With the good weather recently and rain forecasted from next Monday for nine days I thought I would make an effort day. I have not given the Creo 1 road bike a good outing / beasting for a while now so I blew up the tyres last night, fitted my Garmin, filled up a 750ml water bottle and it was ready for some action. When we were at Stanhope last Saturday I was thinking it has been a long time since I have rode up Crawleyside Bank so I planned a rough route in my head and played it by ear this morning. I had a good sleep and woke up just before sunrise. I was up and out before 6am and headed off over to Neville's Cross along the A167. From here I turned right and took the A690 all the way through to Crook. I had a plan b and c if my legs were not feeling it or it was windy, I was feeling ok and the wind was not too bad so I picked up the A689 through to Frosterley then the back lane over the bridge to Stanhope. The roads were lovely and quiet with hardly any passing vehicles in my direction. Now it was time for the dreaded Crawleyside bank. It never gets any easier in my old age but just took it steady and plodded away all the way to the top. Once at the top it was more or less a straight run home with a few hills chucked in - Waskerley, Castleside, Consett, Leadgate, Greencroft, Maiden Law, Burnhope, Sacriston, Plawsworth then along the cycle track next to the A167 back home.
All in just under 51 miles in 3hrs 25mins with 3500ft of climbing, ave 15mph. Below are a few snaps from the ride, enjoy and hopefully more soon-
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| Nippy start |
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| Sun come out briefly at Crook |
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| Cloudy in upper Weardale |
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| But alot warmer at high level |
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