The Schelten loop

Its been a long time since the last proper road ride. Last week I attempted to cycle to Delemont and back, but could only get 25km before my fingers were so painfully cold I had to stop to heat up in Laufen with some very nice cake and coffee.
I realise now that just the fact of wearing 3 sets of gloves is enough to constrict the arteries in my hands, so the bloodflow would have been restricted even before the maximum temps of -8 last week.
Today I set out with the same idea to do the flat out and back to Delemont along the Birs valley, avoiding the snowy hills and frostbite descents. But now the mercury is above zero and it feels like spring. Its not spring of course, it just feels so warm compared to previous weeks.
Once in Delemont, the sun was shining, temperature several degrees, and of course I had to see just how far up the Scheltenpass I could get before having to turn back. I passed a French mountain biker, and when I found out the pass was open and no snow on the road, there were no thoughts of turning back now.
The pass will be used in this years Tour de Suisse, not a steep climb but its long enough to allow for some  attacks before the finish of the stage with the loop around Olten. Its just over 1050m, so the snow will be here for a while longer.
The descent was fine, in places there were small dumps of snow from the treetops but no ice on the road. Further down in a steep section of the road I pass a dump truck hurriedly shifting snow and soil. I didnt think twice till I passed it, but looking back I could see there had been a sizeable avalanche which must have covered the road, probably would have buried a car. Just beyond there are signs saying road closed, so I would have been the first to make it passed this hazard this afternoon.
Feels nice to be able to ride a decent distance with hills on the 531c, and there are still several weeks of winter biking left. Glad to have mudguards on my bike today, kept the snow melt water off my feet and legs which would have been painfully cold on the way down.

Slight aching knee the next morning though, that mountain bike crash in November might yet prove to be more than a flesh wound....
 

Achtung! Sledgers

The temperature has been dropping the past week in Basel, last night down to -19! Brass Basilisks beware. I managed a night ride in the powder snow with 2 others on Thursday night in the woods around Alschwil, but too cold to take any photographic evidence and also no time as it was a fast ride trying to keep up with those experienced Swiss cyclo-cross guys.

However, the skies are blue after the snow and during the day the temperature soared up to -7 so I set out up the snowy trails to Gempen. Today there is no mud zone at all, its snow all the way from the back door to the top. Its been so cold that the snow is still powdery, and somehow I found the grip to be more than sufficient to power upwards and onwards.
Lots of walkers today, one snowboarder and one or two mountain bikers as well, but the preferred mode of transport was by sledge.

Breathtaking views from the summit, it was worth braving the cold for the views over the frozen land. But as I took the gloves off to take a few photos  almost immediately my fingers lost all heat. There was no way they would recover, so I had to head home without riding the ridge trails beyond Gempen village this time. My feet were fine, I wore walking socks, normal neoprene overshoes and then another set of waterproof overshoes did enough to keep my toes warm. I wore legwarmers, then normal leggings and shorts on top which were more than enough and despite only 3 thin layers with a waterproof layer my body never felt cold. But the double gloves were no match for this Siberian blast. I was beginning to wonder how quickly frostbite can take hold, I should fit some hand warmers inside the gloves if the temp stays this low much longer.

The descent was much more fun and faster than expected, again the snow holding fast beneath the tyres.
By the end of the descent, I join the trail (still completely snow covered) beside the Birs river. Its now that I find the fork suspension is extremely slow almost as if they are locked in the bottomed out position. Is there a temperature range for Fox Float forks? I shall have to investigate. Could be that cold air in the forks no longer create enough pressure to rebound the forks.