Slush

 It snowed last night, so today I got up early, helped Dani move her car (She's an NHS worker), made porridge and left the house at about 8.30. A short ride up a main road led to a byway crossing a golf course, not too difficult but still a tad tricky in the snow;

Onto a back road, turn down a side road, and onto another byway;

This is where things got difficult. Light rain/drizzle was falling, add that to slush sitting on wet ground and a worn rear tyre and what you get is no traction uphill. I aired both tyres down several times, ending up with 3psi front and 2.75 on the back, which helped a bit. But only a bit. I made it to the end, crossed the road onto a wide public footpath (silly designation, it's wide and well surfaced so well suited to a variety of users). This track is a little more sheltered, and easier going;

One of my reasons for going out early was to avoid the 4x4 'heroes' messing up the snow. I met the first further along. 

Next another back road, known in our house as 'liver & bacon lane' as I once couldn't remember the proper name. Despite being covered in snow the grip was good;

Onto the A6 and Dove Holes next, passing through the village then an uncomfortable right turn leads uphill to a UCR around Beelow Quarry. I can usually make this climb, which is short and tough, but today it was a push.

Again the track around the quarry (which has been moved over to allow more quarrying) was slushy except on the highest part where the snow had been blasted away by the wind. Before I went too far I changed gloves to a pair of 'lobster claws' as the first pair started to wet out. In winter I tend to carry two spare pairs, cold hands are a misery.

Dropping back downhill was a pleasure, for some reason the snow wasn't too slushy, and then I turned along a bridlepath towards a farm, meeting a couple of friendly dogwalkers along the way. Back onto tarmac, through Peak Dale, up 'Monkey Brew' (another stiff climb, but on tarmac), then back along liver'n'bacon. I left out the footpath on the return leg, but I did take in both byways.

I was out for about 3 hours, which is over twice as long as I'd usually take on that route. The snow was, to be frank, slushy crap. I'd have been better off on a regular mtb, or even a cross bike, on the off-road sections but on snow covered tarmac the fatty ruled. I do wonder if I'd have had a better ride if I'd gone over 400 metres, the magic number around here for finding the best snow.

I need to replace the back tyre, and I ripped the seat of my waterproof trousers so they need replacing as well.

Paul.