18/4/21
Can it really be the 31st March when I last went for a decent ride on the Linear? No wonder I’m getting withdrawal symptoms. I was going to go out yesterday but found a broken spoke in the back wheel. No spares, so I nipped off to my nearest proper LBS and got a few as if one has gone, more may follow. If that happens it might be worth getting it rebuilt with new spokes for peace of mind. I hope that it’s a one off but it’s always good to have a plan B. I managed to do it as a a “roadside repair” but in my garage, without taking the wheel off and without losing the spoke nipple in the depths of the (surprisingly deep) rim. I checked the other spokes for tension and retensioned a few so they all sound approximately the same when tapped with a spanner.
So after that frenzy of nipple tweaking I was good to go today.
A fine day, sunny but not too hot with a slight but noticeable wind. Just the battered cap and tee shirt, and my shades. Slapped on some sun cream, just got an ordinary pair of trousers with my much travelled bike clips. I bought a pair of track mitts years ago from Aldi and they just refuse to wear out so they came too. I suppose I’ll lose one now having said that.
No faffing about, straight out of the back gate and off in the direction of Wettenhall, lime green bike clips reflecting alternately in the shiny chrome dome of the remote controlled belI. I rolled slowly through the lights at Darnhall bridge and had just started to climb up the other side of the dip when a mountain biker steamed past, having taken advantage of me triggering the green while he had momentum coming down the hill behind me. He soon disappeared and I never saw him again. I would have done the same thing too. Once on the level, my average speed held for a while at 13 mph but once I turned into the slight wind on the road to Oulton Park it slowly drifted down to 11 mph. I managed to keep rolling easily and the only other cyclists I came across were heading in the opposite direction.
Speed seemed to be low for a stretch then a short downhill past Oulton Park’s weathered red brick walls gave a boost before a left turn for Cotebrook. Across a problematical poorly sighted crossroads into Oulton Mill Lane with a lazy downhill in high gear until I came across a “Road Closed” sign. There was no barrier so I carried on through. Up a slight uphill where a ginger cat sat staring in horror at the approaching apparition which was me on my bike, before arching its back and running up a nearby drive. I eased off as I approached the A49 as I could see heavy traffic speeding by in both directions. A youth on a mountain bike came up behind me as I waited for a gap. Fortunately I got across without drama (uphill start! Need for a rapid getaway!) followed by the other cyclist. I turned right at the next crossroads at the top of a short hill while the other cyclist went straight on without any acknowledgement. Into all the high gears in each range and managed to get through the dips and climbs on this stretch of road which seems to get easier each time.
Average speed still about 11mph and rolling well to the crossroads at the Fishpool inn. More hectic traffic, but got across without too much delay. Continued, passed by several motorcyclists. Strangely I felt no urge to join them. I often feel that the greatest hazard at this time of year when out on my old Honda is posed by other motorcyclists in groups as the urge to get past at any cost often over rides self preservation. As on my bicycle, so on my fuel burner, my normal mode is solitary.
The crossroads that I least looked forward to negotiating, over the A556, today at least was easily dealt with despite its width, uphill nature and curved approaches from left and right. Clunking steadily into higher gears as I approached a small summit, I found speed building satisfactorily on the other side then again as it steepened towards the bottom before rising to Delamere Station bridge. Maintaining speed steadily I saw a knot of traffic ahead at the bottom of the hill at Hatchmere where it is permanently reduced to one lane due to cars being parked on the left. Fortunately the traffic had cleared by the time I reached it. Behind me was a horse transporter van which was going steadily with no sign of wanting to overtake me as I slowed on climbing the hill. An oncoming car stopped and waited as much for the van as for me and as I pulled into my lane beyond the last parked car the van and a dozen cars which were behind it went past. As I speeded up at the summit and began accelerating down hill a white SUV slowed down while passing me and I saw an occupant videoing me on their phone before it sped off. Perhaps I am now famous on someone’s facebook page, hopefully for the right reasons.
I gathered speed to get some momentum to attack the climb out of Hatchmere which soon pushed me back to 4-5 mph as I neared the top. I was able to slowly increase on the level and then make the most of the downhill. Straight across the Norley road and then a looong freewheel through Kingsley, along Roddy Lane to Mill Lane with a right turn towards Acton Bridge. After a mile or so I came to Crowton.
On the right was a turning into Bent Lane. The sign was very faded. I must have been this way many times and not noticed it. I rode up it and a little further on was a clearer sign with a signpost. A photo opportunity!
Bent Lane is actually pretty straight for much of its length. What it isn’t is flat. It has a deceptive gradient. It is as if the landscape has been propped up at an angle. The surrounding fields and the road itself look flat but I found myself changing down. At the far end it twists and turns a bit. I came to a T junction but was unsure of the route. I was actually just off the edge of the map I had in my bag. I could see the sun on the right so I presumed that was southerly. Unfortunately that was also uphill! I toiled away getting into lower and lower gears until I was in bottom. Then came a junction with a signpost. The direction I wanted was back downhill. I turned round and zoomed back the way I had just come. This lane seemed endless. Eventually I came across a turning on the right named Barrastitch Lane which rang a bell. I turned up here and although a little uphill brought me out on to another unmarked T junction. To the left was a steep downhill. To the right was a fairly steep climb. I reasoned that If I went uphill and it turned out wrong it was easier to go back down than to go down and have to climb up again.
After a mile or so I came across a couple of horse riders going the other way. I stopped and asked them for directions. The one who answered seemed to be more interested in telling me how unsafe I looked down there and how exhausted I must be after climbing that hill. I thought her horse was paying more attention to what I’d said than she was. Actually, the horse was looking at me, and seemed to be responding as if I was talking to it. It was rather strange. Fortunately her companion was actually listening and was able to point me in the right direction, which I was pleased to hear was the way I was already going.
Eventually I came out on a familiar road and was able to find my way on to the Whitegate Way which is a fairly direct route home. On the access slope which is narrow and fenced in I ran out of forward motion just as a mountain biker in all the gear came into sight. “Looks like you’re having fun” he said. “Usually I do”, I replied, “but I’ve run out of wobble room”. Fortunately I was able to restart and get under way without further embarrassment. I stopped for a snack at a wayside bench before pressing on.
As I was about to set off a horse rider came by. She said “hello” and I responded before we went our separate ways. The horse was immaculately groomed and the rider was smartly turned out.
I debated turning on to the road at Whitegate bridge and returning via Little Budworth but as I was already rolling downhill momentum carried me away. All gently downhill to the access at Grange Lane. I was rather closely followed down the gravelly dip before the paved road by an impatient motorist but it was no big deal. Back through the sports fields where there was loud music, a marquee and what looked like children’s entertainments at the sports centre. Through the “A” frame barrier, through an estate, left down Delamere Street, then sharp right on to Woodford Lane instead of the A54 roundabout. At the bottom of Woodford Lane, cross the dual carriageway via pedestrian/cycle access, downhill then through various estate roads to my back gate.
No nipple popping spoke twanging episodes on this trip. I hope it stays that way.
Distance 29.7 miles, Max speed 32mph, Average a measly 9.4mph. It never recovered after being knocked back by those climbs.
Total Ascent: | 801 | ft | |
| Total Descent: | 802 | ft | |
| Start Elevation: | 190 | ft | |
| End Elevation: | 189 | ft | |
| Min Elevation: | 56 | ft | |
| Max Elevation: | 305 | ft | |
It probably helped that one of our number was an ex-pro, who aged 69, could ride rings around all of us. I’m not even sure he broke a sweat by the end of the route.
