4°C, grey,
Drawing on: snow forecast for tomorrow, winter is stubborn this year. Yes, we have been spoilt by a string of early springs. Nearly Easter, but the magnolia is nowhere near in bloom.
Temperatures have topped 4°C over this last few weeks. At least I can ride to work, the ice is relatively minor.
Heavy Snow says the Met office. Winds will average 15 mph, so some drifting likely.
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.
3C, grey, easterly.
We have a new lodger. I have put in new door locks.
Winter is coming back for a reprise to annoy us. Wood is cut and scuttle filled.
Today- much mending. I planed two interior doors: this is the path to a unique pleasure from opening and closing doors. What else? Fitted a lockable catch in the study door- with was not the most competent job I have done. There is more, but I won’t bore you further.
9°C, light SE, Clear. CA:60 miles.
Tracked today’s with MapMyRide! Distance: 60.31mi, time: 04h 49m,
So many smiling faces today. The sun, clear skies and lack of cold air has affected us all. Some of the old guys can be really quite grumpy, but even they were cheerful today. No doubt I was smiling too. It wasn’t until after 40 odd miles that I could feel that a long ride is possible. Average speed was no big deal but stamina roused more as the miles passed.
Some roads were still flooded from last week’s rain though; at least four flooded the whole road width, that I remember. The technique that works best there is to ride through the water with the cranks level. Then ratchet the pedals to get through the water without immersing shoes. The only caution is hidden potholes and stones. Even on a day like this another twenty miles with wet feet could be pretty miserable.
12°C, windy westerly, CA:20.
Ride in warm wet air. The round trip was typical winter at 1h 22m. Only a few minutes from the average. I feel alive again.
6°C, V. Windy, sun. CK:43miles
Rode a loop in Lancashire- Parbold and the flatlands by Bank. The hedges were low and sparse so no shelter from a strong westerly. Those last miles were hard and slow even on the 42×17. I was standing on the pedals even on level roads.
I have lost form, even though I was reluctant to admit it.
Next week, I should do the same milage and see how it feels. Then, if that’s okay, add 10 more the week after.
-4°C, calm & icy.
Last day of snow, a heavy fall is coming this afternoon.
More turbo time to keep me sane but…
A colleague said in a firm voice that:
(I)” you do too much exercise, half an hour a few times a week is enough”.
Only a few decades ago, millions of men would work 10 or more hours a day burning far more calories than I do on the bikes. It was normal then. Now it’s normal to do barely any and shorten their lives by 10 years. I said that it’s un-natural to do none and our bodies suffer long term (and short).
Besides, it’s fun.
-4°C, clear, no thaw yet.
I could not pass this view this morning on the slow commute today. Breath-taking, it forced me to exclaim. I pulled over into a snowbound bus-stop and got a few shots.
Later, this winter demonstrated its darker side. On the crest of a hump-backed bridge I lost all grip. The road-speed was low but I could not slow on the descent side of the bridge. A car in front became the object of my fears, I really don’t want to stove the front of my car in, or the back of anyone else’s for that matter. I could not slow, but I could steer a bit so I headed for the oncoming side of the road. The grip seemed better there and I stopped as that terrible grinding sound from the anti-skid brakes juddering ceased. No crash then.
Home later: 50 minutes on the turbo. It keeps me warm and is preparation for the first ride of the year, which may be on Friday. I am obsessively referring to weather reports, many times a day.
-2°C re-frozen snow. No thaw.
40 minutes on the turbo, plus other stuff as a warm-down. Not much, but it’s an encouraging start. I had no trouble keeping warm in the evening nor overnight. Such is the effect of exercise, it keep you warm for days.
There is bit more snow to come, and this wintry weather is said to last two weeks. Grief.
-3°C, heavy snow.
That was the worst drive home I can remember. It took one whole hour to do the first mile. There was almost grid-lock in all the built up areas because of this snow. I could see gritting lorries but the road was coated in a lumpy layer of glassy compressed snow.
In all the Journey took 2 1/2 hours. Just for security, I pulled over to get extra petrol on a stretch of road where the car was doing 9 mpg.
This land does look lovely though.
Micycle 