8°C, dry with a light S.

Lots of energy but a mechanical problem spoilt things. The left crank worked loose after only 3 miles. I made it to a car dealer who helped out. My set of Allen keys omits the 7mm needed for the crank-bolt. A few times I had to take up the slack with a 6mm.

Although it was stressful worrying whether the crank would fall off, I had a fallback option. I rode as hard as I could to increase the distance between stops. That meant training effect. One stop was outside a house in Sollom where a guy was closing the gate. He said he had Allen keys so I gave the bolt a good go. Nice chap.
The next stage was okay but the front wheel picked up a thorn on the cycle track. These hedges get clipped but not swept. That one factor accounts  for the large numbrr of punctures  i get in Lancashire. Staffordshire doesn’t  have anything like the amount of cycle tracks so fewer punctures.

Since getting home, I have tightened up the crank fully but it still wobbles, it’s damaged permanently. It’s old I suppose – 27 years.
Currently, I have placed a bid on eBay for an identical replacement.

8°C rain, sometimes heavy.

No link to MapMyRide, there is a fault which means that uploading tracks takes several days. I suspect a server fault.

There, the upload took two days despite the rain, I did belt along after days of frustration with no proper rides

4°C, slight NE breeze. patches of ice seen but blue sky.
This was the longer of the two. Fortunately, the puncture happened in the last 2 miles. So close to home, I decided to walk back rather than change the tube in falling temperature.

6°C, gales from the northern approaches. Sunny.

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/3352071103

That wind is just rude and annoying. Just when it thinks you aren’t looking, it grabs the handlebars and gives them a twist. Slogging into a head-crosswind, you sometimes have to lock one elbow simply to hold a line. The Moss flats offer no real shelter from the blast and the camber of the road amplifies the force. The curve is like an aerofoil which accelerates the air over the top. Staying on the crest is, therefore, more difficult. Though short, that was an intensive workout on the return leg. I saw no other cyclists.

8°C, light grey with minimal breeze NW. Dry too.

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/3327217420

Okay, not very fast but the important point is – it felt right.

It’s funny how you can actually feel warmth at 8°C after days near to freezing. Some of this is the benefit of acclimatisation, some is not running the heating at home too high. I’m sure that people who live in hot houses feel cold more when outside.

Sunset was just, just perceptibly later today.

3°C still, grey, dry and cold

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/3314266726

Everything I hate about january was found today. The worst feature was the dark, the day never really broke out of twilight all day.
At least the bike was good though the front mudguard gummed up with black mud. There may be room to adjust the stays. Dry mud is worse as it doesn’t wash out so easily.

Anyway, that’s the first ride of the year on the Arrow which is now regarded as a winter bike. It lay in storage last winter while I bought a house so there are minor faults from 2 years ago that I’d forgotten about. The chain is too short and a few other minors like the mudguard rubbing.

I have an idea for a change of handlebars too. The gravel bike can have new flared bars and its bars can refit onto the Arrow.