Another Busy weekend inc a ride through to Bishop

After a cold morning first thing with temperatures hovering around 1.5 degrees there was a touch of ground frost in places. Me and Angus had a ride through to Bishop Auckland on the Cube E mtb's. The lines were wet and muddy after the heavy overnight rain but the sun was out. We took the old railway line straight through to Bishop from Bearpark Farm. Once we crossed the viaduct we met in with Jane and Arran, got changed and headed to the tea rooms for breakfast. After that we had a walk around the Christmas market in the castle grounds and No 42. We then to Morrisons for some food shopping, fuel and Halfords for some wipers. Below are some photos, enjoy and hopefully more soon -

 

 

 

Also there was some new goodies this week as my rear led light would not charge / turn on. Angus has also broken two bells so got some cheapo replacements £1.50 each!

I also washed / charged and serviced the Cube E bike, replaced the front pads, the rear ones still have some life left in them yet.

 

Yesterday me and Angus serviced my sisters car as it is going for its mot next Saturday and gave it a full valet / wash and clean. Then moved onto Angus cars, that took 5 hours, nipped in had a shave and changed my clothes and straight back out to Homer Hill tea rooms for a festive afternoon tea. The drink and food was spot on but pricy! we had a couple of vouchers so did not cost us anything but should have been £36, Beamish hall was better value for money.

 

Even more sun on todays frozen offroad local loop

I woke upto a hard frost and it was reading minus -2 dgrees in the van coming to work this morning. It is about time we had a good frost as it normally followed by some lovely winter sun. Today was just that, freezing cold in the shaded sections of the route but lovely sun on my back in the open sections. It was loop of a few old railway lines linked together with one country back lane which was icy so had to take the corners very steady. Again it was all quiet with only a few other people out and about. I still have not washed the bike but it defo needs doing now, charging up and check both front & rear brake pads. Enjoy the snaps below and hopefully more soon -

Canny spin to Bishop n back in some sun

It is the first time i have seen the sun for a long time. After the rain which nearly lasted all weekend and over Sunday night the lines were wet and muddy going through the wooded sections. There was some canny big puddles to freewheel through as well. It was nice to get back out on the bike and was a steady spin through to Bishop and back. The line was nice and quiet with ony a few other users out and about. I need to give the bike a good once over as i did not wash it after the mud fest of Hamsterley.
Below are a few sunny pics instead of the usual cloud / rain. Hopefully more soon -

Fresh Goods Sunday - Park Tool PNT-5 Pint Glass

I had a Park Tool pint glass many years ago but unfortunately it got cracked / smashed so ended up in the bin. I not really after a replacement but come across this newer model in the Lakes. We were having a walk around Penrith and had the usual walk around Arragon's Cycles and there was a few in the display cabinet. I thought to myself now that would be a nice replacement for the broken one off years ago. The newer model is much thicker glass / stronger and will hopefully last longer!
RRP £9.99 and I paid £9.99

Manufacturers Blurb -
Featuring a three colour Park Tool logo and “bike wrench” graphic, the PNT-5 Pint Glass is made from heavyweight, dishwasher safe glass.

 

 

A few snaps from RD8 South Shields

In respect of Ray I am only going to post a few photos just to show how bad the weather/rain was, I may post the rest later in the week on Neccl's facebook.
Regards

NECCL RD8 South Shields - Ray

I am not very good at this writing stuff but I would like to start with our best wishes to Ray for a speedy recover from all the NECCL officials / committee and race organisers. Our hearts also go out to Joanne and Ray’s family. I am sure between them, the NHS and close friends they will offer Ray every type of support he will need in the recovery process. 

I know Mal has thanked everyone for all their help and support during the incident and after for clearing the course in etc. I know there was 4 or 5 individuals that administered first aid from marshals, other race organisers and riders. As a collective they worked as team to perform Cardiopulmonary resuscitation on Ray before the paramedic and ambulance arrived. 

We are a small bunch of cyclists up here in the north east of england who come out ever September to take on the challenge of competing in the Neccl league over the three to four months. We have a very mixed bag of ages from the toddlers right up-to the oldie’s. We also have a very mixed bag of abilities from the complete novice to the elite who whizz around without breaking a sweat but we all race together at each round like a big family. Yes we have a few niggles now and again but we always make up. You all have your own separate challenges whether its just trying to finish that individual event, to finishing the series, trying to beat the rider in front or having a goal to move up a league the following season. 

In all my near 30 years of attending, competing, organising cx events across the north east i think we have only ever had to call for medical help once before and pleased to say its a very rare thing. 

The Neccl is a small organisation made up of myself, Geoff T and Jon B, the committee and the team of race organisers. We all have our own jobs and slot in all the organising, paperwork and duties around this. We are all volunteers who put in a lot of hours over the season to produce the league series as a whole. When we very first started it was all about providing cyclists with the most economic form of racing and easy access into the sport. I can honestly say i think we have achieved this and every year riders who complete the league are presented with money to hopefully cover their cost of competing within the league over the season.

You are probably bored of reading this by now, as riders are sick on me shouting the race briefing at most start lines, this is the last part. As may or may not know i was at South Shields yesterday from 9am doing some banking for the Neccl then popped into Colemans for early / quick dinner before heading over to the event. I walked / checked over the course and tweaked here and there and after an hour and half of continuous rain i started the race. You probably seen us Browns taking the photo’s, directing riders, sorting tape etc. Around 2.15pm my lads were freezing so decided to go home. I normally stay to the end but unfortunately not yesterday. We just got back through the door and received a call about Ray. I could not believe what i was hearing. After all the texts, calls and emails last night i am not sure i could have done anything more that many other people did. I have known Ray for many years and only lives four miles away from me, he has always supported my races from the old summer series’s, one off’s like the One peak of Hetton etc. It has shocked me and Jane deeply and even brought me to tears several times. 

On that note we have to look forward now and Neccl will be having discussions regarding several matters before the last round and after that looking into the 2019 series. 

Regards Scot Brown (Neccl Treasurer)