'Shine yer shoes, Mister?'

It was a day that started to get dark before it had got light, and foolishly I thought the smaller roads wouldn't be too grotty for my bike ride.
 This is riding with full length mudguards, on tarmac roads, and only an hour into the ride. It was still good to be out, though my road bike has gone into hiding, saying it wants bubble bath for its xmas present.