Recumbent Rides

[a.twiddler]

19/7/26
Recumbent Ride Part 1
Wirral Circular Trail on the Rans.

Home to New Brighton

I’d had this trip in mind for some time. The Wirral Circular trail is shorter than the return journey to the start point from home, but in terms of time the use of the Wirral Way rail trail and various cycle paths makes it potentially slow in places. Not to mention the potential for getting off the route.

I’d been looking on Streetview to try to get some certainty to the route finding but I still had doubts about the urban section on the Eastern side. No point putting it off, I just had to get on and do it. I’d done the Neston to Leasowe section and return last year on the Linear, and other parts of the route more recently (and still managed to get lost). I’d have preferred to do it on a weekday to avoid the crowds but other commitments determined otherwise.

I got up at 05:30 with a view to getting going at 06:00. All the gear was on the bike or nearby. I didn’t feel brilliant but hoped I’d feel better once I got going.

Home to Tiverton
As it turned out I got going at 06:20 into a slight headwind. It was cool and cloudy but going to warm up later. I didn’t mind starting off feeling a bit cold as I would soon warm up. I wore a T shirt and a gilet which I knew I could put over the seat back later. After getting eaten alive by horseflies at Burton Marsh last time I took this route in shorts, I wore long trousers today.

I soon found that I couldn’t get any speed up. I estimated about 3 hours to Neston at my usual leisurely pace which I could normally keep up all day. I can usually do the 30 miles or so to Net’s Cafe between Burton Marsh and Neston non stop. To start with, I found it hard going which didn’t promise well for the rest of the day. I put it down to lack of sleep. Normally about an hour to Tiverton, after a climb on the second half of Hickhurst Lane to Eaton, then a series of climbs and descents to Four Lane Ends. I reached the layby before my turn to Tiverton in an hour and a quarter. Here I took a short break and walked about. Then, down a hill and a right turn to Tiverton. There hadn’t been much traffic about so far.

Tiverton to Waverton
After a short climb It was mostly flat or slightly downhill from here to Huxley so I hoped to make up a bit of time without too much effort. This went fairly well and I turned left downhill in Huxley to turn right on to Long Lane. This was also part of NCN 45 and I began to see groups of cyclists.

Progress was slow again before reaching Waverton. I dived into a convenient field for a pee break before continuing. Once in Waverton the dilemma was this: to go straight on over Eggbridge Lane and get directly on to the Whitchurch Road or turn right and take the longer route via Eggbridge Lane, left on Brownheath Road, left on to Plough Lane, actoss to Quarry Lane, Faulkner’s Lane and left on to Pepper St to join the same road nearer Chester. I could hear traffic on the Whitchurch road from across the fields to the left so decided to take the longer route in the interests of a more peaceful ride.

Waverton to Hawarden Bridge
Eventually I came over the canal bridge on Pepper St and turned right on to the pavement cycle path to the big roundabout before Chester. Using the cyclist/pedestrian crossing then on the pavement path alongside Boughton Road into Chester. Back on the road where it ended, though traffic here was still quiet.

A change of plan at Hoole Lane lights as the turn was barriered off with Road Closed signs and temporary traffic lights. A plan B surfaced. The headwind had been steady but not too strong. Instead of finding another way on to the Chester Greenway, I would take the waterfront route and the Wales Coast Path to Hawarden Bridge.

So I carried on to turn left down Dee Lane, then follow The Groves along the river, then after the Old Dee Bridge

take the cyclepath which skirts the Roodee car park, under the Grosvenor bridge then the curved path which runs alongside the racecourse. A branch of the cyclepath goes through a railway arch then follows the river. I’ve not used this path before but it was very pleasant. It runs between some spick and span new developments and the river before coming out on to a pavement path by the canal access to the Dee. Although when I’ve passed here recently it’s been clear, the canal was full of tall reeds again. The lock gates are still missing. I wonder if they’re going to be replaced?

After a short spell on the pavement the path goes left into a park and comes out on the other side where some path repairs are going on. There are some pedestrian lights here.

I sailed on towards Wales. It’s a novelty going this way as with the prevailing wind it’s more sheltered on the Chester Greenway, and the wind helps you in the opposite direction as it’s wide open, on top of a flood barrier. Despite the headwind I felt I was doing better here. There were crowds of cyclists and early Sunday runners in both directions. There were some markers for the Wales Coast Path.

Also someone had sprayed “Free Letby” on the path like a road sign in white.

The first of three bridges got closer, a concrete footbridge. Through some barriers, sharp right on to a lane, then after passing the bridge entrance, sharp left again uphill on to the coast path. There was a stencilled graffiti saying “Free Letby” but it’s been painted over. More grafitti whose meaning escapes me. Local drug gangs perhaps?

Back on the Wales Coast Path the next bridge seemed far away but inexorably loomed near. The path dipped under it then came up again. The nearby next bridge brought you level with a road with a cycle/pedestrian crossing and a zig zag past a corner house to get back on the path.

Hawarden Bridge To Neston
It didn’t take long to get to Hawarden Bridge, up a short slope to bridge level then right and downhill to a path which led to a turn off for Neston. A wooded ride with some dips then out on to a fenced road leading to an industrial estate. There were cycle paths alongside each road, well surfaced, too. The path came alongside a dual carriageway before crossing underneath it, through some barriers, left out on to a lane, right under another bridge along a lane before a sharp right turn through some more barriers to climb steeply up to the path which goes through Burton Marsh reserve.

Feeling in need of a break now, I pushed on along the boardwalks, crossed some cattle grids and finally came to the pair of gates which leads out on to Denhall Lane. An older couple on bikes were just coming through and held the gates open for me. “I’m only doing this”, the man said, “because I like that you’re riding a bike with a Reynolds frame!” “Thanks”, I said, thinking, well spotted! Only a hundred yards or so before I could gratefully turn right upslope into Net’s Cafe. Only about a mile or so to my access to the Wirral Way in Neston from here.

It had taken nearly four hours to reach this spot. Plus the time taken for a break, I could feel the buffer which I’d hoped my early start would bring disappearing like a morning mist.

After a cheese and ham panini and a full fat Coke, a peer at the map and a visit to the conveniences, I hit the road intending to make the most of things. At least I felt better than I did earlier.

Denhall Lane to Old Quay, right uphill on Marshlands Road, Bull Hill, left into Town Lane then Mellock Lane before coming to a halt where Station Road meets it on the left. To the right, a nondescript gate which someone was holding open to let two horse riders out. This was the entrance to the Wirral Way.

Neston to Hooton via Wirral Way.
How could I have not found this on the two previous occasions that I’d tried? Having found it on Streetview since made it a bit easier. A housing estate had been built on the site of Neston South station, and the actual trail has a gap of about a mile downhill before it restarts under the viaduct carrying the current railway.

Once the horses had gone I got through the gate and found myself almost immediately in Windle Hill cutting. It is impressive, having been cut out of the rock, reinforced with brick in some places.

Sloping downhill for perhaps a couple of miles, I wasn’t able to get up much speed due to the walkers everywhere. I hoped that they might thin out further away from town. At the end of the cutting a steep slope led uphill to a more level surface.

Soon near Willaston, having to get through a gate due to restricted access then under the Chester High Road, another gate then out on to the trail. Still crowds of people, across a road at a level crossing complete with gates to the restored station at Hadlow Road, complete with track. It was absolutely heaving with people.

I took some photos then rode on. Still plenty of people with dogs, bikes, kids and what have you. The surface was quite loose with fine grit compared with other rail trails I have known. A side effect was that at least I could be heard crunching along as I came up behind them, supplemented with the occasional ding. Not so many roadies about. Perhaps the surface put them off. Certainly the Rans coped quite well with it.

The trail began to curve to the left, hopefully signifying the approach to Hooton. I heard a train rumbling by, and the trail came on to a platform with railings on the right to separate the platform edge from the former trackbed at a lower level. I’d arrived at Hooton Station. I got up the steep ramp to the road by the bridge. It had a most LWB recumbent-unfriendly hairpin halfway up so I ended up pushing the last bit.

I stopped at the top to look at my map and get orientated. A group of older male riders came along on my side of the road. They commented on the bike and asked where I was heading. When I said New Brighton via the Wirral Circular trail they were most helpful with directions to Eastham Ferry and said they’d just come from there.

We parted ways. They went down the ramp, and I crossed the road and headed for Hooton.

Hooton to Eastham Ferry
I came to a major road and waited at some traffic lights, crossed over on green and found myself on a 20mph road. This soon came to a T junction where I turned left and after a few miles came to another T junction on a road with motorway traffic roaring along on the other side of a barrier. According to the map the road crossed over the motorway a few miles leftwards so I turned left and followed it. I passed some tall brick arched barns which I’d seen from the M53 whenever I’d passed over the years so had a good idea where I was. Once over the motorway I came to the rather pretty village of Eastham and took a signposted right turn by the Hooton Arms which eventually brought me to Eastham Ferry. It was packed with cars, many motorcycles and crowds of people wandering about. I found an information board and saw that the route I wanted was across a car park to the North side.

Eastham Ferry to Seacombe Ferry Terminal
I crossed the car park and found a trail signposted Port Sunlight. I followed the trail initially along the coast then it turned inland. I continued to follow the Circular Trail signs through some anonymous industrial estate roads. I became a bit disorientated but as long as I was able to find the signs, felt OK.

I followed a sign on to Dock Road South and a small way down the road noted a sign readable from a side road on the left pointing back to Eastham Ferry. I continued in the direction I was going and eventually came to a small roundabout. There was a shared path sign in each of several directions. I tried them all as there was no obvious Circular Trail sign. They all led to closed gates (it was a Sunday). I thought I might have missed some narrow trail entrance on one of the short roads and went back to double check.

Having convinced myself that I hadn’t missed anything I went back the way I came. Initially I double checked the signpost by the side road. If it was designed to be viewed by cyclists coming from the side road might there be another sign further down that road?

First, I went back to the main road to see if there was any other information. Nothing. OK then. Back to the turn off from Dock Road South. I rode into a newly built housing estate hoping for some tiny path with a sign to appear. I had absolutely no idea where I was in relation to Seacombe. Having wasted the best part of an hour, I was fuming. My basic Garmin has a compass function. I set it and then headed for a road junction where I took a few turns until I was heading North. I ended up on the road to Lower Bebington which was roughly in the right direction, the B5136. I needed to turn East somewhere further along to get through Birkenhead to the Circular Trail again.

The road had a cyclepath each side with raised humps separating them from the traffic, which was reassuring.

After what I felt was a long enough distance I took a random right turn at some traffic lights and came across a sign to Seacombe on the Circular trail. I’m still not sure of the exact route but I rode a cyclepath on a major road for a while, lost the trail again and just followed the compass across several major roundabouts until I ended up on a road alongside the Birkenhead Mersey Tunnel access road. I passed near the toll booths then crossed the tunnel approach road at a lower level. After zig zagging through the streets of Birkenhead I crossed a corner of Hamilton Square.

I followed Hamilton St. to another large roundabout and followed Shore Road. I turned right down Pacific road hoping I could find a connection at the end to the Circular Trail but didn’t manage to find it. Back up Pacific Road, right on Shore Rd. then right again on Canning St. It became Tower Road which I followed through two roundabouts and a swing bridge. I was about to go round a third roundabout when I spotted a Wirral Circular Trail sign and crossed over to follow it along the waterfront to the Seacombe Ferry viewpoint. I was mighty relieved to have found it as I knew now the trail led along the shore as far as Hoylake so it would be impossible to get off it by accident. I’d also ridden the stretch from Leaseowe previously so I knew what to expect from there on.
I stopped to take some photos of a cruise ship and the Liverpool skyline opposite then carried on to Seacombe.

The ship appears to be the Azamara Quest.

Seacombe to New Brighton.
I followed the trail from the other side of Seacombe Ferry Terminal and found myself on the promenade. It would be a straightforward ride from here to New Brighton, though there was a rather strong headwind to contend with. Having squandered time getting lost and finding my route again still left me feeling a bit pressured. It was about 4pm. Still, having spotted an Ice Cream van at Egremont I just had to stop and have a 99 and a full fat coke while sitting in the shade on a concrete wall. I was relieved that none of the multitudes of passers by wanted to stop and talk about the bike.

I watched what looked like an oil rig support vessel slowly make its way past the forest of container cranes in red and white on the opposite shore.

I got under way again and rolled steadily through Wallasey and found the wind direction changing as the coastline slowly bent round to the West. Suddenly I was in New Brighton, with crowds of parked vehicles, loud music and people thronging the promenade. I’d hoped to ride round the outside of the marine lake but not with this crowd. I settled for leaning the Rans on the railings and taking a photo there. It didn’t look deep, as someone was wading thigh deep near the edge.

Snapped a statue of a mermaid,

then I just had to get on the road for a mile or two to be able to make some progress. I hoped that it wasn’t all going to be like this for the next few miles.

About 63 miles so far. A bit less to get home across the top of the Wirral and down the other side. Via Hoylake, West Kirby, Neston, Chester and to mid Cheshire via a more direct route than the one that got me here.

 

[a.twiddler]

19/7/26
Recumbent Ride Part 2
Wirral Circular Trail on the Rans

New Brighton to Home

New Brighton to West Kirby
The crowd thinned out after a couple of miles so I got back on the promenade. The surface was good and the wind was now from behind so I was able to make better progress.

Somehow I got on to the King Charles III England coast Path but the surface was good and none of the walkers seemed to mind. Other cyclists were using it too. Leaseowe lighthouse loomed in the distance and the path passed by some dunes and became a bit sandy. A couple of unscheduled stops but as long as it wasn’t too deep I was able to keep going well enough, certainly well enough not to feel the need to cast about looking for the cycle trail.
After coming level with Leaseowe lighthouse and taking a photo

the promenade improved and then I was able to get on the road until Meols when it became one way. I got back on the promenade and though it was a bit bumpy in places due to being built of concrete sections progress continued to be good. Unexpectedly quickly I came to Hoylake where I returned to the road and turned left inland. Uphill then across a roundabout to cross a railway crossing by the station

and sharp right on to a shared use path

which came out in West Kirby. Someone had turned the Circular Trail signs round at the exit of this path but I remembered the route from last year and after a short while the Wirral Way entrance sign appeared across a junction.

I went across on a crossing and passed under the entrance arch.

West Kirby to Neston
It was still quite light and I hoped to get to Neston without the need for lights. I estimated an hour or less to Neston but I expected to have to stop for a break somewhere. There was a random picnic bench somewhere before Thurstaston which I remembered from my Linear trip last year. There were still plenty of walkers and cyclists heading for West Kirby as I rode along. I was making reasonable progress with the help of the following wind though I could have wished for a bit more mph to be able to get as far as I could before having to depend on my lights.

I came to the picnic bench and had a drink and a Wagon Wheel before pressing on. I passed down a dip and up a climb where a road bridge had been removed, through a barrier and soon rolling along again.

Arriving at Thurstaston I stopped briefly for a photo

and carried on again. It seemed a long time before I reached Heswall, and a couple of cyclists gleamed distantly in my mirrors. They were gaining, but as I rushed the climb before the diversion on to the road, they disappeared. On the road, climbing a hump, then losing all my speed as I went over the top, they were nowhere to be seen. Turned off? Perhaps they live here? Enjoying a well earned cup of tea by now. Hmm. Down the other side then carefully into the entrance to the trail, past some picnic benches in what used to be the goods yard, then curving right to get on the trail proper again.

From here on, the line undulated though the trend was downhill to Parkgate. At last the downhill ramp to the exit to the road appeared. Just in time for a bunch of cyclists to appear going the other way. Strange how even when there’s nobody about, as soon as you come to a barrier or entrance, someone appears. I suppose there’s an algorithm to explain that.

Right downhill, then left on to the original route of the line. The original line was from Hooton to a terminus at Parkgate. When the line was extended to West Kirby the original station became a goods depot, and the new through station was on a new alignment. This explains the need for a dog leg to follow the current Wirral Way.

Anyhoo. I proceeded along the old line passing various exits, meeting various cyclists and walkers en route. I was spat out at the bottom of Station Road. I climbed the hill to Mellock Lane and took a photo of the start and finish point after a complete circuit of the Wirral Circular Trail.

I sent a message to Mrs T with my ETA. It was 8.00 pm and still light.

Neston to Chester
I set off along Mellock Lane, on to Town Lane, right downhill on Bull Lane, stopped at a roundabout then straight on downhill via Marshlands Lane to Old Wharf, left on to Denhall Lane to the entrance to Burton Marsh. As I was coming to a halt, a young boy on an electric scooter turned up. I waved him on, saying that he would probably be nippier than me but he insisted on holding the gates open. I thanked him and got under way but he dropped behind.

I carried on, and came to a tractor stopped by the second cattle grid. The driver was doing something further along. A cyclist came out over the grid, and the driver shouted to me to wait. He came to the grid, and said he was just collecting a gate. He apologised for holding me up, and unlocked a side gate to let me through. I thanked him, and carried on over a boardwalk and back out on to tarmac. Back into Wales, out through the barriers, left on to a lane, under a bridge, left on to a lane, under another bridge, left on to another lane, right through a barrier, under a dual carriageway then left alongside then following pavement paths through an industrial estate. Another Free Letby sign on a bus shelter before I came out of the estate on to a fenced road through some woodland and down some dips. Right on to a path for Hawarden Bridge. A climb up on to the bridge deck then a left turn downhill on to the Wales Coast Path.

A decent following wind here and my speed increased a bit for little effort. I passed a rum looking crew on the path just standing around talking alongside an electric scooter, what looked like a mini motocrosser and a couple of electric bikes. I kept a wary eye in my mirrors wondering if I was about to get bikejacked though wondered what they would do with a bike like mine even if any of them had any idea how to ride it.

Some shouting and laughing came from behind but it turned out to be two youths and a girl on mountain bikes, possibly electric as they passed me easily before the first bridge. I got across the road on the first one, passed under the next one easily then saw them stopped a bit further along making a lot of noise. They seemed to be having an argument. Still no sign of anyone coming from behind. They ignored me as I went past. The third bridge was visible with the setting sun shining on it but taking ages to get closer. I was feeling OK and pedalling on steadily despite having done over 80 miles by this time.

The trio passed me before I reached the third bridge and I never saw them again. I reached the third bridge and passed the obstacle course of barriers and tight turns before getting going on the Coast Path again. The straight line continued then the gradual curve before Chester appeared .The light was fading by now but it was still bright enough to see.

I passed into England, then came the pedestrian lights and the turn into the park. Out the other side, onto the pavement path, then on to the riverside path between the flats and the river before passing under the railway arches on to the path by Chester racecourse. Part way round I stopped on a bench for a Kit Kat and a drink. Still light but I would soon need to put the lights on once I got on to the road.

I continued under Grosvenor Bridge alongside the Roodee car park, along the riverside, across the road on the Old Dee Bridge and through the Groves alongside the river. Before I climbed Dee Lane I put the lights on to flash.

Chester to Waverton
At the top, right on to a pavement, across the dual carriageway at a cycle/pedestrian crossing then right towards Boughton. I soon came to the barriered off turning for Hoole Lane with its temporary traffic lights, continuing straight on to turn right then left through Boughton at another set of lights. I came up behind another slow moving cyclist and followed him when he turned on to the pavement cycle lane which led to the light controlled cycle/pedestrian crossing at the A41 roundabout.

He turned off before that, but once safely across I kept to the cycle lane on the Whitchurch Road until I came to the narrow left turn over a steep canal bridge on to Pepper St. then after a chicane turned right into Faulkner’s lane then Quarry Lane. Instead of going straight on via Plough lane to Waverton I thought I might save some time by going right on Rowton Bridge Lane then left on the Whitchurch Road again for a short stretch before turning left on to Moor Lane to bypass the centre of Waverton and get straight on to Common Lane and Long Lane after crossing Eggbridge Lane.

The Whitchurch road was still pretty unpleasant with short bursts of overtaking traffic from the lights at the roundabout nearer Chester. It culminated with some clod insisting on squeezing past me despite the not exactly invisible oncoming bus. Well I hope he got to the hospital before his wife gave birth to the octuplets, or saved his house from burning down, or whatever the emergency was with the nanosecond he must have saved by getting past me. Thankfully, I was able to turn into Moor Lane not long afterwards and continue my sedate progress.

Waverton to Tiverton
Crossing Eggbridge Lane gave me a psychological boost as it was almost a straight run to Tiverton via Huxley from here with only a couple of straightforward turns en route. Time was still slipping away faster than I’d have liked but in the absence of a time machine, just gotta suck it up.

The lights were still set to flash mode as it wasn’t too dark yet. The shadow cast by the brace for the front pannier carrier was rather obtrusive though, with the light being fixed to the frame, and the brace swinging about in front causing an exaggerated shadow. Last year when I’d done night time returns on this bike I hadn’t fitted this pannier carrier. The old Linear had a similar set up but with the smaller front wheel the carrier was lower, and the light was higher and moved with the steering so the effect was less noticeable.

I came to the high canal bridge and not long after, to the left turn to Huxley. I put the lights to constant and the shadow effect became very distracting. I considered removing the front carrier before the next trip. The light itself was in a good position. The constantly moving shadow was an annoying distraction, especially at low speed when there was more bar movement.

After climbing to Huxley the rest of the route to Tiverton was a gradual but more constant uphill. Finally came the downhill stretch to the junction with the A49.

Tiverton to Home
I had some water and cheesy nibbles before climbing the roadside path to where the road levelled out. At low speed with the path narrowed by encroaching shrubbery the swinging shadow was very distracting, not helped by the speed at which the shrubbery had grown since I’d last come this way, only about a week ago.

Not much traffic on the A49. I got on the road and rolled up to the traffic lights at Four Lane Ends. Three climbs and dips to go before Eaton.

I got going on green to rush the first climb before grinding up the last bit. Level then gradually getting speed up downhill. Rapidly slowing on a hill, round a right hand bend, then the climb easing before steepening again out of sight on a left hander then downhill to get up speed to rush the next climb. Getting hot but enjoying the cool night air on the downhills. A bit of a drag then finally in Eaton, past a war memorial then right down a steep hill on Hickhurst Lane to get up speed for the climb out of Eaton. Rolling gently over the top then gentle pedalling and freewheeling for the next few miles.

A following wind eased me along for the rest of Hickhurst Lane to turn left on to Winsford Road and Hall Lane. Just the final downhill then steep uphill at the lights on Darnhall bridge then an easy ride for the next few miles to my back gate to arrive at 00:30.

Distance 110.32 miles. Max Speed 28.3 mph. Average 7.6 mph, To be expected when a large part of the mileage is off tarmac. According to Cateye Velo 7.
Ascent 2043 ft. According to Bikehike.

 

[a.twiddler]

2/8/26
Tiny Recumbent Ride
Bridge Works and shopping on the Rans

A couple of days ago I went over the bike to check it over after the trip round the Wirral. A wipe over of the chain and a squirt of GT85, check over the gears and a tighten of the brake cables. The main thing was the tyre pressures. Since I’d been doing a lot of off tarmac recently the tyres had been towards the lower end of the range. The rear Panaracer Pasela (40-65 psi) is designed to run at a lower pressure than the front Marathon Greenguard (55-100 psi) which makes it a bit awkward as the weight distribution is very much towards the rear on this LWB bike. The front tyre is very lightly loaded. I’ve been running it at 40 psi with no ill effects, around 50 at the back.

The obvious solution would be to swop them over but the Pasela is fractionally fatter than the Greenguard even though they are nominally the same size. There is a lot of clearance at the rear but it’s a bit tight at the front. With a view to doing a longer tarmac ride in the next couple of weeks I’ve experimentally boosted them to 50 and 60 psi respectively.

So, out for a few items this afternoon. I thought I’d go and see how the bridgeworks were going at the Whitegate road crossing on the Whitegate Way en route.

Right out of the gate and on to Swanlow Lane. Straight to on the cycle lane to the lights past some motorcyclists queuing with the traffic. Across at green followed by the traffic, rolling surprisingly well, though some broken chipseal gave the bars a buzz. The extra air is having a mixed effect. I got going down Swanlow Lane with unusual alacrity, especially as there was a slight head wind.

Making effortless progress to the A54 roundabout, straight across into Delamere St then Chester Road, right into Whitegate Lane, down a steep dip to get some speed up for the climb up the other side. I’ve not come this way for a while, but the climb up the other side was just as steep as I remembered. Despite slowing to a crawl near the top I felt OK. Those recent extra miles must be doing me some good.

I gained speed over the summit and continued to the crossroads on Dalefords Lane to turn left on to Clay Lane. This took me to the station bridge over the old railway. The lights remained stubbornly at red so I hopped on to the broad pavement and crossed over. Left into the old station car park to head for the rail trail entrance on the other side. There were signs warning of contractors’ vehicles but the Bridge Closed signs had gone.

The surface was dry and hard making for easy rolling on the gradual downhill.
I reached the bridge which was open.

Not only had it been refurbished but some work had been done to open out the trail on either side. I took some photos of the approach then took some on the bridge itself. Earlier this year before the work started:-

Today:-

Some more easy rolling followed,

then down the steep gravelly ramp to Grange Lane to turn right down a dip, Bring-Bringing to warn some dog walkers of my presence then giving it some beans to charge up the other side.

Left at the next T junction, wondering what colour the town centre lights would be. Approaching them eventually at red, I went left on a lowered kerb on to a cycle path. Extravagantly ringing the bell as I eased round the corner of the Verdin Exchange I surprised some pedestrians who were too busy being amazed at the endless length of the Rans to be annoyed. I continued along the cycle path next to the A54 dual carriageway until, spotting a gap in the traffic, I went down a lowered kerb on to the road and boldly sticking my right arm out went across two lanes to the filter lane at the next lights.

After a wait on red, right at the next two roundabouts and across a car park to lock up at a supermarket. Soon out again and loaded up. I noticed that the batteries had expired on my Garmin. After the Wirral Circular trail and a shopping trip perhaps it was a bit much to ask for it to do this one as well. Still, the batteries generally last 25+ hours and being AAs are easy enough to replace.

I remembered my max and average speed so far, just got to work out distance and ascent from Bikehike at the end.

I cycled uphill to the precinct then walked through with the bike. Out the other side, then through the underpass beneath the A54 and up the ramp on the other side. Across Grange lane to climb the pavement up the long hill on the other side of the A54 for a change. After getting most of the way up I crossed over to the other side, uphill to turn left on Swanlow Lane then all the way to the lights on Townfields Road before zooming downhill to get speed up for my uphill turn off.

Those few psi in the tyres certainly made a difference to today’s ride. I had been wondering if I should put something narrower on the front to match the zippiness of last year’s 90 miler with the Conti 5000 but it seems fine now.

After the recent 110 miler round the Wirral I’m tempted to try for Conwy castle and back -an extra 38 miles on tarmac seems do-able to make 148 miles or twice my age in miles. Would have to start out in the middle of the night but if I’m going to do something like that, I ought to do it while I’m still mentally prepared for it. Who knows what health issues might be slowing me down by next year.

I rolled up at my back gate and unloaded my shopping before going to have a cold drink and a sit down under the fan.

Distance 8.61 miles. Max 26.7 mph. Average 8.5 mph
Ascent 201 ft. According to Bikehike.

 

[PaulM]

Your long rides are putting me to shame. Well done. I need to retire I think to get more time. I haven't been out on the bikes at all this year. I've been focussing on the trike but haven't done anything over 30 miles, apart from my tour of the Netherland. May be able to do more with the weather cooling down.

 

[a.twiddler]

Retirement isn't the answer to everything. Somehow, various jobs seem to expand to run away with all that time you thought you'd have. All that reading, cycling, and various other things that I'd planned to do become more precious because of that.

I'm still pretty fortunate compared with many, and stumbling across the Linear then other recumbent bikes has enabled me to enjoy an Indian summer of cycling at a time when I was finding that longer trips on a conventional bike were becoming harder due to various aches and pains. I'm equally slow and creaky on a recumbent but even on longer trips ...no pain. Well, certainly on a LWB with a not too inclined seat, anyway.

Also, I'm quite happy to be on the road alone with my thoughts though I enjoy writing up the rides. I just hope that others might be motivated to do similar rides after reading about them.

 

[a.twiddler]

9/8/26

Recumbent Rides
Rail Trail Ride

Since the bridge works are now completed I thought it would be nice to take a longer ride through to the Sandiway end of the rail trail for the first time in months.

A warm, muggy day as it seems to have been throughout this summer.

So, right out of the gate and soon rolling in the direction of Swanlow Lane. Right at the lights then rolling to the town centre lights at the bottom of a long downhill.

A brief wait then across the A54 to t Grange Lane. A noticeable head wind but rolling OK to the right turn to follow the lane through an estate and out into the countryside.

Soon, rolling downhill into a dip and up the other side. I came to the bridge abutments to turn left up a steep ramp up to the rail trail. I passed a couple with dogs going uphill who saw me at the last minute and pulled in to let me pass.

Shortly afterwards I was on a lesser uphill in the shade of the trees which line the trail and gradually changing up.

A few people about, but reasonably spread out. I kept rolling, trying not to get too hot. I knew that the slope eased at the station making for easier rolling beyond the station bridge.

I crossed the newly refurbished bridge over the Whitegate road and was soon approaching the narrow entrance to the station car park.

The conveniences loomed, and I came to a halt and leaned the bike against the wall.

In and out in a flash, (well, not literally!) and soon under way towards the station bridge.

After the station bridge the trees opened out before closing in and making the trail pleasantly shady.

The trail levelled out for a mile or so before beginning a gradual slope downhill.

Trees lined the trail, and it wasn’t long before a tall bridge appeared ahead in the distance with a steep track climbing to the left.

I changed down and lined up ready for the climb. A steep climb, I felt the rear wheel slip slightly on the loose surface as I went up. I swung out to the left before turning right on to the bridge, over a low step then stopped and leaned the bike on the left parapet.

I looked over the side to see the trail obscured by leaves.

I looked over the other side towards Whitegate and it was a bit clearer.

I looked down Kennel Lane to see a grandmother riding a mountain bike encouraging a small boy on a bike to enthusiastically climb up the steep slope on to the bridge. The boy climbed over the top. “Well done!” I said. His minder was just in time to stop him hurtling down the other side to his doom.

I continued downhill the way they’d come. It was a loose and gritty surface but the Rans tracked well through it. It must have been about seven months since I’d come this way on the Spirit on a slippery and muddy surface and that had tracked equally as well on that day.

I came to a crossroads with a narrow exit across a tarmac lane then climbed up another track through some trees. A large party of walkers came the other way. They stepped to one side, I rode to the other, and we passed with plenty of space.

The track was bumpy and I rode carefully over the top. A longish downhill followed, and the surface got worse so I rode carefully down slope. There were houses here, and I’d heard dogs barking or howling on the previous occasions that I’d been this way so this was where the lane got its name. No canine sound effects today though. Finally the uneven surface changed to tarmac. A bit more uphill then some downhill and the lane levelled out at a crossroads with the A56 in Sandiway.

Traffic was busy but I went across to Weaverham Road which soon became downhill, speeding me to some crossroads where I turned left towards Cuddington. After passing through the village I came to some traffic lights on the A49. I went across on green into Norley Road then rolled downhill until I came to a left turn into Waste Lane. A private road with many speed bumps, I followed this until I came to the bridge under the railway on to which the Whitegate and Winsford line had formerly made a junction. I passed under it and was about to turn right just beyond it when a couple of chaps came the other way on e- mountain bikes.

One said to the other, “We’re going to have to look at the map, Robin.” I could have given them local information if they’d wanted, but I was too much exercised with the idea that the other chap might possibly have been called Batman to volunteer anything.

They passed by, and I took a photo of the signposts

before launching uphill on to the narrow track between the bridge walling and a fence. There was a time when I might have wobbled to a halt in this narrow space for fear of catching the ends of the prodigious bars on the sides but obviously the practice I’ve been getting riding narrow trails and towpaths over the last year or so has paid off .

The narrow track widened out on to the Whitegate Way and shortly afterwards the climb eased and I passed an information board and picnic bench. It was very tempting to stop but I decided to head for home before having a break.

I pressed on, coming through some woods and climbing again. Lobslack Wood, as I recall from the map, then a cutting closed in making everything gloomy before opening out again. A couple of overbridges then the trees fell back a bit. I found myself passing a few cyclists uphill and more as the slope eased. Certainly going unusually well today. I passed under Kennel Lane bridge and felt the slope easing. I passed some old farm crossings, some meres, and was back on the level.

Whitegate station bridge appeared ahead and the platform passed by on the right.

Once past some picnic benches in the car park I came to the narrow entrance on to the trail again and the trend was downhill once more. Over the refurbished bridge, then steadily downhill to the ramp for Grange Lane.

Right at the bottom, down a dip then steaming up the other side. Right at the next T junction, across the sports complex car park, between the playing fields to the exit barrier, up a steep lane to an estate road, uphill to a T junction to turn left on Delamere St. (Phew!).

Getting under way on the undulating road towards the A54 roundabout with a tail wind led to a good turn of speed, getting across the roundabout without stopping and continuing at a good pace to Townfields Road lights. Straight across, down the dip and up the other side towards Church Minshull, past the post office to turn right through the lanes to approach my back gate from the opposite direction for a change

Finally stopped at my back gate, I unlocked, went in and had a cold drink.

15.98 miles. Max 22.8 Average 8.4 mph. According to Cateye Velo 7
Ascent 436 ft According to Bikehike.

 

[a.twiddler]

5/9/26
Tiny recumbent ride.
Another Loo Roll Run on the Rans.

I haven’t written up many tiny rides since my 110 mile Wirral Circular trail ride.

I suppose that you can’t get more mundane than a loo roll run, so here it is.

Right out of the gate, on to Swanlow Lane then straight on at the uphill lights to follow Swanlow Lane to the A54 roundabout and turn right downhill along a dual carriageway. Rolling well but stopped at the town centre lights. Getting going again, traffic had gone past me by the time I’d reached the filter lane to turn right at the next lights. Here I waited through several light cycles. With no vehicle behind me, it looks as if a bike is not enough to trigger the lights. It would have been quicker to turn left, do a u turn, then go through the lights on the cross lane. Eventually a SUV turned up behind me, the lights changed, and I went right. Right through two mini roundabouts and into a supermarket car park to lock up at a barrier.

A talkative middle aged motorcyclist accosted me before I went in, and asked a load of questions about the bike. He asked if he could take some photos so I said, “fill your boots”. The usual stuff about chopper bars, etc. That’s one thing about the old Linear, the under seat steering was a bit mysterious, but people assume I’m some kind of Harley Davidson wannabe with this bike. In 56 years of motorcycling, I’ve so far avoided Harley ownership, and don’t feel I’ve missed out. He asked if I’d been far on it and I said, I went round the Wirral last month and he looked amazed and said, “around the World?” “No, around the Wirral”. I wondered if I’d somehow developed a Glaswegian accent. “Oh my Goad! Around the Worrald?” That would be another can of worrums.

Anyway, away he went, another satisfied customer, and I went in to do my shopping. Once out again, just another mundane shopping photo before hitting the road.

I rode into the precinct, walked the bike through, then rode through a car park, down an underpass by the library then along a pavement cycle path to the town centre lights. Right into Grange Lane and eventually to the sports complex, through another car park, between the playing fields and through an A frame barrier into a steep lane. Out on to an estate road, left on to Delamere St., then a good run to the A54 roundabout where I got across with little delay into Swanlow Lane, through the Townfields Road lights, down a dip and into my uphill turn off. A dawdle through the lanes to my back gate then unloaded and put the bike away.

Distance 5.17miles. Max speed 27 mph. Average 7.8 mph. According to Garmin.
Ascent 161 ft According to Bikehike.

 

[a.twiddler]

6/9/26
Recumbent Ride
Delamere Forest and Riverside Ride

I’d been shopping this morning and noticed a lot of leisure orientated cyclists about, with some conglomeration of them in the Old Star pub car park. Some event on by the look of it. This morning they’d been coming from the direction of Swanlow Lane and the A54 roundabout. When I set off this afternoon they were coming from the direction of Wettenhall and Nantwich, passing me at regular intervals as I headed down Hall Lane and Winsford Road. Once I’d turned right towards Eaton on Hickhurst Lane I saw very few cyclists, and those I saw were more of the sporty variety. As usual, the wind had been in my face until I’d turned, and I was shielded by the hedgerows after that.

Steady rolling, then a gradual uphill until I passed the junction on the right with Dogmore Lane. The road soon sloped downhill to give me some momentum for the for the approach to the unclassified Eaton Lane where I took a right turn to climb up to it. A bunch of cyclists came across from the right with a gaggle of following cars then I turned right and made steady progress with a series of climbs and dips.

After just a few miles I turned right on to the narrow and winding Beech Road with steep hedgebanks either side.

Suddenly I passed a signpost at a junction and plunged downhill. After passing Oulton mill pool the road rose, so I made the most of the downhill. I passed over some eyeball rattling potholes and my Garmin bounced off its handlebar bracket. Fortunately I always make a point of looping the lanyard round the unit and the handlebar so it ended swinging crazily from side to side as I kept up momentum to the crest of the other side, and came to a stop on a bit of level road to re attach it.

I continued, past a woman attending to a horse in a horse transporter, then the entrance to Oulton Park, and then a turn off on the left to Coach Road. I turned in to the car park for Little Budworth Country Park. Cars were overflowing and parked on the roadside but I managed to park the bike by the conveniences. I dived in for a leak before continuing through Little Budworth, down the steep Mill Lane, avoiding a group of walkers before giving it the beans to start up the climb on the other side. I came round a bend to find a hedge cutting tractor filling the lane. I slowed down to navigate through a gap, gingerly avoiding thorns in the road then carefully getting up the hill. Near the top a cyclist came the other way so I warned him about the hedge cutting.

I was soon at the A54, getting across into Clay Lane then speeding down the narrow lane to where it opens out and curves right and left. No traffic about, so I was able to get speed up to climb to the first mini summit. I’d previously seen guinea fowl wandering in the road here so I kept a lookout. I didn’t come across any until near the top of the hill when I found a roadside casualty, a sad jumble of bloodied feathers.

Soon afterwards, I spied the traffic lights at the station bridge, and turned into the station car park. It was pretty full, but I eventually found an empty picnic table to have a drink and an energy bar aka a Mars which I happened to find in my bag.

Very tempting, being so close to home, to take the short route back but I decided to continue further along the rail trail then turn off to Northwich and return via the riverside trail.

After dumping my rubbish in the nearby bin I set off in the direction of the station, passing the platform then under the station bridge. The trail was busy with family groups, walkers and cyclists so I headed to Kennel Lane bridge in hope of less people density between there and Cuddington.

I got up the ramp, went right over the bridge and carried on downhill on a rough track. I passed a woman with a dog, crossed a tarmac lane through a narrow barrier and continued on the other side on a similarly rough track uphill. I stopped to take a photo and take in the ambience.

The woman with a dog came up behind so I waved them on.

I gave them plenty of time to get ahead before getting going up the hill.

I stopped another couple of times before rolling down a bumpy hill and reaching tarmac. It was only a short way to the crossroads with the A556. Traffic was backed up from traffic lights on the right so I went straight across to Weaverham Road then turned right at the next junction.

This brought me out at the same traffic lights with an easier access to turn left on a dual carriageway. There is a speed restriction here through the village, so not so bad on a bike. At the end of the speed restriction there is a steep downhill, and it’s not far to a turn off on to a normal “A” road. I got into top and gradually increased speed. Normally on a downhill I would just freewheel but here I continued pedalling throughout to reduce the speed differential between me and the motor traffic.

I was still pedalling at the max indicated speed of 32.6 mph. I can’t help wondering if I would be strong enough to push an even higher gear downhill but the occasions when I did this would be so rare as not to justify messing about with a gear set up that works quite well for me as it is.

I turned off left up a steepish hill and lost all my speed. I rolled upwards still feeling OK knowing that once I reached the junction at the top that it was a long gradual downhill from there along Chester Road through Hartford and Castle to Northwich.

Left at the T junction at the top then a leisurely ride down the long gentle hill towards Northwich.

I was rolling along through Hartford watching out for traffic and pedestrians when a schoolboy on a bright red bike crossed on a pedestrian crossing ahead of me. There was a traffic island in the middle and he lost his footing and went down like a ton of bricks. A woman on my left called “are you all right?” and someone else on the other side asked after him too. “I’m fine! I’m fine!” he said as he sprang up but he didn’t look fine. He looked as if he was at that age when rampant blokeyness won’t let you admit anything even if your arm is hanging off by a thread. He limped painfully across the rest of the road with his bike and disappeared.

I continued on my way, Hartford, Greenbank, Castle through various traffic lights, under a girder bridge and turned right into Darwin St between rows of parked cars towards another railway bridge. Coming uphill the other way, two up with two young boys, a modern cliché, a non legal electric bike, no pedals. I couldn’t help being irritated. Still, I mentally distanced myself. Not my circus, not my monkeys.

The usual teenage expressions of appreciation as they went by. “Too right, lads, and completely road legal”, I thought, rolling under the bridge and going left following a sign for the river. To the end of an estate road, through a barrier then down a path to come out by Hunts Lock on the river Weaver.

I took some pics, crossed over the lock on a very narrow walkway on top of the lock gates, and took some more on the other side with the nearby Weaver viaduct in the background.

Despite cyclists dismount signs it was easier to paddle this great long thing across while seated. No hope on a trike, though.

I then crossed over the pedestrian swing bridge to the other side of the river, past a couple of boys fishing, then right on to the riverside path. There was some work in progress with barriers by the rowing club but once past that it was a straightforward ride.

Not many people about, a couple of runners, a woman photographing water birds, some dog walkers. There is usually a selection of boats moored on the other side of the river near some boatyards and workshops here but they were a bit sparse today. There were some larger boats including a vintage tugboat high and dry on the opposite bank. I stopped for a look.

Pushing on, the surroundings became more rural with woods and marshy areas to the left. Before long the blue painted A556 bridge high over the Weaver became visible with the sound of vehicles bumping over the road joints.

I passed under the bridge, debating whether to climb the long steep ramp to ride alongside the A556 to Moulton, or follow the river and risk some of the kissing gates on the next riverside stretch being closed. Last time I came this way, the gates had been removed from their hinges and stacked alongside making it an easy ride straight through without having to stop.

The first gate was wide open, so I went straight on. More people about along here, but all noticeably polite. They all seemed to share the same vocabulary, as when I said “thank yoo” to walkers when they stood aside or pulled in their dogs to let me pass, they all said, “you’re welcome”. Just the entertainment value of passing by on the Rans, or just a lot of nice people about? It certainly entertained me.

It was not fast, but it was pleasant progress along the riverside. All the gates were open, and the landscape was quite varied. I took a photo of the viaduct carrying the West Coast Main Line over the Weaver through the foliage,

then after passing under it, a brief pause at Vale royal Locks before continuing. A train appeared from behind the trees by happy accident just as I took a photo of the viaduct from the other side.

It does seem that the access points have been opened up to this path, as a nearby former gate to a path leading across the fields to Moulton has been made more accessible to cyclists. I remember heaving a folding bike over the gate years ago, whereas now you could ride straight through, which creates possibilities for future rides.

Next followed a series of lakes and pools with the path sandwiched between them and the river. There were people fishing along here, but there wasn’t much obstruction to progress. I came to a spot where there was a view of the distant salt mine shaft tower

and after a short time I could see the Meadowbank swing bridge. There was a large boat moored near the bridge.

At first I thought it was a trip boat but on closer inspection it seemed to have accomodation.

Normally only narrowboats go further upstream from this point as once past the town bridge in Winsford the river becomes too shallow.

Nevertheless, historically, salt boats of up to 500 tons used to ply the Weaver between Winsford, Runcorn and Liverpool in the heyday of Winsford’s salt production when salt works lined the banks of the Weaver hereabouts with their numerous reeking chimneys.

I continued, and came out at the entrance to the swing bridge. I bumped across the planked surface to the other side of the Weaver. I took a closer look at the moored boat then followed the potholed track to Bradford Road where I turned left.

This was an exercise in itself, with a narrow bridge on the right with a sharp lefthander beyond it round which the occasional vehicle was liable to appear at speed while you might be gingerly negotiating a sharp left hand turn uphill at low speed on a bike with the turning circle of a super tanker. I’ve come this way many times without incident on recumbent two wheelers of varying lengths but it always reminds me how something that I now find so natural seemed so scarily difficult when I first started out.

I trundled past the deep rock salt mine and began the roll downhill to where I needed to turn right up a lowered kerb to the end of the Whitegate Way.

Through a narrow entrance, then up a gradual tree lined gritty slope, past a junction where the trail forks left to the original terminus of the rail line, near which is now a car park. On the right, a deep narrow valley where a stream runs to join the Weaver.

I continued straight ahead to where a distant bridleway crosses the trail at Catsclough, with a narrow exit on the left. I went right straight away, crossing some broken timbers and embedded rails before turning sharp left through a narrow entrance on the other side and continuing towards the access to Grange Lane.

After passing some walkers the trail sloped down to a narrow exit on Grange Lane where I turned left.

Then the usual route home, down a gravelly dip, up the other side past a golf course and a small estate of houses, right at a T junction, across the sports complex car park, between the playing fields. Something on at the complex, a group of parents and kids on the path. “Look at that cool bike!” A bit different from the usual monosyllabic teenage utterings. Through the “A” frame barrier, up a steep lane, right uphill on an estate road, then left on to Delamere St.

A stop here to root out a Kit Kat and chuck it into the abdominal furnace to boost the energy levels before continuing towards the A54 roundabout.

On to Swanlow Lane, across the Townfields Road lights, down a dip then into my uphill turn off. A dawdle through the lanes to my back gate.

Not a huge mileage today, but a bit of variety. A very satisfactory ride.

Distance 26.08 miles. Max 32.6 mph Average speed 7.6 mph -a lot of off tarmac today. According to Cateye Velo 7.
Ascent 830 ft. According to Bikehike.