And that was that...

[ShinySideUp]

And so, here in Cornwall at least, the long, hot summer comes to an end as rain starts to fall, seemingly to continue for at least a week or more. No more T shirt-only cycling, no more mostly-clean bikes coming home, no more sunglasses in which to look and feel cool. No, it's back to rain, mud, hosing down of bikes (if you can be bothered to go out in the cold rain) and wondering whether or not, when you want to go somewhere, just to take the car instead. I am a fair-weather biker and I've had more than my share of fair weather this year having done 600 miles in the last couple of months but now I'm looking at my coal supplies, thinking about putting up the draught-proofing curtains over the open plan stairs, getting the dog's towels out for when they come back from their walks soaking wet and wondering when to take the battery out of the bike for winter. It was good while it lasted, and it did indeed last, but now it's gone and met-office summer is officially over. Roll on next summer.

 

[Rob Rides EMTB]

And so, here in Cornwall at least, the long, hot summer comes to an end as rain starts to fall, seemingly to continue for at least a week or more. No more T shirt-only cycling, no more mostly-clean bikes coming home, no more sunglasses in which to look and feel cool. No, it's back to rain, mud, hosing down of bikes (if you can be bothered to go out in the cold rain) and wondering whether or not, when you want to go somewhere, just to take the car instead. I am a fair-weather biker and I've had more than my share of fair weather this year having done 600 miles in the last couple of months but now I'm looking at my coal supplies, thinking about putting up the draught-proofing curtains over the open plan stairs, getting the dog's towels out for when they come back from their walks soaking wet and wondering when to take the battery out of the bike for winter. It was good while it lasted, and it did indeed last, but now it's gone and met-office summer is officially over. Roll on next summer.

Get some lights, some fiveten Goretex boots, some wet / cold weather gear and carry on riding.
Wet weather riding can be fun too! Just takes a bit more prep and cleaning. Side benefit: your skill levels increase after encountering shitty greasy trails, roots and rocks! Balance improved and you realise just how much grip you can get in the dry!

 

[Mikerb]

..............or move somewhere less wet than Cornwall!! . .....and ride somewhere with no claggy mud. The forests a round here are sandy loamy soil that just brushes off when dry and we have plenty of winter days when the riding is good. I look at it slightly different. In cooler temperatures I can wear armour without getting too hot..........I wear the same clear Oakleys all year round.......and I love coming back to a roaring fire! Cheer up!!

 

[JP-NZ]

And from the opposite end of the world, we had our first day of spring yesterday in NZ, 24c and sunshine. We have just finished one of the wettest winters on record and about to embark on 6 months of dry & warm weather riding. I cannot wait!

To top it off I pick up my new Rail today

 

[Rob Rides EMTB]

And from the opposite end of the world, we had our first day of spring yesterday in NZ, 24c and sunshine. We have just finished one of the wettest winters on record and about to embark on 6 months of dry & warm weather riding. I cannot wait!

To top it off I pick up my new Rail today

The dream! Enjoy

 

[RustyMTB]

Love winter riding. Getting covered in s**t is all part of the fun for me. Bring it on!

 

[ShinySideUp]

Ooh, warm and sunny there, I like it

My brother-in-law lives in Murcia.

 

[Pdoz]

Mr whether is guessing a 50% chance of 1 mm rain ALL next week in my corner of Australia!!! I even had to ride through a puddle on wednesday!!!

My 13 yo didn't believe me when I said the poor people have to ride in puddles most of the time.

 

[Hobo Mikey]

Rain or shine just get out there and enjoy.

 

[VWsurfbum]

Love winter riding. Getting covered in s**t is all part of the fun for me. Bring it on!

View attachment 96238

looks like someone stole your motor or it disolved in the mud?

 

[Doomanic]

Got to say I’m not looking forward to winter this year; I’m not sure I can be arsed with all the cleaning and maintenance required to keep an eeb in tip top condition. I might have to buy a cheap HT mandraulic bike with this year’s C2W voucher…

 

[RustyMTB]

looks like someone stole your motor or it disolved in the mud?

It's the new Rusty short range motor. 15nm, 5 mile range if it can be arsed.

 

[Dax]

Got to say I’m not looking forward to winter this year; I’m not sure I can be arsed with all the cleaning and maintenance required to keep an eeb in tip top condition. I might have to buy a cheap HT mandraulic bike with this year’s C2W voucher…

Cleaning? Maintenance?

 

[VWsurfbum]

Cleaning? Maintenance?

Its something other people do

 

[Long Way Home]

And so, here in Cornwall at least, the long, hot summer comes to an end as rain starts to fall, seemingly to continue for at least a week or more. No more T shirt-only cycling, no more mostly-clean bikes coming home, no more sunglasses in which to look and feel cool. No, it's back to rain, mud, hosing down of bikes (if you can be bothered to go out in the cold rain) and wondering whether or not, when you want to go somewhere, just to take the car instead. I am a fair-weather biker and I've had more than my share of fair weather this year having done 600 miles in the last couple of months but now I'm looking at my coal supplies, thinking about putting up the draught-proofing curtains over the open plan stairs, getting the dog's towels out for when they come back from their walks soaking wet and wondering when to take the battery out of the bike for winter. It was good while it lasted, and it did indeed last, but now it's gone and met-office summer is officially over. Roll on next summer.

I feel your pain my Cornish brother. I live in a microclimate area of unusually miserable weather, with muzzle most of the winter.

I'd love a proper seasonal winter with some cold dry and sunny days to be able to cross the moors and actually enjoy it.

 

[ragnor]

Can't wait for Winter. Dig out the crampons and the ice axes. Bugger all that mud, freezing cold rain and endless faff of cleaning. Brings back bad memories (very distant) of cross country running and hypothermia changing in a muddy field. Mind you Winter mountaineering is usually the pits unless it's the nice hard neve and the sun is shining with little or no wind!

 

[High Rock Ruti]

Get some lights, some fiveten Goretex boots, some wet / cold weather gear and carry on riding.
Wet weather riding can be fun too! Just takes a bit more prep and cleaning. Side benefit: your skill levels increase after encountering shitty greasy trails, roots and rocks! Balance improved and you realise just how much grip you can get in the dry!

High Rock Ruti

Hello Rob

The Voima is close to being shipped, seems I remember "someone" was promising a review, no pressure of course, hoping "the" tester is NOT as BROKEN as my anticipating heart is....?

As Spike Lee says in somebodys gotta have it "Please baby, please baby....baby baby Please"

Wear

Warm Regards Ruti

 

[galaga187]

Not sure you’ll be able to clean the bikes this winter in the UK due to the double whammy of hose pipe bans and rising fuel costs.

 

[Long Way Home]

Leaving the bike out for ten minutes in the current rainfall, is like a free jet wash...

 

[Manc44]

"Roll on next summer" bearing in mind we have had years where these isn't a summer at all.

 

[7869hodgy]

Get some lights, some fiveten Goretex boots, some wet / cold weather gear and carry on riding.
Wet weather riding can be fun too! Just takes a bit more prep and cleaning. Side benefit: your skill levels increase after encountering shitty greasy trails, roots and rocks! Balance improved and you realise just how much grip you can get in the dry!

+1 100%

 

[2WheelsNot4]

Have you room in the garden for a gazebo ? That could be your area for cleaning out of the wind and rain.

 

[cozzy]

It truly has been an epic uk summer , despite the eco loons proclaiming it's a "climate emergency"
But once it's wet and stays wet, the bike goes away till spring.
I get zero enjoyment from slopping around in the mud.
MTB is very much a seasonal hobby to me.

 

[MountainBoy]

Can't wait for Winter. Dig out the crampons and the ice axes. Bugger all that mud, freezing cold rain and endless faff of cleaning. Brings back bad memories (very distant) of cross country running and hypothermia changing in a muddy field. Mind you Winter mountaineering is usually the pits unless it's the nice hard neve and the sun is shining with little or no wind!

Your profile says you live in the UK. I thought mountains were a necessary component of winter mountaineering. I will give you a pass on "mountain" biking, but "winter mountaineering"? That seems unlikely without crossing the channel.

 

[MountainBoy]

It truly has been an epic uk summer , despite the eco loons proclaiming it's a "climate emergency"
But once it's wet and stays wet, the bike goes away till spring.
I get zero enjoyment from slopping around in the mud.
MTB is very much a seasonal hobby to me.

It's not just "eco loons" proclaiming it's a climate emergency, it's very sober and competent scientists. I can't help it if you narrowly define "emergency" to something that can't extend beyond 5 minutes. The fact that it threatens the very existence of major cities within our children's lifetime and is very difficult to undo, is enough to classify it as an emergency in my book.

 

[stiv674]

Your profile says you live in the UK. I thought mountains were a necessary component of winter mountaineering. I will give you a pass on "mountain" biking, but "winter mountaineering"? That seems unlikely without crossing the channel.

I presume you've heard of Scotland...

 

[stiv674]

The thing I'll miss the most once the weather deteriorates is having a couple of beers sat outside a pub, not so nice when it's freezing cold or raining...

 

[ragnor]

Your profile says you live in the UK. I thought mountains were a necessary component of winter mountaineering. I will give you a pass on "mountain" biking, but "winter mountaineering"? That seems unlikely without crossing the channel.

Some of the best mountaineering in the world in my neck of the woods. If you're into winter mountaineering/climbing then I would suggest The Ben ( Ben Nevis) in full on winter conditions might be entertaining for you. If not try the world class downhill track although better not from the top if it's covered in ice. ☠☠Our Mountain Rescue teams are also great if you need to call on them.

 

[MountainBoy]

I presume you've heard of Scotland...

Of course, that's home to the highest point in the UK (called Ben Nevis). I would call it a foothill except there are no mountains around it.

 

[stiv674]

Of course, that's home to the highest point in the UK (called Ben Nevis). I would call it a foothill except there are no mountains around it.

Sorry, I forgot everything is bigger in the US...