Recumbent Rides

[a.twiddler]

12/5/25
A Tiny Recumbent Ride
Round the block on the Spirit

Having just written up a summary of two years with this bike, I’d then given it a wash as I’d been so focused on all the painting of the external woodwork and on the Rans recently that I’d neglected to give it a clean after the last run I’d done on it. I felt much better once that was done. As it was still light I decided to take it round the block to give it a chance to dry out before I put it away. Out through the back gate, over the pavement and left on to the road.

All clear, launch and away. A slight downhill here, into the highest gear and gently pedalling. Compared with the other bikes, the bottom bracket feels surprisingly high, though in the grand scheme of things it’s not that high. All things are relative. Overall, it just feels a nice bike.

Pedalling gently along, I soon came to a right turn into an estate of nice houses. I trundled along to the end of a long cul de sac then retraced my route to turn left back on to the original road. Uphill, past my back gate and soon over the top of the hill to turn round again before I reached Swanlow Lane with its traffic.

Rolling gently back downhill, I came to a stop outside my back gate. No Garmin today, but I guesstimate it to be about a mile. A teeny tiny ride, but a pleasant interlude nevertheless.

 

[a.twiddler]

19/5/25
Recumbent Ride
Northwich Locks and River Ride

Sunny, but a bit cooler today. Time to get the Rans out and give it an airing. I wanted to try out my modified home made chain guard, too.

I swapped the tools, pump and windproof jacket over from the Linear. I slapped some sunblock on. T shirt, nondescript trousers, black cap, track mitts, shades. For weeks I’d been Painterman, slapping endless coats of paint on the gate, fences, and sheds. I’d had a couple of breaks for bike rides but despite the fine weather I felt I was slipping behind in my cycling schedule.

So, today I was going to be Recumbentman. "🎶Recumbentman, Recumbentman, rides a recumbent wherever he can.” I’d checked the tyres and chain yesterday so all was good to go.

Out through the gate, all quiet so I rode off the pavement to the right. I’d moved the seat forward a day or so ago and the reach to the pedals felt right.

I soon came to the uphill traffic lights on Swanlow Lane and turned right. Over a small climb, then left downhill to the town centre. Easy going, then held up for a while at the traffic lights before going straight on to Grange Lane. After negotiating various speed humps I soon came to the point where the lane turned off to the right and passed through an estate of houses on the way downhill to open countryside.

I freewheeled for a short time as I passed a golf course then engaged a highish gear and pedalled downhill into a dip. I was surprised again how far I was able to get up the other side and sooner than expected came up to the narrow entrance to the Whitegate Way on the left. I swung out to the right to get a straight run but had to stop as a cyclist came through with a small dog following.

Once they had gone I got on to the small ring and got through and on to the uphill ramp to the rail trail. I’d developed a strategy of setting off uphill in a lower gear than I thought I might need, as it’s easier for the chain to climb down to a smaller cog for a higher gear than vice versa. The Linear has an easy solution: change down on the hub gear, even at a standstill, but with the conventional 3 X 9 derailleur on the Rans it needs a bit of forethought.

I was soon rolling easily along the gradual uphill, changing up with the help of a tailwind. I found it easy to get up to 10 mph compared to the 6 or 7 mph on the other bikes. Before I knew it I was at the Whitegate Station car park, inspecting the plumbing at the conveniences.

I was soon under way again, back on the rail trail, passing under the station bridge. It didn’t take long to pass under several other bridges

and arrive at a picnic spot for a break. There was another rider on a hybrid just finishing off. He departed, I took a photo.

I carried on to the end of the Whitegate Way where it turned into a narrow path which wound downhill alongside a fence then joined a drive under the main line.

From here it was Waste Lane which is a private road which comes out on to Norley Road. With a steep climb to the right to Cuddington, I was puffing a bit by the time it levelled out. Here there were some roadworks where the lane crosses the A49 and I had a long time to get my breath back before the temporary traffic lights changed and the long queue of traffic got moving. Most of them turned off on to the A49 so progress on the other side was fairly pleasant.
I followed the road to where it joined the dual carriagewayed A556 and once there was a gap in the busy traffic I launched to the left. The road sloped downhill from here so I hoped to get a good bit of speed up.

I pedalled furiously downhill to where the road sloped uphill again and turned left on the road to Northwich. My speed diminished and I slowly climbed the hill. My Garmin bracket had loosened and swung down. The unit was swinging on its lanyard which I always loop round the handlebar in case it should come loose. Once I’d passed the junction with the Whitegate road and turned left I stopped to have a look at the bracket.

It was originally held on by two cable ties. One of them had broken, so it was only held on by the remaining one. I had some spares, but decided I would just use it as it was, and put some double sided tape and fresh cable ties on when I got home. I straightened up the bracket, clipped the Garmin back in, and moved it back in place from time to time as I went along.

When I had time to look at the readings I was disappointed to find I’d only maxed out at 31.6 mph down that last hill, pedalling all the way. I’d been quite motivated by the rush hour traffic hurtling by on the dual carriageway. But then again, I was impressed that I could actually keep pedalling fast enough to be doing that speed, as my cadence is usually on the low side. On my last ride on the Linear, I maxed out at 30.2 just by freewheeling. I must try that same hill on this bike.

Rolling easily downhill in the direction of Northwich all went well until I came to Hartford and hit the schools traffic.

Like other cyclists, I got on the pavement to get round the jam. I got on to the road after the next junction as it was clear, and carried on. Despite the length of the bike, I found it surprisingly agile.

I flowed along with the traffic to Castle, where we all stopped at some lights, then a little further on I turned right on to a side street which passed under a railway bridge to a mini roundabout where I turned left to join a signed cycle route to Northwich Locks on the river Weaver.

I got through some barriers easily and followed the path until I reached the locks. Here I crossed over two locks using the bridges built on top of the lock gates.

Through another barrier then down another overgrown path to cross over a pedestrian swing bridge. Turning right through another barrier at a pedestrian crossroads I was then on a riverside path.

Before long I came to another barrier by the Northwich Rowing Club. I was soon through the barrier, leaned the bike on it with the bridge in the background for a photo then pressed on.

The final barrier, then there was a clear run to the A556 bridge.

A women’s rowing team went past as I took some pictures of moored boats.

There were many dog walkers, walkers and cyclists about but everyone gave each other room.

It wasn’t long before I passed under the bridge carrying the A 556 over the Weaver. There is a series of swinging gate type barriers along the next stretch. The first one was pinned open and possibly the rest were too. When I came this way on the Linear last year all the barriers were open apart from the final one. It was no problem to stand the Linear on its back wheel and wiggle through. I’ve trimmed its rear mudguard so it can stand on its tyre. The Rans still has its full rear mudguard. I’ve been in two minds about cutting down this mudguard. It improves accessibility through barriers but has the drawback of allowing some spray to reach the rack bag in wet weather.

So today I decided to go up the long steep ramp from river level to Davenham. There are a couple of fixed barriers on the way up. I could have ridden up this ramp, but today I decided to take advantage of the luxuriant handlebars and walk up with the bike. Once at road level, I carried on cycling up the remainder of the hill until I reached a road that took me into Davenham.

From here there were a few options. Follow this road to its junction with the main road through Davenham to turn off for Moulton then to Niddries Lane and the bridge over the Weaver to Bradford Road.

Follow this road then turn off through an estate to get on a smooth tarmac path which comes out on the road to Moulton.

Or, turn right into Eaton Road. I haven’t been this way for a while, the last time on the Linear which did OK. This road eventually becomes a bridleway and the surface is variable. A good test of the Rans in comparison to the Linear. So away we went. The tarmac ended at a speed hump, with a crushed stone surface ahead.

There was a car in the distance raising a cloud of dust as it slowly went along. I slowed down so as not to end up following it too closely in the dust cloud. Behind, I heard someone on a mountain bike, by the sound of his tyres, going for it. He went past heading for the dust cloud.

The road rose and by the time I’d reached the top the car had disappeared leaving just settling dust, perhaps turned into a farm entrance. The other cyclist wasn’t far away, as if he’d slowed down once he’d gone past.

I rolled downhill to where the track narrowed and split in two directions. I turned left and followed the narrowed trail. The surface was bumpier than before but manageable enough. There was a clear view all round, and I could see that I was eventually heading for the back of some houses.

The narrow trail went left, and ahead was something more like a footpath. On the right were fields full of sheep. Various joggers and dog walkers came the other way, but I carried on. The cyclist from earlier on was closer now, but before I could catch him up my route went right on Niddries Lane, while he went straight on.

Before long the rutted and unsurfaced road went downhill, a good test of the stability and brakes of the Rans as I approached the place where it passed under the West Coast Main Line and a former junction, through two tunnels. As I stopped to take a photo a man on a gravel bike came uphill out of the nearest tunnel. “Hi” he said, and I responded.

Downhill through the tunnels where the surface was reasonable, then a bumpier stretch until I reached the Meadowbank Bridge. I stopped under some trees to let some walkers go by from the bridge then rolled forward again. An older couple with a small dog surprised me. The man said, ”hey, I really like that bike”, and the woman said, ”yeah!”.

I bumped over the bridge and came up to Bradford Road. A few cars went past before I tried to turn left on the sharp uphill turn. Oops! Trying to start in too high a gear. I tried again, swinging wide across the road to get going, then getting into a rhythm and changing down.

Gradually increasing speed uphill past the salt mine, I saw a youth on a mountain bike in my mirror He got closer but as the road levelled out and my speed increased he dropped back. As I got going down the other side he seemed to give up. Shortly afterwards I turned right into an access to the Whitegate Way, through a barrier and past a couple of joggers who moved over to let me go by. I saw the youth go past the entrance in my mirror obviously going somewhere else. Soon afterwards another rider caught me up. He had a white helmet fixed between his drop handlebars. “nice evening for this sort of thing” he said. “it certainly is”, I replied.

He slowly disappeared into the distance. I plodded on, my speed not so good as it was on the earlier stretch of this rail trail. I came to the old Marton crossing and surprised myself by getting through both barriers without stopping. As the barriers are on opposite sides of the old line, presumably to deter motorcyclists, you have to do a tight zig zag to get through. Although I can also do this on the Linear, it’s tricky, especially with the relatively limited lock with the USS.

The line levelled after this, and I could see buildings on Grange Lane. Soon I was going downhill on the narrow path to the exit barrier. I managed to get through here without stopping, which involves a virtual trackstand at the end before you can see if the road is clear to the right before proceeding.

Feeling suitably gratified, I got going to the left, getting up speed so I could get a good way up the other side of the dip here before having to change down again. Steadily plodding past the golf course, between the houses and on to a T junction where I turned right then crossed the car park to access the path between the playing fields of the sports complex. Another rider came up behind me so I gave way to let him get through the barrier. He rode his drop handlebar bike straight through, though I had to paddle through with the tight clearance of the mirrors.

I soon got up the lane, out on to the estate road, right up the hill, left on to Delamere St. then steady rolling with the traffic.

The A54 roundabout was full of traffic. I aimed for a gap then took the first exit to go downhill and hop on to the pavement. I waited for a gap so I could cross over then rode uphill, left on the pavement until the traffic eased, then on to the road on Swanlow Lane. Phew! I can usually get across the roundabout but it was a bit too hectic today.

Rolling along to the Townfields Road lights, waiting for the green then getting up speed for my uphill turn off.

Once over the hump, a leisurely freewheel through the lanes to my back gate.

I’ve learnt a bit more about the Rans’ abilities away from tarmac. It’s actually surprisingly good.

My home made chainguard has improved things, though hasn’t solved the problem completely. A slight trace of oil visible on my lower trouser leg but I can live with that.

A short ride with a bit of variety.

Distance 20.95 miles. Max Speed 31.6 mph. Average (with all that off road stuff) 7.7mph. According to Garmin.
Ascent 700ft. According to Bikehike.

 

[a.twiddler]

23/5/25
Recumbent Ride
Church Minshull Via Wettenhall and Paradise Lane.

Probably going to rain tomorrow so I thought I’d better get a ride in. My stuff was still on the Rans after the last ride so I decided to go on that.

Out through the gate then left, downhill and towards Darnhall. There was an unpredictable wind but it was pleasant in the sun. Still T shirt weather. Unfortunately, as evidenced by a large tractor ahead, and a cloud of dust, it was roadside verge cutting weather too. It was travelling just a bit more slowly than I’d have liked to go, but traffic was surprisingly busy, so it wasn’t easy to get past. After a couple of attempts I dropped back, hoping it might turn off somewhere. We were getting near the dip and traffic lights at Darnhall bridge anyway, so I wondered what it was going to do here.

To my surprise, it turned off down a private lane just before the bridge, leaving me and a following car to try our luck with the lights. The car didn’t try and pass me going down the hill. The lights remained stubbornly at red until my wheels had stopped turning then left me to climb up the other side from scratch. Still, it’s a more gradual hill on that side, and the Rans climbs deceptively well.

As I reached the top of the climb I saw another dust cloud ahead, and another tractor verge cutting. How many of these things was I going to have to pass today? It took a while to catch up with it and after a short wait I was able to get past, with my eyeballs well gritted by now. Fortunately there were no more after this one.

I wound my way through the lanes rowards Wettenhall, sometimes sheltered from the wind by the hedgebanks, sometimes not. Making good progress, but with my mind no longer distracted I couldn’t help thinking that there was rather more chain noise than I’d had on my last ride. Had something in the underseat rack moved to contact the chain after my off road interlude the other day? Or was it something related to the trouser deflector that I’d fitted?

I went down a steep dip and up the other side. Last time I came this way there had been a road gang here patching potholes, but the road still felt quite rough. I passed the “Little Man” pub and turned left. Soon I was turning into Woodgreen Lane. I stopped in a gateway and looked at my trouser deflector. I tweaked the rear end upwards while still sitting to see if it made any difference. I carried on. No difference. A huge artic came up the lane towards me so I pulled in to let it past. Then I carried on to Paradise lane. Now I’d become aware of it, I had to do something about the chain noise. I’d put in so much effort to get chain clearance while fitting the underseat rack that I would have been quite annoyed if the problem was something related to that.

I stopped in a gateway near the end of Paradise Lane and got off. I looked under the seat and could see immediately what the problem was. The chain had come off the idler wheel and was rubbing on its spindle alongside. By experimenting I could see that the idler, which was designed to slide sideways to accommodate the chain position in various gears, had a retaining bar over the top to stop the chain jumping off on bumps. The idler could be slid to its innermost position where it wasn’t covered by the bar and the chain wasn’t restrained by it, presumably so the chain could be removed. I put the chain back on the idler and slid it back into its normal position.

I got going again, and to my relief, silence was restored. Just something to keep an eye on in future.

I came to the end of Paradise Lane and turned right in the direction of Church Minshull. Annoyingly, quite a bit of traffic about. After a level stretch the road turned left then downhill. After being sheltered by trees and hedges on the flat, the downhill was exposed to the wind, which was quite noticeably in my face. I took my cap off and sat on it. I got into top and pedalled until I spun out, then freewheeled. A couple of cars came past. I hoped that they would keep going and not cause me to have to slow down. Sure enough, one of them indulged in comfort braking at the bottom of the hill, but was far enough away for me not to have to do anything about it. I was pedalling again by this time, into the village of Church Minshull through some bends and through a chicane, then stopped at a mini roundabout before turning right in the direction of Nantwich.

I looked at the Garmin reading down this hill. 33.5 wasn’t as high as I’d expected, but in the face of the eye watering headwind it was reasonable. The last time I came down here, on the Linear, there wasn’t so much wind, and it was 30.2 mph. So at a crude estimate, 10% faster this time. Comparing like with like, there’s potential for more yet. In general use, the Rans feels as if it rolls easier than the other two.

It’s a very black-and-white Cheshire village, with many listed ancient buildings, though I wonder if the traffic which surges through it every day appreciates much of it in passing.

Through another chicane then up a long hill. The road levelled off at the top then I took a right turning to get on to a lane in the direction of Wettenhall.

Despite being on a more minor road there was still a good deal of traffic. It gave me plenty of room, so I just sucked it up. The wind was generally following me, so I was able to keep a good pace fairly easily.

It didn’t take very long to reach Wettenhall where I rurned right and continued my good pace. The Rans certainly lives up to its earlier promise to go well in favourable conditions.

I continued to a large dip where I rushed down it and most of the way up the other side before slowly getting over the top. Normal service then resumed for the rest of the way to Darnhall.

Rolling downhill towards Darnhall Bridge the lights went red then immediately green again so I rushed the dip and again got most of the way up the other side before having to change to the lower gears.

A little later I passed my back gate and did a little extra before turning back after having rounded it up to 15 miles.

Distance 15.14 miles. Max speed 33.5 mph. Average speed 10.2 mph. According to Garmin.
Ascent 287 ft. According to Bikehike.

 

[a.twiddler]

2/6/25
Recumbent Ride
Whitegate and the Test Hill of Doom on the Rans

Been feeling a bit down during the last few days as whatever household jobs I’ve been doing recently, there have been more lined up clamouring for my attention. Should I cut the grass while it’s dry? Naa, sod it, I’m going for a bike ride!

The Rans was the one I rode last so tools, pump and bits and pieces were still in the seat back bag ready to go.

A day of sunshine and cloud today. Still T shirt weather, so, nondescript trousers, shoes, mitts and cap and away we went. Once launched, everything felt comfortable so I settled in and headed for Swanlow Lane and the uphill traffic lights. Pressure of traffic caused me to go straight on rather than turn right but I turned in to a close on the right further on and came back to the lights to turn left. Downhill a little, then left again on a long downhill to the town centre lights and a long wait to go across to Grange lane. I was soon rolling along between the traffic calming squares and humps until they ended. I rapidly came to the right turn on this lane into the countryside, past a golf course, then downhill into a dip and up the other side. I was preparing to turn left into the steep access to the rail trail when two women came out. I didn’t need to stop, though I stuck my knee out to avoid the bar grip while turning slowly and sharply before getting up the steep ramp with no trouble.

I drank in the birdsong in the leafy sun dappled shade. The bike rolled easily on the gradual uphill slope. I was feeling better already. There were the usual dog walkers and family groups about but they were well spaced out.

I trundled on, across the high bridge over the Whitegate road and soon came to the narrow entrance to Whitegate Station car park. As I crossed the car park the front tyre pinged a piece of gravel sideways which thumped against the side of a horse transporter. There was a horse inside which whinnied and stamped its hooves. Sorry, horse. Didn’t mean to alarm you.

A little further on I stopped at the car park conveniences to inspect the plumbing. I can report that it was all in order.

I got back on the trail to avoid the rather sharp traffic humps in the car park. Once past the station I stopped under the station bridge to take a photo.

Should I press on and join the road further on? I decided to leave the trail at this end of the station, get on Clay Lane and cross the station bridge to see how this bike went on the Test Hill of Doom, aka Cinder Hill.

The traffic lights on the bridge were at red. There was a wide pavement on my side so I followed that. There was no traffic so I got on to the road on the other side and pressed on.

I came to the crossroads with Dalefords Lane where Clay Lane becomes Cinder Hill. It was level for a few hundred yards. I stopped in a field entrance, removed my cap and sat on it. I waited for several vehicles to get by and gave them time to get far enough ahead so that I’d hopefully have a clear run. The road surface wasn’t brilliant here last time I came this way. I hoped it hadn’t got much worse.

Then, off I went, gathering speed until I went over the crest of the dip, getting into high gear until I spun out, and let gravity do its thing. Inevitably, once I got to the beginning of the hill the wind was in my face but I was here now, so what would be would be. The road was gravelly and potholed and wound about a bit under the trees so I just gritted my teeth, avoided the worst and kept off the brakes until just before the junction at the bottom then finding it clear, began pedalling again to keep going as the road climbed again. During the last part of the descent there was a car close behind in my mirror, but he had the sense to drop back and give me some room as the speed increased.

I turned right opposite Whitegate church into Vale Royal Drive. I stopped to look at my Garmin, which showed 35 mph. The bike felt as if it could easily have done more, had I not braked briefly near the bottom but it was pushing the limits if a vehicle had suddenly pulled out. I need to find a longer straighter steeper better surfaced hill with good sight lines. (excuses, excuses). Still, the best yet of any of my bikes on this downhill.

I turned right into Sutton Field.
Here my attention was taken by the dour gaze of a helmeted knight in the garden of a house here. I stopped to take a picture, and of a plaque outside.

Then on to Mill Lane where I turned left up a steep sharp uphill. Easily over the top, then level followed by a long gradual downhill. At the far end I pedalled down a dip to get up the climb on the other side, making good speed to go downhill again past the old Bradford Mill on the right. The road levelled out alongside Pettypool Brook. A large SUV came up behind then hung back as I slowed to turn right across a narrow bridge over the Brook. I was still going well uphill past the Salt Mine and I’d gone past before I remembered that I’d intended to stop and take a photo there.

By this time I was going downhill again towards the lowered kerb and entrance to this end of the Whitegate Way. A woman with two dogs was disentangling the leads where they had gone either side of the post by the barrier. I went through, and was on a decent surface under the trees.

I didn’t meet another person until I reached the Catsclough crossing and zig zagged across the road. Despite there being two sections of rail and old boards in the road I found it surprisingly easy to pass without putting a foot down.

From here it was level

then downhill to the barrier at Grange Lane. Note the addidional temporary barriers.

Here I turned left, down a dip and up the other side. This dip had been potholed for a long time until it was resurfaced last year but it’s been noticeable that gravel has been accumulating so what initially was a straight run through has been getting trickier recently.

I was soon past the golf course, through an estate of houses and turning right towards the sports complex. I crossed the car park, then took a path between the playing fields to the exit barrier. Steadily uphill, through the barrier, up the steep lane then right uphill again along an estate road.

Then left on to Delamere St, asserting myself across the busy A54 roundabout and on to Swanlow Lane. Traffic was fairly steady. I rode on the pavement at one stage to let a large truck pass by before returning to the road. A short stop at Townfields Road lights then a rush downhill to get up my uphill turn off. The road was jammed with parked cars as it was school run time but I got through carefully without having to stop, then freewheeled through the lanes to my back gate.

A short ride, but quite life enhancing.

Distance 11.65 miles. Max speed 35 mph. Average 9.1mph. According to Garmin.
Ascent 388 ft. according to Bikehike.

 

[a.twiddler]

3/6/25
Recumbent Ride
On the Paths, and St. Chads

World Bike day! Despite hoping to get out earlier for a longer one, I settled for a short one. A brief evening ride through the local paths, which I hadn’t ridden since my health related restrictions last September. It was very pleasant to be out on the Spirit which is quite a different experience from the Rans. It was a bit cool so I wore my gilet. How nice to have pockets!

Then the lanes, with an excursion down a rather gloomy tree lined avenue

to the hidden church and hamlet of St Chad’s. Those red dots are the brake lights of a car further ahead.

This is a tiny picture postcard community which consists of a few cottages, a farm, and the church, but from 1810 to 1930 it boasted its own pub, The Bell, known locally as The Blue Bell. This burnt down but was rebuilt in the same style. A bit before my time though.

I stopped to take some photos

before hurrying home to escape a sudden rain storm which cut my outing rather short.

Distance 2.09 miles. Max speed 17.4 miles. Average 6.6 mph. According to Garmin.
Ascent 74 ft (felt a lot more!). According to Bikehike.

 

[a.twiddler]

7/6/25
Recumbent Ride
A visit to the Raven Inn

Trying to get a ride in between household jobs and the rain showers, finally got out on the Rans after tea. The rain had stopped and the roads were dry but dark clouds glowered overhead. I went out onto the Church Minshull road for a change. The occasional traffic seemed quite loud for some reason. A following wind propelled me to the town limits. I turned round and headed back to town, stopping at the now derelict Raven Inn to take some photos. This is what it looked like in 2000.

It has been empty for some time, having been a curry house once it stopped being a pub. Last year some time there was a fire in which it lost its roof and it now looks very sad.

I wonder how long it will be before it’s flattened and replaced by a housing development.

I got under way again and headed back to town. The head wind wasn’t too bad and I made reasonable progress. Soon I was climbing my uphill turn off then free wheeling to my back gate.

Distance 3.14 miles. Max speed 18.5 mph. Average speed 9.2 mph. According to Garmin.
Ascent 54 ft. According to Bikehike.

 

[a.twiddler]

9/6/25
Recumbent Ride
Linear to Church Minshull-Wettenhall-Calveley-Long Lane-Eaton Lane-home

I was disappointed not to get even a tiny ride in yesterday with the unpredictable weather so with less wind and some general greyness I set off with no particular destination in mind. Definitely not T shirt weather today so I had my gilet on as well as my other nondescript gear.

I went left downhill from my back gate as that was the course of least resistance. I found myself heading for Darnhall bridge with its dip and traffic lights. As I climbed up the other side I had a sort of IMax view in my mind of the surrounding countryside. If I went straight on I would eventually hit the A51 at Reaseheath. If I turned right a few miles before then all lanes still led to the A51. If I took the next right I would eventually reach the A51/A49 at Four Lane Ends, or the A54. If I took the next left in Wettenhall, still a few miles away, I would end up on Over Road Which despite being a minor road, could be busy with traffic at times. Still, in the pursuit of a tranquil ride, the least worst option.

So, I continued to Wettenhall, turned left into Minshull Lane and began to have thoughts of maybe having another go at Alsager’s Bank. It was a bit late in the day, but it would stay light until late. Unfortunately some fat raindrops then began to fall though they were a bit sporadic. I turned into Woodgreen Lane and stopped under a tree to shelter until the worst of it had passed. A field full of cows began to take an interest, lowing and moving towards the side of the field where I was. I set off through the intermittent raindrops. I kicked Alsagers Bank into the long grass for today.
The long grass.

There was plenty of shelter from overhanging trees so it was pleasant enough.

The road turned sharp left and in the distance a large truck could be seen approaching. There is a distribution depot at the other end of Paradise Lane. I suppose it depends on where their destination is, but there seems to be regular traffic along this narrow lane. I pulled over to let him get past.

The lane turned sharp right and soon traffic passing the end of it at Over Road could be seen. A motor bike, a couple of cars, a group of cars in the other direction, then a long gap. The rain had eased off to an occasional drop by now.

I came to the junction ready to turn right. A long column of cars from the right, a couple from the left, then I was away.

The road was level for half a mile, then went left and downhill. I took my cap off and sat on it, then got going in high gear downhill. The traffic was distracting. With one eye on the mirror and the other on the road ahead, I pedalled until I spun out, then freewheeled. A couple of cars overtook, then I started pedalling as the road swung right, left, and undulated into Church Minshull. I’d hoped to get some pictures passing through but the traffic was oppressive.
Through a chicane without having to stop, right at a mini roundabout where a large truck was obligingly blocking traffic from the right as he couldn’t move until the traffic behind me had gone.

Through the village,

through another chicane then up a long gradual uphill.

At the top I signalled to turn right but then a group of cars appeared so I continued forwards into an entrance to let following traffic pass, then turned right then left into Minshull Lane. The raindrops started falling on my head and I realised that I was still sitting on my cap. I stopped under a tree after a few hundred yards to put it on. I carried on. I was still getting just as wet but the psychological effect of not getting rain on my specs made me feel much better about it.

Soon I arrived at Wettenhall, turned left into Cholmondeston then right on to Calveley Green Lane. Since the rain wasn’t heavy and was intermittent I thought I’d add a few extra miles by going this way. I’d used this lane as part of a regular loop while expanding my mileage with the HPV Spirit early last year but hadn’t been this way since. I was reminded how this was a soul destroying climb that didn’t look like a climb. The effort was there but the progress was slow, and it was only by looking at the Garmin that I could tell that I was ascending foot by foot.

Traffic came the other way which I assumed was the school traffic run on the way home after picking up kids from Calveley Green primary school. Stereotypically giant SUVs seemingly needed to pick up the tiniest of kids.

After what seemed to be an awfully long drag I came to a junction with Calveley Hall Lane and turned right. There was a road closed sign but a car came the other way so I pressed on hopefully. Someone on a mega fat tyred ebike then came the other way so I felt a bit more optimistic. The route was flatter so my progress became easier. Another road closed sign facing the other way eased my pessimism. The rain had stopped, and I hoped that it would stay that way.

After another climb, I came to a T junction with Long Lane with a diversion sign to the left, so naturally I turned right. After a short uphill Long Lane stretched out mostly downhill in a straight line ahead of me. The occasional vehicle hurtled past me and I made easy progress. A Wettenhall sign appeared, then I turned left on to Eaton Lane.

This was a pleasant lane which wound about with a few gentle ups and downs. I didn’t come across another vehicle until just before I came to the T junction with Hickhurst Lane. There was a bare grey pole at the junction. I remembered it from my New Year’s day ride last year. Nobody had replaced the missing signs since I’d been here last. I’d had to use guesswork then, but at least I knew where I was today.

I turned right and was soon at the T junction on Hall Lane where I turned left for Darnhall. I was tempted to stop at the wayside bench at Darnhall village hall but went straight on as a couple of cars had just gone past and I hoped the Darnall bridge lights would still be at green.

Sure enough, they were, so I charged downhill and up the other side without having to get into too low a gear before reaching the summit. Then a more leisurely ride until I reached my back gate.

Distance 20.70 miles. Max speed 33.16 mph. Average 8.1 mph. According to Garmin.
Ascent 384 ft. According to Bikehike.

 

[a.twiddler]

10/6/25
Recumbent Ride
The Rans Condescends to go Shopping

Dry but windy today. Right out of the back gate on the Rans, then to the uphill traffic lights on Swanlow Lane. A young chap on a mountain bike riding along the pavement kept me company along here, still riding on the pavement all the way down to the town centre. He seemed to be doing an awful lot of pedalling, whereas I stopped pedalling once I got onto the long downhill. The wind was in my face and although I wasn’t doing much speed, I feared for my cap. Of course, I was on the road.
Straight through a mini roundabout, right at a set of lights where the other cyclist went straight on. Left alongside a supermarket car park then to lock up to a barrier.

The usual quick in and out, then back to load up and unlock. With the extra weight in the seat back bag I noticed the front wheel shimmying a bit at low speed but it was OK once I got going.

I went out through the car park, turned right at the exit roundabout, right at the next lights, then left up the pavement to follow it up the long hill to Over roundabout.
Once I’d turned left and got back on the road on Swanlow Lane I had the wind behind me and made easy progress to the Townhills Road lights, then downhill to get a run up to my uphill turn off.
Then, a slow trundle to my back gate to unload.
Distance 3.11 miles. Max Speed 23.5 mph. Average 8.5 mph. According to Garmin.
Ascent 138 ft. According to Bikehike.

 

[grldtnr]

Today was my first familization ride with the PG not exciting or ambitious, but it's a learning curve riding a longbike,
Compared to sitting there like a sack of spuds on the trike, no balance issues at all unless you come steaming into a tight bend, then you have to let it hang out.
The Longbike is different, depending on which type of recumbent you have some are easy, others not so easy, the PG is for the moment in the not so easy camp, just sitting on it feels very odd !
I first tried just scooting along ,enough to get the balance point, but you can't really do that on the Gynt, you have to recline , bring a pedal to the power of point, with a brake on ,push of against it, release the brake, then catch the other pedal as you wobble along, once I got it going I was OK, I climbed up a slight rise to the carpark, over some speed bumps, which shook me about a bit,then did numerous circuits of the carpark, left and right turns, all at a steady pace.
The exit is a tight LH, which gave me some problems, as I target fixated on the railing, I lost my nerve reached out and grabbed it, not wanting a prat fall, my old bones aren't ready for that these days, honour preserved, I tried another restart, wobbled through the posts then headed down the slight drop, with a low scoring dismount to pick up the bike and head back.
Any way I shall perserve, doing circuit and bumps, without bumping or falling of before,I take it for its first proper ride.

At the moment it's all about getting confident in riding, restarting, and climbing , it will take a little while, but I don't want to keep driving to somewhere to learn , I need to ride out to the practice carpark then home up a always busy hill home,the round trip is 12 miles mostly on a flat cycleway overlooking the beach and out to sea
Riding the PG a learning curve......I shall name it PG 'Tips' as it quite apt, I feel I will tip over sooner or later🙃!

 

[a.twiddler]

I'm glad to see you're getting to grips with the beast. After riding trikes for a long time, it must be hard to over ride your natural reactions when riding the PG.

When I look back at the stuff I wrote when I was getting used to the Linear, the biggest surprise was that it didn't feel at all like a conventional bike, and I had to retrain my bike riding reactions to compensate. I remember writing, "it's just a bike. How hard can it be?" I knew about target fixation from previously riding small wheelers, and could manage to look where I wanted to go which helped make the bike go in that direction. If I looked at the front wheel it was hard to avoid wobbling about all over the place.

When it came to cornering it was more like riding a motorcycle. If you pedal steadily tound a corner, it avoids that feeling of falling inward, and if you increase your effort it magically tries to straighten up, so you can control the turning with pedal power as well as handlebar pressure. If you balance the pedal pressure with a touch on the back brake, eventually you can turn quite tightly at low speed. It's just down to loads of practice.

Another thing was the gap in balancing confidently at ultra low speeds. Starting off was OK, getting up to 5 mph quickly and riding faster was OK, but riding steadily between 0 and 4 mph was hard even on the flat, with lots of wobbling. Just lots of practice somewhere quiet, and the ability to do things in slow motion just suddenly happens. I remember finding myself stuck in traffic one day, stop/start, slow riding, balancing to a stand still, and I thought back to just a few months before when the whole idea would have filled me with apprehension and here I was just doing it.

Getting confident enough to ride with just fingertip pressure on the bars, relaxing the death grip that you can't help developing in times of stress. Similarly, relaxing back into the seat rather than hunching forward when you're anxious. If the seat is adjustable, making it more upright while you're getting the hang of it. No point heaving on those bars when going uphill, let the legs do the work. I suppose some of the above is applicable to trikes, too

A Biggie, with the tadpole trike set up the front brakes are powerful, with a LWB bike, the rear brake is the most effective, and heaving on the front brake while cornering or on a loose surface could end in tears. It could be easy to let your trike responses take over in an emergency stop and heave on both levers.

Something I read somewhere about someone starting to use a recumbent bike for commuting was just to use it. The things that seemed difficult in the beginning just became routine and lost their scariness. So even if you're retired, just to use it to go to the shops, to visit people, to run errands etc makes it part of life rather than a special challenge. You might change your route in the beginning to avoid difficult junctions, or find some routes easier to use when you're on a recumbent. It ties in with you riding it to your practice place to start with rather than transporting it.

It might be that you come to like it, or find that you prefer triking, but at least you'll have the satisfaction of having given it a go, and scratched that itch.

I hope that you won't see the above as something along the lines of unwanted education, grandmothers, suction and hen fruit.

Just passing on some of my LWB observations which might, or might not, be helpful in taming your PG.

 

[grldtnr]

Thanks Twidds for your observations , but I also ride upwrongs, especially in town, the trike is more a touring beast of burden when camping, but is also a whole bag of fun when going light, especially on the Twisties.
There are parallels with riding Motor scooters or motorbikes, a touch of rear brake or clutch to control slow speeds is essential, I've only been riding Motor bikes the last 3 years, but been riding bikes the last 50! So no eggs being sucked here, if I get confident with it ,a trip to Netherlands is on the cards ,then we will see what PG 'Tips' future is.*
* This is totally unsponsored with a particularly well known tea brand.

 

[a.twiddler]

Sounds good to me!

 

[a.twiddler]

13/6/25
Recumbent Rides
Sweaty Shopping Spin on the Rans.

A humid day today with the threat of thunder later so I thought I’d go out while the going was good. Sunshine and cloud, at least there was a bit of wind. Definitely T shirt weather today.

Left out of the gate then right on to an estate road for a change. I followed this for a mile or so to a T junction, sharp right then left and followed a winding estate road to another T junction. Left downhill then right on to a path past a children’s playground. Left past some houses then out on to a green with a downhill path to the right. I came to a T junction with another path and went right to join a road past a row of houses.

All that zig zagging, helping to sharpen up my bike handling skills on this lengthy beast which is longer than the Linear.

Another T junction with Swanlow Lane where I got beeped at by some driver as they went past. Where’s that boat horn when you need it? A short time later I was behind the same car in a queue of traffic at the A54 roundabout, with the driver studiously avoiding looking at me in the mirror. All that rushing and beeping hadn’t got them very far.

Eventually we all got round the roundabout heading downhill where I hoped that I might get through the town centre lights on green, or better still, stop behind the same car and make the driver uncomfortable again.

As I slowed ready to stop at the lights they changed so I surged forward with the traffic which then moved slowly forward towards the next lights. There was no dicing with the speed differential this time as I signalled to get into the right hand lane among the slow moving traffic.

After a wait I went right, then right at the next two roundabouts and through a car park to end up alongside a supermarket barrier where I locked up and went inside.

Being a pretty target driven shopper I was soon out again, unlocked and rolling across the car park,

left at the next two roundabouts, straight across at the next lights and sharp left on to a pavement cycle path.

The traffic coming towards me on the road was continuous, then a continuous line of parked cars. At least they were parked on the road, and not encroaching on to the cycle path. I kept a wary eye out for any distracted occupant who might swat me with their door as I went past.

As it was, there were several dozy youths about, their vision and hearing obstructed by the obligatory hoodie and headphones, one even with the headphones outside their hood. I wonder what that did for the sound quality?

I came to Grange lane and turned right. I had to wait for a gap in the traffic before I could get across and continue on the road.

A steady trundle to the sports complex car park, diagonally across, between the playing fields to the exit barrier. Perhaps 1 cm each side of the mirrors, then an easy restart and climb of the steep lane to the T junction with an estate road. Some pillock had parked a works van across the lane. I squeezed through and carried on uphill.

I came to Delamere St feeling a bit sticky in the humidity after the climb. After turning left I found the traffic to be moving slowly, and backed up at some roadworks traffic lights further along. Once I reached the traffic lights I hopped on the pavement. I stopped to let several pedestrians go by, by which time the traffic was moving again. Ho hum.

Back on the road again, through the traffic, across the A54 roundabout, down Swanlow Lane, then realising that it was school run time I turned right up a shady side path before Townfields Road lights to avoid yet more traffic. Straight ahead through an estate, left at the next T junction to follow a road which dipped and wound about before depositing me outside my back gate.

I parked the Rans behind the Linear, on which I’d earlier been trying out a computer chair cover to smarten up the rather faded seat mesh.

I didn’t take any photos while I was out, so I took a gratuitous one of the two bikes, as it’s not often that they’re both out of the garage together.

Distance 6.03 miles. Max speed 25.9 mph. Average speed 8.2 -a bit slower than I’d come to expect from the Rans. According to Garmin.
Ascent 174 ft. According to Bikehike.

 

[a.twiddler]

17/6/25
Recumbent Ride
Rematch with Alsagers Bank

It was in April 2021 when I last went to Newcastle via Halmer End and Alsagers Bank and had issues with steering up the steepest bit. I’d previously believed that I could ride this Linear up anything, so it was a bit of set back. The gearing was fine but once the speed dropped below about 4 mph I wasn’t able to make it go where I wanted it to. Of course, pushing a bike a hundred yards during a round trip of 45 miles or so isn’t the end of the world but still… Previously I believed that I could ride it up anything, and now I didn’t.

Since then I’ve ridden it a lot, and I’ve also fitted a frame reinforcing plate. A lot of things have got in the way of a rematch up to now, but today’s the day.

It was going to be hot later so I’d hoped to start early, also to avoid the traffic on the way home. I also wanted to stretch out the miles a bit. As usual, I started later than intended. Well, I would have to take it as it came.

Definitely T shirt weather today, so after slapping on the sun block and gathering my stuff together it was out through the gate, and left towards Wettenhall. I was planning to conserve my energy for the climbing later on so it started with a freewheel. Through the lights at Darnhall bridge then steady progress to Wettenhall. Left on to Minshull Lane, left again on to Woodgreen Lane, then Paradise Lane. No monster trucks today, and I only came across two cars coming the other way towards the end of Paradise Lane.

I came to the T junction with Over Road and turned right. There was little traffic, but it was enough for me. After the straight level stretch the road turned left and dipped, I got into high gear and spun out, then let gravity do its stuff. Pedalling again through the bends at the bottom into Church Minshull, through a chicane, left at the mini roundabout towards Crewe. The long uphill to the Shropshire Union Canal was managed without stopping due to minimal traffic, over the bridge at the top, then the long flat to Crewe. No traffic at the lights on Middlewich Road so went through to turn right in short order then almost immediately left through some cones on to the bypassed section of Flowers Lane. I leaned the bike against a tree and had a glug of water then pressed on through Crewe. No hold ups, and I was soon on University Way where I stopped at Aldi to stock up on choc bars. Back on to the cycle path, left at the roundabout at the end on to Weston Road. Here the cycle path ended, but there was a broad pavement so I stayed on that with the fizzing traffic belting by definitely less than 1.5 metres from my right elbow.

After a mile or so I came to the right turn for Weston, diving into a gap in the traffic, taking the right hand lane and turning for Weston. Across a railway bridge, then over the raucous A500, and soon enjoying some more relaxed progress.

I took a photo of the White Lion as I went past, not wanting to stop more than I had to.

After an all too short fairly quiet interlude I came to a roundabout on the Newcastle Road and went across in the direction of Newcastle. There is a moderate uphill from here but the main issue is some worn chip seal surfacing for a few hundred yards which I remember from my previous trip. It was no less eyeball rattling today. I considered reducing the rear tyre pressure having slightly over inflated it before coming out. I pressed on anyway, as fiddling around with Presta valves when out on the road can lead to unintended consequences.

Through a roundabout, into Staffordshire then left by the Broughton pub. A slight downhill, then a steady climb for several miles, a dip and a climb across the M6. I passed the turn for Shraleybrook road on the right. I carried on uphill, then downhill again before turning right into Carr Lane then left on to Shraleybrook Road.

A steady climb on a winding lane from here. I clicked into the low ratio on the hub gear which let me carry on for a while but then it eased so I changed back to the middle range. I passed the entrance to the old Minnie pit which is now a country park. I changed to the low range again, though I was using the higher gears in the range. Two boys on mountain bikes came downhill and turned into the country park. I plodded on. Just before the old railway bridge abutments that heralded Halmer End the two boys passed me, one busy on his phone.

I kept twirling away. I had to keep stopping amongst the roadside parked cars as a fleet of tractors and trailers were running a shuttle service at short intervals transporting hay. Still, no problem restarting here.

As I came to the junction on the left for Heathcote road I remembered that it was shortly after this point that lost my ability to steer on my first attempt here. There was a sign for Alsagers Bank just beyond the Junction and it was between here and St. David’s Church further up the hill that I’d had problems. I didn't see the sign today, possibly blocked by a parked van.

Today… nothing! A bit of an anti climax. I just kept rolling uphill. It definitely felt steep from the way my temperature was rising. I stopped by the War Memorial, laid the Linear on the grassy bank in front of it, and retreated across the road to the shade of a tree. There was a faint breeze here, too. It's steeper than it looks!

So, keeping going was no problem. After a couple of attempts to restart I went downhill to get going in a level entranceway. Then I wound my way uphill to a point where the ascent was a little less steep. The road curved, so there was a bit more shade from houses across the road.

Here I sat on the bike by the roadside until I’d cooled off. I observed that despite the effectiveness of the rear brake, it took a lot of pressure on the lever to stop the bike from rolling backwards downhill, better with both. With just the front brake, the bike would start to slide backwards with the front wheel locked. This could get very exciting very fast with a bit of mud or gravel.

Time’s winged chariot was hurtling by with jet powered wheels (I could have done with some of those) so without any preamble, I got going again. Perhaps too much forethought had been the issue with getting going further back, I thought, with no intention of going back and retrying it.

Twirling along steadily I was almost enjoying getting up here, apart from the heat. Soon I passed the Gresley Arms on the right, and the slope eased quite visibly. The gradients stayed in a more normal range, slightly up or down as I passed through the village until I came to the top of Black Bank. Here I was expecting great things, maybe a new downhill record for the Linear. It’s quite steep in parts but its main claim to fame is that it’s several downhill miles of wide open road, so no need to brake until you reach the village of Knutton at the bottom.

As a bonus, there’s a well segregated mixed use path alongside it, to take away the traffic related stress of getting back up it.

I took off my cap and sat on it.

Then, I got into top and increased speed in a leisurely manner until I’d spun out, and sat back to enjoy the ride.

A pleasantly breezy few minutes followed, while I enjoyed the sensation of speeding along on a gravity powered garden chair.

It wasn’t as steep as I’d hoped, and I pedalled the last bit to Knutton, but it was promising for the long haul back.

I continued to a pair of mini roundabouts where the Silverdale road branched off then did a 360 and headed back the way I’d come.

As I came out of the village on the way back I spotted a bench in a shady spot by the cycle path so I left the road and stopped for a choc bar and some water.

I continued along this path for the rest of the uphill. Alas, as the road curved the shade retreated, and the trees that were creating the shade also blocked the breeze. Although there was the occasional field gate where the breeze blew through, I was feeling the effects of the heat by the time I was most of the way up.

Near the top I came across another bench. I leaned the bike on it and went and stood like a starfish
in a nearby field entrance. Not far now. I had some water then carried on.

Soon I was in Alsagers Bank, cooling nicely with my self generated breeze, then after passing the Gresley Arms was waved through by a school crossing patrol who stopped following traffic.

I then went downhill much faster than I’d come up, slowing right down for a tractor which was crossing the junction with Heathcote Road where I then turned right down the long steep hill towards Audley.

Even though I was doing 27 mph at one point a Range Rover driver insisted on getting past. I kept my speed up as best I could to get up the steep sharp slope to Rye Hills where I turned left.

A gradual uphill to a summit. I could feel my energy levels dropping so I got up as much speed as I could down the next dip to get to the next summit and cross roads at the end of Hougher Wall Road. Conked out about 20 yards from the top, I stopped and summoned the bottom gear of the hub which was enough to get me up the last bit. Once it was clear, I launched across to Chester Road where I was able to freewheel down to the junction with Nantwich Road and turn left. Feeling seriously detuned I was looking for somewhere to stop and recharge as I could feel the Dreaded Bonk approaching.

Just after the cemetery on the right was an entrance, and beyond that was a bench with a newly trimmed grassy bank behind it. The Linear somehow found its way there, and as I struggled to dismount with one hand on the bench I felt uncomfortably light headed. I got off, dug out my supplies bag from the rack bag, and gratefully subsided on to the grassy bank. The bench was in full sunlight, but the bank was under a shady tree. I propped myself up and had a choc bar (instant energy), a diet pepsi (fluid and caffeine), and a packet of crisps (salt and a slower release of energy).

Hardly a balanced diet, and I hadn’t had a cake stop today, but it would keep me going. I felt much better in minutes.

I could have had a nice nap under that tree but time was ticking away. I could see the traffic building up. There were no more serious climbs between here and home. Most of the distance to the Newcastle road was downhill (having already climbed here from there).

Once more under way, the wheels turning for home via Nantwich, a light but warm breeze in my face, it was very pleasant. The occasional car came by, but since I could hear their tyre noise from afar, it was bearable

It didn’t take long to get to the Newcastle Road, and turn right at a difficult junction without difficulty. Uphill to the sign announcing that I was now in Cheshire, then mostly downhill to the roundabout where the M6 and A500 traffic joined the Newcastle Road. As I rattled towards it on the worn chip seal surface I could see it was busy. Ah well. Que Sera Sera. Turdis tensilium. Just got to suck it up. Et cetera.

The initial stretch was slightly uphill though traffic was getting by OK. Approaching a high bridge over a railway it narrowed. As I was climbing this bridge I became aware of a black Range Rover behind with its hazard lights flashing. Some kind of malfunction, obviously. Most likely inside the driver’s head. What is it with Range Rover drivers? A wildlife related fact surfaced in my mind. What’s the difference between a hedgehog and a Range Rover? With a hedgehog, 100% of the pricks are on the outside.

Just as I was contemplating how nice it would be to have some kind of precision electromagnetic pulse generator which could automatically pop out of my rack bag and zap the electrics of any mechanised road user who caused me grief, my legs, which had been dutifully pushing me up this slope, signalled that it was time to change up. So I did. I went over the top, the road widened, my speed increased, the traffic flowed by. It was notable that the hazard lights went off after he’d gone by.

The road was level or slightly downhill after this. Still, the constant traffic, particularly the tyre noise, was rather wearing. I passed through Hough, then Shavington cum Gresty (though I couldn’t help thinking Shavington cum Whiskers sounded more appropriate). Most of the traffic dispersed at Shavington lights so it was a bit quieter after that. I stopped briefly for a drink of water then carried on. I noticed a sign to the right for a cycle path via Willaston to Nantwich. It sounded more appealing than the route via the busy A500 roundabout which was not far away but by the time I’d thought about it it wasn’t worth turning back on the off chance. A bike ride for another day.

I came to the A500 roundabout behind a short queue of traffic. I was taking the first exit so I was through quickly. Straight on through some lights, across a level crossing then into a traffic queue due to some roadworks. Too many temporary signs on the pavements so I just rolled with the rest of the traffic. It wasn’t bad. Start, roll, freewheel, stop. Start, roll, freewheel, stop. Repeat. It was strangely relaxing, especially the slow bicycle race rolling to a stop, seeing how long I could keep my feet up.

Through Nantwich, on a pavement cycle path as far as Reaseheath College. Then on to the Chester/Wrexham road which was pretty horrible as there wasn’t anywhere to go, just keeping best speed up with a long tailback of traffic until finally turning right on to Wettenhall Road.

It was nice to unwind on this road whose recent resurfacing is still holding up well. It was easy to roll along on the smooth surface, still some traffic but not obtrusive.

Rolling down a long dip, up the other side at a good speed until it bled away and I was rolling at my usual speed. I came to Wettenhall Marina. I doubted that the shop was open but there would at least be somewhere to sit and take a break. It was quiet and peaceful. I sat at one of the benches for a time, had some water then got under way again.

Over the canal bridge, under the railway bridge then soon on the long straight to the village of Wettenhall. Through the village, down a dip and up the other side, a head wind for a while then as the lane turned it was more favourable. Through the lights at Darnhall bridge then a lazy trundle towards home. A bunch of motorcyclists came the other way, one of whom gave a thumbs up. I smiled back. Before long I was at my back gate.

I can now truthfully say that the Linear will climb anything I point it at.

The max speed down the long hill to Church Minshull was 32.1 mph. Down Black Bank 32.7 mph, a difference of 0.6 mph. Was it worth travelling the extra 44 miles for? Perhaps as a sideshow to the main event, which was ascending Alsagers Bank on two wheels throughout.

Distance 50.22 miles. Max speed 32.7 mph. Average speed 7.5 mph. According to Garmin.
Ascent 1592 ft. According to Bikehike.

 

[grldtnr]

17/6/25
Recumbent Ride
Rematch with Alsagers Bank

It was in April 2021 when I last went to Newcastle via Halmer End and Alsagers Bank and had issues with steering up the steepest bit. I’d previously believed that I could ride this Linear up anything, so it was a bit of set back. The gearing was fine but once the speed dropped below about 4 mph I wasn’t able to make it go where I wanted it to. Of course, pushing a bike a hundred yards during a round trip of 45 miles or so isn’t the end of the world but still… Previously I believed that I could ride it up anything, and now I didn’t.

Since then I’ve ridden it a lot, and I’ve also fitted a frame reinforcing plate. A lot of things have got in the way of a rematch up to now, but today’s the day.

It was going to be hot later so I’d hoped to start early, also to avoid the traffic on the way home. I also wanted to stretch out the miles a bit. As usual, I started later than intended. Well, I would have to take it as it came.

Definitely T shirt weather today, so after slapping on the sun block and gathering my stuff together it was out through the gate, and left towards Wettenhall. I was planning to conserve my energy for the climbing later on so it started with a freewheel. Through the lights at Darnhall bridge then steady progress to Wettenhall. Left on to Minshull Lane, left again on to Woodgreen Lane, then Paradise Lane. No monster trucks today, and I only came across two cars coming the other way towards the end of Paradise Lane.

I came to the T junction with Over Road and turned right. There was little traffic, but it was enough for me. After the straight level stretch the road turned left and dipped, I got into high gear and spun out, then let gravity do its stuff. Pedalling again through the bends at the bottom into Church Minshull, through a chicane, left at the mini roundabout towards Crewe. The long uphill to the Shropshire Union Canal was managed without stopping due to minimal traffic, over the bridge at the top, then the long flat to Crewe. No traffic at the lights on Middlewich Road so went through to turn right in short order then almost immediately left through some cones on to the bypassed section of Flowers Lane. I leaned the bike against a tree and had a glug of water then pressed on through Crewe. No hold ups, and I was soon on University Way where I stopped at Aldi to stock up on choc bars. Back on to the cycle path, left at the roundabout at the end on to Weston Road. Here the cycle path ended, but there was a broad pavement so I stayed on that with the fizzing traffic belting by definitely less than 1.5 metres from my right elbow.

After a mile or so I came to the right turn for Weston, diving into a gap in the traffic, taking the right hand lane and turning for Weston. Across a railway bridge, then over the raucous A500, and soon enjoying some more relaxed progress.

I took a photo of the White Lion as I went past, not wanting to stop more than I had to.
View attachment 776828
After an all too short fairly quiet interlude I came to a roundabout on the Newcastle Road and went across in the direction of Newcastle. There is a moderate uphill from here but the main issue is some worn chip seal surfacing for a few hundred yards which I remember from my previous trip. It was no less eyeball rattling today. I considered reducing the rear tyre pressure having slightly over inflated it before coming out. I pressed on anyway, as fiddling around with Presta valves when out on the road can lead to unintended consequences.

Through a roundabout, into Staffordshire then left by the Broughton pub. A slight downhill, then a steady climb for several miles, a dip and a climb across the M6. I passed the turn for Shraleybrook road on the right. I carried on uphill, then downhill again before turning right into Carr Lane then left on to Shraleybrook Road.

A steady climb on a winding lane from here. I clicked into the low ratio on the hub gear which let me carry on for a while but then it eased so I changed back to the middle range. I passed the entrance to the old Minnie pit which is now a country park. I changed to the low range again, though I was using the higher gears in the range. Two boys on mountain bikes came downhill and turned into the country park. I plodded on. Just before the old railway bridge abutments that heralded Halmer End the two boys passed me, one busy on his phone.
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I kept twirling away. I had to keep stopping amongst the roadside parked cars as a fleet of tractors and trailers were running a shuttle service at short intervals transporting hay. Still, no problem restarting here.

As I came to the junction on the left for Heathcote road I remembered that it was shortly after this point that lost my ability to steer on my first attempt here. The was a sign for Alsagers Bank just beyond the Junction and it was between here and St. David’s Church further up the hill that I’d had problems. I didn't see the sign today, possibly blocked by a parked van.

Today… nothing! A bit of an anti climax. I just kept rolling uphill. It definitely felt steep from the way my temperature was rising. I stopped by the War Memorial, laid the Linear on the grassy bank in front of it, and retreated across the road to the shade of a tree. There was a faint breeze here, too. It's steeper than it looks!
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So, keeping going was no problem. After a couple of attempts to restart I went downhill to get going in a level entranceway. Then I wound my way uphill to a point where the ascent was a little less steep. The road curved, so there was a bit more shade from houses across the road.

Here I sat on the bike by the roadside until I’d cooled off. I observed that despite the effectiveness of the rear brake, it took a lot of pressure on the lever to stop the bike from rolling backwards downhill, better with both. With just the front brake, the bike would start to slide backwards with the front wheel locked. This could get very exciting very fast with a bit of mud or gravel.

Time’s winged chariot was hurtling by with jet powered wheels (I could have done with some of those) so without any preamble, I got going again. Perhaps too much forethought had been the issue with getting going further back, I thought, with no intention of going back and retrying it.

Twirling along steadily I was almost enjoying getting up here, apart from the heat. Soon I passed the Gresley Arms on the right, and the slope eased quite visibly. The gradients stayed in a more normal range, slightly up or down as I passed through the village until I came to the top of Black Bank. Here I was expecting great things, maybe a new downhill record for the Linear. It’s quite steep in parts but its main claim to fame is that it’s several downhill miles of wide open road, so no need to brake until you reach the village of Knutton at the bottom.

As a bonus, there’s a well segregated mixed use path alongside it, to take away the traffic related stress of getting back up it.

I took off my cap and sat on it.

Then, I got into top and increased speed in a leisurely manner until I’d spun out, and sat back to enjoy the ride.

A pleasantly breezy few minutes followed, while I enjoyed the sensation of speeding along on a gravity powered garden chair.

It wasn’t as steep as I’d hoped, and I pedalled the last bit to Knutton, but it was promising for the long haul back.

I continued to a pair of mini roundabouts where the Silverdale road branched off then did a 360 and headed back the way I’d come.

As I came out of the village on the way back I spotted a bench in a shady spot by the cycle path so I left the road and stopped for a choc bar and some water.
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I continued along this path for the rest of the uphill. Alas, as the road curved the shade retreated, and the trees that were creating the shade also blocked the breeze. Although there was the occasional field gate where the breeze blew through, I was feeling the effects of the heat by the time I was most of the way up.

Near the top I came across another bench. I leaned the bike on it and went and stood like a starfish
in a nearby field entrance. Not far now. I had some water then carried on.
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Soon I was in Alsagers Bank, cooling nicely with my self generated breeze, then after passing the Gresley Arms was waved through by a school crossing patrol who stopped following traffic.

I then went downhill much faster than I’d come up, slowing right down for a tractor which was crossing the junction with Heathcote Road where I then turned right down the long steep hill towards Audley.

Even though I was doing 27 mph at one point a Range Rover driver insisted on getting past. I kept my speed up as best I could to get up the steep sharp slope to Rye Hills where I turned left.

A gradual uphill to a summit. I could feel my energy levels dropping so I got up as much speed as I could down the next dip to get to the next summit and cross roads at the end of Hougher Wall Road. Conked out about 20 yards from the top, I stopped and summoned the bottom gear of the hub which was enough to get me up the last bit. Once it was clear, I launched across to Chester Road where I was able to freewheel down to the junction with Nantwich Road and turn left. Feeling seriously detuned I was looking for somewhere to stop and recharge as I could feel the Dreaded Bonk approaching.

Just after the cemetery on the right was an entrance, and beyond that was a bench with a newly trimmed grassy bank behind it. The Linear somehow found its way there, and as I struggled to dismount with one hand on the bench I felt uncomfortably light headed. I got off, dug out my supplies bag from the rack bag, and gratefully subsided on to the grassy bank. The bench was in full sunlight, but the bank was under a shady tree. I propped myself up and had a choc bar (instant energy), a diet pepsi (fluid and caffeine), and a packet of crisps (salt and a slower release of energy).

Hardly a balanced diet, and I hadn’t had a cake stop today, but it would keep me going. I felt much better in minutes.

I could have had a nice nap under that tree but time was ticking away. I could see the traffic building up. There were no more serious climbs between here and home. Most of the distance to the Newcastle road was downhill (having already climbed here from there).

Once more under way, the wheels turning for home via Nantwich, a light but warm breeze in my face, it was very pleasant. The occasional car came by, but since I could hear their tyre noise from afar, it was bearable

It didn’t take long to get to the Newcastle Road, and turn right at a difficult junction without difficulty. Uphill to the sign announcing that I was now in Cheshire, then mostly downhill to the roundabout where the M6 and A500 traffic joined the Newcastle Road. As I rattled towards it on the worn chip seal surface I could see it was busy. Ah well. Que Sera Sera. Turdis tensilium. Just got to suck it up. Et cetera.

The initial stretch was slightly uphill though traffic was getting by OK. Approaching a high bridge over a railway it narrowed. As I was climbing this bridge I became aware of a black Range Rover behind with its hazard lights flashing. Some kind of malfunction, obviously. Most likely inside the driver’s head. What is it with Range Rover drivers? A wildlife related fact surfaced in my mind. What’s the difference between a hedgehog and a Range Rover? With a hedgehog, 100% of the pricks are on the outside.

Just as I was contemplating how nice it would be to have some kind of precision electromagnetic pulse generator which could automatically pop out of my rack bag and zap the electrics of any mechanised road user who caused me grief, my legs, which had been dutifully pushing me up this slope, signalled that it was time to change up. So I did. I went over the top, the road widened, my speed increased, the traffic flowed by. It was notable that the hazard lights went off after he’d gone by.

The road was level or slightly downhill after this. Still, the constant traffic, particularly the tyre noise, was rather wearing. I passed through Hough, then Shavington cum Gresty (though I couldn’t help thinking Shavington cum Whiskers sounded more appropriate). Most of the traffic dispersed at Shavington lights so it was a bit quieter after that. I stopped briefly for a drink of water then carried on. I noticed a sign to the right for a cycle path via Willaston to Nantwich. It sounded more appealing than the route via the busy A500 roundabout which was not far away but by the time I’d thought about it it wasn’t worth turning back on the off chance. A bike ride for another day.

I came to the A500 roundabout behind a short queue of traffic. I was taking the first exit so I was through quickly. Straight on through some lights, across a level crossing then into a traffic queue due to some roadworks. Too many temporary signs on the pavements so I just rolled with the rest of the traffic. It wasn’t bad. Start, roll, freewheel, stop. Start, roll, freewheel, stop. Repeat. It was strangely relaxing, especially the slow bicycle race rolling to a stop, seeing how long I could keep my feet up.

Through Nantwich, on a pavement cycle path as far as Reaseheath College. Then on to the Chester/Wrexham road which was pretty horrible as there wasn’t anywhere to go, just keeping best speed up with a long tailback of traffic until finally turning right on to Wettenhall Road.

It was nice to unwind on this road whose recent resurfacing is still holding up well. It was easy to roll along on the smooth surface, still some traffic but not obtrusive.

Rolling down a long dip, up the other side at a good speed until it bled away and I was rolling at my usual speed. I came to Wettenhall Marina. I doubted that the shop was open but there would at least be somewhere to sit and take a break. It was quiet and peaceful. I sat at one of the benches for a time, had some water then got under way again.

Over the canal bridge, under the railway bridge then soon on the long straight to the village of Wettenhall. Through the village, down a dip and up the other side, a head wind for a while then as the lane turned it was more favourable. Through the lights at Darnhall bridge then a lazy trundle towards home. A bunch of motorcyclists came the other way, one of whom gave a thumbs up. I smiled back. Before long I was at my back gate.

I can now truthfully say that the Linear will climb anything I point it at.

The max speed down the long hill to Church Minshull was 32.1 mph. Down Black Bank 32.7 mph, a difference of 0.6 mph. Was it worth travelling the extra 44 miles for? Perhaps as a sideshow to the main event, which was ascending Alsagers Bank on two wheels throughout.

Distance 50.22 miles. Max speed 32.7 mph. Average speed 7.5 mph. According to Garmin.
Ascent 1592 ft. According to Bikehike.

I note you have a gear hub, I think they are an essential feature for recumbent riding , the benefit of being able to change to low ratio at a complete standstill when stopped unexpectedly is huge, on the trike, it's of great advantage that even in really steep hills , you can pull away everytime if you stall or come to a stop, 1 in 4 , push of on the front wheels then pedal if in the appropriate gear, then away.
This evening I had my first in traffic ride of PG 'tips' on a fairly flat route to the local pub, a little wobbly, but managed it rubber side down, I do wonder if in will climb as easily as I do with the trike, but that will come I guess with confidence, which isn't there quite yet, stopping in a controlled manner is another matter all together, perhaps more important than starting , but tonight's mini pub adventure is a start.
I do wonder if I will keep PG 'tips' , but I won't know untill I've done a longer ride.
One thing I must remember, is to 'Smile' as I ride rather than grimace , I do have the recumbent grin when triking but that's easy.
At the least my cycling friends think the PG is a great find, and are envious of my good fortune, and the laid back factor is much in evidence amongst the ordinary public, and motorist also see me as more visible than if I was on a 'upwrong'
Onwards 'Forza' as the Italians would say .....