Winter is finally here... This morning was a crisp, cold, sunny morning. After all the rain England has had this week it was a welcome relief. I was unsure how muddy the trails would be but the freezing weather meant the ground was still hard before the sun had time to get hold of it and reduce it back to mud.

At 7am it was fresh and misty. I headed through Portland Park. I must've left the house with slightly wet hands because on route to the felly my left forefinger went numb with cold. After a brief stop to warm my hands using the old reliable technique, putting them under my arm puts, I headed through the sherwood park industrial estate where I was greeted by the biggest dog I'd ever seen, or a deer I worked out as I got closer.

The mist had cleared in the felly and the sun was providing some awesome landscapes. The route is a full loop, crossing the M1 twice and exiting the same way I enter. First there is a quick long descent by the trees before sweeping back right after halfway and presenting a short but challenging climb.

It’s always worth stopping at the top to turnaround and take in the view, especially in the morning when the sun is covering the fields from the left hand side. If not take in the view, to get your breath before heading back over the motorway, out the felly, through the industrial estate and onto home through portland park.

The route itself is just over 10 miles and resembles an elongated figure of 8 when reviewing it on Google maps. It’s a simple ride for anyone who only has an hour spare to get the lungs pumping.