Couldn't face the trails this morning after all the rain this week, so took the SS gravel bike out - with the intention of riding only/mainly tarmac. But, as ever, my instincts took over and what was meant to be a 95/5 tarmac/trails ride became more like 60/40!
Anyway, although cold & grey, the rain kept away, and I managed 57km. Legs feeling it a bit now, as I've clocked up nearly130km singlespeeding this week!
On Tuesday I approached a short stretch of floodwater that I've ridden through umpteen times. This time as I rode through a crosswind whipped up from nowhere pushing the water and me towards the rhyne . In an attempt to stay in the middle and upright I spotted some mud too late. Front wheel washed out I went down into the water then had a very cold wet 5 mile ride home .
Subsequent rides yesterday and today the 2 other directions I can usually go looked too doubtful so Captain Sensible turned back .
Couldn't face the trails this morning after all the rain this week, so took the SS gravel bike out
Surprisingly motivating pics hardtailonly, making me reconsider selling my potentially gravellable and mudguardable singlespeed now...
Yeah, I won't be going out this weekend...
That bothy is usually about 12ft back and 6ft up from the river.
Surprisingly motivating pics hardtailonly, making me reconsider selling my potentially gravellable and mudguardable singlespeed now...
Do it! It's been brilliant for me in having something to ride when the trails are awful, just to get out ... quiet roads and the more weatherproof tracks ... and then just a hose down and chain lube at the end!
I'm not going to become a roadie. It's too dangerous! Anyway the trails around here aren't too bad. I was out on the Pigmullet this morning after its New Year break. It has come back with a new drivetrain and wheel bearings and is very much refreshed. It feels like it's got an extra gear.
Looks like my anti-rain dance worked, dry sky ride today. Did it work for anyone else? I can send you the dance moves 🕺
my anti-rain dance worked
No dad dancing for me, but a fine day here in 
Sussex. The lanes were filthy tho. Took the MTB as didn't want to get the road bike mucky., and it was a bit of a gravel and canal ride in places.
Lovely day here, if a bit puddly...
Rode from the door today, a bit cross country but shattered now. Trails are very grim in places, I'm sick of winter now!
I'm sick of winter now!
same here, awful grey, cold and gusty here in norn iron, I ain't going out in that, let's see what tomorrow brings...
nice to see folks' sunny pics though 🙂
Some huge trees down near me. Bike for scale
Attempted to keep it clean (ish) today by doing an urban/steps ride. Bit of sun & blue sky here too.
Short spin this afternoon to demo a Camino - think will be submitting a C2W form next week.
Forgot to take pics again. Club ride, pretty muddy but all good fun. Bike got treated to a hose.
First blat on the new eeb at Woburn tonight. It’s everything I wanted and more!
Building tracks at location #1 then laps in the woods at location #2
I sort of became a roadie by default, 3.5 yrs ago when we moved to rural France. Hundreds of miles of tracks and suchlike but nearly all of them are overgrown and unused and with hundreds of miles of deserted roads...it's all I seem to ride now. I can do a 2 hour lunchtime ride of 25+ miles and lots of hills and not see another vehicle...returning to the UK in thenear future will see me need to change my riding habits somewhat...a big shame as I'm loving just riding my bike(s) at the moment...with no worry about f##### motorists
Defaulting to road here as well, not masses of off road stuff but miles of deserted lanes, can do an hours riding and see no cars at all, yesterday was quite busy with three cars passing me. Mountain bike is sitting in a shed and my cx bike now has road tyres on it. 
No pics from yesterday as the weather went from "grey, dank and cold" to "almost black, mizzly, rain and colder". Wind chill was not nice at all. Still knocked out over a 1000m of climbing in 35kmn on both side of the Yat valley. One side (sandy) was almost mud free with just sniper roots to deal with. The Staunton side was predictably sketchy/terrifying (delete as applicable).
Still I'll remember the filth and grimness when we're riding the same trails in t-shirts in a few months 😉 Also MTB fitness is definitely coming back and shoulder can now do nearly 4 hours without grumbling. Was still sore at the end of the ride tho.
Had to clean the bike. Shed is very tidy, I just couldn't leave it with around 10% of Staunton hill side on it!
Yes, I am aware of the state of the path, and the fence needs painting. They are on the list if it ever stops blooming raining!
Couldn't face the trails this morning after all the rain this week, so took the SS gravel bike out - with the intention of riding only/mainly tarmac. But, as ever, my instincts took over and what was meant to be a 95/5 tarmac/trails ride became more like 60/40!
Anyway, although cold & grey, the rain kept away, and I managed 57km. Legs feeling it a bit now, as I've clocked up nearly130km singlespeeding this week
@hardtailonly Is that a Genesis Day One? What is the clearance like for tyres? I've got a Pompino as a commuter but wouldn'd mind a SS gravel bike with discs, more clearance and it being a bit lighter!
@hardtailonly Is that a Genesis Day One? What is the clearance like for tyres? I've got a Pompino as a commuter but wouldn'd mind a SS gravel bike with discs, more clearance and it being a bit lighter!
I've got 38mm Schwalbe G-one all-round tyres on, with mudguards (think they're 38, but now, the sizes seem to be 35/40/45). There's no clearance for more than that though, or anything knobblier.
Anyway - I DID actually do a fully 100% tarmac ride the s morning, in the pi**ing rain! Grim!
No pics but I did 65km on the gravel bike yesterday and aside from a fairly brisk headwind all the way home, the sun popped out from the clouds for a bit and it actually felt gloriously warming. A very welcome feeling in a long bleak winter
First ride on the new bike, and also first ever ride on an ebike. Absolutely loved it! Did 20 miles and got home feeling as fresh as when I left, which is mad as I'm usually pooped by the time I get home. Could have easily stayed out until it got dark but the rain came back on with a vengeance and I was starting to get hungry.
Still need to tweak the suspension a little bit and change the stock grips but otherwise I couldn't be happier with the bike.
Got out Saturday for a local spin. Sun trying to break through at times but at least not raining. Trails are a mess (they had held up surprisingly well this winter so far). The usual mixture of slippery mud, sticky mud, slick roots and standing water. All good fun when you're too lazy these days to switch away from a summer semi-slick on the rear of your bike...
Friday night i went for a quick blast from home and took the trees photo. No ride Saturday. Keen birder dad, now 88, asked to be taken binocular shopping. That’s him with the hat. Actually a really entertaining trip. The photo of the bike is supposed to show how muddy it is. But it doesn’t. I was filthy. I road back from Luton today,
after a walk with my wife. Trails were filthy but rideable
Blue sky ride on Saturday with MrsReady, followed by a nice pIe & a Pint - be rude not too!
Local forest loop was running nicely considering the crappy weather. 
@hardtailonly.How are you finding the Schwalbe G1 Allrounds? Any punctures?
I’ve been feeling a bit down lately with work being manic, losing a close relative and not having much time to get out enough on the bike. There is a definite correlation between riding and having a clear, more positive outlook for me. Just went for a local 5 miler tonight (was 8 o’clock before I got chance) in horrific conditions but I feel so much better for it. Rainy, misty, muddy, cold, happy.
Sorry for the doubled pictures not sure what happened there!
I just can't understand people who don't ride with full mudguards!Are you trying to ruin your bikes and your clothing?
I just can't understand people who don't ride with full mudguards!Are you trying to ruin your bikes and your clothing?
I'd rather take the hit than have to look at my MTB with a rear mudguard
^Honestly makes no sense to me.Riding a bike you can't see any mudguards and you/bike will be nice and dry.
I will have mud guards on at least one bike by next weekend
Wish I had taken some pics today, there is a selection of riverside trails near me that are probably a bit flat and pedally for an MTB but excellent fun on the CX bike.
Anyway in an alarming demonstration of how high the rivers got a couple of days ago these trails are all now swept clean of twigs and branches but covered in a thick layer of sand, soft in places, compact in others. Interesting challenge!
The other trails were just a perfect slippiness to have the back wheel sliding round every corner while still trying to pedal and keep it moving forwards 😂
Photo courtesy of my mate Russ. Front RRP mudguard but no rear one as I've broken a couple in the past on steep trails. This was Saturday, was wet and windy. And a bit clarity. Really hope it starts to dry up soon.
^Honestly makes no sense to me.Riding a bike you can't see any mudguards and you/bike will be nice and dry.
I'm not sure which bit of this would be nice and dry adding a rear mudguard tbh.
But each to their own, we're all grown ups.
I have a full set for my gravel bike. Not fitted them yet this winter - or ridden the gravel bike
I hate the look of rear mudguards but have admitted defeat vs current conditions and ordered a Sicomtb rear guard. They still look a bit shit but are custom made for each bike so a bit less shit than the generic ones. I don't care about getting dirty myself, but if it reduces the time I need to spend picking out mud and pine needles out of linkages and pivots then I can allow it's existence on my bike. It will be coming off as soon as the trails start to dry up though.
I will always run a small front guard, to keep flying dog eggs out of my teeth if nothing else. They're a year-round treat.
I hate the look of rear mudguards but have admitted defeat vs current conditions and ordered a Sicomtb rear guard. They still look a bit shit but are custom made for each bike so a bit less shit than the generic ones. I don't care about getting dirty myself, but if it reduces the time I need to spend picking out mud and pine needles out of linkages and pivots then I can allow it's existence on my bike. It will be coming off as soon as the trails start to dry up though.
I will always run a small front guard, to keep flying dog eggs out of my teeth if nothing else. They're a year-round treat.
To be fair, I have one of those on my Levo to give some protection to the linkages and bearings.
I did have similar on the Kenevo above, fashioned out of a Rockguardz front mudguard. And tried a SicoMtb when that broke.
It's got a 2.8 Eddy Current on the back though and anything I fit just rubs.
Also have front guards on most of my bikes for face spray
@hardtailonly.How are you finding the Schwalbe G1 Allrounds? Any punctures?
They're fine! They did a summer on my proper gravel bike, and have been on the Day One for about 15 months / 2500km. Rear is getting a bit worn, which probably contributed to the only puncture I've had (last week), which took 2 tubeless plugs to seal. Roll OK on tarmac, fine for dry off-road, fairly hopeless (as you'd expect) in leaf mulch/mud.
Yup,came of on leafy mulch/mud myself.
I put around 2000 miles on a pair of G1 Allrounds. As above, they're great on dry/damp trails but very wishy washy in the mud. Replaced them with Michelin Power Gravels which feel very similar, just with bit more bite in the corners. The sidewalls feel a bit tougher too (which is what killed the rear G1).