Good ride today.

Left home at 8:15 this morning with the temperature at -9, I was worried about icy surfaces but the roads were fine. There were some dodgy patches but we walked through these. I met Spence at Drayton and we cycled on to meet Simon at the Radley Roundabout - being a bit late meant he had frozen solid but we soon got going.

It was bitterly cold, I soon felt the wind chill in my left thumb, it had been broken by a cricket ball over 10 years ago and always suffers when it gets cold. My feet began to get cold too but, as the sun rose higher things became more comfortable. I think we all felt the cold for the first hour.

We did the usual loops between Abingdon and Oxford dropping Simon back at Kennington and then stopping for tea and cake at Steve's place in Drayton. I cycled back to Hanney, then to Wantage with a quick 'up and down' Chain Hill (well, a quick down...) for good measure. I was pleased with the 60 miles given how cold it was. In truth, the morning was stunning with bright sunshine and snowy fields - well worth getting up for.

My chain is just about at end of life but I will leave it and the cassette on as long as I can. I want to start in May with a new chain and cassette that has had a few miles to wear in - aproximately £55 but very necessary.

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