Snow biking

I went into Tredz, the local bike shop, on Saturday looking for a Chain. I've got one on order from JE James, who I'm unlikely to use again. But, wanting to get a ride in, I decided to buy one anyway and keep the postal one as a spare. When I got there I started drooling over a 2008 full sus bike they've got on offer. After moping up my saliva the sales guy suggested I borrow a similar demo bike for £30 (which I'd get back as a store credit). Considering I was going to spend £14 on a chain, this would allow me to kill 2 birds with one stone.

And so it was arranged - A Specialized Stumpy would be mine for a few hours!! Sunday I turned up in my cycling gear, got the bike off them, loaded onto the car and disappeared up to Glyncorrwg. Damn! It was cold! I ran Whites (with the exception of the black run) and was suitably impressed. I came away feeling the bike inspired confidence and can swallow the kind of drops and hits that Whites level throws at you, no problem. It climbed well and descended plushly. It felt generally nicely put together and I'm hooked!! I played with the bike and took my time, chatting to a couple of guys on their way round and feeling my way round the suspension settings. It was too late to return the bike to Tredz on Sunday. So I hung onto it.

Sunday night we got some snow - not much just enough to scare the commuting hoards. By lunchtime most of it had gone. I took the bike to work so I could return it to Tredz lunchtime. But I had a plan. If I could get the afternoon off and Tredz were OK with me hanging onto it, I could just about squeeze in a spin round Penhydd in.

When I got to the Afan Visitor Centre it was clear I had hit the jackpot - just enough snow to make it interesting and not enough to make it impossible.

Climbing in the snow is hard work!! After that horrible fire-road climb up "To The Top 3" I felt like a boil in the bag meal. I had 2 pairs of socks, long stirrup pants, shorts with a liner, a short sleeve shirt, a long sleeve shirt, an Alaska softshell and a waterproof. So I was cooking and at my first proper rest stop I spent a moment absorbing the scene and snapping some photos.

At the top of To The Top the scene was beautiful. A splash of hazy golden sunshine adding to the mood.

The weather closed in a little and by the time I got to Hidden Valley it was chucking it down.

The ubiquitous Hidden Valley shot.

The weather stayed close 'til the end. Here just after Genesis, I realised just how tired I was. Even downhill is harder in the snow.

The Stumpy was incredibly confident in the snow and it was surprisingly grippy. My only whinge is the number of times I clouted the pedals on the ground. I wish they'd put decent flatties on it for me I lost some confidence in the poor grip on the pedals.

That was one ride I won't forget!