Fuddy as muck on last night's ride. No rain during the ride but the past week or so has seen a good amount. Slippery on the bits of trail you could see between the leaves, even slippier on the bits you couldn't see. Throw in some sniper roots and it's a total giggle.
Trails behind Stirling Uni / Bridge of Allan, 29.8km/760m.
Commuting today - grey & mizzly this morning ...
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And a sunset-stunner this evening ...
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Mini skinny line, starting nearer to shed. Wider at the start. Multiple tries doing it in reverse starting at the concrete fence post, but rarely made it to the first corner.
Night ride to Borough Bonfire in Lewes, with event appropriate refreshments
That's the autumn colours done for me, I think. Commitments the next few days, and by next week we'll be over the edge on the slide into winter. The moors above the valley mist were clear but murky.
Another muddy shitfest of a ride showing some southern ebike****ers round again.
30km/1300meters of shitty fun.
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Swapped my NWD this week to today, so spent a couple of hours sketching out at Stainburn. It rides pretty well up there through the wetter seasons, but the off-camber roots had me very much on my toes (and only once on the floor!)
I'd hoped for the sun to break through; it did for a few minutes, and I managed to get just about above the cloud layer ...
... But the rest of the ride was mostly in misty conditions. Great fun though ...
Those are stunning @hardtailonly.
No bike commute for me today, but similar conditions to those on the drive home from early morning swimming club (yes, really).
Spent from 10am yesterday morning until 5am this morning sorting out a health issue / 111 / out of hours GP / hospital admission for my Dad, so on only 2 hours sleep, I was pretty frazzled this morning. A very gentle and short autumnal gravel spin this morning was most restorative!
Another minging wet ride.
Not all bad though as the sun did appear once on the ride and while I was washing the bike.
Can we have cold and dry now please.
This morning felt like the first ride of winter. Not the temperature, it's still mild - something to do with light levels, muted colours and bare trees.
I'd stitched stuff together to visit the reservoir pictured in this Guardian article. Water levels are similar to what they were in that picture (from June...):
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/nov/08/england-faces-extreme-drought-next-year#img-1
Mint ride this morning with a mate who is a professional mtb coach. He'd never ridden the trails we did and they're fairly brutal janky tech so I led him around. Perfect conditions.
He did an Insta post after the ride and I can't help but think my terrible riding must have inspired it. As in "how did he not OTB!"
20km/1000Meters with Mrsstu on her day off.
Muddy but the first ride in ages where I've not been soaked to the point of my waterproofs boots have been full of water.
Trip round the woods and ginnels and canals on't gravel bike this morning on the way to work. Perfect for the conditions 👍
Feels like we're properly into gravel bike, singlespeed, and alternative activities* time now as I don't really find proper MTB that much fun in really wet conditions, more to do with lack of grip and horrible draggy mud, than anything else.
*Running, drinking, drugs, furious masterbation, buying shit I don't need off AliExpress
Yesterday was the wettest ride in my entire life. But I took today off and went back down to Tollymore and Donard. The ground was obviously still soaking, but the day was much better.
I find many of the trails down there really challenging in the dry. But my goodness, they are so much more difficult in the wet. Especially with a carpet of soaking leaves on top!
*Running, drinking, drugs, furious masterbation, buying shit I don't need off AliExpress
pics, pls
🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮
Well, @el_boufador wimped out on us last night; he's such a fair-weather rider! But, 3 of us got out for a 60km gravel (I use the term loosely!) ride last night in absolutely filthy conditions, but had a right laugh! Headed out from NW Leeds to pick up the Red Kite route. Some excellent gravel sections actually, and some complete slop, including an unintended lap of a Xmas Tree farm!
The autumn sun returned for this morning's commute. Which was nice 🙂Â
Quick spin with the teen wonder this afternoon.
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That's it. Batten down the hatches for winter.
Well, @el_boufador wimped out on us last night; he's such a fair-weather rider!
Just having some 'me time' doing one of my other activities.
Two weeks ago....
One week ago....
Today....
Managed to find time for a ride from home on Wednesday - railway paths on to the Waskerley Way, the road and byway over Oxen Law to Wolsingham North Moor:
Then road and railway path back to Durham. I got lucky with the weather....
Before the storm came in I managed several night rides with my daughter this week, first time doing big jumps on her shorter travel trail bike, so she chose nighttime and squidgy conditions 🤣 also did a therapeutic couple of hours collecting litter on the eeb on Thursday followed by jumps n drops. May not be doing any local jumps for a short period. Although could canoe around them after today.
What's the hill in the background of your last picture please?
Looks familiar.
Rodneys Pillar and Llanymynech on the right, looking into Wales! 🙂
first time doing big jumps on her shorter travel trail bike, so she chose nighttime and squidgy conditions 🤣
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👌🤘👍
Gloriously sunny in places this morning.
First frozen puddles of the incoming winter.
Trails were in great condition but I just had nothing in my legs today so just did a couple of trails then headed home.
Still 600meters to add to my totals and no bike wash so a small win there.
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Yeah, a welcome return of the sun here in Leeds. Chilly though, although not yet frosty/icy.
Took an elongated lunch, headed up to the local jump spot. Which, TBH, I just find intimidating most of the time, what with all these 5 year olds sending it 50ft on their Carerra bikes! But, I'm being left behind by my riding buddies ... and more importantly, it's just a bit stupid for me to keep avoiding (even pretty small/modest) features when out on trails generally just because I've got a mental/skills block when it comes to (gap, in particular) jumping. No gaps were cleared or attempted, but made some progress on some tables I've not attempted/cleared before.
And besides, it was a gorgeous day, and the trails aren't in bad shape.
Big day out today exploring singletrack along the banks of the Tay.
Some incredible bits of exposed trail immediately above the water. Very aesthetic although heavy leaf litter sort of obscured the roots and rocks below which curtailed the risk taking!
Committed to trying to video it all but of course the GoPro died in the cold weather 🙄
I never would have left the house today with the e-bike. It was freezing and blustery on the school run, legs were tired. Wasn't feeling it.
Ended up doing a 30km loop in blazing sunshine. I was cursing myself for not wearing waterproof socks though.Â
Devil's Elbow was mint with a river raging down the entire trail. I would have done it multiple times if I didn't have freezing cold feet.
Did a very short ride this morning, sleet and ice. Inexplicably my right (gear change) thumb got extremely cold and even a change of gloves didn’t sort it so returned home. Nice to be out if only for a short time.
Edit; picture disappeared! 
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Just a couple.of commutes on the gravel bike today, but mainly in the dark. Trails were surprisingly dry (well, tacky) on the way in given all the rain over the weekend. But then it pissed it down all day so they'd returned to slop for the ride back home.
Decent commuting is a bit of a lifesaver at this time of year - gets you out even if it's cold dark and wet. No choice so may as well get on with it and get a few miles in 👍
I've actually been really quite enjoying the riding this autumn, mixed in with other stuff. If not riding then I've been doing some running or weights pretty consistently every day, so feeling quite good about myself for that.
Commutes for me too, nice enough on the way in, but experiencing tubeless woes; had to add more air twice on the commute in. When I got to work, had a closer look and looks like the sidewall of the tyre is damaged / holes. Pumped it up before leaving work and laid the bike on its side for a few minutes to let the sealant pool, but it was t having it, and had too pump up twice more on the commute home!
Commutes for me too, nice enough on the way in, but experiencing tubeless woes; had to add more air twice on the commute in. When I got to work, had a closer look and looks like the sidewall of the tyre is damaged / holes. Pumped it up before leaving work and laid the bike on its side for a few minutes to let the sealant pool, but it was t having it, and had too pump up twice more on the commute home! Tyre needs binning I reckon ...
The snow's hanging in locally on the high ground. Might make the most of any overnight freeze with an early start tomorrow, go for the crunch.
Lovely sunny, snowy Moorland trails. Poor tyre choice made for slow going though. 
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^That's the trig point I plan on hitting tomorrow morning while it's all still frosty...Â
@montgomery Not been cold enough yet to firm up all the sloppy bits, a good night's frost should make a difference 👍
Something has been nibbling the route markers!
Early morning pre-work pre-dawn sub-zero drop-bar fun 🥶😎
Pic overlooking Lionthorn area in Falkirk. Decent choice of off-road routes around Callendar Estates trails and beyond.
Short ride from home yesterday to catch some of the snow before it melted. Brandon Lane looking towards the pennines:
Brandon Hill looking over the Wear valley, Durham Cathedral just visible in the centre:
Quick local loop this morning before settling down for work. Full of cold, so lacking in energy, but wanted to get out to take advantage of the frozen (ish) trails. Worth it!
Held up some mates on their eebs on Tuesday morning.
Then did a mixed mtb/gravel ride this morning.
(weirdly enough I read that Timmy Mallet has been riding in the same area this week)
It was chilly, right enough, but going well this morning. I've been avoiding these tracks lately because it's been so wet and, judging by the water ice, that's been absolutely the right decision. Pogies in the pack just in case, but I didn't need 'em.
No snow but a shepherd's delight down south
Storms yesterday meant it was steamy this morning heading into the sun for gritty gravel spin.
Probably the last pictures I’ll post on here unless I relent and renew my subscription, I’m annoyed by the lack of responses when problems are raised - replies could be private by phone or email but nothing is forthcoming!!
Anyway, positivity. I did a ride today that is perhaps my favourite- I first did it nearly forty years ago as it’s one that I could fit in from my door and then meet my daughters from school, often dripping in mud and blood. It’s only short but tough, my version of the Ashover Circuit, the mud was present but because there has been such a large leaf drop they acted like a magic carpet under my Surly 4.8s. If mud is a problem there are three river crossings anyhow to have a wash…
First picture is on Coffin Lane, a tough climb and the others are slightly further up on the delightfully named Cocking Tor.
Take care you all and if I can still enjoy this ride under my own steam (literally) then there’s hope for you all.
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A climbing heavy loop round upper Calderdale, including dog house lane, shore road and other steep bits. Watched over at one point by the airbus beluga, it hardly seems to be moving at all and it doesn't appear to make any noise, weird. 
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Ribs are still bruised so taking things easy and had a ride out on the cargo bikeÂ
Extended commute this morning - frosty & beautiful! Banking this ready for the return of the rain this afternoon...
Regular Tuesday night with the irregulars. Kippenrait Glen, Dunblane/BofA & Dumyat. Started at -2*C, finished at -2*C, frustratingly the ground wasn't solid due to warmer temps during the day. Very depths-of-winter-muddy-hell conditions with zero grip but still good to be riding!
Yesterday was a very unusual mix of no meetings and sunny forecast. So we managed to take a last minute day off and head to Tollymore. Just beautiful.
After over a week off the bike due to some tendon damage in my arm I couldn't not ride any more.
Just a back lanes ride so as not to aggravated it further but still nice to be spinning cranks again.
Oh and donkeys. Everything is better with donkeys.
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A couple of snaps from extended commutes on gravel and road this week.
Naught special but both times it was nice to get some miles in and keep the wolf from the door so to speak
Glorious commute in this morning.
Glorious commute home this afternoon too (weatherwise), but a rear tyre that had a tubeless hole that wouldn't seal, the hole was at the bead so I couldn't get a tubeless plug in, and then the inner tube I resorted to gave up the ghost with still half of my commute left (admittedly, I might have forgotten to check the inside of the tyre for embedded thorns before inserting and inflating the tube, so more than likely user-error!
Anyway, will swap out the tyre tonight and tomorrow looks good as far as the weather goes too!
Careful route choice today to avoid the slop (which is oddly absent in some places, while other tracks are running like rivers).
This morning I swung past the packhorse bridge pictured in this article; four weeks ago it was exposed as per the photo, today it's under several metres of water...Â
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/nov/08/england-faces-extreme-drought-next-year
I've not been getting that much riding in lately, it's a slop fest locally so I'm enjoying running and lifting weights more than the constant cleaning.
But I have a few days holiday to use up before the end of the year - picked a good un today so went out on the gravel bike to avoid the worst of the filthy trails. Absolutely glorious out there. Route up the Washburn valley, wharfedale and finish down Airedale. Was ace!
Lovely extended commute in this morning. Unexpectedly frosty, with some sketchy ice in places, but not a hard enough frost to firm up the trails.
And one from the commute home ... Love being able to use the trails and being in the woods, where I can, rather than the busy main roads with all the traffic.
Techy morning today, made tougher by the proliferation of vines, creepers, sticks and all manner of aggressive vegetation. Tangled up in green!
Offroad explore around Carr Dam, Croxteth and the Trans Pennine. Chilly start. 
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