Our Rides in Words, Photos & Videos
fooferdoggie
Well-Known Member
first trip to the dog park.
BlackHand
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Western WA
How many links in that chain, and do you have to splice it together or can you buy one with enough links?
According to the weather people, we are between storms today. I took off up the hill and into the woods today. We've had a wetter spring this year and I suspect the wildflowers are gonna be happy. I thought the sunflowers (balsam root) were at their peak some time ago, but with the cool weather, they're still blooming like crazy. The hillsides have a lot of yellow to them.
This pear orchard was in full bloom. We will hope the nights don't get so cold because it sounds like the world will need all the food that can be grown this year. I haven't heard the roar of the orchard fans for a couple of mornings, so there is hope. I noticed some gridlock at the openings to the beehives which were almost too close to the road. The bees were making up for lost time? It did rain yesterday.
Here's the future pears and bike with new bags. I've almost tipped over getting on and off because I am in the habit of compensating for one bag on one side.
After thirteen miles, my buns were saying it was time to turn around. I was up higher and into the start of the woods. This is still along Salmon Creek, which supplies a lot of irrigation water to the valley below.
On the way back, with five miles to go, I had to get off the bike for a bit. I snapped this picture of the Okanogan Valley which becomes the Okanagan Valley once it is in Beautiful British Columbia, eh. It was either downhill or flat from here on. No restaurants--well, maybe they might have peanuts or something at the Golf Course....
You can't see the bottom of the valley because of the "flats" that are up out of it. Today was 26 miles sans Demon Dog.
This pear orchard was in full bloom. We will hope the nights don't get so cold because it sounds like the world will need all the food that can be grown this year. I haven't heard the roar of the orchard fans for a couple of mornings, so there is hope. I noticed some gridlock at the openings to the beehives which were almost too close to the road. The bees were making up for lost time? It did rain yesterday.
Here's the future pears and bike with new bags. I've almost tipped over getting on and off because I am in the habit of compensating for one bag on one side.
After thirteen miles, my buns were saying it was time to turn around. I was up higher and into the start of the woods. This is still along Salmon Creek, which supplies a lot of irrigation water to the valley below.
On the way back, with five miles to go, I had to get off the bike for a bit. I snapped this picture of the Okanogan Valley which becomes the Okanagan Valley once it is in Beautiful British Columbia, eh. It was either downhill or flat from here on. No restaurants--well, maybe they might have peanuts or something at the Golf Course....
You can't see the bottom of the valley because of the "flats" that are up out of it. Today was 26 miles sans Demon Dog.
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
I'm a great believer in beer cans. Nowadays, even the most expensive ales and stouts are distributed in cans. Beer does not degrade when transported in cans but is does in the bottles.
I feel I need to take a photo of some surfaces I'm riding...
There are some microbreweries that will can a beer for you. It's a bigger than normal can and that's all I know.I'm a great believer in beer cans. Nowadays, even the most expensive ales and stouts are distributed in cans. Beer does not degrade when transported in cans but is does in the bottles.
I feel I need to take a photo of some surfaces I'm riding...
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
I've been in so-called "craft beer world" for a couple of years. Many of beers in the list of "100 Best Craft Beers Of The World" can be found canned, and these are insanely expensive. What matters is the beer shall be poured into glass before serving. The cans allow transporting the most excellent beer unspoilt worldwide. Here, a 17.2% ABV (yes, you read it correctly!) Imperial Stout from the American EvilTwin Brewing made in cooperation with the Lervig of Norway. All honours to the United States of America for the "craft beer revolution"!
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
"2022 Gravel Master (Short Route)" Re-Enactment, or All Went Wrong!
There was a single occasion when Strava navigation helped us. The main group was following blindly the Gravel Master course, and they had to carry their bikes ankle-deep in the mud over a distance. I, Howard and Joanna took a detour, assisted by Strava. Here, at the Bolimów Lake.
As we learned later, both groups had to eventually cross the same wooden gangway over the River Rawka.
Actually, the whole group was split into three sub-groups at that time. Eventually, all 10 people could ride together again.
The top quality "gravel freeways" in the Bolimów Forest. See Howard with the two panniers at the left. He was doing extremely well, also off-road!
The First of May. The Workers' Day, and a big holiday in Poland, with people having a really good time, especially with such weather!
The Reconnaissance. Gravel-cyclists need an operating grocery store on their trip to replenish food and beverages. Would any store be opened on May 1st? One of the guys volunteered to do a recon. As it turned out, grocery stores are open on the May holiday in the countryside, so the party-goers can replenish their beer & sausage, too!
Sands and hills in the Land of Łódź.
Still 10 people on the ride.
An e-MTB is a poor choice for "gravel-cycling" rides
Let me be very honest: It was a mistake to take the Giant Trance E+ for that trip. The e-bike only shone on sand and for climbing hills. A heavy machine that is slow on-road was the worst choice possible. Even the touring hybrid e-bike (Lovelec) would be a better choice there! Necessary to mention, an e-MTB is a pain to pedal at speed on-road. You need to work very hard to keep together with the fast group!
When you meet a location by name "Holy Chicks" (or, you interpret the name so), wouldn't you laugh?
Maków. Seven people still on the ride, with one of them leaving soon. (Howard was on the road, so he's not pictured here).
The things started to go really wrong...
We had three ride members who set off for that demanding ride unprepared (like, their first 2022 ride). They were constantly dropping out and stalling the ride. Worse, neither of them had GPS navigation with the ride course! Two guys left because they could not continue the group ride, one had just to leave, and there was a nice new friend who was bravely struggling to the end. I and Howard didn't want to leave Sebastian alone. We lost the touch with the main group. And we had no good GPS navigation...
The red line is the part where I, Howard, and Sebastian got lost. Eventually, we rode for 94.8 km, 8 km more than the main group.
I and Howard ate a poor lunch in Budy Grabskie. Sebastian told us that if we drove to Szpularnia restaurant in Żyrardów, we could get excellent beef tartar and herring tartar. So we drove there
- Przemek The Gravel Man invited 10 people to take part in a trip over the course of the recent "Szuter Master" Race (2022 Gravel Master Race).
- Darek Howard was my riding partner. Howard is a close friend of mine. A jack-of-all-trades, and a very helpful man who had helped me during recent disasters, has been riding my Lovelec e-bike for the last Winter. He was very enthusiastic to join a long trip, and was extremely well prepared for the ride. (I was riding Jacek's Giant Trance E+).
- We started from Budy Grabskie, a location in the very centre of the beautiful Bolimów Forest.
- It was the best day of 2022 weather-wise. Warm, sunny, calm, dry -- were it even warmer, we would think it was Summer!
- Forget taking the backpack/pannier harness with you, and ask Howard to haul as many as two panniers, each containing a heavy spare battery...
- Leave your Wahoo at home...
- I was blind as to e-bike ride parameters (speed, distance ridden, ride duration, battery level, distance left to go...)
- No GPS navigation for the defined course...
- No ride recording.
There was a single occasion when Strava navigation helped us. The main group was following blindly the Gravel Master course, and they had to carry their bikes ankle-deep in the mud over a distance. I, Howard and Joanna took a detour, assisted by Strava. Here, at the Bolimów Lake.
As we learned later, both groups had to eventually cross the same wooden gangway over the River Rawka.
Actually, the whole group was split into three sub-groups at that time. Eventually, all 10 people could ride together again.
The top quality "gravel freeways" in the Bolimów Forest. See Howard with the two panniers at the left. He was doing extremely well, also off-road!
The First of May. The Workers' Day, and a big holiday in Poland, with people having a really good time, especially with such weather!
The Reconnaissance. Gravel-cyclists need an operating grocery store on their trip to replenish food and beverages. Would any store be opened on May 1st? One of the guys volunteered to do a recon. As it turned out, grocery stores are open on the May holiday in the countryside, so the party-goers can replenish their beer & sausage, too!
Sands and hills in the Land of Łódź.
Still 10 people on the ride.
An e-MTB is a poor choice for "gravel-cycling" rides
Let me be very honest: It was a mistake to take the Giant Trance E+ for that trip. The e-bike only shone on sand and for climbing hills. A heavy machine that is slow on-road was the worst choice possible. Even the touring hybrid e-bike (Lovelec) would be a better choice there! Necessary to mention, an e-MTB is a pain to pedal at speed on-road. You need to work very hard to keep together with the fast group!
When you meet a location by name "Holy Chicks" (or, you interpret the name so), wouldn't you laugh?
Maków. Seven people still on the ride, with one of them leaving soon. (Howard was on the road, so he's not pictured here).
The things started to go really wrong...
We had three ride members who set off for that demanding ride unprepared (like, their first 2022 ride). They were constantly dropping out and stalling the ride. Worse, neither of them had GPS navigation with the ride course! Two guys left because they could not continue the group ride, one had just to leave, and there was a nice new friend who was bravely struggling to the end. I and Howard didn't want to leave Sebastian alone. We lost the touch with the main group. And we had no good GPS navigation...
The red line is the part where I, Howard, and Sebastian got lost. Eventually, we rode for 94.8 km, 8 km more than the main group.
I and Howard ate a poor lunch in Budy Grabskie. Sebastian told us that if we drove to Szpularnia restaurant in Żyrardów, we could get excellent beef tartar and herring tartar. So we drove there
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ChezCheese:)
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Kitsap Co, WA
My objection to cans is because of the plastic lining of the cans. As for the ale degrading in glass... Drink faster!
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
It is the light that causes photochemical reaction in the beer, leading to creation of "skunk". Also, glass bottles with metal caps "breathe", with oxygen getting in and degrading beer.
The plastic lining of the cans is totally neutral. That's the whole point. No light or oxygen can enter a can.
(Did I ever tell you I was a process engineer?)
kahn
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- northWET washington
An "exhausting" report"2022 Gravel Master (Short Route)" Re-Enactment, or All Went Wrong!
How to spoil such a fantastic day, and turn the ride into torture?
- Przemek The Gravel Man invited 10 people to take part in a trip over the course of the recent "Szuter Master" Race (2022 Gravel Master Race).
- Darek Howard was my riding partner. Howard is a close friend of mine. A jack-of-all-trades, and a very helpful man who had helped me during recent disasters, has been riding my Lovelec e-bike for the last Winter. He was very enthusiastic to join a long trip, and was extremely well prepared for the ride. (I was riding Jacek's Giant Trance E+).
- We started from Budy Grabskie, a location in the very centre of the beautiful Bolimów Forest.
- It was the best day of 2022 weather-wise. Warm, sunny, calm, dry -- were it even warmer, we would think it was Summer!
Without the Wahoo:
- Forget taking the backpack/pannier harness with you, and ask Howard to haul as many as two panniers, each containing a heavy spare battery...
- Leave your Wahoo at home...
Yes, I was trying to use Strava for GPS navigation. (Never do this at home, as to say).
- I was blind as to e-bike ride parameters (speed, distance ridden, ride duration, battery level, distance left to go...)
- No GPS navigation for the defined course...
- No ride recording.
View attachment 122115
There was a single occasion when Strava navigation helped us. The main group was following blindly the Gravel Master course, and they had to carry their bikes ankle-deep in the mud over a distance. I, Howard and Joanna took a detour, assisted by Strava. Here, at the Bolimów Lake.
View attachment 122116
As we learned later, both groups had to eventually cross the same wooden gangway over the River Rawka.
View attachment 122117
Actually, the whole group was split into three sub-groups at that time. Eventually, all 10 people could ride together again.
View attachment 122119
The top quality "gravel freeways" in the Bolimów Forest. See Howard with the two panniers at the left. He was doing extremely well, also off-road!
View attachment 122121
The First of May. The Workers' Day, and a big holiday in Poland, with people having a really good time, especially with such weather!
View attachment 122122
The Reconnaissance. Gravel-cyclists need an operating grocery store on their trip to replenish food and beverages. Would any store be opened on May 1st? One of the guys volunteered to do a recon. As it turned out, grocery stores are open on the May holiday in the countryside, so the party-goers can replenish their beer & sausage, too!
View attachment 122123
Sands and hills in the Land of Łódź.
View attachment 122127
Still 10 people on the ride.
An e-MTB is a poor choice for "gravel-cycling" rides
Let me be very honest: It was a mistake to take the Giant Trance E+ for that trip. The e-bike only shone on sand and for climbing hills. A heavy machine that is slow on-road was the worst choice possible. Even the touring hybrid e-bike (Lovelec) would be a better choice there! Necessary to mention, an e-MTB is a pain to pedal at speed on-road. You need to work very hard to keep together with the fast group!
View attachment 122124
When you meet a location by name "Holy Chicks" (or, you interpret the name so), wouldn't you laugh?
View attachment 122125
Maków. Seven people still on the ride, with one of them leaving soon. (Howard was on the road, so he's not pictured here).
The things started to go really wrong...
We had three ride members who set off for that demanding ride unprepared (like, their first 2022 ride). They were constantly dropping out and stalling the ride. Worse, neither of them had GPS navigation with the ride course! Two guys left because they could not continue the group ride, one had just to leave, and there was a nice new friend who was bravely struggling to the end. I and Howard didn't want to leave Sebastian alone. We lost the touch with the main group. And we had no good GPS navigation...
View attachment 122128
The red line is the part where I, Howard, and Sebastian got lost. Eventually, we rode for 94.8 km, 8 km more than the main group.
View attachment 122129
I and Howard ate a poor lunch in Budy Grabskie. Sebastian told us that if we drove to Szpularnia restaurant in Żyrardów, we could get excellent beef tartar and herring tartar. So we drove there
. Steak tartar - yes. I had an incredible version in Paris. It was seared on only one side adding an excellent flavor element. And herring, too. I must visit Poland (in my next life).
mikeschn
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- SE Michigan
That explains everything! Ha!(Did I ever tell you I was a process engineer?)
Mike...
mikeschn
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- SE Michigan
Looks like you had great weather, and good food. And you really didn't get lost... you were just a bit bewildered!
How many hours was your ride? My guess is 4 to 5 hours.Dang, now you have me craving a good smoked polish sausage! Like the one on the left...
Mike...
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Chargeride
Well-Known Member
The Broads is the only one I havent visited, we keep meaning to go.
Do t forget to post it!
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
Only a few years ago if I saw someone taking a picture of food, I would be...just eat it man!Unnamed Route
I wanted go on a metric century southwards on Saturday. However, we had an online party with @Brix the night before
When quickly planning my trip with RideWithGPS, I noticed the default name was "Unnamed Route". And that became the name of my trip!
View attachment 121952
The ride to the border of the Kampinos National Park just took 34 minutes.
View attachment 121953
When I was happily drafting the route, I overlooked the fact it would lead through roads I really hated, such as this totally damaged access gravel road...
View attachment 121955
...or that cobblestone one!
View attachment 121956
Meanwhile, I felt hungry (it was already early afternoon!), so I changed the route and rode to the "Na szlaku" (On The Trail) biker restaurant in Palmiry (25th kilometre). I started with this excellent, generously hopped alcohol free Ale. There are not many of such ales around but Miłosław Bezalkoholowe really rules!
View attachment 121961
There was a very limited selection of the food on the day (the cook had probably left for May Holidays), so I only ate the Ukrainian Borscht. The variety is made not only with the red beet but also plenty of vegetables and meat.
View attachment 121964
There are not many gravel roads in Central Mazovia. Local gravel cyclists make that deficiency up with riding in forests and on any bad roads they can find
Here, my "gravelized" Vado SL shone:
I could ride these rather flat cobblestones with no pain there!
- Lowly attached handlebars with Innerbarend "hoods"
- Full Redshift Shock Stop suspension system (front & rear)
- Specialized Pathfinder Pro 2Bliss gravel tyres
- Before entering the forests, I deflated the tyres down to 3 bar (45 psi) front, 3.4 bar (50 psi) rear. Such pressure was good for asphalt, too!
View attachment 121967
It took me many kilometres to find the first decent gravel road!
View attachment 121971
Already in the Hollander Land (50th kilometre). I crossed the River Vistula embankment for some rest. Sun was shining, frogs croaking, birds singing. What you can see is not the river; it is rather a bay (proper Vistula flows behind the green island in the background).
View attachment 121974
A Mascarpone & Blueberry Cake "At Marta's" in Secymin Polski. Now, I started riding with the mild tailwind. It felt cold.
View attachment 121976
The return ride over the ridge of the "Carpathians" sand dune inside the KPN.
View attachment 121977
A traditional visit to Klimatyczna Cafe
View attachment 121978
To my big surprise, RideWithGPS found a road I have never ridden before! It was a mud road, full of dried up ruts
View attachment 121980
The average assistance was about 70/70% (SL), and I used 510 Wh of batteries: the second Range Extender was necessary!
Now Im drooling over Stefans cakes and doing it myself.
PatriciaK
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Pacific Northwest and Piedmont Triad
Creeping back towards 10 miles ...
Neglected to charge battery after last ride (PM had been riding during my respiratory health challenges), and dropped down to 2 bars (out of 5) shortly before the halfway mark. (Unnecessarily) freaking out about having enough juice to finish, I turned PAS completely off and rode several miles in manual mode
. Actually, it was a good reminder that I'm perfectly capable of riding the Flow without any power on flat and slight inclines, if I need to - though my knees are NOT going to thank me for the slight inclines sections of this later 
! Better take Tylenol now!
The Bicentennial Greenway portions of the ride were pleasant, as always; the streetside traffic portions as nerve wracking as usual.
No pictures enroute, so included the obligatory bike shot (sans battery, which was immediately put on the charger) from our patio, after our return.
It's gotten hot, all of a sudden, so need to start earlier in the morning from now on!
Neglected to charge battery after last ride (PM had been riding during my respiratory health challenges), and dropped down to 2 bars (out of 5) shortly before the halfway mark. (Unnecessarily) freaking out about having enough juice to finish, I turned PAS completely off and rode several miles in manual mode
. Actually, it was a good reminder that I'm perfectly capable of riding the Flow without any power on flat and slight inclines, if I need to - though my knees are NOT going to thank me for the slight inclines sections of this later ! Better take Tylenol now!The Bicentennial Greenway portions of the ride were pleasant, as always; the streetside traffic portions as nerve wracking as usual.
No pictures enroute, so included the obligatory bike shot (sans battery, which was immediately put on the charger) from our patio, after our return
.It's gotten hot, all of a sudden, so need to start earlier in the morning from now on!
DiggyGun
Well-Known Member
- Region
- United Kingdom
- City
- Buckinghamshire
Part Two tomorrow…
Twin Valley
Well-Known Member
sure hope there is a picnic in part two, if not the honeymoon is truly over - coming from me who has been stuffing his backpack with cardboard tasting energy bars for the past 40 years, mind you Stefan has taken the picnic concept to a whole new level . . .
DiggyGun
Well-Known Member
- Region
- United Kingdom
- City
- Buckinghamshire
All will be revealed…
DiggyGun
Well-Known Member
- Region
- United Kingdom
- City
- Buckinghamshire
Part Two: The Lakes
We decided to stay in Premier Inns hotels for the two weeks.
Our first one was in the centre of Penrith on the top right side of the Lake District National Park.
The first ride was the Langdale Trail, which runs from Ambleside to Little Langdale, but added an extra bit onto Coniston.
Had our first picnic stop in St. Andrew’s churchyard in Coniston, where we found the grave of a VC holder from the First World War. Looked up his details and his citation was a very interesting read.
Our second picnic stop was back in Ambleside.
The second ride was the Gorse Trail in the Whinlatter Forest. This is operated by the Forestry Commission and has a number of cycle trails, including some technical MTB trails, but we took the leisure trail.
Although, not a long ride, it was very steep in places, using Turbo power and the lowest gear setting. One of the inclines was so steep, that if you stopped, you would not be able to restart and would have to walk the bike up. Because of the greater use of power, at the end of the ride I only had eight miles left on the battery.
Only one picnic stop today, but it was a fantastic view with spectacular surroundings.
The third ride was postponed due to a rain forecast for most of the day. And boy, when it did come, it was very hard.
Ended up having a drive round to see the area and finished up at Maryport after a walk around Keswick.
Maryport had a harbour with some commercial fishing boats. However, some of these did appear to be rusting hulks, so not sure if they are still working.
The fourth ride was along the West shore of Windermere Lake from Ambleside to Bowness on Windermere.
Our first stop for lunch by the edge of the lake.
We called in to see Wray Castle, which had some excellent views.
There were some very good bridleways, so very little riding on the road.
We noticed that there was quite a number of trees that had been blown over in the recent storms.
Our second picnic stop.
The fifth ride was round the Lowther Castle and Gardens Estate, near Penrith. There has been a castle here since the Middle Ages, but these ruins were built between 1806 and 1814. It closed on 1937 and the roof was removed in 1957.
There were a number of trails with a mixture of off road trails, estate roads and minor lanes. We took a number of these and saw some spectacular views.
Our first picnic stop.
We had another picnic stop in the old stables courtyard of the castle.
Saw a nice vista of water reflecting on the underside of a bridge.
The sixth ride was the Grasmere Trail, from Ambleside to Grasmere.
Our first picnic stop.
Our second picnic stop.
Had a change today, had a third picnic stop.
End of Part Two and onto Part Three…
We decided to stay in Premier Inns hotels for the two weeks.
Our first one was in the centre of Penrith on the top right side of the Lake District National Park.
The first ride was the Langdale Trail, which runs from Ambleside to Little Langdale, but added an extra bit onto Coniston.
Had our first picnic stop in St. Andrew’s churchyard in Coniston, where we found the grave of a VC holder from the First World War. Looked up his details and his citation was a very interesting read.
Our second picnic stop was back in Ambleside.
The second ride was the Gorse Trail in the Whinlatter Forest. This is operated by the Forestry Commission and has a number of cycle trails, including some technical MTB trails, but we took the leisure trail.
Although, not a long ride, it was very steep in places, using Turbo power and the lowest gear setting. One of the inclines was so steep, that if you stopped, you would not be able to restart and would have to walk the bike up. Because of the greater use of power, at the end of the ride I only had eight miles left on the battery.
Only one picnic stop today, but it was a fantastic view with spectacular surroundings.
The third ride was postponed due to a rain forecast for most of the day. And boy, when it did come, it was very hard.
Ended up having a drive round to see the area and finished up at Maryport after a walk around Keswick.
Maryport had a harbour with some commercial fishing boats. However, some of these did appear to be rusting hulks, so not sure if they are still working.
The fourth ride was along the West shore of Windermere Lake from Ambleside to Bowness on Windermere.
Our first stop for lunch by the edge of the lake.
We called in to see Wray Castle, which had some excellent views.
There were some very good bridleways, so very little riding on the road.
We noticed that there was quite a number of trees that had been blown over in the recent storms.
Our second picnic stop.
The fifth ride was round the Lowther Castle and Gardens Estate, near Penrith. There has been a castle here since the Middle Ages, but these ruins were built between 1806 and 1814. It closed on 1937 and the roof was removed in 1957.
There were a number of trails with a mixture of off road trails, estate roads and minor lanes. We took a number of these and saw some spectacular views.
Our first picnic stop.
We had another picnic stop in the old stables courtyard of the castle.
Saw a nice vista of water reflecting on the underside of a bridge.
The sixth ride was the Grasmere Trail, from Ambleside to Grasmere.
Our first picnic stop.
Our second picnic stop.
Had a change today, had a third picnic stop.
End of Part Two and onto Part Three…
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