Early Saturday morning gravel/road ride & 3 Peaks CX & Quad bike racing

After yesterdays off road ride I decided to take out the Bowman Pilgrim today for some gravel / tarmac riding. I had to be back before 9.30am so had a early start. It was still dark when I hit the roads at 6.30am but once I joined the old railway line to Consett at Bearpark farm I turned my light off as daylight was just coming through. No sunrise today, too cloudy / overcast and cold. I was a little nippy at times on the ride yesterday so dug out my 3/4 bib tights, thicker ss base layer and gillet for todays ride. It was around 6 degrees but it felt a lot warmer so was more comfortable riding. The line was mainly dry up to Delves Lane where I turned right and headed over to Iveston via some steep hills, down Iveston bank which I don't think I have ever done before then passed through some hunting event with loads of horses / dogs and spectators all over the road. It was then country lanes all the way up to the back of Annfield Plain, Maiden Law, straight onto Burnhope where I turned left and down to Holmside, turned right up to Edmondsley, right again and down to Daisy Hill left down to Nettlesworth to pick up the cycle lane alongside the A167 and back home. Just under 28 miles, nearly 2000ft climbing, 2 hours ride time.

 

Sunday sees the 3 Peaks CX down in Yorkshire, good luck to all the NE riders taking on the challenge. Its very tough going! I found one of my certificates below - snapped my chain that year near the bottom of the last descent before hitting the road, had to re split it and try and join it back together, I was also over the bars a couple of times as well in the peat bogs! Follow the race live via the NET

 

Also this Sunday is Round 8 of the NETT Quad Bike Championships @ Wooley Grange, more info here