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!