Bonus week – two blogs for the price of one- now read on!
Ivan had planned a ride out on Tuesday after we had both been away. So I was sent a ridewithgps route which was a “climb every mountain” route up to Minera and over Worlds End. Aware that this was a feel-good ride for Ivan on his new electric Cervello, I said OK but plotted a personal bail out route at Minera.
We set off after meeting at Blacon Old Station on the greenway. Just as we were approaching Kinnerton I noticed the tell-tale white spots on the dark cherry red frame of Ivan's Cervello ie a rear wheel puncture – and the second on this tyre from new. Ivan decides to return home but encourages me to ride on anyway. This I do but with him Chester-bound by way of a short stop at Chocks Away cafe with 25 miles ridden all round. Ivan decides to buy new Conti tubeless tyres and spends a frustrating time later in the day of removing and fitting the new rear tyre and giving up fitting the front tyre as it will not come off!
So now it's Thursday and he has a route to Nantwich which young Chris decides to ride with us. We are out of the gate at speed bound for Waverton and Tarporley and onto Wettenhall. We now run down the Winsford to Nantwich “unmade” main road – well that's what it feels like on a bike at speed. Just as we hit the nice and smooth resurfaced section, we turn off left down an even worse lane called Poole Old Hall Lane. At the end we hit the main road to Nantwich bound for the marina cafe. Service is slow as the weather looks like rain and the wind is getting stronger. How long can it take to make three coffees and dispense two plates of cake?
We set off back at high speed with a wind-assist via a regular routing towards Bunbury and out via Beeston castle to slide around Tattenhall bound for Sandy Lane. Well, we certainly put our SPDs down hard, as we got back to the top of Sandy Lane at an all-round average speed of 17 mph with 50 miles ridden.
So despite the wind being somewhat against us on the way out, we reaped the benefits on the return. Did I mention that we were back home by 1400 and no rain at all, but it did start to rain in Chester just after I got home.
See route map and/or gpx file download
CA
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