Beast of the East Part 2

What a week it has been, days / nights of continuous rain and wind and we now have the beast from the east back - snow for two days and two nights with gale force winds closing roads again.
I have not been out on the bike due to to the weather and been busy sorting stuff out for thr house as i am off work for a while. There are several rooms going to get a full revamp and a couple of make overs. I also have a long list of external jobs but they are on hold for the time!
If i have time i will post up some pics of a delivery from Qwerty Cycles, only small bits but bling from the Nano Black Inc Ltd.
There is also some news on the hunt of an E bike, more on that hopefully at the back end of next week when its transfered from the Lakes to Darlo.
All the best, ps Fresh Goods Sunday is also on holiday, might be back next week if i have the time.

Fresh Goods Sunday - High 5 Sports Bar - Caramel

I am not a fan of energy drinks / foods / recovery stuff tbh. I hate gels with a passion and have had very mixed success on bars. I like some Torq bars and this flavoured High 5 sports bar. I always have one in wither my back pocket, storage bottle or top tube bag. They are an ideal size and fit in all of them perfect. Sometimes they can be there for months before I replace them as I don't tend to eat them unless I am feeling really empty or low. I cannot say they work and give me extra power, I think its in the mind. Once I have eaten one I should find enough energy to get back home. I probably eat them when its too late tbh and hasn't had enough time to release the power within lol.

RRP £1.29 and I paid £5.07 for 10no from Evans Cycles or
RRP £30 for 25no, shop around and you can get them for less than £18

Manufacturers Blurb -
SportsBar is a healthy snack with a balance of simple and complex carbohydrates from oats and fruit. It has a chocolate (caramel) or yoghurt coating (berry) and tastes great. HIGH5 flapjacks are moist, easy to chew and do not become hard in the cold.
SportsBar can be used anywhere, whilst on training rides or trekking, during multi-day events, after running or as part of a carbo-loading program prior to a big race. Did you know that carbohydrates contribute to normal brain function? That includes your mental performance, alertness and attention¹. Grab a SportsBar to keep you going on the road, when studying, at work or doing sports.
As part of our Drugs Free policy, we hold stock of products tested for banned substances. If you require tested products then please select “WADA tested” product. This will be shipped with a certificate from our accredited lab. Note, we do not use banned ingredients and have never had a failed test.

Features & Benefits

• Simple and complex carbs from fruits and oats
• Light chocolate or yoghurt coating for great taste
• Easy to chew
• Suitable for vegetarians
SPORTSBAR CARAMEL

NUTRITION INFO:

Typical Values	Per 100g	Per 55g Bar
Energy (kJ/kcal)	1664 / 395	915 / 217
Fat (g)	10	5.7
– saturated fat (g)	5.4	3.0
Carbohydrate (g)	68	38
– sugars (g)	31	17
Dietary Fibre (g)	3.3	1.8
Protein (g)	5.3	2.9
Salt (g)	0.17	0.10
Sodium (mg	130	70

INGREDIENTS:

Glucose Syrup, Oat Flakes, Raisins, Sugar, Rice Flour, Maltodextrin, Cocoa Butter, Whole Milk Powder, Honey, Cocoa Mass, Sweetened Condensed Milk, Palm Oil, Wheat Gluten, Wheat Malt, Caramelized Syrup 0.4%, Glucose, Natural Flavouring, Salt, Emulsifier (Soy Lecithin, Mono- And Diglycerides Of Fatty-Acids).
For Allergens, see ingredients in bold.

 

Sunday morning ride on the Mason mainly on the old raiway lines

Yesterday was a wash out so me and Jane had a drive through to Bishop for some shopping then over to Darlo to look at some carpets / call in past Machine Mart then over to Peterlee to call in past Maxwells for some things and look at some new laminate flooring. By the time we got back in it was day over and time for a power nap on the couch!
Today it was bike time, no Angus as he is working all weekend and Jane wanted to get some jobs done so I took the Mason out for a loop down the cycle track to Chester Le Street, around the riverside then onto the cycle lane to Birtley to pick up the C2C to Hownsgill. Once at Consett the snow was getting deeper with longer stretches on the line. Once I hit the main round about I had to take the bypass road to Morrisons roundabout to pick the line back up. I was going to go to the viaduct but the track was too bad. I then turned and headed to Broompark. Again there was several sections of snow / ice and had a good push up the bank past Knitsley Farm shop. The temperature was all over the place starting at minus -1.3 degrees then up at Consett it was plus 4 degrees then it dropped to less the 2 degrees down in Lanchester then back up to 5 degrees at home. The lines were busy with all sorts of people out - cyclists, horse riders, walkers, runners, dog walkers, push chairs, you name it. Once I reached Baxters Farm I was up the naffs in freezing cold brown slop off the lines and dog doo. You may have noticed this before but when it snows dog drop there lot in the middle of track where people walk. They don't poo at the side in fresh snow. So when all the snow melts the dog doo is left all over the tracks, there was miles and miles of mine field to weave through.
Enough of that, below are some snaps from the ride, enjoy and hopefully more soon -

DCC have had the inside lane closed on the A167 top of CLS to Pity Me roundabout for a while now. All new flush drop kerbs along the whole stretch.

and into the freezing slop

CLS riverside park - bottom path flooded with 3ft of fast flowing water

real nippy morning with plenty of ice

Lambton Worm has had a massive hair cut / clean up. You can cycle all the way down now inc the inner drops but there is 2ft of flood water at the end

Fishing pond @ Annfield Plain frozen solid

Dog doo and snow/ice

Time to hit the bypass road

not today to the viaduct

track to the café not much better

had to push up the bank, plenty exercise today

Time for a shower, wash my clothes & bike