Everything grinds to a halt

So, things were looking up.

A group of two for the night ride (one more than normal), a matured chilli con carne was defrosting for afterwards, wine at the ready and a plan for 2500 calories used and 2499 taken onboard was hatched. Then it all went wrong on so many levels.

The hospital called to cancel my operation because they have a Norovirus outbreak at the hospital. Not a massive psychological issue, more a practical one - I had days off work mapped out, time to rest, training plans to think about, Oh - and we are skiing in seven weeks and I need to be fit. Bugger, bugger, bugger ...

The night ride was pure slog throughout. Mud (slip), slush (slide), water (splash) then repeat. After the slow passage through the first wood, we amended the route to avoid the second and opted for some of the larger bridleways that may be kinder to us and get us home before midnight.

We had a good climb up to one of the highest villages on the route - about 500' - and made our way through the backstreets. There was just one last hill before we drop down to the river when disaster struck. We are out of the saddle to knock this sharp incline off in short order when Mick feels some wiggle out back and stops to have a look. He picks up the bike to get it off the road and the back wheel comes off, disk pops out and brake pads stick together.

It's a shiny new bike and he doesn't want to try a mini bleed and mess anything up so I volunteer to race back to the start and get the car. Mick misses out on the second half but I had a night ride with everything, including a time trial.

The thaw really sets in and most of the slush has gone by midday on Saturday, so plans are drawn for a sedate spin to the cafe on Sunday afternoon for latte and cake.

It was a stunning afternoon with clear blue skies and enough meltwater to disable half of the local low-level routes. It will, no doubt, subside in a day or two, just in time for the next band of heavy snow forecast for mid week. Don't you love global warming.

All that remains is to sit by the telephone and wait for the hospital to call.