Tell us about your weekend ride

I decided not to risk my planned excursion NNWwards, knowing from painful and expensive experience that you can't 'look out for' black ice, or 'ride cautiously' on it.

Did 50 miles indoors instead, 2/3 of it on the rollers. Hope to be out there next week though, regardless of possible ice (appropriately shod, of course).

2 1/2 hours in Cheshire freezing my bollocks off. Nice though, just need to keep an eye out for the ice

Where abouts?

Hazel grove way

not far from mine out in marple!

I was there too

probably better to stay indoors, went out to essex today, 7 riders and 6 of us ended up sliding along the tarmac.

was in the that 'ouch that hurt but was quite funny' place...drivers behind us were rather confused.

Also hit some nasty ice out in Essex today. Thankfully I was riding fixed and felt the grip going early... my friend on gears wasn't so lucky and ended up taking a tumble.

Lovely day out though, ended up in Southend for fish and chips

I came off twice on Thursday night, mebe the last evening out for a wee while.

No spill today, but plenty of wincing along frosty roads. Lovely sunrise though.

Hello winter.

I was off on Thursday so as the sun was out I went out . The ice cold win soon curtailled my attempted milege to that of around 30 miles . 10 of those were on the hillingdon road race circuit.
I went out again on friday. wasnt as cold only managed 15 .

I Find the winter mileage really hard at the moment .
My plan of being able to do 100 + miles by march isnt happening .

Do you wear good gloves, shoe covers and a face buff?
Once your going you'll stay warm. (this week is cold though)

I was off on Thursday so as the sun was out I went out . The ice cold win soon curtailled my attempted milege to that of around 30 miles . 10 of those were on the hillingdon road race circuit.
I went out again on friday. wasnt as cold only managed 15 .

I Find the winter mileage really hard at the moment .
My plan of being able to do 100 + miles by march isnt happening .

Reward yourself with the miles you ride, not the ones you planned out to ride. You are already a succes even heading out in this weather, turning the crank.

Hackney to Cambridge. Probably not the most beautiful route but we got there in the end. First serious outing with SPDs and gears. Both are great.

Are you sure that wasn't the Eagle RC clubrun?

hahah oh man you are right. I wonder if they know how ridiculous that jersey is being related to anything else than sweden :D

Do you wear good gloves, shoe covers and a face buff?
Once your going you'll stay warm. (this week is cold though)

Yes to good gloves and shoe covers . I've been wearing a belgian style winter hat , it is wool and has raleigh written on the front in fuzzy felt. warm yet wickable .

Reward yourself with the miles you ride, not the ones you planned out to ride. You are already a succes even heading out in this weather, turning the crank.

Repped, ace attitude.

I was feeling a bit guilty about not having been on a proper ride today, so I went for out for a little evening jaunt around Highgate. I decided to do every*hill once, and then went up Swains again at the end for a little treat.

The first time I was heading up Swains, there was a group of about twenty out on some kind of guided walk. As my heavy panting became audible, one woman turned around and shouted "Come on!" and all of a sudden all twenty of them were egging me on. It was one of the best things I have ever experienced on a bike.

Descending Highgate West fixed was worse than ever with the slipperiness and my way past acceptable front tyre. And I realised tonight that going up it is even worse, and something I'd never done before.

On the way home I remembered I'd never actually made it up Swains fixed before, my previous two attempts failed due to heavy panniers, and then the fact that I tried it after my first Intermediate session at Herne Hill.

Pretty rewarding all in all, I'm really glad I went out, and my tea smells amazing.

Bored so currently whizzing about the west end & the river

just spun locally before again supporting gf win her duathlon, very little riding for me but good time in the forest being out at 9 ish for the best part of the day, reward sweets from Corfe Castle and passed Robs bike on way home-r.i.p.

Are you sure that wasn't the Eagle RC clubrun?

Saw these guys out near Bishops Stowford, we thought it was some weird Swedish velo club.

hahah oh man you are right. I wonder if they know how ridiculous that jersey is being related to anything else than sweden :D

Saw these guys out near Bishops Stowford, we thought it was some weird Swedish velo club.

You are leanig a lot here, which is not good in this weather. Next time you see them just ask about the history of the jersey and we will know.

Reward yourself with the miles you ride, not the ones you planned out to ride. You are already a succes even heading out in this weather, turning the crank.

thanks mate . I will

Repped, ace attitude.

I was feeling a bit guilty about not having been on a proper ride today, so I went for out for a little evening jaunt around Highgate. I decided to do every*hill once, and then went up Swains again at the end for a little treat.

The first time I was heading up Swains, there was a group of about twenty out on some kind of guided walk. As my heavy panting became audible, one woman turned around and shouted "Come on!" and all of a sudden all twenty of them were egging me on. It was one of the best things I have ever experienced on a bike.

Descending Highgate West fixed was worse than ever with the slipperiness and my way past acceptable front tyre. And I realised tonight that going up it is even worse, and something I'd never done before.

On the way home I remembered I'd never actually made it up Swains fixed before, my previous two attempts failed due to heavy panniers, and then the fact that I tried it after my first Intermediate session at Herne Hill.

Pretty rewarding all in all, I'm really glad I went out, and my tea smells amazing.

I've never tried Swains lane before .

I did get half way up highgate west hill in the summer on a fixed 46/16 Pomp.I was on my way to work and didnt really make the effort. I will attempt swains lane asap.

Yes to good gloves and shoe covers . I've been wearing a belgian style winter hat , it is wool and has raleigh written on the front in fuzzy felt. warm yet wickable .

You Shoyld be alright then. If its windy try a windbreaker, will make a huge difference, I just wear a goretex jacket and it does the trick.

You'll be fine getting to 100mi, just try adding 5-10 a week on what your currently doing ti you get to 70-80 the week or so before your longer ride. Then you'll be able to do it on the day no issue. Keep up the good work :)

And if you don't make it your planned distance one week, sit down and see why and address it. But it's no big deal so don't worry and keep moving forward.

In practice and if you have done a few rides at a certain distance you are able to double that distance if you like to.

Out in the lanes today, real nice riding till we found some black ice and I managed break my hip as I landed on it after pulling my arms in so I didn't do my collar bone. Not the best ride I've ever had, but a ride all the same.

Ah shit.

HealTFU