Forum menu
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.
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! 
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. 
^That's the trig point I plan on hitting tomorrow morning while it's all still frosty...
@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.
Another morning, another trig point; taking advantage of the icy conditions to ride local stuff I'll only do when it's baked or frozen hard.
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.
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. 
Ribs are still bruised so taking things easy and had a ride out on the cargo bike
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.
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
Making the most of a glorious day. 40km of Towpath, hardpack and single-track, much of it sopping wet! 
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...
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. 
Dry & sunny today, but trails filthy after yesterday's rain. Took the SS gravel bike out, the aim was to keep it mostly on quiet roads out from NW Leeds, but I ended up doing what I usually do and just turning it into a mixed road/off road ride, so the bike ended up filthy anyway! Nice way to while away 90 minutes/30km ...
Great afternoon's ride out of the front door in watery winter sunshine; stayed below the treeline on the outward leg into the wind before putting it at my back for the return leg over the tops. Two pints in a couple of fine hostelries along the way, job's a good'un.
After the weekends rainmageddon, I took advantage of a sunnier, drier day and headed to Rostrevor trail centre. All-weather trails are a wonderful thing to have at times like this. Tons of standing water of course, but thank goodness for waterproof clothing!
First proper off-road ride for a little while due to a niggling injury.
Just a loop round on some of the GT trails to see how it felt and check out yesterday's storm damage.
Both were worse than expected.🤔
Falla Brae is already closed and being worked on and I bumped into Shay out making a report on the rest of the damage.
A short local loop at lunchtime. The Vandal is set up with rigid forks and fast tyres, so kept away from the worst slop. Still got filthy though; I need to find a front mudguard option for the rigid fork ...
A quick blast of fresh air ...
And a long blast of water afterwards, to celebrate the lifting of the Yorkshire Water hosepipe ban!
