-3°C, clear, calm.
Coldest morning that I have ever woken to in a tent. The water bladder is a slush-puppy inside and the tap is frozen. I cleared it but it’s glazed over again now. However, it’s a dazzling beautiful morning and I am comfortable in my quilted coat and ski salopettes. It’s dangerous on the upper slopes of Snowdon, so probably best to walk on the Molwynion just south of here. The ground should be less marshy between snow fields.
8°C,Clear sky, warmer.
Quick dash with MapMyRide! Distance: 22.03mi, time: 01:28:40, http://mapmyride.com/view_route?r=3382856112234561537
Very dry, dusty in places with some lumps of snow remaining. Got an idea for the weekend though- go to Wales and camp by Llyn Gwynant. If the hills are too icy to venture high, then spend time in a canoe, with low-land walks for the rest of the time. Their website says the valley floors are free of snow. I could venture up to the snowline with my main camera. That should mean that it’s easy to get up to the Watkins stone, great photos can be found up there.
Night temperatures shouldn’t be too far below freezing, but forecasts warn of ice and the need for crampons. I should do a course at Plas-y-brenin to be safe.
…miles to Easter…
the total so far:
Fixed gear 280 miles.
Arrow: 700.5 Miles.
Racelite: 0.0
Not matched the usual thousand miles by Easter. Okay, so Easter is early this year and I lost 2 week’s worth because of bad weather and illness. This is the first time this has happened that I can remember.
-2° to +7°C, E wind, clear.
Lancashire: with MapMyRide! Distance: 57.2mi, speed: 14.8mi/h. http://mapmyride.com/view_route?r=5025384110261010433
Well, that was much easier. In comparison to the ride on Friday; faster, further and easier. All that on the fixed too. Traffic was light, either because it was Easter Sunday or fewer tourists in cold weather.
Bannister Hill has turned into a standard to measure myself with. I got up the climb with a slight, chilly head-wind. A descending cyclist shouted “nearly there!” while I was pulling the last steep bit.. That actually doeshelp on the last 100 yards. You know, the bit where your legs are burning along with the back of your arms and traps.
4C,cold light snow showers.
Rode in Leicestershire with MapMyRide! Distance: 51.22mi, time: 03:44:45, http://mapmyride.com/view_route?r=9110435700007763969
Dry but Derby lane was impassable because of snow drifts. Other cyclists warned me about the route, but the northern end of the road was clear. So, I turned in. Snow has drifted where there were no fences and wind had blown straight off the fields. I walked the bike over the crunchy snow/ice; bemused.
That dreadful easterly wind has eased too. Shame I didn’t get photo, but it was too cold to stop.
A great way to start the Easter holiday. 51 miles has left me all warm, right through a night that reached -4C.
All is well. Today, I will take the winter bike in for a service so will ride the fixed for the next week.
3° +3°C, brisk, cold easterly. fizzy legs: missed my big week’s ride, no turbo time either. But at least the bulk of that marking mountain is demolished.
6°C, some rain.
Busied today doing work things. I have a secret glider in the attic for the escape.
Rode with MapMyRide! Distance: 28.89mi, time: 01:44′ speed: 16.64mi/h. http://mapmyride.com/view_route?r=7630849290788667393
There is a gap in that route, probably the GPS signal was lost in the rain. I did get up Bannister hill in good time though. Next time I could ride up the big climb twice.
note for next weekend: replace the chain, it’s way over the limit. Fixed gear bikes certainly eat chains. Take wheel bearing tools too.
+1°C, felt much colder.
I rode in bracing driving snow with MapMyRide! Distance: 30.9mi, time: 02:20:03 http://mapmyride.com/view_route?r=782386567082672129
Due to family commitments, I had to go home after only two hours. Shame that because I could have managed a much more.
There won’t be 1,000 miles on the block before Easter at this rate.
2C, light snow, heavy north-easterly,
A thread of snowy weather hangs over us. We have been warned of severe wind-chill, but its slippery surfaces that worry me. Why? Because I have the fizzy legs.
There are persistent thoughts of mountains creeping into my mind. A longing, but wait until Easter my boy.
7°C, SE light. Sun at first. I rode with MapMyRide! Distance: 39.17mi, time: 02:48
http://mapmyride.com/view_route?r=6040392368157360129 Not the most energetic ride this year. Energy ran out after half-way. By then, the sun had gone and remaining miles dragged slower and slower.
Micycle 