Our Rides in Words, Photos & Videos

To Hand Out A Pack Of Walkers Vinegar Crisps To Jerzy 😊

British vinegar crisps (or "chips" on the other side of the pond) seemed to be unobtainium in Poland. On my last London trip, I promised bringing a pack to my friend Jerzy. And, having my work chores done early on Monday, I set off to meet my friend in the Warsaw place equally distant from our homes. The difference being, Jerzy had to counter strong headwind on his way while I was riding not only downwind but also with liberal amount of Vado SL assistance.

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The crisps successfully delivered :)

We discussed where to go next for a while. I suggested we rode to Specialized Warsaw and then to the Meta Bar. Why not? On our way, Jerzy suggested we might take the route through the Kabacki Forest as he was not familiar with that park yet. It was an extremely nice ride. To be on par with my friend, I first decreased the assistance to SL 20/20% and then switched the assistance off as we were riding downwind. I was pleased to find out I could pedal my Fearless unpowered!

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We were trying to find a site of the 1987 air-crash (a damaged IL-62M crashed in the Kabacki Forest then). It seems we got lost in that large park! (Eventually, we followed advice of some people met nearby to locate the crash site).

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At Specialized Warsaw. See the new Specialized Tailwind pannier on my Vado SL. (The small size of the rack makes most of Ortlieb bags unsuitable there).


There was a Specialized e-bike parked outside such beautiful I could not recognize the model! After a longer inspection I guessed it was a Vado SL 5.0 in gorgeous chameleon blue paint. Later, I had a chat with the owner. And now a story goes: There was a young Spec tech around. I know the store personnel very well but the guy was a new one. He was talking absolute bullshit, and he should have shut up not to confuse the customer (such as, Vado SL 5 had a bigger battery than the 4 or a Creo would cost $3,400...) Eventually, that guy excused himself to be a technician not a salesman. As the Vado SL owner was mostly concerned with the e-bike range, I advised riding in Eco (the guy was riding in Sport), reducing the assistance with Mission Control, and/or buying a Range Extender. (Sometimes I wonder why I am not a Specialized e-bike salesman myself...)

And the Meta Bar was closed as it was Monday! :D I and Jerzy consoled ourselves by having a lunch in a nearby posh restaurant :) And we ate the crisps together for dessert! :)

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The only weak point was I had to pedal against headwind on my way home... But I had electric power with me and never hesitated to use it! :)

P.S. Later, a friend told me you actually could buy British vinegar chips in Warsaw, in very selected stores :)
 
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A slough 100k
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I took advantage of my wife driving a return up to Cabela's 25 miles to the north, to load up the bike and ride down the Centennial Trail to to Snohomish and Everett and back home. I planned for about a 50 mile ride, with just 1700 ft of climbing.

The Centennial Trail was not crowded so I could keep a good pace but it also wasn't very exciting. PXL_20220718_000518060.jpg
The nicest part of the ride was from the town of Snohomish along the Snohomish river and through fields across to Everett with the occasional slough leftover from logging a hundred years ago
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The Lowell Riverfront trail in Everett at the north end of the Interurban Trail was super peaceful
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As I neared home I realized I had plenty of juice in my legs battery and just enough sunlight that I could wander around Edmonds for an extra 10 miles to get to the hundred kilometer mark. It did leave me tired with nearly half of my climbing in the last 15 miles.
 

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A slough 100k
View attachment 129475
I took advantage of my wife driving a return up to Cabela's 25 miles to the north, to load up the bike and ride down the Centennial Trail to to Snohomish and Everett and back home. I planned for about a 50 mile ride, with just 1700 ft of climbing.

The Centennial Trail was not crowded so I could keep a good pace but it also wasn't very exciting. View attachment 129471
The nicest part of the ride was from the town of Snohomish along the Snohomish river and through fields across to Everett with the occasional slough leftover from logging a hundred years ago
View attachment 129468

View attachment 129473
The Lowell Riverfront trail in Everett at the north end of the Interurban Trail was super peaceful
View attachment 129472View attachment 129474View attachment 129477
As I neared home I realized I had plenty of juice in my legs battery and just enough sunlight that I could wander around Edmonds for an extra 10 miles to get to the hundred kilometer mark. It did leave me tired with nearly half of my climbing in the last 15 miles.
10 points for the name Snohomish.
 
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