I woke this morning to an amazing white covered ground contrasting against a blazing sun. First thing I thought was what a day to get out on the bike…and I wasn’t disappointed.

I decided on the Newsteadloop I do regularly as there are a couple of stops where I anticipated the view would be cool. The first part of the route is all road into Newstead, but the drive up to the house was awesome. The sun was blaring through the trees on the right-hand side and glistening off the frost. At this point my hands were frozen so it was the perfect opportunity to stop take some photos and thaw out the hands before my fingers dropped off.

The next section past the house is a gentle climb through the woods. As the ground was thawing out the mud under the crispy leaves were starting to cause drag…The going was slow to the top. Then it’s the fast section down to the steps where you break out across the field.

The next section down to Thieves woodproved to be amazing, not for the biking but for the views. I stopped a couple of times and got some amazing photos. I’d not seen this area look as well; this ride was becoming one of the best I’d been on for ages. The speed was slow, but the weather brought the best out of the area.

Into Thieves woodand an idyllic picture of the sun blazing through trees again. The mud was getting gloppy now and slowing me right down…but who cares!! I passed through the woods with the sun rays constantly striking me. With not many people about it was quiet with time to gather my thoughts, surely one of the best mindfulness techniques around. I was totally in the moment. That was until a massive dog appeared from nowhere and ran towards me. Certainly, brought me back to reality.

Out of Thieves woodand across the road to cauldwell dam. Through the flowing trees on a routey flowing track, but the mud caught me out. I was sweeping through a left turn to feel my front wheel stick to the ground throwing me right off the bike. Luckily as the mud was thick it was a soft landing.

I finished through loop down at the dam. Exhausted but fulfilled…an amazing day to be out on the bike.