Weather less ride down to Durham & Maiden Castle - Trek Marlin+ e hardtail mtb

 

Last day of the working week and I was up and out again early doors on my Trek Marlin+ e hardtail mtb. Talking about this bike Team Cycles now have 21% off my model, that is a good buy, I should have hung on! No wind today but also no sun so I call it a weather less ride, still cold with the Garmin dipping down to 6.7 degrees. I did wear my lightweight jacket toady and my 3/4 bib thighs again. My legs were feeling a little tired after the last two days of riding and I am still not a 100% better from my man flu. It was back on my regular routes down to Durham, over to Maiden Castle but I did not do the Houghall woods loop today. Around the riverside then up The Trod. This is still very washed out from all the storms we had earlier in the year with some really deep ruts. Back down the other side, back around Durham then home via Frankland, The Sands and The Carrs. It was lovely and quite and no students out at all around Durham. As you will see in the photos below they are setting up the riverside ready for The Regatta this weekend. All in 15.5miles in 1hr 13min with 750ft of climbing. Below are a few snaps from the ride, enjoy and hopefully more soon- 

Yet another sunny, windy and cold local gravel ride on Co Durham's old railway lines - Creo 1

 

I was up and out very early again this morning making the most of the early morning sun. The forecast had the temperature as feeling like 3 degrees so I put on my 3/4 bib tights to keep my legs warm. I was going to wear my lightweight windproof jacket but I thought it did not feel like it was 3 degrees so opted for the same three layers as yesterday with my arm warmers. Today i decided to take my Creo 1 gravel bike for a change. The DT Swiss wheels with narrower Gravelking tyres fly along compared to the Hunt wheels with 2.1" tyres. The wind was stronger than yesterday making it hard going into the headwind. The old railway lines are still mainly dry and dusty in places. The problem now is the verges have grown that fast it is overhanging the track and restricting the width. As yesterday hardly seen a sole out n about so had long stretches of track all to myself, lovely with the tailwind! I did a few extra miles at the end and all in just under 33 miles with 100ft of climbing. Below are a few snaps from the ride, enjoy and hopefully more soon- 

Sunny & windy very early morning spin along County Durham's old railway lines on the Creo 2.

 

Nice to back out on the bike again. I did not have any spare time at the weekend as both days were taken up doing jobs in and around the house and going for our big monthly food shop. 

The weather has been mixed but a lot drier than last few weeks but the wind is back again. We had a lovely sunrise and I was up and out before 5.30am. The tracks n trails were lovely and quite at that time of day, hardly seen a sole apart from coming back in there was a few dog walkers. The sun was shinning away for most of the ride but the wind was a killer. On top of that the Garmin was reading 5.5 degrees! I had three tops on and my arm warmers and I was still feeling the cold in the headwind. The lines have dried up lovely again and could have took my rear mudguard off as I only had a couple of wet muddy puddles. The bike is going well but I had a cut to the rear tyre from my last ride which I have had to plug temporary until I patch the tyre.  

All in 25.5 miles with 1500ft of climbing. Below are a few snaps from the ride, enjoy and hopefully more soon-                                                                                                     

Fresh Goods Sunday - Specialized ELE Speed Sensor Magnet Holder - Centrelock Lockring V2 Part No S226800004 (Creo & other models)

 

If you own a Specialized electric bike and swap wheels around you will know all about this part. For the system to work you need to have one of these speed sensors fitted to your rear wheel / hub. It replaces a standard disc rotor lockring. It uses the same lockring tool as a standard Shimano cassette so no special tools to buy. If you have followed my blog over the years you will know that I have several different wheels sets for my Creo 1 road, Creo 1 gravel and Creo 2 gravel bikes. They all need a speed sensor lockring fitted. When I bought the last one from Certini the part number has changed and this is a V2 model. Not a clue what the difference is, its looks and perform the same as the original V1 model. They are easier to find now as when I first bought one many years ago for  a DT Swiss wheel set on my Creo 1 they had to be ordered in from Specialized UK and they only had a couple in stock at the time. As for value for money you have no choice what Specialized put on them as you have to pay it. £12 is not too bad to be honest, could be a lot higher. 

RRP £11.99 and I paid £11.99 from Certini Cycles 

Manufacturers Blurb - 

This is an electric speed sensor magnet holder for use on certain Specialized E-bikes.

Compatibility:

• Specialized Como
• Specialized Como Sl
• Specialized Creo Sl
• Specialized Levo
• Specialized Vado Sl