Normal service is resumed.

At last I managed to pedal in this morning, the roads were miraculously pretty clear with just the cycle lanes a bit sludged up. I can live with that though. It did feel pretty damn cold but I have no idea what the temperature was. After tipping the house upside down for my old Army headover which I singularly failed to find, I came upon my Shemagh (Google it) which I also had in the Army, that was thrown into service as a face/nose protector and it seemed to perform the task ok. Although my nose is quite sore even after the protection was worn. Just in case you’ve forgotten, I got frost nip on the end of my nose last week. The down side is looking like a suicide bomber while I’m pedalling. But Birmingham City Centre does offer enough life ending opportunities without the need to look like one.

I am missing my commute alomg the canal, I really enjoy that and might take a chance on going home that way tonight depending on what happens weather wise today. Rumour control says there’s a thaw on the way. That only means wet and mud along the canal, I’ll have to see about replacing my overshoes then.

6 responses to “Normal service is resumed.

  1. My ears have just about recovered now, although they are still really sensitive to the cold. Cycling to work now involves 4 hats. (Ear protector, wind proof buff, woolley hat and a massive crash helmet.) I'm still commuting completely off-road including a stretch along the canal. The ground is still nicely frozen so it's currently mud free!

  2. The cut by me is totally icey Red, my MTB slicks can't cope with that. The shemagh seemed to do ok for my nose, but it is pretty wet with my breath vapour. I used to have one of those cycle masks that supposedly cut out air pollution, that would have done the job too, but that is something else that has fallen into my house's black hole never to be seen again.

  3. I just wear a balaclava… my ears are still frozen solid

  4. You know what I use now… you know how sometimes petrol stations have Thinsulate gloves and beanies for £3.99 with £20 of petrol, I got some of those – they're so much better than my £40 Endura winter gloves and £10 Endura thermal head band!!!!

  5. Well the bad news is it's snowing here in South Wales, bucketloads, so I'll be off the commute for at least another week.

  6. Although I've carried on cycling to work through this weather, I have stuck to the direct route and main roads – I'd be wary about cycling on this, with slicks, right next to a canal – fall in there and it'll be more than just the nose with frost nip!!And there is a strong possibility of more snow overnight/early morning, so be careful mate.

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