Very sad news, Dave Clark Richmond CC has died in an accident whilst walking his dog last Monday night

The Funeral is this Thursday, full details below. I remember the days when Richmond CC were very active in the cx season. Dave, Sven and Charlotte always welcomed us at the school and backed the Neccl and my series back in the days. He will be a huge loss not only to the ne cycling scene but the whole of Richmond and the surrounding areas. 

Fresh Goods Sunday - EBC Brakes CFA689 Magura Pads

Early morning local gravel loop in the sun for a change

Well the weather has finally changed and we have some sunshine! and the wind has done one for a few days. Still busy with angus's house but the 1st fix full rewire is complete, all the new walls and boarding / overboarding is complete, full strip out is complete and the plasterer is busy now until at least the end of the week so I have a few hours spare to myself! Next up will be 2nd fix joinery for me inc full new kitchen inc tiling, int doors, skirting, backmoulds etc. Then a full new bathroom and tiling, then full decoration, that will keep me busy for a couple of months.
I have been working crazy hours at work as well so was due to a couple of hours off so I decided to get out on the bike and clear my head. I was up and out at sunrise and it was nippy to start with but it soon warmed up and by the time I reached the height of Stanley Crook it was nearly 14 degrees!
The lines were lovely and quiet apart from a couple of other cyclists, dog walkers and joggers.
The lines have also dried up a treat and are fast going again.
The bike was going well and so was I. By the time I reached Brandon I was going to put in an extra loop but I had to get back, shame! All in 26.5 miles in 1hr 55mins with 1500ft climbing.
Below are a couple of snaps from the ride, enjoy and hopefully more soon -

Sunny, warm and very windy spin out to Brandon n back with Jane

 

Me & Jane had a short spin out on the bikes on Tuesday over to Brandon as we had some stuff to drop off at Janes mums and dads. We tried to stick to cycle paths / lanes / old railway for most of the way but it was late afternoon and the traffic on the roads was unreal! It is defo back to normal I can tell you in Durham area.

It was lovely and sunny, hot but very windy. We called in past Truly Scrumptious at Aldin Grange, Bearpark on the way through and just caught them before closing the door, we had a cuppa and cake and was spot on. Once we dropped off at Brandon it was a gentle ride back home.

Today when we were out and about we called in past Truly Scrumptious for late lunch. I ordered a bacon buttie, small bottle of still water and Jane had a cheese savoury sandwich and can of Fanta even though she asked for Lilt. The bacon buttie landed over 15-20 minutes later and was a boring white super market 20p bun with 2 1/2 rashers of mega thin cold / hard bacon in. Janes sandwich which was also a bun had no salad or crisps with it. Total bill nearly £13! Well and truly ripped off to say the least and crap service. We will not be going back there again, oh well some you win and some you loose.

Below are a couple of snaps from the ride, enjoy and hopefully more soon-

 

 

Fresh Goods Sunday - Shimano Bleed Nipple Cap - Y8B214000

I like things on my bikes to be in perfect or as near perfect order as you can get. When I see there is a bleed cap missing it just bugs the hell out of mine and know that it probably does not do much apart from keeping out all the crap from he end of the nipple so I went on a hunt for some replacement caps. SJS Cycles have them in stock but are £3 each plus p&p so found these when I was placing an order for my DT Swiss wheels. They are easy to fit and don't require any tools. I now have plenty spares as I only ordered two but they sent a pack of 10no instead! cheers.
RRP £2.99 each and I paid £3.71 for 2no but sent 10no from Bike Discount De

Manufacturers Blurb - For use with -
Shimano Deore XT BR-M755
 Shimano Dura-Ace BR-R9170
- Shimano Ultegra BR-R8070
- Shimano 105 BR-R7070
- Shimano Tiagra BR-4770
- Shimano XTR BR-M9120 / BR-M9110 / BR-M9100 / BR-M9020 / BR-M9000 / BR-M987 / BR-M985 / BR-M975 / BR-M965
- Shimano Saint BR-M820 / BR-M810 / BR-M800
- Shimano Deore XT BR-M8120 / BR-M8110 / BR-M8100 / BR-M8020 / BR-M8000 / BR-M785 / BR-M776 / BR-M775 / BR-M765 / BR-M755-DH
- Shimano SLX BR-M7120 / BR-M7110 / BR-M7100 / BR-M7000 / BR-M675 / BR-M666 / BR-M665
- Shimano Zee BR-M640
- Shimano Deore BR-M6120 / BR-M615 / BR-M596 / BR-M595 / BR-M555 / BR-M555-M / BR-M535 / BR-M525 / BR-M525-M / BR-T615
- Shimano Hone BR-M601
- Shimano Deore LX BR-M585 / BR-T675 / BR-T665
- Shimano BR-M575
- Shimano Alivio BR-M4050
- Shimano BR-M486 / BR-M485 / BR-M447 / BR-M446 / BR-M445
- Shimano Acera BR-M3050
- Shimano BR-M395
- Shimano Nexave BR-C901 / BR-C901-M
- Shimano BR-MT520 / BR-MT500
- Shimano GRX BR-RX810 / BR-RX400
- Shimano BR-RS805
- Shimano BR-RS505
- Shimano BR-RS405
- Shimano BR-R785
- Shimano Alfine BR-S700 / BR-S501 / BR-S500
- Shimano BR-T605
- Shimano BR-UR300
- Shimano Metrea BR-U5000

 

A cold and wet Sunday Morning local loop

 

 

I put another 9 hour shift in again around Angus's house yesterday and was feeling the burn today. The forecast was looking crap but decided to take the bike out for a quick spin with the new wheels / tyres on. It started raining within 5 minutes of me leaving home! Durham County Council have been doing some cycle highways works around Framwellgate Moor & Pity Me area, what a laugh. How on earth are they going to keep the coned off cycle lanes clean, all the rubbish from the road is going to fly into the cycle lanes and they are not wide enough to get a sweeper down so cyclists will still use the main road or go down Abbey Road instead. Anyway back to the ride, as it was heavy rain I was going to head back but kept on plugging away. It was 9 degrees as well as raining so was not a pleasant ride. I called in past the crem to see my mum and dads plaque but too cold and wet to hang around. It dried up for a short while but once up at Quarrington Hill the heavens opened again so headed back home. All in 23 miles 1hr 27 mins with 1500ft of climbing. Below are a couple of snaps, enjoy and hopefully more soon! -

They still have the bollards to go in the opposite side, road is drilled ready.

Weekly catch up, Fresh Goodies and some tinkering

Well my order from Bike Discount de, Germany landed on Monday. Not bad considering I only placed the order the previous Thursday and it was the bank holiday weekend. I ordered a second pair of DT Swiss wheels for the Creo SL, this time the HEC 1400 Spline Boost road version with 62mm deep rims.

I also fitted the Restrap Cannister bag, more on that soon

Once I fitted the Ultegra rotors I swapped them for the Dura Ace models from my Synapse Neo, wheels look much better with the black rotors.

I also ordered a few other items to the order with the wheels - FinishLine E bike lube, a spare pair of Shimano disc pads and some bleed cap covers as I have two missing from my bikes and I now have a few spare ones left over. I only ordered two but they sent a bag of ten.

I also dragged out my mudguards for the Cannondale Synapse Neo as they weather has been real crap of late and if I ever get back out on the bike will probably need them. It did not take long to fit them as I taped all the bolts, nuts, washers, spacers onto the guards in the relevant positions. Now it is ready for some wet / winter riding.

 

No time for any rides, busy at work and Angus house yet again! Plasterer hopefully coming this coming week and some more plumbing works then full speed ahead with the bathroom and kitchen replacement. That will keep me busy for a few weeks.