MegaSack DRAW - 6pm Christmas Eve - LIVE on our YouTube Channel
Managed to squeeze in an afternoon lap in the Victorian Alps.
Great descending tracks and then a slog back up the appropriately named Packhorse Trail with a thunder soundtrack. Moments after these photos the lightning and rain began.
Sun came out, so I had to get out after a week of grey and rain. Used it as an excuse to bed in the new XT brakes on "The Beige Adventurer" - riding any kind of trails with those XC tyres had a few "code brown" moments, and it's proper wet and filthy out there. But just good to turn the pedals. Out again tomorrow for a full on filth-pig ride.
I had a day of leave left to use up so booked today off based on the weather forecast. Managed to setup the new wheels tubeless and went for a spin around Curbar/Longshaw. Got back just as it got dark.
Was properly wet, really need to put mudguards on, but was great to make the most of the sunshine. Probably not much riding over Christmas as it's one of the kids birthday's on 23rd (great timing us) then Christmas then off to see friends/relatives.
Anyway some photos. I think I need to sort out the angle of the saddle, it feels fine but looks whack.
Posted this by mistake in the Midweek picture thread ...
Yesterday was another shocker in terms of yet more rain, so I was half-minded to sack off my usual Friday NWD ride. But, today was sunny and breezy, and I felt the urge to get out, so headed up with the big bike to a wooded hillside between Leeds & Harrogate, overlooking some reservoirs. Was running pretty well actually, some boggy/puddly spots, but very rideable. Glad I got out!
Belter of a day with the boys at Omeo - a small country town that has built a brilliant trail network to attract tourists.
$100 for a day of uplifts got us 50km of mostly descents of a beautiful forest on the side of (no kidding) Sam Hill.
We mainly did flow tracks but also had a crack at a great 5km off camber black tech trail.
Sloppy gravel ride yesterday afternoon as the sun appeared for the first time this week on my day off. Thick fog this morning, so Christmas wrapping. Charity Santa ride tomorrow.
Out in the FoD. Picked the locations we know hold up well to wet weather. Except the last trail. Slide-tastic. But great to get out in the sunshine for the second day running. It's definitely HT season 🙂 And mudguard season. Came home barely splattered!
No such luck weather wise for me today. It was a beautiful start to the day but I had time critical jobs to do. Finished my jobs then it clouded over and it hasn't lifted since. Not enough time to drive anywhere that might be sunnier (Pennines), so I went out for a couple of hours on the road bike north of Leeds/Wharfedale.
Glad to be out in the light. I've earned a few mince pies and also had a glorious walk int peaks yesterday so I can't complain!
Really struggled to drag myself out today - it was not a lovely day. However, once out, as is often the case, I had a ball!
Sun was out, I thought the trails might have dried up a bit. I was wrong, but it was a fun ride anyway.
First outing for over three weeks due to man-flu and crap weather. Quite cold in the mist but thankfully it cleared up. New XL mudhugger was effective. And first ride with XT DI2 which is very nice.
Friday was an end of term half day, so got out in the daylight on a Friday for a change. Needed to pick up Gout prescription so headed for the 'other' local as it's on the way to the chemist in the next village. Weather was dry but trails were a bit of a slop fest in places (my choice of semi-slick rear tyre all year round doing its usual job of making winter 'fun'). Spent too long doing side by side comparisons between two cameras - still overthinkingly inconclusive...
Managed a day out for myself at Rotorua and ended up on a fairly big , for me , ride . The last climb and descent was me just holding on and the bike developed about 3 separate creaks that sounded like they might cost money to fix but I loved it , can't beat a good mtb 
ride . Should be stretching now but I think I'm going to lie on the sofa watch TV and eat toast instead
It's that time of year again on the Somerset Levels, does make for some rather stunning views though.
Not another new headset bearing size...
Had our annual Christmas ride yesterday at Cannock was a big turnout and the off piste running really well considering. Followed by a curry and beers.
Then went to Wharny today, was very dank and very muddy. Great fun though.
Another greno and wharny trip for us today.....conditions had not improved 😂
Found The Big Skipper.
erm
Nope!
Similar situation here @tracey
Longest day of the year yesterday but we didn’t see anything but cloud at 1700m. Currently “feels like -4”
@reeksy - basically the same weather as us!
Got out for a short Solstice spin on the SS gravel bike. Summer feels a long way off, but great to be out.
Bog index round the local rising to it's usual levels after a dryish start to winter. Not quite Schrodinger's Mud yet (simultaneously slippy and claggy) but starting to get hard work on some trails - time to get a bit more selective on what to ride for a month or two...
'Woods' bike needs some spannering, so it was the bike fella out for a spin today. Too much bike for round here but still makes me grin.
Found a wild Christmas Tree (and saw someone trying to get one for free, and the Police car trailing them round the woods!)
Still can't decide which camera to stick with...
Monday still counts as the weekend when you're off for Christmas right?! Just a 1hr grey and damp road ride for me this morning but good to spin the legs, and further adjustments to my bike fit seem to be helping. Dropping the stem a couple of spacers seemed counterintuitive to my ongoing wrist pain, but has allowed me to relax my shoulders more and I can ride with bent elbows still. Doesn't feel so much like I'm propping myself up with my arms now.
If we're counting Monday's, went for a wet ride today with a fellow ss'er for a 'last ride before Christmas'.
So wet with standing water, but it was still great fun.
Went for a birthday ride at Tollymore with two friends today. Forecast was for the rain to stop at 9am-ish. But it tippled down without a break all morning. Made for very challenging trails. But all in all, still a great day out.
It would be kind of nice to ever again have a bike ride where you don’t need to hose everything down after the ride.
https://flic.kr/p/2rN9qM9
https://flic.kr/p/2rN8Jtb
