Our Rides in Words, Photos & Videos

[Deleted member 18083]

Family of four …

Brisbane Valley RT, Wanora
7:05 am; 8 km​

Eastern Grey Kangaroo (Macropus giganteus)
Despite the eastern grey's scientific name, this species is dwarfed by its 'Big Red' cousin of the outback. I often encounter eastern greys on my rides up the rail trail – thirteen on this morning's ride – but they seldom visit our little piece of outer suburbia which is favoured by their wallaby cousins who are particularly partial to marigolds. Yummy!

The difference between wallabies and kangaroos? It's a bit like doves and pigeons, or hares and rabbits – unfathomable to anyone of my zoological incompetence!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Eastern Grey Kangaroo (Macropus giganteus)
Despite the eastern grey's scientific name, this species is dwarfed by its 'Big Red' cousin of the outback. I often encounter eastern greys on my rides up the rail trail – thirteen on this morning's ride – but they seldom visit our little piece of outer suburbia which is favoured by their wallaby cousins who are particularly partial to marigolds. Yummy!

The difference between wallabies and kangaroos? It's a bit like doves and pigeons, or hares and rabbits – unfathomable to anyone of my zoological incompetence!

Now I can see you're really in Australia Missed kangaroos/wallabies in your photos!

 

[Alaskan]

Family of four …

View attachment 81400

Brisbane Valley RT, Wanora
7:05 am; 8 km​

Eastern Grey Kangaroo (Macropus giganteus)
Despite the eastern grey's scientific name, this species is dwarfed by its 'Big Red' cousin of the outback. I often encounter eastern greys on my rides up the rail trail – thirteen on this morning's ride – but they seldom visit our little piece of outer suburbia which is favoured by their wallaby cousins who are particularly partial to marigolds. Yummy!

The difference between wallabies and kangaroos? It's a bit like doves and pigeons, or hares and rabbits – unfathomable to anyone of my zoological incompetence!

Love the little Joey poking out his head and perusing the world.

 

[RandallS]

We've had a spell of warm weather, so our snow is mostly gone. As such I did a short ride up on "the hill" yesterday to see what's rideable.
I got a a bit dirty, but it was fun none the less. No pics of the state of my clothes and bike when I got home, and all cleaned up now.

I also did some socially distanced visits with a few friends along he route, and also had a long chat with someone I met on one of the paths.
He was on a quite new MY21 Giant Explore Pro STA (200 kms?)- same bike as @LouLouLePew . He bought it about 2 months ago at the same shop I bought my Fathom and he was full of questions.
Seemed like a nice guy and of the correct vintage to fit in here.

To the ride itself, and a just a few pics today.

The trails in the upper left circle were quite rideable and a good mix of snow, slush, grass and mud. I must admit I really like riding the valleys through the thickets of trees.

Riding across the top plateau, on terrain that is getting full sun, was a messy affair, but still good fun, and dodging in and around some of the really messy bits was good practice in riding skills.

I did stop off at a viewpoint at X to take some pics to the east. I would normally continue down the slopes from there, but I'd want knobbies on to do it safely (been there - done that), so I backtracked and took a known good trail to head towards home.

Temperature was around +4C and Audiobook Carl Hiaasen's "Squeeze Me".

More riding today, in even warmer weather. As I'm typing this at 9:30 local time, it's +5 and on it's way to +10. The next week looks great too!



I ordered in some Contact Cleaner for my battery (some minor glitches that have gone away after a minor cleaning) and I need to go pick it up, and as it's close to a favorite LBS,
I might have to do a little shopping too!

 

[Deleted member 18083]

[incredulous] That's a tyre lever?
This is a …

Laughing Kookaburra
(Dacelo novaeguineae)​

 

[Prairie Dog]

We've had a spell of warm weather, so our snow is mostly gone. As such I did a short ride up on "the hill" yesterday to see what's rideable.
I got a a bit dirty, but it was fun none the less. No pics of the state of my clothes and bike when I got home, and all cleaned up now.

I also did some socially distanced visits with a few friends along he route, and also had a long chat with someone I met on one of the paths.
He was on a quite new MY21 Giant Explore Pro STA (200 kms?)- same bike as @LouLouLePew . He bought it about 2 months ago at the same shop I bought my Fathom and he was full of questions.
Seemed like a nice guy and of the correct vintage to fit in here.

To the ride itself, and a just a few pics today.

View attachment 81432
View attachment 81433

The trails in the upper left circle were quite rideable and a good mix of snow, slush, grass and mud. I must admit I really like riding the valleys through the thickets of trees.

View attachment 81427

View attachment 81428

Riding across the top plateau, on terrain that is getting full sun, was a messy affair, but still good fun, and dodging in and around some of the really messy bits was good practice in riding skills.

I did stop off at a viewpoint at X to take some pics to the east. I would normally continue down the slopes from there, but I'd want knobbies on to do it safely (been there - done that), so I backtracked and took a known good trail to head towards home.



View attachment 81429

View attachment 81430

Temperature was around +4C and Audiobook Carl Hiaasen's "Squeeze Me".

More riding today, in even warmer weather. As I'm typing this at 9:30 local time, it's +5 and on it's way to +10. The next week looks great too!

View attachment 81436

I ordered in some Contact Cleaner for my battery (some minor glitches that have gone away after a minor cleaning) and I need to go pick it up, and as it's close to a favorite LBS,
I might have to do a little shopping too!

That snow in the valley looks nice Randall. Trails here are still decent despite the warmer temps. I did a smaller loop around the Heritage Ranch single tracks this morning and then swung by Riverbend for another go at the ring. Couldn’t resist as conditions out there hadn’t changed much since Tuesday.

 

[Art Deco]

[incredulous] That's a tyre lever?
This is a …

View attachment 81409

Laughing Kookaburra
(Dacelo novaeguineae)​

Kookaburra sitting on the 'old bike tyre' just doesn't have the same ring as 'old gum tree'. Great shot, David.

 

[Mulezen]

I picked up my bike yesterday from the LBS...the weather unseasonably warm, and against medical ‘suggestion’ I took it for a ten mile test ride. A few bumps rattled my shoulder but main repercussions were tired legs. As I was putting on my shoes in the barn a gust of wind knocked over the bike outside which served to remind me that, months ago, I ordered a new kickstand from Trek. It validated my decision even while annoying me with the delay. No bicycle was injured in this malicious act of nature.

 

[Chargeride]

I rode my Topstone 21 miles from B'ham, WA out to Everson, a small rural town, for Moderna shot #2. I cranked hard and used more assist. This was an appointment I did not want to miss. I still had 64% battery remaining, despite generous use of Sport & Turbo assist modes.

It was a glorious day to ride and an emotional moment after getting the booster. Mt. Baker and the Twin Sister were out in all their glory. Just ride report and a couple of phone cam shots to share. The fields in the foreground are raspberries. Our county produces nearly 85% of the nations red raspberries which totals nearly 48 million pounds of red raspberries a year. Whatcom county also harvested approximately 35 million pounds of blueberries in 2014.

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I love that wide shot, something you would only see in the States.

 

[steve mercier]

[incredulous] That's a tyre lever?
This is a …

View attachment 81409

Laughing Kookaburra
(Dacelo novaeguineae)​

How can these birds be so tame David? I cannot believe it!

 

[steve mercier]

Knocked out another 96 km. Today was the first day this year I could use the fingerless gloves...oooo pinch me ...by St Patricks' day I might even get to wear shorts. View from Arbutus ridge.

 

[Bubba zanetti]

Nice single track along the Columbia River. Beautiful day!

 

[Alaskan]

[incredulous] That's a tyre lever?
This is a …

View attachment 81409

Laughing Kookaburra
(Dacelo novaeguineae)​

That kookaburra looks like he might be a close relative to our kingfishers...similar beak shape.

 

[PowerflyLee formerly known as CheetahLee]

Another trip to the LBS, picked up a new biking jersey! Tried out the Mapy App suggested by none other than our own Stefan! I really like it, thanks Stefan!!!

 

[RandallS]

I was trying to figure out why it was in Metric until I read the rest of the text.

 

[Alaskan]

That kookaburra looks like he might be a close relative to our kingfishers...similar beak shape.
View attachment 81456

google answered my question

"Kookaburras are very large, tree-dwelling kingfishers in the genus Dacelo. There are only four in the world and all live in Australia and New Guinea. Australia has two species. ... They are one of the most iconic birds of Australia, and the one we are most often asked to see by tourists."

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Tried out the Mapy App

For anyone interested, the full name of the app is Mapy.cz. It is free.

I was trying to figure out why it was in Metric until I read the rest of the text.

For U.S. users, the app Settings -> App -> Units lets them choose Imperial units.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Today's ride had me out on an abbreviated single-track loop at Heritage Ranch. Most of the trail was in pretty decent condition but along some stretches the hardpack had partially melted and turned to ice making some of the technical sections a bit tricky. A few spots where the snow had melted only narrow tracks of ice remained.

With that being said, I can't begin to say how much fun I had exploring this area and to be out there on such a glorious sunny morning was simply sublime. It was 0 C when I left the house and upon my return it was a balmy +3 C. Meanwhile, I’ll keep attacking these tracks with studs as long as the ground conditions allow it.

I knocked out a couple of vids from the loop. Please excuse the chronic sniffling in the background folks. I’m just a freak of nature.

After doing the loop, I passed by Bower Ponds and noticed a throng of geese sunning themselves. They seemed quite content to remain there. Then, without warning they decided to bolt for no apparent reason.

Afterwards, I rode out to Riverbend and rounded the Ring once again. Just prior to exiting the trailhead, I came across this makeshift wood shelter. I wonder if some of the wood that we cleared from the trail on Tuesday was used as part of the construction materials.

It’s been roughly a month since I took delivery of the Trance and I was uncertain at how I would adapt to the larger wheels and longer wheel base after coming off a smaller, nimbler bike with 26ers. Those worries are a distant memory after trialing this bike in a variety of conditions and I look forward to hitting more trails this summer.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Your Trance is too clean, Art

 

[Prairie Dog]

Your Trance is too clean, Art

Yep, on this day it was I'm afraid. I rode out early enough when the ground was still frozen.