I set off in 5°c and it just got colder the higher up I went, not much trail-riding the single track roads were bad enough, several close to impassable with snow drifts for anything other than an off-roader. The Peak District can get a bit wild for somewhere not that high up.

Riding 86 miles in those temps got right into my bones. I had got well clobbered up with a T shirt, wind stopper shirt, pullover, gillet, fleece & then my textile jacket but I couldn't move & looked like the Michelin man so came back in & took the fleece off, big mistake. Fortunately I only landed in the snow once, good job it's soft stuff.

There gets a point where it doesn't matter how cold it is... you just gotta get out and ride some. I go until my fingers and toes get numb, and that's usually enough. It takes a while to warm back up after that. I wish I had some trails close enough that I could get to them without being frozen before I get there.

There are roads not trails





This is the only thing that could warm me up, headed off to a chippy for some hot grub & a brew.

All that snow piled up really accentuates the cold. I'm not sure that 2nd picture qualifies as a road, but looks like good riding and a good meal.

Aye m8, that 2nd pic is a tarmac surfaced road between 2 villages, or should be. As you can see there's only been a tractor down it before me, & I fell off in the snow, soft landing.

Those fried potatoes look delicious. FFs being my weakness.

Hi Scott,

proper Brit chips take some beating!

Regards

FFs (chips as you call them in England) are my only fried food weakness. We make them at home now with a shoestring FF cutter in proper fresh oil & potatoes usually to go along with a cheeseburger. The meal is right up there with what you get from In/Out Burgers. Just glad you're back and talking about food. Signs of life and health! Take care.

Best - Scott

This is why sensible folk never leave England, Nowhere else can we get proper Fish & chips. It is the food of the gods.

Hi Paul,

I've been on a diet for the last ten weeks and have managed to drop from a lardy 13st 1lb (183lb) to 11st 7 (161), giving a loss of 22lb - so far!

So the chippy tea contents have reduced to lightly battered fish and peas (or sometimes beans), no chips, no onion rings, no gravy etc!

The diet's a self imposed regime and isn't too harsh or recognised by the experts - all I've done is to cut out as follows :

no British chips (nor French Fries),
no bread (stopped having sandwiches for lunch, replaced with tortilla wraps),
no biscuits (cookies to the sceptics, replaced with fresh fruit),
no cakes (tough one for me),

no beer (still have an occasional, ice cold cider).


So what am I eating?


Loads of chicken,

plenty of varied salads,

bacon (grilled and with the fat trimmed down - after cooking),

plenty of fresh fruit,

drinking loads of water,

generally smaller portions of everything,

using lots of high flavour spices etc.


OK when I say 'no' certain items, I still take an occasional curry (usually involving Doc & Ken), I just reduce the helpings a bit.

An occasional biscuit (dark choc ginger biscuits are something that I cannot resist) etc still passes my lips, as I believe an occasional treat goes a long way to keep one from straying too far from the line!


So have I taken up exercise? Nope - that may come in the future, who knows!

Do I have a target weight? Nope - I shall continue until I simply feel comfortable.


Do I feel better? Hell yes!


However I need to go out to buy new clothing, which I hate doing but I'm sure I'll find a source of ultra bright coloured, poor taste shirts!


Hugs to all.