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Cheeky chap watching me as I was getting togged up at FoD this morning.
Full warm kit for the commute, but worth it for the lovely sunset 
First Italian ride of the year, finish work at 5, out by 5.30, a 4 miles along the sea front, a 1500ft 4 mile climb, then a 2.26 mile, 1500ft rocky decent back to the sea front and the 4 mile cruise back to my apartment then out for dinner.
I really should have taken a pic last night. Clear skies, full moon, no light pollution - it was fab to just stand at top of the hill and take it in for a minute or so.
Couldn't be arsed to get my phone out tho 😉
@jimmy748 - not jealous at all!
Managed to escape our house guests this morning.
Rainy/windy/sunny repeat.
Mix of xc trail and hand cut stuff.
New entrance cleared into Broon Troot as it was blocked. All the brash the last storm left cleared off Ponduro.
Another 1000 meters bagged.
https://flic.kr/p/2puqGgD
https://flic.kr/p/2pum5XX
https://flic.kr/p/2puqJE6
Another 1000 meters in the legs this morning.
Felt a lot colder than the 3 degrees it was showing.
Had yesterday off to ride.
Lots of greasy ruts, very wet - really enjoyed it.
Shakedown ride on the new Stooge Speedbomb. Ludicrous bike but good fun.
No plans today, mostly just following my nose around the local woods, bridleways and disused train lines, some dry, some not so much
fell foul of some rather over enthusiastic brambles which has left my legs in tatters but hey ho, onwards and upwards
After a fair bit of rain the creeks were up on my commute this morning. This one is normally dry… had to carry the bike over my head.
Quick 2000 ft single run lap after work, spent 15 minutes looking for my multi tool after a quick adjust and leaving it on the floor, then got to the bottom and found my TraceR was flat, so strapped my Fenix to the seat tube for an emergency rear light to get home.
Couple of video clips on Strava if anyone’s interested.
https://strava.app.link/mijg0TeFOGb
A few hours out with Mrsstu this morning.
Got attacked by the vicious beastie just before we set off.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53501821452_2a53e34e1d_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53501821452_2a53e34e1d_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2pvLPxs ]Rockin Robin[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/ ]StuartBrettle[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53501824612_117592411b_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53501824612_117592411b_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2pvLQtW ]FYP.[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/ ]StuartBrettle[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53502859288_8b5fc65f66_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53502859288_8b5fc65f66_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2pvS94b ]FYP Bottom.[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/ ]StuartBrettle[/url], on Flickr
Had a rock flick up and hit me in the shin.
Stung like a bastard.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53503188105_6f13bfaec1_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53503188105_6f13bfaec1_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2pvTPNr ]Rock Strike[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/ ]StuartBrettle[/url], on Flickr
A short loop round the blue at the FOD, my first outdoor ride this year thanks to anxiety attacks. Even though I took it really easy my heart rate averaged at 144bpm, waaay above what it should be!
Even then I think I overdid it as my chest is hurting and refusing to calm down a few hours later. Back to gentle pootling for a while I fear.
A solo 1500 meters of descent this morning.
Still proper windy up on the open hill top.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53512888019_691653411a_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53512888019_691653411a_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2pwKxfk ]IMG_20240206_114523531[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/ ]StuartBrettle[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53513004425_ba90d3eb73_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53513004425_ba90d3eb73_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2pwL8Rk ]IMG_20240206_114747244[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/ ]StuartBrettle[/url], on Flickr
Keeping things rolling with a spin round with Mrsstu this morning.
A bit snowy/icy in places with the sun attempting to come out at the end of the ride.
https://flic.kr/p/2pwVdUb
https://flic.kr/p/2pwVe1o
https://flic.kr/p/2pwVdE3
Keeping the legs spinning before the forecast shit weather hits tonight/tomorrow.
****ing freezing and a savage headwind for most of the ride on the open bits.
Thanks to the Yair chainsaw fairy. You're doing a great job pal.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53516719958_87eb6eec0b_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53516719958_87eb6eec0b_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2px6bmf ]The Chainsaw Fairy Has Been.[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/ ]StuartBrettle[/url], on Flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/53516556461/in/dateposted/
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53516555591_f7ab5c7b6c_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53516555591_f7ab5c7b6c_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2px5kuk ]Saw.[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/ ]StuartBrettle[/url], on Flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/53516557571/in/dateposted/
Some mid ride faffery on the Wednesday night group ride, Gonna try for an afternoon snowy ride tomorrow but suspect it'll all be gone then!
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Managed to sneak a few decent little rides in this week despite the weather being a bit up and down.
Monday - local SS ride. Muddy out in the fields, but prime around the woods. This was the state of the bike on getting back
Great commute yesterday morning! Weather was lovely really and the trails in the woods hadn't been too knackered (yet) by the rain
Then another nice commute back in the dark, overlooking the city here
As per @el_boufador up there, some decent rides ...
Monday night SS HT. Slop in the open, dry tack in the woods.
Commutes in, and out, yesterday.
And then, today. Forecast was heavy snow from around 7am, falling onto fairly dry trails, and temps around 0°c ... so much promise. In the end, we had some sleet, then quite a lot of wet snow. I got out around 3ish for an hour. Looked pretty. Rode shitty. In hindsight, wished I'd just gone out first thing this morning whilst the trails were still in reasonable shape ...
It was blowing an absolute hooley up on the tops, with the heavy snow coming in horizontally. Couldn’t see where the trail was most of the time. We had a right old laugh! I only came off once too! Result! 😃
Some Galloway gravel.
Neither me or the wife buy into that valentines soppy-arse stuff so the usual for me tonight
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Getting used to the FF helmet I bought for BPW with a quick run round Sherwood Pines. So far so good - once I started pedalling properly I didn't really think about it at all.
Couple of hours at Leamington today, first time riding there and first "proper" ride on the Sentier. Had a good time, it's about the same distance from me as Northampton bike park and this is where I'll be going more in the future. Feels like it makes better use of the hill and there's a better variety of trails, with a nicer ride to the top. Getting the hang of jumping again and nice not to be overbiked for a change, I actually enjoyed the climb 🙂
Also finally diagnosed the annoying clicking I've been hearing, once again another crappy Acros headset. Will be replacing with something decent asap. Mostly glad it's not the fork csu though.
Crap photo from last night - a deer had got tangled in a fence, but I managed to open the tangled bit enough so it could free itself.
[url= https://i.postimg.cc/MpwX2MKg/IMG20240214194607.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/MpwX2MKg/IMG20240214194607.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
First time in a while out on the hardtail tonight.
Had a fun ShockWiz session this morning with an orange theme.
Found a small bridge that had washed down a creek about 50m in recent heavy weather.
Coffee & cake run to Oxford.
Half term time with the rugrats always makes getting out a little challenging, found a window this afternoon so grabbed the SS,
weather was pants before I left and still pants when I returned, despite the CONSTANT gale force headwind, good to be out getting filthy
A cracker of a hack out last night on home trails. 
I keep forgetting to take any pictures on my midweek rides.
So in the spirit of that here's one I took after I'd finish today's ride.
1000 meters, one lie down and a savage hail storm just as I'd finished pointing some water at the bike.
https://flic.kr/p/2pzB2ji
A 'red' trail forks descent in Murcia. This was the easy bit of the trail. it got steep and incredibly loose after this and no photos exist.
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Got the “big bike” out of winter hibernation, surprisingly warm and pleasant 34 mile loop
i love my single speed but it’s nice to have gears and not spin out so easily on the tarmac for a change
Mrsstu's non working day today so she joined me for a spin.
1150 meters, no rain and grippy trails.
Nice.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53556887717_318aafc51e_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53556887717_318aafc51e_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2pAD3PP ]IMG_20240228_110733589[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/ ]StuartBrettle[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53556831382_a3eb1bfe37_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53556831382_a3eb1bfe37_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2pACL5w ]Green.[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/ ]StuartBrettle[/url], on Flickr
I've noticed this rare tree a few times recently so today I stopped to get a picture of it.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53558129895_befb6f78ac_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53558129895_befb6f78ac_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2pAKq5F ]The Sausage Tree.[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/ ]StuartBrettle[/url], on Flickr
It felt like riding inside a cloud yesterday. Moist..
[img] 
[/img]
Got another ride in today as the sun was attempting to come out.
Windy as **** but bagged another 1000 meters.
Attempting to teach myself how to ride in SPD's again.
Used to switch back and forth but not used them for around four years now.
Three rides in and only one moment so far...
A wee bimble around Glen Tanar and Birse today. It was windy up high, enough that it was taking my breath away from me. I also came close to losing a derailleur and wheel after hooking a large branch.
^^^ looks ace!
A bit more gloomy in South Wales, but avoided all but a few spots of rain.
Last nights spin around the tops of Rossendale
Seaham this morning..
Another ride with Mrsstu this morning.
Trails are getting slippery now they're drying out.
1000 meters then went to the cafe with a mate. Trying to cheer him up a bit after he had a nasty crash last week and will be off the bike for a little while with two cracked vertebrae and a broken collar bone.
A solo 1100 meters this morning.
Drizzle and mist but no proper rain.
Trails were wet but grippy.
Solo XC ride for me this morning.
40KM 1000 Meters.
Great to see a huge rainbow.
Not so great when I rode into the heavy rain at the top of one of the hills.
Win some/lose some.
My first commute to WFH today. Nice weather but everywhere is soaked through so mainly a tarmac bimble.
Malaga at 0630 tomorrow for 3 1/2 days dry and dusty riding 🙂
@singlespeedstu - fair 🙂
I do have to get up* at 0145am to get the early flight. On the upside shall be riding around 1pm hopefully. Assuming I packed everything removed from the RipMo.
I'll normally ride every week however bad it is, but this year I've sacked off two day long rides as I couldn't be ar$ed with another day in the slop. So really looking forward to riding proper trails outside rather than the turbo/treadmill winter I've been having!
*realistically I'm not going to bed
Post tinkering shakedown ride on the big bike, was going well until I found ALL of the slop
Bike looked like it was in a mud made travel case at one point
[url= https://i.postimg.cc/wjGdvF7h/IMG-8428.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/wjGdvF7h/IMG-8428.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= https://i.postimg.cc/sXpFTrKc/IMG-8429.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/sXpFTrKc/IMG-8429.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
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[url= https://i.postimg.cc/x8RwS3wN/IMG-8439.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/x8RwS3wN/IMG-8439.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
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First Wednesday night club ride I've been able to get to since the Christmas break. Get to the meet up point (admittedly about 5 minutes late) to find no one else there...
So pootled off on a solo ride instead, but did later bump into a couple of club riders on their way back.
Not quite enough light for 'good' photos under the trees.
Away camping and decided to sneak in a 40km gravel loop on my Ripmo.
Amazing roads. Came across some very big roadworks in the middle of nowhere (aka Whoop-whoop) and the roadworkers said they knew I was coming and could ride through...so I was mixing it up with the trucks and graders.
First ride with lights this year for me...Out for a wonderful dry ride around Mynydd Llangorse. Trails were prime, no lights were needed, and the bikes were clean at the end. And best of all.... NO BRACKEN 🙂
Finally got the gravel bike built and finished, quick shakedown ride to get it fine tuned
[url= https://i.postimg.cc/KY6sH262/IMG-8810.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/KY6sH262/IMG-8810.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
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Not mine but Abigales birthday ride today. Wish I was on it with her.
Great evening ride last night, hit the spot after a mad few weeks at work.
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Gravelling on Tuesday evening - mint
Normally the webs that cover our tracks snap and you just keep riding. This morning however I was effectively wearing a veil on my helmet and couldn't avoid stopping to get this monster off as it was hanging right next to my left eye.
Not mine but Abigales birthday ride today. Wish I was on it with her.
That looks absolutely, bloody brilliant!
6pm start, 2,250ft of elevation and back before dark with dusty stanchions, can’t complain, though the wind was a little chilly.
First time in a long while the local woods are half decent! Fingers crossed for the weekend.
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Same as @halifaxpete - our local woods and tracks are now worth riding on the MTB again!
Classic low level XC woodland singletrack on the single speeds tonight with @hardtailonly of this parish. This route is beautiful, especially when the bluebells are out.
In London for two days starting tomorrow, so went out on my tod expecting the worse based on two days of constant rain. Was actually pretty good, very puddly but not muddy, all washed down the high street by the the look of it!
Also wanted to dial in the 'new' shock on the Yeti. Yeti base settings pretty close and a few tweaks and we're all green. Not sure of the efficacy of the shockwiz, but it feels way nicer than the DPX2 I took off.
Porlock this weekend. Very much looking forward to riding the new bike there.
Little blast on the canal
