Sunny cold early morning Sunday local gravel loop on the S-Works Creo

 

Well it was time for another ride before going back to work tomorrow. I was up early and the sun was shinning but it was cool with some overnight rain so the air was damp compared to the last week.  I set off down the A167 cycle track in a headwind to Chester Le Street / Birtley to pick up the C2C old railway line. I had a steady climb up to Consett / Crossroads via a road loop over to Pontop Pike transmitters. There was very few others out early doors which was good thing as I wanted to get my head down on the downhill to Broompark picnic area. By now there was few others out n about enjoying the sun. I dropped onto the road after Broompark and down to the Stonebridge, Nevilles Cross, Whitesmocks and back home. All in just under 38 miles in 2hrs 31mins with 1500ft of climbing. Enjoy the snaps below from the loop and hopefully more soon - 

Fresh Goodies - Schwalbe G-ONE R RaceGuard 700 x 40c, Restrap Canister Bag Black & Man Cave tyre fitting

 

When I bought my new Specialized S-Works Creo I swapped the factory tyres for a pair of these Schwalbe ones for £45 inc p&p from CDNE bike sales on Facebook. The third ride in I got a cut to the rear tyre, I tired to patch it with a tyre boot but that failed so ordered another one from Merlin Cycles. RRP 49.99 and I paid £32.52 inc 48hr p&p. 32% discount. 

Next up for my S-Works Creo was new bar bag. I had removed the one from my original Creo 1 bike and swapped it over but this was the original version with no loop on the rear to stop it from swinging around on rough tracks. Merlin Cycles had them in the sale so I decided to order a new one so it matches the bar bag on my original Creo 2. 

RRP is now £52.99 and I paid £39.22 inc 48 hr p&p. 26% discount. 

Then it was time for mancave time, fit the new Specialized Renegade 29x2.1" S-Works tyre to my rear wheel on my original Creo2 as that was spitting tubeless sealant out on my last ride. 

Then it was time to swap over the rear tyre on my S-Works Creo 2 and bin the tyre that had done less than 50 miles, ggrr. 

Swapped over the Restrap bar bags from version 1 to a new version 2 model. Now both bikes are ready for a few more miles. 

No rear tyre blow out today in Durham's second heatwave of the year.

 

After three rear tyre blow outs in the last three rides I was hoping my luck was going to change on todays ride. I fitted a new tyre and more fresh Silca tubeless sealant earlier on in the week, well it did hold out. On the down side I forgot my water bottle which was in the fridge at home! I had a small bottle of juice in my van so I strapped that inside the downtube cage. Another plus was its bone dry and dusty with very little wind during our second heatwave of the year in County Durham. I did a loop from Brandon as the bridge is still closed at Broompark picnic way. Along the old railway line to Bishop Auckland, then a short road section through the market place and up Durham road to join onto the track leading to the old railway line to Spenny. Then the usual around Tudhoe village, Croxdale, Sunderland Bridge and up the climb back to Brandon. There was a few others out but not too many in the heat. All in just under 24 miles in 1hr 48 mins with 850ft of climbing. Below are a few sunny snaps. enjoy and hopefully more soon -