Some enviable rides and cracking photos recently
Today was pushing a week since I'd last been in the saddle and the last opportunity for an outing before next week’s commute resumes.
Under no illusion as to how bloody cold it was I threw pretty much everything at it – LS base layer, fleece, mid-weight Brompton jacket, beanie, gloves, cotton trousers and double-bagged feet with one layer of Merino. I only left the buff in the bag as it makes my sunglasses steam up..
Speeds were kept low on account of wind chill and liberal patches of ice thanks to the light dusting of recent snow that had partially melted and re-frozen in places.
Out along the tow path to the first charity shop then onto the ring road to bother a few more but no joy.
Stopped to offer a Big Issue seller a piece of flapjack which was graciously accepted; I hope the recipient’s mum never warned her of taking flapjack from strange men and it gets eaten.
Out north then back in along the tow path; I think managing a lucky escape on one of the little hump-backed bridges thanks to having stopped to take photos and witnessing the difficulty with which it was negotiated by an oncoming dog walker – who had to hang onto the wall to descend safely.
I first tried pushing the bike straight up the middle; making it about half way before losing grip and thankfully managing to keep everything upright as the bike and I collectively slid back down to the bottom. I managed to pass in the end by gripping the opposite wall and finding a bit of adjacent mossy tarmac that apparently wasn’t covered in ice. The bridge is on a bit of a bend so had I hit it on the bike at any sort of necessary angle I think I’d have been on my arse...
As the ride pressed on I alternated between grim acceptance that I couldn’t feel bits of myself and little waves of euphoria as the effects of flapjack, caffeine and sublime deep techno phased in and out of unison.
Running late as usual thanks to stopping to take photos and the failings of frozen-brain logistics I continued into town to reach the butchers before they closed; succeeding but only scoring about half of what I wanted.
It was then back to the park for a brief stab at the rings before admitting defeat in the face of the cold and aching muscles.. I did manage a few dead hangs and found a new approach to single-arm hangs; yielding a few satisfying pops and deep stretches from the neck and shoulders.
Having stopped for a cheeky leak in the bushes I noticed I was being scrutinised by a robin; which at one point perched on the top tube of the Fuji as it leant against a nearby tree. It would have been welcome to a few flapjack crumbs but it buggered off once I returned to the bike.
Onward to the supermarket for a few necessities and an unsurprisingly scant smattering of Saturday bargains.
Well past my intended dusk curfew I headed home; conflicted over how legit some of those begging on Queen’s St were; undermining the carefree simplicity of today’s little planned act of altruism.
After negotiating some nasty sheet ice on the ring road cycle path I made it back after about five hours and 26 miles; a little perk near the end being some photos of parking w*nkers outside the shop that should serve as supporting evident to the Council of my intended plea to police the problem better (at all).
The warmth and solitude of the flat were unsurprisingly most welcome; having achieved less than I’d hoped but infinitely more than I would have done had I stayed in.
Evidence below
