Did anyone brave it today?

keef66

I managed an undulating 49 miles on Friday. Stayed dry and the sun even came out at one stage. Not that it helped mitigate the minus several windchill caused by the stiff easterly wind :shock:

Glad I did go out though, because Saturday and Sunday were written off because of the snow

ianbar

going to focus on turbo still this week, weather seems to predict snow and sleet on and off this week so would rather know what i am going to do than get disheartened when i wake up and find i cant go out. hopefully by saturday it will be much improved and can get a nice ride out.

slowbike

Hmm wrote:

I read somewhere on here we never regret going out, just not going. Any ride is pleasurable and preferable to staying at home looking out and thinking "I should be out there".

In sailing there is the opposite saying - Better to be sat in the Bar wishing you were sailing than sailing whilst wishing you were at the bar!

But - I've not stopped cycling through the winter - the only technical reasons I haven't cycled to work & back is because of time (I need to be somewhere else) or because the road conditions would make it unsafe for me to ride (ie vehicle drivers could not swap snow tracks whilst trying to overtake me.) The rest of the time it's been because I'm lazy or having a rest (ie lazy!)

Skeets

Mikey1976 wrote:

Skeets wrote:

daviegb wrote:

Managed to do some hill climbing around Cheddar Gorge - 4,500 feet in 33 miles. Was bitterly cold with a biting wind, but well worth getting out!

Was out today ,rode up past chew Valley lakes , some back roads, then on top of Burrington .-3.6 ! Decided to ride down Burrington then back up cheddar gorge, bad move as I went down hard on ice heading down Burrington , slid for ages, road rash, damaged bar tape , holed the saddle , bent the rear hanger in , so that was the end of my ride . Kind folk in the house opposite took me in for a warm cuppa while I waited for a lift. Seen a few guys walking there bikes up the hill because of the ice . Bad move/cost on my day out . Roll on majorca in a few weeks !

^^^^^ THIS

For the sake of a week or so of not cycling its not worth wrecking the bike and/or you!

It was just unlucky , the day / roads was dry & fine for me just cold , 25 miles in i decided to do a bit of hill work until I hit the highest part .Deciding to go right instead of left was my fate .

AlexMac1973

Managed 105km on saturday, albiet it took just over five hours as the crosswind was a right bar-stard :roll: Had the wobbles on a descent at only 40kph, not something I was prepared for.

I nearly gave up at 75km as I'd had enough of idiots going past me at warp speed only cm away, trouble was I couldn't as I was miles away from the nearest train station. The motivation of getting home safely was the only thing that kept me going, that'll teach me to change my training route!

Raffles

AlexMac1973 wrote:

Managed 105km on saturday, albiet it took just over five hours as the crosswind was a right bar-stard :roll: Had the wobbles on a descent at only 40kph, not something I was prepared for.

I nearly gave up at 75km as I'd had enough of idiots going past me at warp speed only cm away, trouble was I couldn't as I was miles away from the nearest train station. The motivation of getting home safely was the only thing that kept me going, that'll teach me to change my training route!

respect to you Alex for plugging on and finishing the ride

daviegb

Skeets wrote:

Mikey1976 wrote:

Skeets wrote:

daviegb wrote:

Managed to do some hill climbing around Cheddar Gorge - 4,500 feet in 33 miles. Was bitterly cold with a biting wind, but well worth getting out!

Was out today ,rode up past chew Valley lakes , some back roads, then on top of Burrington .-3.6 ! Decided to ride down Burrington then back up cheddar gorge, bad move as I went down hard on ice heading down Burrington , slid for ages, road rash, damaged bar tape , holed the saddle , bent the rear hanger in , so that was the end of my ride . Kind folk in the house opposite took me in for a warm cuppa while I waited for a lift. Seen a few guys walking there bikes up the hill because of the ice . Bad move/cost on my day out . Roll on majorca in a few weeks !

^^^^^ THIS

For the sake of a week or so of not cycling its not worth wrecking the bike and/or you!

It was just unlucky , the day / roads was dry & fine for me just cold , 25 miles in i decided to do a bit of hill work until I hit the highest part .Deciding to go right instead of left was my fate .

Skeets - I hope you're feeling ok now & the bike escaped unharmed!

I rode Shipham hill (x6!!!) & Cheddar Gorge on Saturday - there seem to have been large differences in the road conditions, as it was relatively dry & no ice at all when I rode. I had my collar bone surgically pinned in January, so I'm certainly not ready to start taking any risks where ice is concerned. Enjoy your Majorca trip!

Pross

smidsy wrote:

Also not only do you risk injury, or worse, bike damage, but you also make vehicles move off the tyre tracks and cross the slush/ice to get past you. This can then cause 'interesting' moments for the vehicles and cause accidents.

When it is snowy and icy just stay in. It is not wimping out, it is being sensible and safe.

Surely the vehicles should just stay at home in those conditions as it's too dangerous and they should be sensible and safe?

For my part, missed out on Saturday which was the only day we had snow and chose a lie in on Sunday! I have ridden to work yesterday and today though, roads are completely clear but you have to keep an eye out for areas where water has run off fields and frozen. Generally it's fine though, sticking to reasonably well used roads. The wind is an absolute killer though, did one flat Strava segment at a shade under 30mph yesterday without really going for it but then had to push hard to average 13mph for the ride home. Today looks similar although the wind may have dropped touch wood!

Mikey23

Still dry here but that wind is so cold. Did 30 today and felt like my head was in the fridge. Back home now with glowing ears and ice block feet...

sloppyschleckonds

Hour in the gym , hour on the turbo today. And cleaned 2 of my bikes completely. Roll on 5 degrees.

FergySteve

I can't believe how cold it still is. Can't bring myself to go out in it much, but at least it helped me convince the other half to let me get a couple of turbo trainers and the sufferfest vids.

Robert72

just back from a couple of hours, 3 deg but with the wind -1 but at least it wasn't snowing.........much

Marcryan206

Went out this morning at 0545 and it was a little chilly but smashed in 60miles just over three hours and twenty. Pretty pleased but that wind was harsh in areas!!! Just MTFU and get out there and get some winter miles as it still feels like it!!

Grill

Marcryan206 wrote:

Just MTFU and get out there and get some winter miles as it still feels like it!!

QFT

Skeets

daviegb wrote:

Skeets wrote:

Mikey1976 wrote:

Skeets wrote:

daviegb wrote:

Managed to do some hill climbing around Cheddar Gorge - 4,500 feet in 33 miles. Was bitterly cold with a biting wind, but well worth getting out!

Was out today ,rode up past chew Valley lakes , some back roads, then on top of Burrington .-3.6 ! Decided to ride down Burrington then back up cheddar gorge, bad move as I went down hard on ice heading down Burrington , slid for ages, road rash, damaged bar tape , holed the saddle , bent the rear hanger in , so that was the end of my ride . Kind folk in the house opposite took me in for a warm cuppa while I waited for a lift. Seen a few guys walking there bikes up the hill because of the ice . Bad move/cost on my day out . Roll on majorca in a few weeks !

^^^^^ THIS

For the sake of a week or so of not cycling its not worth wrecking the bike and/or you!

It was just unlucky , the day / roads was dry & fine for me just cold , 25 miles in i decided to do a bit of hill work until I hit the highest part .Deciding to go right instead of left was my fate .

Skeets - I hope you're feeling ok now & the bike escaped unharmed!

I rode Shipham hill (x6!!!) & Cheddar Gorge on Saturday - there seem to have been large differences in the road conditions, as it was relatively dry & no ice at all when I rode. I had my collar bone surgically pinned in January, so I'm certainly not ready to start taking any risks where ice is concerned. Enjoy your Majorca trip!

Fair play 6 times, you must love the punishment ! Have you tried Ridge lane in west harptree village ? 20% in places , about 9 min long end to end . will take you out near the top of harptree hill if you get it right . ( a few right turns to take, very narrow, one car wide) . good job you never went out on Sunday then with your healing collarbone . done mine once , didn't Pearce the skin so no pins for me , had to heal on its own about 6-8 weeks before I could forget about it . Cheers.

marylogic

Managed 34 miles and 750 metres ascent yesterday. Main roads were fine but had a tricky couple of miles on a back road. Decided discretion was the better part of valour and got off and walked through the snow but then struggled to get clipped in again as my cleats were completely clogged with slush.

jotko

Skeets wrote:

daviegb wrote:

Skeets wrote:

Mikey1976 wrote:

Skeets wrote:

daviegb wrote:

Managed to do some hill climbing around Cheddar Gorge - 4,500 feet in 33 miles. Was bitterly cold with a biting wind, but well worth getting out!

Was out today ,rode up past chew Valley lakes , some back roads, then on top of Burrington .-3.6 ! Decided to ride down Burrington then back up cheddar gorge, bad move as I went down hard on ice heading down Burrington , slid for ages, road rash, damaged bar tape , holed the saddle , bent the rear hanger in , so that was the end of my ride . Kind folk in the house opposite took me in for a warm cuppa while I waited for a lift. Seen a few guys walking there bikes up the hill because of the ice . Bad move/cost on my day out . Roll on majorca in a few weeks !

^^^^^ THIS

For the sake of a week or so of not cycling its not worth wrecking the bike and/or you!

It was just unlucky , the day / roads was dry & fine for me just cold , 25 miles in i decided to do a bit of hill work until I hit the highest part .Deciding to go right instead of left was my fate .

Skeets - I hope you're feeling ok now & the bike escaped unharmed!

I rode Shipham hill (x6!!!) & Cheddar Gorge on Saturday - there seem to have been large differences in the road conditions, as it was relatively dry & no ice at all when I rode. I had my collar bone surgically pinned in January, so I'm certainly not ready to start taking any risks where ice is concerned. Enjoy your Majorca trip!

Fair play 6 times, you must love the punishment ! Have you tried Ridge lane in west harptree village ? 20% in places , about 9 min long end to end . will take you out near the top of harptree hill if you get it right . ( a few right turns to take, very narrow, one car wide) . good job you never went out on Sunday then with your healing collarbone . done mine once , didn't Pearce the skin so no pins for me , had to heal on its own about 6-8 weeks before I could forget about it . Cheers.

I am not sure I could ride down Shipham Hill 6 times lol

Ridge Lane here - http://app.strava.com/segments/658780 ?

Will have to try and find that, just started exploring round that way.

daviegb

jotko wrote:

Skeets wrote:

daviegb wrote:

Skeets wrote:

Mikey1976 wrote:

Skeets wrote:

daviegb wrote:

Managed to do some hill climbing around Cheddar Gorge - 4,500 feet in 33 miles. Was bitterly cold with a biting wind, but well worth getting out!

Was out today ,rode up past chew Valley lakes , some back roads, then on top of Burrington .-3.6 ! Decided to ride down Burrington then back up cheddar gorge, bad move as I went down hard on ice heading down Burrington , slid for ages, road rash, damaged bar tape , holed the saddle , bent the rear hanger in , so that was the end of my ride . Kind folk in the house opposite took me in for a warm cuppa while I waited for a lift. Seen a few guys walking there bikes up the hill because of the ice . Bad move/cost on my day out . Roll on majorca in a few weeks !

^^^^^ THIS

For the sake of a week or so of not cycling its not worth wrecking the bike and/or you!

It was just unlucky , the day / roads was dry & fine for me just cold , 25 miles in i decided to do a bit of hill work until I hit the highest part .Deciding to go right instead of left was my fate .

Skeets - I hope you're feeling ok now & the bike escaped unharmed!

I rode Shipham hill (x6!!!) & Cheddar Gorge on Saturday - there seem to have been large differences in the road conditions, as it was relatively dry & no ice at all when I rode. I had my collar bone surgically pinned in January, so I'm certainly not ready to start taking any risks where ice is concerned. Enjoy your Majorca trip!

Fair play 6 times, you must love the punishment ! Have you tried Ridge lane in west harptree village ? 20% in places , about 9 min long end to end . will take you out near the top of harptree hill if you get it right . ( a few right turns to take, very narrow, one car wide) . good job you never went out on Sunday then with your healing collarbone . done mine once , didn't Pearce the skin so no pins for me , had to heal on its own about 6-8 weeks before I could forget about it . Cheers.

I am not sure I could ride down Shipham Hill 6 times lol

Ridge Lane here - http://app.strava.com/segments/658780 ?

Will have to try and find that, just started exploring round that way.

Skeets & Jotko - Ridge Lane is certainly a toughy along with Highfield Lane (Compton Martin)!! Other great hills around that way are on the link below - you can clock up great climbing in a relatively short distance.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/165560329

ben16v

up llanberis pass today - 6ft drifts on the side of the road and only sigletrack to cycle but no cars!!
pic at pen y pass
http://instagram.com/p/XU82AGPRYo/

jotko

daviegb wrote:

Skeets & Jotko - Ridge Lane is certainly a toughy along with Highfield Lane (Compton Martin)!! Other great hills around that way are on the link below - you can clock up great climbing in a relatively short distance.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/165560329

Cheers - bookmaked that.

I have been down Shipham Hill and Burrington, and up Cheddar Gorge - http://app.strava.com/activities/43856668

Some good hills out that way, as my rides are getting longer they are now in range!