Show us what you did today, thread

[Jamiedyer]

Well, like all plans, things change.
Wanted to get out and finish the year off with a ride and so finish as I hope it to go into next year.
I did get out for a couple of hours and despite it still raining and then sleeting with roads covered in mud and gravel etc I still had a good ride.
I ended up just putting my bag on the back of the Mercian and doing a loop to get a few miles in. It was too late really to head to JOG's and expect anything to be open so thought a loop more inland would give me a bit of protection from the wind that was slowly picking up. It had also been a while since I had put on my wet weather overtrousers and I also had a jacket to try out, along with wet gloves, overshoes etc. Good to get a few miles in the legs and was surprised that of the very few cars I did see on the back roads, two stopped to make sure I was OK when I stopped for a drink.
Anyway have a great New Year when it gets here and here's to many happy miles in 2018.

001 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

003 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

004 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

 

[RobMac]

Re:

Nice one Jamie the weather down here has been crap most of the day :?

 

[old_coyote_pedaller]

Re:

Happy New Year to you Jamie when it comes.
Thanks for all the pics of your rides this year.

 

[epicyclo]

I've been running. Today was a 10km incorporating the top ⅔ of the 'Puffer course amongst other bits.

Run was in mushy slush on top of a thin layer of slick but crunchy ice. Just enough to come over the tops of my running shoes and fill them up. Oh, joy!

The conditions made it a very hard slow 10km. Still slippery in many places though.

The werehound had a ball and probably ran 20km, although she had to roll in the slush every so often to cool off. She's comatose on the carpet now.

The course is a mudbath in the sheltered bits where it's thawed out. When it freezes again, the ruts will be deadly.

There was intermittent sleet, which was nice as it wasn't heavy, and I had Jamie's old jacket to keep me warm and dry. Ta, mate, it's become my running jacket because it's so easy to vent heat when necessary. Greatly appreciated.

(BTW If you haven't tried Keela outdoor gear, you're missing out. It's made in Scotland).

 

[Jamiedyer]

Sounds good mate. Though I don't know about this running lark, I thought that's why god gave me access to bicycles
Glad your getting use out of the Keela as I never wore it as it was too big. So glad it's working for you.
Have a good one mate and speak to you tomorrow.

Jamie

 

[Jamiedyer]

A nice day Saturday with a stiff breeze but no rain, which makes a change from the rubbish lately.
Saturday afternoon I had a nice circuitous route into Thurso to meet up with Heather and Caleb for a coffee and a scone at the Surf cafe. Good excuse to go for a ride, as they had gone in earlier for some shopping. Was bitterly cold as the temp must have been just above 0 but it was a nice ride all the same. I was well wrapped up and as the ride home was mostly in darkness I had my lights charged and had backups as well, starting the year as I mean to go on.
Roads were a bit icy coming home in the dark but not too bad. I had my two lights out back and had the Hope light flashing on the front along with my cree led one mounted on the forks on full beam so all good.
Good to be out and about, always good to have family cake time as well as always good to ride the Long Haul Trucker. This thing is setup for and handles any and everything put in front of it. It is very like my 1X1 off road, in that it just fits, is comfortable or worn in and works as it should.
Hope everyone else is having a good weekend as well, whether riding or not.

Jamie

1 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

2 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

4 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

5 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

6 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

 

[Jamiedyer]

Seeing one of those face book reminders of a post exactly 12 months ago and also seeing as how we hadn't had cake for nearly 24 hours Caleb and I decided to load up the Big Dummy after lunch and head out round the high road to John O'Groats where we would meet Heather for a cuppa.
It was a pretty cold day, I think colder than last year with the temp sitting pretty much between +2 and -1 throughout the afternoon and evening. We wrapped up really well, full merino, buffs etc and headed out. Another lovely afternoon, dry, with a stiff breeze from the north. Some ice on the back roads but generally pretty dry so could see it in patches easily.
Compared to yesterdays ride it was a slow trip due to the extra weight of the Big Dummy as well as Caleb growing like a weed. We headed round a few detours zigzagging about but must have got about 30 or so klm in which isn't to shabby on the BD.
Caleb had a blast and was laughing and chatting away the whole journey. By Groats he was getting cold especially his face and hands. He had his thick gloves and had his buff across his face but the temp had dropped as it was getting on and the wind made it feel worse. I had the benefit of being hot due to pedalling and moving about but he was just sitting there holding on so I stopped at Canisbay so he could have a walk round and warm up a bit. He was happy enough but came home from Groats with mum and I don't blame him as the car was already saying 0 degrees and it was just getting dark so would drop a bit more. I rode home in the dark and thought I was being well prepared when my front light died as I had spare batteries, well seeing as they were cheapos and they were so cold they barely kept themselves flashing on the way back. If I turned them on full they just died. Once back at Mey I turned up a dirt road to find it full of frozen holes so the light was put on a low beam as I needed a solid light to dodge all these surreal looking holes all over the road, looked like an ice minefield and hoped the light would last. It did thankfully. There was no real fear of nobody seeing me as the rear lights I have are very bright and as I carry Caleb all the time on it, everything is reflective and safe, the magic carpet seat has reflective trim and I have spoke covers that are reflective as well. you can see them in one of the photos. So another grand though cold afternoon out locally. Good to get some more miles in and always fun with the little man.
If he looks a bit strange in the way he is sitting in the photos it's because he naturally sits forward with his feet on the bar end pegs at the front but for a couple of these he just jumped on for the photos. The one of the two of us we put the camera on a stone bridge and put the timer on first time it didn't work, the second it took us a second to notice it was working and had to run to the bike and jump on before the 10 seconds was up

Jamie

2 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

3 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

4 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

5 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

6 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

7 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

 

[epicyclo]

Carting the lad around is your 'Puffer training sorted.

 

[kaiser]

Re:

First winter walk. Played it safe and headed for Ben Lomond. Cracking day.

20180107_182645-01 by Bigbroondug, on Flickr

20180107_182553-01 by Bigbroondug, on Flickr

20180107_183253-01 by Bigbroondug, on Flickr

20180107_183050-01 by Bigbroondug, on Flickr

 

[Jamiedyer]

Beautiful photos mate.
Looks like a lovely day for it. View looks really clear as well.

Jamie