Now this is where it gets good...

It feels like it's been a long winter.  The weather has been wet and cold which has made for some particularly foul riding conditions.  Having said that, I've covered a good distance over the past few months.  I generally managed to get out most weekends and I've commuted through all the weather had to throw at me, all helping to rack up the base miles.  It has seen some casualties.  I've worn out and broken quite a few bits of kit!

But today the sun is shining and the skies blue.  Much as it was when I went out for the Sunday ride with the Stewartry Wheelers, (there is a new website in the offing!) a local cycling club I have recently joined.  Clubs are a great way to meet other like minded people and to discover some new roads or trails.  It can also get you access into the local race scene which is in rude health here in Dumfries & Galloway.

The South West Scotland Cycling Project is a little gem of a race series organised across the region.  It offers riders of all ages and abilities the opportunity to try out different forms of racing from road to XC.  I've raced XC before but never road.  That all changes in a weeks time!  My first road race is coming up (well, technically it's a 3 man team time trial) on the 2nd of March, then there's some XC the following weekend (Saturday) and a road race on the Sunday!  I am really quite excited.  I have no idea what to expect on the road - other than it hurting quite a lot, but I'm looking forward to the experience.  If I can get through without getting dropped I'll be happy.

The Scottish XC series also gets underway in march with the first round in Forfar in Angus - I'll hopefully be there, ably demonstrating how to mince round a race course.

It's looking like being a pretty busy season!
  

No country for old tyres.

The weather forecast for this morning was for a balmy 3 or 4 degrees and no wind.  That's positively tropical compared with the past few weeks and the lack of wind was a welcome respite, feels like spring is just around the corner!  Unfortunately the past few weeks of freeze, thaw, freeze, snow, rain, freeze, thaw (and repeat) have really played havoc with the roads.  Rivulets of water have gouged away the edge of the road in many places, there are permanent streams pouring out of fields, small potholes have become large potholes.  I'll be commuting on my MTB soon! Combine that with an unexpected freeze this morning and conditions were a little dicey.  The rear tyre was struggling for traction when I first left the house this morning.  Unfortunately the back roads are sparsely populated so no one can see me execute the perfect two wheel drift as I slide all over the road.  Which is a shame as I must have looked really cool.  Honest!

Someone turn that thing up, melt the ice!

As the ride progressed and the sun rose the ice melted, which was a relief.  Unfortunately though I managed to tear a hole in the sidewall of my rear tyre on a descent.  There are so many loose stones it was probably only a matter of time.  Once again I found myself with a repair I couldn't manage roadside, so once again I called in the cavalry.  I did used to carry tyre boots in my saddlebag, but I have never actually needed them. They were so old and had got wet a few times so had pretty much disintegrated.  Worst part is when the tyre let go it took out my rear crud raceguard too.  Bugger.  It's been an expensive couple of weeks (I tried to repair my damaged CX bike the other night only to find that not only had I torn the rear mech off the hanger but I'd twisted the mech too).

So looks like a weekend on the MTB for me.  Which I don't mind.  I love mountain biking, it was what got me into cycling in the first place.  Though I've been reading blogs by pro racers who have all spent the winter either cross training in beautiful snow covered landscapes or riding awesome desert trails.  Which is a far cry from braving a Scottish winter to grind yet more drivetrain components into the dirt!  But the armoured 7 stanes trails are a god send this time of year and still a lot of fun even if it is wet.  Won't be venturing out onto the open hillside for a while yet though.

Happy trails!

Oh the irony.

I just received an email from Rapha to let me know that their classic jersey has been updated and that NEW COLOURS WERE AVAILABLE.  How exciting, best have a wee look then...

I opened the email to find the attached photo.



Brilliant!

So it's in black and black and black then?

Cheers, Rapha, you made me smile!