For 2012, I’ve set myself the challenge of cycling at least 6,000 miles. Up until last Saturday (Feb 4th) all was going well. The weather had been mainly dry, if cold, and the mileage had been steadily adding up. In total, I’d covered 451 miles - 53 miles more than the same period last year. Now, just one week later, I’m 24 miles BEHIND last year! I hate snow!
The forecast had been for snow to hit Derby at around 3pm last Saturday and, almost to the minute, hit us it did. By late evening around four inches of snow had covered all the side roads and, more importantly for me, the cycle paths. Any thoughts of a Sunday morning ride were quickly forgotten. It was a day for drinking coffee in front of the TV and dreaming of spring.
The tyres, Continental Travel Contacts, are claimed to be “the best thing I have ever had on a bike” according to one world touring cyclist, and “great on the road and not bad either when the road ends and some off road riding is required” on the Continental web site. Neither mention the fact that the tyre turns your bike into Bambi on ice! That said, they have proved to be spot on for the reason I did fit them... to stop punctures. They’re Kevlar reinforced.
Needless to say, the rest of the, very snowy and icy, week has seen me riding to work on the roads and, as a result, dropping a lot of miles. The total mileage for the week was just 25 miles - I often cover that distance with just one day's commuting.
Tomorrow I’m hoping to be able to get back to riding my usual routes to and from work and starting to claw back all those lost miles.
Roll on spring!
The forecast had been for snow to hit Derby at around 3pm last Saturday and, almost to the minute, hit us it did. By late evening around four inches of snow had covered all the side roads and, more importantly for me, the cycle paths. Any thoughts of a Sunday morning ride were quickly forgotten. It was a day for drinking coffee in front of the TV and dreaming of spring.
The garden on Sunday morning.
By Monday, the gritting lorries had the main roads and bus routes clear of snow so I set off (slowly) on the ride to work. I’d planned on riding along the cycle paths at a nice steady pace and covering around seven miles. Just a few yards onto the path and I changed my mind! The new tyres I’ve fitted to the winter bike are a complete waste of time on snow, and I had to take my chances with the rush hour traffic, on the roads.
The tyres, Continental Travel Contacts, are claimed to be “the best thing I have ever had on a bike” according to one world touring cyclist, and “great on the road and not bad either when the road ends and some off road riding is required” on the Continental web site. Neither mention the fact that the tyre turns your bike into Bambi on ice! That said, they have proved to be spot on for the reason I did fit them... to stop punctures. They’re Kevlar reinforced.
Needless to say, the rest of the, very snowy and icy, week has seen me riding to work on the roads and, as a result, dropping a lot of miles. The total mileage for the week was just 25 miles - I often cover that distance with just one day's commuting.
Tomorrow I’m hoping to be able to get back to riding my usual routes to and from work and starting to claw back all those lost miles.
Roll on spring!
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