Muddy Brown's Blog: Family ride through to Auckland Castle & the afternoon in the man cave

18 July 2015

Family ride through to Auckland Castle & the afternoon in the man cave

We decided to have a family ride out this morning through to Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland. We parked up at he Boyne then joined the old railway line all the way through to Bishop. There was a canny head wind nearly all the way there but it was dry and sunny. We had a cuppa and scones inside the café as it was too windy out on the lawns. We had a go of the games which is spread out across the two front areas before heading back. We just crossed the viaduct and it went very dark and the rain started. After a couple of miles the sun was back out and we peeled off our pertex's when we reached Willington. There was a lovely tailwind for most the way back. No photos as I was charging the battery and forgot to take it before we left.
Once back it was a quick change for Angus then over to Halfords for his shift. As for me I headed off into the man cave to catch up on some tinkering time. The headset has been a little rough on the original Beargrease so ordered some replacement lower bearings, they landed today so stripped it all down, cleaned it up and fitted the lower bearing. The top bearing was not the best and found a spare in the tub so replaced that at the same time. I also squirted some spray tack glue in the ends of my grips as they were starting to rotate. One bike sorted.
Then is was onto Krampgrease, swapped the 29+" wheels for the 26+" wheel set and swapped the back tyre from a 45nrth Husker Du to a Dillinger. Swapped the spare tubes in the seat / frame back. Its now ready to rock and roll for the summer hols.
Angus noticed that there was a leak on the front brake lever / reservoir on Jane's Scott Scale so I took the top cap off, cleaned it all up, topped up the fluid and bleed the brake. Put the top cap back on and see if there is any more leeks next week.
Then it was onto Arrans Salsa Mukluk. He was running 26" dirt wizards front & rear but swapped the front for the 45nrth Husker Du for the summer hols.
Last but not least Arrans Scott Scale, the headset had been rough for a while so stripped it all down, cleaned it up and replaced the lower bearing. I did not have a Richey one but an old Cane Creek which was exactly the same size/shape. Re greased it all up and that is the Scale sorted for summer. It could do with a new cassette and chain at some point.
Three and a half hours later and all fixed but not washed - another day for that.
Bikewise tomorrow - forecast is looking better than it was yesterday.