18 March 2024

A slightly different mainly offroad route taking in Cox Green, Penshaw, Shiney Row & Lambton

 


First time out on the bike in a good few days with a lot of recent rain and when we have had a drier period I have been working on the house outside. 
Last night I checked the forecast and it was dry so I looked out the bike and gave it a once over and sorted out all my kit so I was ready to go for an early morning spin. It was fresh going down the cycle track on the A167 with the sun rise to my right, the Garmin was reading just over 3 degrees. I had a loop in mind with the return leg I have not ridden for many years. I looked at some of my old routes on Garmin Connect to check if I could remember certain parts. After Cox Green the tracks n trails over to Fence Houses have not changed much and I have not missed anything. They must be a big issue over that way with quad bikes ripping around as everything is torn up and massive ruts where they have been. I have not seen this to that level for a very long time. 
The sun was mainly out for most of the ride which made it much more enjoyable and a stiff'ish breeze. By e time I was climbing out of Finchale Priory towards Brasside the Garmin was now over 9 degrees and I was warm! Everywhere was lovely and quiet inc the inter linking short road sections. Below are a few snaps from the ride inc the route. All in just over 24 miles in 2hrs 1min with 1100ft of climbing. Enjoy and hopefully more soon- 































12 March 2024

Wet, cold, windy and poor visibility on local road ride - Pontop Pike and Burnhope Transmitters route

 


Sunday was a complete wash out and it was raining again yesterday morning so me and Jane had a run through to Team Valley as I had some things to buy / collect. I checked todays forecast on numerous websites and it was hit n miss but I was hoping it was mainly miss. How wrong was I, I was under dressed, freezing cold and soaked through apart from my upper body. 
I set off down the cycle track to Chester Le Street and it was dry but overcast with the Garmin reading around 4 to 5 degrees. By the time I started climbing towards Stanley from No place the drizzle started and it got heavier and heavier the higher I was going. The wind was picking up and the temperature had dropped to 2 degrees. The visibility was also starting to decrease. I can normal get a good photo of the transmitters at Pontop Pike from Harelaw but I could not see anything. On the way to Burnhope the heavens opened and the heavy drizzle changed to heavy rain all the way home from there. I could not see anything of the transmitter at Burnhope when I was stood at the pit wheel memorial. 
The forecast for the rest of the week is very similar and just cannot get a break from the rain. Cannot remember the last time I seen the sun! On the plus side my new Lezyne pro Strip Drive 400+ rear led light is working a treat in todays poor visibility, did not some drives close passing me though! 
The cycle shops are trying to sell the new Spring /Summer kit that has just come in and we are still in the depths of winter. 
All in 28.50 miles in 2 hrs 1 min with 2000ft of climbing. Below are a few cold and wet looking snaps from the ride and a short video clip at the bottom, enjoy and hopefully more soon - 















10 March 2024

Fresh Goods Sunday - Shimano Dura Ace Road Shifting Cable Set (Y63Z98910) Black

 


When the new Specialized Creo 2 came out on the UK market I was thinking about buying one but changed my mind at the time so I decided to get all the small jobs that was bugging me done on my Creo 1 gravel bike. I have kept the original Shimano GRX mechanical shifters and rear mech on the bike and not upgraded them. I replaced the inner cable when it snapped out on a ride but used the original outer as it is a one piece outer running down the downtube, past the battery and threaded around the motor and along the inside of the rear chain stay and out. 
The time had come that it was time to replace the inner and outer as the rear mech was getting sluggish in shifting up and down the Sunrace cassette. 
I opted for a full Shimano Gear Shift cable set and the Dura Ace model. I only needed the length of outer and the rear inner cable. I removed the bar tape, loosened the bolt on the rear mech of the inner cable and pulled that out. I removed the bottom bracket / motor guard for better access. I then used my Park Tool internal cable routing kit to help guide the new outer through the frame and around the motor and past the battery. I was very lucky and after some considerable pushing and pulling managed to get it between the battery and frame and out of the guide hole on the down tube. I thought the battery and motor would have to come out at one point but managed to get away with leaving them in place. The quality of the cable kit as you expect to top class. There is very little friction between the inner and outer when in use and the shifting of the bike is now better than when it come out of the factory. 
As ever shop around as there is a new version out so many retailers are selling off the older model kit. For less than £17 it has transformed the gear changing on the bike. I need to re adjust the inner cable tension as it has bedded in / stretched slightly now since the end of December when I fitted it. 

RRP £44.99 and I paid £16.69 inc 48hr P&P from SDJ Sports 

Manufacturers Blurb - 

FEATURES

  • ø 1.2 mm x 2100 mm (1 pc.)
  • ø 1.2 mm x 1800 mm (1 pc.)
  • Polymer coating
  • Stainless steel
  • Outer cap with short tongue for ST (2 pcs.)
  • Outer cap with long tongue (3 pcs.)
  • Sealed outer cap for rear derailleur (1 pc.)
  • Inner end cap (2 pcs.)
  • Cover with tongue for rear derailleur (1 pc.)
  • OT-SP41 1700 mm