Wheelbase Cycles Closing down at Go Outdoors Stockton - Sale

 

Well that did not last long, and they have closed down in Coventry as well. On the other hand its the same group that owns Leisure Lakes so its not really closing just changing name from Wheelbase to Leisure Lakes. 

A hilly local road route in wintery conditions - Cannondale Synapse Neo

 

I did plan a route in upper Weardale but the forecast was the temperature felt like minus - 4 degrees this morning so knocked that on the head and stopped local. 

Well I do question myself at times, this is what I was thinking after three miles on the bike this morning with the Garmin reading 1 degrees and freezing cold rain blasting straight into my face with a near 20mph northerly head wind. Why pay for a facial when you can get one for free at the back end of April. After a few more miles of being weather beaten I was going to give up and head back but I decided to keep going. The rain stopped and it got slightly warmer by a couple of degrees so all was well. I headed for the hills as they say and wanted to get a few thousand feet of climbing in, not a problem in Co Durham! I have done all the roads, country lanes etc before just joined them all up for a hilly medium length loop. There was very little traffic on the roads so that was a bonus. I was under dressed on the top half and was feeling the cold for most of the ride. The Cannondale Synapse Neo went well and so did my legs after a good few miles before they warmed up. Once back at the start I had a hail shower white stuff beating off my helmet and jacket. Below are a few snaps from the ride inc the route map. All in 37.25 miles with just under 3700ft of climbing and an ave speed of 14.2mph. Enjoy and hopefully more soon - 

Out n back on the C2C in a right old mixed bag of weather

 

I did not manage to get out yesterday as it was near continuous rain all day here in Durham. The forecast was looking dry for today so drove over to Stella Gill to pick up the old railway line, C2C and headed to Cosnett. It was overcast, cloudy and under three degrees. On the plus side I had a canny strong tail wind blowing me all the way up. By the time I reached the other side of Consett the sun came out and the temperature shot up making it much more pleasant ride. I went straight on at the crossroads and turned at Whitehall picnic area. It was still sunny and was heading mainly downhill but had the strong headwind now. I just reached Greencroft and the heavens opened and the temperature plummeted again. The last five miles was flat out into the driving rain and freezing cold. There was very few others out so had some lovely long stretches of track to build up some speed. By the time I got back to my van it had stopped raining again. I was wet and cold at this point so called it a day. All in 30 miles in 2hrs 13mins, ave 13.5mph with 1200ft of climbing. 

I called in past BMW Building Products for a price on a couple of windows and a doorset. It has been a while since I have bought any upvc windows or composite doorsets, no doubt the prices have gone through the roof!