Sunny, warm'ish local road ride

Well last week was a complete wash out and so was most of the weekend. We have had rain, more rain and some more rain on top of the rain. I did not get any cycling in but a near 4 hour hike on Thursday during a gap in the rain. We had a look through to Bishop Auckland on Saturday then through to Alison Court just out side the Metro Centre on Sunday. Alpkit have opened up a shop, one unit down from Cycle Republic.
Today was the first descent day we have had for a while so I cocked my leg over the saddle for a spin out. It was a local road loop and covered 27 miles with nearly 2500ft of climbing.
I could tell I have not been out for a while, all parts of my body was feeling it but kept plugging away in the gaps in the sun / cloud. Below are a few snaps from the ride, enjoy and hopefully more soon -
PS - NECCL RD 3 this Saturday by Newton Aycliffe Velo at Oak Leaf Sports Centre, Newton Aycliffe.

Fresh Goods Sunday - Ritchey Mtb SPD replacement cleats

I bought these as part of the order from Merlin Cycles with the Cannondale water bottles. They were too cheap to turn down, in fact I should have bought a couple of pairs. All our bikes are fitted with Ritchey pedals so they were always going to come in handy. The cleats on my older mtb Sidi's are starting to get worn and I wanted to keep the shoes for muddier rides so fitted these new cleats onto my new mtb Sidi's (for no muddy rides!). The cleats last along time as long as you don't do too much walking in them on hard surfaces. They are easy to fit, 2no x 4mm allen bolts per cleat. I put loads of copper slip in the threaded plate on the shoe and on the threads of the bolts, so when you come to replace / remove the cleats / bolts they should come out easy!
RRP £19.99 and I paid £7.75

Manufacturers Blurb - Replacement cleats for Ritchey V4 mountain pedals

Mounting screws are included

PRD11149

 

 

and some old ones on my Northwave winter boots

Sunday morning local road loop

I was up at 5.30am and the forecast was not looking good on the BBC or Met Office websites but I needed to get out for a quick spin. I was up and out by 7am and it was around 6 degrees. The forecast was rain from 9am on one site and 7am on the other site so I put on my Gore rain coat. After an hour of climbing the sun was out, very little wind and the temperature was up to 10 degrees. The heat / sweat was starting to build up but I knew I had a couple of long fast descents so I would sharp cool down again. The roads were lovely and quiet, I only had one idiot over taking me on a blind corner with a car coming the other way to then turn right 20ft after the corner. Why on earth could they could not wait 5 seconds god knows. I also called in past Greencroft Ind Est where Angus was working today, he was grafting away as ever. I also called in past to see my mum on the way back home. The bike went well and I was not too bad either for a change.
All in 32 miles, 2 hours 7 mins and just under 2000ft of climbing.
Once back home I washed Janes and my bike, dried them off and lube'd them up ready for the next ride.
I then spent some time fitting some new Rithey cleats onto my new Sidi's which I have just took out of the box. More on this in this weeks Fresh Goods Sunday and next week. Below are a few snaps from the ride, enjoy and hopefully more soon -

Found this bus shelter

Sure it should be down the road in Beamish

Awful having to sit in this waiting for the bus

 

 

Weekley Update inc a couple of rides, a hike and Neccl Rd2

What a bloody heat, well the ground is bone dry, dusty and the grass is burnt yellow. Not to worry the rain is back tomorrow and most of next week!
Thursday me and Angus went out a near 3 hour hike in the heat.
Friday me and Jane had a spin down to Durham / Maiden Castle area for a loop around teatime and it was boiling hot and very busy.
Today we went through to Asda for fuel and food then did the Bishop loop on the bikes, again it was hot and sunny but more wind today. The lines were totally dead, hardly a sole kicking around. From there we went straight to NECCL / UK LAND ESTATES Rd2 at Meadowfield Sports Centre. The land out the back was like concrete and bone dry. It has to be one of the hottest cx events I have ever been to. I have organised Meadowfield in a foot of mud, foot of snow, blowing a baltic gale on numerous times with near frost bite, thunder and lighting but never 22+ degrees heat. There was a massive turn out and MBE have uploaded 7no Sen Photo albums and 2no U12 Photo albums on Neccl Facebook page.
Photos from yesterdays and todays ride are below, enjoy and hopefully more soon -