Today was the only ‘decent’ weather forecast for over a week (4°C with sunny intervals) so I set off on the bike around eleven, as the sun was showing as a bright spot behind the clouds. I decided to break with my usual habit and stick to the major roads this time, partly to give my back a smoother ride than normal and also so I could relax more on damp greasy roads that were wider and cleaned by other traffic.
As it turned out, the major roads felt like ‘new’ roads to me because I use them infrequently, and I was lucky with the traffic having several 10 minute spells cruising along at sixty with clear road ahead and brightening skies above 
I still got in some of the smaller roads that I know are smooth and open though.
My feet and hands were toasty due to electrical heating, but despite all my layers of clothing the back of my neck and shoulders were uncomfortably cold, no matter how I adjusted collars and scarf. Fortunately, after the sun finally broke though it was enough to take the edge off.
I was out for 3 hours and the roads were drying by the last hour, (they weren’t too wet to start with), so I was hoping that after I got back I could dispense with bike cleaning. However, those drying roads had the look of salt about them and when I got back I realised I still had some work to do before I could relax with a beer… 
Bike got a rinse and blow dry, and chain a wipe and lube. (I bought a new chain and sprocket in the autumn but decided to wait until after winter to fit it, so I haven’t been too precious about old chain.)