MoJo Day

[BrumJim]

Yesterday was my MOJO day.

Winter commuting is never fun. Too many clothes. Its either wet, and on go the waterproof trousers and top. Or its dry, in which case you put on extra layers to keep warm. Its dark when you leave for work, and dark when you leave for home. Its often windy, and always seems like so much more effort.

I'm restricted on routes. When it is icy, I have to take the roads, or risk sliding off on the un-gritted tarmac through the park. Don't want to get me or the bike unnecessarily dirty, so I avoid the canals which will have big puddles on the towpath which never dry out in winter.

Added to that, there is no point getting new mechanicals or parts in winter. They'll only wear out or get rusty from the salt on the road.

But there is one day in spring when everything seems to change. The cycling shorts come out, showing bare knee. The sun is out when you get up, and still shining when you leave for work. The wind is gentle, and behind you, and the bike seems to roll with very little effort.

I had three days without a bike last week, sorting out new chain and cassette. Friday wasn't a great day due to a problem at the start that disappeared as the ride progressed.

Monday 21st March was my MOJO day for 2011. It was warm and fairly still. The new chain and cassette worked in harmony like a well-drilled orchestra, working on beat to the tune of the conductor sitting on top. And I did my 5th fastest time in a year down the canal route - first time I'd taken that way since November. And everything was great with cycling again.

 

[flogster]

Know exactly what you mean....

I've been lurgified last few days and made it in to work yesterday, more a necessity than anything else as the bike was left in the storage area. Sniffles & Sneezing then kicked in in the afternoon but i'd made my mind up I was going to cycle home all the same as wanted bike back home.

Set off with a flat route in mind so as to be as easy a ride as possible, but the evening was just so much better than I expected that I did a half decent stint, even detouring to go via a common to enjoy the ride.

Still not 100% great today but looking forward to another leisurely ride home again.

Once fully over lurgies it's shorts and long sleeves with the waterproof bundled in the backpack from now on.

 

[BSRU]

I disagree, winter commuting is great fun, cycling while it's snow is something I had never done before and an experience not to be missed.
No problems with ice as I used appropriate studded tyres, lots of days over winter when there was only one bike at work, mine.
I had some good quality winter gear that kept me nice and warm.

Actually this week is 25% week, as in after this week that will be 13 weeks completed and only another 39 to go.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

I've been ticking over through the winter but yesterday, cycling along to my first meeting in a new job and feeling some warmth in the air, it definitely felt like spring and a new beginning all in one.

As for not maintaining mechanicals over the winter, I'm not sure I agree when it comes to chains. I put a new one on a couple of weeks ago but by then I'd left it too long and it's worn the ring a little so that, under heavier power, it's just beginning to slip. It's just at that irritating but just about tolerable stage and it's going to have to stay like that until I've got some money. I really should have changed it earlier.

 

[Origamist]

I've been ticking over through the winter but yesterday, cycling along to my first meeting in a new job and feeling some warmth in the air, it definitely felt like spring and a new beginning all in one.

As for not maintaining mechanicals over the winter, I'm not sure I agree when it comes to chains. I put a new one on a couple of weeks ago but by then I'd left it too long and it's worn the ring a little so that, under heavier power, it's just beginning to slip. It's just at that irritating but just about tolerable stage and it's going to have to stay like that until I've got some money. I really should have changed it earlier.

Congrats on the new job.

 

[upsidedown]

Mine was a few days earlier, daylight when i left for the first time this year. Coming through the Solihull lanes and seeing the birds and the blossom with a warm sun on my face. Struck me that not that many weeks ago i was helping a driver pick his caro out of the ditch that he'd slid into on black ice. A bit further up reminded me of the deer i'd met who was disorientated by the thick snow on the road.

Will be replacing the drivetrain at the end of the week, the current one more than paid for itself over the winter.

I've even been dusting off the camping kit this afternoon and getting that excited feeling that always comes at this time of year !!

 

[Moodyman]

Winter commuting has its own pleasures, but if I had to choose, I'd have March to October anyday.

 

[PJ79LIZARD]

I put up with winter comutting, and then get used to it, you forget the likes of summer and it's just the norm to get dressed up like your going to cross the antarctic. But this week it's been nice to strip away some of that excess clothing and to enjoy a bit of sun, it then reminds why I do cycle through the winter, spring is my favourite time to cycle, everything around you starts to come back to life, and it warms up just about right where it's comfortable, and after a days work I've still got some energy, come the peak of summer I'm exhausted from my job and the comutte back saps the last bit of my energy.

 

[cyberknight]

Yesterday was fun , 1st day in shorts and short sleeved jersey in months !

As for being without a bike n+1 my dear friend