As I left in the car the temperature was a resolute -6 and it was looking like it could shape up to be a tough morning out. As a testament to the benefits of just getting out there and doing stuff I unloaded the car at my favourite start point on the Mendips topped up my tyres, pulled on a thought-out layering system to keep the cold out and rolled away form the dog walkers and their friendly “you’re mad”s and “Happy Christmas”es and soon I was heating up nicely. After a brisk and mostly ridable climb on packed snow I reached a junction and an optimal temperature. I chose what has to be the wrong option and then the ride turned quickly into more of a walk through 4” powder snow with my bike. Clearly few people had been this way and the going was tough to the point of making me thing I had made the wrong decision coming out at all. I was also getting annoyingly too hot and wondering how to deal with it without then freezing. On the verge of giving up and finding the fastest way back to the car I turned back at the furthest point, helped with my decision by a herd of pretty tough looking cows watching me curiously. Ploughing through the snow I even mistook sledge-tracks ofr bike tracks and was feeling like I was the only rider up there who couldn’t handle it, when I suddenly found a better-worn track.
This was the main route to the summit and had been trampled compact and refrozen. It was the saving point of the entire trip. I was able to ride it without the stop-start-fall off progress I’d been having all day. It was fast and fun and exciting so I tore along it to the top, and then even faster off the top of the moor and all the way back to the car, even adding in a bonus loop on the other side of the valley for good measure. My snow ride was rescued and I was able to head home for excessive food and presents with a wide grin on my face. I suggest you all do the same at every opportunity.
A
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