Our Rides in Words, Photos & Videos

[steve mercier]

Capilano reservoir

 

[steve mercier]

Many seagulls at the mouth of the Capilano so methinks there must be fish entering.

 

[steve mercier]

 

[Chargeride]

This is good news, they ride these things around as if it being electric somehow makes them a legal ebike.

Sefton Park electric bike rider 'could have caused catastrophe'

Police said the incident could have had catastrophic consequences for people in the park

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

Dont read the comments

 

[jabberwocky]

Took a break from gravel to take the EMTB out on some trails I haven't ridden in a long time. Gambrill State Park in Maryland. AKA rocks, rocks, more rocks, all the rocks with a side of rocks.

 

[kauaikit]

Hi folks!
Hopefully you have been following my EVG restoration project. I got a new batch of Laudation 7s5p batteries and man-oh-man am I a happy boy. After I did some measurements to prove they were approx 15Ah each, today I went for my Maiden Voyage. Even though not very wind efficient, the upright ride on the EVG allows me to see things. No clue how many thousand times I have driven past the below and never noticed… (Bonita)
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The south most part of my ride was Sunol. They have a really cute old rail station that runs historic trains from Sunol to Fremont/Niles (Charlie Chaplain). I have been on their Christmas train a couple time; cute and fun!
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So from here I went north until my odometer read the previous max distance and headed back along the Iron Horse Trail. Here is an old bridge they have not yet removed….
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So a special THANK YOU to @kauaikit for all the help and suggestions. The 7s packs are the SCHIZNICK! My top end assist went from 13MPH to now 16MPH. So here is my first long ride on the EVG, doubling what I was able to do with the old SLA batteries. 453Wh used (was lazy!), both packs were 58% after resting. My VAM has never been higher….
-BB

View attachment 89826

Nice.....Dam, that is a ride!!!

 

[PowerflyLee formerly known as CheetahLee]

They're putting up new signs around me, maybe good news, re more bike lanes.

Osprey nest at Gunpowder Falls Park, they are a lot bigger than I thought.


Martin Airport

Huge tree

A lot of people at Gunpowder, it was early too, like 9:30 ish.

Another huge one at Inner Harbor, the General Rudder from Texas, Aggie Fans
That's all folks, tune in tomorrow, same bat time, same bat channel...

 

[reed scott]

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They're putting up new signs around me, maybe good news, re more bike lanes.
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Osprey nest at Gunpowder Falls Park, they are a lot bigger than I thought.
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Martin Airport
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Huge tree
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A lot of people at Gunpowder, it was early too, like 9:30 ish.
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Another huge ship at Inner Harbor, the General Rudder from Texas, Aggie Fans
That's all folks, tune in tomorrow, same bat time, same bat channel...

Sorry to be picky, but the General Rudder is a boat not a ship.

 

[Art Deco]

Sorry to be picky, but the General Rudder is a boat not a ship.

View attachment 90788

OK I'll bite, even though I used to know the difference. How can I tell a boat from a ship if it doesn't have sails?

 

[reed scott]

OK I'll bite, even though I used to know the difference. How can I tell a boat from a ship if it doesn't have sails?

wikipedia will help.

 

[PowerflyLee formerly known as CheetahLee]

Sorry to be picky, but the General Rudder is a boat not a ship.

View attachment 90788

Aye Aye, Cap'n hahahaha, verbage corrected

 

[BarnBoy]

As my mom in the WAVES constantly told me; a ship can carry a boat. Not converse….
-BB

 

[Art Deco]

As my mom in the WAVES constantly told me; a ship can carry a boat. Not converse….
-BB

But a 30 foot motorboat can carry an 8 foot rowboat ...

 

[Nashcruiser]

Saw this sunset as I was just about home from my ride today. My longest ride since I bought the bike 2 weeks ago. 34 miles and I felt real good. Having these big tires and sturdy frame just makes this ride like a Cadillac. Still had 31% juice left in the battery. And that was with climbing some hills for 2,385 ft in elevation change. Really enjoying this.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Around the Mazovian Landscape Park and Beyond

That was a group ride I organized myself I got on the train in a small village of Parzniew, Justyna "That Woman Who's Beating Me" joined in Piastów, "Joseph" (Adam) at the Warsaw City station, and @Jerzy Bańkowski was awaiting us in Otwock. Otwock is a small city famous for excellent air quality (which made it the location of many tuberculosis sanatoria in the past). I need to add Joseph and I have known each other since 2008, and we played in a band (he's an accomplished electric guitarist). Now, Joe (an avid motorcyclist) had found he liked cycling, and joined our trip.

It was a very warm day, with temperature up to 31 C (88 F) and 50% humidity. The first leg of our ride led into significant headwind, making our ride rather slow.

As all my mates own unequipped bikes, we had to stop for buying more water to refill bottles often. (Fortunately, all stores operate on Saturdays in Poland). Joseph (who is a retired policeman and knows many aspects of life) told us that there always was a store by or opposite of local Volunteer Fire Station We were pleasantly surprised as that specific village store was air-conditioned! (Not a norm in Poland). I could not resist when I saw pączki in the store!

Now, @Chargeride will shudder: The name of the village was Chrząszczówka The name, very easy to pronounce by a Pole is totally unmanageable for a foreigner!

A covid note: Far from being too optimistic, I just report that a big part of our society has already been vaccinated, and the number of new covid cases has been 168 for the last 24 hours (not bad for a forty-million nation). People still wear face-masks inside public buildings but only in big cities. Elsewhere, people got tired with wearing masks (but any store etc is equipped with a screen to protect salespeople).

In Osieck. The small village sports a huge 1902 neo-Gothic church, (which made me thinking of the power of the Catholic Church in our country). The water-pump visible in the picture didn't alas work.

This parish owned building must have been built about the same time as the church. Not in the best shape.

In Całowanie (Kissing). While North America is full of funny place-names, finding a hilarious place-name in Poland is rare. So, we had a lot of fun to find the A-Kissing on our route Jerzy wanted us to get in "At Wiesław's" inn for a beer, and we refused. It would actually be a very wrong idea to drink beer at that weather!

Bear in mind I'm not a healthy person (e-bikes have saved me for cycling!) There was a funny incident en route. Two Time Trial cyclist zoomed by us at some village. I switched Turbo mode on and sprinted to catch up with them. No way! I hit the 45 km/h limiter, reached 47 km/h on leg power, and had to give up. They were just riding at steady 45 kph... The heat, long riding segments and my "cadence shows" (I could get at 150 rpm once) made me exhausted, and various aches started bogging me. I had to take a good rest!

The route we rode was totally new to any of us. When we reached Karczew, @Jerzy Bańkowski felt he came back to his own home area (I need to add he made well over 50 miles on that hot day!) Jerzy and Justyna could find a small nice park with a water curtain, so we could take some rest before Jerzy and Joseph rode towards Otwock (to close the loop), and Justyna and I...

...crossed Vistula River and rode the shortest (but exciting) way towards our own neighbourhood. And the ride was fast. Justyna is extremely well fit and enthusiastic cyclist (dreaming of a gravel bike), and she loves to cruise at 30 km/h! (I'm so glad I own a Speed Vado...) Far on the trip, I got empty on sugar-free drinks. Justyna spotted a store, where I fed myself with ice-cream, and, alas, had to buy sugar containing sports drink.

Justyna eventually made 95 km. When we parted, I was riding on fumes I had to decrease assistance to 20/20% and I reached my favourite petrol station first (ice-cream, ice-coffee there) and then the finish line. As I had to ride up the train stop in the morning, I made 104.2 km on the single 600W battery, with 6% of charge actually left (the assistance stops working at 5%). All of that was only possible because of relatively slow average speed. (High speed kills. Batteries are being killed, too).

 

[RabH]

My planned 50 miler on Friday had to be cancelled so instead of going to the motor racing today I decided to go cycling instead! The weather forecast was showing rain early afternoon so I set off at 8.30am to do a 50 miler before the rain came, its now 13.40 and its still dry! Light winds again today made it very pleasant and a nice temp of 15C was just perfect, no 31C here @Stefan Mikes I think I would just melt in that temp, cycling wouldn't be on my mind in that heat! Amazing effort by you and your cycling friends @Stefan Mikes!

I have been waiting for an easterly wind for a while to see how fast I can go on a nice straight downhill that I really enjoy, I was doing 43.3mph when a car appeared at the junction near the bottom so I had to get on the brakes in case the driver decided to pull out on me! Maybe 50mph will be possible with a strong easterly one day! It was such a great ride and was much needed as things aren't going too well with my dad, he is still doing well for the age of 92 but its getting harder to get him out of the house now! Not the most scenic ride but the roads were incredible!

 

[Nashcruiser]

Around the Mazovian Landscape Park and Beyond

That was a group ride I organized myself I got on the train in a small village of Parzniew, Justyna "That Woman Who's Beating Me" joined in Piastów, "Joseph" (Adam) at the Warsaw City station, and @Jerzy Bańkowski was awaiting us in Otwock. Otwock is a small city famous for excellent air quality (which made it the location of many tuberculosis sanatoria in the past). I need to add Joseph and I have known each other since 2008, and we played in a band (he's an accomplished electric guitarist). Now, Joe (an avid motorcyclist) had found he liked cycling, and joined our trip.

It was a very warm day, with temperature up to 31 C (88 F) and 50% humidity. The first leg of our ride led into significant headwind, making our ride rather slow.

View attachment 90797
As all my mates own unequipped bikes, we had to stop for buying more water to refill bottles often. (Fortunately, all stores operate on Saturdays in Poland). Joseph (who is a retired policeman and knows many aspects of life) told us that there always was a store by or opposite of local Volunteer Fire Station We were pleasantly surprised as that specific village store was air-conditioned! (Not a norm in Poland). I could not resist when I saw pączki in the store!

Now, @Chargeride will shudder: The name of the village was Chrząszczówka The name, very easy to pronounce by a Pole is totally unmanageable for a foreigner!

A covid note: Far from being too optimistic, I just report that a big part of our society has already been vaccinated, and the number of new covid cases has been 168 for the last 24 hours (not bad for a forty-million nation). People still wear face-masks inside public buildings but only in big cities. Elsewhere, people got tired with wearing masks (but any store etc is equipped with a screen to protect salespeople).

View attachment 90798
In Osieck. The small village sports a huge 1902 neo-Gothic church, (which made me thinking of the power of the Catholic Church in our country). The water-pump visible in the picture didn't alas work.

View attachment 90799
This parish owned building must have been built about the same time as the church. Not in the best shape.

View attachment 90800
In Całowanie (Kissing). While North America is full of funny place-names, finding a hilarious place-name in Poland is rare. So, we had a lot of fun to find the A-Kissing on our route Jerzy wanted us to get in "At Wiesław's" inn for a beer, and we refused. It would actually be a very wrong idea to drink beer at that weather!

View attachment 90801
Bear in mind I'm not a healthy person (e-bikes have saved me for cycling!) There was a funny incident en route. Two Time Trial cyclist zoomed by us at some village. I switched Turbo mode on and sprinted to catch up with them. No way! I hit the 45 km/h limiter, reached 47 km/h on leg power, and had to give up. They were just riding at steady 45 kph... The heat, long riding segments and my "cadence shows" (I could get at 150 rpm once) made me exhausted, and various aches started bogging me. I had to take a good rest!

View attachment 90802
The route we rode was totally new to any of us. When we reached Karczew, @Jerzy Bańkowski felt he came back to his own home area (I need to add he made well over 50 miles on that hot day!) Jerzy and Justyna could find a small nice park with a water curtain, so we could take some rest before Jerzy and Joseph rode towards Otwock (to close the loop), and Justyna and I...

View attachment 90803
...crossed Vistula River and rode the shortest (but exciting) way towards our own neighbourhood. And the ride was fast. Justyna is extremely well fit and enthusiastic cyclist (dreaming of a gravel bike), and she loves to cruise at 30 km/h! (I'm so glad I own a Speed Vado...) Far on the trip, I got empty on sugar-free drinks. Justyna spotted a store, where I fed myself with ice-cream, and, alas, had to buy sugar containing sports drink.

View attachment 90804
Justyna eventually made 95 km. When we parted, I was riding on fumes I had to decrease assistance to 20/20% and I reached my favourite petrol station first (ice-cream, ice-coffee there) and then the finish line. As I had to ride up the train stop in the morning, I made 104.2 km on the single 600W battery, with 6% of charge actually left (the assistance stops working at 5%). All of that was only possible because of relatively slow average speed. (High speed kills. Batteries are being killed, too).

Looks like a great ride. I still have range anxiety and would have been worrying about running out of juice.

 

[Nashcruiser]

View attachment 90814

My planned 50 miler on Friday had to be cancelled so instead of going to the motor racing today I decided to go cycling instead! The weather forecast was showing rain early afternoon so I set off at 8.30am to do a 50 miler before the rain came, its now 13.40 and its still dry! Light winds again today made it very pleasant and a nice temp of 15C was just perfect, no 31C here @Stefan Mikes I think I would just melt in that temp, cycling wouldn't be on my mind in that heat! Amazing effort by you and your cycling friends @Stefan Mikes!

I have been waiting for an easterly wind for a while to see how fast I can go on a nice straight downhill that I really enjoy, I was doing 43.3mph when a car appeared at the junction near the bottom so I had to get on the brakes in case the driver decided to pull out on me! Maybe 50mph will be possible with a strong easterly one day! It was such a great ride and was much needed as things aren't going too well with my dad, he is still doing well for the age of 92 but its getting harder to get him out of the house now! Not the most scenic ride but the roads were incredible!

That’s impressive peddling and climbing. Nice!

 

[Anna]

Saw this sunset as I was just about home from my ride today. My longest ride since I bought the bike 2 weeks ago. 34 miles and I felt real good. Having these big tires and sturdy frame just makes this ride like a Cadillac. Still had 31% juice left in the battery. And that was with climbing some hills for 2,385 ft in elevation change. Really enjoying this.

Beautiful ebike!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Awesome Girls Ride (Sunday Full of Adventures)

Nobody joined a Sunday group ride organized by Ania The Roadie. Although several road cyclists I know are fine people, the remaining crowd looks somewhat funny to me: too cold; too warm; rainy; windy. How could they even dream about taking part in the Paris-Roubaix race?! Nobody joined Ania's trip. Except "That Woman" Justyna and myself. We set off at 10:03 from the Swedish Square, Janki (south of Warsaw), home to the largest IKEA store in Poland (by chance, Ania works for them)

Ania rode a Triban, Decathlon branded road bike, in my opinion the best budget road bike you can get in our country (it is generally unavailable nowadays, as everybody wants a Triban). Justyna rode her Haibike hardtail MTB (non e-bike), and I rode my Speed Vado, loaded with two panniers.

Ania had led our peloton from Janki to Radziejowice. Here, at a technical stop I requested. (The inn visible in the background has probably gone bankrupt because of the pandemics). Here, I'm caressing the Princess, the nickname of Ania's Triban.

Did I say it was 31 C (88 F) again?

The park & palace in Radziejowice are beautiful. The żurek (Polish sour soup) I ate at the restaurant was really good!

The girls seemed to get along pretty well (it was their first ride together!)

Something that is not typical for a roadie, Ania requested we did some sightseeing. She wanted to see two villages, whose names put together (Kaczków z boiska!) form an untranslatable political pun

And we did some sightseeing, having a lot of fun!

In touristically attractive village of Ciemno-Gnojna. (The place name is terrible, meaning "Darkish-Manureish")

Then the disaster struck. Ania got a flat tyre on the front wheel of her Princess. I had all the necessary tools and was sure I could remove the tyre, replace the inner tube and the tyre. It turned out to be very difficult. Triban's rim is tubeless ready. I could do everything except replacing the tyre: 20 cm (8") of the bead refused to cooperate. It looked rather hopelessly.

It was hot. We ran out of water, so it was important to find a store that was open on Sunday. Justyna went to find one. I went out, too but, alas, in the opposite direction... A local resident told me where I could find a grocery store, so I rode up there. Suddenly, I exclaimed: I HAVE BEEN THERE BEFORE!!! Yes. Werdun, named by the old village owner in honour of the Battle of Verdun (in which he had fought). A favourite spot on the way to Apple Tree Land

Meanwhile, the girls were waiting for a Knight On A White Horse. Damsels in distress! Believe it or not, the Knight had arrived! A car stopped by. A man approached us: "Do you need any help?" -- "Yes we do!" -- "By chance, I'm a bike mechanic..." If the manhad fixed the wheel in five minutes, I would have looked like a fool. But he spent a good half an hour or more doing it: "What kind of idiot has designed that rim?!" In fact, there had been a Decathlon customer-satisfaction programme to replace the hopeless rims with Mavics; Ania came too late when no Mavic rims were available.

The Rotten Apple in Tarczyn
I lead the pack for all the way from Radziejowice through Tarczyn to Janki. It was a difficult task. The leader has to control the riding speed: Not too slowly but not too fast. The leader has to check and see if the pack members are still there; warn them of obstacles on the road and of other dangers; navigate, and keep a decent constant speed. I managed to do that, but I have to give some of the credit to my wonderful 45 km/h Vado 5.0. What a flexible e-bike! Bear in mind: My bad legs plus meticulously tuned motor (45/45% assistance/max motor power) were equivalent to the performance of either of the girls but I had to pedal strongly! Now fancy this: I'm riding in the lead, followed by the roadie; then the girl riding the MTB asks: "Could we please ride a little bit faster?" That's why Ania, a seasoned roadie liked Justyna so much! (I need to mention that the great acceleration of my Vado helped in many situations).

What a wonderful riding day!
.