Our Rides in Words, Photos & Videos

[Twin Valley]

Wonderful photos once again. I had another encounter with the same pitbull which is so discouraging. I miss my major hill climb (the downhill part was sheer joy). For me, my ebike is an essential part of my life. True game changer. Ascending up into the clouds! View attachment 81527

Bear spray for the pitbull?

 

[Deleted member 18083]

Get me out of here …

Breakfast Creek at Windsor
69 km; W on map ​

One of the problems of riding through the city is getting back again. Usually, I take the pleasanter route outbound and am left with the dilemma of returning the same way or ending up in places like this – Yuk!

Incidentally, Boral is a concrete manufacturer with a 'plant' just beyond the exit sign, so the tip truck is doing its bit to make the concrete jungle junglier.

And this, of all places, is where the Homage's odometer chose to tick over 25,000 km. (Actually, the odometer read 3,000 because the previous motor had been replaced under warranty at 22,000 km.)

But just down the creek…

Breakfast Creek at Newstead
55 km; N on map ​

 

[Stefan Mikes]

111.6 km... Oh my... David!

 

[Alaskan]

Get me out of here …

View attachment 81587

Breakfast Creek at Windsor
69 km; W on map ​

One of the problems of riding through the city is getting back again. Usually, I take the pleasanter route outbound and am left with the dilemma of returning the same way or ending up in places like this – Yuk!

Incidentally, Boral is a concrete manufacturer with a 'plant' just beyond the exit sign, so the tip truck is doing its bit to make the concrete jungle junglier.

And this, of all places, is where the Homage's odometer chose to tick over 25,000 km. (Actually, the odometer read 3,000 because the previous motor had been replaced under warranty at 22,000 km.)

View attachment 81588

View attachment 81583

But just down the creek…

View attachment 81582

Breakfast Creek at Newstead
55 km; N on map ​

I love seeing those Morton Bay FIgs in their native setting. Here is a shot I took of a big one in Balboa Park in San DIego last year, just before Covid hit. I was shooting into the sun so there are some exposure issues with this photo, but you get the gist of it.

 

[RabH]

Get me out of here …

View attachment 81587

Breakfast Creek at Windsor
69 km; W on map ​

One of the problems of riding through the city is getting back again. Usually, I take the pleasanter route outbound and am left with the dilemma of returning the same way or ending up in places like this – Yuk!

Incidentally, Boral is a concrete manufacturer with a 'plant' just beyond the exit sign, so the tip truck is doing its bit to make the concrete jungle junglier.

And this, of all places, is where the Homage's odometer chose to tick over 25,000 km. (Actually, the odometer read 3,000 because the previous motor had been replaced under warranty at 22,000 km.)

View attachment 81588

View attachment 81583

But just down the creek…

View attachment 81582

Breakfast Creek at Newstead
55 km; N on map ​

You sure rack up the kilometers David, you are making me so jealous! My Giant will be 3 years old later this month and I have covered almost 22,000km(13,652 miles to be exact), I'm hoping to add to that this coming week as the weather is looking promising! I had my first Covid vaccination this morning (on my birthday, nice present) and so far no reaction so as long as I feel ok tomorrow I hope to get out again after a week of zero cycling and awful weather!

 

[RandallS]

David, do you mind if we refer to you as the "Inspirational David Berry"?

 

[Alaskan]

David, do you mind if we refer to you as the "Inspirational David Berry"?

We should do so as the moniker applies in so many ways. His cycling prowess, photography, good humor and deep care for his wife are all inspirational.

 

[ChezCheese:)]

They are far more successful at being cute…

View attachment 81568

Jen and friend : 2002
Carnarvon Gorge, Central Queensland​

Roos are at 'their most dangerous' on outback roads at night. We collided with one a long time ago: no one was the winner.

Do not try this with raccoons!

 

[Art Deco]

Do not try this with raccoons!

There is a fellow in NE PA that has a rather tame raccoon. I have a photo of it sitting on a porch rocker eating corn on the cob, but I can't find it now. Just don't get between him and his food.

 

[PowerflyLee formerly known as CheetahLee]

Well today was eventful, finished my Gran Fondo for March, horrible headwind though, 23 mph! I am plumb tuckered out
Forgot to add that I shaved off 20 minutes from my last one, really happy about that!

Notice the variance in the Strava App in distance (64.49 miles) and the Kiox Display (67.1 miles) as well as the time (5:37 hours) and (5:20 hours) I will have to investigate further!

I had a slight detour
Don't worry, be happy!!!
Time for a nap, Ride On...

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Been on an almost 90 km trip with a gravel bike club. Unexpected developments. A new friend gained. A report in the morning my time

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Notice the variance in the Strava App in distance (64.49 miles) and the Kiox Display (67.1 miles) as well as the time (5:37 hours) and (5:20 hours)

Lee, there are two factors possible there:

• Strava is notorious for its hang-ups, from which the app automatically restarts, often after several miles ridden. Watching the ride map in magnified view may expose straight lines, not leading via any roads. I have found a way to correct such data post-ride (requires Strava subscription).
• Auto-Pause of Strava might have had some hiccups. I would trust the display with the time ridden.
• The wheel circumference set in your e-bike's system could be wrong. My Giant e-bike is set very wrongly, and the display always gives more km than actually ridden.

 

[Deleted member 18083]

My iPhone has the power to record, calculate and store information at a phenomenal rate, so I've set Ride with GPS to record every second. Result: few shortcuts in the red line…

In addition, I cheat: the wheel circumference on the Kiox (Bosch computer) is adjusted – in micro-increments over many rides – so that distances recorded by both systems (Apple & Bosch) agree.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Graveloza #6, or Meeting A New Riding Mate

A Mazovian gravel-cycling club has announced not exactly Gran Fondo but sub metric century ride for last Sunday, and I got attracted to it. The name of Graveloza might be associated to some illness (like comatose) but the name is expected to indicate how addicted to gravel-riding the members are

Sunday, around 9 a.m. The group gathering in Żyrardów, formerly a textile industry city. Almost all participants drove with their bikes to the start point, as it is usual for all forms of trail cycling.

The disaster struck me just at the ride start. My heavy pannier detached from the rack, and I had to fix it. The group left me be (I'll comment on it later). When I started the ride, I lost my way in the city; no chance to catch up with the group. And yes, I tried by an intensive riding my Monster in the Active mode (level 3 of 5) and energetic pedalling, all against massive headwind. And I managed to catch up with a single group ride member!

Cezar (Czarek) is a recent covid convalescent. He was not in the position to be on par with the group ride professionals who were very fast on asphalt and could zoom over forest dirt fire-roads at improbable speed. We both decided we wouldn't turn pleasure into torture and had some 50 km of wonderful ride together. (It was sunny, pretty warm, and only wind was very strong; I could ride without goggles or gloves).

What the club did to both of us was a bad, bad practice in the cycling world. The event was announced as "a friendly ride for anyone; the speed would be adjusted to the slowest members" and so on. The ride group lost 20% of its members and nobody even asked us what was going on! I'm disappointed, at least. I'm, however, glad to win a new friend and riding mate!

As Cezar and I were not in a hurry anymore, we could make several short stops and take some pictures en route.

The Bolimowski Landscape Park is a picturesque area. Especially when it is warm, sunny, dry and "windless" I have been to that Park for several times last year. I admit the organised route was better from ones I could invent myself

A well-known parking lot near Ruda, near city of Skierniewice. I swapped batteries there. I usually start with the 500 Wh battery and then switch to the 625 Wh one.

Highway 719, or "my road" (I live near to the 719). We parted our ways with Cezar soon before, still in the forest. He had to ride towards the beginning of the road to continue his return trip to Żyrardów; meanwhile, I rode fast in the woods. What a surprise! When I crossed that very junction, stopped and turned back, I could see Cezar zooming the road!

Our own Amish?! I took out my camera and turned it on too late to take a good picture of a horse-drawn buggy.

Polonez, or a Polish designed car. Poland had only two car brands designed domestically, and Polonez was one of them. Very, very bad car. Still, a luxury vehicle to Poles under Commie times. Here: at some collector's place?

It poured. At some point, sleet carried ice needles, attacking my face. I had to shorten the ride a little.

Graveloza Addicts and Adventures Naturally. The organisers left these stickers behind the wiper of my car. I had a little chat with them on FB later and they at least seemed sorry for what had happened. OK...

Ride map with POI. Blue dashed line: Planned route. Red line: Actually ridden.

"Repaired" ride metrics.

@Prairie Dog: First of all, Strava had a hiccup and I had to repair the ride map. Secondly, the Giant display gave 92.3 km ridden. Does it ring a bell?

 

[Chargeride]

These mileages are more than I do in the van driving to a riding spot
I'll be back as soon as Wales opens up again.
Friend bought ANOTHER drone, sent me this...with the worst music imaginable...struck me most how Im missing out on a bunch of friends and their friends, because of the way my days are structured.
Ist world problems I guess.

Streamable Video

Watch this video on Streamable.

streamable.com

 

[PowerflyLee formerly known as CheetahLee]

Lee, there are two factors possible there:

• Strava is notorious for its hang-ups, from which the app automatically restarts, often after several miles ridden. Watching the ride map in magnified view may expose straight lines, not leading via any roads. I have found a way to correct such data post-ride (requires Strava subscription).
• Auto-Pause of Strava might have had some hiccups. I would trust the display with the time ridden.
• The wheel circumference set in your e-bike's system could be wrong. My Giant e-bike is set very wrongly, and the display always gives more km than actually ridden.

Thanks, I think my wheel number may be off, I have a tune-up in a week or so, will have them double check it.

 

[PowerflyLee formerly known as CheetahLee]

Graveloza #6, or Meeting A New Riding Mate

A Mazovian gravel-cycling club has announced not exactly Gran Fondo but sub metric century ride for last Sunday, and I got attracted to it. The name of Graveloza might be associated to some illness (like comatose) but the name is expected to indicate how addicted to gravel-riding the members are

View attachment 81641
Sunday, around 9 a.m. The group gathering in Żyrardów, formerly a textile industry city. Almost all participants drove with their bikes to the start point, as it is usual for all forms of trail cycling.

The disaster struck me just at the ride start. My heavy pannier detached from the rack, and I had to fix it. The group left me be (I'll comment on it later). When I started the ride, I lost my way in the city; no chance to catch up with the group. And yes, I tried by an intensive riding my Monster in the Active mode (level 3 of 5) and energetic pedalling, all against massive headwind. And I managed to catch up with a single group ride member!

View attachment 81642
Cezar (Czarek) is a recent covid convalescent. He was not in the position to be on par with the group ride professionals who were very fast on asphalt and could zoom over forest dirt fire-roads at improbable speed. We both decided we wouldn't turn pleasure into torture and had some 50 km of wonderful ride together. (It was sunny, pretty warm, and only wind was very strong; I could ride without goggles or gloves).

What the club did to both of us was a bad, bad practice in the cycling world. The event was announced as "a friendly ride for anyone; the speed would be adjusted to the slowest members" and so on. The ride group lost 20% of its members and nobody even asked us what was going on! I'm disappointed, at least. I'm, however, glad to win a new friend and riding mate!

View attachment 81643
As Cezar and I were not in a hurry anymore, we could make several short stops and take some pictures en route.

View attachment 81644
The Bolimowski Landscape Park is a picturesque area. Especially when it is warm, sunny, dry and "windless" I have been to that Park for several times last year. I admit the organised route was better from ones I could invent myself

View attachment 81646
A well-known parking lot near Ruda, near city of Skierniewice. I swapped batteries there. I usually start with the 500 Wh battery and then switch to the 625 Wh one.

View attachment 81647
Highway 719, or "my road" (I live near to the 719). We parted our ways with Cezar soon before, still in the forest. He had to ride towards the beginning of the road to continue his return trip to Żyrardów; meanwhile, I rode fast in the woods. What a surprise! When I crossed that very junction, stopped and turned back, I could see Cezar zooming the road!

View attachment 81648
Our own Amish?! I took out my camera and turned it on too late to take a good picture of a horse-drawn buggy.

View attachment 81649
Polonez, or a Polish designed car. Poland had only two car brands designed domestically, and Polonez was one of them. Very, very bad car. Still, a luxury vehicle to Poles under Commie times. Here: at some collector's place?

View attachment 81650
It poured. At some point, sleet carried ice needles, attacking my face. I had to shorten the ride a little.

View attachment 81651
Graveloza Addicts and Adventures Naturally. The organisers left these stickers behind the wiper of my car. I had a little chat with them on FB later and they at least seemed sorry for what had happened. OK...

View attachment 81652
Ride map with POI. Blue dashed line: Planned route. Red line: Actually ridden.

View attachment 81653
"Repaired" ride metrics.

@Prairie Dog: First of all, Strava had a hiccup and I had to repair the ride map. Secondly, the Giant display gave 92.3 km ridden. Does it ring a bell?

Sounds like a great ride nonetheless! Headwinds are really miserable

 

[Alaskan]

Graveloza #6, or Meeting A New Riding Mate

A Mazovian gravel-cycling club has announced not exactly Gran Fondo but sub metric century ride for last Sunday, and I got attracted to it. The name of Graveloza might be associated to some illness (like comatose) but the name is expected to indicate how addicted to gravel-riding the members are

View attachment 81641
Sunday, around 9 a.m. The group gathering in Żyrardów, formerly a textile industry city. Almost all participants drove with their bikes to the start point, as it is usual for all forms of trail cycling.

The disaster struck me just at the ride start. My heavy pannier detached from the rack, and I had to fix it. The group left me be (I'll comment on it later). When I started the ride, I lost my way in the city; no chance to catch up with the group. And yes, I tried by an intensive riding my Monster in the Active mode (level 3 of 5) and energetic pedalling, all against massive headwind. And I managed to catch up with a single group ride member!

View attachment 81642
Cezar (Czarek) is a recent covid convalescent. He was not in the position to be on par with the group ride professionals who were very fast on asphalt and could zoom over forest dirt fire-roads at improbable speed. We both decided we wouldn't turn pleasure into torture and had some 50 km of wonderful ride together. (It was sunny, pretty warm, and only wind was very strong; I could ride without goggles or gloves).

What the club did to both of us was a bad, bad practice in the cycling world. The event was announced as "a friendly ride for anyone; the speed would be adjusted to the slowest members" and so on. The ride group lost 20% of its members and nobody even asked us what was going on! I'm disappointed, at least. I'm, however, glad to win a new friend and riding mate!

View attachment 81643
As Cezar and I were not in a hurry anymore, we could make several short stops and take some pictures en route.

View attachment 81644
The Bolimowski Landscape Park is a picturesque area. Especially when it is warm, sunny, dry and "windless" I have been to that Park for several times last year. I admit the organised route was better from ones I could invent myself

View attachment 81646
A well-known parking lot near Ruda, near city of Skierniewice. I swapped batteries there. I usually start with the 500 Wh battery and then switch to the 625 Wh one.

View attachment 81647
Highway 719, or "my road" (I live near to the 719). We parted our ways with Cezar soon before, still in the forest. He had to ride towards the beginning of the road to continue his return trip to Żyrardów; meanwhile, I rode fast in the woods. What a surprise! When I crossed that very junction, stopped and turned back, I could see Cezar zooming the road!

View attachment 81648
Our own Amish?! I took out my camera and turned it on too late to take a good picture of a horse-drawn buggy.

View attachment 81649
Polonez, or a Polish designed car. Poland had only two car brands designed domestically, and Polonez was one of them. Very, very bad car. Still, a luxury vehicle to Poles under Commie times. Here: at some collector's place?

View attachment 81650
It poured. At some point, sleet carried ice needles, attacking my face. I had to shorten the ride a little.

View attachment 81651
Graveloza Addicts and Adventures Naturally. The organisers left these stickers behind the wiper of my car. I had a little chat with them on FB later and they at least seemed sorry for what had happened. OK...

View attachment 81652
Ride map with POI. Blue dashed line: Planned route. Red line: Actually ridden.

View attachment 81653
"Repaired" ride metrics.

@Prairie Dog: First of all, Strava had a hiccup and I had to repair the ride map. Secondly, the Giant display gave 92.3 km ridden. Does it ring a bell?

We have an expression, "when god gives you lemons, make lemonade." When those rude boys failed to wait for you, you made a friend and had a good ride anyway. Nice way to make lemonade, my friend. Looks like a charming and fun ride and a nice fellow to ride with in the future.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

These mileages are more than I do in the van driving to a riding spot

Cezar (with whom I shared the ride) made this comment:
-- Oh man! Did you say eight thousand kilometres a year?! I've done same. On a motorcycle.

 

[RabH]

Thankfully I didn't have any bad reactions after my Covid vaccination yesterday, apart from a mild headache and chills for a short time during the night, not even a sore arm! I actually felt great when I woke this morning and it was a beautiful Spring day with light winds and a temp of 9C, just perfect for a ride! It was so good to get back out after a difficult week, I really needed it and enjoyed it more than ever! I stayed local as my dad isn't keeping too well, I'm craving a longer ride but 30 milers will need to suffice for now! The rest of the week is looking good also so hopefully more rides if my dad is ok!