Todays saga comes from a little known place called Delamere station cafe, on what would become a very nice day with light westerly winds and no rain. I think there were approximately 10 of us in total, as there were no fast boys, although ‘Rapha Ray’ often joins the fast boys, but with no mates, he joined us- Lol.
With
none of the upper management of the club in attendance, due to holidays,
sickness and other spurious things- Lol, it looked like the Mods were
struggling to decide where to go, but what do I know.
I
had a plan, mainly because Steve Hu mentioned earlier in the week that he
planned to incorporate another 100 miler. So I offered to push myself and do a
Grand Fondo (my first for the year) in order to support his mad cause, purely
because I am such a nice bloke- Lol.
This meant he only had to ride to my house and back home to complete his 100 miles. (nothing for him to think about - classic Chuckle Brother mentality to be fair- Lol). Talking of the ‘brotherhood’, it did not go unnoticed by the more astute Mod riders. Keith in particular, remarked “you haven’t brought them two again have you?” “I know, what can I do." I agreed to help CB 2, only to find CB 1 turn up at Tattenhall as well. It’s rather like stepping on a dog shit, once it’s on your shoes, you just can’t shake it off- Lol, Lol”
Just as my group were getting up to leave, Chris arrived to a cheer from Steve Hu after Chris had just missed us last week. He must have had a tailwind today- Lol, full on in fact, from Blacon- Lol.
So!
The merry band became Rapha Ray, Chris, the CB’s (sounds like a
kids program, which is apt I suppose- Lol) and moi.
Our destination was the more upmarket and rather swish ‘The Barn’ cafe, only a mile from Oulton Park, which was new to my little peloton, but a favourite of mine, especially with Paula. We head off north, along the tortuous goat track they call a road and thankfully turn left through Delamere Forest for a nice steady start before we turn right on my upward meander (but keeping it as flat as I could- Lol) The only problem was the longest climb was early on, as we turned right towards Manley and the two+ miles into Bushells Lane, which had Steve feeling a little strange and in need of some food. After a quick cereal bar and a bit of persuasion, he decided to carry on. He tried to pull that old 100 miler excuse, as one does, but we weren’t having it, convincing him we were now on the top of the Sandstone Ridge.
Off we trot again at a slightly slower pace for the benefit of the old man - Lol. You don’t hear Andy trying that one and he does 100 miles almost every time he goes out, even if he is on a belt drive titanium bike ( “it’s not electric - honest Gov!”- Lol)
Our
upward endeavours lead us nicely into one of the longest downhill stretches in
the area through some lovely lanes, roughly 3 miles+ before we then rolled
through Norley heading for my favourite lane (Gallowsclough Lane), which was
only half a mile from where we started, after 14 miles- Lol.
I know, most of you are probably thinking, he always throws that one in, “why not”, I say. It’s in lovely condition and so atmospheric, why wouldn’t you. Anyway, it’s my ride- Lol.
Once up this lovely shrouded lane and past the caravan site on the right, we chink left and right and before a long rapid descent that dropped us into Waste Lane. Just a few speed bumps later and we were on the Whitegate Way of course, for those who know Waste Lane. This lends itself to a very easy 4 mile+ cruise and recovery for the old boy, who for all his woes, was still at 50 words a minute, bless him and much happier- Lol.
We were cruising along nicely when Steve’s sidekick decided to scurry off ahead, which meant we had to wait for him to come back when we turned off at the Station cafe. Somebody piped up, “ perhaps he’s gone to buy sunglasses”- previous blog- Lol. Although the Station cafe was an option, my preferred offering was now only 2 miles away, so we head off again, once Alan had caught up- Lol. Mind you our wait was not without interest as Dave Mathews rode by with electric Andy. After a brief exchange of words they left us waiting for the missing Chuckle Brother- Lol. Over the next 2 miles we passed DM+1 twice- Lol, before arriving at The Barn, via the exit only ( naughty boys- only way to avoid the A49) “
We pass the Cheshire Polo Club to our right, not that anybody noticed, as we cycled in through the cafe car park. Not a sport I have ever got into- Lol, but I believe it’s one of DH’s favourite haunts, being a fully paid up member - or is it the Polo Mint club he’s a member of- Lol.
We settled in and quickly ordered our food and waited, complete with electronic tags to alert us when ready. Mind you Steve’s was already pinging away when the rest of us sat down- you’ll never beat him to the front of the queue- Lol. No sooner said than done, there was almost no time to chat- Lol
However,
Chris decided to treat himself from the kiddies menu, which took a little
longer to deliver his fluorescent ice cream
sundae(see photo -disgusting looking thing, the ice cream sundae that is, not
Chris- Lol).
We clearly couldn’t resist a team photo with the cafe mascot, although I’m not sure why the shortest man in the peloton decided to stand behind the cow on tiptoes- Lol. All well fed, we set off and within minutes were passing Oulton Park race circuit and meandering across country to Tilston Fearnell and Bunbury beyond, which lead us into our first hint of a headwind, although light. I then lead the group around Peckforton ridge and up that horrible little climb on the unfortunately necessary brief stretch of the Wrexham/ Nantwich road, in order to get to a cracking stretch of lanes to Tilston. When I say lead, I meant, followed them up, as I prefer to lead from behind- Lol.
After
a few more miles around said lanes we were through Tilston and at the top of
Wetreins Lane, which is the natural split for our group, as Steve needed to
head NW, along with Chris and Ray, the latter two heading for Chester and Steve
for Pen-y-ffordd.
While
Allan and I needed Tattenhall of course. Allan had parked at Alisons.
So,
after a tearful goodbye, Allan let me lead him- Lol, through the lanes past
Manorwood cafe, on past Cuddington to Dog Lane, where he turn right, in order
to cross the A41 into Tattenhall. I continued for 3 miles to Milton Green,
Chapel Lane, which is a lot flatter than the one up the Sandstone Ridge BTW-
Lol.
I
got home with 65 miles on the meter and 2800’ of ascent, which was my biggest
ride for this year, but nothing like Steve’s of course. Chris & Ray would
have got something between 70-80 miles and the ‘mugger’ bringing up the rear in
Tattenhall with 60-ish- Lol.
I later discovered that the short old man- Lol, stopped at a cafe in Holt, in order to tackle the last 10 miles, which to be fair are mostly up or feel like it into a cross headwind, especially Barracks Lane, which is at least 7%. No wonder he was being a tart in the first few miles up through Manley, as he knew what was coming or am I crediting CB2 with too much spatial awareness on a bike, for a Chuckle Brother that is- Lol, Lol, Lol
(I have to begrudgingly say well! done! old boy. I think he got home about 10 pm- Lol)
What
a cracking, thoroughly enjoyable day in great company. A more sedate pace than
usual, although fairly hilly, but when I look at our average speed, I think
we’ll have to call that ride a ‘Mooooching ride’- Lol ( check out the photo’s)
Till
next time gents
PS,
I can’t claim to have come up with the ‘Moooooooooching ride’, title, that
was Steve, I think. In fact, there were so many cow jokes, on leaving the cafe
and yes, it was the chatter box, along with Ray, who I think was auditioning to
become CB3 - Lol.
Anyway,
I had to herd them out- Lol.
Neil.
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