22/4/26
Recumbent Ride
Windy Trip to Chester on the Rans
I’d hoped to go to Burton Marsh to get a 60 miler in today. We would see. Due to the wind I decided to go to Chester via Cotebrook in the hope that the bulk of the hill there would reduce the effect of the wind. Also, I wanted to see how the Rans climbed Cotebrook hill.
The wind wasn’t pleasant but it was warmer than last time I went out.
Home to the Roman Bridges
Left out of the back gate, the wind was at my back which was not promising for the return trip. It is always psychologically better to have wind assistance on the way home rather than be struggling against it.
Nice while it lasted, I passed through Darnhall lights with no problem, turned on to Hickhurst Lane then King’s Lane, passing the walls of Oulton Park along Rushton Lane before turning uphill on to Brownhills Road. Pausing cautiously at the high hedgebanks on Mill Lane before going across to Oulton Mill Lane, gaining speed downhill to rush the climb before the A49. Once across, over a minor road to climb up Cotebrook Hill. As my speed dropped and I settled down to the climb I could feel the cooling effect of the wind. Some benefit then. I’m usually too hot.
Cotebrook Hill consists of several ups and downs, and by the time I neared Utkinton Hall I’d acquired a following builder’s pick up. I passed a junction by Utkinton Hall and realised that it would have been better to turn right uphill here. As it was I continued straight on downhill and the following vehicle turned off uphill.
I came out on to a T junction. I could see the spot I wanted further uphill to the right so just went for it. Before long I turned left at the crossroads heading for Duddon. I was satisfied by the climbing ability of the Rans. It doesn’t feel like it needs a lot of effort, may be just that what little output I have is being transmitted quite efficiently by that well triangulated rear end.
Downhill, winding, with a broken surface then more level. Across a minor junction then into Duddon. As I came to a junction with the A51 I came across a group of tweedy cyclists discussing something. Some sort of re enactment group on traditional tourers? I said “Hi” and crossed over.
I wound about on Duddon Hook Lane. I was hoping to go via what are locally known as the “Roman Bridges” but I hadn’t been this way for a couple of years. After a few miles I came across Broomhall Lane on the right. After following this I came to a lane on the left to a farm with a No HGV/ No through Road sign. After a few yards I came to Platt Lane on the left. I followed this lane for a mile or so until it doubled back on itself. A bridleway continued straight on closely surrounded by shrubbery. There was a ditch to the left but the surface was quite hard packed mud which was good to ride on.
The path continued for a mile or so before suddenly bursting out on to the site of three old pack horse bridges, two linked by a causeway and one standing on its own. They stood in a clearing of golden light, and a couple of years ago had seemed recently restored.
They are on an ancient pack horse trail between London and Chester where it crosses a marshy area of the river Gowy. They are stone now, which replaced the original wooden ones centuries ago.
I’d hoped to stop and have a sandwich here but there were dog walkers about so I took some photos and carried on.
Roman Bridges to Chester Deeside
Out along Platt Lane to where the tarmac begins, then it joins Cotton Lane and they become Plough Lane.
A few miles further on Plough Lane crosses Brown Heath Road on the way to Christleton. I then got caught up in a school run time traffic jam where a van was trying to turn round in the road much to the displeasure of the other traffic. I proved that even a hulking great lwb recumbent can get through this sort of situation by hopping on the pavement until the road is clear. I passed the school gates, then across the road amongst the parked cars was an ice cream van. I parked the bike on the shady grass and treated myself to a 99 before following a random street past a nearby primary school and on to the Whitchurch road. There was plenty of pedestrian and cycle infrastucture along this road so I waited with the rest of the pedestrians and cyclists to get across the big roundabout nearby.
I was then able to get on to the relatively quiet Broughton road towards the centre and once having found Dee Lane, was able to follow it downhill to the riverside.
It was windy by the river, but I found a spot to have my sandwich.
Chester Deeside to the Wales Coast Path
I wondered about pressing on to Burton Marsh. I could imagine there being a brisk following wind in a westward direction along the wide open Wales Coast Path next to the Dee. Getting to Burton Marsh from Hawarden Bridge wouldn’t be difficult either. Getting back to Chester might be more problematic, even using the more sheltered route via the Greenway. I hadn’t used the route behind the racecourse to link up the Wales Coast Path and the other routes before, so I decided to go and have a look before making my mind up.
Before going that way, I had a ride over the Grosvenor Park Suspension Bridge. The river is quite narrow at this point, and you can clearly see the elegant houses across the water. I’d hoped that if I waited long enough, I’d get a clear picture of the bridge with no people on it, but I felt the time ticking away and ended up immortalising some passers by.
Then I rode the cycle route along the river, past the university buildings, the weir and the castle, through the Roodee car park, under the Grosvenor road bridge, along the back of the racecourse to where it runs alongside the railway arches. You can see traffic on the distant main road at the end of the arches as it gradually gets closer.
At the end you pretty much come out across a narrow pavement to get dumped in a narrow cycle lane. It’s on quite a narrow dual carriageway-all rather crammed in.
I didn’t find traffic too bad as I sought out my landmarks. Firstly there was the section of canal from the Shropshire Union to the Dee. Last time I’d seen this it was full of reeds, but they’ve been cleared now. The lock gates on the river have been removed, perhaps, damaged, and taken away for repair.
A little further on was the entrance to a park. The Wales Coast Path ends at the park and the exit is on to a shared use pavement path.
Now that I knew where I was I was satisfied. I would probably use this route in one direction or another next time I came this way.
Wales Coast Path to Waverton
I gathered myself together and set off for home.
While in town the force of the wind would be scattered by the buildings but I expected to be experiencing it once I got to Waverton. In the meantime I was going to be doing some towpath riding to keep out of the wind.
Riding along Sealand Road I soon reeled in the landmarks, the canal link passed beneath and the railway arches came up ahead. I wasn’t able to turn right immediately but had to carry on to a space in the central reservation and had to do a u turn on to it. Then I had to go back the way I came between the two lanes of traffic to the arch wall and be ready to turn left when a gap came in the nearside stream of traffic. Then, straight across the lane and the pavement and on to the shared path between the racecourse and the railway arches.
It took a few minutes of steady riding with the arches on the right and the open spaces of the racecourse on the left through the fence before I felt I was making progress and the view of the racecourse opened out. It looks as if the arches and the fencing are enough to give walkers and riders some shelter along here in bad weather. As the wind was blowing quite strongly from the east there wasn’t much shelter here today.
The path leaves the railway arch and fence and curves round the river side of the racecourse after this. The path is built on an embankment which probably acts as a flood defence. You can’t see the river from the path on this side of the Grosvenor Bridge. There is a wood beyond the path.
Eventually the path approaches the Grosvenor bridge and the view of the racecourse opens out more.
The path continues under the Grosvenor Bridge round the edge of the Roodee car park. It follows the river to the bottom of Dee Lane.
So I arrived at the bottom of Dee Lane, geared down, and climbed steadily to the top. I got to the right side pavement then crossed to the other side of an urban dual carriageway. I followed a sign to the canal, then got on the towpath heading for Waverton.
It was pleasant enough travelling along here with not too many people but there were more locks than I remembered, each with its steep bump up to the next level. Steady trundling got me to Egg Bridge, Waverton in the end and I was ready for a drink and snack by the time I got there.
A pair of mallards sashayed out of the water to languidly eyeball me in the hope of parting me from a few crumbs.
After my break I braced myself for my forthcoming struggle with the wind. No point grinding myself down, just take it as it came, and take a break if necessary.
On to the road from the bridge, left and left again following NCN 45. The road followed the canal, and only after a few miles when the road crossed over a traffic controlled tall bridge to swop sides did the headwind become apparent.
Not so far to the turn off for Huxley from here, and I steadily trundled on into the wind. There were road works at intervals along the road which interrupted the rhythm of the journey.
Finally, my left turn uphill for Huxley. I exchanged the headwind for an uphill slope. At least I could see the uphill.
At the top I turned right into the wind again. A gradual uphill from here to Tiverton. Slow but steady progress, not particularly difficult. Despite the regular roadworks, there wasn’t much traffic about. There had been a couple of cyclists who passed me, obviously of a more sporty inclination, but I’d expected to come across more on a fine evening such as this. Perhaps I’m not the only one who’s not so fond of the wind.
Rolling along, views of Beeston Castle on its crag, Peckforton nearby. Cholmondeley is up there somewhere, though not visible from here.
Finally, the sign for Tiverton and Brassey Green. It still took an age to come in to the built up area of Tiverton but the final freewheel to the A49 happened and I stopped for a brief break.
The next stretch beyond the lights on the A49 is narrow, undulating and winding with high hedgebanks, which means some shelter from the wind in places.
Once more I took it as it came. Up the first climb after the lights, down the other side to rush the next uphill. Losing speed faster than usual. The drag to the top. Gaining speed again downhill, rushing at the next climb, the drag to the top. Easier than expected despite the wind. Gaining speed for the last and longest climb, losing speed faster than expected and changing down to the small ring with too low a chain speed. Unshipped the chain. Annoying, but easy enough to refit at the cost of a greasy finger. In Eaton by then, so soon rolling on the level.
A car waited at a junction on the left for me. I could see that he was going to go the way I was going, ie right, so I turned down a steep dip for Hickhurst Lane ahead of him. A steep downhill and a steep uphill to exit the village where I was braked by the wind as I came over the crest. The car went past, and I prepared for the last leg of mostly flat or downhill into the wind.
The road zig zags so some parts are into the wind while others are sheltered, so I just sucked it up. It didn’t take long to cover the last few miles. I polished off the final dip and climb at Darnhall bridge lights before making my leisurely arrival at my back gate.
I don’t enjoy the wind but the last three rides have involved some. I hope the future holds calmer times.
Distance 43.31 miles. Max speed 25.1mph. Average Speed 7.1mph. According to Cateye Velo 7.
Ascent 1053 ft. According to Bikehike.
