Recumbent Rides

[a.twiddler]

Some Tiny Recumbent Rides
You might all now be eagerly looking forward to reading about some escapades on a tiny recumbent. Well, the Spirit is tiny compared to the Rans Stratus XP (but what isn't?) and possibly it's a bit shorter than your average SWB but it's not actually tiny despite being in some interpretations a "Compact LWB recumbent". Nope. It's about tiny rides.

6/5/26
Small Shopping on the Spirit
A trip to the shops for a few items, the quick way down the long hill to the town centre supermarket then back via a longer route. A pleasant ride.

For those that like it snappy!

Distance 4.95 miles. Max speed 21.1 mph. Average 7.1 mph. According to Garmin.
Ascent 143 ft. According to Bikehike.

20/5/26
Small but heavy shop on the Spirit.
A couple of days ago I’d removed, rubbed down and repainted the sidestand, a job that I’d been putting off for some time. In contrast to the quality of the finish of the rest of the bike, the side stand had developed a lot of powdery white aluminium corrosion which was causing the black paint to lift and flake off. This isn’t some Far Eastern item as far as I can tell. It has Esge and Plescher embossed on it. Anyway, after giving it 24 hours to harden up I refitted it and this was the test ride. I wanted to see if there was any vibration or strange noises, or contact with anything as the suspension moved.

The quick way again, right at the lights on Swanlow Lane. A random youth on a bright red MTB coming uphill on the opposite pavement said, “That ride is sick as f---!” in a laughing voice. I lifted a hand, and down the long hill to the town centre supermarket I went. After loading up, with a bit of ingenuity to cram everything into the seat back bag, I got going. After getting up the hill on the path alongside the A54 dual carriageway I took a zig zag route through various estate roads. I passed a woman at one point, and a voice from behind said, “Just want to say, that bike is so cool!” Perhaps it is. A morale boost today, making the rider feel a bit less old and boring, anyway.

I got my load of shopping home without drama, and unloaded.

The sidestand didn’t vibrate loose or fall off, and didn’t make any untoward contact with anything so presumably, that was a success.

Distance 3.11 miles. Max Speed 23.3 mph. Average 7.8 mph. According to Garmin.
Ascent 126 ft.According to Bikehike.

21/5/26
Library and Haircut Ride, Return via prickly path on the Spirit.

I needed to return a library book so as it hadn’t rained for a while today I decided to go on the Spirit. The quick route again today, right at the lights on Swanlow Lane then straight downhill towards the town centre lights. I sailed through a mini roundabout and the intermediate traffic lights remained obligingly green so I barely had to push a pedal from turning left downhill to the point where I had to turn right just before the town centre lights. Then, on to a cycle path which took me to the library. Locked up to a lamp post, into the library, dropped off my book then after a mooch round set off back the way I came.

Feeling somewhat hairy round the ears I wondered if I could book a haircut for later on the way home.

I went up the long hill much more slowly than I came down. I turned right near the top to get on a short cut to Swanlow Lane. Left then, and left again once I reached The Townfields Road lights.

Soon afterwards I bumped up the pavement to the hairdressers. Conveniently, they could squeeze me in straight away so I soon came out less hairy than I went in.

I took a long way round to get home including a path which was unexpectedly festooned with prickly and stinging plants.

I was glad that I hadn’t given in to the temptation to wear shorts today. The path ended in front of a house where two cars were parked leaving just enough space to squeeze through then the path continued as a similarly prickly test of fortitude.

Finally, out on to a road, left to reach Swanlow Lane then across to a barriered lane and out on to an estate road. Following it round, left on to a path leading to another road, right then left at a T junction to swoop about a bit before reaching my back gate.

Distance 3.69 miles. Max Speed 21.4 mph. Average7.5 mph. According to Garmin.
Ascent 122 ft. According to Bikehike.

I have the same feeling as of this time last year - most of the way through May and no decently long rides yet. Last year it was painting fences, this year mostly the weather.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

They all love sick recumbents. Always brings a smile.

 

[a.twiddler]

25/5/26
Recumbent Ride
A Day of Sweat and Suffering.

I’ve been champing at the bit to get some longer rides in for some time. It’ll soon be the end of May, people will be talking about Midsummer rides soon (only next month). Since I read the post about riding your age in miles I realised that I’ve inadvertently been doing it for the previous few years, so I’ve been hoping to get that done at least.

As for Sir Arthur Eddington, I’d like to show willing to increase my lifetime number by a few digits, given the chance

Weather and gardening are the main deterrents. Today, I managed to set off by 10:00, later than I’d intended. It was already warming up but I’d chucked on a long sleeved white shirt in the hope of keeping the sun off. With a floppy sun hat and clip on shades I hoped that I was prepared for the worst. The object of the exercise was going to be temperature management. I definitely don’t do heat, and my performance declines rapidly if I overheat.

Left out of the gate, on to the road, into high gear and gently pedalling downhill. Riding steadily to try to keep the temperature down, approaching Darnhall bridge traffic lights which stayed red until I was virtually at a standstill causing me to have to blast up the other side with the inevitable rise in temperature. As I neared the top of the climb a hot dry wind simultaneously held me back and failed to cool me down.

Fortunately as the lane wound about there were patches of shade in places. So I carried steadily on, down another dip needing another blast up the other side, along a straight undulating stretch through Wettenhall then a terrible stretch of road full of potholes. Still straight with only the occasional tree to give shade, I was grateful to reach the railway bridge then the bridge over the canal before turning in to Wettenhall Marina.

It was quite crowded. After a sit down in the shade and an ice cream I’d cooled off enough to set off again. The next stretch was more shady and a bit more sheltered.

I managed to stay cool until I reached Poole bridge and had a breezy downhill but heated up getting up the other side. Fortunately after reaching the top it was smooth and shady so I was able to take it easy and cool off a bit. Soon I reached the Chester -Wrexham road and turned left for Nantwich.

I flowed through the town with the traffic

and got on to the A530 Whitchurch Road. I turned in to Coole Lane for a photo with the sign. Wishful thinking that it might be actually cooler, but enough adolescents have called out “cool bike!” as I went past to make it worthwhile.

Amongst the crowd of signs the one missing was Coole Pilate to which Coole Lane leads. Don't know why Hack Green Not so Secret Bunker needs TWO signs.

Then it was left up the slope to Baddington Bridge with its traffic lights. I only had a couple of miles before my turn off. I hoped that the lights would give me some traffic free spells in between bursts of vehicles. I stopped at the lights on red and saw traffic accumulating in my mirror. I waved them on at green then followed them over the top and down the other side.

I felt pressurized to push on a bit with the impending traffic behind. A fairly narrow road with high hedgerows but little shade. I stopped in an entrance to let some traffic past and cool off in some rare shade. Further on, not far from my turn off I pulled in again to let a truck and its attendant stream of smaller vehicles go by. There was an uncomfortable amount of traffic about. There was no shade at this point and I felt the sun striking through the long sleeves of my shirt. I felt my temperature rising as if I was being cooked.

I got going again and gratefully turned left in to a shady Heatley Lane. Appropriate name in view of the rising temperature! It was only a short stretch but it took me away from the baking main road, with the intention of using a cut off back to it a bit further on, to a crossing for the road to Sound, then Wrenbury. I passed the entrance to Mickley Hall Lane and was impressed how straight it ran into the distance so turned in to it as the first few yards were shady. I ventured further into the sun, took a photo then retreated into the shade.

It goes on much further in a straight line beyond that rise in the distance.
I took a photo of a farm entrance which had a pair of pinnacles on top of the gateposts which looked like they came from a church.

Back to Heatley Lane, then took the cut through to cross the A530 into a lane to Sound. It was wooded here, and shady. I stopped at an entrance with a sign for Suddenstrike and sat on a shaded rock for a drink. I’d hoped to do 50 or 60 miles today but the way the temperature was rising I decided to just go to Wrenbury and see how I felt.

I continued through Wrenbury Heath and was soon in Wrenbury.

I spotted a shady bench opposite Wrenbury Primary School and took another cooling break. Then I pressed on to the place where the road meets the Llangollen Canal at a bascule bridge. I turned on to the towpath and sat on another shady bench. I could see that the road straight on from the bridge to the A49 and Cholmondeley Castle had road closed signs, starting today, though the road that branched left after the bridge was clear.

If not for the heat, I would have seen the road closed signs as a challenge, with the bonus of a traffic free ride. I didn’t take it up today, but since the closure is for a couple of weeks I hope to come back another day when it’s cooler. Meanwhile I took some photos and set off back the way I’d come.

After a short time a SUV full of girls pulled alongside and one of them called, “Hey! Wanna race!” to an accompaniment of giggles. “No”, I replied, “But I’d appreciate some air conditioning!”

“Have a nice ride!” Was the response, as they zoomed off.

The wind that I’d been riding into must have been stronger than I’d realised as together with the downward trend in the direction towards Nantwich it made for easy going. The drawback was that there was no cooling effect running downwind and the shady patches were all the more precious. The sky had been a relentless blue all day.

There were a couple of dips in the vicinity of Ravensmoor and I gave it some of my diminishing stock of beans in order to get up the other side. My temperature rose sharply but I was soon at the steep canal bridge where the road comes into Nantwich and I was able to freewheel for a shady half a mile or so on the other side as compensation.

Left into Welsh Row, right at some lights then left into Welshman’s Lane. Intensely hot between the shady spots under trees. I stopped in a well shaded field entrance for an unpleasantly warm glug of water before pressing on to the Chester-Wrexham road.

Traffic was non stop so I went for the signposted cycle crossing rather than brave the charge across two lanes into Wettenhall Road. An obliging motorist towing a trailer waved me across so I followed the pavement cycle lane round into Wettenhall Road. Making the most of the following breeze on the subsequent smooth surface, down the dip at Poole Bridge to stop most of the way up the other side in a shady spot for another tepid glug of water.

A gentle climb followed, just about balanced out by the tailwind. A motorcyclist came the other way with his helmet on his arm, riding a vintage Honda CD185 or CD200. Obviously too hot for him, too!

I turned in to Wettenhall Marina for another break, this time a full fat Coke out of the chiller. I sat at a picnic table under a parasol. I noticed that the sunlight was throwing intense shadows on the old worn steps of the lock on the other side of the road bridge so took a few shots to try to capture them.

Since the staff were beginning to put away the signs and parasols I gathered myself together for the last few miles to home.

Once over the canal bridge and under the railway bridge it was fairly plain sailing with the wind assistance. The potholes seemed even worse on the way back. I wondered if the heat had made some difference to the air pressure in the 40mm tyres giving a harder ride. I wasn’t about to mess with the Presta valves now that I was nearly home.

A tall rider hurtled past. He had time to say, “That looks like a comfortable ride” and I had time to say, “It is” just before I crashed through another pothole. The intense sunlight made it hard to see the blighters under the trees with shades on, and it was uncomfortable to ride without them.

I recently thought I’d found a solution in the form of flip up sunspecs which clip on to your glasses. I didn’t think they were still available. Very 1970s. Cheap and cheerful, though those craters can still catch you out.

A little further on, I saw a cyclist in the distance. Initially thinking it was the tall rider who’d passed me setting off again after a break, I realised it was someone else. As I slowly caught up, I thought it might be someone who’d been even more wrung out by the heat than me. This gave me something to think about as I got closer to him just before Darnhall bridge. I actually got past near the top of the climb on the other side, realising that it was quite a young club rider in all the gear. Oh well.

I expected him to come past on the slight downhill on the other side but he turned right at the next junction.

I'd seen quite a few cyclists out and about today, less this afternoon. but this was the only one I'd actually overtaken.

Arriving at my back gate I felt like a radiator and I spent some time spread out on the living room settee under the ceiling fan before I felt up to getting my stuff in. I definitely don’t do heat. Although I've just realised that it's a metric half century, which is some consolation.

Distance 32.93. Max speed 26.9 mph. Average Speed 8.1 mph. According to Cateye Velo 7
Ascent 569 ft. According to Bikehike

 

[a.twiddler]

31/5/26
Recumbent Ride
Rans Pootle and unexpected speed on the Test Hill of Doom.

Cloudy, breezy, not so hot today. I was feeling a bit down at having got to the last day in May without getting anywhere near my targets for this year’s cycling yet. So, I already had enough supplies on the bike to keep me going if I decided to go further today but my main intention was to go for a pootle and take it from there.

Left or right out of the gate? Left gave me more options without having to go into town. Off I went, downhill into a noticeable headwind. A helping hand on the way back, I hoped.

I turned into Hall Lane and shortly afterwards a group of bepanniered touring cyclists came the other way. They tinkled their bells merrily at me, I tinkled back.

As I approached Darnhall bridge, I hoped for a car to overtake to trigger the lights. Not today, but I was far enough up the hill when they changed to green to give time for a bit of a run up. It seemed easy, until I ran into the headwind that the dip had been sheltering me from. It was a pleasant breeze, not too hot or cold, so I counted my blessings and carried on.

I came to the turning for Hickhurst Lane and plodded on into the wind in the direction of Eaton. It seemed a bit of an uphill grind today. The sky got greyer and I wondered if the rain would hold off. I mentally tossed a coin and made a spur of the moment decision to turn right into Dogmore Lane.

The going got easier as the slope eased and the wind was behind me. Through Rushton Spencer, along the old wall of Oulton Park,

which has had some patching recently. Brownhills Road loomed on the left. I turned into it and soon heard loud voices. A bunch of cyclists came the other way.

I came to the high hedgebanked junction with Beech Lane and turned carefully right. A steep downhill followed, allowing me to pedal furiously to get up the other side. There were some gnarly potholes at the bottom, though the lack of traffic allowed me to swerve about and miss most of them. Easing over the summit and gaining speed again through the woods past the modern entrance to Oulton Park motor racing circuit,

then left opposite the old gateway, into Coach Road before a right turn into the crowded woodland car park of Little Budworth Country Park.

A brief expedition to inspect the plumbing then out on to Coach road again to the right.
It was quite busy here with traffic on the road and horse riders in the woods.

I came to a crossroads. Coach Road straight on, Beech Road as a muddy and puddled bridleway to the left, Beech Road as a metalled road to the right. Beech Road to the right it was, and I got going again.

More dog walkers, a bit of up and down then just before I turned left into White Hall Lane, “Santa’s Xmas Tree Land”! Whaat? Just to remind me of my gloomy thoughts about time passing quickly at the beginning of this ride. Presumably, the signs are up all year. I carried on up White Hall Lane.

I came to where it crosses the A54 with its hurtling traffic then continues as Pit Lane on the other side. Safely across, I followed it to where it meets Longstone Lane. Left then straight on for an unexpectedly long way until just past the junction with Shays Lane on the right there was the Long Stone on the left. I stopped for a photo.

The remains of a headless cross, one of several on the former pilgrims’ route to Vale Royal Abbey.

Then, on to Shays Lane for a mostly downhill route to where it joins Clay Lane, then mostly uphill again.

I stopped to look at what I originally thought was a pheasant but which turned out to be several guinea fowl which were pottering around in the road before crossing it and disappearing through a hedge. Pretty birds but incredibly noisy.

Just after I got going a bunch of cyclists passed me going uphill, and a few minutes later another bunch passed me in the other direction.



As I came to the summit I debated whether to go back via the Whitegate Way and check on the status of the Whitegate Road Bridge, or go on via Cinder Hill and Whitegate village.

I went straight on over the bridge and down the other side but before I’d gone very far I realised I had a headwind which meant that any attempt at getting a new highest speed down Cinder Hill (aka the Test Hill of Doom) wouldn’t have a promising start. I turned round and went back over the bridge into the old station car park. There were many bikes at the car park, most with mudguards as I passed through en route to the loo. Might as well make the most of the conveniences since I was there. I went to the car park exit and saw that there was a footbridge closed sign. Bridgeworks extended until June, it said.

Ah well then, Cinder Hill it would have to be so I set off with no more ado. I followed the rail trail to the platform, stopped to remove a leafy twig from my back wheel and emerged a bit theatrically from behind a parked car to see a row of cyclists getting ready for the off. “I like that bike!” said one of them, giving a thumbs up and clicking his tongue. “Thank you,” I replied as I rolled by.

Up the exit ramp, over the bridge and riding a bit more purposefully towards the junction with Dalefords Lane. Straight across. I had my clip on chinstrap attached to my cap today so no fear of it blowing off. I kept rolling to where the downhill begins.

I could see a car coming up in the distance behind but just kept going. I’d got a good speed up at the narrowest part of the hill but still he kept on coming, a big black SUV, and then he squeezed past.

As expected, a bit further on he braked for oncoming traffic but he was far enough ahead for me not to have to brake too. I was still pedalling at this point. Although not a school day I eased off where there were 20mph signs a bit further on and turned right into Vale Royal Drive then Sutton Field before turning right into the downhill Mill Lane and left into Grange Lane.

After passing some cottages, instead of plunging into woodland immediately, I came across this

another scene of improvements. I wondered if this access would be barriered off too. Fortunately, it was clear and though the rather narrow path through the wood was becoming overgrown, at present it was passable and was an easy, pleasant ride. I stopped to check my bike computer, usually set for mph. I was surprised to see the highest max speed of any of my bikes to date. Particularly since I hadn't been feeling on top form today.

I didn’t meet anyone else on the way. I was soon where Grange Lane opens out into a farm access cum bridleway and it was an easy, if uphill and bumpy, ride to where it becomes a tarmac road again.

Past the access to the rail trail, down a dip and up the other side, through the sports complex car park, through the barrier, up a steep lane and out on to an estate road. Left on Delamere St, then with the following wind some easy rolling to the A54 roundabout.

Quickly across, then rolling down Swanlow Lane to wait at Townfields Road lights before accelerating down a dip to get momentum for my uphill turn off. Then a cooling meander to my back gate via the lanes.

Today, one of those rides that didn’t start out with great promise but turned out very enjoyable nevertheless.

Distance 17.81 miles. Max speed 37.5 mph. Average 8.2 mph. According to Cateye Velo 7.
Ascent 485 ft. According to Bikehike.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Found some fields full of poppies today after spotting them on an opposite hill.

 

[ABean22]

Well not from me as I haven't been out on my trike this year, and don't tell anyone

Where did you get yours from? I've been looking but they are all wayyyy too expensive

 

[a.twiddler]

14/6/26
Recumbent Ride
Trip to Audlem on the Rans

Hoping to get out this morning to finally do a decent length ride but some gardening jobs delayed the start until this afternoon. I set off hoping for the best. The plan was to go to Audlem via Nantwich mostly in the lanes, then to cut across to Sound and Wrenbury, and if there was time, to get as far as Harthill before turning for home.

Left out of the gate into a light though fitful wind. Not feeling at my best, mainly through not having done enough miles this year for various reasons.

A first at the lights at Darnhall bridge as the lights were green. I charged downhill and the lights went red as I passed them. I got most of the way up the other side before having to go down through the gears. Steady progress towards Wettenhall until I managed to unship the chain by changing my mind while changing gear on the FD and changing up again before a downchange had completed. Soon sorted and under way again.

Several cyclists came the other way but nobody overtook me. Tractors were roaring about presumably getting the hay in. I carried on under the Crewe-Chester railway line, over the Shropshire Union canal and on through Cholmondeston. Before long I was pedalling hard down the dip to Poole Bridge. After getting up the other side it was smooth running to the Chester-Wrexham road. Left towards Nantwich, some easy speed on the slight downhill, and little traffic until a large truck appeared in my mirror. He kept well back until I came to the roundabout outside Nantwich when I turned off to the town centre and he headed for the bypass.

Not much traffic, I got through the various traffic lights and mini roundabouts and was soon bumping over the level crossing by the station on the road to Audlem. Passing through the outskirts of Nantwich I came to a slight downhill but was unable to get the chain on to the big chainring despite several attempts. Strange, as it had worked OK a few miles back. I wondered if it was somehow related to unshipping the chain earlier on near Wettenhall. I experimentally changed up and down on the other two rings and they were fine. I carried on, intending to look at the adjustment when I stopped for a break.

I was soon on the downhill to Hatherton, getting up speed for the climb up the other side. Levelling out, I turned off onto a lane called Park Road. Straight across at a crossroads into Hunsterson Lane which was pleasantly shady for a few miles before turning right at a T junction into Bridgmere Lane. After meandering for a few traffic free miles and being overtaken by a speedy cyclist on a mission I came to the junction at an acute angle to turn left for Audlem. A few climbs and dips later and after passing through Hankelow I rolled into Audlem. A little further on I turned right into a car park. There was a public convenience there which had a plaque under which I wanted to photograph the Rans. I’d last been here on my first 40+ mile ride on the Linear.

Since I was there, I went to inspect the plumbing. I went in, closed the door and was plunged into darkness. No obvious light switches, obviously the automatic lighting wasn’t working. Options. Go back outside and find something to wedge the door open to let some light in. Go back outside and get a spare bike light from my bag. Open the door, memorise the position of the urinal, and end up peeing on my foot in the dark. Get my phone out, find the flashlight app, and use that.

I chose the last option. Heaved my phone out, fumbled around to turn it on, selected the flashlight app. Instant light. Then, “Accept all cookies” for targeted advertising, “select from options” and confirm choices. Whaat? Was I turning into Victor Meldrew? It’s a bleeding torch! Since I had light, I fulfilled my original purpose then found that I couldn’t turn the light off without selecting one of the options. Well, fudpuckers to that. I shut down the phone then restarted it. Fortunately, the light went off.

Back out in the world which still seemed to make some sort of sense again, I set off to the town centre. I turned right on to the Whitchurch Road and just before a canal bridge turned right. There used to be some touristy shops alongside the canal where I hoped to be able to get an ice cream.

Although there were a couple of pubs, the place that I had in mind was closed and had a “To Let” sign on it. Maybe not surprising as I recalled that the last time I had an ice cream here was in about 2019 when I’d ridden a hardtail mountain bike along the towpath from Nantwich to Audlem. Nicely surfaced near the built up areas but bumpy and rutted in between. Blooming hard work even on an aluminium hardtail.

There was a crowd of young chaps outside the furthest pub -world cup mania, of course, and I recalled that Scotland had just beaten Haiti so I turned back and stopped with a view of the canal bridge and the bottom gate of the Audlem staircase locks near the first pub.

While I took a photo I remember Alicia Keys belting out “This Girl is on Fire” (boom bada boom bada boom) on the pub stereo. I listened to the end of the song then went back to the road and turned right over the bridge.

There is a steep downhill a bit further on with a lesser climb on the other side so I was looking forward to giving it the beans and flying up the other side before getting to my turn off on to Coole Lane. Speed was increasing satisfactorily without any effort on my part and I’d just started pedalling when I came round a bend to find a red road works traffic light and a waiting vehicle.

I kept going to the last second hoping that the light would change then accepted the inevitable and came to a halt. I sat fuming, mentally releasing a few flying fudpuckers while I waited.

Finally the light changed and I ground up the short hill. Another half mile or so and I turned right into Coole Lane. I’d taken a photo at the Nantwich end of this lane on my last, exceedingly hot ride so it seemed only right to to take a picture here as well.

Off I went. Somewhere along here I needed to turn left on to Back Coole Lane to get to Aston to cross the A525. I came across a turning which was festooned with warnings about road works, poor surface etc but no road name. A cycleway sign pointed to Coole Lane so I carried on. There were no turnings for a few miles so I began to suspect that I should have turned there. My galloping press-on-itis wouldn’t let me turn back. I came to Hollins Lane but there were no signs. There was an impressive gate opposite so I parked the bike in front of it and took a photo. Then I pressed on.

A few miles further on I came to French Lane End and a sign for the Secret Bunker. If I’d checked the map I would have seen that French Lane joins Mickley Hall Lane and leads to Aston. However, time was getting on, and I was beginning to think that Nantwich and home was the best option so I continued along Coole Lane. I passed Over Water Marina and crossed a canal bridge. All this time tractors and trailers were passing to and fro. Coming up behind, the empty trailers would clank and boom over the bumps. Passing in the other direction, the load of hay would damp out any noises. Meanwhile, the drivers would sit like lords of creation in their high cabs looking down on the little people below.

I was looking forward to a break but hadn’t come acoss any suitable spots. I’d passed through Austerson which was the only significant development and that was just a few houses.

Suddenly I was at a T junction outside Nantwich with Baddington bridge on the left and Shrewbridge Road to the right.

I set off right and shortly afterwards was passed by a clutch of cars which had been held back by the lights on Baddington Bridge. Then there was a car free spell. By this time I was alongside Nantwich Lake. I turned into the car park and rolled up to a bench. Here I sat down and took a break.

It was quite busy with passers by, dog walkers, etc and I found it a bit oppressive. I had a tentative tweak of the FD cable with no improvement so decided to leave it until I got home. I was feeling quite irritable as I set off, not helped by having left the stand down and having to stop to flip it up.

I turned into where Shrewbridge Road continues as a minor residential road with speed bumps. Part way along were warning signs for a level crossing. I took a photo of the bike in front of them.

I rode over the crossing.
Then I turned left into the Waterlode, and after a few hundred yards turned left on to a path through a park and over a bridge over the Weaver. The path came out on to Welsh Row where I turned left.

At least with my shades on Welsh Row into a low sun looked very picturesque: maybe not so much with the camera. I took some photos anyway.

If you like loads of bins and parked cars.
Right at the lights before Nantwich aqueduct then left into Welshmans Lane. Despite a slight headwind I was able to freewheel slowly down most of Welshmans Lane to the Chester-Wrexham Road before pedalling across into Wettenhall Road.

A curious combination of super smooth surface, wind direction and barely detectable gradient meant that I had an effort free ride for most of the distance between here and the turn downhill for Poole Bridge, even if only at 7-8 mph. I had to pedal downhill then to get some momentum to get up the other side. I could feel my energy fading by then, but was able to continue well enough at reduced speed.

Easy rolling to the humped canal bridge over the Shropshire union, under the railway line, then a leisurely trundle along the wide open, pothole strewn stretch of road to Wettenhall.

A more tree sheltered stretch from there. While dawdling along I was passed by what looked like a refugee from the 1960s – pressed shorts, short socks, short sleeved buttoned shirt, Carradice style saddlebag. He wasn’t going particularly fast but too fast for me in my current state.

My feet were becoming sore with a burning sensation. I changed my foot position which helped a bit. Down a dip, up the other side, steady trundling. The final stretch through the lanes to pull in outside Darnhall village hall to rest with my feet on the pedals and a hand on the wall.

Once my feet eased I set off for the lights. A slow approach, the lights went green and I rushed the dip. Then the steady spin up the other side with the horizon receding at first then getting closer. Over the top then a gentle freewheel down the other side. Then steady pedalling until I eventually reached my back gate.

I really must get out more and do more miles!

Later, I experimented with the cable tension and high gear stop screw on the front derailleur. After winding the stop screw out by 1 ½ turns and adjusting the cable adjuster it seems to change reliably now. The acid test will be to take it out on the road.

Distance 38.94 miles. Max speed 29 mph. Average speed 8 mph. According to Cateye Velo 7.
Ascent 726 ft. According to Bikehike.