First rides of ’25 – pictures too!

What have you got?

I’m back from a solo 100km wander across a mix of all surfaces, some old faves, some new discoveries (some accidentally). I’ll admit to being somewhat lost on moto tracks at one point, bit overall worthwhile as I also found a place that sold amazing coffee and a caramel slice on a brownie base!

Hang on, I call this unfair. You got at least a 11 hour head start on 2025 lol.

There will be no riding here today. Rain of the sideways variety and enough wind to blow everything over in the garden isn’t exactly inspiring me to go out.

Aboyne to the bottom of Mount Keen and back this morning. Toes were a wee bit cold at this point.

Need a canoe here today.

A very wet Wharncliffe xc ride for me. Almost every trail was a stream

I was intending a ride. But horizontal rain and snow on already soggy ground and 1*c didn’t meet the criteria for ‘fun’.

No pictures because my hands were NOT coming out of my gloves.

But got out for a very wet local loop. Got wetter from the ground than the sky, and that is with a lot of mudguard going on!

A very wet Wharncliffe xc ride for me. Almost every trail was a stream

That’s exactly what it was like when I last went. I’m happy to sit it out today. Absolutely streaming down all night and day here.

The weather here in the Scottish Borders was absolutely rank today. So I knocked my planned run on the head and decided to Zwift. Legs felt good so decided to complete the January Gran Fondo 🙂

Not a chance here, loads of local flooding (Stockport)

Not a chance here, loads of local flooding (Stockport)

what a way to start the new year, looks pretty grim in the NW 🙁

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c93845l3q1zo

I’m off the bike for a little while, just walks at the mo, no pics, bright and breezy in norn iron — HNY folks

No pics here, but just a few miles at minimal pace round the local cyclepaths. Had that horrible chesty flu over Christmas and I’m not risking it coming back at me with too much too soon.

Cracking local ride on the handbike in the snow 🙂

All by my lonesome this NYE so decided to head out of town and find some snow for an overnight camp. Wasn’t disappointed!

Hang on, I call this unfair. You got at least a 11 hour head start on 2025 lol

10 hours actually…but it’s not a race 🙂

Glentress today.

Yesterday was a washout so headed out today. Gorgeous day for a pedal out, lots of standing water and ice to keep things interesting 

First ride of 25, and the pogies are on!

Glentress today too. Guess which one is me! 😉

First blue skys I’ve seen for a while.

We were up at Glenmore Lodge for Hogmanay. Out on foot on NYD,  so first ride of the year was today – just a bimble round some of the tracks and trails at Rothiemurchus. A few snow showers kept it atmospheric, and the sun came out just before we left.

Blue sky mud fun on 2nd Jan, good to be back out again ?

Lovely day in Shropshire, looks like tomorrow will be the same, so heading out early doors with my daughter for a frosty adventure:)

Has been near 2 months since my last opportunity for a “proper” pedal, easing myself in gently today with a 30-ish mile gravel / road loop, so good to be out again

Quick NYD Golfie blast. Exceeded expectations 🙂

Mix of blown out storms, snow and 118kmh wind up here on the Danish west coast…

Local lake on Jan 1st, a nice mainly singletrack path around it. I’d not ridden it before having generally ridden my road bike to the lake and the 25km round it…

I foolishly hosed down my hardtail after a Peak ride on Sunday, and when I went to get it out this morning, the dropper was frozen in place.

So I grabbed the gravel bike instead and had a lovely crunchy blast around Pines Blue route. Not a single other cyclist, just three horse riders and a lone walker.

King cold, and some signs of Daragh still around.

Salisbury Plain Morning. Dry and crispy dust!

First ride of ’25 and the first ride since storm Darragh where I haven’t had to cut or remove trees from the trail – looks like we’re slowly getting there!

New Year. One gear. Checking the brake fettling.

Off to the velodrome on Foldie the Mezzo. Light today is fantastic. Track form less fantastic!