Varun's Bikes, Stayer, Cotic, that singlespeed Rockhopper....

End of term vibes. Rode an hour or so to meet some friends in the country pub we've been going to for years, and had a very very good pre-Christmas catch-up, but on the way back my front tire started to leak again. Thankfully I heard it before I was too far from the road to Leamington, but still had to pull over, try and fix it and then give up and call a cab eventually. There are so many plugs on that tire it's a miracle this hasn't happened already!

Anyway, two solid weeks off means I have time to tinker, write, explore, maybe take some time off the bike to focus on living a little.

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Beautiful

I'm glad to be out and about again. My health feels strangely shaky and I can't seem to escape this nagging feeling of something feeling not right, all the time. But in between the gaps, bikes are cool.
Out on the Raleigh fixed today against a prevailing wind, and I definitely felt a little tireder than usual but it's impossible to tell. These, after the ride, were the only pictures I took and got in just before the rain chucked down, so counting that as a win.
Ode to the forum for finally convincing me to BDHU, too. The reach is a few mms shorter now and a lot better for it.

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Lovely.
Maybe hoods down a smidge, and your brake pads are in wrong (the fin on the pad holder points down).

I'll have a play with the hoods - it felt right today but that's not indicative as it was so windy outside, I was out of the saddle a lot of the time.
You're right with the brake pads, I've just been lazy. I'll change them over now!! No more dicey braking.

My first Christmas in a while fully by myself so I was very grateful to be asked if I wanted to join the group ride this morning. Ft. a banging sunrise, dense fog, delicious cold, great chat and the promise of a boiling shower after.
Now for half a day of LOTR extended and dinner.
Have a good day everyone, and best wishes to you all regardless of how you spend it.

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Reading this post during the first half of the Fellowship of the Ring is quite the coincidence!

Happy Christmas!

Great minds! ☺️
(I still haven’t finished Fellowship)

Very little actual bike riding over the past two weeks, and that's okay. I think this year I will be running and hiking a lot more, and using the bike as I did to commute, do the regular trip or social get together. I've finally joined my local running club after years of procrastination, and it's giving me joy in the same way that not riding bikes is not causing me any worry.

Anyway, the sun has been shining, the air is frosty and life, in general, is pretty decent.

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Well played.

Too cold and icy for leisurely bike rides this time of year, time to dust off the rucksack, bake a cake or two (or three, or four), fill the flask with a hot tasty beverage, and take to the footpaths.

I find that both during the summer and the winter, I hike and run a lot more and bike a lot less, and that's no coincidence.