Beware of Ice

 I have been cycling for may years, and in all weathers.  I have ridden in frosty weather, snowy weather, and only once come off on ice.  I had cycled to school, I was in sixth form across town and used to park my bike at my friend's house (safely tucked away in her parents garage).  My home road and all the roads in between were not slippy, due to traffic, but her road was very quiet and so a little icy.  I turned the corner but my bike did not.  I was not hurt, and sheepishly got up hoping no-one saw me, and cycled the last bit down her road.

However, last week I was not so lucky.  On the Sunday ride we had met in Chester, and despite the forecast for snow later in the day, we adventurously headed out along the river.  It was cold and started to snow lightly as we set off, but it was wet fresh snow and a flat route, and we endured the cold wet onslaught, laughing at the absurdity.

Nets was closed so we had gone to Ness gardens instead, and after enjoying refreshments agreed to call it a day and head home.  By now the sun had come out and it looked beautiful.  But the temperature had also dropped and, although the mainish road by Ness gardens was clear, the side road dropping back down to the marshes was not, and I came a cropper, slamming down hard on my right side.

Long story short nothing was broken but I was too sore to ride this month; with very low temperatures forecast again the leaders also cancelled this month's ride altogether.

I decided to walk Chester Parkrun (Parkwalk) instead, and that was quite slippy too, with temperatures dropping even after 9am.  So certainly the right choice!

Snow day

 The final ride of the year, which we have not seemed to have for a few years now; but I was limited with leaders and as the week progressed the forecast was getting colder.  On a phone call to a friend midweek I forgot myself and arranged to join her for her 50th Parkrun, to help her celebrate.  So, we cancelled the ride.

Just as well, as although I had a very icy frost where I was, Chester actually had snow and remained very cold.  So no pictures and no write up - but I thought I would share my Parkrun photo - we went to Rosliston which starts with an 'R' so is part of the Pirate Challenge (7 'C's and an 'Rrrr').

See you all in 2023!

The social side of cycling

Once again we had to cancel the December ride.  Although it was not a widespread frost, or snow, there were patches of ice and many of the Welsh ladies, including most of the leaders, had messaged me on facebook over the previous day and evening to say they were not coming.

I have said before that I live very close to the cafe, and this means I can walk there, which was what I told the ladies via social media.  Some people may not get the message, so at least I would be there  to share a coffee and a chat.  I posted for anyone to join me anyway for a coffee and a bacon buttie.

That last idea sparked Sue to come along, she could not resist a bacon buttie, and we were shortly joined by Sheila and Gill - who had actually brought her bike, so Well Done that Woman!  We spent a jolly hour drinking coffee and chatting, talking about parties coming up over the festive period, and life generally outside cycling.  

It started to sleet and generally throw horrible cold weather down whilst we were in the cafe, allowing a moment of reflection that it was indeed the right thing to do on this wintry morning, and after a quick photo by the tree, we set off back our separate ways to busy ourselves with Christmas preparations.

4 ladies, 0 miles :-)

Frozen January

A hardy two ladies turned up on a very frosty cold January day. We set off up the cycleway. I was marvelling at the icicles under the bridge on plas Newton Lane - only to realise nearly too late that underneath them was a corresponding large patch of ice! Stopping just in time, we all tip-toed across the rink safely before continuing.

We left the cycleway in Blacon, and headed down to Saltney Ferry. I had in mind to meander back to Chester to find a cafe near the river, but as we approached Saltney Ferry bridge, I realised a light but bitter wind would have frozen our cockles off if we headed back towards town, so in an effort to warm up we crossed the bridge and turned right.

Circling the Hawarden airfield and Airbus factory we had a small climb which warmed us a little, before dropping towards Broughton. I had in mind a cafe I knew of, and we cut across to the Warren through what would've been a very muddy track - but as it was frozen it was just a very lumpy track!

Someone had moved my cafe and turned it into a chiropodists, which was no use to us - but there was a cafe in the corner of Broughton Park - where we sat for a not insignificant time, warming up and drinking coffee and eating sticky delectibles!

We returned to Chester and went our own ways by the Old Dee Bridge, having covered about 23 miles.

Motto - ski-mits are the best hand protection in cold weather, wrap up warm with lots of layers and definitely head for a warm cafe!