17.01.2026 25km at below 3C.

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  Saturday 17th 39F/4C [7.50]  Another grey and breezy day. 63F/17C in the room. 46F/8C in the greenhouse.

  Up at 7.15 after clock watching and dozing for hours. My cold is still hanging on. Congestion in nose and chest.

  I hope to fit in a ride this morning.

 9.40 Back from my walk. It was cold on my hands despite the GripGrab gloves. Two male pheasants were in the drive. Both took off in opposite directions. Complaining bitterly at their disturbance. A Red kite left a roadside tree for pastures new. Again complaining at being disturbed. The stove has warmed the room to 65F/18C.

 12.45 37F/2.8C. Back from a 25m ride. Partially sunny becoming overcast. Cold enough to feel like a knife on exposed extremities. Headwind going. Crosswind coming back. The wind chill effect at 30kph was below 12F/-10C. The printed 3D saddle was fine without padded cycling shorts. I wore my Endura cycling raincoat over a pile-lined, fleece jacket. It was fine as long as I kept both zipped right up to my neck. Fleece trousers on my legs. Thick wool socks in Sorel boots. 

 17.00 I have been cleaning the e-bike at dusk. With the battery removed. Using car shampoo and a soft brush from a dustpan. The long bristles were useful in reaching every nook and cranny. I thoroughly rinsed the bike off afterwards with copious rainwater. It was rapidly getting dark as I worked.

 20.00 69F/21C in the room. Dinner was a chicken and mushroom fry-up. With tweggs on toast. 

  

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