It is said that, in terms of weather, March comes in like a lion and the Garmin record for today's 36 miles (2700 feet) trip via Burnsall, Linton, Grassington, Cracoe etc showed an average temperature of 32.3 F. I suppose it was the 0.3 F that meant icicles did not form from the tears in my eyes from the cold. I am not someone who, when alone, stops for coffee and cake so people can admire my bike but today I did divert to Grassington for a double espresso and, knowing that no one would believe this dilution of my image, I even took a photograph of the takeaway cup.
I left my bike by the shop door unlocked (the cold and the clag meant Grassington was somewhat devoid of humanity) and the next customer commented that there were now few places where it would not have been stolen, even as I watched it, Grassington being one. However I am sure SPD pedals divert those who still believe in toe clips away from thievery.
Around Ilkley I saw dozens of cyclists but as I moved North virtually none, apart from a small group of ladies in a virtually deserted Burnsall. It was in Burnsall on my last trip out that I met a polite couple who were both riding Bottecchia bikes - the brand Greg Lemond rode, and famously in the Paris time trial when he, to my annoyance, beat Laurent Fignon to deny Laurent his third Tour.
I guess if you ride a Bottecchia you are partly saying "look at me" (or us) which is perhaps not the case on a Boardman. Yet Boardman markets a model that retails at £2300, although whether one would recognise that out on the road is perhaps debatable.
Anyway,wet days,warm days,cold days: 500+ miles so far this year
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