Fixing Teesdale and Swaledale

I needed to get out on a decent bike ride and I needed to pick up my tickets for Dales Bike Centre's Ride the Divide cinema night. Getting them by the shortest and easiest route would be a bit silly, right?

So, with only four non-commute rides in my legs in the last 7 months, riding fixed gear via the highest pub in Britain was the obvious choice.

Home to Barnard Castle to Bowes to Tan Hill to Reeth and then home again. 73 miles, with some off-road built in. Hills. And no freewheeling.

It was a lovely day so I had an espresso and a pastry in Barnard Castle.

The climb from Bowes to Tan Hill pub is long and bumpy.

But there's beer at the end of it.

The road home has its share of bumps too, in places.

Ace day out. My longest fixed ride ever, off the back of very little riding.

I hurt now.

Distance: 73 miles (map)
Surface: Road and easy off-road
Time: 9 hour 30 minutes
Weather: Nice and warm, sunny
Bike: Solitude fixie (with 28c tyres, 34:16)

Fixing Darlington - another short local ride

Another quickie.



Distance: 21km (map)
Surface: Road and off-road
Time: 1 hour 18 minutes
Weather: Nice and warm, sunny
Bike: Solitude fixie (with 28c tyres, 34:16)