Out and about in Teesside again today and this time I decided on a run inland. Going along the coast offers a very flat route, but the inland option involves climbing, especially over the first few miles. I raised the saddle a few mm first, using an Allen key set I’d bought at Halfords yesterday. I also changed the handlebar angle slightly. I looked for a small bike pump while I was at Halfords, having forgotten to bring one (I also forgot to bring a mirror, annoyingly). But I decided they were too expensive and bought one at Tesco for £5 instead. This turned out quite nicely because it’s made of black & yellow plastic and matches the bike.
I set off up to Hart, a village two miles away where I’d often go for a beer on a Monday lunchtime, 40 years ago. Then west through Station Town and Wingate.
Wingate especially looks very run down – the road running through seems somewhat neglected, with potholes galore. And the shops lining it look like they haven’t had a lick of paint since the 1950s in some cases. I kept on until I hit the main road to Durham. I followed it for a couple of miles before I decided it was too busy. Shame, as I did a ride from Hartlepool to Durham in the summer of 1989 on my Raleigh Routier and probably took that same road. It was no doubt quieter back then.
I took a left and looped back toward Hartlepool, but took a road to Trimdon, to hook back west a few miles later. I got as far as about three miles west of there before I found myself looking down a steep bank that I didn’t want to pedal back up. So I turned for home. That might actually have been the route I took to Durham, 32 years ago come to think of it.
Really a great view from up there though, with a massive Amazon fulfilment centre a few miles in the distance. I suspect those things would probably be visible from the Moon with a decent pair of binoculars.
Turned right onto Coal Lane on the way back and came through Elwick, where I used to visit a pub called the Spotted Cow in my late teens. It’s still there, but I didn’t stop. The state of Coal Lane was awful, really a rough road surface despite being decently wide and decorated with a white line. But it’s probably used mainly by farm vehicles. I had to lift the bike over the crash barrier to cross the A19 – there used to be a gap there for traffic, but it’s closed now. But I didn’t mind that at all. Made it easier to get across each carriageway, not having to worry about vehicles using the gap to turn.
Nice weather, not cold and mostly sunny. A bit blowy.
Back on 34.47 miles.