Anyone know of anywhere to ride Kent or Sussex tomorrow that will be dry? Happy to drive a couple of hours. Got all day and a new bike to try out.
This wind is just so demoralising.
Me and a mate skived out of our respective jobs for a 1.5 hour SS blast today. Trails are dryer than they've been since September. Got to grab the chance when you can.
Looking at the forecast, plenty of rain over the next 2 weeks. Again. 😒
The weather forecast has improved for next week above the border, at least. I mean, in that there's no snow forecast at the moment. 🫤
Just want somewhere dry to ride. Happy to drive a couple of hours from north Kent.
Just want somewhere dry to ride. Happy to drive a couple of hours from north Kent.
I don't think anywhere is dry down here at the moment, you'll be better off finding somewhere that's rideable in the wet. Or, embrace the fact you're going to get muddy.
Tbh it's not too bad mud-wise at the moment, plenty of boggy sections on flatter ground but drier than I thought it would be.
Anywhere an hour or two north of London going to be dry tomorrow?
Just been up Rivi - bloody gale force up there! Sunny though.
Anywhere an hour or two north of London going to be dry tomorrow?
Swinley Forest or Woburn. Both very sandy so they tend to drain well although if they are truly wet then it's a miraculous gritty liquid which will destroy brake pads and knock a year of life off your drivetrain...
Also Swinley is west of London, not north.
Forekast to rain at Swinley tomorrow.
Just want somewhere dry to ride. Happy to drive a couple of hours from north Kent.
Beyond Devil's Dyke you will come to the place known as Ditchling. Don't lose heart as you battle the howling winds and driving rain to reach the top of escarpment. Eventually it will lead you to a narrow path which squeezes between two great boulders and as you pass through the wind and rain will suddenly cease. And behold you will gaze at the wondrous sight of Shangri-La Valley.
And that, I can guarantee as much as anyone can guarantee somewhere dry in the UK tomorrow.
Thank God, I thought it was just me...North Yorkshire and like elsewhere its either been Pi$$ing down or blowing a hoolie. Usually both. Even in the sun this week its been that bitter wind. Ive decided to stick to the forests for the shelter but I gotta be honest Im sick of the trails being a swamp - I even turned round today at Hamsterley as it was still a muddy hole...i dont think i can clean another bike. Please please please God how about some dusty trails?
Looks like an early morning start for my run tomorrow. I hate running when it's too hot and sunny. I'm debating whether to head up Glen Feshie for a dip in the river half way round the run.
Cheers for the heads up.
Lovely day today, sun shining, warming up and the wind less wind, thought I'd get the shorts out andgo for a ride later in the week.
Read this thread, went to BBC weather and had a rethink...
It's been a slog for the last 6-8 weeks, that is for sure. But 3-4 dry days, some sun, some busy trees and a brisk wind has made our local patch 85% perfect again. Last night's ride almost made up for the previous god knows how many. Unfortunately there is rain forecast for tomorrow, I'm just hoping it isn't enough to bugger things up again as I'm out again on Saturday morning.
If I'm really struggling with the weather it is simply a matter of reminding myself that the fitness and bloody mindedness gained in the slop will stand me in good stead when conditions improve.
Take the positives.
we've been spoilt over the last 10+ yrs with dry warm pleasant springs. This is in reality probably a normal spring 🙁
It’s been a lovely week in Shropshire, lots of riding on dry trails. Today was glorious 🙂
It is raining a lot tomorrow but I have a long work day and my legs need a rest, so can’t complain!
Currently 10° and my heating has just come on. I bought some plants from the garden centre yesterday, (I’m retired, where the **** else would I be!), was hoping to get out and pot them up properly, but as well as sodding cold, it’s been raining. 😖🤬
I spent all of yesterday staring out the window of my work at the glorious blue skies, excited for my evening ride while my son was at scouts
By the time I got home it was torrential, but decided to go for it anyway
Miraculously the rain stopped and I got 90mins of singletrack in, plenty of puddles but well worth it!
Im still getting bored of the rain
My son had a DH race booked for yesterday, it got canceled, but I’d booked a few days off anyway. So took a chance on booking BPW, then taking him back to Exeter uni. Oh my, Wales was bathed in sunshine, trails were dry. What a fantastic day. Long drive down to Devon and back home to Hants, but definitely worth it. Cos of the damn weather his new Meta got really dusty!
Saw my first proper rain today since about mid January....
Ironically for some, I'm now in the Algarve, one of the sunniest bits of Europe, and it properly pissed it down today. Last rain was somewhere near Bordeaux and even that was only a short shower.*
Have been on the road since October and yet friends back in Munich and the UK keep sending me pics or vids of the weather. Why? Honestly, I'm fine with sunshine. I don't need to see snow and grey skies, trust me.
*forgot how the wipers worked.... 🙊
Queensland has just had a ridiculously dry summer, and autumn is looking the same. Went to wash my bikes today and they barely needed the dust wiping off. Sounds great, but the risk of fires in the upcoming dry season (winter) is a worry.
The sun is shining in Northampton. I'm going to get the gravel bike out and ride to Market Harborough for a coffee. Not gnar but a nice leg spin.
Brampton Way?
Went into town to do some shopping yesterday afternoon and just managed to miss the rain, which is back again through most of this afternoon, and again tomorrow, (Monday), then back again on Thursday. Hopefully I might manage to get the plants I bought on Friday potted up properly during the dry bits. Still, saves me having to water the garden…
Brampton Way?
Yep. I'd never cycled the whole thing before. It was a very pleasant pootle.
I sorted out the bar tape and pumped up the tyres on the road bike, as some road miles will be better than the local mud fest I'm expecting over the next few days. Haven't used it for over 2.5 years, last time I did I had COVID the day after. Hopefully it's decontaminated itself by now.
Gorgeous sunny, tho very windy, spin round Whitelee Windfarm yesterday. Just in from nice, calm, sunny dog walk. Weather in central belt has been decent this past week or 2.
My thoughts are with the Etape Loch Ness riders who set off this morning in cold, damp conditions quite unlike anything we've had the past couple of weeks. It's bloody freezing standing around the Bught at 6am, even on a good day.
Cloudy and bloody cold again this afternoon. Thought it might be ok for a walk out from a local village along the river and back along the lanes, tee shirt with a flannel shirt, and a down gilet. Barely any distance from the start, and I was digging in my bag for my ages old Montaine ultralight pullover top - made a big difference keeping the wind off until I got back to the pub. I wish Montaine still did those jackets, no pockets, but stows away in a little bag the size of an orange. Same colour, too. Perfect thing to stuff into a pocket.
I think it was the original Featherlite shell pullover, no hood, just a short neck zip. Perfect little jacket for keeping the wind off, shame they don’t do it anymore, all their jackets are ok, but their simplest form is a bit over-complicated, with a hood, full-length zip, etc.
I think it was the original Featherlite shell pullover, no hood, just a short neck zip.
I have two Featherlites - a Velo in dayglo yellow and a Marathon (the runners equivalent) in gray. The latter was actually a "prize" for sending them a photo. They both have fill length zips though - which I much prefer - but no hoods.
2.5C coming over the Slochd this afternoon - and sleet. We're expecting it will drop to minus 5C by the morning and the Mrs is pretty angry about the prospect of having to scrape ice off the windscreen before she sets off for work. 🙂
Yep.
Glad someone else said this - it's the constant wind that gets me. It's depressing after a while.
But I guess we have to get used to it - more heat in the atmosphere = more water, more air movement.
It doesn't help that the wind seems to have come directly from the arctic. Its absolutely effing freezing outside this morning. 🥶
At least things dry out quickly this time of year. A hour or two of heavy rain at lunchtime yesterday and I rode mostly dry trails by the evening.
It was snowing 10 minutes ago.
It was snowing 10 minutes ago.
About an hour ago, I popped out the back to feed ‘the pets’; fortunately only one bird feeder needed filling up, and the hedgehogs dishes needed cleaning and filling up, so about fifteen-twenty minutes, and it honestly felt cold enough to snow! Didn’t help I was wearing shorts, although I’ve been wearing a thick, heavy fleece hoody made for wearing over a wetsuit.
Just to add; 🥶🧣🧤☔️☃️
Had 3 dumpy bags of bark mulch delivered today. At 3.00pm I had to strip down to t-shirt (and shorts). At 5.00pm it was hailstones. By 6 I was back to t-shirt and shorts. My face is glowing with sunburn now but it's 1° and dropping now. April? Got to love it. North Cumbria.
15 tonne of gravel coming tomorrow, it'll piss down probably. At least it'll keep the dust down.
Glad I haven't put my winter riding kit away. It's around 2 degrees for this morning's commute.
Another frost here this morning. One of my friends posted some pictures from April a couple of years ago at the weekend - they were having a BBQ in tee shirts and shorts.
One of my friends posted some pictures from April a couple of years ago at the weekend – they were having a BBQ in tee shirts and shorts.
Yup, this time in Lockdown i was in the paddling pool with BBQs every night.... It's bizarre at the moment in terms of weather... I'd just like a few nice warm shorts and t-shirt days.
Interesting point in Brian's post. At this time of year (2 months before equinox) sun is at the same altitude as 2 months after = mid August and the sunburn risk is the same. Use sunscreen as if it was August, skin cancer doesn't care what the air temperature is.
Yup, this time in Lockdown i was in the paddling pool with BBQs every night…
That year was amazing weather. I did so much more riding.
It's actually sunny here this morning. But only 4 degrees and most places too boggy for a fun ride.
Probably should have bought a CX bike instead!
Think I'll go for a run instead.
That year was amazing weather. I did so much more riding.
It was incredible! Never known anything like it. And by some ridiculous piece of good fortune I'd just bought a road bike and was heading out every day on empty roads in warm sunshine.
My friendface memories chucked this up yesterday, from 3 years ago
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I've been out for a walk this morning though and its absolutely glorious. Think I'll head out on the road bike this afternoon 😀
That year was amazing weather. I did so much more riding.
Yep, same here - the benefits of a very flexible WFH, no traffic and great weather meant I did loads over lockdown.
Was zero degrees here this morning and quite frosty. 🙁
I'll go out later cos it is quite a nice sunny day now - could just do with it being about 15 degrees warmer! Was wearing legwarmers and an insulated gilet on my road ride last night...
Regarding that 15 tonnes of gravel.
Frost last night but baking hot now in strong sunshine, no breeze. Slathered up either sun screen (thanks theotherjonv).
