My bicycle tracks mapped with Google Fusion Tables (for 2012)

My bicycle tracks for 2012 (a few of them are not bicycle).

2012

Contour camera flex strap mount

I have bought a new mount for my Contour camera: flex strap and I really like it. Till now my favourite mount was Contour Headband Mount (some people find it difficult to wear but not me). I have attached the camera to a head tube and it holded the camera firmly in place even on bumpy Polish roads.

Not tried yet but seems possible to get a rear view by attaching it to a seat post or a top tube.

First video made using this mount:

Camera attached to a head tube:

My new road bike

Details on my new road bike: Campagnolo Centaur 10s groupset + Ridley aluminium frame with a (full) carbon fork.

I bought Centaur groupset from www.bike24.com. Complains can be found in the Internet forums concerning theirs service but in my case everything was OK!

Third time at Osowa-Rondo in 2012

I did not attended the meeting point in Osowa often this year. My road bike was stolen at the end of march (24th or so), my spine was aching so I was not in a hurry to buy another one (would it be useful for my spine a new road bike?).

But finally I have bought a road bike (more on it later) and so I was able attend Castorama roundabout. Attached videos were taken last Sunday.

Guinness Book of Records nomination for Poland

There are more drunk drivers than cyclists in Polish jails, although the latter are far more dangerous than the others. Rzeczpospolita---one of Poland's major nationwide daily newspapers---describes the phenomenon in detail in their 02.11.2012 issue.

In the last decade (2001--2011) almost 11 thousand cyclists were jailed and only 9 thousand drivers. In 2011 (according to figures published by Justice Ministry) there were 70 thousand convicted drivers for drunk driving and 900 of them were jailed (1,3%) while there were 50 thousand convicted drunk cyclists and 1053 of them were jailed (2,1%). Most jailed cyclists are poor people who can't afford a lawyer or paying a fine (which is converted to jail then). It is believed that the main cause of the above described absurd is the police who at the expense of cyclists is pumping out effectiveness statistics but the government is rather lazy to change this.

Newest figures (October 2011) published by Prison Service show 4563 drunk cyclists imprisoned (twice more than in 2009) and 5501 drunk drivers.

In Poland 0.02% alcoholic content in blood is the permitted upper limit for driving for both car drivers and cyclists. I personally don't mix cycling and drinking (for my own safety) but IMHO there would be no harm if the limit for a cyclist had been higher than those for a car driver, as a bicycle is much slower and there is significantly more time for reaction.

5 days in Ticino

This July I have the opportunity to cycle around Locarno, which is located in canton of Ticino in south of Switzerland. The weather was gorgeous and the views wonderful.

KML tracks are here: 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27.

Trip from Kwidzyn to Bachotek

For 20 years a conference of TeX user's is held in Bachotek near Brodnica. Once I managed to go there by bike from Sopot (180 kms). As this year I am unfit to cover such a distance I travel by train to Kwidzyn and then cycle to Bachotek via Łasin (cf. map)

A nice trip: almost no traffic (partly due to National Holiday, but seems there is a low traffic anyway) and paved road of decent quality (with a few exceptions).

Pokaż Kwidzyn-Bachotek-Iława-2012 in a larger map
2012-03-17

On the way back I cycle to Iława---just 45 kms. I do not recommend this route except Sundays/National Holidays because usually it is narrow and busy.

The area around Bachotek (lots of forests and lakes) seems nice for cycling but I had no time to check it out.

A very short trip to the ski jump

There are remnants of ski jump in Gdańsk which was open till 1960. The ski jump was located in `Dolina Radości' (see map)

Pokaż Oliwa-Old SkiJump in a larger map
Oliwa-Old SkiJump

Full trip is for MTB bike. Where the paved road ends is marked with green `cyclist icon'. One can turn right to Dwór Oliwski and then go along red line or drive along Bytowska street up to fish farm and turn right there. I prefer the latter, which is slightly longer.

The ski jump was built on a slope (on the left going uphill). On the slope of the valley opposite the ski jump there is a monument commemorating a fatal victim of an accident that occurred here (cf. photo pc260005). Perhaps it was not the best place since the monument was clearly visible by skiers preparing to jump.

Topeak Barpack handlebar bag

While considering how to carry my camera while cycling I have decided to try a handlebar bag. I was looking for a bag as small as possible as I don't like carrying huge luggage but of course big enough to fit my Olympus EPL1/EPL3 micro 4/3 cameras.

The following three models were at my short list: Topeak Compact (dimensions: 22 x 18 x 13 cm; weight 470 g), Topeak Barpack (dimensions: 20 x 15 x 13 cm; weight 300 g) and Ortlieb Ultimate 5 Compact (dimensions: 20 x 17 x 8 cm; weight 500 g). The dimensions shown are external ones---internal are smaller. In case of Topeak Barpack---the model I have decided to buy--they are approx.: 15 x 11 x 9.5 cm. It is just enough to fit EPL1 with VF-2 viewfinder attached and Lumix 20mm lens or Lumix 14-42 lens. With bigger lenses the camera will not fit...

Previously I used to carry my camera in belt pack (fanny pack) kept in OpTech neoprene pouch. Handlebar bag is better---the access to the camera is much shorter. Now it is enough to unzip the bag and switch on the camera...

From Gdańsk to Tczew or vice versa

Żuławy Wiślane is the alluvial delta area of the Vistula, in large part reclaimed artificially by means of dykes, pumps, channels (over 17000 km of total length) and extensive drainage system. It is a forestless agricultural plain of ca 1000 square km...

Riding from Gdańsk to Tczew we are crossing western part of Żuławy (Żuławy Gdańskie). There are a few traces of Mennonites which lived here up to 2nd Word War, namely arcade houses (cf photo epl112_3170446.jpg) as well as other (mostly German) remains of the past (small but beautiful churches, cf. epl112_3170453.jpg).

Please note we leave out Gdańsk through historic gate Nizinna (cd pl112_3170464.jpg). There are extensive fortification next to the gate (moat and bastions, shown at p4069910 and p4069915 photos.)

Up to Dziewięć Włók the road is bumpy but still passable for road bicycle. From Dziewięć Włók to Tczew the road is much better and the traffic is low. The land is almost completly flat and forestless.

One can go from Gdańsk to Tczew via E75 road but usually there is high traffic there.

View 20120317-Tczew-Sopot in a larger map
2012-03-17

Second time at Osowa-Rondo in 2012

This Sunday 40+ riders attended a meeting at Osowa. A really big swarm of cyclists...

First time at Osowa-Rondo in 2012

Video was taken on Saturday. On Sunday it was sunny weather and 25+ riders but I did not take the camera...

My bicycle tracks mapped with Google Fusion Tables

My bicycle tracks from 2010 and 2011 (well a few of them are not bicycle)

2010

2011

Leaving threecity by road bike

Leaving 3 city in a traffic is not easy, especially in weekdays. The map below shows the best ways to go to the country side. If you hate riding with a lot of cars do not use Sopot-Gdynia variant (green line). Red/violet tracks run through the forest and have a very little traffic (recommended). Gdynia-Wiczlino-Koleczkowo track runs through a town but as one can use cycling paths it is pretty safe.

Pokaż Best ways to leave 3 city by road bike na większej mapie

If one reaches blue markers one can claim she/he is out of town feel safer and more comfortable.

Of some interest to football fans can be Oliwa-Matarnia track which pass by German football team Euro 2012 camp (hotel Dwór Oliwski) and German squad's training ground. Both are marked with a wigwam icon.

At present road is narrow and bumpy (see video below). Perhaps it will be repaired during last-minute preparations for the Championships but on the other side some access restrictions can be expected then (ie. in June).

An assembly point for road-riders from Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia

Roundabout in Osowa near Castorama store (first roundabout after passing over Trojmiasto ring road (Obwodnica), heading toward Osowa along Spacerowa street). Instead of riding along Spacerowa street where the traffic is often heavy it is recommended to go to Sopot and to use Reja street (red line on the map).

Pokaż Sopot-Reja-Osowa-Matarnia-DRadości-Sopot na większej mapie

The meetings took place (almost) every Saturday and Sunday at 11.00 AM. Usually 5--15 riders are present, sometimes more.

Roundabout geocoordinates: N 54.431861/E 18.479639 Look for blue marker on the map for details.

BTW the whole track shown on the map depicts route suitable for road bikes.

Cycling paths are obligatory in Poland

In Poland, cycle path is obligatory (providing there is one alongside the road). It can be painful if next to a road there is some crappy cycling path with a lot of junctions, gates, garage/yard entrances and pedestrians. In such circumstances it would be quicker, safer and more comfortable to use road rout, but it is not allowed.
The accompanying video shows an angry car driver which tries (unsuccessfully) to persuade bunch of cyclists to use a cycling path.