Family Sunday ride up to Consett on the Salsa Beargrease & Krampgrease

Not too much going on this week, 2.5 mile walk on Tuesday night, 1.5 hour walk on Thursday and a 4.5 mile walk on Friday and called in past Crook Hall Gardens coffee shop, why I do not know. I still cannot pick up the cups that they use, Jane got a coffee with the cup a 1/3rd full and I had a hot chocolate and the cup was 1/2 full, small slice of cake £7.90 please!!
Yesterday we spent the day setting up / wiring up / filling up a spa that we have bought for the back garden, see how that goes
Today was a family bike ride up the old railway line up to Consett and called in past Knitsley café on the way back, much better food & drink, bought a bread from the shop on the way out and left nearly £22 lighter. The weather was very overcast and cool today but not much wind. The sun never broke through like yesterday. The tracks were quiet for a Sunday and still nearly bone dry so it was fast going. Angus took the Salsa carbon Krampgrease, I took the Salsa carbon Beargrease, Jane and Arran on their carbon hardtail Scott's. Below are a few pics, enjoy and more soon -

waiting for the bacon butty & poached eggs on toast

Fresh Goods Sunday - Berghaus Scafell Fusion Hydrodown Vest

I bought this vest a few months ago as I did not have a thinner body warmer for the spring / autumn and British summer seasons. So in reality you can nearly wear it all year round! I have always worn Berghaus jackets etc and even remember when I was a young'un my parents took me through to their Sunderland factory for a coat but as you can imagine that is long closed and manufacturing has gone abroad. I still have a goretex jacket that must be 20+ years old and still going strong as a spare / work coat for the rain.
Anyway back to the Scafell vest - its very light to wear and you do not notice the weight, it is ideal on chilly, windy days to keep the cold off your chest. The two front pockets are very big and keep you hands lovely and warm, if you are wear gloves you don't have to take them off as the pockets are that big you can still put your hands in with your gloves on. All the zips have tags on them so it is easier to grab. There is also a smaller inside zipped chest pocket and drawing chord hem to stop the draft blowing up your back. It also has a reasonably high collar as well which keeps the back of your neck warm. If it does get warmer when you have it on it packs away down to a small compact size but you don't get a stuff sack for it. I have been caught in a few light rain showers and the rain just balls on top of the fabric and suns off.
I use mine for après cycling, walking, shopping and generally when I am out n aboot. I cannot fault the product/design so far and would highly recommend it.
Jane even has the same vest but in the ladies version in black.

RRP £130, I purchased mine from COTSWOLD outdoor for just under £75, if you order on line always use Top Cash Back as its normally over 6% inc sale items.
Manufacturers blurb -
The Men's Scafell Hydrodown Fusion Vest is a light-weight and packable gilet which radiates comfort with the use of HydroDown Fusion insulation. This helps you maintain your warmth even in damp conditions thanks to the combination of hydrophobic down and synthetic technology in the Hydrodown Fusion 5.5, meaning you get optimal warmth in the harshest conditions. No matter what, ensure that you stay warmer, drier and more comfortable than those wearing standard down whilst on the trail.
Product Features

• Fabric: AF (100% lightweight nylon ripstop with DWR, 40g/m²)
• Insulation: Hydrodown Fusion 5.5 (50% down [80/20 down to feather ratio], 50% synthetic)
• 2 zipped hand pockets
• High collar
• Full length main zip with chin guard
• Stitch through construction with micro baffles

Wheelbase Grand Opening in Darlo - Bank Hol Mon

If you don't already know Wheelbase are officially opening a branch in Darlo town centre (old Bikesport shop)
Full info below -

 

 

Pearl Izumi Series - Durham - Programme of events

The teams that will battle it out in this year's Pearl Izumi Tour Series - which will make a welcome return to Durham City later this month - have been announced.
The series will see six teams of professional cyclists competing for victory across the 10 rounds taking place across the country between Thursday 12 May and Thursday 9 June.They will be joined by a number of guest teams who will get to compete wheel-to-wheel with the professionals - including North East team Planet X Northside which will take part in the Northern rounds.
Durham's tough cobbled route features as round six on this year's race calendar and the popular event is expected to bring thousands of spectators to the city's streets on Tuesday 31 May.

Teams taking part in this year's series - now in its eighth year - are Madison Genesis, Pedal Heaven, Team Raleigh GAC, NFTO, JLT Condor presented by Mavic, Team WIGGINS, Planet X Northside, VCUK PH Mas, Wheelbase Atura MGD, Scottish Cycling and Provision.

Thousands of spectators expected

Cllr Maria Plews, our Cabinet member for leisure, libraries and lifelong learning, said: "The Pearl Izumi Tour Series is always a popular event and we're looking forward to welcoming Britain's top cyclists back to our city.
"We're expecting to see thousands of people lining the route to cheer on the teams as they tackle the cobbles and steep climbs that are a renowned feature of the Durham City round.
"It's a great atmosphere and we're reminding those coming in to the city to watch to arrive early and plan their journey in advance."

Warm-up events

The Pearl Izumi Tour Series Sixth Round action on Tuesday 31 May will get underway with a number of pre-race events, starting at 4.45pm with the Blue Light Race, between cyclists from the county's police and fire services.
This will be followed by the Durham City Velo cycle club ride at 5pm; Bishop Auckland Cycle Club ride at 5.15pm; the universities race, with teams from Durham, Sheffield, York and Derby, at 5.30pm; and two laps of the circuit by members of the local cycling club Hetton Hawks at 5.45pm.
The warm-up for the main event will start at 6.30pm with the cyclists being under starters orders at 7.30pm.
Presentations to the winning cyclists from this year's sixth round will take place at 8.45pm.
Throughout the evening the crowds will be entertained by Oompah Brass - which will also be performing in the 10th Durham Brass Festival between 14 and 17 July.

People going to watch the event can park at County Hall or at the park and ride sites at Howlands and Sniperley.
Park and ride buses will only operate until the normal time of 7pm but the car parks will remain open for those wishing to walk back from town.

Local gravel / tarmac back roads ride on the Bowman Pilgrims

Todays ride was on the Bowman Pilgrims as I wanted to do a half gravel / half tarmac route. It was a local one taking in a few of the old railway line sections and linking mainly on quiet back tarmac country lanes. As you can see in the photos below there was more cloud and a stiffer cooler wind than yesterdays ride but still fantastic weather for riding. I had a good laugh dropping back onto the old railway line at Lanchester heading towards Broompark direction where this lad blasted past me on a 29er mtb with the seat post right down to the seat clamp, his knees were up around his neck and had a rpm of 120+. He was also flying past other people / riders etc along the line and not slowing down and just weaving through at full speed, this is what gives us riders who do slow down and ring the bell a bad name. Anyway he was still in sight on the longer straights and thought to myself get on with it, less than 10mins later he was starting to slow and I was catching him up, he had blew his lot and was out of his tree, I just went sailing by and never seen him again. That was the enjoyment over for todays outing, few pics below, enjoy and more soon.