Extreme Snow Ride

Bike riding Monday again and after the weekend's snow it was always going to be interesting.

I was planning a 45 mile route with Kate, meeting at the North and heading back round to home, picking some choice singletrack on the way.

The snow put an end to those plans (and thank god it did!)

Kate's car was stuck and train was selected as preferred transport choice.

09:30 meet was passed due to train congestion - a 10am start from the station, and we were immediately struggling with the snow/slush/ice just along the side of the canal.  The trail conditions changed with every pedal stroke, sometimes ice was good, sometimes bad.  Sometimes snow was a faster option than slush, sometimes not.

The whole ride was a core strength session. Balance, balance whoa!

We chatted of family, jobs, courses, running, riding and racing.

Pie and mash and coffee at Kimberley was very civilised.

Back on the bike through smells of fresh bread and back over the motorway - 'poor buggers driving in that' - they'd probably say the same of us.

Over mince pie stile and into off camber tunnel.

More whooping and whaling.  More laughing and giggling.

Back into the old favourite railway singletrack.  Every hill seemed like the hardest hill ever.  Grind, grind, grind, spin, spin, spin.

Talk of tea and cake in town.

Caught up some more over cake.

A ride I would usually expect to do in 3hrs turned into a five and a half hour monster ride.

Front wheel mileage 30, rear wheel mileage at least 60.