Fresh Goods Sunday - Gravel Cycling Magazine (from Cycling Plus)

 

Its that time of year when Cycling Plus release there once a year Gravel Cycling magazine. This year is has a good mix of topics and the same cover price as 2022- £10.99. I have not had a good read through it yet but had a quick thumb and there is plenty of articles to keep me going over the next few months. 116 pages with all photos for each article taken in the sun! You would think it never rains in the UK. 

Manufacturers Blurb - The best gravel bikes for every budget; learn the gravel-specific tricks of the trade; the most exhilarating UK routes; bike packing 101; discover the finest gear from GPS bike computers to slick wheels; and much more.

RRP £10.99 and I paid £10.99 from WH Smiths (Richmond, Up North one) 

A ride of two halves cold / hot, cloudy / sunny, rain / dry local road loop - Pontop Pike & Burnhope

 

Yesterday me & Jane had a day out down to Richmond, Catterick & Leyburn so no time for a bike ride. This morning though I thought I would drag the Creo road bike out for a spin. It started off overcast, cloudy and 7 degrees with a slight breeze. The last few morning it has ben around 7 or 8 degrees, not good for end of August really. It was one of my regular local loops with a couple of extra / different sections chucked in. The roads were lovely and quiet but very damp in places after yesterdays / last nights rain. The higher I was climbing the higher the temperature was reaching but it also started to rain. You could only see half of Pontop Pike transmitter due to the low level cloud. By the time I reached Annfield Plain the sun was trying to get out, it had stopped raining so that brighten the ride up a little. Below are a few snaps from the ride, not that many as I did not stop too often. All in 38.20 miles in 2hrs 36 min with just under 2800ft of climbing. Enjoy and hopefully more soon- 

An overcast but warmer ride up the C2C to Annfield Plain / Greencroft / Catchgate n back

 

I was just not feeling it again today and nearly did not bother going out but thought to myself come on give your head a shake. I hopped onto the old railway line at West Pelton and turned left and headed up the old railway line to Annfield Plain. It was damp and muddy in a few places after the overnight rain, typical as I just washed, degreased, charged and re lubed the bike last night. It was mainly quiet so not too mush stop / start. Once up at Greencroft I did a short road loop taking in Catchgate and back onto the line at Annfield Plain all the way back down to West Pelton. It was spitting rain but not to heavy. It felt slightly warmer today as there was not wind. The Garmin was reading 15 degrees, not exactly tarmac splitting temperatures! Below are a few snaps from the ride, enjoy and hopefully mores soon- 

Dont worry I am back and out on the bike again.

 

Apologies for no blogs the last couple of weeks but I have not been out on the bike etc. I have been busy around Angus's house with external works causing my back and knee to go off and I have been really busy at work and still am until around mid September. This has the been the longest I have been off the bike since I can remember but in a way I have not missed it until I swung my leg back over again today. 

So today I made the decision to drag my bum out early and have a ride on the Creo gravel bike. It must have been another wet and muddy ride the last time I used the bike as it is covered in dried on mud / grit. I must have charged the battery though and a quick pump up of the tyres, lubed the drivetrain and it was ready to go again. There was sort of a sunrise but then clouded over and was nippy in places with the light wind. The Garmin was hovering around 10-12 degrees for most of the ride. The route was mainly based on Co Durham old railway lines with some inter linking road sections. The lines were mainly dry but there is some sections that are massively washed out with the recent rain storms leaving a good 6" deep rut down them. If you get your front wheel stuck in the rut it will be over the handlebar job, not too mention the sections of 2-3" loose washed out gravel which sucks your wheels out in every direction. It was quiet apart from a horse which the rider had very little control over and took over a mile to pass where I had to get off and push my bike past, all part of the fun. All in 37 miles with 1800ft of climbing. Below are a few snaps from the ride, enjoy and hopefully more soon-