16/4/26
Recumbent Ride
First 30 mile ride this year
I’m well behind where I was this time last year what with weather, household tasks, relatives visiting, etc.
Today after some gardening, I managed to get away. Cloudy, with sunny spells.
I hoped to avoid the experience I had last time I went out when it was similarly cloudy but as I climbed out of the dip at Darnhall bridge the grey road leading to the summit contrasted with a dark purple cloud beyond it. I’d hoped that with the head wind it would drift away to the right and I would miss the worst of any rain but shortly afterwards down it came in big fat drops. I was forced to turn round in a gateway and flee for home.
Anyhow, today after turning left out of the gate I rolled downhill into a head wind. It didn’t feel very strong but it was very persistent. I was soon in the countryside, down the dip to Darnhall bridge where I came to a stop at the lights. I climbed out of the dip from a standing start but at least the sky was clear ahead. I’d thought of going to Nantwich then see how things went. Maybe continue to Audlem and come back through the lanes via Coole Pilate? I’ve just not done any longer rides this year so far.
I pressed on into the wind, down another dip, and was soon on a long straight open stretch before Cholmondeston. The surface on this bit of road is truly awful, less so in the middle, so I kept a wary eye out for cars coming from ahead and behind, ready to pull into the side. The tyre noise gave plenty of warning.
At last the road curved to the right, under the Crewe-Chester railway line. As I came out the other side, an overtaking van beeped at me before immediately having to stop to let an oncoming car pass over the narrow canal bridge which followed. Karma, or what? The road was clear by the time I got to it.
Up and over, but my enjoyment of the freewheel down the other side was short lived as I faced the wind again.
I wound my way between hedges to where a long gradual downhill started. Still into the wind, but a little easier. Finally I came to the long dip that leads to Poole bridge. I got up speed down the smooth surface then rapidly lost it as I climbed up the other side into the wind. I ground up the last of it before turning left on the level out of the wind. Feeling a bit peckish, but I thought I’d hold off until I got into Nantwich, not wanting to stop due to enjoying the smooth rolling on the extremely good tarmac.
I passed behind Reaseheath college then came to a stop at the Chester -Wrexham road. Straight on into Welshman’s Lane, or left on the main road into Nantwich? If I turned left, the wind would be in my favour. I waited for a gap in the traffic, then set off left. Surprisingly, there were no vehicles behind me until I came near the roundabout into Nantwich, and those that did appear took the left lane for the bypass. As I went round the roundabout, a white van man
had to dive on to the roundabout in front of me. I didn’t need to brake or alter course or speed but he impinged on the personal space bubble that I like to maintain. A fart upon thee, sirrah!
I took the next turning into Nantwich and was soon held up at a queue of traffic at a set of lights. Once they all got moving, I hopped up a lowered kerb on the other side of the junction. Time for a nibble. Never had a Kit Kat seemed so desirable.
Once I’d disposed of that, I rolled along the pavement to the next lowered kerb and rejoined the traffic. Ahead, there was another traffic queue at a red light. I kept my speed down, and sure enough the queue was moving by the time I got there, so no need to stop or put a foot down.
Beyond the lights there was something of a choke point with parked cars along the left side of the street meaning that vehicles on my side of the road had to give way to oncoming traffic. On a bike, I didn’t have this problem, though even where the parked cars ended the jumbo vehicle following me didn’t overtake. Perhaps there was no advantage from doing so with slow moving traffic though I had a suspicion that I was providing entertainment for the occupants.
I came to a double mini roundabout and didn’t have to stop to go straight on. Then right at the next roundabout by Churche’s Mansion, left at the next then followed the road through several right angle turns. The road was busy but I didn’t have to stop. Finally I stopped at a roundabout then went left on to Audlem road. Past Nantwich station, bumping over a level crossing then coming to a stop behind another queue of traffic. Judging by the number of schoolkids about, it was school run time at the nearby Brine Leas High School. Bad timing when you’re riding something which might make passers by think the circus is in town.
So it was stop start and watching out for impatient drivers at the many junctions for the next mile or so. The car in front of me seemed to be constantly taken by surprise -brake lights, accelerate, brake lights, accelerate. A bit of anticipation, and the occupants would have had a much smoother ride. I hung back in order to minimise the amount of stopping and recumbent track stands I needed to do, and it was a relief when they turned off.
Finally I came to a queue at some lights. It looked as if the majority of the traffic was in the left hand lane, and I was able to get to the front on the outside lane in time for the green. Then steady progress on the Audlem road. Unfortunately the wind was still in my face in this direction, and it continued to be hard work.
Just before I reached Hatherton a low slung object with yellow bags appeared from the opposite direction. I realised that it was a tadpole trike, looked like a dark colour, and the rider was a man with an impressive white beard. I raised a hand, he raised a hand, and we were gone like two ships in the night.
Soon I was pedalling furiously down a long dip before the village of Hatherton, hoping to get as far as I could up the other side before the wind reduced my speed to a crawl. Once I’d levelled out, I reconsidered my destination. I was falling behind my anticipated time due to the wind, so as Dagfields craft and antiques centre was nearby I thought I’d call in for a nosey and maybe have an ice cream before deciding whether to continue to Audlem or not.
On arriving, I came across an unexpected bike shop, which I hadn't seen last time I came here.
Due to the time, most of the units were closing, so I had a break on a bench, inspected the facilities and decided to head for home. The head wind had drained my energy. I hoped to get a bit of a boost on the way back.
It was less effort going back. Rushing the dip out of Hatherton resulted in me getting up most of the other side before having to gear down, and progress was much better to Nantwich.
As I came into Nantwich the bearded trike rider passed me in the opposite direction again and shouted a greeting. I replied, and slowed down wondering if he might turn round and catch me up. Spotting a fellow recumbentist is a rarity, twice is remarkable. He carried on, and the magnetic pull of home drew me on. The school traffic had cleared by this time, but there was a long queue for the roundabout after the level crossing.
As the left lane was fairly clear I decided to go left and take another route home. There was a lot of slow moving traffic on Water Lode but I spotted a path alongside the road and got myself on that.
There were many bluebells and what I thought were forget me nots alongside the path. I stopped for a photo.
Further along there was a turn off leading to a pedestrian bridge over the river Weaver and then to Welsh Row. I turned left here and soon came to traffic lights near Nantwich aqueduct. Here I turned right then left into Welshman’s Lane.
It was not long before I reached the Chester-Wrexham road and crossed over to Wettenhall Lane during a gap in the traffic.
The road surface has survived well here after its resurfacing last year and I was able to enjoy it, and the following wind, for several miles including the rush down to Poole bridge and the climb up the other side. My legs developed twinges of cramp near the top of the slope. Obviously need to ride more. I’d found in previous years that lowering my cadence helped, and enabled me to ride through it.
Once the smooth road ended and I was back on the bumpy stuff again I just had to grin and bear it..
I came to Wettenhall marina and turned in for a sit down on a bench and some water. No boats, only a passing train on the embankment. The sound of the running water from the locks, the birds. It was very soothing.
I got going again. As I started climbing the canal bridge I startled a grey squirrel which went bounding across the canal on the bridge rail.
As I started down the other side what looked like a family group of cyclists came under the railway bridge. “I want that!” said a young boy as I flew past. I had to pull over to the side as a blue BMW came under the bridge in the middle of the road. Then it was just a matter of carrying on, tolerating the bumpiness of the long straight stretch once round the next bend. The following wind at least was some consolation.
Finally I was in Wettenhall, then down a dip where I got cramp in my legs again at the final part of the climb. I didn’t have to stop.
Over the top, then pedalling gently in high gear to ease my legs before I could get going a bit again.
It was annoying. I could have gone a bit faster but then my legs would get cramped again. It wasn’t very pleasant to have the sound of rush hour traffic coming up behind on this high hedged winding section, pressuring me to get off this stretch of road as fast as I could. They all gave me plenty of room, but they were there.
Finally I got to the more open stretch of road approaching Darnhall. At least I could see the blighters in my mirror for a good way back on the straighter stretches here.
Once in Darnhall village I stopped for a sit down on the bench on the little green by the village hall.
This was very pleasant, but I was nagged by the few remaining miles to get moving. I was pretty sure that I’d get cramp again going up the other side. The climb out of Darnhall bridge is the steepest bit of most rides home from rides in this direction and there’s no getting round it.
I got going downhill towards the lights which were red. I stopped uphill from them hoping they’d change. No obliging traffic about to trigger them. They changed and I got up speed as best I could. There’s a sharp left hand bend before the bridge in this direction that restricts your speed but I swung out to get up the best I could.
Up the other side, down, down through the gears. Plugging away up the other side and twinges of cramp started. I slowed right down and just carried on, gritting my teeth until the slope eased and I could change up. Once over the top I pedalled slowly in high gear. Fortunately downhill for a while. The twinges went, and I pedalled slowly onwards. Feeling a bit better, I pedalled the few miles to my back gate. I got in and unwound.
The observant out there will notice that the small front panniers have migrated to the back again. After looking at various photos of this bike and the old Linear I’ve come to the conclusion that the distinguishing feature of this bike is that big front wheel, so why not make the most of it? Those panniers practically disappear behind the seat anyway. The front rack is still there, so the option still exists.
Recently I’ve been following up my suspicion that the readings from the Garmin etrex (when used as a bike computer) are not as accurate, or perhaps as consistent, as a carefully set up wired wheel magnet bike computer might be. Running a Cateye Velo 7 alongside my Garmin etrex 20 has given me some answers, and maybe more questions The distances match, certainly over a few miles. The etrex max speed tends to be a little lower. The average speed is the one that stands out as being lower by about 0.3 mph over a 30 mile trip, and more over a shorter distance. Why?
As far as mph is concerned, it’s noticeable that the indicated speed of the Garmin lags behind the Cateye when starting off, before matching it after a few seconds. Not noticed it so much when slowing down. This could be because the Cateye gives a pulse each wheel revolution, while the Garmin searches for satellite signals which might be at longer intervals, or partially obscured at times. This would explain why there’s less difference over a longer distance, as the electronics have a better chance to average out the readings. Perhaps more modern, sophisticated systems target more satellites, so are more accurate and faster to show data.
Perhaps the solution isn’t as as simple as I think, but it seems probable that the cumulative lag is responsible for the difference in average speed, particularly over shorter distances, and in max speed, where the Cateye might be better at capturing instantaneous speeds downhill than the Garmin. Of course there are other variables that might affect a wheel driven computer, such as tyre pressures, air pressure, poor set up, but I would like to kid myself that I’m not as slow as I thought I was since I’d been using the Garmin. If there's anything that might make me a teeny weeny bit less slow, it's this Rans, and I'd like to capture that difference, and give it the credit. The Garmin has other features too of course, but the things that the basic computer can do that are what are exercising my mind at the moment.
Distance 30.35 miles, Max speed 30.3 mph, Average speed 8.4 mph (Garmin 8.1). According to Cateye Velo 7.
Ascent 517 ft. according to Bikehike.
