A usual Saturday.

7°C, cold SW breeze but it’s drying up.

I rode The Jake with MapMyRide+! Distance: 26.42km, time: 01:46:22, pace: 4:02min/km, speed: 14.90km/h.

http://mapmyride.com/workout/2015532611​

The usual canal loop. The mud was deeper and more watery. However, that’s not so bad because the gloop fell off the bike more easily.
I saw fewer dog walkers than usual for a dry day. One commented ‘it’s probably easier to ride on the road’. True, but I want practice riding on mud, I can only get more skillful.

Shower doors can explode.

Tempered glass doors sometimes can shatter violently. It only takes a slight flaw, a break, a scratch or an imperfection.​

Ours burst with a roar about ten minutes after going to bed. Nobody was in the bathroom and the door was shut. It may be relevant that the central heating had gone off so the house was cooling off into the night. Nobody used the shower for at least 12 hours and we’re not aware of any damage that could have started this.
Beware.

Moss.

5°C, sunny but something is changing

These things are charming.

I’m some books, mosses are categorised as primitive plants (non-vascular, and like the lichens, they don’t have roots). That means, as a group,  they’re actually very old. Their sophistication is perhaps, not visible. Internally, I suspect, they have advanced features.
They are easy plants to keep, you don’t have to ‘plant’ them, nor prune or feed them. Just leave a pot somewhere damp and then ignore it. A badly drained saucer will help. You probably have mosses growing in hidden parts of your house, most probably the gutters.
If only we could stop and look closely more often.

Mid-winter outing.

I rode Arrow with MapMyRide+! Distance: 57.97km, time: 02:34:39, pace: 2:40min/km, speed: 22.49km/h.

http://mapmyride.com/workout/1966783052​

Doing shorter rides in this cold weather. This morning was still icy so I waited. This gives me smaller slot to complete a ride before it becomes dark. The 19th of January is on average, the coldest day in the northern hemisphere. For now, some cold, foggy days.
Normally, I’d manage the cold by riding for about two hours then taking a cafe break to warm up. This week, I’m under pressure with work stress.

Southport beach.

7°C, brisk NW wind.dry, some sun.

I rode The Jake with MapMyRide+! Distance:56.91km, time: 03:11:38, pace: 3:22min/km, speed: 17.82km/h.

http://mapmyride.com/workout/1951884761

These tyres are great in the thick mud that is all around at the moment. This ride was over more tarmac than ideal, tyre year is a worry.​

These photos were taken on Southport sea wall. I threw the gloves on the ground so they wouldn’t blow away in the strong wind. I’m starting to get used to the HDR app. It’s best to keep settings low to avoid over-doing the effect.

Bad weather problem.

1°C, gales, had and snow.
Or, why I have not cycled much this week.​


Fizzy legs prevent sleep, and disrupt concentration. It only comes on when I’ve missed exercise.
This has been a week of gales with gusts of 55mph. Other days have seen ice, and now- snow.

New year, reset and look forwards.

Currently, my milage list stands at:
Racelite: 394.3
Arrow: 1646.4
Kona Jake: 528
Kona Paddy Wagon: 925.4
Raleigh Mustang: =1,634.9*
TOTAL MILEAGE: 5,129
Raleigh Mustang; ??, * That figure includes bikes hired on holiday, and miles hiked. I’ll have to work this part out, the relevant speedometer does not record total milage.​

Annual summary.