Tell us about your weekend ride

85 bloody cold miles down to Rye on the Sussex coast for me. I wanted to ride to Dungeness then on to Folkstone, but quickly realised it probably wouldn't be a good idea to go that far unless I really wanted hyperthermia.

http://app.strava.com/activities/41989933

Didn't leave the house until just before 9, which I regretted as there was a lot of traffic in South London, so was glad to get into Kent, although I was feeling very slow. There was quite a lot of snow up on top of Skid Hill and it was coming down quite heavily at that point too. The snow was on and off all the way down. Was freezing by the time I got to Tonbridge and diverted to the High Street and Greggs, where I've never been more glad of a 'cappucino' and a sausage roll. 15 minutes later I'd warmed up again and headed off towards Rye. Saw quite a few cyclists between Crystal Palace and Tonbridge, but then I saw none or almost none after that.

The snow was funny, some fields had none at all (although this one had a big group of swans, which was quite exciting):

While most were more like this:

And some were totally covered. I (fortunately) didn't seem to find any ice on the road but there were definitely some impressive icicles about. I thought this sign looked very welcoming..!

I succumbed to the warmth of a country pub (and more coffee) with about 15 miles left for a final stop, where the locals made me welcome at the bar and we had some good banter. The barmaid also hit her head really hard on a wooden beam while serving my coffee, which was a bit awkward.

Had a lovely moment approaching the bridge over the Wittersham Sewer. From far off I spotted an enormous lone cob swan flying up the valley above the river (it's a sewer in the drainage sense, not the poo sense) at exactly the same speed as me. Our paths met and he crossed over the road bridge as I did, flying low and slow with a crackling buzz with each beat of his wings which sounded very like the pylons I'd passed under earlier.

It was like the avian equivalent of being buzzed by an A380, and I was honoured to have such a perfectly timed close encounter with a fellow lone traveller slowly passing through the cold.

Couldn't wait to get on the train at Rye to warm up, then got a pinch puncture when I hit one of those stupid potholes on Bishopsgate at speed. My fingers were like icicles by the time I'd fixed it.

Have never needed a long hot bath more!

been looking at your route. Ive ridden to 5 oak green/ Paddock wood before.
I may use your route onwards to Rye in future. ( if that's ok)

I did ruislip to paddock wood via Greenwich / chisielhurst caves / swanley./ tonbridge.
on a geared mountain bike with slicks fitted a few years ago. you've got me thinking about a Ruislip to Rye now. Cheers