A freezing cold and wet mainly gravel loop to Consett - Birtley then home

 

With not getting out on the bike for the last couple of days I had to drag myself out this morning. It was dark, cold and wet! I set off over the back way to Baxsters Farm to drop on to the old railway line to Consett. There must have been a hard frost over night then early morning rain on the top, it was lethal under tyre. The heavy drizzle continued all the way up the line to Delves Lane then it eased up. The temperature also increased and there was no frozen ground just wet & muddy. At the junction I was going to turn left and go to Parkhead but I was too cold and wet by now so turned right and headed down to Birtley. Once I crossed the bridge I dropped onto the A167 into Chester Le Street then around the riverside and back home via the cycle lane up the side of the 167. It had brightened up slightly and the temperature had gone from minus -1 degrees to nearly +4 degrees, still did not feel that warm. The old lines were not too busy but still a few slowing right down moments for dogs under my front tyre! All in just under 37 miles with 1500ft of climbing in 2hrs 49 mins. Below are some rather damp and cold looking snaps from the spin. Enjoy and hopefully more soon- 

A local mainly gravel loop on some of Co Durham's old railway lines

 

Yesterdays ride was around the loop I did last week but with a lot less ice and snow this time. The increase in temperatures over the last couple of days is slowly thawing the ground and all the frost is coming up and out of the old railway lines now which leaves a soft top with a cold black slurry mix. It was dry in some places but the paste is a killer on brake pads etc. I must try rising this loop in the opposite direction as I always seem to ride it anti clockwise - Crook - Willington - Broompark - Stanley Crook. If I do it again next week I will give it a go. I think the climbs might be harder but I will have same amount of feet climbed. All in just over 17 miles with 1000ft of climbing. With the better ground conditions I was 6 minutes faster this week. Below are some rather overcast and cloudy photos from the ride, enjoy and hopefully more soon- 

A much warmer spin out on the Trek Procaliber 9.8

 

Today I took the Trek xc mtb hardtail out for a steady spin up and down the old Broompark to Bishop railway line. I only had an hour so did not manage the full there n back. The frost, ice and snow has nearly all melted now so the top of the line is soft with freezing cold black standing water in places but on the whole not too bad. The line was mainly lovely and quiet as well with not that many others out. The sun also came out and made it much more enjoyable. The bike is going well and so are the new carbon rigid forks. I still need to drop the pressure in the front tyre, I forgot! Anyway below are a few pics from the ride, enjoy and hopefully more soon -