Local night ride on the Salsa Beargrease's

Monday was a rest day from the bike but spent it at the Sir Bobby Robson hospital up at Newcastle. The traffic and roadworks were unreal, it took me nearly 1 1/2hrs to travel the 18 miles and got the last space in the carpark. Not sure if it was Monday morning madness / people travelling to work or Christmas shoppers but is was just crazy. By the time i got back in i was shattered and put my feet up. Today i was back to work and i trolled through the emails etc. By the time i got back in i needed some cycle time so me and Angus headed off down into Durham. I had to collect two pairs of new goggles and then it was some dark night miles. It was cool but hot and sweaty on the climbs. I was on the 26"+ beargrease and Angus on the 29+" Krampgrease. First time riding the 5" bud up front for a while and it was hard work. Not sure if i had tired legs off Sunday or if i have been doing too many easy miles on the 29"x3" tyred bike! Belwo are a few photos, the camera dosent like the dark but here is a pick of the best ones -  

It was dusky when we left but dark by the time we got into Durham

They have dragged the false tree back out again this year

Same old lights in the market place

This is the only other decoration in the market place

View up Claypath

Same reindeer on Price Bishops roundabout

Back on the trails, bud was working a treat in the mud

Stopped to change the battery in my rear USE light, more on that in a later blog

Lupine Betty on the left & old Edison on the right, two different light beams

Cathedral at night

Road training up into Weardale

Me and Angus needed to get some last minute road training in for the Evans Ride It Hexham Sportive next weekend. I wanted to do a steady ride with a couple of biggish climbs and get over the 50 mile marker. We headed upto Stanhope where we called in past the ford for a quick reshreshment break before heading up Crawleyside. We then had another break at Lanchhester before climbing the Peth upto Burnhope then dropping down to Chester Le Street then headed home. Just under 54 miles so that was spot on for distance. I have not uploaded the garmin but climbed between 3000-4000ft. The weather was very mixed, set of fine but cold, when we got to Langley Moor is was very foggy and dropped to -0.5 degress, it burnt off again when we climbed out of Willington but hit the fog again at Lanchester and Waldridge Fell all the way home. We took the Cannondale Supersix's and they were flying - below are a few photos from the ride-

Ready for the off after a break at the ford

The ford has been closed to traffic for many years now

1/2 way up Crawleyside past the steep sections

Not far off the top now

Hes hit the top

Still foggy in the valleys, better on high ground today

Loads of offroading jeeps heading for the Waskerley

Break @ Lanchester

Boyo needs refueling

Good old Spar shop says the day again - been used for manys years for food/drink rations

Top of the Peth/Burnhope passing the mast, all downhill now apart from the uphill clicks!

Fresh Goods Sunday - Endura Thermo Roubaix Gloves

I have used this model of Endura long fingered gloves for the last two autumn/winter/spring seasons. They have a comfy tightish fit and are perfect for rides when its not too cold (above +3 to +4 degress) or pouring with rain. They are ok in light showers and do dry off quick but are not waterproof. The original gloves are still going strong apart from the logos have all nearly come off and the gripper sections on the palms and fingers are worn, but still function great. The glove has the good old snot wipe sections, high cuff to go under your jacket sleeve. The rpp is only £20 which is good value but if you shop around you can get them discounted. I got my new pair for £12.64 inc next day delivery!  Here is Endura's blurb - Full finger glove offering breathable warmth in Teflon® coated Thermolite® fabric

Thermolite® with High Performance Repel TEFLON® fabric protector for ultimate weather comfort with durable water repellency.
Terry sweat wipes
Silicone finger and palm prints for grip
High strapless cuff to fit under jacket sleeves

Construction
Nylon 70%
Polyester 15%
Elastane 10%
PU 5%

Old pair

Early morning ride on the Litespeed

Todays ride was an early one on the road. I was up and out before 6am so it was cold, dark and very misty in places. I could not believe how many cars are on the roads at 6am on a Saturday morning! It was that dark & foggy i had two lights on the front - Lupine Tesla 5 and USE Flash on blinking mode

and Smart R2 led on the back as normal. Some of the country back lanes were creapy in the pitch black and fog to the door as you can see in the photo to the right. It was daylight by the time i reached Durham City Centre on the way back home. 29 miles and few good climbs chucked in, alittle further than i wanted to go back in time for a wash & change into warm clothing and off to Christmas fair @ New College Durham followed by a trip down to Durham. The kids did the cx race on the old race course and i went out for a 2 1/2hr walk around the river banks etc. I was well shattered by tea time! more road training tomorrow. More soon - 

Krampgrease muddy ride no2 this week

I was planning on taking out the 26+" Beargrease but it was lovely & clean but the Krampgrease was still dirty from the last ride so took that instead. Yet again another real manky day - cold, windy, damp & overcast with plenty of mud chucked in as well. Similar local route from a couple of days ago but longer and slightly faster. Great mix of all types of terrain from singletrack through numerous woods, bridleways, country back lanes, farm tracks, cycle lanes and short sections of road. Time for the Krampgrease to get a spruce up and once over i think. Again i never seen many cyclists out, just Jim from MTS Cycle Sport coming up the trod on his cx bike with his lights on. Below are a few pics from the ride, enjoy - more soon. All the best - 

No sun again today

Crook Hall's new building

Waterside development phase 2

Sustrans have finally sorted out the offical diversion for Route 70 on the opposite side of the river

Back in woods for some more mud plugging

Brown streaks from Wednesdays cx training

Nearly home now

Baxters woods was ankle deep

Check out the pheasant on the left of this old building

Coming out at Whitesmocks

Last strech before hitting the cycle lane was really sticky