Couple of Days down in York

We got a good overnight deal at the Travelodge just outside York so decided to have a couple of days away. We had a lovely quiet drive down and hit no traffic what so ever and got parked up at the Railway Museum carpark (£10 all day). From there we had a walk down to the town for some retail therapy. The sun soon burnt off the cloud and it was boing hot by 10am (28 degrees by the time we got back to the car). York was very buy with shoppers / tourists. Come mid afternoon we were shattered so headed back up to the carpark with the air con of full whack for half an hour before having a look over to the railway museum. On the way to the Travelodge we passed a Tesco so called in for tea and some shopping. The next day it was only 10 mins to York Designer Outlet for some more shopping then up to the other out of town shopping complex and went to M&S for dinner followed by the ice cream van outside and then John Lewis. We left in sunshine / 21 degrees and it dropped down to13 degrees and rain coming back up the A1M towards Darlo. Cracking couple of days away, well and truly skint now! roll on pay day. |Below are a few snaps, enjoy and hopefully more soon -

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

I bought this book in the Lakes following on from reading the Climbs of North - East England edition. The book is split into four areas - Cumbria, Lancashire, Liverpool & Manchetser and Cheshire.I only really intend to try / tick off a few of the climbs in the Cumbria section. Some I have already done years ago when I was fitter! One that I defo want to try is Great Dun Fell, the beast of all climbs on a fine day and if I can find my climbing legs and a 34t rear cassette!
The RRP is £8.99 and well worth every penny.

Authors Blurb -

If you’re looking for a true test on the bike, and relish having your legs pummelled by savage inclines, then head to North-West England. Featuring famous climbs such as Honister Pass in the Lake District and Great Dunn Fell in the Pennines, alongside lesser known yet equally arduous ascents like Gorsey Brow and Swiss Hill, the final book in the Cycling Climbs regional series saves the very best until last. From the almost impossible 30% slopes of Hardknott Pass to the gloriously long climb of the Cat and Fiddle, one thing is for certain – you’ll need your strongest climbing legs.

 

I am going to do this climb one day, I have heard how hard it is and what the weather conditions at the top can be like!

 

Cycling climbs of
North-west England

If you’re looking for a true test on the bike, and relish having your legs pummelled by savage inclines, then head to North-West England. Featuring famous climbs such as Honister Pass in the Lake District and Great Dunn Fell in the Pennines, alongside lesser known yet equally arduous ascents like Gorsey Brow and Swiss Hill, the final book in the Cycling Climbs regional series saves the very best until last. From the almost impossible 30% slopes of Hardknott Pass to the gloriously long climb of the Cat and Fiddle, one thing is for certain – you’ll need your strongest climbing legs.

Cycling climbs of
North-west England

If you’re looking for a true test on the bike, and relish having your legs pummelled by savage inclines, then head to North-West England. Featuring famous climbs such as Honister Pass in the Lake District and Great Dunn Fell in the Pennines, alongside lesser known yet equally arduous ascents like Gorsey Brow and Swiss Hill, the final book in the Cycling Climbs regional series saves the very best until last. From the almost impossible 30% slopes of Hardknott Pass to the gloriously long climb of the Cat and Fiddle, one thing is for certain – you’ll need your strongest climbing legs.

Trip up to Newcastle Quayside Market, Baltic and around the shops.

Today we had a family spin up to Newcastle quayside market for a look around then over the bridge to the Baltic. It has been quite a few years since I have been inside the Baltic and nothing much has changed. The displays in my eyes were rubbish and not to my taste, I will not be rushing back. We had ice creams on the way back up to the town for some shopping. |The shops were lovely and quiet and whizzed around without any problems. Below are a few snaps from the day out, enjoy and hopefully more soon -

Saturday Morning loop to Bishop n back

Its been a real busy week with one thing or another so not had any spare time to get out on the bike but had a good 2+ hour hike on Thursday and another quick walk and that's been it for week. After yesterdays heavy rain the sun has finally come back to the NE so time to get back out on the bikes this morning. Me, Jane and Arran had spin through to Bishop Auckland via Croxdale, back way to Tudhoe then through Spenny to join onto the old railway line to Bishop. At Bishop we called in past our regular café for three breakfast specials then back on the bikes through the town, over the viaduct to pick the old railway line back to Broom Park way. Jane was on here Scott, I took my Mason and Arran took the Cannondale Super X Hi Mod this time and he was flying on it. There was not too many people out and about apart from some horses on an event. We soon had our gillets off as we were over heating in the sun. We also had a headwind all the way back from Bishop. The lines were dry considering the heavy rain yesterday, you could see where all the puddles had been. Enjoy the photos below and hopefully more soon.