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Nicest day of the year:
A couple of days off work, so I headed over to Dunkeld for a wee spin. Absolutely stunning day and the trails were as awkward as ever.
In the middle of a gloomy week, the sun came out at lunchtime today, so grabbed an extended lunch break and took the SS Day One out for a spin. Lovely.
Been a long while since I visited my local DH track.
It showed. Bike (or me) felt stiff, heavy, slow, and out of control. Lots of new doubles that were a bit beyond me.
Managed three laps in 45 mins and it was 26 degrees by 6.45 when I finished.
Only saving grace was that I finally commited to the gap in the bottom third. I need to get into sessioning features.
Well I can't say that ride was much fun...
I need to pay more attention to my top tube sticker and WTFU.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/54293249725/in/dateposted/
Better than going to work though. 😀
A spin round on lower ground today to avoid any remaining sloppy, slushy snow.
Had a brief stop to have a chat with the donkeys and give them a stroke.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/54294694611/in/dateposted/
Ah hour on Monday night, whilst eldest daughter at ballet ...
... And a "Sun's up" extended commute this morning ...
Quick road ride to get some quiet and fresh air after working a trade show all week! I'm done with road now though, this makes 3/3 recent rides with dangerous car passes, with bonus angry beeping and shouting this time.
Good spot for lunch on a long day ride in January sun.
Vit D replenishment in the Pentlands.
Slowly building my fitness back up after the what feels like almost two months of feeling shit and only managing occasional outings.
That's three rides on the trot now without my cold of doom returning...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/54295718587/in/dateposted/
Pretty icy in places but most of the snow has now gone.
Out on the singlespeed at lunchtime... Sun out. Mild. Felt very spring like 🙂
Wore shorts and had to roll my hoodie arms up.
Trails in much better than expected condition. Dry lines opening up and the odd tacky spot but no major minging sections.
Didn't bother hosing the bike off, not that muddy at all.
New trail wheels on that I built over the weekend and burlier tyres - seem more suited to the bike than the xc wheels I had on previously. Rear brake did not even squeal once <winky emoji>
Overall: Ace!
Not so spring like here this morning...
Still I only saw one other rider and bagged another 1000 Meters.
Better than nowt on a dreary Monday morning in February.
It'll all help come the two dry days we'll get in the summer.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/54303532937/in/dateposted/
Yeah, now is the time to get the miles in for sure, in the hope of being fit and in the hope of good weather at some point!
Winter Miles = Summer Smiles!
TBF the trails are actually riding pretty good.
Just the top of the climb is grim as ****.
Character building as they say...
Local spin on the HT tonight whilst eldest daughter at ballet. Trails here (north Leeds) are great. Not just "great for the time of year" ... But Great. Full Stop.
Mrsstu's day off today so we headed out for a spin round.
Another 1000 Meters towards the get fit for summer program.
Sun even came out on the way home.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/54307850632/in/dateposted/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/54309196325/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/54309204335/in/dateposted/
Commute / power hour on the gravel bike into work this morning
A bit of a skive. Early finish & out on the trails to the east of Leeds yesterday afternoon. Beautiful weather
Another grim ride in the frozen wasteland. 😁
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/54323041343/in/photostream/
Started in the light. A well plotted route around the muddiest (ie 90%) of the Forest. Ending up down some cheeky steps into the pub. Marvelous. Even saw some Daffs doing their thing. Spring is coming 🙂
What a contrast. Just under a week ago 
Then today's dreich. Cold, drizzly/Mizzly grey yuk ...
Well work has been flipping mental again this week so limited time for riding 🤨 feels like I've hopefully broken the back of it now though so I'm hoping to not have to do any work over the weekend.
Anyway.
Managed to sneak an hour's off road commute in yesterday morning. It was damp and grey...but it was light almost all the way in, and also quite a few odd daffodils out here and there, spring bulbs emerging everywhere 🙂
Yay, we can embed Instagram, few runs at Puddletown trying to get a good night setting in my DJI Action 4.
Cold one tonight. Semi-frozen mud made some sections a bit of a slog.
Cold social/pub ride tonight. Trail conditions are amazing as everything is frozen solid. Grip off the scale (apart from the very occasional icy puddle).
SSticky clay and steep climbs are hard work!
More semi frozen fun this morning.
Was pretty grippy despite the ice and not minging until it started to thaw a bit.
At that point I called it a day.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/54334606817/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/54335932380/in/photostream/
Whhhooooaaa.
Where's my pictures gone?
They were showing when I posted them a little while ago...
A cold ride home after choir last night, jeez I had everything on.
A very cold ride home late last night after choir. Everything warm I had on, brrrr indeed.
There's something about sunlight coming through the tree's. Never fails to make me smile.
My phot may be very unexciting, but I’m elated to even be riding in fire roads after several weeks of no biking because of a herniated disc. I’m still in agony, but decided to have a small ride anyway.
Big, open country; dry trails, wind at my back, nobody about, railway station at each end. Get in...
Another cold, solo night ride
Monday afternoon was a nice loop with a big climb then a fast rocky descent to the dam. Then I was so chilled I took a wrong turn and bimbled back through the forestry past hordes of adoring roos. 
Trying photo posting in this new era...
Two rides bookending last night's dark hours: regular Tuesday night ride with the irregulars around Stirling/BofA, then up again early for a pre-dawn local skoosh before work. I can't see this afternoon at work being very productive given how I'm feeling now 😀
Last night, some of storm Eoywn's devastation:
And this morning before the sun was up. Temperature hovering around 0degC and snow threatening but not actually happening.
More frozen riding.
This time with Mrsstu.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/54337782629/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/54337784079/in/dateposted/