Cloughy's Cycling BLOG

Carlisle to Newcastle and Durham via NCN 72 Hadrian’s Way – 93 miles SAT 18th July ’15

Despite the forecasts of high winds for the west including Carlisle, the train ticket was booked so I was riding no matter what, great thing was the ticket from Newcastle to Carlisle only cost me £4.50 pre-booked as opposed to 20 odd quid on the day. BONUS ! Got up far to early on Saturday, … Continue reading →

Ushaw Moor – Newbiggin by the Sea 103 mls – return via NCN 1 and the coast to Sunderland

Despite being pretty tired of yesterday’s gusty ride to Parkhead, couldn’t resist riding out today, winds not as strong. “If in doubt” hit the coast ! Wasn’t sure where to go so headed for the coast, headed along A167 through Chester and Birtley, saws quite a few cyclists heading south, looked like they were doing … Continue reading →

Grand Départ 2014 – Stage 1 – Ushaw Moor – Grinton, Reeth

Well the day has come, ride to Reeth in North Yorkshire to see Stage 1 of Stage 1 of the Grand Depart 2014, Le Tour Yorkshire. Day started wet, but was still gunna go despite that, was forecast to clear from the west which it did, thankfully. Started in the rain though at 8:30 am, … Continue reading →

Ushaw Moor – Blyth – Northumberland back via Coast

Was ready for a good ride out, seems like an age since I had been out, spent most of the nite and some of this morning fiddling with the old Giant Mtn Bike, trying to fit mudguards, and wasn’t going right, note to self “Don’t buy cheap mudguards again !”, oh well at least it … Continue reading →

Etape Pennines 2013 – Hills, Hills and yet MORE Hills, 87 Miles of Torture

My ride day started at 5:00 am, with very little sleep, had the route going round in my head most of the night, with spells of worry wondering if I had everything for the day. Did I have enough gels, drinks and was the bike ok. Despite having only having four four hours sleep felt … Continue reading →

Up in The Clouds – 80 mls – Teesdale, Chapel Fell, Weardale

Well started off today hoping to do the WHOLE of the Etape Pennines, but realised didn’t have lights so cut the route short. Followed the route I usually do through Deerness Valley up to Waterhouses and climb up Button Bank to Stanley Crook then down passed Crook Golf course, and over to Bitchburn and Whitton … Continue reading →

A VERY Gusty ride to the edge of the moors, Deerness Valley – Salters Gate

Really needed to get some miles in this week, not had much time and fitness level dropping, the wind is strong but at least it’s dry. After short trip to the shops (Birthday Shopping) headed up the Deerness Valley into the wind, always a wise move as I will get a tail wind for return, … Continue reading →

The Beast – 50 miles of climbing in Durham

The Durham Beast – DBR Distance 49.22 mi Duration 3:15:25 Calories Burned 3110 kCal 08/09/2013 To call the Beast simply a challenge is an understatement, Tackling one or two of the hills on their own can be termed as a gruelling challenge, but the whole of the Beast is,, well a Beast of a ride … Continue reading →

A few climbs 40 mls – then Bishop / Heighington / Aycliffe

Managed to juggle a few things around meaning I could get a few more miles in before Sunday. I seem to be drawn as ever to Deerness Valley so headed that way, into the westerly wind taking it steady through Esh Winning and Waterhouses, first climb up and out Waterhouses up Buttons Bank to Wolsingham … Continue reading →

A Few Durham Climbs / Newcastle – Warm up for The Beast

A pretty “slack” day work wise so the bike was calling me. Decided to include some climbs in the ride, so headed up Deerness Valley through Esh Winning and Waterhouses. First climb up Ivesley Lane out of Waterhouses, managed ok, the hill has been re-surfaced but didn’t cause any problems, most of the loose gravel … Continue reading →

Etape Pennines 80 mls+ Blanchland, Derwent Reservoir

Needed to try the big climbs on the Etape Pennines so decided to do the whole route, at least the route from last year, ie not including START/FINISH at Barnard Castle. Had brief stop at Middleton-in-Teesdale form some scran and drinks top-up. Felt good for first 3/4 of ride even after Chapel Fell, but … Continue reading →

Ushaw Moor – Croft/Darlington via Barnard Castle

Was ready for a long ride but as usual unsure where to go, in the end headed up Deerness Valley and decided to do part of the Etape Pennines, need to get some big climbs in if am gunna tackle the Etape again this year. Followed the Etape Pennines route from last year up and … Continue reading →

Ushaw Moor – Hexham – The Long Way Round 96 mls

Another glorious day and a chance for some BIG miles today. Headed up to Hexham the long way round but took a very scenic route. Along Deerness Valley and up to Tow Law for a fast descent into Wolsingham, followed the A689 as far as Stanhope, bike starting to creak badly, DOH.. looks like it … Continue reading →

Ushaw – Murton n Coast to South Shields and Newcastle

Its been a while since I’ve written on the BLOG,, not a particular interesting ride but did further than I had planned despite very painful knee at the start of the week. Had to head to Murton to pick up a Cycling top, riding the CX Merida, my own creation, was a flat bar speeder … Continue reading →

Ushaw to Tow Law

Well it’s been a while since I wrote a BLOG post. After getting wet the last two days and having to clean and re-lube the bike, TBH sort of lost me “mojo”, but decided in then end despite the wind, to have a ride up the valley. Took the Merida Cross, and headed into the … Continue reading →

2015 in review

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2015 annual report for this blog. Here’s an excerpt: A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 3,000 times in 2015. If it were a cable car, it would take about 50 trips to carry that many people. Click here to see the … Continue reading →

Virgin Money Cyclone 63 Miles (Ride B)

Well the day of the ride started pretty early, didn’t get much sleep, “awoke” at around 6:15. Had my usual porridge and honey before a ride, coffee and made sure I had everything. Flapjacks and couple of gels, and I was off, short ride into Durham to catch early train. Just managed to get the … Continue reading →

Broompark – Parkhead Station 58 mls – via Lanchester, Lydgetts, Waskerley

The day started with a “sick head” and ended much the same, thought the wind would clear my head but nbo such luck. Got to Broompark Picnic Area at about 9:40am, a few riders just finished their ride, they had been up through Esh Wood at 07:30 am ,, bit early for me on a … Continue reading →

Ushaw Moor – Hornby 68 miles, via Ferryhill Station, Bradbury, Elstob, Sadberge, Neasham

After the 98 odd mile ride yesterday up in Northumberland, was ready to push the Merida round today. Headed off around 9:30, a little cooler than yesterday but still looking pretty good, risked the shorts again. LOL Had it it mind to head to south as far as Neasham, but managed a bit more 🙂 … Continue reading →

Ushaw Moor – Blyth, Seaton Sleuce, Tynemouth, North Shields, S Shields and Roker 79 mls

Was ready to put the Merida through its paces 🙂 Chose my fave route down to the coast via Gateshead and Newcastle through Gosforth and Seghill to Hartley and Seaton Sleuce. Fast tail wind most of the way, had a short wait at Blyth for some energy, thanks to Mams flapjacks for that 🙂 (y) … Continue reading →

Deerness Valley – Teesdale, High Force, Forest in Teesdale, Chapel Fell, Rookhope, Blanchland 76 miles

Had the whole day free, so couldn’t miss out on a sunny day, even if I wasn’t feeling my best. Knew I had to put some climbs in, lately been heading to the coast, it gets the miles in but no “hills”. Decided to do some of the Etape Pennines route, well most of it … Continue reading →