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Crackin' afternoon, running north with the wind and sun at my back. Got a bit hostile towards dusk, though, so I got the tent in behind a fell wall; whisky and toons in my sleeping bag, warming up before I cook dinner.
Yep. Turned back to Spring again, at least for a few days. Extended commuting both ways on the fast, rigid HT (17km & 22km)
Great day to be out for a couple of hours. Still plenty of wet, muddy spots but the dry bits are beginning to outweigh them.
Over the hill to Keighley, over Ilkley moor to Ilkley, cow and calf road to Baildon, canal to Leeds and train home. Lovely morning, t shirt weather after half ten. 
The skylarks were going for it before dawn.
Trying to leave the ebike in the shed at least once a week.
First ride on the Stanton since I mulleted it and against the current trend, dropped the bars slightly. Absolute blast of a bike, feels just right now.
Last bit of today's sunshine
Yesterday I swung my leg over a mountain bike for the first time in over 4 years, not just any mountain bike! one without 26" wheels, a mullet and an electric mullet at that. Blowing a howling gale from Edmundbyers up and over to Blanchland and up to Bolts Law then back down a fantastic descent to Edmundbyers. 23 miles in blue skies, I hadn't ridden since October last year but the legs managed it just fine.
EDIT Oh FFS why can't I post pictures 3 blasted attempts
Spring has definitely sprung. I did a wee bit of exploring round Abernethy way today and also checked out a fave bivvy spot.
I got back just after 6 without even needing any lights - whoopee!
First time out for a long while. The motor was horribly underpowered and the battery only lasted minutes, but it was still great fun.
Last GMT night ride for me as away next week. Was a good one 🙂
Monday nights health ride
A big day yesterday, riding the green lanes south for the train home. Had to be careful riding through puddles and pools along the way: it was Frog Gangbang Day!
Another glorious sunny day.
Headed out for what was just meant to be an xc-tech ride for a couple of hours, but ended up playing about at the local jump spot, and finally cracked a silly little gap-jump that has been a proper mind-f*** for me for months! I'm not a big jumper at all, but have done longer/faster gap jumps, and longer/steeper tabletops, but this one has always had me riding past or bailing ... until today!
Also cleaned a couple of tech climbs on the SS that I've not managed before, so all in all, a good confidence booster before heading to BPW this weekend!
Skiving in the Peak 😎
Lovely afternoon for a spin out, but got rather chilly once the sun went down!
NBD. Bike is great but needs a little fettling with bar position. The wind over in Airedale was horrific. It was a slog along what is normally an enjoyable piece of Singletrack was slog into the headwind.
An overlong gravel expedition following both banks of the river Earn (sort of) between Crieff, Perth and Auchterarder. Challenging conditions for an amateur photographer, lots of drab brown fields and grey skies! 😆
New Panaracer X1+ tyres in 45mm, a step up from the 40mm I had been used to. Didn't notice any immediate improvement in comfort over the bumps but certainly seemed fast, either a faster tread (compared to the fish-scale Terreno Dry this seems unlikely) or maybe the added suspension effect.
Did our caves route tonight in sub optimal conditions. I was blown off the bike once!
Rode straight from my office to try and beat the wind - almost succeeded.. 🙄
It pretty grey and blustery by the time I'd finished, but stayed dry and no lights needed!
Post-ride, pre-work clean-up on the patio. That's two months' worth of meths and gas for cooking there - what, you mean you're not building up your emergency stash? You're clearly an optimist...
Tree down after yesterday's high winds. Can I get through....?
Of course I can! Hands and knees job, dragging the bike behind me. Try that with an e-bike....
Have a few days off this week, so was meant to be out for a long-ish gravel ride, this morning, but the rear brake on the gravel bike was rubbing / sticky piston, so grabbed the HT/Gravel + bike instead.
Gorgeous - if cold - morning. Out from North Leeds over to Otley Chevin, Menston, Otley, over the Wharfe, up through Denton and over the moors to Lippersley Pike, Timble, Swinsty, Stainburn, Lindley Wood, then back via Eccup. 75km / 1200m ascent.
Trails mostly riding well, with a few greasy or muddy spots.
For whatever reason, I couldn’t be bothered this morning. No idea why. Eventually dragged myself out on the hardtail over Baildon and Bingley.
was great to get out in the sunshine.
I was really tempted by the train to avoid the hill home, but the timings didn’t work, so rode home. If I’d been on the train however, I’d have missed the bluebells.
Day off work so went to Hayfield then up to Jacobs Ladder, Mam Tor. Stopped in Castlefield for a coffee and bite to eat. Was cold but lovely in the sun
Gorgeous - if cold - morning. Out from North Leeds over to Otley Chevin, Menston, Otley, over the Wharfe, up through Denton and over the moors to Lippersley Pike, Timble, Swinsty, Stainburn, Lindley Wood, then back via Eccup. 75km / 1200m ascent.
Beautiful pictures! I feel like I've over-dosed on my local farm tracks and field edges type rides, could do with some nicer micro-scenery that isn't ploughed fields and wind-blasted trees! 😂
Spotted my first bluebell of spring this morning, and the wild garlic is about to go nuts...
Daylight! A good part of yesterday evening's group ride was conducted without lights 😎
Even the trail conditions were good: better than expected despite a lot of rainfall on Sunday. Halfway up Dumyat, Stirling, at the junction down towards Witches Craig. Stirling Uni and Wallace Monument in the foreground, city of Stirling inc the Castle further back
And trying my hardest to spoil a nice view:
I was up near there on Saturday, hiking as I just couldn't be bothered taking bike out into the wind! Hiked up Innerdownie in the snow then back down the trails in the trees back to Glen Sherup.
Edit: in response to A11y's post ^
Small group ride last night, the first half hour with no lights and much as I like a proper dark night ride, I'll have more please!
More Schoolkids graffiti
Most of march was blighted with lack of enthusiasm for riding, too cold and windy maybe. Two days out in a row now though - a good 70km today, crossing to Rochdale, saddleworth and back over to Marsden then scammonden and home, felt good! 
No riding but packing for a week long trip to La Palma starting Good Friday at an airport 100+ miles away. That is where my 30 years of planning projects has shown its value 😉 Missed 2 trips last year with the "splatter-bone" incident end May 2025. Very much looking forward to 80% uplifted riding on what look like amazing trails with a top riding crew. Just need to pack the spare liver 🙂
Had a job to do in Nice, but had to fly to Pisa and pick up tools and parts from the Lavagna office, meaning driving past Finale, would have been rude not to bring the bike.
Last wednesday night ride without needing lights for the whole ride for the summer.
Great little ride early doors before work. The drifts of autumn leaves are mostly gone now, but the next batch are budding nicely. The daffodils this spring are the best I can remember (but I say that every year). And the lovely little bit of singletrack leading up to this trig point is running well in both directions.
