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My zone 2 ride today turned into zone 3/4 due to a shitty virus but I did see some lovely highland cows
this afternoon saw a cheeky ride out in the sunshine
Been fitting/hacking some SKS Edge Al mudguards to the Day One over the weekend, so took the opportunity for a moderately extended commute in this morning, and a slightly extended one home. Trails a bit muddy and leaf-mulchy, but not too bad.
At the start of my 90 minute commute home last night I was determined I was going out on my bike for the first time in a good few weeks. 30 minutes into the bus journey and my initial idea of a 30km loop on the e-bike had been downgraded to a 15km loop on my regular bike. After another 30 minutes that'd been further downgraded to an hour in the garage on Zwift. By the time I got home I was wondering if there was any cycling on Eurosport.
I was basically booted out the door by my wife and told not to come back till I had a smile on my face. So, I decided to do my wee local loop on the e-bike. Lazy, I know, but before I went out my head wasn't in a good place at all. However, I was barely out the door 5 minutes before my mood had lifted and I was thinking, "This is great! Why don't I do this every night?" I even found a lovely new linking section of singletrack in my local woods.
Eventually got home with the 'required for entry' smile on my face. Rolled the bike into my garage, reached over and switched the charger on....fizz, pop, bang, smokey-smokey. That'll be £95 for a new Specialized Levo battery charger, thank-you very much. That's probably why I don't go out on my bike every night. I could never afford it. Christmas is cancelled.
It was still a great ride though, remarkably dry for the time of year.
🙂
It was still a great ride though, remarkably dry for the time of year.
That was my thoughts too Beagy: despite Saturday's snow/rain the trails were brilliant (for this time of year) last night. Still pish compared to last week's frozen extravaganza but great to be out.
Went mucking about in the woods on (and sometimes off...) the new bike with some others last night.
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Cheers @a11y , hope you're keeping well!
Yeah, conditions were near perfect, although I'm still getting used to my new helmet mounted Exposure Diablo, and wasn't too surprised when I was ripped off the back of my bike by a low hanging branch last night. Don't think those rooty tunnels in your pictures would work for me. Head still hurts a bit this morning!
Was that up Sherrifmuir / BOA? Looks very nice. Haven't been over there for a night ride in many a year.
Cheers @a11y , hope you’re keeping well!
Yeah, conditions were near perfect, although I’m still getting used to my new helmet mounted Exposure Diablo, and wasn’t too surprised when I was ripped off the back of my bike by a low hanging branch last night. Don’t think those rooty tunnels in your pictures would work for me. Head still hurts a bit this morning!
Was that up Sherrifmuir / BOA? Looks very nice. Haven’t been over there for a night ride in many a year.
I'm keeping well - good to hear you're out on the bike too Beagy! Being equally vertically-accomplished I share your pain: a lanyard looped through a helmet vent has saved a hunt in the bushes more than once.
The woodsy pics were all in the bit between the Dumyat/doggers carpark and Dumyat entrance gate (Pigs With Guns & Numkoch). I'm bad at getting across to the likes of N3/Cambu as the selection's so good across northside, I really should make the effort.
A quick spin on a cold and clear evening before yet more wind & rain arrived.
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A touch icy on the tracks and trails today - a wee spin to the top of the island, looking north across to Ardnamurchan, Canna & Rum.
Grab & Go. Quick Faff-free lunch hour spin on the mudguarded SS Day One.
Erm wow
Here’s another without the bike and trig point in the way - I was able to pick-out 16 islands: Tiree, Coll, Eigg, Muck, Rum, Canna, Skye, Berneray, Mingulay, Sanday, Vatersay, Barra, Eriskay, South Uist, Benbecula and North Uist
Morning off with a pal, making the most of surprisingly dry trails on a beautiful day.
Garburn Pass and HP Plantation stop off on route from Bournemouth to Oban.
A cheeky Grizedale leafy superhighway outing with Mr Solaris
Minus 4 at the start of my ride this morning.
Still puddles in the shelter of the trees resulting in the bike getting wet then freezing.
Really not feeling it today so jacked it in after a couple of trails.
Still managed to add an extra 650 meters to my ascent target for the year which I've already passed despite it not even being December yet so no all bad.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/54169976521/in/photostream/
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Took the opportunity for a frosty ride before work this morning. Trails mostly running well, but the boggy spots out in the fields were still boggy, merely covered by a thin layer of frozen-ness, not up to the job of supporting the weight of me and my bike. So, ended up more muddy than I'd expected!
Which beer did you go for?
I kind of miss some of the Midlands/Shropshire/Mid Wales borders beers.
Horse's tied up next to bikes outside pubs are also cool as.
Something I've only ever experienced in that area and the mountains in southern Spain.
I had a Butty Bach, just out of shot. It was the Sun Inn in Leintwardine, a lovely pub. There are some superb beers locally, although one of my favourites Woods, has gone now:-( Shropshire Lad was a great pint. Hobsons and Wye Valley are always good too. To be honest, although I live in Ludlow, I'm not a huge fan of Ludlow Brewery beer. It's OK, it's just that there are better options locally.
Just a little bump to make sure this thread keeps going as i love seeing everyone's mid week ride pictures. :thumbup:
My riding has backed off a little now we're into December and I've hit the main yearly target I was aiming for.
Only my second ride this week and only one pic.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/54185097268/in/photostream/
Out on the gravel bike locally again at lunch time to avoid the slop. Decent weather conditions, just a little bit windy but bright/sunny and it only showered just slightly as I rolled up to the garden gate.
Also had a new slop-weapon to build up this evening after cracking my previous frame. Invisiframed it yesterday which I've cocked up a bit (need to fix a few bubbles).
I've a few bits left to do, but mostly there now. This is in winter mode. Singlespeed. It'll have full guards on (mudrocker to go on the back). Also getting some grippier tyres on it.
For summer it'll go into bike packing mode with gears in, or touring mode as it's got rack mounts and I'll put some slicks on. Might also get a rigid touring fork for that.
Still managing to find a bit of motivation to ride despite the time of year.
30K rip round some tracks and back lanes this morning.
Stopped to say hello to the donkeys.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/54195429506/in/photostream/
Magic night last night on our weekly ride. Apparently -9degC at the summit but not a breath of wind. Ground conditions 90% solid, 10% pure pish.
Got out again this morning despite not really being that keen.
So glad I did.
Ride started off with this cheeky little chappie getting into the car as I was unloading my bike.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/54197991039/in/photostream/
Then after the climb to the top I was greeted with this awesome inversion.
Could have sat there for hours in the sunshine looking at it.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/54197998524/in/dateposted/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/54197753336/in/dateposted/
Then back to the car for round two of the robin trying to hitch a ride.
Isn't nature wonderful. 😀
Great getting out over the past few days before starting night shift at the weekend and not seeing any daylight for 4 days!
Feeling distinctly under the weather today with the beginnings of full blown man flu.
Mrsstus day off so just a gentle 30k ride out to a local landmark.
Lovely sunrise on the commute this morning
Frosty Pentlands.
After two weeks almost house bound with some gross cold/chest infection I ventured out on the bike, down the valley, up Sowerby Croft lane to discover the wee cafe at Norland was shut. No coffee but great to get out again....in the sun as well!
I've also been a bit ill (not that ill) works Xmas do was the culprit
First ride for maybe a week. Was supposed to be out this evening but an important work call got pushed back that I couldn't miss.
So went out at lunchtime instead, decent weather, nice to see some sun! Chilly tho
As close to an equinox night ride as we were going to get. After yesterdays' extended deluge I was expecting peak mud, but it wasn't too bad. Bit parky tho- luckily the pub was nice and warm 🙂
Hardtail
big eff off mudguards
limited sense of shame
Win
was lovely in the woods tonight until I snapped a spoke and got a puncture 
Trying not to suck at jumps again at Leamington yesterday. I still do a bit. Was trying to blame it on the headwinds and soft ground, but then a kid turned up and did the lot on a DH bike so that ruined my argument!
Views from the Pepper Pot over to Silsden. Saw a meteor last night too, pretty cool
Trying to get back into the swing of things after a forced break over the last month.
Todays ride turned into a ride/walk/ride.
1.5 hours to do just 7.5KM./380 Meters
Bloody hard work despite the poor distance and only one climb.
Still fun though.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/54252309718/in/dateposted/
Knee deep in places.
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Sliding about Mid Lothian and the Borders 
on the gravel bike. Had to cut my intended route short as the snow was just getting a wee bit too deep. Still great to get out in the sunshine even if it was on the chilly side!
Lunchtime ride in the snow. Mega tough ground conditions - snow that had turned to slush and mainly refrozen ... but not everywhere! Utter filth slush in the woods. I rode a gravel route that usually takes under about 50 minutes in the summer. Today it took me 1hr 15 mins on the ebike and I used 55% of a battery!
Had a piss about with the DJI neo I bought myself for Christmas in quick shots follow mode - got some decent shots and footage - screenshot below, well pleased with it. An amazing amount of capability for the money.
Nothing like a lower-than-before hanging tree to test the resilience of your brakes (and your sphincter). It wasn't as low as this previously but strong winds in the past couple of weeks have brought it down a LOT more.
Apart from that my local trails were riding well last night. Frozen ruts in places, snow in others, pure ming in the odd spot. Another few days and it'll all be solid.
Bedgebury red route ride. I love this bike!
Not as cold today as at the weekend, still in the minus, but the melt water made it harder going.
Just catching up on this thread and the photos are cracking. @el_boufador how are you finding the Pace 529 in that set up?
Quick hour out in the afternoon for me in East Yorkshire. No snow at all for us but very icy and brainfreeze guaranteed. Feeling quite racy for once too on some fast trails.
Freezing gravel ride, cycle paths were lethal.
Icy, very cold but good to be out!
@dukeduvet I'm loving the 529 as set up in above pics for winter duties. (singlespeed, big eff off mudguards, 140mm lyriks) it chomps through xc mudfests but will also take on the raddest local tech lines on offer.
It could do with some burlier rims (got a new set of wheels I need to get round to building) as I keep taking the light xc wheels a bit beyond what they should really be doing...
I also much prefer the 529 to the cotic Solarismax it replaced (first one with the longshot geometry)
Although the reach is about the same, the 529 has a lower BB (so more stack) and the ST a decent bit steeper too so shorter effective to tube which puts.me.in a more comfortable position. better all around really.
Slidey dropouts for SSing is much better than fannying on with rollers.
In the spring it'll morph into a geared bike packing and/or touring rig as it'll take a full rack even
( I'll be riding more full sus for xc and enduro stuff in the summer so less need for an off road hardtail)
Thanks @el_boulfador that's really helpful. Thinking about one but thought it may be too much bike for me but sounds like it is versatile. When I saw the 421s I wondered how they were fairing!
I was also thinking it could be too much bike but I'm finding it's spot on. Note mine is the previous version and the geo is very slightly less progressive than the latest one. There isn't much in it though.
I was initially thinking the new 429 might have been better for me as a more xc / adventure focussed bike but I'm not so sure now. I think the 529 is spot on as a really versatile bike. the 429 also loses the slidey dropouts.
Hard going on the frozen snow tbh but still good fun, think last night pumped the man flu round me though not stopped coughing since!
🙂
Already fitted!
Five of us out last night, 34 hard-earned Kms! Trails in the woods on the outskirts of Leeds were running pretty good, crunchy and grippy mostly rather than death-ice. Out in the open, or on the streets/pavements was rather harder work and more sketchy. Great fun though.
Hard work this morning.
Fire roads were rather draggy... Seem to have done that thing off lifting and fluffing up as the ground thawed out.
Trails were in great condition though and got cheered on by all the BASE students sessioning a tricky corner on KMC.
To be fair to them they're always super friendly when they're about.
This was knee deep in snow this time last week. :laugh:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/54266402120/in/photostream/
Commute this morning. Ice on the canal but not on the trails. Trails not too minging after the thaw so that's a win
Snow last week, more like spring this week!
Escaping from work this evening...great trail up and out of the city centre. Same spot as @hardtailonly 's photo up there ^
Quick hour and 20 minutes on Monday night whilst eldest daughter at ballet. Took the SS gravel bike, but ice melt on the trails / cycle paths meant that the road was the safest place to be - and it's not often I'd say that!
Great 55k gravel ride last night with a couple of mates.
I say 'gravel' ... There was a significant amount that was more akin to the consistency of peanut butter!
And a very pleasant commute in this morning (the commute home was even nicer, felt like Spring, but was in a hurry so no photos)
Clear night. Full moon. Got quite chilly at the end.
Full moon ride last night. Was going so well until my main bar light packed in... 
Definitely feeling less middle of winter on this mornings ride.
Still a couple of patches of snow about higher up.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/54268732237/in/photostream/
I remember when this trail was still at ground level.
The rut is almost as deep as me at 6 Foot.
Must be all the Ebikes wearing it out. 😉
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/54270032345/in/photostream/
Canal path reflections on the afternoon commute.
Nicest day of the year:
A couple of days off work, so I headed over to Dunkeld for a wee spin. Absolutely stunning day and the trails were as awkward as ever.
In the middle of a gloomy week, the sun came out at lunchtime today, so grabbed an extended lunch break and took the SS Day One out for a spin. Lovely.
Been a long while since I visited my local DH track.
It showed. Bike (or me) felt stiff, heavy, slow, and out of control. Lots of new doubles that were a bit beyond me.
Managed three laps in 45 mins and it was 26 degrees by 6.45 when I finished.
Only saving grace was that I finally commited to the gap in the bottom third. I need to get into sessioning features.
Well I can't say that ride was much fun...
I need to pay more attention to my top tube sticker and WTFU.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/54293249725/in/dateposted/
Better than going to work though. 😀
A spin round on lower ground today to avoid any remaining sloppy, slushy snow.
Had a brief stop to have a chat with the donkeys and give them a stroke.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/54294694611/in/dateposted/
Ah hour on Monday night, whilst eldest daughter at ballet ...
... And a "Sun's up" extended commute this morning ...
Quick road ride to get some quiet and fresh air after working a trade show all week! I'm done with road now though, this makes 3/3 recent rides with dangerous car passes, with bonus angry beeping and shouting this time.
Good spot for lunch on a long day ride in January sun.
Vit D replenishment in the Pentlands.
Slowly building my fitness back up after the what feels like almost two months of feeling shit and only managing occasional outings.
That's three rides on the trot now without my cold of doom returning...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/54295718587/in/dateposted/
Pretty icy in places but most of the snow has now gone.
Out on the singlespeed at lunchtime... Sun out. Mild. Felt very spring like 🙂
Wore shorts and had to roll my hoodie arms up.
Trails in much better than expected condition. Dry lines opening up and the odd tacky spot but no major minging sections.
Didn't bother hosing the bike off, not that muddy at all.
New trail wheels on that I built over the weekend and burlier tyres - seem more suited to the bike than the xc wheels I had on previously. Rear brake did not even squeal once <winky emoji>
Overall: Ace!
Not so spring like here this morning...
Still I only saw one other rider and bagged another 1000 Meters.
Better than nowt on a dreary Monday morning in February.
It'll all help come the two dry days we'll get in the summer.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/54303532937/in/dateposted/
Yeah, now is the time to get the miles in for sure, in the hope of being fit and in the hope of good weather at some point!