a.twiddler
Veteran
27/11/25
On the Rans Recumbent to Church Minshull
A cloudy, mild day today though an unpredictable wind which made it hard work in places. I’m not normally bothered about things like Watts but today I could definitely have done with a few more. The good news, I suppose, is that other cyclists are equally affected by the wind and only one overtook me today. The bad news is that there was only one other cyclist!
The road surface was damp though no rain fell. An effect of that was that car tyres made a sibilant hissing as they approached which was not pleasant. Still, the first ride for a while due to the weather so a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do.
Left out of the gate, and soon at the lights at Darnhall bridge which obligingly turned green as I gingerly approached so I had a run at the dip before rolling up the other side at a good speed.
There was some work going on at Darnhall village hall, a woman up a ladder painting the eaves and a man working on some boards by a van. I trundled by and soon found myself riding into a headwind.
The road wound about between high hedges but there wasn’t much relief from the wind. The occasional vehicle went by. I came to a dip and got some speed up, up the other side then a straight road for a mile or two with the wind in my face. I passed the “Little Man” pub then turned left on to Minshull Lane.
Some relief from the wind here and it was easier going for a while. I was able to relax for a bit. A sporty cyclist slowly overhauled me here.
I came to Woodgreen lane, turned left and finally had the wind behind me. I stopped in a field entrance and swopped my gloves for track mitts as my hands were heating up. I’d earlier tried to take a picture of the “Little Man” earlier but the gloves were so clumsy.
I pressed on to Paradise Lane. The sign for Paradise Lane near the junction with Over Road had still not been reinstated, so no photo today. I turned right on to Over Road heading for Church Minshull.
Not much traffic about here. I carried on along this straight level road. The road turned left at the end of this stretch and went downhill for a mile or so. Unfortunately, the point of riding this road was rather defeated by a strong headwind which appeared once I turned the corner. Anyway, I pedalled steadily up through the gears and continued to pedal right to the bottom. At least there was no traffic about to pass me and indulge in comfort braking at the bottom.
A disappointing total of 31.2 mph with no freewheeling, though I impressed myself that I could actually still pedal at that speed. I wound through the access to the village and through a chicane. A tractor appeared in my mirror. I pulled in to let it go by. As it went past he beeped in acknowledgement, and I realised that he had done me a favour by holding back a long procession of cars, giving me a clear run while they were stuck behind him.
I got going again once they had passed by,
turned right at a mini roundabout on to the Nantwich road,
then stopped opposite a church. A man up a ladder outside the pub asked if I was OK, so I said I’d stopped to take some photos.
Firstly St Bartholomews, on the site of what may have originally been a Saxon church, replaced in 1541 by a timber framed church, then in 1702 by a brick and stone church in the reign of Queen Anne. This, like many other buildings in Church Minshull, is a grade 2 listed building.
Looking back towards the roundabout.
Then, after a few more photos I carried on up the road.
Amongst more listed buildings, through a chicane then up a long hill into the wind. When it levelled off I took a right turn down Minshull road and enjoyed the relative peace from the traffic.
At least there was a crosswind now, so the riding was easier as I trundled onwards in the direction of Wettenhall. I could see the sagging bellies of the grey clouds across the fields, with random rainy tendrils reaching out to touch down dourly below. I’d managed to miss the rain so far, and hoped to get home before it began to fall.
I came to Wettenhall Road and as I turned right felt the wind behind me giving me a boost at last. I carried on homewards with easy pedalling, past the Little Man, along the straight downwind road to a steep dip and climb. The hedgerows wound about but the wind boost continued.
I was soon in Darnhall where work on the village hall continued, down the hill to the lights. Today for a change the lights changed green as I approached from this direction and I was able to get a run up the other side. After toiling up the last bit it was an easy run towards home, to ride round the block, and to arrive at my garage door for a change instead of the back gate.
Distance 15.15 miles. Max Speed 31.2 Average 8.7 mph. According to Garmin.
Elevation 279 ft. according to Bikehike.
On the Rans Recumbent to Church Minshull
A cloudy, mild day today though an unpredictable wind which made it hard work in places. I’m not normally bothered about things like Watts but today I could definitely have done with a few more. The good news, I suppose, is that other cyclists are equally affected by the wind and only one overtook me today. The bad news is that there was only one other cyclist!
The road surface was damp though no rain fell. An effect of that was that car tyres made a sibilant hissing as they approached which was not pleasant. Still, the first ride for a while due to the weather so a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do.
Left out of the gate, and soon at the lights at Darnhall bridge which obligingly turned green as I gingerly approached so I had a run at the dip before rolling up the other side at a good speed.
There was some work going on at Darnhall village hall, a woman up a ladder painting the eaves and a man working on some boards by a van. I trundled by and soon found myself riding into a headwind.
The road wound about between high hedges but there wasn’t much relief from the wind. The occasional vehicle went by. I came to a dip and got some speed up, up the other side then a straight road for a mile or two with the wind in my face. I passed the “Little Man” pub then turned left on to Minshull Lane.
Some relief from the wind here and it was easier going for a while. I was able to relax for a bit. A sporty cyclist slowly overhauled me here.
I came to Woodgreen lane, turned left and finally had the wind behind me. I stopped in a field entrance and swopped my gloves for track mitts as my hands were heating up. I’d earlier tried to take a picture of the “Little Man” earlier but the gloves were so clumsy.
I pressed on to Paradise Lane. The sign for Paradise Lane near the junction with Over Road had still not been reinstated, so no photo today. I turned right on to Over Road heading for Church Minshull.
Not much traffic about here. I carried on along this straight level road. The road turned left at the end of this stretch and went downhill for a mile or so. Unfortunately, the point of riding this road was rather defeated by a strong headwind which appeared once I turned the corner. Anyway, I pedalled steadily up through the gears and continued to pedal right to the bottom. At least there was no traffic about to pass me and indulge in comfort braking at the bottom.
A disappointing total of 31.2 mph with no freewheeling, though I impressed myself that I could actually still pedal at that speed. I wound through the access to the village and through a chicane. A tractor appeared in my mirror. I pulled in to let it go by. As it went past he beeped in acknowledgement, and I realised that he had done me a favour by holding back a long procession of cars, giving me a clear run while they were stuck behind him.
I got going again once they had passed by,
turned right at a mini roundabout on to the Nantwich road,
then stopped opposite a church. A man up a ladder outside the pub asked if I was OK, so I said I’d stopped to take some photos.
Firstly St Bartholomews, on the site of what may have originally been a Saxon church, replaced in 1541 by a timber framed church, then in 1702 by a brick and stone church in the reign of Queen Anne. This, like many other buildings in Church Minshull, is a grade 2 listed building.
Looking back towards the roundabout.
Then, after a few more photos I carried on up the road.
Amongst more listed buildings, through a chicane then up a long hill into the wind. When it levelled off I took a right turn down Minshull road and enjoyed the relative peace from the traffic.
At least there was a crosswind now, so the riding was easier as I trundled onwards in the direction of Wettenhall. I could see the sagging bellies of the grey clouds across the fields, with random rainy tendrils reaching out to touch down dourly below. I’d managed to miss the rain so far, and hoped to get home before it began to fall.
I came to Wettenhall Road and as I turned right felt the wind behind me giving me a boost at last. I carried on homewards with easy pedalling, past the Little Man, along the straight downwind road to a steep dip and climb. The hedgerows wound about but the wind boost continued.
I was soon in Darnhall where work on the village hall continued, down the hill to the lights. Today for a change the lights changed green as I approached from this direction and I was able to get a run up the other side. After toiling up the last bit it was an easy run towards home, to ride round the block, and to arrive at my garage door for a change instead of the back gate.
Distance 15.15 miles. Max Speed 31.2 Average 8.7 mph. According to Garmin.
Elevation 279 ft. according to Bikehike.
