Snowy ride on the Litespeed today

Its the first day the sun has come out all week so far. I was up in Upper Weardale today so had a road ride on the winter Litespeed as the snow was just too deep for any form of off road riding. I did an out and back ride along the main road, well its the main road up there to Alston and back. The temperature was reading -3.5degrees in the van and that was without the wind chill factor so it was certainly nippy. Talking of wind there wasn't any really for a change compared to the last time I tried to ride to Alston in a near gale force wind and fog to the door. The views were fantastic today over the snow covered moors and the roads were mainly clear just odd patches of ice in the shaded sections. I hit just under 50mph on the descent off Alston Common heading back to Killhope, scary considering the road conditions! All in 3000ft of climbing and an ave of 12.9mph, not too bad considering the time of year. Below are a few photos from todays enjoyable leisure ride.

One of only two junctions today

Just climbed up here

Snow is getting deeper at the sides of the road

On the way to Killhope

Killhope wheel in the background

Check out the black line in the distance, that is the road I am going to climb

I hit 50mph coming back down this on the return leg!

Snow was well over a foot deep near the top

Finally at the top

And back down again to Nenthead

Alston market place

Cobbled high street was fun today on skinny tyres

Back up the climb out of Nenthead, its a killer

Just come up this incline, check out how deep the snow is

Back into County Durham

It reached -3.5degrees driving through

Alpaca's enjoying the snow

Less snow coming through East/Westgate