Satellite image showing the UK covered in a blanket of snow and ice. Photo: NEODAAS/University of Dundee
Much, if not all of the country is currently in the grip of some of the worst weather conditions we've seen since, well, last year. To be fair, last years winter was pretty bad too, at least it was for a week anyway. It's now been days since it first snowed here in
London. The temperature has remained low and so the snow has now turned to ice.
Us British, well at least us English anyway, are rubbish at living with snow and ice. Many roads and train lines are closed or at the very least journey times are considerably slower. I suppose it’s all down to the fact we, as a nation, don’t invest enough in an infrastucture to help us better manage the kind of conditions we’re experiencing.
I haven’t ridden any of my bikes for at least two weeks. It’s been many, many years since I went so long without getting on a bike. Circumstances appear to have conspired against me. First the holidays came along with trips to visit family, without bike. Then came having to work in another part of
London making it difficult to cycle. Finally, the bad weather came along to top it all off.
The worst part of it is I can’t even go for a run; it’s an ice rink out there. It's a real shame because during the holidays I managed to put together a string of seven back-to-back base level runs. I think part of me new finding opportunities to workout were going to become challenging so I got out while the going was good.
As I sit here nursing a beer and eating the last of the Christmas fruit cake I’m finding it tough to handle not being able to do the outdoors stuff I’m so used to doing. It’s made me realise that I would find it really difficult living in a place where the winters would be longer and harsher than they are here in
London. I'd have to join a gym and that is saying something.
All isn’t lost though. Two positives have come out of all my non-riding. The first is taking the train has given me time to read a most interesting book, more of which will be written about later. The second is I’ve taken to walking a lot more as part of my daily commute. It’s provided me an opportunity to experience the part of
London I live in from a fresh perspective. Walking takes a lot less concentration than cycling and doesn’t put me in the kind of day dream world that running induces. My walk home takes me from
Liverpool Street station to Spitalfields, then onto
Brick Lane, down to
Columbia Road and finally Broadway Market and London Fields. All the cool shops, restaurants and bars tempt me as I make my way home each night. It’s quite a novelty at the moment but I still can’t wait to get back on my bike and experience the speed and freedom two wheels bring, even on my daily commute.
I have seen a few hardy or maybe foolish souls braving the slippery roads on their bikes. I’ve even seen a few out with skinny tyres. Most though have been riding something a bit more sturdy. It got me thinking, I might bring my old school steel Kona Lava Dome aka Pub Bike out of storage if the current weather conditions continue. With its thick tyres and wide handle bars it could be the perfect solution in helping me return to commuting to work by bike even if the weather is bad. Which ever bike I end up riding I'll reduce the pressure in the tyres, a little, to increase the grip. Be safe out there!
