Winter has arrived properly in the UK, and we’ve reached that familiar point of the year where riding means one thing: thermals first, everything else second. The morning air has gone from “a bit chilly” to “cold enough to bite your fingertips if you forget the heated gloves”.
So for the next few months, the main character on the road won’t be Phoenix it’ll be The Captain, my dependable Transalp. He takes the cold in his stride and handles the commute like nothing’s changed. Phoenix gets a well-earned rest… except for one very important outing.
In January 2026, Mrs C and I will be heading to the Vespa Club of Great Britain AGM and Dance. I’ll be on Phoenix, and Mrs C will sensibly travel by train. That trip will be Phoenix’s winter appearance a reminder that the spirit of the Vespa Lifestyle doesn’t disappear when the temperature drops.
The paint repair series on Phoenix has been paused for now. With no electric in the garage, I can’t safely heat the space enough for filler and paint to cure properly. That’s fine craft shouldn’t be rushed, and winter projects often work best when they follow the weather rather than fight it.
On the bright side, I’ve already started sorting the shed. If all goes to plan, it will soon become a functional little darkroom my film developing and printing workhorse for the year ahead. A place for quiet craft, cups of coffee, and the rhythm of photography the old-fashioned way.
So we roll into winter with:
- thermal layers,
- heated grips and gloves,
- a stiff upper lip,
- and a sense that spring is waiting on the other side.
Riding doesn’t stop , it just changes shape. And sometimes, that’s exactly what keeps it interesting.
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