Chrimbo day ride

Crapaud

Anyone else planning a Christmas day ride?

I reckon the roads'll be clear enough for a quick 20 miler to sharpen the appetite. Still undecided whether to use the hack MTB or the Thorn.

Mike67

Went out today on the MTB for a couple of hours or three.

It's was pretty quiet on the trails and tracks near me....bliss.
I saw two or three walkers and one bike (on a road section).

Just the right amount of snow around now at a couple of inches...still the odd drift to stop me dead though

Feel totally justfied in stuffing my face tomorrow now

markos1963

There's a Xmas morning 10TT near me, I was quite suprised by the wifes negative reaction to the thought I might pop along!

Crapaud

markos1963 wrote:

There's a Xmas morning 10TT near me, I was quite suprised by the wifes negative reaction to the thought I might pop along!

Women are funny that way. :?

Pokerface

New-ish tradition for me. 3 hours of road training followed by a chicken dinner

AndyF16

Think I'll give it a miss until Boxing Day - 2 smallish kids so make the most of tomorrow, especially as they have new 24" bikes to 'open'

Planned to do 40 today but it became a 28 after a minor off on ice; nothing serious, actually ended up on my feet but with one of them through the front wheel, not sure how I managed that but no damage to me or bike, so I'll take it as a warning

pb21

For sure.

Have only ridden once this month for one hour because of the weather and stuff. Looking foward to a classic route of mine, 55 kms and 1000m of climbing, then back for lunch.

Bobbinogs

Enjoy your spins Crapaud and Pokerface. The forecast here for 9am is -9, rising to a heady -6 by lunchtime. I look to be destined for the turbo in my basement, with the wind in my hair provided by the fan.

Still, I have mixed up a festive playlist for the ipod and have a lovely BigIP LS jersey wrapped under the tree so I can wear that and lift my hands off the bars every now and then when no one is looking. After all, it is my birthday

de_sisti

A couple of the CTC lads have still gone out riding on the past Thursday nights from the Ice Cream hut. :shock:
They must be bonkers. (They are strong riders (mentally) though)

tri-sexual

AndyF16 wrote:

Think I'll give it a miss until Boxing Day - 2 smallish kids so make the most of tomorrow, especially as they have new 24" bikes to 'open'

Planned to do 40 today but it became a 28 after a minor off on ice; nothing serious, actually ended up on my feet but with one of them through the front wheel, not sure how I managed that but no damage to me or bike, so I'll take it as a warning

perfect excuse for a ride, sure the kids wants to try out their new presents so go with them
even the misses cant moan at you

Crapaud

Pokerface wrote:

New-ish tradition for me. 3 hours of road training followed by a chicken dinner

It's a new one for me too, Pokerface. I've usually got to travel through to Fife for Chrimbo, but not this year, so I'm making the most of the quiet: Porrage and a fry-up, digest, ride, nibbles, TV and DVDs, steak pie (a whole one just for me), Dr Who and then out with friends (probably more food will be involved).

Bobbinogs wrote:

The forecast here for 9am is -9, rising to a heady -6 by lunchtime.

I'd expect similar temps here; the screenwash in the car's been frozen all week - it only works to -5c. Should be a brisk ride in more ways than one! :D

john-e-big-guns

The last time I rode in -10degs my eyelides froze together after a few miles

Omar Little

MTB for me tomorrow, 90 minutes ride to burn off the first couple of courses of christmas dinner Bit of a tradition now, get bike gear presents opened, put them on / attach to bike then go for a wee spin!

The roads are probably ok for riding but i dont fancy my chances with the standard of some of the driving i've seen in the last few weeks.

Lagavulin

Not this year. I’ve managed to fit in a ride of 20 to 50 miles before lunch for the last 3 Christmas mornings and thoroughly enjoyed them. Days with no HVGs, buses and delivery vans are rare and too good to miss.
No winter bike though as such and the council appear to be hoarding their salt more and more as this cold spell continuous. Roads have been noticeably worst for the last two mornings and I suspect they'll be if the opinon they can get away with gritting very little over Christmas Eve night.
Respect to those I’ve seen (from the “comfort” of an unheated bus) soldiering on and commuting by bike but I really don’t fancy roundabouts on 24Cs in this.

Another couple of brisk dog walks looks like my best bet.

Pokerface

Sitting here waiting for the temperature to get up to -5 (currently -12, but forecast for -2) before leaving the house. :oops:

giant_man

Gorgeous day for a ride up here, really lovely with the sharp frost and bright sunshine.

sturmey

I would not risk a road ride in these temperatures.Would love to get out but when your front wheel washes out on ice it's all over. I hate Christmas but not enough to want to spend it in A+E with all the drunks from last night.

Pokerface

FYI - BBC saying that this December is/was the coldest since records began:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12078425

sheepworryingbhoy

Bah! Na chance in the snow. It's a cracking day as well, sunshne, blue sky, white hills, nightmare roads.......

Of out for a big walk & feed the squirells instead (the nice red ones).

AndyF16

tri-sexual wrote:

AndyF16 wrote:

Think I'll give it a miss until Boxing Day - 2 smallish kids so make the most of tomorrow, especially as they have new 24" bikes to 'open'

perfect excuse for a ride, sure the kids wants to try out their new presents so go with them
even the misses cant moan at you

True, but the Schleck brothers they are not, they 'commute' to school happily but I'm hoping a decent (Specialized) bike will encourage them to get out for longer rides with me, but for now it will be a bimble around the estate at best

Ben6899

I'm a pansy... worried about hitting ice in these temperatures. Went XC running on Thursday and will be back out there tomorrow. It's awesome in this weather!

Squillinossett

What a lovely day, just been out for a run with ze new 305 forerunner! saw 3 other runners and one lonely cyclist!

Merry christmas guys

freehub

For the past 2 years I've gone out on crimbo day for a swift 35 miler but this year I'm going to give it a miss, just because of the extra coldness, and the fact my bike is an absolute state, might go clean it after dinner to burn those extra calories off

I did 35 miles yesterday to make up for it I suppose. Probably might go out tomorrow but it is essential for me to do at least 35 miles every other day to keep all the Christmas junk food from increasing my weight and making me feel like rubbish.

Pokerface

Frack me that was cold! But did a couple of hours on a local race circuit. 7 times around. 7 times up the climb. And 7 times down the other side freezing my coconuts off every time!

Totally worth it. :oops:

Crapaud

Well, that was a waste of time. Barely got out to the suburbs and hit black ice, then it started raining. It was very light rain, but it froze on contact. Changed the route to a more urban one, but it wasn't very far. It didn't feel that cold - the Met's website said it should be 0c, but one of those temp guage thingies (Barrhead Rd, at the end of Crookston Rd) said -8c. I'll reconsider riding next year.

Fastlad

Crapaud wrote:

Well, that was a waste of time. Barely got out to the suburbs and hit black ice, then it started raining. It was very light rain, but it froze on contact. Changed the route to a more urban one, but it wasn't very far. It didn't feel that cold - the Met's website said it should be 0c, but one of those temp guage thingies (Barrhead Rd, at the end of Crookston Rd) said -8c. I'll reconsider riding next year.

Yer a braver man than me. You only live a few miles from me and as you say, the rain just froze on contact. People round here could hardly WALK let alone cycle in these conditions. No point in risking broken bones for the sake of a bit of fitness. :x

turnerjohn

Crapaud wrote:

Well, that was a waste of time. Barely got out to the suburbs and hit black ice, then it started raining. It was very light rain, but it froze on contact. Changed the route to a more urban one, but it wasn't very far. It didn't feel that cold - the Met's website said it should be 0c, but one of those temp guage thingies (Barrhead Rd, at the end of Crookston Rd) said -8c. I'll reconsider riding next year.

Fair play on you for trying ! It was -2 in the south...did just under 2hrs at resonable intensity but was soooooo cold (with several windproof layers on!)

Crapaud

Fastlad wrote:

... No point in risking broken bones for the sake of a bit of fitness. :x

I agree. I thought that with the roads being quiet I'd be able to hog primary and stay out of the snow / ice. Never mind, it got me out and the hack got a workout. God bless bar-end shifter with 2 pairs of gloves on!

There seems to be a thaw on, so maybe in the next couple of days.

turnerjohn, experience tells me that it's the extremities (hands, legs, head and the boaby) that need protecting. If they're warm -2c isn't that bad. Having said that, I don't seem to feel the cold as much as others. I'm a bit of a freak like that.