chriswoody
Legendary Member
- Location
- Northern Germany
The first snowy ride of 2026, so I dug the mountain bike out and headed out into the forest for some fun. The road is only lightly covered by still caution is needed and turning of into the forest I can relax a little more.
The snow is quite deep here in the forest and progress slows as we head under the trees. Temperatures are hovering around freezing so the snow isn't too wet to ride in.
I'm slowing heading north with a plan to head up towards some fire roads I know and swing around in a big loop east. The snow is deep in places though and I'm struggling to make headway, my speed dropping to around 7kph.
The forest here is all plantations and it's an artificial man made environment, but there is a strange beauty to the patterns the rows of trees make.
I take and break for a short while at a crossing and take stock over a flapjack. I concede at my pace I will never make my planned route so I decide to cut it short. It's slow, heavy going out here and I can still have as much enjoyment on a shorter route.
I carry on north for a while before taking the north westerly route at a fork. Normally it's deep sand here, but today it's deep snow impeding my progress. Slowly we make our way through the forest, nothing else has been out here and I'm breaking trail through the snow.
Taking another fire road now towards a main road crossing, I'm suddenly disturbed and look across to see a car dangerously close to me, I'm less than impressed. You do see the odd car from time to time on these fire roads, but passing me so close in these conditions is seriously not ok. I'm soon back into deep forest though and away from car driving idiots.
I'm slowing heading back towards home, with the emphasis on slow. I'd forgotten how heavy going it is in these conditions, my legs are definitely feeling it. I'm happy and content though as I slog along, under my wheels I can see deer tracks in the snow and overhead a Buzzard is circling.
I'm into the last kilometres now and I'm hungry, my head drops for a while as I focus on keeping my legs turning. Finally the last of the forest trails appear and before long I'm home. I've covered 34 km today in a very slow fashion, but as hard as it was, it was still a great ride. Hopefully the snow hangs around for a while.
The snow is quite deep here in the forest and progress slows as we head under the trees. Temperatures are hovering around freezing so the snow isn't too wet to ride in.
I'm slowing heading north with a plan to head up towards some fire roads I know and swing around in a big loop east. The snow is deep in places though and I'm struggling to make headway, my speed dropping to around 7kph.
The forest here is all plantations and it's an artificial man made environment, but there is a strange beauty to the patterns the rows of trees make.
I take and break for a short while at a crossing and take stock over a flapjack. I concede at my pace I will never make my planned route so I decide to cut it short. It's slow, heavy going out here and I can still have as much enjoyment on a shorter route.
I carry on north for a while before taking the north westerly route at a fork. Normally it's deep sand here, but today it's deep snow impeding my progress. Slowly we make our way through the forest, nothing else has been out here and I'm breaking trail through the snow.
Taking another fire road now towards a main road crossing, I'm suddenly disturbed and look across to see a car dangerously close to me, I'm less than impressed. You do see the odd car from time to time on these fire roads, but passing me so close in these conditions is seriously not ok. I'm soon back into deep forest though and away from car driving idiots.
I'm slowing heading back towards home, with the emphasis on slow. I'd forgotten how heavy going it is in these conditions, my legs are definitely feeling it. I'm happy and content though as I slog along, under my wheels I can see deer tracks in the snow and overhead a Buzzard is circling.
I'm into the last kilometres now and I'm hungry, my head drops for a while as I focus on keeping my legs turning. Finally the last of the forest trails appear and before long I'm home. I've covered 34 km today in a very slow fashion, but as hard as it was, it was still a great ride. Hopefully the snow hangs around for a while.
