Our Rides in Words, Photos & Videos

Early start …

Shorncliffe Pier

Shorncliffe Pier, Brisbane​
With South East Queensland's COVID lockdown over, I rose early and drove down to the bay, arriving around sunrise. The clouds that had been threatening to spoil our local farmer's haymaking (post #2766; previous page) had brought rain. Too bad.

As usual, my first stop (23 km into the ride) was at Mario's mobile café (Cocoa Biscotti). With a mug of flat white and a brioche, I sat down by the pier and waited for the sun to add a bit of colour to my day. It didn't. The day remained bleak but I did not care because, once again, we were free to go wherever we wanted. For me 'anywhere' was a long ride up the bayside cycleway.

Moora Park, Shorncliffe
 
Last edited by a moderator:
David Berry said:
With South East Queensland's COVID lockdown over, I rose early and drove down to the bay, arriving around sunrise. The clouds that had been threatening to spoil our local farmer's haymaking (post #2766; previous page) had brought rain. Too bad.

As usual, my first stop (23 km into the ride) was at Mario's mobile café. With a mug of flat white and a brioche, I sat down by the pier and waited for the sun to add a bit of colour to my day. It didn't. The day remained bleak but I did not care because, once again, we were free to go wherever we wanted. For me 'anywhere' was a long ride up the bayside cycleway.
Click to expand...
Very nice. Life in South East Queensland looks pretty sweet to me from this far side of the pond. :cool:
 
David Berry said:
Early start …

View attachment 95917
Shorncliffe Pier, Brisbane​
With South East Queensland's COVID lockdown over, I rose early and drove down to the bay, arriving around sunrise. The clouds that had been threatening to spoil our local farmer's haymaking (post #2766; previous page) had brought rain. Too bad.

As usual, my first stop (23 km into the ride) was at Mario's mobile café (Cocoa Biscotti). With a mug of flat white and a brioche, I sat down by the pier and waited for the sun to add a bit of colour to my day. It didn't. The day remained bleak but I did not care because, once again, we were free to go wherever we wanted. For me 'anywhere' was a long ride up the bayside cycleway.

View attachment 95921
Click to expand...
What are winter time temperatures down there?
 
Incredible Lower Silesia & Sudetes
(Sun Aug 8th, 2021)

1629108409452.png

As we drove from Mazovia to Lower Silesia (and specifically, to the Kłodzko Valley), we were greeted by the "Welcoming Cyclist" sculptures in Bardo. I could also see the first real MTB singletrack in my life. These singletracks are created by the Euroregion Glacensis, and bear the common name of Singletrack Glacensis (Glacensis is the Latin name for Kłodzko).

We settled at a hotel in Kłodzko and instantly went for a ride.

1629108691024.png

Top: A tomb of a Polish lord who fought Hussites hard until he eventually got killed by them.
Centre, bottom: The large village of Stary Wielisław (Altwillmsdorf) has declared itself as bike friendly :)

1629109009887.png

In Polanica-Zdrój (Zdrój means Springs or a resort). We didn't like it there. Too crowded, too noisy, too much of festivity.

1629109146073.png

Springs Park in Polanica.

1629109203985.png

The (Commie style) soda fountain, and a candyfloss bowl.

1629109502919.png

We left Polanica for another resort, Duszniki-Zdrój. We even didn't ride to the Springs Park but enjoyed the town square.
Note: Frederic Chopin was treated against tuberculosis in Duszniki-Zdrój. For that reason, the city organizes annual Chopin Festivals.

1629109582591.png

A pillory.

1629109702048.png

No, he is not doing that :D Jacek taking a panorama with his iPhone.

1629109770514.png

Picturesque post-German building.

As we left Duszniki-Zdrój, the ride was mostly downhill. At some junction, I touched the brake rotor with my fingers. To burn them. I'm so glad my Vado is equipped with TRP Zurich brakes; and that I inspected them prior to our tour! Also, the decision to swap the chainring for a 38T one was more than right. I and Jacek have already been on a 14% grade climb, and there will be steeper ones! I cannot estimate the battery range in the mountains...

1629109875811.png

An intriguing female cyclist at Baron von Münchhausen Castle (1840), Szalejów Dolny, Kłodzko Valley, Lower Silesia, Poland.

1629109921819.png

An unexpected urbex :D She was really missing a young and strong companion to complete her mission! :)

1629110023826.png

What a picturesque area!

1629110067105.png

At Kłodzko Fortress, which was an important fortification in 17th and 18th centuries, belonging to the Austrian first, the Prussian next.

1629110103680.png

A Gothic bridge of 1390, Kłodzko (German: Glatz, Latin: Glacensis).

1629110141034.png

Ride Map and Metrics.
 
Last edited:
No e-bike rides for me since we're visiting family in Western PA. I did find my old BCA 10 speed from 1983 out in a barn where it's been sitting for the last 30+ years except for occasional niece/nephew rides in the driveway. Was surprised to find that the original tubes and tires still hold air. So after wiping off the cobwebs and wiping down the chain I've taken it for some rides the last couple of days through my old routes around the Amish/farm country around here. Keeping the rides short and close to where I'm staying as the bike is a bit creaky especially in the front hub. 14 miles the yesterday and 16.5 today.
Screenshot 2021-08-09 2.36.35 PM.png
Screenshot 2021-08-09 5.50.32 PM.png

Because of the rolling terrain and many cricks, creeks, and rivers the farmland is very patchworked with small fields mixed in with forests and wetlands. It's really a joy to ride in - every 5 minutes brings completely different scenery.
Bridge closed
IMG_20210808_112903.jpg
IMG_20210809_114009.jpg

I even felt nostalgic about having to avoid road apples :) (road apples are the emissions of Amish buggies, in case you're unfamiliar)
IMG_20210808_112527.jpg
IMG_20210809_113345.jpg
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot 2021-08-09 2.31.05 PM.png
    Screenshot 2021-08-09 2.31.05 PM.png
    1.2 MB · Views: 175
BlackHand said:
No e-bike rides for me since we're visiting family in Western PA. I did find my old BCA 10 speed from 1983 out in a barn where it's been sitting for the last 30+ years except for occasional niece/nephew rides in the driveway. Was surprised to find that the original tubes and tires still hold air. So after wiping off the cobwebs and wiping down the chain I've taken it for some rides the last couple of days through my old routes around the Amish/farm country around here. Keeping the rides short and close to where I'm staying as the bike is a bit creaky especially in the front hub. 14 miles the yesterday and 16.5 today.
View attachment 95975 View attachment 95978
Because of the rolling terrain and many cricks, creeks, and rivers the farmland is very patchworked with small fields mixed in with forests and wetlands. It's really a joy to ride in - every 5 minutes brings completely different scenery.
View attachment 95983 View attachment 95984 View attachment 95985
I even felt nostalgic about having to avoid road apples :) (road apples are the emissions of Amish buggies, in case you're unfamiliar)
View attachment 95986View attachment 95987
Click to expand...
Bet if you pull that hub apart, clean it and grease it ... go another 30 years. Still a good lookin bike.
 
Around The Kłodzko Valley
(Mon Aug 9th, 2021)

1629096755967.png

Mikulski Brothers celebrate conquering the Puchaczówka Pass climb by the hardest access ascent.

It has been my dream to circumnavigate the Kłodzko Valley since my youth. (The Valley is packed with sightseeing attractions to the level you'd need a car and two week vacation to see the most of them). The farthest point of my dream trip was Międzylesie (Mitterwald, or Between-Forests) in the South, near to the Czech border. (The mountain ridges define the frontier between the two countries).

1629096907823.png

Lower Silesia (and especially the Kłodzko Valley) is picturesque. People decorate the valley with artefacts and flowers there (many other regions prefer creating religious symbols instead). Top: A bus shelter. Centre: Even if the first segment of the trip was fairly easy, we encountered an extreme ascent somewhere (taking a short rest afterwards). Bottom: Arrived in the famous Lądek-Zdrój.

1629097266475.png

The area is full of resorts (Zdrój denotes Springs or Spa). Lądek-Zdrój was made famous in the 1981 comedy movie "Miś" (Teddy Bear). A guy orders sending a telegram to London. The post-office clerk is unaware of the very existence of London and tries to find the city in the directory for similarly sounding Polish locations.
– There's no such a city. There's Lądek, Lądek-Zdrój...

1629097456005.png

Unlike the crowded Polanica-Zdrój, Lądek-Zdrój is peaceful and quaint. Bottom: Drinking healing water right from the spring! 😁 It did me good (Jacek hated it).

1629097554305.png


1629097582964.png

At the Puchaczówka Pass in the Śnieżnik (Snow Mountain) massif. Jacek and I took the most steep climb from the east (e-bikes, aye?) Traditional cyclists take the western climb as it is long but far easier. Our riding direction allowed us long descending for 10 km at high but controllable speed and taking easier bends on the way down. (There was just a single cyclist climbing together with us, and he was riding a Cube e-MTB).

1629097697694.png

The Śnieżnik Massif is huge, and the peak itself is one of the tallest in Poland and Czech Republic. The Puchaczówka Pass is the only road that dares enter the massif. Bottom: The low part of the massif with the Pass indicated.

1629097972180.png

The first 600 Wh battery of my Vado was good for 61 km. I was very tired and hungry when we reached Międzylesie at the 75th kilometre. The town was badly hit by former covid restrictions. The pizza bar was the only place to get some food there!

1629098028904.png

The return way was downhill and downwind, therefore easy. German architecture of the area makes the region look interesting.

1629098165733.png

Here, the picturesque (and very old) town of Bystrzyca Kłodzka.

1629098097479.png

St. John of Nepomuk, the Czech patron of Lower Silesia. Bystrzyca Kłodzka is the "City of Two Rivers" that join there.

1629098212037.png

Jacek has used the whole usable charge of his 625 Wh battery for the ride. He tells me not to ask him for taking the spare battery for his rides anymore! Here, potato pancakes at our hotel. Bad surprise was to discover the (presumably Czech) Kozel lager was now being made by a Polish beer concern and was not good at all!

1629098417246.png

Jacek's Garmin ride map shows the geography very well.

1629098496407.png

Ride map and metrics. Assistance levels: 45/60, 60/80, and 100/100%.
 

Attachments

  • 1629097341758.png
    1629097341758.png
    1,001.4 KB · Views: 180
  • 1629098337549.png
    1629098337549.png
    764.8 KB · Views: 191
Last edited:
Stefan Mikes said:
It has been my dream to circumnavigate the Kłodzko Valley since my youth. (The Valley is packed with sightseeing attractions to the level you'd need a car and two week vacation to see the most of them). The farthest point of my dream trip was Międzylesie (Mitterwald, or Between-Forests) in the South, near to the Czech border. (The mountain ridges define the frontier between the two countries).
Click to expand...
Once again, great write up Stefan. 👍 It’s true that you’d need a car to take in all of those attractions but there is so much more that you would miss seeing from a vehicle compared to bike touring. Nice to know that you were able to live out your dream. Kudos to you.:)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

mschwett
interesting new garmin radar data
2
Replies
36
Views
2K
AvalancheRun
AvalancheRun
Stefan Mikes
"Why Is My Elevation Gain Report Always Wrong?" (Answered Once And For Good)
Replies
4
Views
481
Mr. Coffee
Mr. Coffee
C
Turbo Vado SL 5.0 EQ
Replies
8
Views
3K
Jeremy McCreary
Jeremy McCreary
Adventum
  • Question
our rides in words and photos October 2021
Replies
2
Views
3K
Friserando
F
W
Frey Evolve Review with Bafang M510 Mid-Drive Motor！
Replies
12
Views
9K
Tom@WashDC
Tom@WashDC
Back