@ascentale @Weather_Rock_Wx @bikenite #bikenite A3 Otways tracks in the forest

A3. Somewhere in Kielder Forest (largest man-made woodland in England, I think). One of the remote parts, not the popular bits around the reservoir. It's so remote that I wonder how long it would take for me to be found if I had a problem (I carry a satellite tracker now).

@ascentale @Weather_Rock_Wx @bikenite

#BikeNite

@ascentale @Weather_Rock_Wx @bikenite A3. I have more than one, for different reasons. I’m fortunate in that #WaterlooRegion has a *lot* of options. I can easily cycle out to quiet country roads from my urban home in 20 minutes. But I can also enjoy MUPs to get to brewery patios that make for a great destination. And as I’ve written here before, I love cycling to get my groceries!

These choices *all* give me a mental break, and they're integrated into my life 😀🚴🏼‍♀️❤️

#BikeNite

@ascentale @Weather_Rock_Wx @bikenite A3. Until I successfully crowdfund a replacement recumbent, I don’t have a place in Tirana to get to. However, while I was in grad school and had my quad, my favorite place near to me was probably the UC Davis Botanical Gardens, which run along Putah Creek. This is what the mixed use path there runs along as well. I preferred to go at times most others didn’t want to be there, so I could avoid dog walkers in particular. #BikeNite

@ascentale @Weather_Rock_Wx @bikenite #BikeNite A3: My favourite place to bicycle to get away from the news cycle is to ride on forest paths through the woods, for reasons not 100% clear to me, preferably in the night — probably because I do it most often on my way back from the office after work. Another reason might be that in Zurich, the woods are usually on the top of hills and when you get out of the woods again, you often have a nice view over a valley lit by windows and street lanterns.

@ascentale @Weather_Rock_Wx @bikenite A3. Getting outside and away from my computer & other electronics is really helpful for me. I’m lucky to live just a few blocks from a greenway - it’s pretty boring as it runs along the top of a levee, but I really appreciate being able to go for a 10 mile mostly car-free ride when I need a break. Plus there are sheep/goats in the summer and always lots of birds. #BikeNite

@ascentale @Weather_Rock_Wx @bikenite #BikeNite A3. Outside. 😉 But seriously: anywhere off main roads. One of my route options to get to work is already along only mostly-paved paths and I can meet horses along it if I'm lucky. To recap my A2, I am just a commuter, so I don't really have places I go just for fun... but I will take more rural routes when I want extra fresh air.

To the bonus question: hell yes. I always feel better after being on my bike (unless I've been nearly run over or something). It's mentally recharging in a bunch of ways.

@ascentale @Weather_Rock_Wx @bikenite popping down to the local forest will always work.

The longest bikepacking/touring I've done in recent years was 6 weeks. It's hard to get that amount of time off, but it's been doing wonders to my mental health, even now 18 months later, to be away from the daily happenings for such an extended period.
My favourite landscapes were the arctic tundra of northern Norway when I was there in 2024, this one was from Andøya.

@ascentale @Weather_Rock_Wx @bikenite #bikenite A3 Cycling was definitely my saviour during COVID. I can remember during the first lockdown going for a cycle and just feeling my whole body revitalising. Now days I try to avoid the news cycle as I think it’s so toxic on mental health health. Often it’s just been out in the sun. Today, I can’t cycle due to illness, but I’ve made a point to sit in a cafe overlooking Delamere where I like to cycle! After a week of being at home this is great!

@ascentale @Weather_Rock_Wx @bikenite A3 #BikeNite The range of Cumbrian fells known as The Howgills are my feck-off-and-leave-me-alone place. It's an hours' solid climb up to the highest point which is usually enough to ride off any angst, so once up there everything in the world seems a little better.

@ascentale @Weather_Rock_Wx @bikenite A3. I probably shared this view before, as it is my place to be, when I need some minutes to get away. It's very few minutes away by bike from our house in the city, and usually a wooden bench is waiting for me there.
#bikenite

@ascentale @Weather_Rock_Wx @bikenite
A3: A short (6km) ride gets me to the riverside, where there's always somewhere nice to sit and enjoy the day. #BikeNite

@ascentale @Weather_Rock_Wx @bikenite

My urban canal - the Limehouse cut/Lea Navigation/Walthemstow Wetlands/River Lea.

From Tower Bridge to Ware - my face hurts from smiling so much after I have done it

@Weather_Rock_Wx @bikenite A3. I think I can feel like I "get away" by either getting enough exercise so that I am tired, or by literally moving to a place where I am not too often. Or I guess both work well together?

As mentioned in a previous #BikeNite, in order to get a quick workout, I started using a Peleton at a local gym. It makes me tired enough to mentally detach.

#BikeNite

@ascentale @Weather_Rock_Wx @bikenite A3. Away from cars! I’m lucky in that without too much effort I can bike from my house to a local “creek” (concrete lined at first) and up towards the bay. I do this often, as my job has me staring at headlines all day.
#BikeNite
I frequently end up at the Alviso salt ponds.

#BikeNite A3: I go riding on the many trails and smaller rural roads around here. But I'm a fair-weather cyclist, so I get away only in the summer. That leaves me doomscrolling all winter long...

@ascentale @Weather_Rock_Wx @bikenite

@ascentale @Weather_Rock_Wx @bikenite A3. Most any ride, but off-road is nice to get away, both because cell reception is spotty but also cuz you often have to be paying closer attention to where you're going. #bikenite

@ascentale @Weather_Rock_Wx @bikenite
#bikenite A3: Given what's happening in my state this week, any ride anywhere gets me away from the just absolutely awful news.
The best rides to forget the horrible stuff is anywhere I can see wildlife. My favorite for that within 60 miles of my house is The Great River State Trail in Wisconsin where I ride through the Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge and along the Mississippi River.

@ascentale @Weather_Rock_Wx @bikenite A3: anywhere. I was really cooped ip for a few days since it was quite cold plus very windy, with snow and ice everywhere, so the first chance I had to ride was really liberating. My trainer keeps me moving, but I need the fresh air, the chance encounter with a neighbor, and all the tiny choices of even a short ride to keep me grounded.

@ascentale

#BikeNite | A3

Just down the road, right by the canal, and across the motorway. Takes me to where I took my profile background photo.
No planning needed, and a few options to make it a shorter or longer ride.
Usually some wild birds to see along the way. Swans, herons, geese, swifts…

@Weather_Rock_Wx @bikenite

@ascentale @Weather_Rock_Wx @bikenite A4: Australia has a lot of 'away', I tend to just pick somewhere that I can get my bike on public transport at and ride there. My favourite is still probably the Westport to Murchison ride in Aotearoa though. I've done that five-ish times even though it's not really on the way to anywhere I've needed to go.

Really old photos here:
https://moz.geek.nz/mozbike/ride/nz-2004/12-11-greymouth-to-buller/index.html

#BikeTooter #Cycling

@ascentale @Weather_Rock_Wx @bikenite

A3. Lucky enough to live very near the Root River Trail and I bicycle on it as much as I can. Especially to look at the water of the Roit River

Good lord, yes!

#BikeNite

@ascentale @Weather_Rock_Wx @bikenite #BikeNite A3. The grocery/liquor store for vittles and libations, or my local social justice community center for our biweekly D&D game. Since I'm car-free, everywhere I need to go is by bicycle, except when travelling by intercity train. Even that may change this year, because Amtrak is right now building us the first new station in my state in a century, with a level boarding platform to roll my bicycle right on, and this year should be new trainsets, too!

@ascentale @Weather_Rock_Wx @bikenite
A3.
We just moved. The old house was near the head of the K&P Trail (https://www.frontenaccounty.ca/en/things-to-do/kp-trail.aspx), so that was our go-to to get away. The new house's back yard is bounded by the Trans-Canada Trail (https://tctrail.ca/), so I think we'll have a new favourite come spring when the snow lets up.

#BikeNite

@ascentale @Weather_Rock_Wx @bikenite A3. I mostly train on a training loop, but it is meditative and I do get away from the rest of the world. #bikenite

@ascentale @Weather_Rock_Wx @bikenite A3. No photos at the ready, but honestly I just like to get out. Taking the Stone Mountain Trail is nice in that I can get away for about 2 hours without being too far away if push came to shove. Definitely needed some days... In fact, I wouldn't mind going right about now...

#BikeNite

@ascentale @Weather_Rock_Wx @bikenite A3) It's nice to be away from a computer screen. #BikeNite