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a.twiddler

Veteran
27/8/24
A ride from last year (also posted on Recumbent Rides)
Home to Connah’s Quay and back.

From Home to Wrenbury

Alas, not an ideal day. Some chance of showers, and a westerly wind.
Anyway, round the block, through the road works at Darnhall bridge, plodding doggedly to Wettenhall, left at the Chester -Wrexham road to Nantwich, then on to a pavement cycle path opposite Reaseheath College. I then followed a cycle path alongside the river Weaver, which was very pleasant. A passer by randomly said “That’s a fine tool you have there”. Under a road then up on to the pavement to the lights at Welsh Row. Right into Welsh Row, then eventually left into a minor road which led to the Canal bridge and the road to Wrenbury. Back into the persistent headwind again, which together with the gradual climb did nothing for my speed.
Wrenbury to Harthill
Once beyond Wrenbury, a feeling that at least the high hedge banks between here and the A49 were helping to keep the wind off, and certainly the climbing felt better. Once across the A49, through Cholmondeley, past a wooded area of ancient Scots pines. The tall trees moved majestically as the wind rumbled through them, but I couldn’t help wondering how often one of them came down. Further in, things were calmer, though the uphill was still noticeable between the reddish trunks. Soon I came out on an area with more widely spaced deciduous trees on the right, and fields with high banks on the left. The high banks kept the wind off, but the sibilant leaves were loud over the rushing of the wind. Finally I reached a summit, and the trend became downhill towards Bickerton. I was still on NCN 45. After a right turn at a T junction came a sign for Bickerton, and the road sloped downhill to a cross roads with the A534.
Once across, a gradual uphill then a steady downhill to the junction with Harthill Lane, following NCN 45 right. The climb to Harthill began, a long fairly steep climb from the junction, round a left hand bend and a short sharp pitch to the summit. The small spire of the Primary School came into view, then the low mausoleum in the churchyard, then the vista of All Saints’ Church with a similar, but much older, spire. It is so theatrical that someone could have planned the approach up the hill for dramatic effect.
Harthill to Waverton
I continued over the top without stopping and was soon getting up some good downhill speed, constrained only by the limited visibility between high hedge banks, and a winding road. I was rapidly approaching the next climb. It was steeper than the one at Harthill. Another sharp left hand bend. A truck and trailer came up behind and I pulled over and waved them past. Once round the bend the summit was visible and I spun over it. There was then a clear downhill run for several miles, after what had felt like endless uphill and headwinds, where I was able to enjoy striding along in high gear towards the muted Georgian elegance of Tattenhall. Once in Tattenhall, right at the next two junctions then left for Huxley. After crossing the railway and canal bridges in short order, some more gradual downhill speed past the turn off for Huxley heading for Waverton. I thought I was doing rather well until the downhill levelled out and a grim faced road bike rider stormed past, mostly in black. I wondered what it took to make him smile?
Once across its high traffic light controlled bridge I was accompanied on the right by the Shropshire Union Canal with its colourful boats most of the way into Waverton. Non stop so far. Definitely time for a Pie Stop at Waverton, at 32.82 miles.
Waverton to Connah’s Quay
After a welcome break, off I went up Brown Heath Road, through some roadworks, left on to Plough lane to Christleton. Right into Village Lane, through a cross roads into Little Heath Lane. Some quaint older suburbs here, everything clean and well maintained as I dawdled by. Soon I was on Bye Pass Lane then Littleton Lane. This terminated at the A51. There was a pedestrian and bike crossing some way to the right so I wheeled down the pavement and pressed the button. The traffic stopped, I crossed, and was soon rolling on the gradual uphill on Hare Lane opposite. I made a mental note to return this way. Just before I was due to turn right into Bellvue Lane there were barriers and a road closed sign.
I seem to be seeing a lot of this sort of thing recently.

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There were two works trucks parked in front of the barriers. I leaned the bike on a telephone pole and spoke to a workman in one of them to ask about access for cyclists. He said no problem, they were just going to leave, and by the time I got back to the bike, both trucks had disappeared down the road.
I turned right down Bellevue Lane following a deep trench.

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The trench and barriers ended after a few hundred yards and soon afterwards the lane turned sharp left then came to a T junction at Guilden Sutton Lane. Left here, then about a hundred yards ahead on the right was a green sign -”Greenway Chester”. I followed the sign which led to an unpaved road then a rather overgrown bridleway, more like a footpath. I seem to be negotiating a lot of this kind of thing lately, too.

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I followed this downhill for about a quarter of a mile, under a bridge, sharp left and up a ramp. Here there was a sign, left for Mickle Trafford, right for Chester City Centre/Hawarden Bridge.
I turned right and set off at a steady pace towards Chester. The Greenway here was in a cutting with tall trees either side, and overbridges at intervals. The surface is good tarmac but does have some surprising dips and rises for a rail trail. I came to a park where many people were walking after which the trail was level or higher than the surrounding area.
It had been mostly dry up to now, a few rain spots when approaching Wrenbury and Waverton, but now it started to drizzle. I crossed the Shropshire Union Canal and continued through the old station at Blacon. The rain had set in by then, no mere shower, so I carried on, hoping it would pass. There was plenty of overhanging greenery to absorb the worst of it but by the time I got near to the old RAF camp at Sealand, that too was dripping steadily. My original intention had been to press on beyond the 50 mile point, hopefully to Flint where there was a McDonalds, maybe as far as Abakhan Fabrics at Mostyn, about 56 miles, before turning back but with the unexpected headwind my schedule had been pushed back. I thought I’d give myself until 14:00 before deciding, then stretched it to15:00. Despite being wet, I was feeling good, but if it was going to continue raining, I’d prefer to be home before dark.
I pushed on to the high bridge over the dual carriageway at Sealand, then zoomed down the other side back under the trees that lined the route.

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I turned off for Hawarden Bridge and was soon climbing the ramp that led to the station. Squeezing through the A -frame barrier that led on to the combined cycleway and footway on the bridge, a train rumbled past alongside me. I dawdled across, looking at the old wooden pilings and the polished brown of the water. It was low tide, and I could smell the mud. I squeezed through another A -frame barrier and followed a sign under the bridge towards Flint. I’d noticed that the local A -frame barriers were slightly narrower than the ones nearer home, and I had to wiggle to get the seat frame through, which was not a real problem, just that it added a slight delay each time.
I was now on the Wales Coast Path, which so far seemed to be well surfaced and signposted. There were A -frame barriers interspersed with staggered U -shaped ones, which were easier to negotiate. I came across a group of cyclists who seemed to be loading their bikes into cars after a ride. I said “hi” but they seemed nonplussed by the sight of this loon riding by on this weird bike in the rain. I came to Connah’s Quay Harbour where the trail joined the road for a bit. It was nearly 15:00 so I decided to go a bit further and rejoined the signposted path for a while. It seemed a bit indirect from here, might have been quicker to use the road. Anyhow, time to turn back.
I stopped at Connah’s Quay to take a few photos

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then pressed on to Hawarden Bridge.

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I reached the 50 mile mark as I neared the bridge, and pondered whether to make the most of the tail wind and ride the Wales Coast Path which was dead straight and flat to Chester, or go back on the Greenway which was less flat but more sheltered. A fresh burst of rain as I was crossing the bridge made my mind up for me – the Greenway it was.

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Down the ramp and back under the trees, I trundled on, now pulled by the magnetic attraction of home. The tail wind helped some, even with the surrounding trees. I climbed the high bridge at Sealand, then pedalled steadily down the other side to keep my speed up as long as possible. The speed dropped to a steady trundle. The raindrops kept falling on my head (I know a song about that), the pedals kept turning, and the landscape rolled soggily by.
There seemed to be a long long gradual uphill until I reached the old Blacon station site then things became easier. As I got closer to Chester the rain eased, then stopped. I came to the bridge over the Shropshire Union Canal, then leaned the bike against the parapet and had a walk about and a peer over the side.

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It was noticeable that walkers and cyclists at the Chester end were much friendlier than at the Hawarden end. Whether this was related to the amount of rain that habitually fell on them I couldn’t say, but I certainly felt more optimistic once I’d reached Chester.
By the time I’d reached my turn off near the end of the Greenway my trousers had dried out. I turned down the ramp, right under the bridge then ascended the bridleway to come out on Guilden Sutton Lane. Here I had a quick look at my map before deciding to turn right here for Pipers Ash. A steady climb, with traffic queuing for the major road at the T junction at the top of the hill. However, I turned left here just beforehand through some Road Closed signs and enjoyed a traffic free ride to the other side of the barriers I’d come to earlier.
I followed the footway to an open space where it swopped to the other side of the road. Here I waited while a lady cyclist came the other way. She looked as if she was enjoying the traffic fee road too. I noticed she was riding a silver ladies’ Claud Butler. After passing through the rest of the barriers I carried on down Hare Lane over the M53 and came out on the A51 at Vicar’s Cross. I used the crossing as before and was soon on Littleton Lane, then Bye Pass Lane. Little Heath Lane, Village Lane, through Christleton then Plough Lane, right through some roadworks on to Brown Heath Lane to Waverton. Alas, the pie shop had closed but with Plan B and some supplies in my bag I turned right on Eggbridge Road then stopped at the canal by Egg Bridge to recharge on a bench. This is becoming a favoured stopping point. A couple of chaps fishing, some ducks coming hopefully out of the water when they heard the rustle of a crisp packet, walkers and cyclists passing by. No rain. All very pleasant.
Waverton to Home
I put the rear flashing light on before setting off.
The last leg now, alongside the canal until the road crosses the tall bridge and the canal wanders away. To the Huxley turn off, then towards Tiverton. A few spots of rain again but it didn’t live up to its threat.
I reached the A49 at Tiverton. I switched the front flashing light on and turned left uphill. The road levelled out, I lined up with the lane for straight ahead, all set to power through then the lights changed. Pfftt! Brakes, clunking down through the gears ready for the green, foot down, twiddling of the thumbs.
A green light then the launch, on to a quieter road away from the traffic. This road, to Eaton, has a series of humps and dips which give the chance to gain and lose speed dramatically. So off up the initial climb, with traffic noise from the A49 which turns away behind, then down the other side gaining as much speed as possible downhill before losing it by the next summit. Three peaks altogether, the last one in Eaton before turning right for Hickhurst Lane. Powering downhill, lighting up a speed indicator board on the next incline with a green smiley face at 18mph before it all leaked away uphill again. Then along a series of downhills through the quiet lanes, the reward for all the hard pedalling on the narrow, potentially fast -trafficked road to Eaton.
Losing momentum but still easy pedalling to the T junction where Hickhurst Lane meets Hall Lane, then left along the temporarily traffic free route to Darnhall Bridge. Through the pedestrian access, then climbing the other side at my leisure with no worries about traffic. Coming to the end of this stretch of road I saw that I’d only done 78 miles, and went round the block to round it up to 80 miles. Disappointed that wind and weather had stopped me from doing a hundred mile ride today, though consoled myself that I’d done a kilo -metric century (about 62 m), at least. Not being any sort of athlete, I suppose I should be happy with that. There’s still the possibility that I could do it before the nights close in in a month or so, given the right weather. I would certainly like a longer look at the Wales Coast Path around Flint. Perhaps on the Spirit next time, as I’ve been experimenting with the gearing.
I arrived at my back gate at 8pm. 12 hours door to door.
As I did a near 360 degree turn in the road to access my back gate, a man on a mobility scooter called out, “that is so awesome!” and I suppose it is, really. “Thank you!” I replied.


Distance 80.11 miles Max 30.5 mph Average 7.6mph. According to Garmin.
Ascent 1792 ft. According to Bikehike.
 

a.twiddler

Veteran
24/8/24
Little Budworth and the Test Hill of Doom on the Linear
Another one from last year.


The weather had been a bit variable earlier today but it looked promising for an evening ride. I hadn’t intended to go far, as I was going to go out earlier but was laid low by an unexpected migraine episode. It was just going to be a twirl round the block to get my head straight.

I set off in the direction of Darnhall Bridge, still closed to traffic due to repairs.
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The recent wind has been blowing the barriers about.
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I enjoyed the traffic free road until I turned right on to Hickhurst Lane. I hadn’t planned on going further but it was so pleasant I decided to make a round trip of it.

There still wasn’t much about, a slight head wind, the sun getting low on the horizon, some moody cloudscapes.
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I turned right into Kings Lane after a couple of miles then right into Rushton Lane, downhill past the red brick wall of Oulton Park then left into Brownhills Road. At the next crossroads with high hedgebanks restricting the visibility I carefully turned right into Eaton Lane. There was a good rush downhill then up again, then a gentle climb through woods, passing the entrance to Oulton Park on the right. Soon I was in Little Budworth.
Little Teeny Tiny Budworth. Not many miles away is Great Budworth. Sounds as if you might be able to see it from space, but that's tiny, too.
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I rolled easily through the village, passed a pub full of noise and laughter, took some photos by the church,
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swopped my sunglasses for clear ones then pedalled downhill past the old mill and steamed up the other side. My momentum carried me up most of the other side. A couple of cars came up behind and gave me plenty of room as they passed. A little more climbing and I came to the junction with Park Road, where I turned right.

Within a mile or so I was at the crossroads with the A54. Straight across to Clay Lane through a gap in the traffic, down a narrow high hedgebanked lane, hoping not to meet anything coming the other way until it opened out. A distant car light appeared in my mirror but as I was belting downhill, sweeping right, then left as the road started to climb, he didn’t attempt to pass until I was back at my usual uphill trundling speed. Another dip and climb, and I was approaching the summit of Clay Lane at Whitegate Station bridge. The lights cycled green, then red then green again just as I reached the bridge, getting up speed down the other side. I passed a couple of modern thatched cottages then crossed Dalefords Lane on to Cinder Hill, AKA The Test Hill Of Doom.

This I named from the time when I first went down here after acquiring the Linear and finding the hard way that the rear brake that came with it was OK for everyday use but was alarmingly feeble if you wanted to stop from any higher speeds downhill. Since the weight bias is to the rear on a LWB bike, this suddenly became Very Important Indeed. This problem was solved through a helpful member of CC, and it now has a very effective olde skool BMX rear brake, which has made a huge difference.

I rode on to a stopping point before the downhill, put my flashing lights on, took my cap off, and sat on it just to show I meant business. It’s said that you should scream if you want to go faster, but I can scream until I’m hoarse, and it doesn’t make much difference. Perhaps I’m doing it wrong. The light was fading, and I was on the shady side of the sunset. No traffic about, so off I went, into high gear until I could pedal no faster, and let gravity do the work. I kept off the brakes, the wind whistled in my ears and my eyes began watering. A bit shady under the overhanging trees, would have felt a bit happier with a bit more definition of the road surface as it wound about. The speed began to decline as the slope ended, and I turned right into Grange Lane. Grange Lane itself turns right again becoming a bridle way while the lane continues straight on as Mill Lane. I was tempted to go straight on for the longer way home, but it was beginning to get dark so I took the more direct, unsurfaced route. It occurred to me that I hadn’t been this way since the beginning of this year, perhaps the end of last, so it made a change.

Grange Lane started quite well as a tarmacked entrance to some cottages, then came a barrier with an open space beyond it. Unfortunately it soon became a narrow path through a wood, almost choked in places by eye level undergrowth. I realised that it was August. Where had the rest of the year gone? I rode where I could, paddled along upright in the seat where I couldn’t. The height of the undergrowth would have made no difference if I’d been using a bike with over seat steering as the prickly, scratchy stingers were at eye height in places. I pressed on in the gathering gloom wondering how long this would go on.
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Would some passer by discover my bleached bones in the undergrowth when spring came round? The dry path became puddled, though the grip was fine. Would there be a sea of mud when I came out on the lane? I came out of the woods to find the lane was dry, with plenty of light. It was easy going, though uphill. It didn’t take long to come out on to the tarmacked road again, past the bridge abutments of the Whitegate way. I was soon passing through an estate on the way to the sports fields.

It was definitely darkening by now. Passing through the sports fields not far before the exit barrier I came across a dog walker on the phone. He pulled his dog to one side, not paying much attention until I’d got past. “Hey! It’s one of those lying-down bicycles! You don’t see those very often!” “I replied, “Well, when you get to my age, it’s nice to put your feet up.” I got through the barrier and started off again. He carried on talking to whoever was on the other end, “Yes, he’s just gone past, straight up the hill!”. That’s the trouble with an audience, just when you want to take it easy, you have to make an effort for your public, so I spun furiously until I was out of sight.

I came to an estate road where I turned right, then left on to Delamere St. I stopped to check that my rear light was still working then got going to the A54 roundabout. Although there was traffic stopped to the right on the roundabout my way was clear so I kept going until I slowed down on Swanlow Lane, then gradually built it up again. Some steady rolling then a sprint through the Townfields Road traffic lights to get me through my uphill turn off brought me home.

Sometimes, the unintended rides work out better than the carefully planned ones.

Distance 15.06 miles. Max speed 32.2 mph. Hmm. I'm gonna need a longer hill. Average 7.4 mph. According to Garmin.
Ascent 451 ft. According to Bikehike.
 

C R

Guru
Location
Worcester
First "proper" ride of the year. I was meaning to ride about 30km, but was feeling quite fresh so extended the ride. Ended with a bit over 56km. By 45km the legs started to mention the lack of miles this year, but by now the only way to get home was to carry on. Quite chilly compared to during the week, I wore autumn kit, but the gloves were almost not enough.

The map

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C R

Guru
Location
Worcester
Endurace CF9.0 Di2 to give it's full title.
Bought in 2017 and still going strong. Getting a bit like Triggers broom in r that I'm having to gradually replace bits but I love it. Lightweight as well, 7kg is the advertised weight

Aren't most bikes like Trigger's broom after a while? My commuter only has the frame, the fork and the handlebar left from when I bought it, n hand already by then, in 1999.
 

PeteXXX

Cake or ice cream? The choice is endless ...
Location
Hamtun
Endurace CF9.0 Di2 to give it's full title.
Bought in 2017 and still going strong. Getting a bit like Triggers broom in r that I'm having to gradually replace bits but I love it. Lightweight as well, 7kg is the advertised weight
Mine's late 2014 with about 15,000 miles on it.. Usual consumables have been changing as & when necessary, too!
They're great bikes, aren't they! 👌
 

geocycle

Legendary Member
Decided to get out early and do a relatively long ride to Garsdale. It was much cooler than of late and a stiff NE wind resisted progress up Lonsdale. I paused at Kirby enjoying the pre 9:00 lack of traffic and continued up to Sedbergh. Again the main road was devoid of traffic and I made good progress into the wind. I bypassed Sedbergh itself using the tiny road past the golf course which disgorged me onto the Garsdale road where I paused to contemplate the Dent fault. The climb up Garsdale is fairly gentle and gave lots of time for looking for Birds. I heard my first cuckoo then watched a hen harrier hunting. The first serious climb was the steep haul up the coal road from Garsdale station to Dentdale via Dent station I stopped on the top for a picnic surrounded by milk maids, best not tell Mrs G. I was also surprised to see the cotton grass in flower. The white knuckle descent into Dentdale came to an abrupt end with a road closed sign. I wanted to head up to Denthead but the signs said otherwise. After a discussion with other cyclists we decided to chance it but then turned back as another group informed us it was barriered off and the road had collapsed. Oh well, an opportunity to ride into Dent for a cafe and contemplation of an alternative route. It had to be Barbondale and then picked up the outrun at Kirby Lonsdale. Longest ride of the year so far 114 km with 1620 m of climbing.

Pictures are of bike resting for a view of Dentdale, distant view of Lake District from Coal Road, Cotton Grass, descent toward Dentdale and Barbondale.


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a.twiddler

Veteran
30/4/25
Recumbent Ride (also posted on Recumbent rides)
Heat Defeat

Today promised to be very warm so I thought I’d try and get an early start. I’d had a root canal done last week and unfortunately it had flared up so I’m on antibiotics. Keeping active may help as stimulating the circulation can encourage healing as well as carrying away toxins. Unfortunately it can also cause painful throbbing too. I got myself ibuprofened up and took some paracetamol with me just in case.
Wearing just a T shirt with the usual nondescript trousers, everyday shoes, peaked cap and track mitts, I bunged on my shades and wheeled the bike out on to the road. Off downhill to the left, then approaching Darnhall Bridge I realised that I hadn’t brought my camera with me. There was always my phone, but without my gilet with its pockets, that was in my rack bag. Well, I wasn’t going back now, so I pressed on down the dip and up the other side.


My first decently long ride on the Linear since my 80 miler last August, when my riding for any distance was interrupted by pericarditis and fettling the newly acquired but ultimately unsuitable Grasshopper.


Despite my efforts to conserve my energy for later in the ride, I felt that the bike was going well. Keeping a steady speed up in the direction of Wettenhall, I zoomed down a dip and up the other side to find a road closed barrier with a road mending truck beyond it apparently fixing potholes. One of the workmen told me that if I waited, they’d be finished in a few minutes.
Once they’d moved on to the next stretch, I carried on. There were minute tarred stone chips everywhere, which attached themselves to my tyres. Once I’d passed through this area on to untreated road it was if I was taking my own gravel track with me as the gravel stuck to my tyres made gritty noises as I rolled along. I turned left on the Church Minshull road, then left into Woodgreen Lane which eventually led to Paradise Lane. I stopped in a gateway to pick as many of the bits off as possible before carrying on.
A tractor and trailer went past in a cloud of dust. I’d seen several of these today already.


Early last year I came to Paradise Lane hoping to get a photo of the Linear next to the name plate but it had disappeared. It hasn’t been replaced yet. I turned right on Over Road towards Church Minshull and after covering a level stretch came to the long downhill to Church Minshull itself.
There was little traffic about and after pedalling up to speed I was able to let the bike roll away. At the bottom of the hill the road winds a little as it levels but it’s still possible to keep pedalling into the village itself without needing to brake until reaching a traffic calming chicane. I kept rolling until I caught up with traffic at a mini roundabout. I could see that I’d reached 30.2 mph on the downhill, which despite the longer downhills I’d meet later, was the highest speed I’d see today.


I turned left and crossed a long narrow bridge over the river Weaver before the steepish climb up to a summit over a canal bridge on the Middlewich branch of the Shropshire Union canal. There is an entranceway near the top where I usually pull in to let traffic past but today there wasn’t much about so I climbed it without stopping.


Once over the top I worked my way up through the gears and got rolling respectably again. The road was fairly flat for a while and after a 90 degree right turn it was straight for over a mile so traffic that wanted to pass could do so with ease. It’s potentially a fast road. Another left hand bend followed by a straight, then a 90 degree left and a T junction with traffic lights.
It didn’t take long for the queue to work its way through the lights and I turned right then sharp left through some cones into the part of Flowers Lane that had been by passed by new road construction. I couldn’t help thinking of Miley Cyrus singing “Flowers” as I passed the sign. It was pleasantly shady here and as the day was noticeably heating up, after passing through some bollards I leaned the Linear against a tree and had a drink of water and a stretch.

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I was soon rolling again, past a substantial plastic barrier designed to keep cars out, then joined the new road at an oblique angle, going left. A small roundabout, straight on, to another roundabout where I turned left. I was soon approaching another set of lights where several cars were waiting at red. With a wary eye in my mirror for rusher uppers in their cars who might hurtle up to the lights and brake at the last minute, I eased off until I was s-l-o-w-l-y approaching the last vehicle. As I’d hoped, the lights changed and I went through without stopping.
Steady rolling with the traffic then, until ahead I could see a red pedestrian crossing light ahead over the tops of the vehicles and just freewheeled. If I was in a motor vehicle it would be called hypermiling, but to me on a bike it’s just conservation of momentum and saving energy. Is it annoying to other road users? Probably not, as someone on a bike is slower than motor traffic most of the time, and there are plenty of bikes about in the town of Crewe so drivers are used to them.
Anyhow, the traffic had cleared by the time I got to the crossing, and so I rolled on. A high railway bridge ahead, so I gained a little speed, changed down near the top, and freewheeled down the other side, needing to touch the brakes for the first time in miles as a parked car caused a traffic obstruction. I still hadn’t put a foot down yet since having my last drink, and the traffic had cleared by the time I’d reached that spot.
Ahead, a large roundabout where a well known pub had once existed, giving its name to the Cross Keys roundabout. More or less straight round without needing to stop, heading through a residential district, over another high railway bridge and then coming to the junction of many roads at a busy roundabout. If it had been quiet, I would have just ridden round it, but as it was the lunch time rush hour I decided to use the cycling facilities since they were there.


It was a bit of a long way round, using the cycle/pedestrian lights at each road in the opposite direction to the traffic flow, but gratifying to think that drivers might have something of interest to look at in compensation for being held up at the lights. After all, it’s not every day you see a LWB recumbent bike with underseat steering in the course of your travels.


Eventually I reached the cycle path on University Way, and it was actually quite pleasant bearing in mind I would soon be mixing it with the traffic on Weston Road.
I’d intended to cross over to the other side of the road before reaching the roundabout at the end but missed the last bit of lowered pavement. Still, there was a cycle crossing on the approach to the roundabout so I was soon across and following a cycle path alongside Weston Road until it ended.


There was a wide pavement here, and I could see others cycling along it, so I followed it until I came across a car with its bonnet up with two wheels on the pavement. The lady driver said she was waiting for the breakdown service and was very apologetic for blocking the pavement. “No problem”, I said, “as long as you’re not stranded”. There was room to get past on the pavement so I carried on. Further on there was a van parked on the pavement but there was a lowered kerb just in front of it so I just got on the road and took my chances. It wasn’t very far from there to turn off into the lane to Weston so I just blagged it, stuck out my right arm and took up the position and before I knew it I was crossing a railway bridge en route to the quaint old village of Weston. As I passed the centre I noticed the White Lion Inn with 1652 on its frontage in prominent numbers.


I felt it was time to find a shady spot with a bench to have my lunchtime snack. It was getting uncomfortably hot. I pressed on and was soon at a roundabout on the Newcastle Road. I went across it on to the Newcastle Road going East and came across a grassy area in the shade of some trees. I waited for some cars to pass. There was an approaching cyclist in my mirror but he wasn’t near so I signalled, rode across the road, and extended the Linear’s stand. Here I stopped for a while, cooling off and eating my snack. No bench here, but you can’t have everything.

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Suitably refreshed, I wheeled the bike to the other side of the road, got on and set off in the direction of Balterley Heath. Uphill to a roundabout, straight across, more uphill then downhill into Staffordshire to a junction where I turned left on to the B5500.


A little more downhill then a taste of things to come as the road gradually climbed. Some traffic along here, including the occasional tractor and trailer. Through Balterley then over the M6. I’d planned to turn right into Shraleybrook Road but there was a group of horse riders filling the junction so I pressed on thinking I’d go via Audley, continuing along the B5500. Once I’d passed this point there was some downhill then mostly flat into Audley.


Things seemed to be going well, though I was aware of feeling uncomfortably hot. I knew that there was going to be some steep climbing ahead. I turned right into Wilbraham’s Walk which itself was a steep climb. I hadn’t got myself into a low enough gear, and part way up wobbled to a halt. I pushed up on to the pavement to cool off under an overhanging bush while I carefully eased the hub gear into its low range before setting off to the junction with Church St.
Right, then a slight uphill, a slight dip, more uphill then a left turn down Hougher Wall Road which is a very steep downhill, then up the other side of Rye Hills. I noticed an interesting black vintage Citroen Traction Avant parked at the roadside as I went past. Across an old railway bridge which was possibly the site of the former local station, right down Heathcote Road which is another steep long downhill.


Unfortunately, for every steep long downhill there is another steep long uphill. Here, there was no shade, and as I toiled uphill towards Halmer End I felt like a fly on a window pane. I stopped under a small tree, with the sun virtually overhead minimising the shade. Even when stopped, I felt my temperature rising. I braced myself to go another hundred yards. I can climb hills, and I can tolerate a certain amount of heat but I can’t do both simultaneously. I’d hoped to get to Alsager’s bank, get over the top, whizz down the Black Bank on the other side to Knutton then come back up and enjoy the long downhill trend towards Crewe.


I rarely miss having conventional handlebars but this could be one of those occasions where I might have wished for something to get hold of to push this bike into the shade. Furthermore, time was going by. I would have to try this again, either starting earlier, waiting for a cooler day, or both. It’s possible that if I’d been able to take the route via Shraleybrook Road, there would have been more shade on the way up, and I’d have got further. Another hundred yards, then I decided enough was enough. I turned across the road and faced downhill.


I made a determined effort to get up speed, avoiding all the parked cars and oncoming traffic. I could see the steep uphill approaching but at least I could see the summit, which was the junction with Rye Hills. Up I went, down and down through the gears. I pressed on, but came to a stop just yards from the junction. As I sat there, sweaty and dishevelled, getting my breath back, a girl I’d passed earlier coming the other way crossed the road in front of me and gave me a wry smile.


I gathered myself together, covered the last few yards and turned left. After a slight uphill it was down a long steep dip and another climb which I managed without stopping. Then across a road to go downhill again, then left on to B5500 Nantwich Road and on the way back to Balterley Heath.
Once I’d passed the entrance to Shraleybrook Road where there were yet more horse riders, with one or two riders dismounting at a farm opposite, the road went downhill over the M6 and I was able to get speed up, still going well up the short climb on the other side and then able to stride along in high gear down a long gradual downhill.


As I was sailing along enjoying the self induced breeze I spotted a bench on the left. It was situated on a narrow footpath separated from the road by a low bank, covered in long grass. I looked back and saw there was a small road turning off on the left so I rode back, turned in, and got on the path. I could see that this was a memorial bench with plaques. I leaned the bike on it, and sat in the shade for a few minutes while I had a drink and a snack.

Linear Break on a Wayside Bench.jpg



Linear and Memorial Plate on Bench.jpg


I was grateful to Graham Tomkinson, his dog Max, and friends who had contributed towards this shady bench for overheated travellers such as myself to cool off on.

I pondered the effects of heat on my performance. Last year on a blisteringly hot day I’d passed through Tarporley on the Spirit, coming back from a trip to Chester, and overheated on the long uphill on Forest Road. I’d had to stop several times to try to cool off but once on the level with a bit of a breeze, I was fine. A few years previously on the Linear with camping gear I’d been trying to reach the watershed on the A483 south of Newtown, hoping that once I’d got to that point the downhill trend would have enabled me to do the 20 miles or so to Llandrindod Wells without too much trouble. It would only have been a couple more miles, but the steep climb and the heat defeated me then. I’d often thought about that, and how if I’d persevered I might have got to Llandrindod that day. Today’s experience reminded me that it wasn’t just a case of wimping out, I’d just had to get out of the heat and cool down or I might have keeled over by the roadside. If some kind local had come by in his pickup and offered me and the bike a lift for that couple of miles, I wouldn’t have been too proud to accept it on that day.

I changed my peaked cap for a floppy sun hat with a brim all round and a chin strap, and immediately felt cooler. I took a couple of paracetamol, as my tooth was beginning to make its presence felt. I wheeled the bike through the long grass and down the bank, and hit the road.
After some pleasant high gear rolling I was soon at Balterley Heath and turning right on the Newcastle Road, and passing the sign welcoming me to Cheshire.
The road ran downhill again from this point, straight on through a roundabout, then downhill to another roundabout where I turned left for Nantwich, still on Newcastle Road. The road here ran uphill again, then up and over a railway bridge to the village of Hough. From here the road seemed mostly level or downhill. This was the old main road until the dual carriagewayed A500 was built. Technically, you could cycle on the A500 but with the busy fast traffic it wouldn’t be very pleasant.
Although there was regular traffic on this road, it wasn’t obtrusive. I felt as though I was making good progress here, through the lights at Shavington, to the place where this road met the A500 at a roundabout where I went left for Nantwich. The traffic was more dense here but bearable. I came to some traffic lights where I took the right hand lane for straight on. The left lane was for traffic turning left, though it didn’t stop some loon on my left undertaking me as I reached the far side of the junction. Annoying, but there was plenty of space. Keep it up, dude. Keep rolling the dice, and some day you will meet your comeuppance.


Over a level crossing, and into the Black-and-White town of Nantwich.


I arrived at a mini roundabout and turned right, then straight across the next one. Some girl in a car with a group of teenagers screamed something, I know not what. I arrived at another set of lights and waited with the traffic before proceeding. Uneventfully to the next set, over the river Weaver on a bridge, left at the next roundabout past the front of Reaseheath college, then getting speed up as best I could until I came to the turn off on the right for Wettenhall Lane, gratefully leaving the traffic behind. Some resurfacing has been done here, a very smooth surface as I passed behind the college and for several miles beyond.


I came to a long dip with a narrow bridge ahead. I could see that the road was clear so I gave it the beans downhill knowing that this time I’d be able to keep speed up for the other side without the potholes rattling my fillings out as they had on previous occasions here. And so it was, as the speed slowly declined and I rolled on at my comfortable pace.
I kept on rolling at an easy pace and soon came to Wettenhall Marina. I thought I’d have a break before the final few miles home. What better than to sit in a shady spot eating an ice cream watching the boats go by? So I did. Not only boats but trains rattling by on the Crewe -Chester line on its embankment nearby.

Linear at Wettenhall Marina.jpg


Feeling chilled out, I got going again. Across the car park, right into the lane and up and over the humped canal bridge, with some free speed from dropping down the other side. I passed under the railway bridge and surprised a line of cyclists coming the other way as I burst into the sunlight.
A little further on, I met some more cyclists, maybe part of the same group.


This road was then dead straight for a mile or two, encouraging drivers to put their foot down. Unfortunately the surface here is dreadful, so it’s least uncomfortable to stay in the middle if you can. I could see where the road mending team had been doing their best to fix potholes but the road had sunk near the edges and was pretty rough in places. It certainly meant that you could hear the tyre noise from approaching vehicles from a long way away.
I’d gone most of the way down this straight stretch when I bounced through an unavoidable pothole and heard a sound from the back wheel. I stopped to investigate and saw that a spare luggage elastic had become unhooked from the rear carrier and one end had been pulled onto the rear sprockets under the chain. After some fun and games unhooking it I established that there’d been no damage and continued on my way. I passed through Wettenhall. Then, down a dip, up the other side and some steady progress between hedgebanks until I eventually stopped in the shade by Darnhall village hall for a drink of water.


As I got going again a large black BMW came roaring past so I hurried after it hoping that if it triggered the lights on Darnhall Bridge I might benefit from it. Sure enough the lights turned green and as it disappeared I pedalled furiously after it, getting a bit further up the other side than usual before changing down and grinding up the rest of it.
Not long afterwards I was passing my back gate, a little short of 45 miles so I went a bit further to round it up before turning back for home.
On the whole, a good ride even if I didn’t manage my objective due to the heat. Since my last few rides have been related to fettling the Rans Stratus, it was good to get out on the faithful old Linear and enjoy its familiar virtues. Despite being ancient, it’s reliable and comfortable, and the under seat steering just feels so nice. It’s possible that once I’ve got the Rans Stratus fully sorted the Linear will have to go due to space considerations, but I’ll continue to enjoy it while I can.

First metric half century this year, for those that appreciate such things.

Distance 45.03 miles. Max Speed 30.2 mph. Average speed 8.5 mph. According to Garmin.
Ascent 1106 ft. According to Bikehike.
 

cyberknight

As long as I breathe, I attack.
AIRC social club ride , 42 mile route and this was listed as a social cafe ride but i still averaged 17.5 mph !
10 of us this morning with a chilly rainy start that warmed up as we rode but the wind was still chilly so im glad i wrapped up , the founder of my old club turned up as he closed that club about 2 months ago as there were issues and he is looking for a ride without the hassle of organisation.
Had a different front wheel on the bike to see if it was the wheel that was ticking under load and it seems it is so i will have to get it serviced .
Around 24 miles to the cafe at Newlands Farm then a ride back to the start saw me actually hang on all the way around and even be in the top half of the riders up the final big hill ( Pistern hill for those from this neck of the woods ) actually getting my second best time .
As its 5 miles to the meet up point for me i decided to do a detour and get the 100 km / 62 miles in today as i felt good :smile:
 

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MadMalx

Well-Known Member
Decided to get out early and do a relatively long ride to Garsdale. It was much cooler than of late and a stiff NE wind resisted progress up Lonsdale. I paused at Kirby enjoying the pre 9:00 lack of traffic and continued up to Sedbergh. Again the main road was devoid of traffic and I made good progress into the wind. I bypassed Sedbergh itself using the tiny road past the golf course which disgorged me onto the Garsdale road where I paused to contemplate the Dent fault. The climb up Garsdale is fairly gentle and gave lots of time for looking for Birds. I heard my first cuckoo then watched a hen harrier hunting. The first serious climb was the steep haul up the coal road from Garsdale station to Dentdale via Dent station I stopped on the top for a picnic surrounded by milk maids, best not tell Mrs G. I was also surprised to see the cotton grass in flower. The white knuckle descent into Dentdale came to an abrupt end with a road closed sign. I wanted to head up to Denthead but the signs said otherwise. After a discussion with other cyclists we decided to chance it but then turned back as another group informed us it was barriered off and the road had collapsed. Oh well, an opportunity to ride into Dent for a cafe and contemplation of an alternative route. It had to be Barbondale and then picked up the outrun at Kirby Lonsdale. Longest ride of the year so far 114 km with 1620 m of climbing.

Pictures are of bike resting for a view of Dentdale, distant view of Lake District from Coal Road, Cotton Grass, descent toward Dentdale and Barbondale.


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I may have passed today, we (5 Settle Wheelers) stopped at a Dent cafe too.
Denthead has been closed for months. It was possible to squeeze past the barriers, but in the last month they have made them much more robust. We have done it via the woods a couple of weeks back, but involved climbing a wall and passing bikes up and down.
Today we went to Dent via Kingsdale and out via Barbondale, both fantastic lanes.
 
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