All about bicycles

Spent about 3 hours cranking through some great single track last weekend at the school my son is heading to in the fall. Mountain biking is a fall sport and he's looking forward to it. They have 18miles of MTB only trails. Rode with the school's AD who is a good friend of mine and his son. It's been a long while since I did some good tight woods riding like that, and the old man body did well. I did immediately come home and order new pedals and shoes though. Funny how one good ride and I'm sucked right back in.
 
Did the entire 40km of Mud Bay yesterday...

It's pretty much gravel the whole way.
This guy is sittin' pretty IMHO...



And here's his view, looking W/SW at Point Roberts USA...



This is the end of the trail, and to the right an entrance to Beach Grove...









Some corn...



Beach Grove Golf club...



Seems like a good place to stop for a snack bar and water...



Busy bee...

 
I’m thinking if the body of water in pic 1 freezes over, the ice skating must be spectacular.

Re photo last, I love me pollination porn.

Beautiful all around. Glad you enjoyed your gravel time.
 
I’m thinking if the body of water in pic 1 freezes over, the ice skating must be spectacular.

Re photo last, I love me pollination porn.

Beautiful all around. Glad you enjoyed your gravel time.
That's an entertaining observation.
Being that the pond is so close to the ocean, I wonder about the salinity of it. That said, the lush green surrounding it makes it seem fresh.
Guess I'll have to check on a very cold day!
Man I spent a while cleaning the bike today. Dust from that ride was EVERYWHERE! Full wash, wipe down, chain clean and lube.
Ready for tomorrow.
 
Tour de Surrey/Langley...
Found a route that drops me off at a road that goes pretty much straight to Langley (two towns away).
The Serpentine Greenway...







This yappy little guy didn't like my bike much... or maybe it was me...



Stopped at a small park for some water...



Heading back on a different route...



Turned a corner at 40km/hr to see this... Glad my brakes are good...





An entertaining place to lock your bike up...





Had to stop for "supplies" on the way home...

 
Tour de Surrey/Langley...
Found a route that drops me off at a road that goes pretty much straight to Langley (two towns away).
The Serpentine Greenway...







This yappy little guy didn't like my bike much... or maybe it was me...



Stopped at a small park for some water...



Heading back on a different route...



Turned a corner at 40km/hr to see this... Glad my brakes are good...





An entertaining place to lock your bike up...





Had to stop for "supplies" on the way home...

Those are some fine supplies you have there! Good thing you did not stop for them at beginning of ride otherwise the pannier may have been empty by the time you made it home!! Then again, you would have still had the grape juice for the end!!!
 
Tour de Surrey/Langley...
Found a route that drops me off at a road that goes pretty much straight to Langley (two towns away).
The Serpentine Greenway...







This yappy little guy didn't like my bike much... or maybe it was me...



Stopped at a small park for some water...



Heading back on a different route...



Turned a corner at 40km/hr to see this... Glad my brakes are good...





An entertaining place to lock your bike up...





Had to stop for "supplies" on the way home...


Man, you always give me such bike route envy!


I've begun the inevitable upgrades on my road bike. I've been using it a lot on the stationary trainer and I felt bad about sitting there pouring sweat all over my Brooks saddle, so I swapped it to a more modern one. Plus the trim on the new one matches the frame, can't beat that.

The change to a black saddle of course meant black bar tape. In the process, I put on a longer stem and a new handlebar with flared drops. This gets the fit better for me and it didn't take long for me to fall in love with the flared bars on my gravel bike, so I brought some of that comfort here.

Swapped tires over to Goodyear Eagle F1. Had these sitting around a while. I've read they're great tires, but have yet to go for a good ride on them. I admit I bought them largely because I thought It'd look cool to have tan wall F1 tires on a bike.

Stock brakes were lacking, even with some Kool Stop salmon pads, so I put on a set of SRAM Rival brakes. A nice improvement even without upgrading the cables. I think eventually I'll swap out the drivetrain to a full Rival 1 setup.


a2mjgnsh.jpg


UjLoeBNh.jpg
 
Man, you always give me such bike route envy!


I've begun the inevitable upgrades on my road bike. I've been using it a lot on the stationary trainer and I felt bad about sitting there pouring sweat all over my Brooks saddle, so I swapped it to a more modern one. Plus the trim on the new one matches the frame, can't beat that.

The change to a black saddle of course meant black bar tape. In the process, I put on a longer stem and a new handlebar with flared drops. This gets the fit better for me and it didn't take long for me to fall in love with the flared bars on my gravel bike, so I brought some of that comfort here.

Swapped tires over to Goodyear Eagle F1. Had these sitting around a while. I've read they're great tires, but have yet to go for a good ride on them. I admit I bought them largely because I thought It'd look cool to have tan wall F1 tires on a bike.

Stock brakes were lacking, even with some Kool Stop salmon pads, so I put on a set of SRAM Rival brakes. A nice improvement even without upgrading the cables. I think eventually I'll swap out the drivetrain to a full Rival 1 setup.


a2mjgnsh.jpg


UjLoeBNh.jpg
What I didn't photograph was a few miles of busy road (64th Ave) with people driving too fast.

Nice upgrades! Apparently tan walls are almost always lighter!

 
Tour de White Rock...
Late 2018 (August) I acquired my first ebike.
At the time I was hoping to improve my health by getting back into a hobby I always liked... cycling.
Back then I felt that an ebike would be the logical path to help me get out more often. It worked... to a point.
I certainly got out often, but my wall was pretty much realized at about 30kms per outing because of knee/hip fatigue. Most of my rides were a little less than that.
Turn the page to 2021 when I upgraded my bike to the Stance in January. That year I tripled my yearly distance overall. But... I still had that 30km wall where I'd get home and my knees and hips would be begging me to stop.
So... I kind of thought that was going to be it, until this year.
This year things started changing and I didn't realize it until 3 weeks ago. Mostly I was just not as bushed/tired/knackered when I got back from the usual rides. OK, good!
Then I wanted to try some slightly longer rides. Success! The 30km wall was now 40kms, yay! This week I've done two rides over 50kms in 3 days. On both rides I "know" I could do another 10kms. Hmmm...
I'm pooped when I get home, but my knees and hips are not begging me to stop... not yet.
So... my 2022 story is that I'd guess my wall is now 60kms, although I need to prove that.
Moral of the story?
Better bike, more comfy ride with upgraded saddle, raised bars, Ergon grips, and keeping at it. Something tells me different tires would kick it up a notch as well.

Anyway... here's my 50km ride today...

Started off on a typical trail heading south. Target Crescent Beach, White Rock (cuz that was a wall of text ago)...



Stretch of Colebrook road heading East...



Now heading South to White Rock on King George Hwy...



Looking SW over the Nicomekl River...



Some beached whales...







Destination Crescent Beach reached...





Hopefully a large group of people don't need this all at the same time...





Largest pink flamingo seen so far...



I'd live here...



Kamikaze pier jumpers...



A look down Beecher St...



On the way home I found the Portuguese Embassy. I don't know much about these things, but this location seems ridiculous to me...



Almost home and the bike asked for a rest stop...



Anyway... One day maybe I'll get to a metric century... maybe next year.
 
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Good stuff Dave.

I’m all about comfy bikes. It wasn’t all that long ago that my limit was how far I could go in 45 minutes. I still can’t spend more than about 2 hours on a traditional bike, but I did a ride of over 200km on a tricked out recumbent last summer.
My ride was a comfy 4 hrs/20mins today, which included photo stops and 2 water stops.
Not epic but doable and increasingly achievable.
 
Tour de White Rock...
Late 2018 (August) I acquired my first ebike.
At the time I was hoping to improve my health by getting back into a hobby I always liked... cycling.
Back then I felt that an ebike would be the logical path to help me get out more often. It worked... to a point.
I certainly got out often, but my wall was pretty much realized at about 30kms per outing because of knee/hip fatigue. Most of my rides were a little less than that.
Turn the page to 2021 when I upgraded my bike to the Stance in January. That year I tripled my yearly distance overall. But... I still had that 30km wall where I'd get home and my knees and hips would be begging me to stop.
So... I kind of thought that was going to be it, until this year.
This year things started changing and I didn't realize it until 3 weeks ago. Mostly I was just not as bushed/tired/knackered when I got back from the usual rides. OK, good!
Then I wanted to try some slightly longer rides. Success! The 30km wall was now 40kms, yay! This week I've done two rides over 50kms in 3 days. On both rides I "know" I could do another 10kms. Hmmm...
I'm pooped when I get home, but my knees and hips are not begging me to stop... not yet.
So... my 2022 story is that I'd guess my wall is now 60kms, although I need to prove that.
Moral of the story?
Better bike, more comfy ride with upgraded saddle, raised bars, Ergon grips, and keeping at it. Something tells me different tires would kick it up a notch as well.

Anyway... here's my 50km ride today...

Started off on a typical trail heading south. Target Crescent Beach, White Rock (cuz that was a wall of text ago)...



Stretch of Colebrook road heading East...



Now heading South to White Rock on King George Hwy...



Looking SW over the Nicomekl River...



Some beached whales...







Destination Crescent Beach reached...





Hopefully a large group of people don't need this all at the same time...





Largest pink flamingo seen so far...



I'd live here...



Kamikaze pier jumpers...



A look down Beecher St...



On the way home I found the Portuguese Embassy. I don't know much about these things, but this location seems ridiculous to me...



Almost home and the bike asked for a rest stop...



Anyway... One day maybe I'll get to a metric century... maybe next year.


Nice work! The consistent riding surely helps. And the importance of finding a fit and contact points that suit you can't be overstated.

Another key to getting more distance is replenishing your carbohydrates and electrolytes during the ride, if you're not already doing that.
 
Nice work! The consistent riding surely helps. And the importance of finding a fit and contact points that suit you can't be overstated.

Another key to getting more distance is replenishing your carbohydrates and electrolytes during the ride, if you're not already doing that.
Good points for sure.
I never used to even take water! Now I keep two bottles in the pannier. I should switch to a more replenishing drink.
 
Good points for sure.
I never used to even take water! Now I keep two bottles in the pannier. I should switch to a more replenishing drink.

Get on that for sure! Dehydration runs your heart rate up and adds to fatigue. I like to use Nuun tabs since they're all-natural and easy to bring along extras for refills. I've also had good success with a homemade drink using water, grape juice, and salt. If you're out there riding 3-4 hours you're definitely into endurance territory so these are the times for sports drinks.

You're likely burning a few hundred calories per hour as well, so this is a prime opportunity to scarf down carbs with no guilt. I usually make a sandwich with white bread and jam to munch on as I go, as well as a couple bars and gels. Bananas are ideal; also oranges and raisins. Anything portable and easily digestible without too much protein and fat.

I'm willing to bet you'll feel better on the long efforts and recover better afterwards if you keep your water, electrolytes, and carbs topped up during the ride.
 
Get on that for sure! Dehydration runs your heart rate up and adds to fatigue. I like to use Nuun tabs since they're all-natural and easy to bring along extras for refills. I've also had good success with a homemade drink using water, grape juice, and salt. If you're out there riding 3-4 hours you're definitely into endurance territory so these are the times for sports drinks.

You're likely burning a few hundred calories per hour as well, so this is a prime opportunity to scarf down carbs with no guilt. I usually make a sandwich with white bread and jam to munch on as I go, as well as a couple bars and gels. Bananas are ideal; also oranges and raisins. Anything portable and easily digestible without too much protein and fat.

I'm willing to bet you'll feel better on the long efforts and recover better afterwards if you keep your water, electrolytes, and carbs topped up during the ride.
Just ordered some Nuun tabs to try.
Thanks for the suggestion!
 
normally, that is more often then not, I stop for a boost, lately its cold sugary drink or ice cream, in colder weather its coffee and bacon roll

:D

If you're out there riding, you've earned it! If my fitness apps are to be believed, I burn 300-500 calories per hour on the bike.


Just ordered some Nuun tabs to try.
Thanks for the suggestion!

You're welcome. They make great stuff! I like that they're very low on calories and sugar. I mostly prefer to manage my nutrition separately via food. I've had rides where my stomach got upset by drinking too much sugary stuff, so it's nice to drink freely as needed without worrying about that.
 
Welp... ya know when you can't get an idea out of your head until ya do it?
Mapped out a 60km ride through Richmond B.C. and set off this morning.



Near the beginning of the ride. Train bridge open for... business?



These log booms go on and on for numerous kilometers...





Just needs a "lick 'o paint" right?





Looking at SE Vancouver from NE Richmond...



People live in these things on the road...



Only a flesh wound!



Lime scooters...



This guy was running this little compactor by remote. Never seen such a thing!





Stopping for water...



Looking across at Harbour Air Seaplane Terminal at Vancouver airport (YVR)...





Now heading south towards Steveston...



Panda-moo-nium...

 
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