Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => Audax => Topic started by: Jethro on 22 March, 2013, 03:33:42 pm
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A lot of people (including the BBC) are describing this month as "Miserable March" which has been so, so different to the same time last year and has put up to 60% of the field off from starting*. So what's causung it, or is this just the way March was a few years ago?
It all seemed to start in the middle of January, after the first two-weeks of the new year were really mild with temps at 12c around here, but then the weather people mentioned something going on in the stratosphere which changed everything. So is it still the same scenario with that stratosphere thingy?
Last year though, the weather took a distinct nose-dive once April arrived and never really recovered, so perhaps a few more weeks of this and we will (hopefully) see some improvements! Please dont bring that bloody jet stream into this though.
It still doesnt appear to stop some folk (a name beginning with T from MK) from attempting the rides. He left home at 3am to cycle 66 miles to Lichfield for my Vale of Belvoir and rode home again afterwards, and when the temperature never got above 1c all day.
* my Vale of Belvoir 200k on 10th March
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Jet streams too far south - same as what cause the miserable summer last year.
With any luck, miserable March and April may make for a decent bloody summer for the first time this decade!
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I thought "Miserable March" was going to be a ride. It's just the weather for slogging into a fenland headwind...
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I suggest you all come down to the South East and enter my events ;)
It's not been too bad down in the South East. Yes, it hasn't been balmy and I've only ridden without longs twice since the New Year, but I've managed to ride most weekends (other than one in January, which was the weekend of the Hills and Mills, when the so-called snowpocalypse hit, which was a bit of an overstatement) even if this meant riding the day after originally planned. It's not even been particularly frosty from memory, at least compared to previous years (2 years ago was pretty poor).
I'm going to be out and about tomorrow, although with a little trepidation. More because of the rain mixed with the cold air, which might make staying warm more difficult. I don't expect to be posting pictures similar to those on the event over Park Rash last weekend(!) So whilst not exactly full of the joys of spring, miserable March would be overstating it. I'm no more miserable than usual ;D
Kind of brings home how different the challenge is faced by people round the UK, if I compare and contrast our local experience to (say) Scotland.
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Miserable weather is just a matter of point of view! ;D ;D
People in Brittany, a region of France famous for its rainy weather, used to say:
"There is no bad weather in Brittany. There are only inappropriate clothes."
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I can;t emember a march with this much cold. I do remember some windy days and often wet and windy days but it's never been this cold. March temperatures are often in double figures celcius in the daytime at least.
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I have to say I am getting fed up with the weather now. Usually I can accept that from the Dartmoor Devil (end of Oct) through to March are going to be cold, wet and windy. At this point you start to get a few days where you can wear summer mitts, need no overshoes, wear bib shorts and even get the summer bike out for a spin.
It just looks really grim. I feel I have done my time in cycling in winter now. Someone once said to me "Winter miles = Summer smiles". It can't come soon enough. I'm sick of cycling is this weather now.
The most depressing aspect is that the 10 day forecast for my region has a max temp of 7 degrees on any day and most overnight temps at freezing or below.
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I have just checked my mileage log for last year. The fortnight we are currently in must have been spectacularly pleasant , judging by the distances that I recorded.
Then it all went badly wrong. Does anybody remember late March and April last year My mileage dropped away to nothing some weeks!
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The last week in March last year was when summer happened. Then we had the drought (in the Southern Water sense).
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My only worry is that what if by some absolute freak of nature it is like this literally all through summer.
In a sense I don't mind when it gets better, as long as it does eventually - is it actually guaranteed, or could it be shit all year?
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I'm on the waiting list for some surgery. I guarantee that we're going to get a couple of weeks of decent cycling weather whenever that happens.
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I heard 'they' were thinking about declaring that March was going to be extended by 2 weeks for the purpose of RTY and AAARTY as a totally one off thing.
Mind you, it could be just a rumour.
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US Military have been testing HAARP in the ionosphere.
As the conspiracy theorists predicted, its shagged up the weather.
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The weather this month has threatened to put years on me.
A couple of weeks ago I DNS'd a perm due to the weather.
Later that afternoon I found myself in a shop in town trying on a corduroy jacket (to go with my beard.) :-[
It's never happened to me before and if the weather had been better, I'd have been out riding.
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Jeez. It better turn soon then - if only to save bairdy from himself!
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My only worry is that what if by some absolute freak of nature it is like this literally all through summer.
In a sense I don't mind when it gets better, as long as it does eventually - is it actually guaranteed, or could it be shit all year?
Could this be the gulf stream finally moving as predicted? :-\
I assumed that bolting my studded tyre back onto the commuter last week would see this lot off, but to no avail - the gods must have known I wanted to ride The Dean >:(
I heard 'they' were thinking about declaring that March was going to be extended by 2 weeks for the purpose of RTY and AAARTY as a totally one off thing.
Mind you, it could be just a rumour.
;D
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I had to visit the doctor today. It would seem I have damaged my hands riding for extended periods in the cold and wet, with insufficient glovage and pre-existing Raynaud's.
It's a factor in our decision to DNS this weekend. We're hoping it warms up before Easter, or plans will start to get a bit fucked up. The lovely boab even bought upgraded glovage for me - in a desperate attempt to stop my incessant complaining about my painful hands.
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Have you tried using motorcycling gloves?
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I've certainly appreciated the warmth of the cafe on my rides this month. This cold just takes it out of you.
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I heard 'they' were thinking about declaring that March was going to be extended by 2 weeks for the purpose of RTY and AAARTY as a totally one off thing.
Mind you, it could be just a rumour.
Ho ho ho! No chance
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upgraded glovage for me
Chris - try these
http://www.needlesports.com/Catalogue/Technical-Clothing/Shell/Buffalo/DP-Mitts-BUF-MIT#.UUy3mBwqzCs
I have two pairs, never been cold even in Greenland at minus 20c, on the bike they are flexible enough to operate STi levers and brakes etc. Even changed an inner tube with them. Even when wet they are warm, I have used them skiing in Scottish winters and on the High Peak Marathon, which is an utterly horrible experience.
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I thought the ride for my RRTY in December was hard, with the two hours of torrential rain and the many hours of darkness. January was also hard with the ice-cold headwind and darkness with the potholes. February was astonishly hard and cold all day but at least I managed to get it done by waiting until the temperature had risen above freezing in the early hours and getting round before the gritting lorries were out in the night. I thought by then that it would be a breeze, and March would be a doddle. Ha! Have been waiting for one single night without gritting lorries or torrential rain. Have a vast amount of respect for auks such as Phixie who have done 10 years of RRTY. That must have been really tough.
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I seem to be having all the Luck (L leg restrictions you understand). All I had to do this month was ride 1 x 200 for RRTY purposes; my Flyer is beyond my leg power at the moment, so I found that day on Wednesday on a Perm, with winter fleece/pertex top and m/cycle-style and then wool-thinsulate gloves providing the warmth to combat the nippy air.
I feel sorry for Organisers (myself included), where DNSs were prompted by the rotten Saturday/Sunday most unseasonal weather; DNSs did not help the WI and Church teams providing essential foodstuffs on my Cal events, though they did ply those who turned up with extras! Most of those who finished my Cheltenham Flyer 200 were much the worse for their epic.
Yes, preparation is definitely the key but cold (around freezing) penetrating rain/hail/sleet probably represents the worst conditions we have to combat. And it is not over yet, as we will doubtless hear over the next 48hrs.
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Although I did eat at least 2 people's portions on the CF Steve :thumbsup:
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March has been far from miserable for me. But I am an OAP and don't have to go out on my bike. I have been out twice this year for a couple of 100k rides. Have been really enjoying the Munro bagging and other walks. I do have Raynauds but invested in Snowlife Goretex heated gloves at £250 and they really keep my hands warm and also have heated insoles at around the same money which are equqlly effective. The gloves are not much use when it's wet tho' but that's the case with almost all insulation. Looking forward to some warmer weather to get out on my new titanium machine for the Easter Arrow.
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I have to say I am getting fed up with the weather now. Usually I can accept that from the Dartmoor Devil (end of Oct) through to March are going to be cold, wet and windy. At this point you start to get a few days where you can wear summer mitts, need no overshoes, wear bib shorts and even get the summer bike out for a spin.
It just looks really grim. I feel I have done my time in cycling in winter now. Someone once said to me "Winter miles = Summer smiles". It can't come soon enough. I'm sick of cycling is this weather now.
The most depressing aspect is that the 10 day forecast for my region has a max temp of 7 degrees on any day and most overnight temps at freezing or below.
I wouldn't mind the weather so much if it could just be a bit more predictable. If I'd known it was going to be this cold for this long I'd have bought gloves to deal with it. When it started to get warm I decided not to bother buying winter gloves as I wouldn't get much use out of them until next winter, then it got cold but also wet enough to keep me indoors, then it warmed up, and now it's gotten cold again.
I was all set to relegate my winter cycling top to the wardrobe until next winter when now it's gotten icy cold again with freezing headwinds.
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The trick is to be prepared to get out and ride when the weather isn't too angry or icy.
There have been some good days! (when I say good I mean not really, really terrible.)
Not everybody has this kind of flexibility of course but I managed 3 200's early this month.
Didn't get very wet or all that cold.................................Ahem. :facepalm:
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Miserable March ? ? ? ???
The second of March (a Saturday) was pretty-good for cycling :smug:
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There have been some lovely days this March - unfortunately none of them on weekends.
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I guess it depends where you are but both days of the first weekend were pretty good in the Midlands. Light winds, no precipitation and average temperatures. OK - I would have liked it to be warm enough for shorts but it was early March !
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8530/8524285671_42c4445b8a_z.jpg)
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The trick is to be prepared to get out and ride when the weather isn't too angry or icy.
Yes indeed, and thanks Bairdy for pointing that out - it helped me get out for a couple of hours at 4pm, and conditions weren't quite as dreadful as I'd been imagining.
I hope it's ok for you today!
And JB - thanks for gorgeous picture of gorgeous March.
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I've managed three 200s this month so far in the south east, and the main grumble has been localised flooding. There has been little issue with frost or ice. Yes, it's not been springlike and has been chilly and wet. That said, would be nice to be able to ride with fewer than 4 layers, and noy having to scrub the bike after every ride...
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I'm soft - wouldn't have considered less than 7 yesterday!
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I've managed three 200s this month so far in the south east, and the main grumble has been localised flooding. There has been little issue with frost or ice. Yes, it's not been springlike and has been chilly and wet. That said, would be nice to be able to ride with fewer than 4 layers, and noy having to scrub the bike after every ride...
We have, too. It's been largely grim. The Old Squit was nice (for the time of year), but When I'm 64 was bloody awful, as was at least half of UpThUts. Yesterday we DNS The Dean, today we're not doing a DIY (snow on the ground and ice due this afternoon).
This time last year we were enjoying Spring rides and looking forward to the Big Ones. This year we're looking at the forecast and wondering if we'll ever get to lose a base layer. it's costing a fortune in kit for the bike and for us. We've gone through chains, brakes, cassettes, gloves, socks...
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I've managed three 200s this month so far in the south east, and the main grumble has been localised flooding. There has been little issue with frost or ice. Yes, it's not been springlike and has been chilly and wet. That said, would be nice to be able to ride with fewer than 4 layers, and noy having to scrub the bike after every ride...
This is about the same as my experiences (well I am also based in the south east). It has been chilly and wet, with plenty of flooding/very large puddles, but nothing show stopping this march. ECE'd the Kennet Valley 100 on a murky, but largely dry day, rode the Chiltern spring 100 in similar conditions and then rode a 400 DIY in very poor conditions (but I was well prepared).
Couple of weekends off from long rides now. And then it is April, which will be Awesome April.
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The Old Squit was a lovely day out. I did not enjoy Up the Uts but stuck it out as I'd made the trip to the start. Caved on the Man of Kent today due to snow on the ground.
I've got a perm card for the Weald of Kent for Easter Saturday before a weeks holiday.
That will be 4 200s so far this year which is ahead of where I was last year. I will definitely be investing in a turbo before next Winter.
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I've managed three 200s this month so far in the south east
I read this and am inspired. My rule about not riding when the gritters are out might have to be ignored if I am to get a RRTY done this month. The most annoying thing is that after redundancy on March 31 I shall have oodles of opportunities becase I shan't be wasting my life away going to work. But this week is going to be down to the wire, I fear. I can see me having to drag round a perm on a snowy Easter Sunday.
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I'm soft - wouldn't have considered less than 7 yesterday!
Well, I had 5 on the torso (HH long sleeve, Nike exercise top, yACF long sleeve, ski "hoodie" type thing and Altura nevis lite) and three protecting my nadgers, with knee "sleeves" under the bibtits also, on yesterday's adventure. So I may be getting soft also :)
Oh, and I can recommend Assos early winter gloves. With inner lining (in my case Altura), my fingers were never cold other than when I took them off to do "stuff". Also a convert to merino. Don't have a base layer (but will invest) but the de Feet socks and Endura flat cap were great yesterday. Still need to find decent booties though.
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I've managed three 200s this month so far in the south east, and the main grumble has been localised flooding. There has been little issue with frost or ice. Yes, it's not been springlike and has been chilly and wet. That said, would be nice to be able to ride with fewer than 4 layers, and noy having to scrub the bike after every ride...
We have, too. It's been largely grim. The Old Squit was nice (for the time of year), but When I'm 64 was bloody awful, as was at least half of UpThUts. Yesterday we DNS The Dean, today we're not doing a DIY (snow on the ground and ice due this afternoon).
This time last year we were enjoying Spring rides and looking forward to the Big Ones. This year we're looking at the forecast and wondering if we'll ever get to lose a base layer. it's costing a fortune in kit for the bike and for us. We've gone through chains, brakes, cassettes, gloves, socks...
Is this because of salt and stuff?
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I hope it's ok for you today!
DNF'd the Ball Buster not far from the start! :-[
See Ball Buster thread.
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This time last year we were enjoying Spring rides and looking forward to the Big Ones. This year we're looking at the forecast and wondering if we'll ever get to lose a base layer. it's costing a fortune in kit for the bike and for us. We've gone through chains, brakes, cassettes, gloves, socks...
Is this because of salt and stuff?
Pretty much. We've maintained at least 500km a month on the tandem since October. It's nearly all been wet, gritty and salty; pretty harsh conditions for a bike transmission, before you factor in the tandem aspect.
The whole transmission has been submerged several times, frozen quite a few times, and let's not forget - spent many hours on the roof of the car, getting shrouded in salty spray and rain and snow.
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Trying to keep up 220 miles a day over Christmas really hammered my bike too. New brake pads every 4 days and a new chain every 2 days. Tandems are renowned for eating transmission components and brake pads. I'm going to switch from V brakes to BB7 disk brakes during the year. I thought brake pads on Vs would last a bit longer than they do and it's not as if I was doing especially hilly rides!
The roads weren't gritted, it was just very wet with lots of flooded roads. I also trashed a cassette by using one chain for 3 days instead of 2. I wasn't using cheap chains, I was using KMC.
I also had 2 punctures a day (about one very hundred miles) with my Vredsteins but none with Marathon Plusses, though riding with Marathon Plusses meant less sleep time because they were notably slower.
My chainrings are getting ropey now too. Plus my gear and brake cables get very sticky after 1-200km of wet miles, so I've just invested in some Gore Tex gear cables at about £35 a set. The gear cables got very sticky on some rides and I needed several fingers to change gear.
Winter also hammers anything electrical like GPS and lights, but srprisingly, I've had no isses with electrical stuff this winter, which I think is a first. I bodged my GPS with inslation tape after my 3 wet summer 1000k rides removed the rubber around it's buttons and water got inside and messed it up.
It still cuts out now and then, but I just need to clean the contacts with the batteries.
Front lights tend to expire before rear light, probably because handlebars get much more vibration and take the brunt of rain where rear lights get protected from rain by the rider and mudguards. The vibration isn't so bad on the rear either. My cheapo Chineese T6 Cree lights seem to have fared better than my Exposure!
Wet weather also destroys bearings, which is why I invested in Hope hubs and BB bearings, which are fantastic and last a very long time.
Shimano pedals are holding up very well indeed and at £5 or so a go, that's very good.
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Hopefully they'll be able to rest soon, though having just seen the BBC forecast for next week, Arrow riders should be afraid, very afraid...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6UerjFCLdI (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6UerjFCLdI)
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Love that video ;D
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Trying to keep up 220 miles a day over Christmas really hammered my bike too.
It would hammer my car as well.
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This time last year we were enjoying Spring rides and looking forward to the Big Ones. This year we're looking at the forecast and wondering if we'll ever get to lose a base layer. it's costing a fortune in kit for the bike and for us. We've gone through chains, brakes, cassettes, gloves, socks...
Is this because of salt and stuff?
Pretty much. We've maintained at least 500km a month on the tandem since October. It's nearly all been wet, gritty and salty; pretty harsh conditions for a bike transmission, before you factor in the tandem aspect.
The whole transmission has been submerged several times, frozen quite a few times, and let's not forget - spent many hours on the roof of the car, getting shrouded in salty spray and rain and snow.
Thought so. I've just started "using up" an old bottle of heavy duty, wet weather chain oil in the hope that that will help. I had cleaned and oiled my chain the night before I did the Delightful Dales. I only did 70 miles and the chain was already rasping away. Hope the thick (and dirty) oil helps.
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Miserable weather is just a matter of point of view! ;D ;D
People in Brittany, a region of France famous for its rainy weather, used to say:
"There is no bad weather in Brittany. There are only inappropriate clothes."
That's the national motto of Norway as well
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I go on miles and Audaxes come with miles . last year 1256 miles this year poss 400 miles = three times more miserable. Or could just say I am a month behind like the weather and not be miserable.
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Have you tried using motorcycling gloves?
..funnily only last w/e, whilst circuiting Richmond park.. hot and steamy, not enough ventilation (Lidl motorbike gloves that is). I found wool gloves, underneath thermolilte gloves work best.. now if only I can find similar socks....
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I'm way behind on my distances due to the weather, the coldest it's been on the thermometer is -3 but when you add the wind effect it's about -7 & it's coming in from the east, very nasty. Checking some of the forecasting sites earlier looks like it could remain pretty cold right into May, at least for us.
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I like this selective memory I seem to have acquired.
I don't remember the weather on when I' 64 being too bad (Marcus and others may disagree). OK, I had to squeeze out my gloves every now and then, my feet got wet (but not horribly cold, thanks to WOOLLY SOCKS) and I was a bit chilly starting up again after each stop, but I've done worse rides.
The only problem with last weekend's ride (admittedly only 100km) was when I had to change an inner, by the time I'd done my fingers had turned into rubber and had no grip to hold one bolt in pace on the axle while I did up the other. After some thought I stuck one hand in my mouth (oil and all) until finger were thawed enough and problem solved. The route nicely zigzagged about so not too much headwind at a tie either. Apart from where I had that stop, of course.
My other ride was mainly in bright sunshine. Apart from when it rained, but that wasn't for very much. And there was a bus shelter when I needed an unscheduled stop.
I'll draw a veil over those other outings that I didn't make it out of bed for. Purely on the grounds of general tiredness, you understand. Nothing to do with the weather, maternal guilt or availability of cuddles etc, of course not.
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Checking some of the forecasting sites earlier looks like it could remain pretty cold right into May, at least for us.
(http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll247/Tijuana22/Nooooooo.jpg)
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It's nearly time to run the AAA (Audax Alliteration Award) for April. Awful April? Appalling April? Atrocious April? I thought, after managing to get two BRs a month over the winter period, that I'd done the hard bit and that getting out on long rides from March onwards was going to be much more pleasant. Wrong! I'm gathering my gear for tomorrow's Chirk 200 rerun, which will be only the second time out on the bike since the When I'm 64 200 in early March. LEL fitness? Don't make me laugh
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Yesterday's route check for the Hardboiled was the coldest I have ever been on the bike before, despite plenty of layers and opportunity to warm up.
H
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You didn't forget your beer coat, did you Hummers?
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You didn't forget your beer coat, did you Hummers?
By gad, you may have a point there :thumbsup:
The first control is a pub but at 06:00am, they looked like they were shut. In fact, despite my optimism at seeing someone go into the Shrewton Co-Op, everywhere was shut.
The Albion seemed to have beer on tap :P but I was too busy eating and warrming up to contemplate this :facepalm:
No, the first pint of the day was at 300k at the finish control :'(
H
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So, April. With your sunshine and blue skies you give hope. With your temperatures you fill us with nagging doubts of despair. Truly the cruellest of months.
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Well I cycled home tonight with fingerless gloves, put my windproof jacket in my bag and really could have done with my sunglasses.
Lovely and first time for *ages*.
It'll never catch on.
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I was chasing my long shadow up hills yesterday evening, as the sun set in the Surrey Hills. I even stopped and admired the view from the top of Leith Hill, which has a lovely view over rolling forest across the Surrey Hills AONB. A peach sunset, slowly melting into rose and then orange. Rather like an exotic cocktail.
If it weren't for the faintly numb toes, I would have sworn there was a feeling of spring about it.
Things are definitely picking up (I raise my half full glass to the weather gods).
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It might be sunny in Surrey but we are still dealing with a deadly cold E wind up north!
However the forecast for Saturday looks quite good which is great news for the riders on the 3 Eureka rides. :thumbsup:
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Perhaps we should start a thread 'Arctic April'. But it may only have lasted 6 days before it returns to its showery tradition 'Awful April'?
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Perhaps we should start a thread 'Arctic April'. But it may only have lasted 6 days before it returns to its showery tradition 'Awful April'?
I would take "normal" April weather and call myself "lucky".
Oh for Sunshine & Showers, a gentle westerly and a high of 15c. I can't remember the last time I cycled, with a temperature in double figures :(.
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Yesterday was alright, car was reading 10 degrees when I got home. Went and did 40 miles in summer jersey and bibshorts with arm warmers and leg warmers.
Was actually quite nice, especially with the sun on my back, the tailwind was awesome, although the headwind not so.
My feet were freezing though, still too cold for no overshoes, so purchased some "oversocks" today which aren't as heavy duty.
Next week and the weather is a turning...
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On Tuesday I thought spring had arrived. I was overdressed despite not wearing that much and I had to stop to remove my toe warmers & I'd have removed my overshoes had I had space to carry them. Just a base layer, merino top & a gilet. Today, however, was back to normality - three pairs of gloves; overshoes; four layers on the upper body; hat; Buff; EtxeOndo 3-in-1 hat; and snow flurries.
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Awful April? Appalling April? Atrocious April?
Angst-ridden April.
LEL fitness? Don't make me laugh
You don't want to peak too early ...
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I bought some virtual DIY cards from Manotea mid-January and since then the weather's been rubbish.
If you get your cards from me, for an extra fee of £10, you get a guaranteed 1% chance of excellent weather!