Darlington - Hamsterley Black Loop - Darlington

First proper ride on my new bike, though it's essentially the same as my old bike so no great surprises.

Got properly soaked riding up to Woodland; giggling because you're so soaked and thinking it can't possibly get any wetter, then it does. It shouldn't be that dark at midday in July. Really impressed with how the 2.4" Racing Ralph tyres roll. Did a lap of the Black loop, which was interesting in the wet when my front brake decided to fail.

Probably the fastest I've ever done the ride there and back, but slow on the off-road due to lack of braking.

I'm sure I could do this in 4 1/2 hours, which would make it a great ride to stick in with an early start on a Saturday morning.

Distance: 80km (30km to Woodland, 20km round Hamsterley and 30km home (phone battery died, so no GPS))
Surface: Road and off-road
Time: 5 hour (1:40, 1:52, 1:15)
Weather: Torrential
Bike: Inbred SS (with 2.4" tyres, 32:17)

Another Darlington Loop

A loop round the town, using bike paths and bits of off-road and taking in a few laps of the pump and 4xtracks. Alternating laps of the 4X track and West Park in the middle was fast and fun. Faster than the last one and a bit further.

Distance: 34 km (map)
Surface: Some off-road, bike paths, bits of road
Time: 1 hour 46 minutes
Weather: Nice and warm, sunny
Bike: Inbred SS (with 2.4" tyres, 32:17)

Darlington Loop

A loop round the town, using bike paths and bits of off-road and taking in a few laps of the pump and 4xtracks.

Distance: 31 km (map)
Surface: Some off-road, bike paths, bits of road
Time: 1 hour 52 minutes
Weather: Nice and warm, sunny
Bike: Inbred SS (with 2.4" tyres, 32:17)

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)

Fixing Darlington - short local ride

Quick post-work spin.

Distance: 12km (map)
Surface: Road and off-road
Time: 45 minutes
Weather: Nice and warm, sunny
Bike: Solitude fixie (with 28c tyres, 34:16)

The Inbred is no more

After only two rides as Project Gnarr, the Inbred got nicked from my garage last weekend.

Project Budget Endurance Machine is go...