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Today i looked out of the window and thought. Should i buy a turbo. First times ever. But i managed to leave the house in the dry and 
by doing hill repeats avoid the worst of the mud
A mate of mine just bought a turbo to avoid the rain. I've got nowhere to put one so I'm just staying dry and getting fat.
Haven't ridden this year yet.
We had another day on the trails at Coronet Peak. Wind was gusting quite a bit on the ridges but didn't spoil the fun.
Trails were fast, dry and awsome. No trees as such so views are stunning.
Tracey that looks fab. Fun a swoopy? Not too technical?
I went for a quick ride on Cavehill today. But I think today might have won the award for the most miserable day ever on a bike. So I rode quickly to the top and straight back down the fire road (so as to avoid having to wash the bike, since I couldn’t stand the thought of freezing my nuts off in the garden while hosing the bike!).
We have ridden so many trails in the last four weeks all of different levels of technical but all awsome in there own way.
Yesterday's was flowy with bits of technical along the way. We tried to pick the ones that were sheltered from the wind as it was 30 mph + on the exposed ridge lines higher up and no room for manoeuvre.
They also have loads of table tops and drop ins which are so much fun. Its hard not to get air 😀
P*ss off Tracey 😡
😂😉😘
Haven't ridden this year yet.
Same, apart from riding home after dropping my car off for it's MOT. Was only about 10 minutes ride and my hand/feet felt like blocks of ice in that short time. I've had a few garage rides on the rollers but getting a bit sick of that now!
36 continuous days of rain here. Ducks have expanded their locale to most of the county. Road flooding is not quite "bow wave over the bonnet" but it's not that far away. The FoD is a soggy mess and after Wednesday's "Peak Filth" mud ride, I am considering repurposing the turbo from auxiliary clothes drier to "going nowhere slowly" purgatory.
My fantastic new Bronson remains unridden. Mostly because the second pic shows the state of my troons after last weekends ride even with two massive fuglyguards.
Will it be spring soon?
@tracey - looks amazing. Only 1000295% jealous 🙂
Still done 2xrides every week so far in 2026. On hols next week. Can't say I'm going to miss another outing as a founder member of the "Slitherati"
Had a fantastic singletrack ride around the woods on drying trails. Just a bit of tacky mud here and there. Amazing trail conditions for early February!
Ah.
I may be mistaken.
That was 1 year ago today.
Exactly the start of the huuuuuuge dry spell 😭😭😭😭😭😭
I actually rode a measly 5km in the road bike commuting in the pissing rain.
Again.
And it was shit.
Blimey, I'm not the only one who hasn't ridden outdoors yet this year! 😱
Turbo on floor next to my side of the bed, away from door but next to window. Not so easy to use most days after barely going since November, getting a bit bored now, while still having days when I'm unsure if I'm coming down with better half's month long respiratory lurgy!
Having become marooned here on the Somerset Levels its hard to find light among the slate grey skies but occasionally I get the chance to kid myself Spring has sprung 🌞
Shan't be going off off any time soon though 🙄
Last day in Queenstown before we start heading back up early tomorrow
Decided to have a rest from the bikes and have a gentle hike above Arrowtown instead.
13 miles and 650 metres of climbing made us think we should have stuck with the bikes.
Worth the pain just for the views
Embrace it all. I love the rain. The trails are fast and sketchy and crucially what is the point of £400 quids worth of waterproof tech if you don't wear it?
However we've lost a section of a section of one of the best local trails. Known locally as the 'Posties' as our old Postie used a very overgrown track that crossed it as a shortcut: 
Classic atmospheric view:
Been out four times this year. Considering tomorrow. I've taken up walking in the drizzle instead as there's less to clean up. It'll get better......
Fourth ride of the week for me 🫢
Backing up from a couple of hours of digging last night… but not fun digging. Fixing broken water supply.
Dusty lap of the Parklands trails. Then back to fix the leak and backfill. Think I’ll skip the DH ride tomorrow.
What does WRPT mean?
Not been out for a while. Feels like the universe is conspiring against me getting out on the new bike.
- Agonising neck and shoulder pain
- Weather is grim - it's the icy wind that's the killer for me
- New bike needs a brake bleed and I'm waiting for the kit to show up
Hopefully might get out for an hour or so with MiniMonkey v1.0 on her birthday bike tomorrow.
Been out 5 times this year. Once was dry, but bitterly, bitterly cold. The rest have just been bloody miserable.
Will be out tomorrow, but the slop and general wetness is wearing a bit thin tbh.
But it's infinitely better than sitting on a turbo
what is the point of £400 quids worth of waterproof tech if you don't wear it?
Bold of you to assume I have any proper waterproof tech 🙂 it's not me I'm worried about, once you're soaked through you can't get any more wet and it's fine so long as you're warm. It's the bike, I hate doing the clean up and can't afford a new drivetrain any time soon!
Just looked at Strava, 12 Zwift rides so far this year, not a single outdoor one !
My Wattbike was my most ridden bike last year..
what is the point of £400 quids worth of waterproof tech if you don't wear it?Bold of you to assume I have any proper waterproof tech 🙂 it's not me I'm worried about, once you're soaked through you can't get any more wet and it's fine so long as you're warm. It's the bike, I hate doing the clean up and can't afford a new drivetrain any time soon!
Same here. I had new bike buzz all through November and December so I persevered through the rain and mud but got totally sick of doing a major clean up after every ride.
That new bike feels like crap now! It's sitting waiting for some TLC.
I've tried turbo training through the last two winters but I just can't get into it.
Instead this year I've bought an Ebike and it's ****ing amazing - even when it's wet, muddy and grey outside! Great for zone 2 rides😀
Anyone want to buy a lightly used Jetblack Volt turbo and a size medium Triban road bike? 😉
I've not done too badly so far this year - about 26 off-road rides, plus a few commutes I've not counted! The first couple of weeks in January were frozen/prime trails, but the last 4 weeks have been getting increasingly grim, and even my mojo is wearing thin!
But, decided to stick the weather and the trails in the "f***-it bucket" this morning and took the SS HT out for some muddy fun. Better than moping. Better than the turbo. But, please can we have some dryer, warmer weather soon!
Trails are drying out nicely
We have groundwater flooding in the South Downs which means our recently lined sewer network has been tested and is failing in places so even the roads are a sh!t quite literally.
Had a frozen off-road ride at New Year and didn't need to clean the MTB, 300 miles of Rouvy since
As someone else said, we’ve spent all this money on waterproof clothing, so why not use it. So I headed out on Cavehill today. It was comically wet. Appallingly so. But still enjoyed the ride.
Night ride along Belfast Lough this evening, the heavy swell has washed away some of the path, massive hole I managed to avoid dropping into 😮
I locked my bikes up in the garage on Christmas eve, as I was going away for a week or so on boxing day.
They're still locked up ....
Path and gravel for me so just ticking over untill spring.Glad to see many sensible posters using full mudguards.Must surely make some difference.
Travelling up from Queenstown to Christchurch to get some more riding in.
A bit of sightseeing on the way up to stretch the legs and cool off.
We have groundwater flooding in the South Downs which means our recently lined sewer network has been tested and is failing in places so even the roads are a sh!t quite literally.
I'm towards the Eastern end and having ridden through running water and goodness knows what on the roads last weekend I'm having a weekend off.
Getting a few odd jobs done in the hope some of the slop will drain a bit.
Couldn't face another mud fest/assault on the washing machine. So second Zwift of 2026. 90 mins of going nowhere slowly. I did have regrets about 30 mins in, but at least it's a block of exercise, and I did some proper post ride stretching, rather than sitting down in the pub having a post ride beer.
Like I say, I have regrets 😉
Was Tracey about to go for a swim?Or just reminding us how hot she is?😀
First ride for a couple of weeks this morning. A bit damp and dreary with just the gorse flowers to brighten things up a bit.
Made an effort and got out this morning with brother mate and doggos. Very wet under wheels but mud huggers to the rescue. Did a proper gnarly descent which added some spice. All round a worthwhile 3 hours in the hills.
I've tried turbo training through the last two winters but I just can't get into it.
Instead this year I've bought an Ebike and it's ****ing amazing - even when it's wet, muddy and grey outside! Great for zone 2 rides😀
Anyone want to buy a lightly used Jetblack Volt turbo and a size medium Triban road bike? 😉
Could be interested in your trainer. I've managed a few rides on an older wheel-on trainer while catching up on Netflix series but it's a bit rubbish for noise and the 'erg' setting/control is all over the place.
Let us know - I've PM'd you.
Decided to do some bike jobs rather than go out today.
After a good few years of not actually finding SRAM Codes that bad, they gave up last ride on the Kenevo, so fitted some of the new XT 4 pots
My favourite 3-season Hutchinson Griffus tan walls are useless in winter, so finally got round to fitting some radials on the Ragley
Feel like I haven’t seen sunshine this year so had to kick myself to get out the door any test the new bike I have just built up. Pedal from the house and nice bits of slippy singletrack to add to the fun.
Cannot believe how little mud is on @keith74 's bike!
I am really quite fed up of the wet, riding in it, driving in it, wading through slime to walk the dog. Last weekend on the back lanes of Hampshire/West Sussex it was just filthy. Needed a break from it so tackled a bit of light maintenance.
Sorted my howling/rubbing Force caliper on the road/gravel bike. Pads had a bit of a glaze so gave them a scrub with some 600grit, found the inboard piston was sticking so tried a reset and lubing it to no avail. Bleed kit out and an air pocket that would be enough to refloat the Titanic (mild exaggeration) was removed. Caliper recentred and a quick test spin up the road and all seems ok.
Gave no.1 son's road bike a quick once over and rotated the chain for him while he's off doing other indoor sports.
Then it started to rain while I was outside with all the tools 😡
I did an hour on the road today, on the gravel bike. A completely dry experience
Family gathering before that. So i took dad and Uncle Paul to see the flooded mill field
Still a tad damp around the Levels 🙄
32km on the SS gravel bike this morning, sticking almost just to the roads, with a couple of carefully curated (and not badly trashed) gravel sections thrown in. Little hints of silvery sunlight on a couple of occasions, which properly lifted the spirits ...
Mega wet ladybower loop yesterday.
Got soaked yesterday morning on the roadie, dry for the first 20 mins then a combination of rain and heavy drizzle for the last hour.
Managed some Peak bridleways with the good lady today, only rained once for 5 minutes but it was sodden under when.
Winter can **** off now please!
Up the off piste today.
The stoke was rock bottom driving across the vale of York with all the flooded fields and very high rivers.
However - stopped feeling sorry for myself, got into it and had an absolutely belting time 👍
Yes there was plenty of slop but also plenty of grip - most of the time!
Also felt really springy - very mild, birds singing, snowdrops all over the place, even the odd hint of sun now and again.
Unexpectedly ace 👌
No riding for me this weekend as I was visiting family. Itching to get out for a ride on Tuesday, though! Unsurprisingly the forecast is more rain...
Had a very muddy very slow 15 miles in east Devon today. Great to be out but conditions were awful
Wet birthday ride around Woburn this morning. Even the usually dry sandiness of the off-piste was a bit of a slopfest.
Putting the rear wheel in at the car I noticed my rear pads were wearing - erm - a little thin. Checked the spares box - six sets of new front pads, zero rear pads (Magura MT trail so different pads each end). Front brake only in the mud? Can live with that.
Despite another spannering session yesterday, the chain is began to skip again a couple of km into the ride. Guess I can live with that too...
At least until the combination of the two dropped me in the mud face first.
Gave up in a huff and headed back to the car alone (leaving the rest of the group playing) but got myself lost and had to backtrack a few km.
Got back to the car. Had only ridden about 12km so thought I'd take an easy pedal over to the Red and bimble round there. got distracted by an interesting looking trail and ended up lost again. Finally found my way to a road and managed to get back to the car again.
So yeah, today I might have considered the turbo that's sat upstairs unused for a couple of years...
Did type a long post, but it seems to have been eaten by the hamsters. To summarise...
Birthday ride at Woburn.
Mud.
No rear brake pads.
Skipping chain.
Crash.
Got lost twice.
Thought about turbo...
EDIT. Oh... It's appeared now.
My life is so muddy at the moment, considering I have an indoor job… I have a nice new mostly off-road commute via some fun steep trails, mostly on my ebike. I get to work splattered in mud. I arrive home splattered in mud. And then I go out for a muddy ride at the weekend on my singlespeed hardtail.
I’d still rather do that than ride the roads or a turbo but it would be nice if it dried out… Just had a look and I’ve ridden off-road on 31 days so far this year - I should be an awful lot better at it! 😉
Forced myself out, and glad I did. Very mild, and the mud was wet rather than sticky so easy to clean off. Mezcal on the back was hilarious.
Just going for a dip in the lake. It seems to be what everyone down here does regularly . Usually between bike rides and pub beers.
Not seen a rear mudguard in 4 weeks 👍. Bought a soft brush just to keep the dust off the bikes 😂
Sonnebuel to Gemmi... sunshine, no wind but damn cold in the shade.
Daubensee frozen as usual
Think I'm done with turbo for the year, burned out with too many (attempted) high intensity workouts as training for CX and the trend has increasingly become just lacking the motivation to finish workouts!
So was very glad for a relative break in the weather today, got out for 80km of incredibly gnadgery, muddy tracks and trails around Kinross on the CX/gravel bike (basically my CX bike with gravel tyres). Crazy slippy everywhere, and my rear Terreno Mix has obviously passed the point of no return and spun out far too easily on some relatively easy muddy climbs. My eyes had clearly been too big for my stomach when planning it though as I was glad of a slightly reprieve from the rootsy muddsy singletrack as I got closer to the end, but there could also have been so so much more.
I’m about 70/30 turbo* to outdoors so far this year. Fed up with cleaning everything, after every single ride. The mountain bikes have been out three times, the rest is gravel. I’ve got yet another load in the washer as we speak after today’s gravel ride. Manky. Sick of it…
* I say I’ve ridden the turbo, it’s actually a Peleton. Most will think it’s shouty, ****y, irritating rubbish, like I did when I bought it for the family... Truth is though, I haven’t been on Zwift once since I bought it. It’s completely silent, and some of the instructors are good. Most fit cyclists will find the HIIT rides don’t stretch you quite enough, but the PowerZone rides automatically adjust resistance like Ergo on a Kickr or similar based on your FTP, and they can be much harder. It’s £40 a month, but that covers the whole family so that’s a tenner each - decent value if there are a few of you.
I get seriously irritated every time I convince myself to get on the turbo and there’s a Zwift update, or the Bluetooth’s stopped pairing. This just works every time - I’ve been as impressed as I am surprised.
I’ll almost certainly buy a Zwift Ride next winter though, because I do miss the racing…
I say I’ve ridden the turbo, it’s actually a Peleton. Most will think it’s shouty, ****y, irritating rubbish, like I did when I bought it for the family... Truth is though, I haven’t been on Zwift once since I bought it. It’s completely silent, and some of the instructors are good.
My buddy just managed a 4hr ride the other evening, I think it's set up a lot shorter/more upright than a road bike so probably doesn't get as uncomfortable and I think he was just watching movies. I could be persuaded by something like that, I think my downfall is doing my workouts indoor on my outdoor road bike, low handlebars, thin/hard saddle etc.
I’ve not done 4 hours! I tend to stick to 45m to 1hr power zone/ergo rides. If you’re not following a class, then you can ride with stats overlaid on Netflix/Youtube/Disney, which one of my son does, but I prefer a class with auto resistance/intervals…
It’s shorter and higher than a road bike, but you can buy a third party base of the bars if you want to mimic the position. I thought I’d 100% buy one after the first couple of rides, and then haven’t thought about it since I started typing this reply.
I’m not the only one who: https://www.reddit.com/r/pelotoncycle/s/O1ckeg5ZgF
EDIT: Just looked, I’ve 21 rides on the Peleton since the 1st January. It’s easy to motivate to get on when you know it just works. I’m not sure I’ve ever managed that many rides on a turbo in a month and a bit.
Gnarly shot down the Wye Valley. 