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 out of Waterhouses up Buttons Bank to Stanley Crook and then passing Crook Golf course and over A690. The route then follows the W2W70 route passed Whitton Park, deviated from W2W to head along Windy Bank Road passed Hamsterley Forest and just outside of Woodland. Feeling pretty good, slight back pain, probably because I have adjusted riding position since lowering bars.

Headed along to Kinninvie which is where the route differs from last year, where it deviates along the B6278 to call into Barnard Castle. I was gunna carry on into Middleton Teesdale but weather looking wet so carried on into Barnie.

Decided to head off along the Walney to Whitby route 165 as far as Croft, superb cycle route this, very smooth quiet/flat country roads, through borough of Darlington. hadn’t done this route before, over very scenic bridge at Whorlton, one car only :(. Photo OPP…Route seemed to get better and better, til i came up behind a combine harvester, he seemed stuck was unaware of me behind, and was abolutely no room to get around,, was waiting 10 mins before could get thru. Got into Croft on Tees hadn’t been here for years, over the River Tees and decided to head into Darlington for some food along A167.

: Whorlton Bridge

: Croft on Tees

Nice pasta and flapjacks before heading home along A167, feeling pretty tired put pushing on, very bad section just after Aycliffe where the road had been re-surfaced with loose chippings, was an absolute mess, the whole road was covered in excess chippings , dust flying all over, in the end I took to the path. I can’t understand why they re-surfaced it, it was fine. DOH 😦

Other than the bad section on A167 ride was great, really enjoyed the section from Barnard Castle to Croft. Very scenic and quiet.

aug 10, 2013 + Workout + Daily Log