Spin down the east coast - got lost and ended up in Hartlepool!

 

Today I was over on the east coast side of County Durham so I hoped onto the old railway line at Shotton and headed south. I knew the line split further down, turning right down to Wynyard Visitors Centre where I intended to go passing the reservoir but I must have missed / not seen the turning and kept left and headed out of County Durham and into Hartlepool district. This is the first time I have ever done this leg of the old railway line and as much of the east goes there is not too scenery. The line was really muddy, uneven and covered in littler in most places. I followed some blue cycle route signs towards Hartlepool but did not seem to be getting away where fast so I turned off left and found the coast - Spion Kop. The return leg was even harder as I had a massive headwind all the way back. I also lost the little bit of sunshine I had and turned really cold. The Garmin dropped to 4 degrees. There was a few others out and about but not too many. Below are a few snaps from the ride, enjoy and hopefully more soon- 

Fresh Goods Sunday - 45NRTH - Greazy Cap

 

If you have followed my blog for a long time you will know I bought one of these caps many moons ago and never really comes off my head from the end of Autumn right the way through to Spring time. I thought it was time to by a second one and checked Bikemongers website and they had them in stock. They now come in two different sizes as well. I checked the reviews on the net and some riders were saying the cap has changed from the old version, a lot thinner, lighter and does not protect you from the wind as much. Well when it landed a few days later they were right. It is a lot lighter than my old version and thinner. I started wearing it straight away and has better coverage around the ears which is a good thing. It also fits under the helmet better as its less bulky. On the downside as soon as it turned below 5 degrees or was really windy it was not offering me as much protection as the old one. So it has gone back into my back for the end of winter coming into Spring when the temperatures start to rise again. The quality and feel of the material I cannot fault and washes well. The rrp is on the high side but what is cheap these days! 

RRP £40 and I paid £40 inc 48hr p&p from Bikemonger, Ripon

Manufacturers Blurb - 

OVERVIEW

Gain eye and ear coverage with a double-layer merino wool blend. Flat-lock stitching makes for a comfortable fit under the helmet, and the flexible brim does not crease when crumpled into a pocket for storage.

SPECS

FEATURES

• Packable brim for stowage
• Double layer wool blend for moisture wicking and management
• Flat-lock stitching for comfort
• Imported

CONSTRUCTION

Three-panel crown for optimal fit with a helmet

FABRIC

Merino Wool-Blend

SUGGESTED TEMP RANGE

0°F (-18°C) to 25°F (-4°C)

SIZES

S/M
L/XL

COLOR

Black

MATERIALS

50% wool, 50% polyester

CARE INSTRUCTIONS

Warm gentle machine was in wool detergent, do not bleach. Line or tumble dry.

Headwear Sizing Guide

SIZING

Measurements refer to body size, not garment dimensions, unless noted. In instances when your body measurements are midway between two sizes, go to the smaller size for a tighter fit or the larger size for a looser fit.

HEADWEAR

Measure the circumference of your head above the eyebrows and the tops of your ears.

SIZE	S/M	L/XL
Head Circumference	up to 23-1/2"	over 23-1/2"

A local gravel loop taking in two of Co Durham's old railway lines

 

It was time to hit the old railway lines of Co Durham again. It was one of my regular local loops - over to Broompark to pick up the line to Crook then the road to Willington. I turn left at the Coop to pick up the line back to Broompark then back. The lines are wet and muddy in places but some parts are dry. The weather was mainly dry with little wind but very overcast and cloudy. It was spitting rain on the way back in and I also got a slow puncture in the front tyre with 4 miles to go, ggrr. I did not stop as it was ok on the straights, just had to slow right down for any corners and try and keep the weight on the back of the bike. There was quite a few others out n about considering the crappy weather. I climbed 1300ft with an average speed of 12.9mph. Below are a few snaps from the ride, enjoy and hopefully more soon.