Three rides to tell you about:
Wednesday (9th) - It was a fairly nice day, surprisingly warm for November and dry, but a bit breezy. I was free after lunch so got the Raleigh out and set off aiming for Cardington. It was my usual route to Condover then Ryton and Longnor where a right turn at the crossroads made a nice change. I hadn't had a chance to clean the bike since the ride to Vyrnwy and was a little glad about that as the lanes were on the mucky side, particularly past Green Farm.
By the time I reached Hollyhurst I found myself losing enthusiasm for the road to Cardington so at Comley I changed route and headed through Botvyle to cross the A49 and head through Dudgeley. It was nice picking up the tailwind on the way to Leebotwood and the bike was feeling quite good on the hills after the most recent adjustment so I was enjoying myself. Using this bike rather than the heavy Hawk, the climb up to Smethcott seemed a breeze. I mentioned on a previous ride about a new reservoir having been built near the top of this climb and there was a tractor & trailer leaving it it as I approached. It looks like it
is a slurry pool - good job the wind was blowing away from me as I passed it.
I had an enjoyable run through Wilderley and a good climb up the hill to Pulverbatch where I'd have the road mostly downhill for a couple of miles or so. I also had the wind at my back so it was a cracking run through Longden Common, Longden and almost to Annscroft where I turned off towards Exford's Green. The decent speed continued even with a crosswind on the way to Hunger Hill. I was going to climb up through Little Lyth but a gap in the traffic presented itself just as I reached the right turn for Condover so I went for what, from here, is the longer but flatter way back via Condover.
27.9 miles at 13.9 mph average. I'm quite chuffed with that average speed as this route is quite hilly.
At Hollyhurst. I'm headed round to the left here but at this stage was already having second thoughts about going to Cardington.
Having turned off at Comley, the view from the top of the climb. These chaps thought I was bringing them food.
On the road to Botvyle. The light on the hills appeared even better than it's come out in the photo.
Looking back towards Caer Caradoc from near Dudgeley.
Later in the ride, looking towards the Wrekin not long after Wilderley.
--------------------------------------------
Friday (11th) - Thursday had been really windy so I hadn't got out as hoped, however I did take the chance to get the Raleigh clean. I was determined to get a ride in on the Friday so headed out in when I was able to in the afternoon using the knockabout bike (Hawk). I thought that heading up to Oaks would work with the gusty wind.
Heading over Lyth Hill at the start it was into the wind and made for some slow progress. I carried on over the rough track across the top then descended on the Annscroft side. Riding through the village a car suddenly backed out of a driveway to my right. The driver seemed miffed at having to stop when he saw me and I got a toot of the horn before he floored it heading for town (I suspect he had hoped for a bit of tyre screech but his Astra didn't have the oomph.
) I just rolled my eyes and rode on.
Reaching Plealey I turned towards Oaks and started the climb. This is quite gentle at first but ramps up later on. I was occasionally losing traction on the damp road surface by Longden Manor then had to pull in a couple of times for cars a bit further up. After passing Oaks I took the usual long way round at Wrentnall, climbing Broom Hill and heading round the back way to Pulverbatch.
With a favourable wind direction it was tempting to repeat the run to Longden from the previous ride but I wanted to do something different so headed for Church Pulvebatch and the long descent to Stapleton - this was pretty good as the wind was still helping and there wasn't much traffic.
After Stapleton I wasn't ready to head for home quite yet so took the lane to Lower Common (lots of building work going on here with at least six houses being built, rebuilt or modified) then the lane to Longden. From Longden I headed towards Annscroft then, as previously, through Exford's Green to Hunger Hill. This time though the A49 traffic was busier so I did go the quieter way through Little Lyth and over Lyth Hill.
22.3 miles at 11.8 mph average. Enjoyed that.
The view from the top of Lyth Hill on my first crossing.
At the top of the Broom Hill climb and looking towards Eastridge Woods.
----------------------------------------------------
Yesterday - Doug hadn't been keen to come out with me while the weather was very windy but was happy to come this time. I'd suggested that he could do with trying a hilly ride and he suggested heading towards Cardington so off we went.
We started off riding over Lyth Hill so as to use the A49 as little as possible then dropped down to Hunger Hill and headed for Condover. The traffic was quite busy on the main road so that was a good call this time. We were headed into the wind at this point but it didn't seem to be slowing Doug down too much - the most recent adjustment does seem to suit him.
After a pasue at Ryton we carried on towards Ryton on lanes that had dried quite a lot since I last rode them. Another rider overtook us with ease on the way but we were taking it at a chatting pace. The battery has gone flat on Doug's speedometer and he says that he is enjoying riding more without seeing how fast he is going.
At the crossroads just after Longnor we paused for a drink and while stopped I noticed a cut in the sidewall of Doug's front tyre. It didn't look that bad but, being wary of sidewall damage, I didn't think it was a good idea to carry on with a route that would have some steep descents to come. We turned towards Frodesley instead and I said I'd check the tyre again there.
Reaching Frodesley, Doug wondered if a left at the crossroads would be a shorter way back. It is so we headed that way, keeping the speed down on the long descent into the valley at Row Brook. On the climb the other side, Doug was pulling away from me - I've said before that I think he'd be a really strong rider if he got out more regularly.
Apart from being flagged down by a couple of ladies wondering if we had seen the hunt, it was a relaxed ride back to Condover and up to the A49 (still quite busy).
15.6 miles at 11.7 mph average. Not the ride we had planned but it was good anyway. When we got back I swapped Doug's cut tyre for a hardly worn Schwalbe Marathon I had spare, and also replaced the rear brake blocks. The old tyre was 9 years old so he's had his money's worth even if it did have lots of tread left.
It was a bit of a misty day at the start of the ride.
Not the best photo, but a snap of Doug as we cross Lyth Hill.
If we had descended on the Annscroft side it would have been fine, so a bit of a rethink was needed. We headed back towards Exford's Green and rode up Long Lane instead - this was probably the way I should have taken Doug in the first place as it's not so steep from this direction. We had to pull in a handful of times to allow vehicles past and at a couple of these stops we were getting bothered by wasps - the unusually mild November is obviously confusing them.
