Not much to report on the bike front. The disc brake adapter turned up for the Singlespeed, but I haven’t fitted it yet. The Remedy needs a new rear tyre after I holed the sidewall on the final descent of the last ride in Llangollen. It might be repairable, but I’ve never had much confidence in repaired tyres and the Maxxis Ignitor tyres have always been puncture prone. I think that the sidewalls are just too lightweight for a bike like this. The Roadrat is a nicer bike to ride without all the lights on it, I’m glad that spring is on the way.

I had a random chat with a rider on the way home on Friday who was on a Fred Williams road bike. My Independent Fabrication obsessed mate, Jam Price works for Williams, so we had a bit of banter about the bike, which it turned out had come off eBay. I was asked how did I find the Cotic? Well it’s built tough. It was great over winter with the disc brakes and cross tyres on it, but it lacks the kind of frame zinginess that makes it exciting to ride. If you accept that it’s a solid sturdy workhorse then you’ll be made up with one, but if you want something that occasionally you can crank up to 8 or 9 and push a bit, then it’s not for you. I’m not even sure the virtual volume adjuster even goes to 10. I think that for the kind of performance, in terms of reacting to power inputs or sudden changes in direction that I’m looking for I need to look into a proper road bike.

So the lease on it under the Bike to Work scheme only runs until July after that it’ll be new bike time. Hmmm, better start looking now then.

The sense in the decision not to ride Snowdon this weekend became apparent as we pushed bikes through a foot of snow at 450m, the odds of being able to tackle Wales’ biggest mountain at over 1,000m were remote. Certainly the various webcams covering the mountain made it clear that there was plenty of white stuff on it.

Instead we rode out from Llangollen and did some mint trails and had a great time. Proper exploring, sussing out some new trails including getting told off by land owners (twice), quipping “yes, silly isn’t it?” when told that footpaths were only supposed to be used for walking on and falling off on silly steep bits (at least three times). More photos here.

Tonight was hard work riding home. Worked late and so it was probably an hour later to be doing the route, but there was a constant headwind all the way back and sleet blowing in my face. Bike felt slow. Legs felt heavy. Just wanted it to be over. Winter is clinging on and Snowdon this weekend is looking highly unlikely.

Last week it was warm and dry enough to hang up the Endura eVent 3/4s and get the board shorts out over the 3/4 bibknicks. This morning we’ve woken up to a bit of snow covering things and although as I write the sun’s melting it away. The really cold wet weather isn’t over just yet. I can’t help thinking that the more wintery weather is on the horizon. It’ll be interesting to see what else is going to be thrown down at us before the end of the month.

Photo by Rob Hamilton-Smith

Rob Hamilton Smith has been running a blog again for quite a while now. Get the latest on the Euro life and some stunning photos over at his blog. Expedition style skiing and snowshoe action in winter and biking in summer.