- Location
- Shrewsbury, Shropshire
I managed to get out on my first ever Christmas Day ride.
Just a shortish one as family were coming round later.
The route was the reverse of Christmas Eve's (well, more or less) and I set out into a cold and crisp morning. With the roads practically empty I elected to use them rather than the path I'd normally be on. It makes a big difference being on a smoother surface and not having to slow for every side road and an extra consideration this morning was that the roads were gritted and the path wasn't - I could see there was a good film of ice on it. Very glad I wasn't riding on that!
Once into town I headed through The Quarry. The river has just encroached onto Victoria Avenue so there was a very small flood to ride through. Leaving the town centre via Smithfield Road and passing the now defunct prison I came to Sydney Avenue which contrary to what I expected had flooded overnight. I almost certainly could have ridden through, but decided not to risk it as I don't particularly want to ruin another pair of shoes.
At Uffington the weather turned against me
for the third ride in a row. Naturally it only came on at the point when it would be just as far to go back as to carry on 
but it was only light so not a big deal.
At Atcham the first shower had blown through revealing somewhat heavier rain following on in its wake, so it was quite a wet run through Condover and up the A49 (which was surprisingly busy) to home. The rain stopped a couple of minutes after I'd got home.
Plenty of people passed and greeted. There were a few people out on bikes - some clearly brand new and having their first short run and a couple who like me were getting out to get some miles in.
18.7 miles at 12.6 mph average.
Down in the Quarry. Unlike in many other parts of the country this is pretty much as high as the water is expected to get this time.
Shrewsbury Gaol (known locally as The Dana). It closed earlier this year so there's no one at home this Christmas.
Sydney Avenue - I think I could get through but I really don't want to be trying to dry out shoes on Christmas Day if I'm wrong. I'll go around this time.
The flood plain at Atcham.
En route to Condover. The spot on the lens gives away the fact it's raining pretty well. You can't tell in the photo but there was a covering of snow on some of the higher hills.
Just a shortish one as family were coming round later.The route was the reverse of Christmas Eve's (well, more or less) and I set out into a cold and crisp morning. With the roads practically empty I elected to use them rather than the path I'd normally be on. It makes a big difference being on a smoother surface and not having to slow for every side road and an extra consideration this morning was that the roads were gritted and the path wasn't - I could see there was a good film of ice on it. Very glad I wasn't riding on that!
Once into town I headed through The Quarry. The river has just encroached onto Victoria Avenue so there was a very small flood to ride through. Leaving the town centre via Smithfield Road and passing the now defunct prison I came to Sydney Avenue which contrary to what I expected had flooded overnight. I almost certainly could have ridden through, but decided not to risk it as I don't particularly want to ruin another pair of shoes.
At Uffington the weather turned against me
for the third ride in a row. Naturally it only came on at the point when it would be just as far to go back as to carry on but it was only light so not a big deal.At Atcham the first shower had blown through revealing somewhat heavier rain following on in its wake
, so it was quite a wet run through Condover and up the A49 (which was surprisingly busy) to home. The rain stopped a couple of minutes after I'd got home.Plenty of people passed and greeted. There were a few people out on bikes - some clearly brand new and having their first short run and a couple who like me were getting out to get some miles in.
18.7 miles at 12.6 mph average.
Down in the Quarry. Unlike in many other parts of the country this is pretty much as high as the water is expected to get this time.
Shrewsbury Gaol (known locally as The Dana). It closed earlier this year so there's no one at home this Christmas.
Sydney Avenue - I think I could get through but I really don't want to be trying to dry out shoes on Christmas Day if I'm wrong. I'll go around this time.
The flood plain at Atcham.
En route to Condover. The spot on the lens gives away the fact it's raining pretty well. You can't tell in the photo but there was a covering of snow on some of the higher hills.
Last edited:
). It gave the ice time to melt a bit as well.
Once I'd ridden a couple of miles into the headwind they eased though and I enjoyed a pleasant if slightly cold ride.
) who were all friendly, which was nice.
I surely couldn't be unlucky enough to have 4 wet rides in a row could I?
Looking across, the driver looked as shocked as I was - not malicious, just poor anticipation.
(all in, about 20 miles)
