Fresh Goods Sunday - Cycling Climbs of the North East England Book

I bought Simons first 100 climbs book many years ago and was a very good read at the time. Now he has many more books out covering all the regions across the UK. When we were in the Lakes last Oct I spotted this book in George Fishers book section on the 1st floor and thought I would not mind a copy of that. Come crimbo I got a copy from the boyo's, champion just what I wanted. I have had a quick flick through and know most of the climbs in the Co Durham section but there are a few I also did not know about. I have ridden quite a few as well. Some of the rankings are a lot higher than I thought they would be! and some others less than what I thought they would be! There are also a few climbs that I have done / know of that are not in the book but then again he cannot put every one in as Co Durham is not exactly a flat county to say the least.
I am starting to read it properly now and making a list of the ones I want to have a go at when I get some fitness back and the weather picks up. 128 pages in colour and some cracking photos and descriptions.
RRP £8.99 and my lads paid full rrp but got a book mark and waterproof zip lock bag chucked in which is the correct size for a OS map, win win a chicken dinner!

Sunday morning local gravel ride upto Hownsgill Viaduct n back - Mason Bokeh Cannondale Slate

This morning me and Angus had a ride on the gravel bikes, Mason Bokeh and Cannondale Slate to Hownsgill viaduct. It was sunny for most of the ride but when it clouded over it was real cold. We had a tailwind nearly all the way up and of course a head wind nearly all the way back down again. The old railway lines were frozen going up but the top was starting to melt in places on the way back down in the sun. There was loads of other cyclist, horses, dog walkers, runners and people out for a walk. It was busiest I have seen the lines all winter. People must want to get out before the next 5 days forecast of freezing cold temperatures and snow again. Angus enjoyed getting back out again and had no problems with the Slate. We even stopped at the café at Hownsgill farm for a cuppa and brekkie. Some photos from the ride below, enjoy and hopefully more soon -

Yesterday we dropped off Angus's two front wheels at Revolution Motorsport for two new front tyres. They were the cheapest in the NE by £7-£15 per tyre inc fitting! still set him back a canny bit!
We had a walk around the Metro after we dropped off the wheels, it was quiet with loads of empty shops all over the place. We then had a drive over to Evans to have a look at an electric Trek Powerfly 7 mtb, canny bike but don't like the look of the battery / downtube compared to the new 'tube battery' type.

Midweek catch up inc local road ride on the Norco Search

Todays ride was a local road loop taking in some climbs around Ushaw Moor, New Brancepth, Cornsay Colliery, Cornsay Village etc. The sun was out and so was the wind but the roads were mainly dry and salty. The first job was to flip the stem to lift the bars up to ease my back pain and I also rotated the bars slighty and it made all the difference. I was just starting to get a slight pain in the last mile which was way better than Sundays ride. Below are a few snaps from the ride.
Monday was a complete wash out so I did a turbo trainer session, Tuesday I was up early so did another turbo trainer session.

Still plenty of snow around!

Turned real nippy when the sun was clouded over.

Secondly a few goodies from our Hols in the Lakes! I have not had a chance to try out my new trail running trainers yet but fingers crossed they should be ok but there has been many a trainer crippled my feet and drew blood.

 

 

Then there is this weeks reading goodies -

Yes we are thinking of purchasing an e mtb hardtail bike for the family! watch this space.

Fire and Ice Display in Durham

Down in Durham City centre last Friday / Saturday was the Fire & Ice Displays. I did not go down but Jane and Arran took these snaps of the ice sculptures. They did not hang around for the fire side of things but the ice looks very good.