Winter's Arrival

You might have noticed my absence from the blog world. That is easily explained: winter has arrived here, and road cycling has ground to its seasonal halt. Riding is now all indoors, on a trainer, with bike computer in sight and heart rate monitor on. But there is (for me) a bit of exciting news that goes with this season. For the first time ever in my cycling history (and the first time at all since I was on the children's swim team) I am working with a coach. How cool is that! Specifically Coach Rob, known to some of you from Gerry's site Vicious Cycle.

That is one thing I like about the coming winter season: the promise that this structured approach brings, the opportunity to become a stronger rider, and to challenge my cycling limits.


There are things that I like less, such as the -4F temperature here yesterday morning, better than the -13F that the thermometer read at the bottom of the hill. Cold air drops. That is not including wind chill. Also I didn't much care for the 49F temperature in the little room where my trainer unit is set up. Indoors, me with a wool cap on. At least there is no wind in that room.


But I do like the patterns that winter can bring. Here are two images from the outdoor world today.

A detail from the garden. In the summer there is thyme and sweet marjoram
 in the planter, raspberries on the brambles, blueberries on the bushes. 

The apples remain, now adorned with little caps and bordered by
mini drifts on top of the bridge rail.

From time to time I will post photos, from here or France, hopefully finish up the lodging section of my last trip, and reorganize, edit the local rides section. By then spring will have returned.

I close wishing you each a happy, peaceful holiday season.