Mixed Gravel and road ride in and around Hamsterley Forest

 

I was juts going some through some of the routes I have done around and in Hamsterley Forest and thought it was a while since I have last been. So last night I got my kit and bike ready for a spin out and a rough route planned in my head. I was up and out early to miss most of the rush hour traffic and parked up at Hamsterley Village. Goretex jacket, winter boots, merino hat / helmet, long fingered gloves on and I was off down the big down hill to Beburn Beck and into the forest. I picked up the Red route for a short distance then did my own route to The Grove. From there is was forest drives all the way out of the forest at the far end past Dangerous Descent. Out over the moor to pick up the B6278 to Hill Top / Egglestone. It was very misty of the tops and not to mention cold! I don't like the next road section straight up the steep hill as cars go flying past but its a short section before turning left at the top on the B6282 to Woodland. I then turned left on the unclassed back road / country lane to turn left and down the singletrack road to Blacking Hole. Its been quite a few years since I have been up at that end of the forest, nothing has changed not that I thought it would. I followed the Red route to Five Lane Ends then straight down hill all the way back to The Grove to pick up the Forest Drive out of the forest and onto Windy Bank road. Here it was left and the road all the way back to Hamsterley Village. As ever I never seen a single sole within the forest and very few cars on the roads. 

All in just over 29 miles in 2 hours 18 minutes with 3000ft of climbing. Below are a few cloudy / overcast cold looking photos from the ride, enjoy and hopefully more soon - 

Fresh Goods Monday - DT Swiss HGC 1400 Spline Hybrid Boost 650b / 27.5" Wheelset

 

If you have been reading / following my blog for a while you will have noticed I have purchased a third set of DT Swiss carbon wheelset for my Creo's. This time its is the 27.5"/650b version of the HGC 1400 spline wheels which I have in the 700c size. This was my first pair and they have never missed a beat and cannot fault them in anyway possible. The rrp has gone up another £115 since then making them even more eye watering that what they were back in July 2020. 

They share the same hubs, same section rim but in 27.5" diameter, shorter spokes and overall 194g lighter. The actual weight is not a kick in the teeth off the manufacturers claimed weight. 

Setting up the wheels was easy - tubeless tyres seated first time, cassette and rotors fitted then straight onto the bike. They spin smoothly and I have managed a few rides on them and cannot feel any flex in the wheels when I was out of the saddle giving it some on steep clicks. Again the build quality looks spot on but you would expect so on a wheelset of this value. 

I will cover tyre clearance, tyres, rotors, cassette etc on Fresh Goods Sundays over the coming weeks. 

RRP £1949.98 and I paid £1585.00 from Fawkes Cycles inc 24hr p&p Discount 19%

Manufacturers blurb - Swiss engineering, combined with the most advanced, e-specific components to provide you with a premium wheelset for your high-end e- bike. 

While our Hybrid Endurance wheels are made to deliver maximum speed on tarmac, our Hybrid Gravel wheels will deliver maximum fun on gravel roads. The HGC 1400 SPLINE 42 is the exclusive answer for all high-end e-gravel bikes that set the benchmark in a new cycling segment. With a select mix of high-end e-specific components, this wheelset has the pedigree to be the uncontested King of e-gravel.

My second DT Swiss wheelset on my Creo road bike

700c version of the same wheelset

I now have my spare 650b wheel set with Pirelli tyres on