28th May 2015: The Plassey (brisk)

I had decided not to prepare a ride today but rather “go with the flow". As there were a lot of us, it became obvious that two groups were needed. The Moderates were off to Overton, and the Brisk lot (Ray, Tom, John and Steve T) turned to me with “Where are we going then Clive”. I had looked through the old rides list but couldn’t find anything I liked. So, being honest I said, “I’ve no idea where to go, but let’s see where we end up”. Steve offered that as the wind was strong and westerly then a diagonal ride would give us a bit of wind-assist on the way home. So off towards Kelsall we ride via Ashton. Up Kelsall Hill and past the defunct Summertrees café, we’re up at 500ft and on the way to Cotebrook and the edge of Eaton. Skirting around Tarporley, we stop briefly near the church in Wyche Road, Bunbury to admire a magnificent Elizabethan house hidden down in the dip.
Onwards past Tilley’s, we run down alongside the Peckforton Hills to Bickerton. I was now getting an idea of where we could end up for lunch - but nothing has actually gelled yet. So onwards around Duckington and Edge Green, we shuffle through Chorlton to the outskirts of Worthenbury. Now I have it - “The Plassey” for lunch. So fortified at last with a concrete idea, I plan a route around Bangor-on-Dee to take us onto the two mile straight drag to the Plassey, which was straight into the westerly headwind.
At 37 miles out from Manley, we’re ready for a refuelling stop. The Plassey is busy as it is half-term week, and we have to sit out side in the cold. By 14:00, we ready to go, even if it is only to get warm again, which we soon do on the inclines up to Eyton. The plan was to get through Wrexham via some “Harry the Bike” shortcuts. Firstly, we take the back lanes and a tour of Erddig Park before taking the shortcut through Puleston Industrial Estate. Under the railway bridge cut-through there is the most impractical bike gate you will ever see - obviously the designer has never ridden a bike! Out through Centenary Road, we go past Morrisons on a short curving cycle path that perhaps followed the old railway line. A few turns around the car parks of the Maelor Hospital on Watery Road eventually find us at the rear escape route now arriving opposite Wrexham football ground. From here it is a straightforward easterly run around the back of Wrexham passing the Rugby Club and the Council Offices down Bryn Estyn Road. A left along Sandy Lane finds us at the roundabout to Wrexham Industrial estate link road. Straight over and a right down Borras Lane, (partially repaired now) allows us a 25mph drag run into Holt. A brief stop outside the former Hildegard’s café confirms there is no life inside yet. So off through Churton, Coddington and Handley, finds us at 60 miles up at Applegate’s cafe at Milton Green for tea and cake. Steve has to ride back to Runcorn, so I plot a route up the A41to Waverton to enable him to go via Great Barrow back home. The route back to Manley is 70 miles, and all of us will have ridden 80+ today at 15.7mph average and a surprising 2800ft of up’s and down’s.
See route map and/or gpx file download.
CA