Summer time?

First time trial of the year for me today. A 15 mile run with the Pontypool Road Cycling Club.
The clocks changing, and me forgetting until half 5, meant I had less sleep than I wanted. Plus I stayed up watching crap films last night.
Anyway it was a pleasant ride to the sign on and start.

Conditions were lovely apart from a mild headwind along the dual carriageway. Average time for me but good to do.
After a good lunch the legs got a stretch going up the Blorenge, where it is still rather white.

Now I am very ready for some more food...

Out

Managed to head out for a little spin today with my mate, Pete. The day started off sunny but the clouds popped back to say hey.
There were plenty of white reminders of how cold it's been.

and one of the hedgerows had this rather beautiful display of icicles courtesy of a puddle

Not seen that before.

Stir crazy

I am now fed up of snow.
As the cars disappear under it and blend into the landscape the white stuff keeps falling.

I can safely say that it's the most I've seen fall in the 7 years here.
I got busy with the shovel last night and got a path clear and was able to get the bike from the shed. Of course then it froze overnight.
Nevermind, and steady does it.

Man it was good to be back on two (motorised) wheels.

Snow days and singlespeeds

It's been snowing. I doubt you've missed it. First off walking back from the pub there was a family of snowmen, great to see although judging from the relative amount of snow on their lawn they must have been gathering snow from everywhere.

I thought they were brilliant.
Today dawned and although there no more snow had fallen none of it had really gone away. I really wanted to go for a pedal so got the time late this afternoon and got the singlespeed out.
Only went out for an hour and a half but it was good to do.

The bridleways were a mix of mud and snow were bikes had already been down and back up them. I'll be honest, I had to push part of this going back up after it came to a dead end. The biggest bugbear of the whole ride was the clips getting frozen with ice and then being unable to clip back in. Grr.
Back up from that bridleway and the road was a mix of snow, compacted snow and ice. Predictably just as I was thinking how well it was going...

Slip, slide and roll...
Ah well. Pick up and carry on.
The view from the top was rather lovely, the mountain (it's not really a mountain) was shrouded in clouds.

Back on. Along the road a little and then into another section of woodland before climbing back up into the final section. The light was coming back in there was still some pedalling to be done. After a last hurtle downhill that was it for the woods.

A steep climb back up to the village and job done. It was good to get out.

The month that was

Well, January.
I always think that a new start comes in a new year, cliched I know. I'm hoping January won't be indicative.
A rough start when I had two massive anxiety attacks whilst on a business trip to London. It's no fun waking in the night shaking hard and being unable to get your breath.
Still the trip itself was good and worthwhile and I got to meet some great people and talk about some exciting things. If you're an iPad user, check out the Museum of London's; Dickens' Dark London App...

I had a pedal along the local canal and noticed a dam in place. This was because of bridge repairs as I found out further on.

Also interesting were a load of freshwater mussels down in the water. About the size of your fist they were.

Next up was an MTB enduro race, the Brechfa Frostbite 40. Dropped in length down to 23 miles (according to Jay's GPS tracker) it started off well and I put in some reasonable times on the first two special stages, not 'setting the world on fire' times, but good enough. Then I suffered the most massive set of cramps I had ever had in both quad muscles. I'm not normally one for outbursts, but I couldn't help but scream in agony until after about 5 minutes I was able to overcome the muscles and actually bend my legs. This was at around the 3/4 mark of the race. I began to walk off the cramp and then got back in the saddle. Every time there was a long bout of effort required though, the cramp set back in. Cue a shocking time on the final stage due to having to half walk it. So disappointed, and a crap start to the years races.

After that I decided in a huff to shave, so the three/four months of good beard and 'tache action was bade farewell. I couldn't do a full shave, but the grade 3 guard was fitted and all the style and panache was gone.
Bye.

A few days later I was on the way to work on the Tenere and got sideswiped by a guy changing lanes from middle to outside and not seeing me. I've no idea how I didn't crash and it was as scary an experience as I want to remember feeling the bike shunted a couple of foot sideways. Thankfully they have admitted full liability so I am waiting repairs to the mighty Princess.

As the weekends came around I went up to a friends farm in the Forest of Dean and helped continue the work begun in December in making and fitting a set of 3 bay doors and a partition. The front doors are 10x8' and the partition doors 14x10'. Made from 40x40x3 box section there's some weight behind them...Pic courtesy of Debs.

It was a long weekend with work done late into the night Sunday courtesy of Transit van lights.
But it was done.

Whilst waiting for bike repairs I have an SV650 courtesy bike. I've always liked the little SV and I am enjoying using it as a replacement for the Tenere.

To finish off one month and head into another I headed up to the Fens to catch up with friends and have a pedal. I took the pushiron up in the mighty Quickspaz and was glad of my mud and snow tyres when on Saturday evening the snow fell, and fell some more.

It was still around on the drive back Sunday morning.
Still the little van did good.
Here's hoping February turns out better, so far it is onto a good start thanks to good friends.

Chores and more

Had to go out and pick up a lamb from the butchers over the valley yesterday morning. Roads were fine, just slush. Got home and went out exploring.

The lanes were a little more snowbound, I got stuck going up a few of them. The horses didn't have as much hassle.

Relaxing

Still snowy out. Took the pushiron out for a pedal.

You're an idiot

Prod the snow long enough and it will prod back. Turning around 2up in some woods and the bike slid over on the sloped verge edge. All fine. I don't think me laughing went down too well with the girlfriend.