Frozen minus -5.5 degrees sunny morning ride to Stanley Crook

 

I have the full day off today and I was up at 5am so decided to go for my last ride of the month at sunrise. There was a heavy overnight frost which played to my advantage. My last few rides have been after heavy rain or the frost has melted which have made for very muddy rides. This morning I was on the old railway lines just after 7am and they were mainly frozen. Also another plus point going out early is there is a lot less dog walkers, runners, cyclists, horse riders and walkers. Riding along The Deerness Valley line the Garmin dipped down to minus -5.5 degrees. There was sonly a few heavily wooded sections where the frost did not reach. Once I climbing out of East Hedleyhope to Stanley Crook there was less frost and Garmin shot up to minus -1 degree. This is where I turned and headed back down. Once back at Waterhouses it was like riding back into a freezer again. All in 23 miles which just got me over my monthly total of 300 miles of exercise. Time 1hr 40mins with 900ft of climbing. Enjoy the few frozen looking photos and hopefully more soon- 

Another mainly sunny and clarty old railway line down to Hamsterley Mill

 

What a lovely day for a ride after yesterdays rainy day / turbo trainer session. The sun was mainly out but it also clouded over at the end of the Derwent line making it feel really cold. I joined onto the old railway line at Langley Park and headed for Consett. Yesterdays heavy rain and the overnight frost made the lines soft and clarty going. I had a headwind all the way up which soon warmed my leg muscles up. At the crossroads junction at Consett I went straight over to pick up the Derwent Walk line. I headed down this and it was even muddier. I knew it was closed at the viaduct after Hamsterley Mill so at the road crossing I turned and headed back. At Blackhill I went through the park and the bypass route for a change. There was quite a few others out enjoying the good weather. Tailwind nearly all the way back. All in 31.5 miles with 1400ft of climbing. Below are a few snaps from the ride, enjoy and hopefully more soon - 

Local mainly gravel loop on Co Durham's old railway lines

 

Another local loop yesterday, again with the sun in and out more times than enough but it was half the temperature compared to Monday and the really cold strong wind was back. On the plus side the old railway lines have dried out a fair amount from Mondays ride. It was also quieter today with less people out n about so got my head down as they say. All in just over 19 miles with just over 700ft of climbing. Enjoy the few snaps below and hopefully more soon- 

A warmer short spin to Bishop Auckland n back

 

Yesterday was lovely and warm with the Garmin nearly reaching 12 degrees! The sun was in and out for the whole ride and the wind had died down. The old railway line was very wet and muddy after the early morning rain with some big puddles to splash through. All in 15.5 miles with less than 400ft of climbing. Below are a couple of snaps, enjoy and hopefully more soon- 

Fresh Goodies - Styrkr Bar 50 Rice Bar, Cyclist Magazine Issue 160 March & Cycling Plus Magazine Issue 429 April

 

I am not one for energy food or drinks in any form or way. I just go out and have a ride! I have tried a couple of gels in past and they were awful. I used to have a few energy bars - Torq, High 5, KMC, Cliff. There is not many flavours I can stomach and they always tend to have short dates on them and go out of date by the time I eat them. I found these from Moonglu in Ripon - rrp £2.50 and I paid £2.75 each! This is the most expensive bar I have ever bought in my life, just hope they taste ok and do something! 

When we have been out n about shopping etc over the last couple of weeks I have bought two magazines for some reading during the wet, windy, cloudy, crappy days when I cannot be bothered to get out on the bike. 

Cycling Plus rrp £6.99 and Cyclist rrp £6.95 both from WH Smiths branches.