- Location
- Shrewsbury, Shropshire
6th of May: I'd been invited on another evening ride with @gavgav. Paul was going to join us as well but unfortunately he got stuck at work in a meeting that was overrunning so couldn't make it. The evening was fairly nice but on the cool side meaning that a fleece was needed on top. I did brave shorts but it felt quite chilly towards the end and I was glad we weren't out any later.
Gav started off taking me on some roads I'd ridden just a few days before: out of town via Weeping Cross and heading for Berrington. On the way a driver overtook giving us lots of room - so much so that I thought they were going to run off the road into the verge on the other side.
There was a squirrel that couldn't decide which way to run but did scoot off into the hedge at the last moment.
From Berrington we took the lanes through Eaton Mascott, meeting a very large crop sprayer that filled the lane - fortunately there was just enough verge on our right to make room for it. A similar situation at the other end of the lane was a little more tricky as there is a tall hedge right up to the edge of the road. The driver of the horsebox was good though and backed up to a gateway for us.
In Cound Gav took us straight on in the village to get to Cound Moor on a lane I haven't ridden for a while then we headed for Kenley at a nice pace for chatting. The final climb to Kenley is a bit of a pull and it felt like the ferry had come in with a stream of vehicles wanting to pass us up the bank.
After Kenley we were onto more lanes that I haven't ridden lately; to Langley Chapel then over the climb to Acton Burnell. The light was quite nice by now and we had a pause at the summit for the only photos taken this trip. From Acton Burnell the easterly wind didn't seem to be slowing us down so we got along at a nice brisk pace to Pitchford, Cantlop and back to Weeping Cross. The dip at Pitchford has been patched but very half-heartedly and we aren't much impressed. The surface dressing season is under way too and we noticed that the Cantlop to Condover road seems to have been done - something to watch out for when I next use that.
After parting from Gav I had the wind helping me for the remaining couple of miles or so. I wasn't fast but it did feel easier. On getting back home I found that the front mudguard had come loose - that would explain why the mudflap kept folding back on itself at points in the ride. I've done a quick fix but will have to do a better job at some point.
23.8 miles at 13.2 mph average. 1544 feet of climbing according to Strava. A good ride. Shame it wasn't a little warmer.
Photos from the phone this time:
Gav started off taking me on some roads I'd ridden just a few days before: out of town via Weeping Cross and heading for Berrington. On the way a driver overtook giving us lots of room - so much so that I thought they were going to run off the road into the verge on the other side.
There was a squirrel that couldn't decide which way to run but did scoot off into the hedge at the last moment.From Berrington we took the lanes through Eaton Mascott, meeting a very large crop sprayer that filled the lane - fortunately there was just enough verge on our right to make room for it. A similar situation at the other end of the lane was a little more tricky as there is a tall hedge right up to the edge of the road. The driver of the horsebox was good though and backed up to a gateway for us.
In Cound Gav took us straight on in the village to get to Cound Moor on a lane I haven't ridden for a while then we headed for Kenley at a nice pace for chatting. The final climb to Kenley is a bit of a pull and it felt like the ferry had come in with a stream of vehicles wanting to pass us up the bank.
After Kenley we were onto more lanes that I haven't ridden lately; to Langley Chapel then over the climb to Acton Burnell. The light was quite nice by now and we had a pause at the summit for the only photos taken this trip. From Acton Burnell the easterly wind didn't seem to be slowing us down so we got along at a nice brisk pace to Pitchford, Cantlop and back to Weeping Cross. The dip at Pitchford has been patched but very half-heartedly and we aren't much impressed. The surface dressing season is under way too and we noticed that the Cantlop to Condover road seems to have been done - something to watch out for when I next use that.
After parting from Gav I had the wind helping me for the remaining couple of miles or so. I wasn't fast but it did feel easier. On getting back home I found that the front mudguard had come loose - that would explain why the mudflap kept folding back on itself at points in the ride. I've done a quick fix but will have to do a better job at some point.
23.8 miles at 13.2 mph average. 1544 feet of climbing according to Strava. A good ride. Shame it wasn't a little warmer.
Photos from the phone this time:
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The wind direction wasn't quite the same as when I had the really good tailwind last time, so I don't thinkI had it helping up the climb on the way to Acton Burnell. Too sheltered by the trees. I did get on quite well on the way through Frodesley to Longnor.
