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Funnily enough I seem to be getting on better with my own saddle now (I think my backside hadn't fully got the message). I haven't discounted getting another though (possibly Selle Italia's Novus Endurance TM Superflow). I'll do a video if it happens. The hi-viz gilet is my cheap-n-cheerful MoreMile running tabard temporarily repurposed. I was going to get something a bit more specific but there didn't seem to be any point. Again, not discounting it. All the best. Scott

@@thedurhamcow3535 Thanks for the feedback! Will take a look at the saddle in time for longer events in 2025. Your videos are very informative and interesting.

Thanks a lot. Glad you liked it. It already seems like a long time ago now 😎

I'll try Brian. Thanks for watching 🙏

You're welcome. Thanks for watching 🙏

Cheers Jimbo! 🙏

Thanks Jonathan. It's great to know they're appreciated. I've got no plans to stop yet. All the best.

Thanks Keith. Pleased to get this one finished and able to start thinking about something else. Any suggestions? All the best

Cheers Honor, glad you enjoyed it 👍

Thanks, it's not a 'classic' route in that it necessarily involves bits and bobs that I wouldn't normally recommend though I'm often pleasantly surprised at what even basic infrastructure offers. I actually quite enjoy the more complex elements - up to a point. It can be preferable to slogging along a false-flat into a head wind on a heavy road for instance. All the best

Thanks Brian. The point you make is a perfectly reasonable one. If it's any consolation, my wife struggles with it as well. In making these videos in particular I've probably tried to cover too many bases. I originally set out to show how the route could be ridden in a day and felt that I needed to illustrate its nuances - particularly in urban areas (traffic levels for instance and how I'd deal with it). The more challenging parts change less frequently and are relatively easily dealt with by comparison. Many folks that take the time to comment quite reasonably seem to prefer the features over the cycling itself and I completely understand why the incidental turns and stuff would be off-putting. Although I have no plans for the next project (yet) I can assure you that unless I believe there's a good reason for it - maybe I'll make a 'Great Corners of County Durham' video 😁 - I'll stick to the more interesting stuff. Your valued comment has been duly taken on board. All the best. Scott

@thedurhamcow3535 excellent, I will look forward to the next one

Thank you, it's on its way. Regarding the weather, I took a great deal of care selecting what I hoped would be a good day - mainly for the light in order to make a decent video. All the best

Well, I had some help with the scenery 😉

Thank you. We certainly had a busy couple of centuries. I can make your head spin!

Thank you. You get used to them - it's much easier with road bars

Thanks Peter. I've got plans to make some 'explanatory' videos when I've published part 3 of the Palatine Pedal

@@thedurhamcow3535 looking forward to it! 😊👍

@@thedurhamcow3535 be interested in hearing about your cockpit setup, too 👍

Well thank you.

Cheers Maurice, glad you enjoyed it. There's been quite a lot of improvement to cycling infrastructure over the years which is a good job because there are a lot more cars on the road! All the best

I've been riding the Waskerley Way since the '90s too. It was a lot rougher then! 😳

Thanks for watching Keith. All the best

Good for you. Give it a go and let me know how you get on. All the best

I think I can help there Maurice. I'm working on the next one at the minute. I love listening to folks reminisce on areas they remember. Consett - in part 2 - is a big one for me. Thanks for watching and all the best.

You're welcome. They're always a pleasure to make. I love the cycling but it's often simply my preferred form of transport to go and see stuff that interests me. I'll still work hard on the way - when it feels right. It's great to know that there are others who like the same incidental non-cycling stuff. Thanks for watching. All the best.

I completely agree with you Natalie BUT... I was trying to be faithful to the boundaries of the old county palatine of Durham. Admittedly, I caved at Newburn but the features on the opposite side of the river couldn't be ignored for such a short equivalent distance. If I was advising someone to ride along the Tyne I'd definitely recommend the route you've suggested. In fact, it's only in the last few years where I've focused on the south side which hopefully will improve if it gets some attention.

@@thedurhamcow3535 Sorry, forgot about following the boundary. 🤔

@@Natalie24564 That's fair enough 👍

Welcome to the club! I joined VC167 earlier this year when I caught the audax bug. Funny thing is I was one of its first members; I have a jersey somewhere that dates to the early nineties when it was formed. I left but the club moved on to become one of the biggest on the audax scene. I think we've bagged the most points this season of any club in the country. Thanks for watching. See you at an event hopefully. All the best.

@@thedurhamcow3535 thanks 😉 Didn’t realise VC167 had been established that long. I must admit, I’ve seen a few VC167 jerseys on other Audax RUclips videos I’ve watched. The club does seem to cover a fairly large area of the north east. Quite looking forward to my first event in December, hopefully I can tag along with someone to learn the ropes 😉

@@MrAnon-2024 It appears to cover the north of England and I think has a large contingent around the Sheffield area. The AGM is being held in December so I might be able to orientate myself a bit better then. Which event are you doing in December?

@@thedurhamcow3535blimey, the club does indeed cover a large area! I’m hoping to attend the 100km ‘Pit Ponies’ ride, starting from Haughton, Darlington 👍

@@MrAnon-2024 Oh great, that's interesting. I might see if I can coax the missus out on the tandem for that. Watch this space.

There you go Jason: www.plotaroute.com/route/2770744

Hi Peter, Thanks for your question. The answer's not very high tech I'm afraid. The frame is a 54 cm 'old fashioned' Kinesis cyclo-cross frame (the same one I'm using in the CX videos I made last season). It's aluminium with steel forks and canti-brakes. Tyres are relatively heavy (but punctureless for as long as I've ridden them) Schwalbe Marathons - 28 mm wired-on. I think I bought it in 2008 and am very happy with the setup. I don't feel at a disadvantage and can't see that there's any reason to change. In fact I quite like its idiosyncrasies - it has anything but a 'stealthy' look about it! Given that I'm not racing, I can't imagine under what circumstances I might look for something different. I have several other bikes including a tandem but this one's my favourite even though the tandem's super plush to ride on the road. All the best, Scott

@@thedurhamcow3535 Thanks for the reply. It's good to see someone who doesn't just follow the trend & 'upgrade' to the latest gear. It's also nice to see my local area in your videos (I live in Washington). One thing I have resisted so far is using some sort of Garmin. Can I ask what sort you're using? Thanks again 😊

@@peterwalton763 I use a relatively old and fairly basic Garmin Edge 520 to provide route stats for Strava and for real-time speed and distance. I don't use it 'actively' in order to minimise battery decline and because I'm not a fan of constant beeping (I could probably turn it off though). Neither am I particularly bothered about power metrics, or the like, despite wearing a HRM when running (I only do 'structured' training when running). You'll probably notice in the videos that I also use a clunky-looking 'walking' GPS - a Garmin 64st. This is my navigation system because it offers 1:50,000 OS mapping. I love maps and have always enjoyed using them. I've done a lot of orienteering and mountain-marathons over many years but, funnily enough, when I'm walking or running I almost always use 'proper' maps and a compass. On the bike, when not following a specific route, the 64st allows me to navigate 'on the fly' and do my own thing. I can easily locate features of interest (or have them offered to me) such as churches (typical) or other sites of antiquity, or land-forms. Regarding 'upgrades', well, it's a consumer treadmill isn't it? I could always be 'chasing the dream' but lack the budget to do it. The 18-gears I've got seem to be sufficient to get me to the top of any hill and cantilever rim-brakes have always been effective enough to keep me on the road. Each to their own though, maybe I was more like that years ago - I can't remember. There's a lot more I could add but feel free to ask. Good to know you're local and hope to see you around sometime. All the best, Scott

@@thedurhamcow3535 I'll check them out! tlThanks very much for the help. 😊

Another vote for Brooks. I actually bought and had delivered a B17 but sent it back because it felt a bit too big (it wasn't pre-softened either) but I won't lie: I was also shocked by the weight. I'm hoping that, if I wait long enough, then by some means or other, the answer to my particular problem will appear before me! At the moment I'm considering something from the Selle Italia Superflow range, possibly the Novus Endurance but we'll see. Thanks for the recommendation though. All the best.

​@thedurhamcow3535 my brooks b17 has the lace holes along the sides so l laced it up to pull the sides in. There is also the B17 S and also the swallow as a narrow version. I had great success with the SMP dynamic and WELL as ridden by mark beaumont.

Not at all, I've watched enough of them. They got me started!

Loads of coffee but I confine myself to looking at the cakes these days.

Cheers Mark. I think I'll be missing out on CX this year sadly because the bike has been repurposed for audax. Just need to find a reasonably priced gravel bike for next year. I really enjoyed it last season and will definitely miss it (perhaps not the mud in December) 😯. Hope you have a good 'un.

I'm inclined to agree - on both counts! 👍

Well, let's address that at the next one...

Interesting. We'll see...

Thanks Brian. PBP is definitely on the radar but I think I'm going to give LEL a miss (assuming I would have got in). There are a few other long ones I might have a go at next year.

@@thedurhamcow3535 good luck with them, my knee stops me doing anything super long...oh and my fitness 😂

@@brianridley1102 The 'F' word! 😄

Thanks Richard. Your videos have helped fuel my progress. Keep up the good work!

@@thedurhamcow3535 thank you too!

You're more than welcome. It was a pleasure. Thanks for watching 👍

Thanks Stuart. Yes, I recognised you on the video that Diane shot at Milton so had no intentions of cutting you out. Regarding the distance, I was truly surprised at how relatively 'easy' it was to step up until it was well beyond what I'd have considered myself capable of. Once I'd got my head around it that is. Don't get me wrong, I'm a reasonably strong cyclist with a lot of years behind me, but until this year I still regarded 100 miles with the club as being a 'big day in the chair'. I'm profoundly impressed at riders in the audax community, who crank out mega-miles weathers but don't look like 'racing snakes'. Humbling.

Riding audaxes in groups or pairs is very common either for efficiency and/or company. I probably prefer cycling alone, for several reasons, particularly if I'm wanting to video and/or photograph because few are going to fancy stopping or waiting for me to do my thing. I'm also easily distracted by features in the landscape which tends to work against cycling in a group. Having said that, if the conditions are challenging (strong headwind etc) I'll probably prioritise that instead.

Thanks very much, and for the comment 👍

Thanks for watching 👍

Good, I'm pleased. Thanks for watching it - Episode 2 is up as well

Hi Michael, sorry about being so late in replying. I seem to have missed this comment. I am on Strava (Scott Watson) which is where you'll find the route. The tunnel always offers a bit of variation or even the ferry for that matter. Hopefully we'll bump into each other at one of Andy's audaxes or even elsewhere. All the best. Scott

Thanks for watching Andy and pleased that you enjoyed it. Sorry that I couldn't join DCV at the weekend as planned but I didn't realise what a toll a 1000 km event would take on my system. Looks like you all had a great time though.

@thedurhamcow3535 Yes, so lucky with the weather (head wind on the last 25 miles on day one was tough). You couldn't make it would have been good to catch up.

@@andycswiss We will

You're perfectly placed for doing it in two halves like we did. It struck me later that Diane and I walked down the road from Wanlockhead to Thornhill, to the pub for dinner when we were competing with music festival-goers (I think I might have shown it briefly in the video). Thanks again for your considerate attention last Monday. It made a big impression! Scott

Stuart, I've watched it and many more of your videos. I'm just not as good as you are at communicating. I'm going to subscribe though. They've been very useful in informing my own audaxing progress this year (the 'pothole' episode was a particularly good one). I think rides/events that don't go as well as planned are often most useful. Sorry I didn't get to Mickleton but I think I've got you on video at Milton village hall (I think it was you anyway). I'll have a look at the events you've suggested, but I've been so tired since I finished that 1000 (I should have been away this weekend with Durham City Velo but didn't have it in me). Scott

@@thedurhamcow3535 Hi Scott. You take it easy after that mega ride! That's super impressive!!! I hope to catch up with you sometime at another event, if not at the up and coming rides. I'm sure our paths will cross. :)

Also... You should see the amount of editing I have to do to appear semi coherent! You come across really well in your videos. Stuart :)

So pleased you're enjoying the videos Jim. Whilst I enjoy the physical challenge that cycling offers it's primarily a more enjoyable way of getting to see places of interest. The fitter I am, the further I can go and the more easily I can get there. Such is my enthusiasm for the places I visit that I end up with too much to say and not enough video time in which to say it. The missus constantly berates me for cramming too much info into too brief a space but in order to keep the vids to a manageable length I don't have much choice. It's a good though point and duly noted. I'll try harder. All the best.

⁠@@thedurhamcow3535thanks for the explanation. I will look forward to the next video.

I pass through High Grange a lot (almost always downhill!). Glad you like the video. Take care.

Hope it didn't disappoint... 🙏

Definitely not. Your channel is my favourite cycling content. I’m having to make do watching you until I’m able to ( hopefully) ride again myself after a long - and unfortunately continuing- period of ill-health. You are certainly helping me to maintain hope & enthusiasm that I’ll get back on the bike regularly sometime in the future. Thank you!!

@@KFK1141 That's nice of you to say and very much appreciated - we all need motivation from time to time, even to do the stuff we shouldn't need to be motivated for (if you can make sense of that). I sincerely hope that it's not long before you're back in the saddle. Very best regards. Scott

Thanks Scott. Fingers crossed. Best regards, Kevin.

My missus has only just got used to the 'bobbing bars'. Thanks for the comment.

😄

Amen to that!