A page featuring galleries and links for cycle tours undertaken during December 2023.
I ride regularly, and I do not necessarily post a web page for each tour I do.
I do post to Facebook, Garmin Connect, Strava and occasionally to Komoot and Instagram.
Memory Lane in Gö – December 30 2023
When we first moved to Göttingen from London, Gunnar Fehlau would take us out showing us the trails. Now, Gunnar has returned home from a year of work/bikepacking we ventured down memory lane together and rode one of those routes we did back in 2019.
We avoided the flood water and although we got a little bit muddy, we did not wallow in mud or need to swim thus avoiding wassersport.
Danke for the company: Andrea, Josh, Gunnar, Victoria, and Konstantin.
On Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/10462547445
I hear wood being fashioned into Arks…… In Gö – December 26 2023
A combination of storm Zoltan, constant heavy rain and melting snow running off the high ground means we are building Arks here in Gö (and across DE).
The previously dry cisterns, flood plains, and storm drains are now awash with water and although Gö´s flood prevention systems are extensive there is still flooding of the Leine Valley floor from the overflow of the Leine and Oker Rivers. A dam at nearby Northeim broke and the railway was damaged by an under wash revealing gas mains and other utilities.
On my first ride for over two weeks because of illness (nasty cold) and Christmas, I kept to the asphalt, hard standing and away from the mud as best as I could.
I tried not to take a swim, but I did almost indulge in Wasser sport at one point when flood water reached my bottom bracket. I was mesmerised by the swollen waters.
On Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/10439249264
Second Advent Schlamm in Gö – December 10 2023
As a small group we enjoyed splashing through deep puddles and muddy bathing like Hippo´s on the flooded at times Feldweg. Amazingly the temperature was well above zero – hurray!
Danke all.
On Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/10359212053
Reasons to be Cheerful in Gö – December 7 2023
Ian Dury sang his reasons to be cheerful…. I did as well. I had a cool bike ride, almost all ice has melted away and the sun was shining.
I was also not cold for the first time in a long while and in fact I took items of clothing off.
The route was an Omloop mash-up with nine gravel and one cobbled sector with almost the rest being Feldweg.
Video/Ian Dury – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIMNXogXnvE
On Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/10343082316
Not SAD – Shiver Me Timbers in Gö – December 1 2023
The cold weather we have been experiencing for some time is getting into my head and although I am grateful not to suffer from SAD (Seasonal Adjustment Disorder) I do feel it’s a bit of a struggle not to allow the winter to consume you. Especially as it will last for another three months.
Medical judgement suggests that SAD is possibly caused by shorter days and less daylight triggering a chemical change in the brain leading to symptoms of depression.
In the ´Mid Bleak Winter´ by Gustav Holst is a good British Christmas Carol to hum at this time, and the winter solstice at Christmas time has been wildly celebrated in various forms for centuries to help break the gloom.
I went for this ride in a below zero temperature to embrace the sesaon and soak up as much sunshine as I could. I had to be careful but because there has been dry weather for a few days it wasn´t too icy and I stuck to the road for the most part.
Good luck to you if you are suffering.
Velo Klubhaus 
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