Just wondering if it's possible what with all the winter snow that scotland/northern England gets.
I would like to give it a try but it'll take a month or so of prep - which takes us into dec ! Is that too late ? Can it be done on minor -
Roads in winter ?
Anyone done it in winter ?
Thanks for any advice .
Kev.
The problem with trying to plan for either direction is the weather in the British Isles is so unpredictable, I have known times in winter the roads of Scotland are quite free of snow, and down south we are skating and sliding all over the place, like wise you can have some glens snowbound and others clear. Also depending who is clearing the Snow depends how clear some roads will be, and others not, as a lot of minor roads are cleared by the local farmers contracted by the council, and they have a vested interested in clearing the roads; well as far as their property.
But as snorri has pointed out, you have shorter days, if its cold day after day it slowly wears you down, and that leaves you at risk of suffering from hyperthermia, more so if you get caught out in the open, rural areas where the wind and rain and wind chill factor can really be a problem.
But for all that I normally do 2 or 3 cycle packing trips during the winter months and no harm has come to me yet, but i do restrict myself to the Southeast and southwest counties.
It did cross my mind when I was cycling down from Durness earlier this year, that some of the minor roads i used would be interesting in winter conditions. I guess the answer to your questions, is nothing is imposible, and with the right planning and equipment, there should not be too much problems that cannot be resolved. I guess in Northern Scotland and England a little snow does not stop people going out on there bikes