Longer local gravel ride 88k to Parkhead / Crawleyside n back on Co Durham's old railway lines

 

Well it was time for another longer ride but this time it was on my Creo 1 gravel bike. This time last week I took my Creo 1 road bike out for a local road loop covering 51 miles. Last night after looking at the forecast I decided to do this weeks longer ride on the gravel. I have not done the out n back ride to Parkhead from home for a good few years. I knew it was going to be just over 50 miles from door to doors so I pumped up my tyres, made sure the battery was charged, fitted my range extender and filled a 750ml bottle, then It was ready to rock n roll. 

I was up and out by 6.30am and it was overcast and cloudy with the Garmin reading around 9 degrees. I had my sleeveless base layer, short sleeved jersey, summer gilet and arm warmers on so did not feel the cold. It was lovely and quite first thing and the nearer I got to Parkhead I never seen a sole. I rode past the cafe and kept on going through the old quarry until I reached the road at Crawleyside. I knew I must have had a tailwind as it took alot less effort to cross over the open moor section than normal. The downside was a I had a stiff headwind all the way back down. There was a few more out and about on the way back down but no where near as busy as a Sunday morning. By the time I reached Baxters Farm where I normally turn off for home I kept straight on towards Broompark picnic area then straight on again until I reached the road between Ushaw Moor & Brancepth. I turned here and headed back to Baxters Farm, this got me an extra 4.60 miles for very little extra effort. The climb up Toll House and Whitesmocks was slow going in the sun! In the end I did 54.5 miles with just under 2000ft of climbing in 3hrs 52mins. Below are a few snaps and a short video clip and the route map of the ride. Enjoy and hopefully more soon- 

Same loop but in reverse action with Stan's spraying 20ft in the air

 

Back out again on my Creo 1 gravel bike for the same loop as I did the other day but in reverse direction. It was early doors and the tracks n trails were lovely and quiet with just a few other early morning people out n about. It started off canny climbing out of Bishop towards Spennymoor then the worm in my rear tyre must have pulled out slightly and the Stans sealant was squirting 20ft in the air covering me from head to toe and the bike. After a few more minutes down the road it was not going to reseal so parked up. Time to get even more messy by removing the tyre and fitting an inner tube. Once I had the tube aired up and the wheel back in the frame I was ready to hit the road again. What a bloody mess the sealant makes and is a bugger to clean off the bike if you leave it on too long. 

The tracks n trails are still wet and muddy after more recent rain and the heavens opened a few times during the ride back making it even more uncomfortable. 

I uploaded my Garmin and I was less than a minute slower than the previous ride but I had the hammer down on the way back to Bishop in the rain. 

I have just removed the tyre, tube and washed it all down, dried the innertube and rolled it back up for a spare. Patched the tyre and re inflated with fresh Stans sealant in. I also washed, dried and charged the bike ready for its next outing. Below are a few snaps from the ride, enjoy and hopefully more soon-