Your ride today....

[Postmanhat]

I did not intend to do a metric half centaury today, but the opportunity arose and I put in a turn around the block when I got back to take me over 50km.
I'm a bit disappointed with my Lake Winter boots (particularly after how much I paid for them), but I must admit it wasn't a true scientific test because I didn't come home and swap them over with my previous shoes and do a direct comparison. (There is also the possibility I may have had them done up too tight, so I'll continue and see how I feel.)
My internal SatNav let me down spectacularly when I went along a lane I hadn't explored before and ended up on the road I had traversed only twenty minutes before and didn't recognise the fact.
Still, I managed to enjoy myself on a grotty day and after witnessing the carnage of a vehicle taking out a couple of Fallow deer.
This at Framsden.

View attachment 117517

Now off to the pub!

Have had my Lake MX boots for a couple of months now and they have maintained the same level of rubbishness. Not warm, not very windproof, and only waterproof for about 15-30 minutes max in the rain. Per pound, easily the most disappointing bit of kit I've come across

Which is a shame, as have luckily become a confirmed fan of riding in the rain this winter. And there was fair amount of it today once I got onto the A517 ridge above Derby, where the weather can often change abruptly. Heading home, only a couple of miles south, the roads were close to drying but I could see the bank of mizzle clinging to the ridge. Stopping to declag the brakes, realised I couldn't hear anything but the occasional plaintive birdcall. Living in the city centre, these sort of moments are another of the many pluses of cycling for me

27 miles/1650ft takes me to 4500 metres for the January climbing challenge thingy on Strava. Very chuffed with that as hate riding in the cold. Also had the best part of three months off with illness starting this time last February. So am beginning to get cautiously optimistic about potential fitness levels and weight loss for this year

 

[Accy cyclist]

I managed 18 miles yesterday in the wind and rain. I was soaked when i got back but happy when i counted my miles total for January. I did 530 which for me is a lot for a winter month. Last year's January total was 256 (196 in Jan' 2014), so to more than double it i'm pleased!

 

[Gravity Aided]

7 miles today, fine weather for it. Many cyclists out there, even if it were a tad windy. I went out, against the wind, and climbing the hill, like the tortoise, and returned like a hare. The January thaw never lasts, and this one should be over by Tuesday, but it's so late that soon Spring will be here.
56F
13c
Winds W 21 G 30
Relative Humidity 87%
Barometer 29.55
Cloudy

 

[Stonechat]

I managed 18 miles yesterday in the wind and rain. I was soaked when i got back but happy when i counted my miles total for January. I did 530 which for me is a lot for a winter month. Last year's January total was 256 (196 in Jan' 2014), so to more than double it i'm pleased!

Surprised I managed 423 miles as against last year's 449 as I lost a few rides due to weather and did turbo sessions
However big difference in feet climbed 2015 - 22616 ft, and 2016 - 12010 ft

 

[Roadhump]

Blimey, I was feeling quite pleased with myself because my monthly mileage total for January reached 282, which puts me on course for around 3,300 miles for the year, and also my cycle computer odometer reached 7,000 miles on yesterday's ride. Then I read here about people doing 400+ and 500+ miles in amonth. Oh well, I suppose we are all individuals, and when I packed in the gym in favour of cycling 3 years ago, I was told that I had made a mistake because you can't go out cycling in the winter, and I have defied that "put down".

Yesterday morning though, I thought I might be beaten by the weather; the rain was very heavy and Storm Gertrude was due to be followed very soon by Storm Henry. However, the BBC forecast showed a window of about 7 or 8 hours during which the wind would subside from 40-50 mph to between 15-20+ mph, but the rain would only go away for an hour or so. Being unwilling to ride in storm force gales for safety reasons, I decided to get out while I could. I was going to head east over towards Ormskirk, Aughton and Bickerstaffe but the wind was due to turn round to due west which would have meant a strong headwind on the way home across the mossland which has no protection from the wind, which combined with the cold and rain I found a very unappealing prospect, so I did the same run to Crosby as I had earlier in the week, but with a slightly different route.

It was definitely the wettest ride of the year, indeed for some time before this year. It was cold as well, and I could feel raindrops falling onto my head through the vents in my helmet. It only took about 25 yards before my specs were covered in raindrops and this, combined with the slippery road surface made a greater degree of concentration essential - oh for someone to invent specs with windscreen wipers......and to think, I actually enjoy this!!

A couple of photos which show the rain / sea mist that reduced visibility, but it was still good to be outdoors:

Finally, one of my computer showing 7,000 miles. This year I really want to increase the distance I cover on my bike. In the first year of owning this bike I did just over 3,000 miles, in the 2 following years I only covered about 2,000 miles each time. Nothing like as much as many people on here, but not bad for a 55 year old beer connoisseur all the same. I suppose a reasonable goal now would be to get my odometer up to 10,000 miles by the end of 2016...here goes!!

 

[Levo-Lon]

Dropped the van off at 8,30 for a cam belt change..took the bike plus i was wearing all my bike gear..
spd boots are crap for driving btw
went for a nice ride the long way home..the head wind was very hard going ..but the change for home with a tail wind was fantastic..i was flat out in the 38,11 cogs ..flying on my mtb..that may be the fastest ive been on my commencal..only about 12 miles but very enjoyable..the ride along the river Nene was a bog fest too..ill give that a miss for a couple of months
be a quick 2.5 mile collection later as the cam belt is a 3hr job..and rain later with the gales

 

[Jon George]

Another of my weekday 18 milers to shake off the previous night's neural cobwebs. At Bucklesham I was in the process of congratulating myself that my speed up a particular slight incline had improved from a couple of years ago, when I was comprehensively scalped by someone rushing past doing at least 5-8mph faster than me, which made I laugh it did!
He gave me a hearty 'Good Morning!' as he whizzed past, though.
The jury is still out on the Lake Winter Boots. Given the comments from @Postmanhat I'm a little concerned I may have wasted some Christmas money. I loosened off the 'laces' somewhat today, which seemed to help, but the weather was less inclement than yesterday, so we'll see ...

 

[Spartak]

My monthly ride up to Dundry.

Rode south thru Bristol into an increasing headwind. Joined the Festival Way then the small climb up Yanley Lane. Due to the strong wind decided to climb up to Dundry via Highridge Rd.

Great view of Bristol from the top.

Then dropped off the ridge & back into Bristol via Whitchurch, Stockwood & the Avon ring road.

 

[cyberknight]

Blimey, I was feeling quite pleased with myself because my monthly mileage total for January reached 282, which puts me on course for around 3,300 miles for the year, and also my cycle computer odometer reached 7,000 miles on yesterday's ride. Then I read here about people doing 400+ and 500+ miles in amonth. Oh well, I suppose we are all individuals, and when I packed in the gym in favour of cycling 3 years ago, I was told that I had made a mistake because you can't go out cycling in the winter, and I have defied that "put down".

Dont worry , theirs always someone who goes further or faster .As long as you enjoy yourself thats enough.

 

[Old jon]

There was clever of me, I believed the weather forecast . . .

So off I went, the wind along the towpath was a bit brisk, but more manageable than last Tuesday, I thought. Viaduct Road and Cardigan Road were a bit blustery, but again not a problem. As I climbed towards the Ring Road at Lawnswood my thoughts on the weather were changing. For the worse. Past Golden Acre Park at what felt like walking pace, and even slower through Bramhope. Approaching the crossroads at the Dyneley Arms I could see the rain travelling down the Wharfe valley towards me, and I could feel the rain stinging my face, even through the beard and I thought enough is enough. When I reached home, after 20.8 soggy miles, the rain stopped. Ne'er mind, there is always tomorrow.

 

[EltonFrog]

A 5.45 mile to Didcot and back, I stopped for about three hours half way to go and see Star Wars again, I was the only person in the cinema, I had a lovely time.

Took a couple of photos on the way back, it was nice to be riding at 4.30pm in the daylight.

It amuses me to know that over 50 years ago trains used to go along this route before it was changed to a Sustrans path, 70 years ago steam trains used carry troops to and from Portsmouth.

 

[cosmicbike]

I cycled to work this morning. Quite quickly. I think getting home is going to be a slower affair, was rather hoping the wind would have died down..

 

[Hedgemonkey]

View attachment 117510 A damp and dreary morning got as far as the o2 and turned back didn't enjoy it one bit, just under 10 miles

Do they not do breakfast ;-) at The Prospect of Whitby, thats always a good destination to aim for. ;-)

 

[Katherine]

I actually enjoyed my ride in the rain yesterday for lots of reasons. It wasn't really windy. The club ride was cancelled so I had the freedom to stop and start as I felt. I put more waterproofs on so stayed quite dry apart from my hands but I took spare gloves which I changed half way round when I found a bus shelter to stop inside. There weren't many other cyclists about or cars for that matter.
One negative was discovering that I had been well and truly 'pigeoned'! There were 2 blobs on the bag on the back as I discovered when getting out the dry gloves, then I found more on the bar bag as I was looking for tissues. So, front and back! —I'd better check myself.. helmet clear but more on the jacket sleave. So out with the antiseptic wipes and more tissues. Very glad that I carry round lots of 'just-in-case' paraphernalia!
I did a new route to me and another rare solo ride into Cheshire and one which I would do again. Out through Worsley village and Winton, then on the Port Salford Greenway to get onto the Cadishead Way, over Warburton Bridge, round the Cheshire lanes for a bit, near Dunham Massey, back over the bridge, then up through Glazebrook and Culcheth, getting onto The East Lancs path at Lowton, then a straight run home, making it 34 miles in all and only looked at Google maps once.
I didn't want to untuck my gloves from my sleeves so I was very pleased to discover that I could use my smartphone with both sets of gloves as there is a contact thingy on the index finger.

 

[DaveGM]

Blimey, I was feeling quite pleased with myself because my monthly mileage total for January reached 282, which puts me on course for around 3,300 miles for the year, and also my cycle computer odometer reached 7,000 miles on yesterday's ride. Then I read here about people doing 400+ and 500+ miles in amonth. Oh well, I suppose we are all individuals, and when I packed in the gym in favour of cycling 3 years ago, I was told that I had made a mistake because you can't go out cycling in the winter, and I have defied that "put down".

Yesterday morning though, I thought I might be beaten by the weather; the rain was very heavy and Storm Gertrude was due to be followed very soon by Storm Henry. However, the BBC forecast showed a window of about 7 or 8 hours during which the wind would subside from 40-50 mph to between 15-20+ mph, but the rain would only go away for an hour or so. Being unwilling to ride in storm force gales for safety reasons, I decided to get out while I could. I was going to head east over towards Ormskirk, Aughton and Bickerstaffe but the wind was due to turn round to due west which would have meant a strong headwind on the way home across the mossland which has no protection from the wind, which combined with the cold and rain I found a very unappealing prospect, so I did the same run to Crosby as I had earlier in the week, but with a slightly different route.

It was definitely the wettest ride of the year, indeed for some time before this year. It was cold as well, and I could feel raindrops falling onto my head through the vents in my helmet. It only took about 25 yards before my specs were covered in raindrops and this, combined with the slippery road surface made a greater degree of concentration essential - oh for someone to invent specs with windscreen wipers......and to think, I actually enjoy this!!

A couple of photos which show the rain / sea mist that reduced visibility, but it was still good to be outdoors:

View attachment 117620 View attachment 117621 View attachment 117622

Finally, one of my computer showing 7,000 miles. This year I really want to increase the distance I cover on my bike. In the first year of owning this bike I did just over 3,000 miles, in the 2 following years I only covered about 2,000 miles each time. Nothing like as much as many people on here, but not bad for a 55 year old beer connoisseur all the same. I suppose a reasonable goal now would be to get my odometer up to 10,000 miles by the end of 2016...here goes!!

View attachment 117623

I went to Crosby sea front this afternoon in the car!!!

I could hardly stand up it was so windy. You would have had difficulty on a bike I think!!