3rd April 2025 : Overton (brisk)

I met Ivan at the Blacon Old Station on the Greenway for the ride via Ferry bridge and Aerospace to The Gladstone Library cafe where there were a few EasyRiders already by the time we arrived. Slowly more arrived and welcomed Ivan back into the fold after his Spanish "adventures". Next time we see him on a bike, it may well be an electrifying experience!

I’d cobbled together a ride taking the easterly wind direction into account as fairly strong winds were forecasted for late in the day. I also didn’t fancy a lot of hills as I hadn’t been in the saddle for two weeks or more. With this type of wind-slipping route in mind,  I’d dressed for the part today with a multi-coloured snood thus emulating the Wind Whisperer - Lol, lol !

So Nick, Ray S and Chris followed me out of the Gladstone café and down the A550 road towards Wrexham. The Mods were just turning left off this road to take the rough uphill track to access the A55 footbridge. This is where we also wanted to go but I decided to stay on the main road and then, at the A55 roundabout, cut back up onto this tired old lane to “overtake” the Mods - and this we did as they were arriving at the bike gate, we were through it and on towards the footbridge.

Onwards and upwards we take Lower Mountain Road in glorious, if a bit chilly, sunshine to the Kinnerton Road where a left and right takes us down Sandy Lane - the surface here is really bad so it’ll live up to its name in time. We peel off right down Shordley Lane into the countryside taking a right and crossing Greenford Road then diving down into Caergwrle. 

Heading towards Wrexham, we peel off left and up the hill and turn into the ominously named Blast Lane. This is an excellent example of the state of our country lanes so we travel sedately before diving down Bradley Lane to Barrett’s Hill - a short but sharp uptick into the back of Gwersyllt. Running parallel to Mold Road, we access the back side of Wrexham arriving alongside the football ground for a swift transfer down and out via the hospital grounds.

Following  the old railway track cycle way, it's a shimmy route to arrive at the Wrexham Road running southwest to turn off left towards Erddig to cycle right through the grounds and out into the poor quality lanes towards Cock Bank and the A528 Overton Road.

Chris decides to take the lead here as we motor down to Overton Bridge for the slog up and into Overton passing one of the Seven Wonders of Wales to arrive after 23 miles at The Two Doves cafe at 1230. The rear gates are unlocked and the bikes are parked out back as our table is found “ Reserved” inside.  Always best to phone ahead here as the cafe is often quite full with “Ladies that Lunch”  and “ Laptops on the table and a single coffee all morning” workers. 

Bangor Bridge stop

After the usual lunch banter we head out into full sunshine 1330. The route out has been largely a straight line due south to ride 90 degrees to the wind. However the route back is via Bangor on Dee, the tiny lanes next to the Dee and Holt. So there is a bit of an angle in it to negate the easterly wind. Nick does a sterling job on Rossett Road pulling us along at 20 mph until he turns off to ride back and uphill to his car in Hawarden with 46 miles ridden. 

We three head for Chester via Dodleston and Lache Lane with 55 plus miles ridden at 15 mph average. The sun is still shining on my bare knees today for the first time this year. So thanks to the peloton for being dragged down so many badly surfaced lanes but it was rewarding riding the byways on such a beautiful Spring day.

See route map and/or gpx file download

CA

3rd April 2025: Holt

 Another sunny day in prospect and another low turnout. Slightly better this week though with 10 members turning up for coffee. It was nice to see Ivan out again but understandably he was only out for the coffee and intended to cycle straight home. That left four for the brisk ride and five for the moderate, the latter being Andy B, Keith, Mike D, Steve T and me. I had come prepared with a couple of rides which would take us up into the Welsh hills but Steve was still trying to get his legs working following a winter when he wasn't able to get out much. I therefore offered to lead a ride which would take us down onto fairly level terrain with the aim of having lunch at Maggie's in Holt. I didn't have a route prepared but we would be on roads that I was very familiar with.

We set off down the Wrexham Road before turning for the climb up to Bilberry Wood and the footbridge across the A55. Then we followed Lower Mountain Road turning right towards Shordley. I would normally turn down towards Burton Green just after Shordley but we would be returning that way later in the day so we continued on the high road to Croes Howell. We crossed the main road here to pass the quarries then turned left to drop down to and then over the A483. Immediately we turned left into Marford Wood which was resplendent in the sunshine with its carpet of Wood Anemones and Celandine.

We were heading up towards Hoseley Bank now where I had intended to turn towards Holt and our lunch stop. However when we arrived there it wasn't yet noon and we hadn't covered nearly enough miles to justify lunch so a loop was required. A trip around Clays Golf Centre was the answer so we carried on down Borras Hall Lane, round the golf centre and narrowly avoided Wrexham Industrial Estate before heading towards Holt via Francis Lane. Still too early and still too few miles so I added a second loop down to Ridleywood. Satisfied now that we had earned our lunch (Actually I was hearing a few grumbles from behind me and didn't want to get lynched) I led my followers into Holt and to Maggie's.

It was warm and sunny and for the first time this year we were able to sit outside for our lunch. The service was incredibly fast. I was the fourth to place my order and I had hardly sat down before the first of our meals was arriving. I made the mistake of ordering a cold meal and ended up being served last (but still quickly). I'll know better next time.

After lunch we cycled up towards Rossett, making good time with the wind behind us. We made similarly good progress as we turned up to Burton Green and then on to Kinnerton. There it came to an abrupt end as we turned into the wind, making slower progress as we rode on to Bretton. Andy bade us farewell soon after but as we turned into Saltney Ferry Road we came across Chris, returning home after his trip out with the brisk group.

I wasn't intending to return to Hawarden myself having done the climb up there that morning. As it turned out Keith and Mike had also ridden out so we left Steve to complete the ride on his own. He would have returned to Hawarden via Rake Lane having ridden 36 miles.

TC

See route map and/or gpx file download