Our Rides in Words, Photos & Videos

[Mr. Coffee]

The snow is melting out rapidly, so with a little hike-a-bike you can get out of the valley bottom:

Near the turnaround, continuous snow for several hundred yards behind me:

 

[steve mercier]

The obligatory 95 km again today. Nice to see new routes opening along the River district and Burnaby foreshore park stretching from Gladstone park in South Van almost completely to New West.

 

[steve mercier]

 

[steve mercier]

 

[Deleted member 18083]

Misty start to another ride…

Schulz Canal, Brisbane
6.45 am; 10 km

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[Art Deco]

Misty start to another ride…

View attachment 86468

Schulz Canal, Brisbane
6.45 am; 10 km

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Is the time shown 6:45 am correct ? I expect sunrise a bit earlier than that for you now, but can't keep the seasons straight. Anyway, nice shot of an early start .

 

[Stefan Mikes]

There are nations that can give several hundred names to snow...
(I know only one in Polish: białe gówno = white s*it)

We also can only name five relative wind directions, and these are similar to English nautical terms. Polish wind direction names have been taken from English, Dutch, and German:

• Mordewind (literally: The wind blowing into your mug), or Into The Wind
• Bajdewind (by-the-wind), or Close Hauling
• Halbwind (half-wind), or Beam Reach
• Baksztag (backstay), or Broad Reach
• Fordewind (for-the-wind), or Run.

I hate wind while riding! Even cold tailwind is terrible! When would warm, dry and windless weather come to Poland?!

P.S. I apologise for this little rant. I had to cancel my April 30th (Friday) ride because of dangerous halbwind-bajdewind that tried to throw me under a big lorry! I gave up after 9 km...

 

[Dallant]

Spent an hour installing a Tannus Armor tire protector in the rear SCHWALBE G-One of my Allant+7. After 3 rear flats this year, it was time. Inflated it to 25 psi then took on a 16 miler where all went very well. I’m just wondering if I should bother installing one in the front tire as I’ve never had a front flat in my life!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I’m just wondering if I should bother installing one in the front tire as I’ve never had a front flat in my life!

You better do. Knowing your luck, Dallant... You don't need a cracked frame, tyre punctures do

 

[PowerflyLee formerly known as CheetahLee]

Spent an hour installing a Tennus Armor tire protector in the rear SCHWALBE G-One of my Allant+7. After 3 rear flats this year, it was time. Inflated it to 25 psi then took on a 16 miler where all went very well. I’m just wondering if I should bother installing one in the front tire as I’ve never had a front flat in my life!View attachment 86537

now you did it! put the jinx on yourself

 

[PowerflyLee formerly known as CheetahLee]

Well, spent the last two days flat on my back on my floor. Almost back to regular, had a little trip today to run some errands! It was a casual ride, no biking shorts, no jersey, no gloves, only regular shorts, shirt and sandals; and my helmet of course.

Last wind storm ripped my flag poles apart, had to get some new ones.

This has been abandoned right in the middle of the road for over a week now and it's a busy road too. I've reported it several times. Figures...

Ride On fellow Earthlings

 

[Dallant]

View attachment 86541
This has been abandoned right in the middle of the road for over a week now and it's a busy road too. I've reported it several times. Figures...

Ride On fellow Earthlings

What is that, a trailer?

 

[Art Deco]

Well, spent the last two days flat on my back on my floor. Almost back to regular, had a little trip today to run some errands! It was a casual ride, no biking shorts, no jersey, no gloves, only regular shorts, shirt and sandals; and my helmet of course.

View attachment 86539
Last wind storm ripped my flag poles apart, had to get some new ones.
View attachment 86540
View attachment 86541
This has been abandoned right in the middle of the road for over a week now and it's a busy road too. I've reported it several times. Figures...

Ride On fellow Earthlings

What was that before it became a road hazard ?

 

[PowerflyLee formerly known as CheetahLee]

It is a homemade trailer for carrying crap! No tags, VIN either! Looked like the axle broke, prolly overloaded. There is a cemetery on the left and some nondescript building on the right. Too heavy to move, I really wanted to see if the ebike could tow it hahahaha

 

[Art Deco]

What happened to your back? You mentioned a twinge, but two days flat on your back is more than a twinge.

 

[Dallant]

now you did it! put the jinx on yourself

You’re right...I must put it on the front now.

 

[PowerflyLee formerly known as CheetahLee]

What happened to your back? You mentioned a twinge, but two days flat on your back is more than a twinge.

Not sure exactly, was riding along just fine, then noticed lower back pain, made it home and wham! Laid down on rug and it helped so stayed there for awhile then went to bed or should say tried to go to bed, but no dice. So grabbed blankets and got comfy on the floor. Basically kept still and moved only when necessary, eventually got better. Back problem is nothing to mess with I tell you, even breathing was labored.

 

[Art Deco]

Yeah. Back pain can be really bad. Paralyzing, in fact. Glad to hear it passed on it's own, but if you don't know what caused it, it might be time to see a doctor . Sorry.

 

[Dallant]

Not sure exactly, was riding along just fine, then noticed lower back pain, made it home and wham! Laid down on rug and it helped so stayed there for awhile then went to bed or should say tried to go to bed, but no dice. So grabbed blankets and got comfy on the floor. Basically kept still and moved only when necessary, eventually got better. Back problem is nothing to mess with I tell you, even breathing was labored.

Sounds like the back spasms I get now and then. I go to a chiropractor if they continue past a few days. Usually fixes me in a visit or three.

 

[Prairie Dog]

An All-Mountain Kind of a Day

It turned out to be spectacular spring day for a ride as a couple of buddies and I got together yesterday for an outing on the local trails. Both of my companions were riding Specialized Turbo Levos. Kelvin on his CC and Ryan with his ride of choice, a svelt Turbo Levo SL in Battleship Blue. In a little over 2 hours, we tackled five consecutive trails starting at Mackenzie Bluff which runs along the east side of the Red Deer River. Since we had arranged to meet up on the east side of the city, the flow of the intended route would take a counter clockwise heading which was opposite of what I was normally ride. Naturally, I’m always up for a bit of a challenge and still had a blast with the guys regardless of which direction we opted for. As it worked out, the flow was actually better than I imagined.

I was only able to document the first half of our chosen route as I had forgotten to pack an extra battery for the GoPro and was almost depleted by the time we completed the run through the Pines. From Mackenzie Bluff we proceeded to round the wide-open stretch of hills at Riverbend, before making our way over the MTB park where we played on the boardwalk like a trio of juveniles. Then it was off to the Pines Single track which almost felt like it had better flow when approached from the other end of the trail. We finished our ride off with a fast blow through the Heritage Ranch and then from there we doubled back on a smaller loop at the Ranch towards our starting point in Garden Heights.

All of the trails were in exceptional conditions and the recent spell of warm temperatures and longer days helped dry out even the most stubborn damp sections.

MacKenzie Bluff

MTB Park - We passed on the nearby jumps and opted instead to try our luck on the boardwalk.

The Pines Single Track

None of us were able to complete the 23% grade dirt climb up at the final forested singletrack near the completion of the ride so it was up to our bike’s walk modes to push us over the top.