Chargeride
Well-Known Member
Macleay Island, 2500 people and no road bridge.
What a strange place that would be to live.
What a strange place that would be to live.
Our Rides in Words, Photos & Videos
D
Deleted member 18083
Guest
Yellow Arrow: direction of photo.
When I stopped at the Redland Bay Cafe for a coffee and something unhealthily sticky there were hundreds of commuters and schoolchildren disembarking from the island ferries, many of the latter walking up the jetty and into their buses without once looking up from their phone screens. I wonder how their parents remember where they left the car last night—a good case for AirTags. There's a second, much larger, car park to the south.
Macleay Island was named after Alexander Macleay (also MacLeay or McLeay) who was famed for selling wine, collecting moths and butterflies (there's a fancy name for such a person, but it escapes me) and producing children. Nine of the surviving children accompanied their ageing papa and, presumably exhausted, mama when the great man sailed for the Antipodes in his twilight years.
Alexander Macleay's entomological collection was seriously good—one of the most extensive in the world—and is treasured to this day.
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Prairie Dog
Well-Known Member
- Region
- Canada
- City
- Red Deer
Not much happening here on the flats. The locals are busy in the fields these days which is nice to see considering the lack of moisture this past month. It’s been dreadfully hot here so much that we haven’t been able to venture out further than our daily local rides. Hopefully, that will change soon by the middle of next week. With kids back in school and summer holidays over, the roads should be relatively safer to ride on as well.
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
All Ive got is the Church in my dads village.
Very English.
Very English.
RabH
Well-Known Member
Yesterday I visited the island of Arran again, this time I took my car and had a lovely "relaxing" drive all the way round the coast! I think drving the 55 miles took more out of me than my 78 miler on the bike last week, its so much easier on the bike due to the tight twisty roads! My intention was to go for an easy ride today, maybe a 50 miler or 100km if I was feeling strong! I looked at the forecast and it was looking nice today but after that it was looking pretty grim! I had only charged my 3 batteries to 80% so I decided to play it safe and take all 3, a very wise decision given the route I decided to take!
The wind was from the east today and around 18mph so I decided to head north to Airth with the Ochil Hills in view on a nice morning! I would then be heading west towards Aberfoyle with a nice tailwind behind me for almost 30 miles! I managed 46 miles on my first battery, not bad considering it was only charged to 80%!
The Ochil Hills with low cloud hanging over them!
I arrived in Thornhill to find road closed signs for the road to Aberfoyle, I decided to chance it because the alternative is a bit of a grueling climb! I covered a few miles with no sign of anybody working on the roads then I spotted some workers working on the verge! I asked them if it was okay to continue and they said it was fine for a bike, I was now in a good mood after that news! Then I was descending a hill and there was a works van parked on the road with both doors open, lots of room for me to pass thankfully!
As I passed the drivers door the guy shouted "this road is closed mate" and I replied that his colleagues further back said it was fine to carry on through on my bike! He sort of shrugged his shoulders and mumbled something which I couldn't make out, I just continued on past him... I then came across a barrier blocking the road and moved it just enough to get my bike through, he shouted something again but I still couldn't make out what he was shouting! Such a happy chappie!
I then reached Port Of Menteith where Scotlands only lake is situated, this will please @Chargeride
Lake Of Menteith
I arrived in Aberfoyle with 50 miles covered, it was now time to tackle the wonderful Dukes Pass which rises from just above sea level to around 825 feet in just over 2 miles! I cranked the assist up to level 3 for this climb knowing I still had another battery in my bag, what a relief that was!
Loch Drunkie from the top of the climb!
I now had a lovely 3 mile descent to enjoy down to Loch Achray, this descent is just wonderful with hairpin bends and some longish straights but the road isn't in the best condition so I had to be careful!
Loch Achray with Tigh Mor looking resplendent in amongst the trees! I shudder to think how much it would cost to holiday here....
Tigh Mor Trossachs, the 'big house in the Trossachs', was a sadly neglected former hotel when it was rescued and restored to its former glory. Following a multi-million pound restoration and development programme, Tigh Mor emerged every bit as magnificent as it was in its heyday when Queen Victoria stayed there. Today it provides a choice of outstanding holiday apartments and cottages.
Loch Achray from the western bank!
The road around the loch has some lovely new tarmac and it was a real joy to ride on, there are still some rough parts but you can't have it all....I was now at the eatern end of the loch, its a shame it was a little breezy as it looks amazing when its flat calm!
I continued on towards Loch Venacher (yes there are many lochs in this area
) its such a beautiful part of the country, I will never tire of riding these roads!Loch Venachar from the road above!
This was my lunchtime view from the edge of the loch!
I was enjoying lunch when 2 brave ladies appeared ready for a swim in the loch, rather them than me as its absolutely freezing!
Sadly they weren't skinny dipping...I continued on past the loch and headed for the busy town of Callander, my plan here was to just turn south right away to avoid the traffic and take on the big climb back to Thornhill!
The bridge in the centre of Callander with Ben Ledi in the background!
It was time to tackle the climb but I had the luxury of the 3rd battery and I was very glad of that, this is part way up!
After the climb there is a wonderful descent to enjoy down into Thornhill and the road was so smooth, it was cycling heaven!
Thankfully going this way meant I missed the road closure and didn't have to listen to Mr Grumpy again...From here I avoided the busy road into Stirling and I was rewarded with a beautiful foal and its mother! I'm guessing it was only a couple of weeks old as it was so tiny!
Nothing much to report after this other than switching to my final battery and cranking the assist up for the final climbs back home, two wonderful days were enjoyed and sure made this old guy very content with life!
I'm not sure when I will get out again as the weather is looking pretty wet for the next week, maybe a wet ride will follow....Attachments
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
Well done, youve unloched the word lake
D
Deleted member 18083
Guest
There was a fork in the road, so I took it…
I was delighted to find this patch of largely untouched melaleuca forest and abandoned my original route to explore the area. Although my hopes of encountering the local wildlife were in vain, I was befriended by a gentle Laughing Kookaburra (What's for lunch, Dave?) and ignored by a squawking mob of very noisy Noisy Miners.
Point Halloran Conservation Area
Redland Bay, Queensland
Redland Bay, Queensland
I was delighted to find this patch of largely untouched melaleuca forest and abandoned my original route to explore the area. Although my hopes of encountering the local wildlife were in vain, I was befriended by a gentle Laughing Kookaburra (What's for lunch, Dave?) and ignored by a squawking mob of very noisy Noisy Miners.
Laughing Kookaburra
Dacelo novaeguineae
Dacelo novaeguineae
Noisy Miner
Manorina melanocephala
Manorina melanocephala
Trunk of Paperbark Tree
Melaleuca quinquenervia
Melaleuca quinquenervia
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Prairie Dog
Well-Known Member
- Region
- Canada
- City
- Red Deer
We’ve been taking advantage of the cooler temps early in the day and it’s been making such a difference in our daily outings. Neither my wife nor I cycle very efficiently in the heat so these early morning starts do wonders for our overall well being and allow us to jump start our metabolism. Kind of like having your own natural air con unit. Morning rides also have the benefit of less road traffic to contend with.
Today’s 37km analog ride, which we refer to as Route C, (for lack of a better name) would take us along the David Thompson Highway and eventually loop back on secondary/range roads before returning to home base. There are three other flavors of rural routes that we can add to the mix so rides don’t become too dreary.
Despite it being the flat prairies, there are places where we can stop and enjoy what the region has to offer. The skies were a bit hazy today and we were wondering if the recent wildfire in Jasper National Park was a contributing factor.
Today’s 37km analog ride, which we refer to as Route C, (for lack of a better name) would take us along the David Thompson Highway and eventually loop back on secondary/range roads before returning to home base. There are three other flavors of rural routes that we can add to the mix so rides don’t become too dreary.
Despite it being the flat prairies, there are places where we can stop and enjoy what the region has to offer. The skies were a bit hazy today and we were wondering if the recent wildfire in Jasper National Park was a contributing factor.
We have overcast skies, a bit of smoke, but more importantly COOLER TEMPS today. Pears are being picked and apples are starting. There was happy music blaring from the apple orchards. Just took a couple of orchard pictures while coming back the long way from a visit to the farmer's market. NO CORN today.
The trees have been sprayed with some kind of stuff with clay in it. It makes the leaves look a bit white. Ghost trees.
The trees have been sprayed with some kind of stuff with clay in it. It makes the leaves look a bit white. Ghost trees.
dodgeman
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Macomb, Illinois
Did 26 miles today. I’m not sure why this house had 5 antique tractors out in his yard, maybe just to show them off for the Labor Day weekend. Also my barn of the day. The last pic is what I think is an old house closer to the road from the barn. It’s really small but the more I looked at it I thought someone lived in it years ago. The hay bales blocked the picture some.
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BlackHand
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Western WA
In the (convergence) zone
This evening's cloud front looked more forboding than it really was. It was a bit like someone turning down the lights when the sun went behind the clouds though.
wxnoggin.com
This evening's cloud front looked more forboding than it really was. It was a bit like someone turning down the lights when the sun went behind the clouds though.
Puget Sound Convergence Zone (PSCZ)
It’s pouring down rain in one spot, but completely dry just a short distance away. This is a characteristic of a Puget Sound Convergence Zone, or PSCZ for short (because let’s face it, …
wxnoggin.com
D
Deleted member 18083
Guest
A stunningly beautiful image. Expertly composed.
10 out of 10!
10 out of 10!
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
Its a farmer thing, my friend moved to rural Wales, never showed any interest in tractors, now hes got three of them and a whole shed of contraptions that run off the PTO.
Readytoride
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Virginia
Friday started with a fun 25 miles with the bike shop group in Maryland on the C&O Canal path. Billed as the "White's Ferry Hamburger Social Ride", there were 12 of us happy to tootle that morning down the flat canal tow path (now part of the National Parks system) from Point of Rocks, Maryland, to the White's Ferry farm store where we stopped for lunch. The food was delicious, the scenery provided by the Potomac River was beautiful, and the ample tree shade everywhere much appreciated.
It is still warm, although the temps in the morning were just shy of being a touch too cool. The shaded pathway, greatly enjoyed by all of us, kept the heat at bay for the entire ride. It was as stress free as one could possibly desire. Easy to converse with each other as the path was wide enough to accommodate 2 bikes side by side as long as no cyclist, jogger, or walker was approaching on the opposite side.
6 years ago a commission was formed to resurface the pitted and potholed path, plus remove the intrusion of tree roots under the surface. The project took sections of the trail to be worked on and finished before another section was started. The results are exemplimentary, and provided a beautifully smooth ride.
White's Ferry, the sole remaining of what used to be over 100 ferries crossing the Potomac, in operation since 1786, ran into a neighborly dispute caused by damage to the Virginia landing site in a 2003 hurricane. The damage was "fixed" by the ferry owners outside the limits of the ferry's contract with the owners of the Virginia landing. The Virginia land owners were understandably upset and negated the contract. The problem escalated, went to court with the ruling in favor of the Virginia landowners, and escalated further until the ferry stopped operations in 2020, drydocking the ferry boat.
But the White's Ferry store, far from closing its doors when the ferry shut down, saw business boom as people coming to visit the landing enjoyed the store restaurant with far more frequency than when the ferry was open. It has become a favorite stop along the C&O, and a great midway turn-around point for our Friday ride.
It is still warm, although the temps in the morning were just shy of being a touch too cool. The shaded pathway, greatly enjoyed by all of us, kept the heat at bay for the entire ride. It was as stress free as one could possibly desire. Easy to converse with each other as the path was wide enough to accommodate 2 bikes side by side as long as no cyclist, jogger, or walker was approaching on the opposite side.
6 years ago a commission was formed to resurface the pitted and potholed path, plus remove the intrusion of tree roots under the surface. The project took sections of the trail to be worked on and finished before another section was started. The results are exemplimentary, and provided a beautifully smooth ride.
White's Ferry, the sole remaining of what used to be over 100 ferries crossing the Potomac, in operation since 1786, ran into a neighborly dispute caused by damage to the Virginia landing site in a 2003 hurricane. The damage was "fixed" by the ferry owners outside the limits of the ferry's contract with the owners of the Virginia landing. The Virginia land owners were understandably upset and negated the contract. The problem escalated, went to court with the ruling in favor of the Virginia landowners, and escalated further until the ferry stopped operations in 2020, drydocking the ferry boat.
But the White's Ferry store, far from closing its doors when the ferry shut down, saw business boom as people coming to visit the landing enjoyed the store restaurant with far more frequency than when the ferry was open. It has become a favorite stop along the C&O, and a great midway turn-around point for our Friday ride.
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Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Twelve Hours of Healthy Outdoor Exercise (with Jerzy)
Cold mornings and evenings now. As early as 8:30 am on Saturday, I started riding my Vado SL a.k.a. Fearless. I had a long sleeve undershirt and a long sleeve cycling jersey on me. And a couple of Range Extenders in my pannier.
"Raszyn Ponds", a nature reservation in Warsaw. Ducks are feeding on the duckweed there. The temperature quickly rose up to 21 C, and combined with the sunshine, it became hot...
Necessary to mention I lost my way in the Kabacki Forest... How can one lose their way in the Kabacki Forest?! Yes, I'm a living proof it is doable!
Meeting Jerzy at Specialized Warsaw.
There was a new customer, ready for a demo ride on a beautiful Levo (an e-MTB). I started a chat with the guy and the salesman. And the guy spotted my Vado SL. He instantly decided he didn't want the Levo! Were Vado SL widely available on the showroom floor, the guy might buy one on the spot! I honestly explained Vado SL was not the mountain thing because of its low motor power, and I think the customer eventually settled on a Tero 5.0. A good decision!
Horses. The favourite theme of this thread!
Jerzy in the lead towards Góra Kalwaria.
The 10.3 % grade climb up Góra Kalwaria. Jerzy was afraid he wouldn't make it (I had some trouble with the 44-36T gearing and SL Turbo myself!) He downshifted into the granny gear and actually made the climb! See the expression on his face! What a fighter!
In Góra Kalwaria, we of course had coffee (and extras) in the popular Góra Kawiarnia (a cycling cafe) but I started with buying me a summer cycling jersey in the neighbouring Góra Kolarska store. It was terribly expensive, even with 20% discount. Yet, it was a necessary action because of the outdoor temperature and sunshine! Then, we decided to make our ride more interesting, that is, to cross the Vistula and continue the ride on the right-hand bank of the river.
Them dreadful cobblestones! (The only cycling way to get towards the bridge). The tyres on Jerzy's bike were almost slick, so he had to walk his bike down. My Pathfinders Pro 2Bliss bravely held! However, my new Specialized Tailwind pannier detached from the rack because of vibration!
The Vistula Bridge in Góra Kalwaria is one of most dangerous river crossings for cyclists because it is narrow and the traffic is heavy (that's why hardly anyone tries their luck there). We were so lucky! The bridge is currently under repair, so the whole lane (half of the bridge wide) had asphalt torn off, and was inaccessible to vehicles. We could happily and safely cross the bridge if not... expansion joint gaps! We had to cross them very carefully, as we could see the water below...
Some of the gaps were wider than this one, requiring us to make short jumps! (Can you see green water below?)
An unique photo of Vistula in Góra Kalwaria. Because of drought, the water level was very low. See the sand patches occupying half of the river width now!
We parted our ways with Jerzy near to Karczew, and I set off for a solo ride home. Starting with the Karczew-Gassy Ferry. (The fee for a cyclist and the bike being close to 1 US$ now).
What a surprise! Ladies and gentlemen: Lovelec Speed Bike! A Type Approved 45 km/h Euro Speed-Pedelec from the Czech manufacturer!
I could not believe my eyes! A lit number plate holder! I started a chat with the owner. I told him I owned a less powerful Lovelec Diadem, and I also owned a 45 km/h Specialized Vado 5.0, so we could skip many things right from the beginning. The hub-drive motor was 800 W, the display (totally integrated inside the stem) was impressive (no way it could be broken in case of a crash)... Only the guy didn't register and ensure his steed. I give that to him, he rode his speed e-bike responsibly when we left the ferry and were riding in the same direction for awhile.
The Crisis
In the new jersey. Konstancin-Jeziorna.
With 33 km still to go, I felt weak and exhausted. (Anyway, Vado SL requires twice the effort to ride compared to the full power Vado!) Ate some sandwiches, hydrated me more, and asked my Wahoo to "Take me... Home" To my surprise, I was riding along the southern edge of Kabacki Forest this time! (It was the northern edge in the morno) And... I didn't want the return ride be boring. So I rode into a new road system...
Service roads along the new S7 Beltway of Warsaw.
When could your GPS navigation fail? Well, in the case some new roads were not in the maps yet! Exactly my case. I lost my way, and it had become a long, long way home which I only ended 12 hours after leaving home!
The main SL battery and SL Range Extender were good for 115 km at average 60/60% SL assistance. And I contributed to the ride with my own pedalling at 50%.
Cold mornings and evenings now. As early as 8:30 am on Saturday, I started riding my Vado SL a.k.a. Fearless. I had a long sleeve undershirt and a long sleeve cycling jersey on me. And a couple of Range Extenders in my pannier.
"Raszyn Ponds", a nature reservation in Warsaw. Ducks are feeding on the duckweed there. The temperature quickly rose up to 21 C, and combined with the sunshine, it became hot...
Necessary to mention I lost my way in the Kabacki Forest... How can one lose their way in the Kabacki Forest?! Yes, I'm a living proof it is doable!
Meeting Jerzy at Specialized Warsaw.
There was a new customer, ready for a demo ride on a beautiful Levo (an e-MTB). I started a chat with the guy and the salesman. And the guy spotted my Vado SL. He instantly decided he didn't want the Levo!
Were Vado SL widely available on the showroom floor, the guy might buy one on the spot! I honestly explained Vado SL was not the mountain thing because of its low motor power, and I think the customer eventually settled on a Tero 5.0. A good decision!Horses. The favourite theme of this thread!
Jerzy in the lead towards Góra Kalwaria.
The 10.3 % grade climb up Góra Kalwaria. Jerzy was afraid he wouldn't make it (I had some trouble with the 44-36T gearing and SL Turbo myself!) He downshifted into the granny gear and actually made the climb! See the expression on his face! What a fighter!
In Góra Kalwaria, we of course had coffee (and extras) in the popular Góra Kawiarnia (a cycling cafe) but I started with buying me a summer cycling jersey in the neighbouring Góra Kolarska store. It was terribly expensive, even with 20% discount. Yet, it was a necessary action because of the outdoor temperature and sunshine! Then, we decided to make our ride more interesting, that is, to cross the Vistula and continue the ride on the right-hand bank of the river.
Them dreadful cobblestones! (The only cycling way to get towards the bridge). The tyres on Jerzy's bike were almost slick, so he had to walk his bike down. My Pathfinders Pro 2Bliss bravely held! However, my new Specialized Tailwind pannier detached from the rack because of vibration!
The Vistula Bridge in Góra Kalwaria is one of most dangerous river crossings for cyclists because it is narrow and the traffic is heavy (that's why hardly anyone tries their luck there). We were so lucky! The bridge is currently under repair, so the whole lane (half of the bridge wide) had asphalt torn off, and was inaccessible to vehicles. We could happily and safely cross the bridge if not... expansion joint gaps! We had to cross them very carefully, as we could see the water below...
Some of the gaps were wider than this one, requiring us to make short jumps! (Can you see green water below?)
An unique photo of Vistula in Góra Kalwaria. Because of drought, the water level was very low. See the sand patches occupying half of the river width now!
We parted our ways with Jerzy near to Karczew, and I set off for a solo ride home. Starting with the Karczew-Gassy Ferry. (The fee for a cyclist and the bike being close to 1 US$ now).
What a surprise! Ladies and gentlemen: Lovelec Speed Bike! A Type Approved 45 km/h Euro Speed-Pedelec from the Czech manufacturer!
I could not believe my eyes! A lit number plate holder! I started a chat with the owner. I told him I owned a less powerful Lovelec Diadem, and I also owned a 45 km/h Specialized Vado 5.0, so we could skip many things right from the beginning. The hub-drive motor was 800 W, the display (totally integrated inside the stem) was impressive (no way it could be broken in case of a crash)... Only the guy didn't register and ensure his steed. I give that to him, he rode his speed e-bike responsibly when we left the ferry and were riding in the same direction for awhile.
The Crisis
In the new jersey. Konstancin-Jeziorna.
With 33 km still to go, I felt weak and exhausted. (Anyway, Vado SL requires twice the effort to ride compared to the full power Vado!) Ate some sandwiches, hydrated me more, and asked my Wahoo to "Take me... Home"
To my surprise, I was riding along the southern edge of Kabacki Forest this time! (It was the northern edge in the morno) And... I didn't want the return ride be boring. So I rode into a new road system...Service roads along the new S7 Beltway of Warsaw.
When could your GPS navigation fail? Well, in the case some new roads were not in the maps yet! Exactly my case. I lost my way, and it had become a long, long way home which I only ended 12 hours after leaving home!
The main SL battery and SL Range Extender were good for 115 km at average 60/60% SL assistance. And I contributed to the ride with my own pedalling at 50%.
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Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Additional information.
The Lovelec Speed Bike owner told me his friend bought another non-speed e-bike equipped with Ananda mid-drive motor. Just to fry the motor. If anyone thinks the cheap Chinese ware is any good...
4 kilometres before my trip finish, I had a stupid crash. I was passing a girl cyclist on a narrow bike path. Some Polish bike MUPs have a low curb to separate the bike path from the sidewalk (a weird idea!) The wheel of my Vado SL just touched the curb and I already knew I would crash! Used the brakes to further slow down, kept my hands on the grips and the feet on the pedals... Made a controlled body rotation mid-air... and safely fell on my back, raising my head to avoid the helmet crash against the sidewalk. "It's all OK, people!" I announced to the passers by. No bodily harm, no damage to the bike. Only hurt dignity
The Lovelec Speed Bike owner told me his friend bought another non-speed e-bike equipped with Ananda mid-drive motor. Just to fry the motor. If anyone thinks the cheap Chinese ware is any good...
4 kilometres before my trip finish, I had a stupid crash. I was passing a girl cyclist on a narrow bike path. Some Polish bike MUPs have a low curb to separate the bike path from the sidewalk (a weird idea!) The wheel of my Vado SL just touched the curb and I already knew I would crash! Used the brakes to further slow down, kept my hands on the grips and the feet on the pedals... Made a controlled body rotation mid-air... and safely fell on my back, raising my head to avoid the helmet crash against the sidewalk. "It's all OK, people!" I announced to the passers by. No bodily harm, no damage to the bike. Only hurt dignity
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
Falling in style.
I know the exact feeling, your centre of balance shifts and theres no steer you can do to correct it
I know the exact feeling, your centre of balance shifts and theres no steer you can do to correct it
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
All I have is this borderline Alien that landed on the windscreen, it was easily 3 inches long.
Additional information.
The Lovelec Speed Bike owner told me his friend bought another non-speed e-bike equipped with Ananda mid-drive motor. Just to fry the motor. If anyone thinks the cheap Chinese ware is any good...
4 kilometres before my trip finish, I had a stupid crash. I was passing a girl cyclist on a narrow bike path. Some Polish bike MUPs have a low curb to separate the bike path from the sidewalk (a weird idea!) The wheel of my Vado SL just touched the curb and I already knew I would crash! Used the brakes to further slow down, kept my hands on the grips and the feet on the pedals... Made a controlled body rotation mid-air... and safely fell on my back, raising my head to avoid the helmet crash against the sidewalk. "It's all OK, people!" I announced to the passers by. No bodily harm, no damage to the bike. Only hurt dignity
Nice move Stefan!
You must be half gymnast & half ninja to avoid injury In a crash.
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