This autumns first properly wet ride!!
Discussion
My bike and I have just got back from an terribly wet and rather dark pedal around the woburn woods in MK, and apart from the fact that i now seem to have an entire house full of sand and mud (where does it all come from!!!) we had a blast. So, it got me thinking, who's a proper all-weather saddle-ista and who runs for the pub at the first sign of winter??? 
Horrid ride in this morning.. only resolved to try and make a much better effort on the cycle commuting a month or so ago, and the weather was really testing my resolve today 
Still enjoyed it. Even in driving rain, and squinting at the road ahead through my misted up cycling specs, it was most enjoyable riding past the queue of cars, held up by roadworks, I'd normally be sitting in.
Still enjoyed it. Even in driving rain, and squinting at the road ahead through my misted up cycling specs, it was most enjoyable riding past the queue of cars, held up by roadworks, I'd normally be sitting in.
Max_Torque said:
My bike and I have just got back from an terribly wet and rather dark pedal around the woburn woods in MK
I'm intrigued. This is my usual part of the world and I'm on the lookout for winter riding venues as I'm planning on getting a new bike in the current sales. Which specific area of Woburn woods do you head for? I'm guessing the best area is to the west of Woburn around Brickhill or Aspley Heath?Trevelyan said:
Max_Torque said:
My bike and I have just got back from an terribly wet and rather dark pedal around the woburn woods in MK
I'm intrigued. This is my usual part of the world and I'm on the lookout for winter riding venues as I'm planning on getting a new bike in the current sales. Which specific area of Woburn woods do you head for? I'm guessing the best area is to the west of Woburn around Brickhill or Aspley Heath?I'm always amazed by how few people we meet (although not that amazed tonight as it was lashing it down) considering that it is some of the best MTB'ing i have ever done and it is literally 5 mins from MK centre etc.
Five of us chickened out of our normal wednesday evening blast last night... we text to confirm attendence, and if the text even hints of bad weather/might not go out/ etc then it has the domino effect, and the whole lot call it a day and drive to the pub instead....
However riding in the dark in wet and muddy (super gloopy) conditions can be an absoltute blast... the bikes (and wallets) hate it, as the mud/crap just becomes grinding paste and knackers all the important expensive bits...
However riding in the dark in wet and muddy (super gloopy) conditions can be an absoltute blast... the bikes (and wallets) hate it, as the mud/crap just becomes grinding paste and knackers all the important expensive bits...
Minnsy said:
However riding in the dark in wet and muddy (super gloopy) conditions can be an absoltute blast... the bikes (and wallets) hate it, as the mud/crap just becomes grinding paste and knackers all the important expensive bits...
it also brings out a whole new raft of riding skills and tricks! i managed to do about 30feet on my ass when the bike decided to take a different set of wet slippy ruts to the ones we had both been happily co-inhabiting for the previous 100feet! lol!Did over 100 off road miles last week,60 or so i'n the dark and wet, its great for your gri and determination. I'm determined this year to really go for broke through the winter, as there is nothing more satisfying than when spring finally comes round and you take that first dry, warm ride out with the guys who've shied away over winter, and absolutely BEAST them round your lap till they cry!
commute this morning was fun, regular lycra bibs and a thickish cycling jersey, it was a bit chilly but nohting too bad, went past so many people in full wet weather gear.... i appreciate not everyone has showers and changing areas at their office but its so much easier to wear as little as possible on hte bike than have to wear layers, get hot and still be uncomfortable...
i'll say this though, you really notice changes in road surfaces on 23's in the rain!
i'll say this though, you really notice changes in road surfaces on 23's in the rain!
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