It’s getting to that time of year when I’m not sure what to wear out on a ride. The difference of a few degrees can mean the difference between freezing and sweltering. And its far to cold to be stopping to remove a layer if the latter is the case.
Ride 1 – Some easy midweek miles – no need to rush
It was on the last and steepest of the big climbs looking down at my GPS bumping along at 4.2 mph that I named the ride. This was hill chasing at its best.
Work done, it was 3pm when I set out and the cloud was low over the hilltops. I took my regular climb into Hamsterly and then down across Bedburn Beck at Howlea. I was last here in January on the mountain bike, so the climb up to the top would at least be quicker today.
Cycling climbs are categorised according to difficulty. There’s a range:
Category 1 -Â From 8km at 8% to 20km at 5%
Category 2 -Â From 5km at 8% to 15km at 4%
Category 3 -Â From 1.5km at 10% to 10km at 5%
Category 4 -Â From 2km at 5% to 5km at 2/3%
Category 5 -Â Greater than 500m at 3%
Because the French own cycling they have another category HC for Hors Catégorie or beyond categorisation. What you might call RRLS. Really Leally Long and Steep.
I’m lucky to have a cat 3 climb so close to home – 2 miles at 5%. It’s nice to dash up and over on a warm summer evening. In the dank of winter, it’s always harder. And to get there, I’ve got to warm up on a cat 4 – 3% for 1.5 miles. So I don’t have to chase very far for hills.
At the top of Howlea Lane, the view over Weardale is worth every pedal stroke and there’s the excitement of Wear Bank to look forward to: A descent of 500 ft in just over a mile. Woosh! Don’t enjoy yourself too much though there’s a sharp turn at the bottom followed by another onto a bridge over the Wear.
Out of Wolsingham towards Tow Law the road strings two cat 4 climbs together, rising 400 ft in a mile then giving you half a mile off before climbing another 300 ft in another mile.
After the A68 there’s a nice long descent to Satley and turning right down Pan Lane it continues down to the bottom of the valley, where there’s an enjoyable roller coaster, big dipper ride over a bridge and back up the other side climbing just over 150 ft. Looking across the valley ahead of you, Headley Hope wildlife reserve looks wonderful. The wonder slowly turned to apprehension as I descended the 200 ft into the valley. The reserve slowly tilted in front of me to become a wall of scrub and heather with what had to be mountain sheep clinging to the near vertical surface.
Boy, was it steep. I stepped up out of the saddle and pranced up around a slow right-handed bend. I saw the opportunity for a break, I mean a photo, half way up and instantly regretted stopping. It felt much harder to get going again and grind the strokes out up to the top.
Back along Headlyhill Lane through the wind farm to Tow Law and then a six-mile run back home down the A68
Ride stats: 24.8 miles; 2,262 ft; 01h 53m 42s
Ride 2 – Ride away from the hills. If you see a hill, ride the other way
I fancied a flatter ride than the one I had on Wednesday and the wind was up, so I headed out on the main roads around Bishop Auckland. Through Bishop’s picturesque market square and on out to South Church, before doubling back to join the A688. I put my head down and decided I’d go for a good average speed on the ride. On out through Evenwood Gate, then down through Esperley and up through Cockfield and Burnthouses to rejoin the A688 back into Bishop Auckland.
I was cycling directly into wind and it was hard going, but I had a target: a rider up ahead. It took much longer than I’d hoped to catch him. A victory that was short lived, because he overtook and kicked. I didn’t have the energy to go with him, but I pressed on as fast as I could. Â I arrived home with a 16.5 mph average. My fastest ride of the year so far.
Ride stats: 27.9 miles; 1,230 ft; 01h 41m 40s
Week’s total: 24.8 miles; 2,262 ft; 03h 34m 22s