Tiny rides of 2023
- Thread starter Hebe
- Start date
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a.twiddler
Guru
Thanks for your feedback! I started contributing to the Tiny Rides thread because it's easy to be overwhelmed by the rarefied athleticism of a cycling forum where the competitive riders take it for granted that they'll be talking to others who knock out scary distances at speeds that mere mortals would baulk at. I've never been particularly speedy but sometimes do longer distances. So I thought, why not write up some everyday rides that won't discourage others from doing the same? Sometimes if you're feeling a bit bleghh, a modest bike ride is just the thing to perk you up.
So basically, if it's under 10 miles I stick it on here. Over 10 miles, in "Your ride today". If it's on a recumbent, which it usually is, I stick it in "Recumbent Rides" on the recumbent forum as well. Enjoy!
So basically, if it's under 10 miles I stick it on here. Over 10 miles, in "Your ride today". If it's on a recumbent, which it usually is, I stick it in "Recumbent Rides" on the recumbent forum as well. Enjoy!
a.twiddler
Guru
29/10/26
Tiny Recumbent Ride
Cider Run on Rans
I must admit I felt more like having a snooze this afternoon but it was mild and sunny and how many more days might we have like this before winter? I’d thought about a longer ride but I was feeling quite tired so I compromised on a trip to the shops with an extension to the other side of town. I thought a ride past the place where I used to work, on my old commuter route, might add some interest though I doubt if any of the old work force remain, and I certainly had no intention of paying a visit.
So off I went down to the town centre, called in at my usual supermarket, then down to the river. There is a riverside path which links to a lane by an overpass. Not surpringly, it was rather muddy and leafy but was rideable on the level.
I had to duck to avoid a fallen tree.
It slopes steeply where it climbs to the overpass. It was narrow and slippery, with a drop to one side.
If I’d been feeling more on the ball I’d have made more of an effort to ride up it but not today. I used to get up it on a conventional bike on the way to work.
Once it levelled I carried on riding then got out on to Rilshaw Lane to turn right.
There were Road Closed Ahead signs but as usual I thought I might get through on the bike. I came across some more further on but there were still no barriers. I thought I might get through to Clive Lane to complete the circuit but not much further on there was a barrier from hedge to hedge. No choice then but to turn back.
Back I went, mostly downhill until the lane rose over the bypass. Then left into Station Road to turn down a steep hill to cross the bypass and turn right. I turned up Weaver St. and managed the steep climb from the bottom better than expected considering the way I felt when I set out from home.
I remember the route to work being easier and quicker than the return in the morning after a night shift. There’s a considerably longer and steeper climb on the way home. So it was today, and I was glad to eventually reach the traffic lights at Swanlow Lane before turning left downhill so I could get up speed for my uphill turn off followed by a downhill dawdle through the lanes to my back gate.
I’ve often thought that if you have a bike set up to be able to get across this town and back, you’ll be able to ride it just about anywhere, and that applies to any sort of bike.
I was certainly glad to have the gear range of the Rans today, in my weary bleary state but certainly the lower range is a must for any of my bikes.
Distance 5.29 miles. Max 23.0 mph. Average 6.8 mph. According to Garmin. Slow today.
Ascent 290 ft. According to Bikehike
Tiny Recumbent Ride
Cider Run on Rans
I must admit I felt more like having a snooze this afternoon but it was mild and sunny and how many more days might we have like this before winter? I’d thought about a longer ride but I was feeling quite tired so I compromised on a trip to the shops with an extension to the other side of town. I thought a ride past the place where I used to work, on my old commuter route, might add some interest though I doubt if any of the old work force remain, and I certainly had no intention of paying a visit.
So off I went down to the town centre, called in at my usual supermarket, then down to the river. There is a riverside path which links to a lane by an overpass. Not surpringly, it was rather muddy and leafy but was rideable on the level.
I had to duck to avoid a fallen tree.
It slopes steeply where it climbs to the overpass. It was narrow and slippery, with a drop to one side.
If I’d been feeling more on the ball I’d have made more of an effort to ride up it but not today. I used to get up it on a conventional bike on the way to work.
Once it levelled I carried on riding then got out on to Rilshaw Lane to turn right.
There were Road Closed Ahead signs but as usual I thought I might get through on the bike. I came across some more further on but there were still no barriers. I thought I might get through to Clive Lane to complete the circuit but not much further on there was a barrier from hedge to hedge. No choice then but to turn back.
Back I went, mostly downhill until the lane rose over the bypass. Then left into Station Road to turn down a steep hill to cross the bypass and turn right. I turned up Weaver St. and managed the steep climb from the bottom better than expected considering the way I felt when I set out from home.
I remember the route to work being easier and quicker than the return in the morning after a night shift. There’s a considerably longer and steeper climb on the way home. So it was today, and I was glad to eventually reach the traffic lights at Swanlow Lane before turning left downhill so I could get up speed for my uphill turn off followed by a downhill dawdle through the lanes to my back gate.
I’ve often thought that if you have a bike set up to be able to get across this town and back, you’ll be able to ride it just about anywhere, and that applies to any sort of bike.
I was certainly glad to have the gear range of the Rans today, in my weary bleary state but certainly the lower range is a must for any of my bikes.
Distance 5.29 miles. Max 23.0 mph. Average 6.8 mph. According to Garmin. Slow today.
Ascent 290 ft. According to Bikehike
a.twiddler
Guru
2/11/26
Tiny Recumbent ride
To the river on the Rans.
Another reasonable day. I was going to the Library but after my last pleasant ride down to the riverside I decided to come back via a similar route.
So, out of the back gate and right towards Swanlow Lane, arriving at the lights just in time to stop at red. There was nothing about, so I nipped from the advance stop line the few yards to the right hand pavement and went round the corner before going across to become part of the traffic again.
Then letting the slope take me, slowly at first, then after turning for the town centre, more quickly. After being stopped by traffic I let the bike do the work, through a mini roundabout and to a set of lights. A car in front went through just as they turned red. I followed him and could see a pedestrian crossing ahead on red. Despite easing off It was still on red as I got there. Everyone who was going to cross had gone, so I rolled through slowly. I don’t know. Maniac red light jumping hooligan cyclists terrorizing the community.
A grumpy old man who had just crossed not on the crossing shouted “Oi!” “Oi!”. Being even older and grumpier than him I could have said something about using the crossing, mate, but I just headed across the road for a cyclist sign and joined a shared path in the direction of the Library.
I was soon on a cycle path which took me to the Library. I locked up to my customary lamp post and went in.
Out again, I unlocked, got on to the nearby service road, nipped through the corner of the precinct and got on to Dingle Lane. Left on the next mini roundabout and into a park. There are several sculptures that represent salt crystals in recognition of the town’s salt production heritage.
I stopped to take some pictures before rolling on downhill then out on to Weaver St.
On to the pavement by the roundabout at the bottom of the hill then across the river alongside the bypass. I turned right into the access to the marina and stopped near the slipway to the river. There were many water birds by the water’s edge so I took a photo.
A young swan seemed curious about me and this contraption, or maybe it was used to being fed. I took its picture anyway as it was posing.
After enjoying the birds for a while I turned across the marina car park and crossed back over the bridge to the bottom of Weaver St then doubled back to a path that leads under the bridge. This bridge comprises part of the roundabout over the river with several lanes and turnings on it. The path under it leads to the original two lane bridge which is a plate girder one and completes the roundabout. There is a cycle and pedestrian crossing by the bridge which leads to the Red Lion. I crossed over and went left then went right on Bradford Road.
After about a mile there was a turning on the left into the car park for the southern access to the Whitegate Way. It is possible to walk, cycle or ride a horse from here to Cuddington or any point between. The original site has been built over but for miles from here along the river there were many salt works with sidings from the old railway. It’s mostly a wooded path today with a reasonable non tarmac surface.
There used to be a respectable black and white sign at the point where the trail meets the car park in the style of the old station sign. It said “Winsford and Over Terminus of Whitegate Way”. It says nothing today as at some time a scrote thought it amusing to burn the sign down leaving just the frame.
I took a non-photo and carried on down the trail. I’d only intended to go as far as Grange Lane today but riding the full length would make a pleasant morning or afternoon’s ride given a nice autumn day.
The trail stays close to to Bradford Road and passes behind some industrial units. It was damp and leafy for most of the way. A little further on it dog legs on to a lane tp pass behind what used to be the council recycling site though this has now moved to a large site on Woodford Park. This lane meets another lane and the route goes right then left join the original course of the railway.
After paralleling Bradford Road for a bit further the trail curves away left through some woods and eventually joins the branch that went to the rock salt mine at Meadowbank. Turning right takes you in that direction but ends at Bradford Road now. Going left takes you in the direction of Whitegate and Cuddington.
I went left and before long came to the old crossing at Catsclough.
A zig zag between the gates avoiding the deteriorating woodwork between the remaining short sections of rail and I was en route to the junction with Grange Lane where the old bridge has been taken away.
Sure enough, the line started to slope downhill and houses could be seen in the lane ahead. I rolled through the narrow barrier and went left on Grange Lane.
Down a gravelly dip, up the other side, past a golf course and some houses to turn right at a T junction then left across the sports complex car park.
Along a path between the playing fields then uphill through an A frame barrier into a steep lane.
Right at a T junction at the top on to an estate road, then left at the next T junction into Delamere St. A good run with a following wind to the A54 roundabout, straight across into Swanlow Lane. Straight across Townfields Road lights, down a dip to get a run up for my uphill turn off then a freewheel through the lanes to my back gate.
A gratuitous picture of the Rans after arrival back home.
Distance 8.01 miles. Max speed 20.07 mph. Average speed 6.8 mph. According to Garmin.
Ascent 288 ft. According to Bikehike.
Tiny Recumbent ride
To the river on the Rans.
Another reasonable day. I was going to the Library but after my last pleasant ride down to the riverside I decided to come back via a similar route.
So, out of the back gate and right towards Swanlow Lane, arriving at the lights just in time to stop at red. There was nothing about, so I nipped from the advance stop line the few yards to the right hand pavement and went round the corner before going across to become part of the traffic again.
Then letting the slope take me, slowly at first, then after turning for the town centre, more quickly. After being stopped by traffic I let the bike do the work, through a mini roundabout and to a set of lights. A car in front went through just as they turned red. I followed him and could see a pedestrian crossing ahead on red. Despite easing off It was still on red as I got there. Everyone who was going to cross had gone, so I rolled through slowly. I don’t know. Maniac red light jumping hooligan cyclists terrorizing the community.
A grumpy old man who had just crossed not on the crossing shouted “Oi!” “Oi!”. Being even older and grumpier than him I could have said something about using the crossing, mate, but I just headed across the road for a cyclist sign and joined a shared path in the direction of the Library.
I was soon on a cycle path which took me to the Library. I locked up to my customary lamp post and went in.
Out again, I unlocked, got on to the nearby service road, nipped through the corner of the precinct and got on to Dingle Lane. Left on the next mini roundabout and into a park. There are several sculptures that represent salt crystals in recognition of the town’s salt production heritage.
I stopped to take some pictures before rolling on downhill then out on to Weaver St.
On to the pavement by the roundabout at the bottom of the hill then across the river alongside the bypass. I turned right into the access to the marina and stopped near the slipway to the river. There were many water birds by the water’s edge so I took a photo.
A young swan seemed curious about me and this contraption, or maybe it was used to being fed. I took its picture anyway as it was posing.
After enjoying the birds for a while I turned across the marina car park and crossed back over the bridge to the bottom of Weaver St then doubled back to a path that leads under the bridge. This bridge comprises part of the roundabout over the river with several lanes and turnings on it. The path under it leads to the original two lane bridge which is a plate girder one and completes the roundabout. There is a cycle and pedestrian crossing by the bridge which leads to the Red Lion. I crossed over and went left then went right on Bradford Road.
After about a mile there was a turning on the left into the car park for the southern access to the Whitegate Way. It is possible to walk, cycle or ride a horse from here to Cuddington or any point between. The original site has been built over but for miles from here along the river there were many salt works with sidings from the old railway. It’s mostly a wooded path today with a reasonable non tarmac surface.
There used to be a respectable black and white sign at the point where the trail meets the car park in the style of the old station sign. It said “Winsford and Over Terminus of Whitegate Way”. It says nothing today as at some time a scrote thought it amusing to burn the sign down leaving just the frame.
I took a non-photo and carried on down the trail. I’d only intended to go as far as Grange Lane today but riding the full length would make a pleasant morning or afternoon’s ride given a nice autumn day.
The trail stays close to to Bradford Road and passes behind some industrial units. It was damp and leafy for most of the way. A little further on it dog legs on to a lane tp pass behind what used to be the council recycling site though this has now moved to a large site on Woodford Park. This lane meets another lane and the route goes right then left join the original course of the railway.
After paralleling Bradford Road for a bit further the trail curves away left through some woods and eventually joins the branch that went to the rock salt mine at Meadowbank. Turning right takes you in that direction but ends at Bradford Road now. Going left takes you in the direction of Whitegate and Cuddington.
I went left and before long came to the old crossing at Catsclough.
A zig zag between the gates avoiding the deteriorating woodwork between the remaining short sections of rail and I was en route to the junction with Grange Lane where the old bridge has been taken away.
Sure enough, the line started to slope downhill and houses could be seen in the lane ahead. I rolled through the narrow barrier and went left on Grange Lane.
Down a gravelly dip, up the other side, past a golf course and some houses to turn right at a T junction then left across the sports complex car park.
Along a path between the playing fields then uphill through an A frame barrier into a steep lane.
Right at a T junction at the top on to an estate road, then left at the next T junction into Delamere St. A good run with a following wind to the A54 roundabout, straight across into Swanlow Lane. Straight across Townfields Road lights, down a dip to get a run up for my uphill turn off then a freewheel through the lanes to my back gate.
A gratuitous picture of the Rans after arrival back home.
Distance 8.01 miles. Max speed 20.07 mph. Average speed 6.8 mph. According to Garmin.
Ascent 288 ft. According to Bikehike.
