only another 12 miles to reach 3000 for the year so far, my average for the year is just over 50 miles!

 

[Prairie Dog]

Not much exciting scenery around here so if I see a decent looking barn I’ve decided to snap a pic.

View attachment 129273View attachment 129274

I love your old barn pics as they remind me so much of the countryside here. Seeing them makes you feel closer to your roots. I think more people are recognizing the historical value of these structures and are maintaining their true status as they so deserve.

There’s a 1940s restored barn not to far from my hometown that is being run as a farmer’s market by the great grand daughter of the original homesteader.

 

[Prairie Dog]

I will have a break for the next 2 days, its going to be 28C tomorrow and 29C on Tuesday so I will stay indoors and keep cool! I know some of you get it way hotter than that but its way above my comfortable temps, I'm used to cold weather!

I don’t do well on hot days either and justifiably worse when a bit of humidity is added to the mix so it makes sense that you got an early start to the ride. Once again, splendid images of the countryside and I can’t believe how well maintained the roads are over there, that and no sign of traffic to speak of. I can see why you’re able to rack up the miles.

 

[kahn]

I love your old barn pics as they remind me so much of the countryside here. Seeing them makes you feel closer to your roots.

I can assure you that red barns or barns of any kind do not remind me of my roots or make me feel closer. Red Barns in Da Bronx were just not a thing!

 

[kahn]

@RabH

Excellent reporting and pictures. Just fun reading and viewing.

 

[Djangodog]

A hot day so I had a fairly early ride. I stayed on the New Hampshire side of the river today. Mount Ascutney in the distance was one of Maxfield Parish’s inspirations, (he lived and painted here). He, along with the great sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens and others were part of the Cornish Artist Community.

Nice house with a porch facing the mountain.

The view from the road, (nearly the same as from the porch).

You don’t get a hilltop view without some climbing. The maximum that my Garmin displayed today was 17%, with lots of 13% to 15%. The Garmin Edge is a great tool.

A bit too steep to stop, so a couple pictures from the saddle.

Another covered bridge.

The home and studio of Augustus Saint-Gaudens.

Coming into Plainfield, (a little north of Cornish), with Mt. Ascutney in the distance, (this picture was not from today’s ride).

 

[RabH]

I don’t do well on hot days either and justifiably worse when a bit of humidity is added to the mix so it makes sense that you got an early start to the ride. Once again, splendid images of the countryside and I can’t believe how well maintained the roads are over there, that and no sign of traffic to speak of. I can see why you’re able to rack up the miles.

So true about humidity, its truly awful! We have some very bad roads also, I try my best to avoid them! I did have some boneshakers today but for the most part they were really good! @Chargeride would have loved them!

I have been pleasantly surprised that our councils have been fixing some of our smaller roads that don't get much attention for years...

@kahn Thank you for your kind words!

I think I will sleep well tonight after that trip, I'm struggling to keep my eyes open!

 

[Djangodog]

So true about humidity, its truly awful! We have some very bad roads also, I try my best to avoid them! I did have some boneshakers today but for the most part they were really good! @Chargeride would have loved them!

I have been pleasantly surprised that our councils have been fixing some of our smaller roads that don't get much attention for years...

@kahn Thank you for your kind words!

I think I will sleep well tonight after that trip, I'm struggling to keep my eyes open!

Congratulations on your century. That’s my favorite kind of tired, (earned exhaustion ).

 

[kahn]

You don’t get a hilltop view without some climbing. The maximum that my Garmin displayed today was 17%, with lots of 13% to 15%. The Garmin Edge is a great tool.

View attachment 129313

Nice place to ride.

I have not used or looked at the Grade/Gradient feature at all on my Edge 1030+. Can it only be employed if you have a planned route (which I also have never used) or can I just use it while tooling along and want to know the grade/gradient of the hill I'm on is about?

Actually, a few weeks ago, I was trying to to duplicate a ride that I had done with a friend and had the older gpx and tried making it a route but I clearly failed as I never got any guidance.

So, I basically use the Edge as an oversized/overkill cycling computer.

 

[Djangodog]

Nice place to ride.

I have not used or looked at the Grade/Gradient feature at all on my Edge 1030+. Can it only be employed if you have a planned route (which I also have never used) or can I just use it while tooling along and want to know the grade/gradient of the hill I'm on is about?

Actually, a few weeks ago, I was trying to to duplicate a ride that I had done with a friend and had the older gpx and tried making it a route but I clearly failed as I never got any guidance.

So, I basically use the Edge as an oversized/overkill cycling computer.

My 830 Edge shows the grade if I am using the navigation. Mine is paired to my phone, so I can take any saved ride and save it as a route. I can also go to “training” on the “Connect “ on my phone and map out a route, save it and send it to the 830 Edge.

I have had mine for four years. It is a very versatile tool and pretty straight forward. There are plenty of YouTube tutorials available.

My wife thought it was overkill, but has changed her tune lately.

 

[fooferdoggie]

why did the peacock cross the road? I have seen one peacock on this corer then two a year later now a whole bunch. this is in the middle of the city and I think they are wild.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Time for another epic ride

Congratulations, Rab! It looks the Imperial Centuries come so easily for you!

(Only 24C but too hot for me)

Oh, these Scots again! I do love when it is warm on the ride as the wind is such a nice coolant, and you do not need to worry about the cold! (I still shudder when I think of the cold of last Saturday...)

this road passes through Moscow (the Ayrshire version which is just a small village)

Been to Moskwa near Łódź in Poland!

at least I now had a tailwind which made quite a difference!

Oh yes it does. And the elevation gain.

Ice-Cream In (Not) Verdun (or, A Silly Ride)

I really did not know what to do with the last Sunday. I was sore after the Saturday's "Wolno Gravel Jam". My legs hurt. Could I let the splendid day go to waste? Certainly not! And my Highway Star (Vado 5.0) was resting for too a long time! I decided to go for an afternoon southwards ride (and afternoons are the warmest!) My plan was to ride on a single Vado battery with 566 Wh of initial charge and make 80 km (50 mi).

To not repeat the mistake of the day before, I stopped "At The Girls" in Rozalin early. Had a vegan cake, strawberry shake, and a big Mocha.

I arrived in Werdun (in the Apple Orchard Land) -- 40 km -- on 30/30% assistance with 58% battery left. It looked I would make the return way still on the battery! As Rab said, the wind direction is a game changer. In my case it was the elevation gain: I was riding uphill all the way to Werdun, where I ate a standard "Granit" ice-cream (a local counterfeit of Algida Magnum)

Actually, I hated the ride. My ass was sore. My legs were weak. It was silly to go on a longer ride just after the "gravel race" of the day before! No way out: I had to continue my ride. Although the return ride was easier, as I was going downhill and the range prediction started improving. At some ride point, I was riding downhill over an excellent road; lost my vigilance and missed my way... More kilometres to be ridden! On a tight range prediction!

The route I planned in the morning was absolutely silly. It was planned for a pretty long distance ride, and certainly not for going from A to B In my closer neighbourhood I was as brave as to increase the assistance to 35/35%... and I made a 4 km "victory round" in Turbo near where I lived just to make the 90 km

Ride Map.