How to beat the January blues

Better tyres, but weirdly enough almost no snow on this mountain.

I had my first real ride on the snow, ever... a bit crazy , I had no idea of the conditions on this road, when I reached the point in the photo, I was surprised to feel some grip, and decided to try it.

And 2 crashes when coming back down (slick tyres, also some ice) - last time I crashed was like 30+ years ago.

I went out for a couple of beers on a lovely sunny day yesterday in central Illinois, USA.

Sunny, but 6 °F / -14 °C.

There were a few days of snow and ice in Edinburgh before Christmas, then a bit longer with greasy / very windy conditions after.

Luckily the humidity has not always been high - but I've resolved to go out, even if it's hardly "training" and more "remaining upright by moving at a cautious pace".  A new pair of mitts have helped.  I've convinced myself that's still better than "sat indoors".

Worst is the usual winter thoughts of what all the brown-black salty sludge is doing to the bike, even with a bit more diligent cleaning regime.

My bikes are my main form of transport, so I've cycled about 650km so far this year.  Most of it has been on main roads, so the ice risk is pretty minimal. 

I have ridden outside once this year to date.   Added to the snow, ice and flood hazards has been bright, low winter sun on the few days otherwise good enough to venture out in.

I don't want to risk the 'blinded by the sun' drivers.

Yep weather's been useless for outdoors this month so far, I won't risk it below 3C for fear of falling on ice & breaking something, so it's just Zwift earning it's subs upkeep for once, but it's alot harder to motivate yourself for it.

As someone who has paid the pillock premium with three months off work after a prang on an icy January morning (yes I should have known better and quite rightly my wife hasn't let me forget my stupidity) this time of year is turbo time. I've shaken things up this year adding a healthy amount of retirement planning. Needless to say I'm looking forward to wondering how I could ever spare time away from the lanes and countryside to spend time at work!

I think it was me who posted the "theoretical cyclist" mag cover in Favourites Funnies...

Anyway, weather not been so bad down here on the south coast since the start of the year, however a week of very low temperatures and me not prepared to take the risk of months off the bike with a broken wrist or collarbone has meant I've only been "out out" twice this year, an evening spin doing seafront laps, and a longer club cafe run out to Puddletown last week. However I've also kept my legs spinning and everything else going with several indoor sessions on Zwift in between, and have managed in the first two weeks of 2025 approx 165km or just over 100 miles in total.

Roll on the spring...