Thermals were the order of the day for my early morning cycle ride this morning. After a few weeks of torrential rain whilst cycling early on a Sunday I was quite looking forward to the forecast of dry but very cold. So, on went my thermal long-sleeved top, thermal 3<\/sup>\/4<\/sub> length bib tights, a pair of thermal socks, a cycling jersey, a thermal jacket, some thein thermal glove liners and then a pair of gloves and a buff around my neck. It was then that I realised that although only about 1\u00baC outside, it was also pouring with rain. That wasn’t supposed to happen and wasn’t exactly welcomed either, but given the next few things that happened, it seemed as though it was par for the course today as it was going to be ‘one of those days’!.<\/p>\n So, with the prospect of freezing rain for our cycle ride, on went a waterproof jacket as well and I started loading up the car. As I did so, the tailgate closed, banging me on the head and shoulder and knocking me over into a muddy puddle. It hurt and I was now wet and muddy so I went back in changed my top and tried again. This time once the car was loaded I jumped in it and guess what – it\u00a0wouldn’t start. That’s what I get for spending most of yesterday washing, cleaning and vacuuming it – I should have just left it dirty.<\/p>\n Oh well, out I got again, unloaded the car and loaded it into Anna’s car and finally managed to set off. I was now about 15 later than I had hoped to set off but as I’m always early still\u00a0and time to get to Machynlleth to meet Gus. That was until I got to the end of the road and tried turning left to Machynlleth – No can do, the road was closed. I now had a 10 mile detour to make as well, through Borth (which was flooded due to the rain), along Glanfred Lane and through Talybont to where I finally got back on track and eventually made it Machynlleth, arriving dead on 6:30am, the time we are supposed to set off on our ride. At least I didn’t keep Gus waiting too long as I retold the story of may day so far, got my shoes and helmet on and built my bike.<\/p>\n My new front light that I bought a couple of weeks ago had decided to stop working, but luckily I had a spare and we finally set off into some light rain. The rain\u00a0didn’t come to anything though and we had a dry ride out to Aberdovey, around Tonfannau to Bryncrug and back. Just shy of 40 miles on cold wet roads, but a nice ride all the same.<\/p>\nOne of those days.<\/h2>\n