A local Hike around Pity Me, Framwellgate Moor & Aykley Heads

 

After decorating all weekend I was supposed to be putting all the furniture etc back into the rooms but the sun came out so thought I would head out for a local short hike. The forecast was sleet, overcast and cloudy so did not want to venture too far. The wind was freezing but the rain kept off and the sun was in and out so went a little further than I thought I would go. All in 4.20 miles in a steady pace taking 1hr 22mins with only 140ft of climbing. My route was roughly 97% away from roads / trails/ tracks etc and only the first / last short section taking the same path. Below are a few snaps, enjoy and hopefully more soon - 

Old dead tree carved outside VW Pity Me 

Around The Carrs 

Council has been blocking off some of the "offroad tracks"! 

They have also finished the new motorway tack to the Front Street 

Not sure how long a timber gate will last, locals will have that set alight in no time 

Found this old cast iron post at the edge of the woods 

Sun back out again 

Under pass looking drier than normal under the A167

New College extension is looking massive now 

Daffs in the sun 

Not been around Durham Moor Crescent for a lot of years

The new County Hall 1 

Track up past the Rivergreen 

Aykley Wood reserve was drier than I thought it would be, normally knee deep at this time of year

View over Durham

The old Police Driving Training circuit at Aykley Heads, I remember watching Bike Wise here in the early years  

Newton Hall allotments

The starting bank of the old BMX track at Framwellgate Moor

Snow drops bursting through 

Not much nature apart from dog poo 

Shame the council did not tarmac the two tracks leading to the new path

View over The Carrs 

Fresh Goods Sunday - Specialized Purgatory Grid 2Bliss Ready T7 (29" x 2.6")

 

This is a follow on from last weeks Fresh Goods Sunday, Part 1. This is the second tyre in the purchase deal from Wheelbase Cycles. This model is the same size 29” x 2.6”, tubeless, folding but has a different trad pattern and is lighter. Again I checked the Specialized website to see if they recommended fitting this model / tyre to the front or rear and could not find anything. So I fitted this one to the rear of my Cube e mtb. Again as the front tyre it was tight on the rim but not too tight, aired up and sealed first time with my compressor. Since fitting the tyre a few months ago I have had no issues what so ever. I just top up the pressure now and again as its looses a few psi over time. I have run the tyre in mud, gravel, hard pack trail conditions etc and it has never let me down. As per the Eliminator the rubber compound feels the same and is way more softer and sticky / grippy compared to the factory fitted Schwable. As I said last week I will never run these tyres to their maximum capabilities as my type of riding now is no way near technical. I have yet to try them out on trail centre conditions but will probably have a spin over to Hamsterley Forest one day when it starts to dry up. 

RRP £37.50 and I paid £25 Wheelbase, Darlington. (Specialized are now selling these off direct for £22.50)

Manufacturers Blurb - 

The Purgatory GRID 2Bliss Ready T7 tire is the standard bearer for light trail tire performance. The new, completely redesigned tread features square lugs that bite in on soft soil, while still providing support on hard-packed ground. Additionally, flexible centre sipes fold out under braking force for increased ground contact and adhesion. The GRID casing provides a light and supple trail construction with additional sidewall protection for exceptional durability and sidewall stability. The T7 GRIPTON® compound enhances rolling speed while still providing tons of grip.

• Casing: 60 TPI, light and supple trail construction with additional sidewall protection for exceptional durability and sidewall stability.
• Bead: Foldable
• Butyl wrapped bead = 2Bliss Ready
• Compound: GRIPTON®
• 26 x 2.3", psi 25-50, approximate weight 710g
• 27.5 x 2.3", psi 25-50, approximate weight 785g
• 27.5 x 2.6", psi 20-40, approximate weight 970g
• 27.5 x 3.0", Max Ride 25 psi / Max Install 35 psi, approximate weight 1100g
• 29 x 2.3", psi 25-50, approximate weight 810g
• 29 x 2.6", psi 20-40, approximate weight 900g

Stanhope / Weardale 10k Trail Running Race Rekey

Apologies for the lack of blogs this week. The weather has been awful to say the least, hardly stopped raining all week. I have also started decorating in the house so there will probably be not that many blogs next week or so. Today Angus had a day off work and wanted to go up to Stanhope to check out the route for a 10k trail running race he has entered. We did not have a map of the race route but roughly knew where is was going to the top. We made up our own descent back to the Dales Centre. The weather was cloudy, overcast, 3 degrees but no wind! There is snow on the tops of Upper Weardale in the distance and loads more snow due next week! All in the loop was 7.3 miles with 1200ft of climbing. Below are a few snaps from the trip, enjoy and hopefully more soon - 

Fresh Goodies - Silca Gravelero Mini Pump & BTWIN MTB Mudguards

 

This pump landed last week but I have not had a change to have a good look at it or even fit it to my bike yet, more on this soon hopefully. 

Yesterday me and Jane had a trip up to Team Valley retail park and I had a look around Decathlon and bought these two new mudguards for my Cube E Mtb. 

Its like caulk and cheese, mega expensive pump and the some of the cheapest guards on the market!