Cold! First day that really felt wintry, -6 C. Layered on the lobster gloves, winter boots, yadda yadda, and trundled off on the mtb turned tractor with 300 studs and fit-inducing lights front and back. I'd forgotten what it was like to be warm all over except for a freezing butt, or how to brake downhill to keep from getting too cold, or shift gently because the derailleur is slower below freezing. And how much d*** work it is to ride with studs.

But the roads are snow-free and dry, the air is still and clear, the morning colours are lovely and I actually get to see daylight, both ways if I'm lucky. Compared to what's to come this is a doddle. Summer is a long long way away...