26 December 2024

Spin upto Parkhead & Waskerley Reservoir

 


Hope you all had a cracking Christmas Day and received a few cycling goodies! The weather was fantastic and was certainly not a white Christmas. This morning I needed to get a few miles in so checked the forecasts and the weather cameras on Durham County Councils website and as I suspected higher ground was a lot more warmer and sunnier than in the valleys. I parked up at Delves Lane and headed for Parkhead. Coming through Lanchester it was reading minus on the temperature gauge and was around 4 degrees at Consett. Off I set up the Waskerley way and it was mainly quiet with just a few others out n about. By the time I reached the last open moor section the Garmin had gone from 2.5 degrees to 8 degrees and blazing sunshine. By now I was over dressed and took my gloves off. On the way back down I turned right down the hill and had a look around the reservoir. The water was a like mirror with no wind causing ripples / waves. On the way back down the temperature plummeted again and I was cold and back on with the gloves. There was quite a few more out n about around Consett way. All in 22 miles in 1hr 40 mins with just under a 100ft of climbing. Enjoy the few snaps below and hopefully more soon- 




















Fresh Goodies - Rough Stuff Fellowship Volume 70 Journal & Cyclist Issue 159 Magazine

 


Some of you might not know about or heard of the Rough Stuff Fellowship so here is a LINK to their website. I joined just after the York Cycle Show where they had a stand. As part of the membership £13 per year you get six copies of their Journal every year. It is always a good read if you are into some non tarmac riding. 




I also bought a copy of the Winter 2024 edition of Cyclist Magazine for a read over the festive period. There are not many cycling magazines which are publish now so I try and support them when I can by buying a copy if there are any decent articles in them.  I have attached a photo of the contents page - 


ps hope you all had a good Christmas - time to enjoy some riding now - 

24 December 2024

Fresh Goodies - Jo Burt - Lost Summers and Half-Forgotten Afternoons & Silca Ultimate Tubeless Sealant

 


A couple of Fresh Goodies from last week or so - I checked my stock of tubeless sealant and I am down to my last bottle of Stans so I was going to order a couple of new bottles but the tubeless sealant from Silca was 50% off. I opted for the biggest bottle 32oz and paid £21 each inc 48he p&p from Saddleback direct. I have always used Stans so this will be a new product to trial once I run out of my last Stans. 





I also come across this book by accident when I was searching the net the other week. If you are old school and used to buy MBUK then you will know all about Jo Burt's famous sheep cartoons. 
After a quick google I got a copy for £32.11 inc 48hr free p&p from Condor Cycles in London. 


enjoy your Christmas break and try not consume your body weight in food & drink! 

18 December 2024

Back on a analogue bike - Trek Procaliber 9.8 Hardtail XC mtb - very windy ride

 


Back out on the bike today but because of the very strong wind - 30+mph gusts I decided to take out my analogue Trek Procaliber 9.8 hardtail xc mtb for a local spin. I hoped onto the old railway line at Langley Park and headed for Broompark then along to Ushaw Moor. I had mainly a tailwind so I knew it was going to be hard going on the return leg. There was quite a few others out battling the elements! The line was wet and muddy in places and bone dry and easy going in other places. I think it is the first time I have used this bike this tear which is not good! I mainly use it in the summer when it is red hot, sunny and dusty fry but that never really happened this year so it never come out. Not too worry as they say, all in just over 11 miles in 57 minutes with 350ft of climbing. Below are a couple of snaps, enjoy and hopefully more soon- 






13 December 2024

Out n back to Bishop Auckland on the Creo 2

 


Back out on the bike again for an out n back spin along the old railway lines from Langley Park to Bishop Auckland. It started off overcast, cloudy and misty but the sun did come out when I was on the outskirts of Bishop and a very short spell on the way back. It was not warm with the Garmin reading 2.9 degrees but there was no wind. The lines are dry'ish but plenty of mud in some sections. There was a quite a few others users out so very slow down / speed back up moments. All in just over 27 miles in 2hrs 3mins and 800ft of climbing. Below are a couple of snaps, enjoy and hopefully more soon- 




6 December 2024

Fresh Goodies - The Cannondale Archives 1971 - 2021 Book & Assos Ultraz Winter Socks EVO

 


I have been after one of these limited edition books for a while now and won this one on Ebay for a reasonable price. I have been into Cannondale from a very young age and have had loads of different Cannondale bikes. Shame they have been bought out as the brand has nearly died in my eyes which is a real shame. 




Also due to the recent cold weather I have cracked open my new winter socks from Assos which I bought a while ago in the sale @ Infinity Cycles. Hopefully they will keep my little trotters warmer over the winter months.