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.
