Todays ride

[redefined_cycles]

I chose the wrong bike today, I have a perfectly good fat bike for slippery conditions but for some reason decided to ride my hardtail 29er! It was still good to be out though.
Three Lochs Way in the snow. by Jurassic690, on Flickr

This looks amazing... would a 650b have been enjoyable enough on that. Still thinking of a time to plan the NorthPeaks100 in the cold. The mud will be frozen solid...

[Jurassic]

I chose the wrong bike today, I have a perfectly good fat bike for slippery conditions but for some reason decided to ride my hardtail 29er! It was still good to be out though.
Three Lochs Way in the snow. by Jurassic690, on Flickr

This looks amazing... would a 650b have been enjoyable enough on that. Still thinking of a time to plan the NorthPeaks100 in the cold. The mud will be frozen solid...

Yeah, I'm sure it'd be fine in these conditions Shaf. My 29er is running Conti X-King 2.4s which aren't the grippiest tyre (they always seem to do better than I expect but have their limits). I'm lucky enough to have this terrain right on my doorstep, the photo was taken about 20 minutes riding from my house.

[redefined_cycles]

I chose the wrong bike today, I have a perfectly good fat bike for slippery conditions but for some reason decided to ride my hardtail 29er! It was still good to be out though.
Three Lochs Way in the snow. by Jurassic690, on Flickr

This looks amazing... would a 650b have been enjoyable enough on that. Still thinking of a time to plan the NorthPeaks100 in the cold. The mud will be frozen solid...

Yeah, I'm sure it'd be fine in these conditions Shaf. My 29er is running Conti X-King 2.4s which aren't the grippiest tyre (they always seem to do better than I expect but have their limits). I'm lucky enough to have this terrain right on my doorstep, the photo was taken about 20 minutes riding from my house.

You mind if I nick that for the Winter313 postcard/fridge magnets. The ride is designed to toughen my roadie mates up (the big softies) and something like this on the frisge after completion should give that satisfaction...

PM me if you're ok with it and no worries if not. I must warn you that it will probably have a verse of the Quran (one of particularly hope and encouragement or similar) translated onto it (in Engleterre off course). I plan to msg BoB and that guy... Andy (the one that rides backwards), in due course too...

Thanks in advance

[redefined_cycles]

NB. Obviously it'll be opened/threaded somewhere on here too with maybe a Quran (transliteration) as the prize... plus the postcard... must put some thought into it*

*Postcard idea taken from the Cycling Shorts mag. He sent me one the nice chap...

[Jurassic]

You mind if I nick that for the Winter313 postcard/fridge magnets. The ride is designed to toughen my roadie mates up (the big softies) and something like this on the frisge after completion should give that satisfaction...

PM me if you're ok with it and no worries if not. I must warn you that it will probably have a verse of the Quran (one of particularly hope and encouragement or similar) translated onto it (in Engleterre off course). I plan to msg BoB and that guy... Andy (the one that rides backwards), in due course too...

Thanks in advance

Absolutely no problem at all, I'm flattered that you like the picture.

[summittoppler]

We got a snow drop on the Carneddau overnight so today was play time.
Headed up to Llyn Melynllyn and back.

IMG_20201228_143912_559 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

IMG_20201228_143912_519 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

20201228_123356 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

Dulyn bothy is center of pic. On my way back down, 7 scousers walking up for a night in the bothy!
20201228_120855 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

20201228_130547 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

[Jurassic]

I went a bit higher and chose the right bike for the job today. Not as spectacular as Jeff's pictures but it was great fun.
Fat biking Hairy Tom. by Jurassic690, on Flickr
Fat biking Hairy Tom. by Jurassic690, on Flickr

[Jurassic]

More of the same today but it was sunny, what a great day for a local lockdown ride!
Twin peaks by Jurassic690, on Flickr
Twin peaks by Jurassic690, on Flickr
Twin peaks by Jurassic690, on Flickr

[whitestone]

Sadly no pictures (got the camera out to take a shot and "Battery exhausted" appeared on screen ).

Headed up from Threshfield onto the moors between there and Malham. Black ice at lower levels meant the start was a bit dicey. Once we got higher there was just the right amount of snow on firm ground for it to be fat bike nirvana. By the time we dropped back down things had got a bit sloppy so not quite the nerve fest to get back to the car. Also a bit of cheeky path to finish off with - one of those stupid ones: a BW just finishes in the middle of nowhere, not even a field boundary, and this footpath along a vehicle track runs past it.

My Garmin accidentally hit pause so I missed about 6km of the ride. Here's Cath's Strava activity - https://www.strava.com/activities/4534986471

[summittoppler]

Went back out into the hills this morning, this time up to Cwm Eigiau.
Better conditions as the snow is firmer for riding on. I even managed a brew at the Cwm too in the remnants of an old quarry building which I've got my eye on for a future bivvy spot.

20201230_104856 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

20201230_104848 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

20201230_110236 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

20201230_111548 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

20201230_114615 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

20201230_120006 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

20201230_122134 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

20201230_123308 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

20201230_123643 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

20201230_123740 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

20201230_125754 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

20201230_160554 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

[RIP]

Not quite Snowdonia but a ride to Bedfordshire's highest point at Dunstable Downs with MuddyPete.

Getting old now and need regular stops to get steam back up, so I always take advantage of any old (frozen) sofas that happen to be by the wayside.



Up onto the Downs to watch the flying bivvybags as Pete calls them. They do look very cosy. I can imagine that you could stay up there all day then at night carefully skid to a halt at a suitable bivvy spot. You'd already be in your bag in a reclined position, so make a quick brew then crash out without having to make any effort at all with sleeping kit. In the morning after your brew and porridge, pull a couple of strings and up you go again. "Paraglidepacking".





Arrive at the Whipsnade Tree Cathedral and look on the map for a brew spot. Yes of course, we chose the Lady Garden. Hmm? Oh, sorry, the Lady Chapel.



The owls watch impassively as Pete demonstrates the world's tallest brewkit and his fancy new condom mug thing.





Down the stupidly steep bridleway and back home along the bottom of the Downs.



Well gentlemen, you can either go the gloopy way, or.... the very gloopy way. The choice is yours.







r

[RIP]

And in other news, back at home I noticed that hand sanitiser is of course ethanol. It wasn't until I saw that specific word on the dispenser that I made the connection with the conflagration possibilities (yes I know, obvious, but a bit slow today). Dig out some cotton wool, squirt a bit of sanitiser on it, set fire to the blasted thing, and lo! I've suddenly got the ultimate in lightweight stovery - a "0g" stove . Eat yer heart out Stu. Squirted a lot more onto a couple of buds and set fire to those and managed to boil a small cup of water!

[benp1]

SO jealous of the snow pics

In any other year I’d be heading off with crampons and ice axe looking for some fun. But stuck at home, boo

And no snow either!

[whitestone]

SO jealous of the snow pics

In any other year I’d be heading off with crampons and ice axe looking for some fun. But stuck at home, boo

And no snow either!

Just for you Ben - the view from our window ...

[Jurassic]

Another day, another sunset ride up my local hill. The snow has sublimated away to the extent that it's getting a bit icy on the descent now but it's still great fun and very pretty.
Hairy Tom's sunset extravaganza. by Jurassic690, on Flickr

[benp1]

SO jealous of the snow pics

In any other year I’d be heading off with crampons and ice axe looking for some fun. But stuck at home, boo

And no snow either!

Just for you Ben - the view from our window ...

Now you're just taking the Mickley

I've got just above freezing with the odd slippery path. Wore trousers for the dog walk for the first time since the beginning of the year. Very damp too. But no snow, at least that would make staying at home more fun!

[MuddyPete]

Fantasy riding

20201230_125754 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

Chilterns reality-check

[RIP]

No wonder I was a miserable git today, thank you for putting up with it .

[summittoppler]

[ScotRoutes]

Perfect snow conditions for tonight's ride.

[ledburner]

Perfect snow conditions for tonight's ride.

That's a grand bike shed you got there!

[ledburner]

Pete demonstrates the world's highest brewkit and his fancy new condom mug thing.



r

R, Pete's got quite a brew kit,
Espressos all round.
I got one of those mugs.
Somehow your description has made it less appealing, (it's latex free).

You've been immortalised as a Jolly good brick

[ledburner]

Yesterday, we enjoyed the winter walk (50% non cyclists). As it was below freezing walking was easy with the bonus of snow 'crunch', (if icy bits avoided).
After leaving the 'well trodden path', by Deer Hill reservoir (near Shaf's NorthPeaks100)

then climbing and crossing the Meltham moor. Higher up wading through snow covered heather was bracing. Gaiter advised but ignored by most of the party. We finally located the remains of a WWII bomber. Tragically it come down after encountering high ground in low cloud.
The crew were running in engines, after maintenance, more information. All crew member survived.
https://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.u ... tham-moor/

https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Eyewitne ... 0179561745

[RIP]

Somehow your description has made it less appealing,

Sorry about that . I was a right grumpyboots yesterday - poor old Pete - partly because it's approaching the time I'd normally be jumping on a train to Welsh Wales for the Real Winter Event but also because we'd agreed to have a nice little brew and cake at the Tree Cathedral but...

I was planning on taking a proper teapot, sugar lumps and tongs, milk jug, an Edwardian teacup, plus a cakestand and some of those little mini fondant cakes and sarnies with the crusts cut off, and a little tablecloth. But then Mrs P told me I wasn't allowed to buy the cakes (something to do with a surfeit of mincepies or somesuch bollox) and then I couldn't find the 3-tier (not Tier 3 ) cakestand. I was about to nip out to the AgeUK shop where I always find these things in an emergency but realised everywhere was shut due to sodding T4.

So I suddenly lost my rag big time and just took two oatbars and a bottle of water which somehow didn't provide the same level of dining pleasure.

[ledburner]

Somehow your description has made it less appealing,

Sorry about that . I was a right grumpyboots yesterday - poor old Pete -.....

So I suddenly lost my rag big time and just took two oatbars and a bottle of water which somehow didn't provide the same level of dining pleasure.

No worries, (hopefully) today's a better day.
I hope you find your rag...
.... Maybe it's with the Edward-ian tea service?

At least you got your oats, double helping!