SHOW us YOUR PIX here .... Odd, WeiRd ,UnUSuAl or EyE CaTchIng things from your rides

[steve mercier]

These will be the 2022 final odometer readings from my three bikes. My New Years resolution is to shoot for another 20,000 km in 2023. Happy New Year ... may you all keep the rubber sides down!

 

[steve mercier]

 

[steve mercier]

The three readings now total 65,939 as of Dec 31 2022.

 

[Rich W.]

So how are those Teros treating you guys now that they’re out in the world?

Things are going well, progressing, I’m learning. Rode about 80 miles this week. I’m always thinking about refinements, improvements, replacements, but I need to be patient and just keep improving my skills and general condition, especially when I start thinking I actually need three different bikes. I had a good learning experience on a somewhat challenging (for me) single track desert trail - but no damage or new injuries - just a reminder of my novice status. A lighter bike with rear suspension would’ve been handy, but that’s not the choice I made. I was too busy dodging obstacles and trying not to crash (again) to remember to take pics, but here’s a couple from after the ride:

 

[steve mercier]

Things are going well, progressing, I’m learning. Rode about 80 miles this week. I’m always thinking about refinements, improvements, replacements, but I need to be patient and just keep improving my skills and general condition, especially when I start thinking I actually need three different bikes. I had a good learning experience on a somewhat challenging (for me) single track desert trail - but no damage or new injuries - just a reminder of my novice status. A lighter bike with rear suspension would’ve been handy, but that’s not the choice I made. I was too busy dodging obstacles and trying not to crash (again) to remember to take pics, but here’s a couple from after the ride:View attachment 143559View attachment 143560View attachment 143561

Nice ride! What is happening with your tire there? I tried one of those Ground Control tires but I got a flat within a week. It was very light which is great for acoustic bike riding but I went back to the thicker Schwalbe marathon MTB plus.

 

[Rich W.]

Nice ride! What is happening with your tire there? I tried one of those Ground Control tires but I got a flat within a week. It was very light which is great for acoustic bike riding but I went back to the thicker Schwalbe marathon MTB plus.

I took a “wrong” turn and ended up on a dirt road so after riding that a bit, I turned back and did about a half mile of very rocky cross country, finally saw the trail, got impatient, and blasted across a bunch of dry, dead vegitation to get to it. Dumb! So I tried the pump and ride method, finally resorted to a blast of CO2 (a waste), and then gave up and walked the last 3/4 mile or so.

Only two punctures, and I found the offending thorns, but I harkening back to the day when I used to do this a lot, I turned the tire inside out and inspected closely for any more sharp stuff. I seem to recall adding talc during reassembly but I don’t have any and I’m not sure its a thing anymore. But two patches and its holding air just fine. Today I’ll go looking for the Stage Coach Oasis, about 8 miles from here.

I agree about the tires. Specialized brags a lot about them on the website, they have a cool name, and they do provide good enough traction, but its not a very robust tire. While I will be more careful from now on, I’ll also be shopping for a better tire. Doesn’t need to be as knobby, and should be stouter overall. Suggestions? I’ll take a look at Schwalbe.

 

[fooferdoggie]

Mt hood looking good. Picture taken from Mt tabor a extinct volcano in the middle of the city. not very tall about 650 feet elevation. it used to house Portlands water resivours.

 

[steve mercier]

The snow is gone ( at least for now ) but the sand and salt they used is massed along the road shoulders, wreaking havoc on my bikes external moving parts. This is why I keep a drawer of chains , rings and cassettes along with the tools to replace them. I sometimes wonder how a belt system would handle these adverse conditions but now that I have learned how to do the work myself I am willing to do it as soon as it starts to skip gears. Now I use cheaper parts but replace them with much greater frequency in Winter.

 

[steve mercier]

 

[steve mercier]

 

[Rich W.]

Stage Coach Oasis - a 19.8 mile round trip through the desert from our camp site near the Salton Sea. About 1/4 paved and smooth dirt/gravel road, 1/2 somewhat challenging but overall good riding, and about 1/4 I’d rather not repeat. But a good ride, no damage, no jnjuries. BTW I’m not exactly sure what is meant by “Gravel Bike” but there is no way you could ride one on the gravel roads out here.

 

[Rich W.]

View attachment 143886

Agreed - everything associated with snow is hard on equipment. I lived in snow country for 20 years and don’t miss it a bit.

 

[Rich W.]

12.2 miles of the same sort of stuff today - I’m pretty much deciding that these roads are just too abusive for the bikes and bodies. I wish I took a pic of the oasis with the bikes in it because I’ll probably never go back. This is me smiling because we are back on the easy stuff.

 

[steve mercier]

Beaver dental floss

 

[fooferdoggie]

I often see food on this group of graves and the squirrels are fat. Loys of fallen trees from the last wind storm though a lot of it cleaned up already.

 

[JRA]

Shark Fin and Spindrift I saw on today's ride over in Cape Meares.

Due to lots of recent high winds I stuck to double track for the most part but still had to get out my folding saw once to be able to get past a blow down. Trail riding in the forest would be more about pick up sticks but at some point here it will have to be done.

 

[steve mercier]

My 2022 totals according to Google: I doubt I will ever be able to log more kms than I did this year. My new goal will be to try to drive less this year.
Your travel in 2022
55% around the world : DRIVING 1,704 km (63 hr) : CYCLING 20,500 km (1,011 hr)

Total travel	Low-emission travel*
22,219 km	20,509 km

 

[fooferdoggie]

got chased by a dog. at first he was having fun but then he seemed he wanted to catch us and kill us. the speed overlay is way delayed the dog peaked at 19mph for a little bit before he gave up the chase.

 

[steve mercier]

got chased by a dog. at first he was having fun but then he seemed he wanted to catch us and kill us. the speed overlay is way delayed the dog peaked at 19mph for a little bit before he gave up the chase.

Foofer your bike sounds like a jet landing! I don't think that speedometer is correct ? There must be lag?

 

[fooferdoggie]

Foofer your bike sounds like a jet landing! I don't think that speedometer is correct ? There must be lag?

ya the camera on back really picks up thew noise I think it touches the fender and that causes it I need to adjust it. ya its about a minute out of sync. I have seen it even worse no clue why as they are synced.