You've had your fun...

Now back to the grim reality of UK winter. Wednesday started well with a fast ride in to work on my road bike, instant power transfer and lots of speed is fun, should get out on it more often. Yet another trip to the dentist got some more ok road miles in but the nightride was, well, a bit pants. I got to barrow bridge and it was proper iced up, managed a bit of climbing but when it got properly steep I had to get off and walk. OK up the rake and along burnt edge, 2 lads was riding brilliantly, but those were the exceptions, georges lane was iced up in many places. Johnnie had difficulty getting up AICR, Wildeswood was probably bad (anything under tree cover seemed especially bad) and we didn't even consider San Marino after last week. Going up to the pike the wind kicked up, properly cold, I reckon it was down to minus double figures with wind chill! Down the steps was good, as I knew 2lads was ice free we went up hole in the wall and down 2 lads again. Johnnie was getting cold and his light was acting up so we split there, he headed for ICR I went down georges lane and took the tarmac home, both bad moves. ICR was sheet ice johnnie managed a 360 degree spin and landed on his elbow, had to crawl across the ice til he could pull himself up on the fence then remembered he had to go back for his bike. I'd been toasty warm bimbling around offroad but the 20-30mph half hour downhill ride home was a LOT colder, couldn't feel my fingers after 5 minutes, toes soon followed and my hands were like ice by the time I got home.
As I mentioned on an STW thread a while back snow in the UK is great for about 2 days and it looks lovely but after that it's rubbish.