Not sure of the total but I figure there was roughly a dozen attendees for today’s meet at Delamere Station cafe, all split between the Mod and Mod+ group.
There was no fast group, with just Nick without any mates, so he joined my merry band of Mod+ individuals, which also included Chris, Shane and the Chuckle Brothers of course. Before we got to discussing routes, Keith had some sad news for us in that he had dropped the chain on his brand new Di2 Cervello, which as some of us know often leads to damaging the paintwork around the bottom bracket hence, he was not on his new steed.
All tears now
wiped away, we got on to discussing routes, which in my case meant something a
little different, with some new lanes and territory, at least for the likes of
my group. I had never ridden the full length of the Whitegate Way, which leads
right into Winsford, a place I have always avoided in the past, but thought
that today would be a good day to check them out, especially after such a dry
summer.
We set of the usual way out of Delamere, all be it a bit later, which of course meant that Chris made it in time-Lol. I lead the group up and around Norley on a couple of new lanes to some, after winging a quick change, due to Sandhole Lane not looking very passable. After a few meandering miles we make it to Waste Lane, but from the other direction to the accepted norm and hurtle down the hill, which consequently meant that some overshot the left turn, near the bottom of the hill. Chris made it with some dare devil braking. I suppose I should have warned them all in advance -Lol
As you’d expect the Whitegate Way is currently amazing to ride, after such dry weather, although the far end bits into Winsford are a bit disjointed and not such a good surface as I found out to my very near demise. I was carrying a bit of speed when I suddenly found myself going downhill, around a bend on gravel, with the back wheel locked up, heading for a barrier gate. I had no choice but to also lock up the front as well, in an effort to stop. Fortunately, I managed to get my foot out and brace the impact on the gate, just managing to avoid going head over heels and possibly bending my front wheel in the process. Suffice it to say I copped a few comments from my fans who clearly did not appreciate the bike skills involved in staying upright-Lol.
Just a mile or so later we missed the left turn that would have lead us onto Bradford Road. This consequently lead to a bit of extra physical activity, for some impatient individuals, lifting bikes over locked gates, which was not needed or my fault-Lol. Just as CB2 and Nick had got over, I realised where the missed trail was and turned back-Lol. Eventually on the right track, literally, we avoid the road for another half mile and then join it where it became New Road.
We then meandered
through the south west suburbs of Winsford (clearly not the wealthiest part of
the town) in order to pick up a very nice series of lanes that I and most had
not ridden before. After about 5 miles we joined a very familiar stretch that
lead us into the boundary lanes around the south side of Oulton Park, once we
had stopped for another! Energy bar. I’ve never seen anybody eat so many.
You would think that CB2 would go like the proverbial Energiser Bunny, but
alas not-Lol, Lol.
It was at this time that Chris also had his major mechanical- Lol. His bar end plug had fallen out and we were wondering how he was going to carry on. However, after a deep dive into the bowels of CB2’s fanny bag, yes you guessed it, he was carrying a spare, which lead me to wonder what does Chris carries in that rucksack, besides his lunch - more on that later-Lol. We get going again and were soon taking on our only real climb of the day, Heaths Lane, which lead us up, the easy way, onto the Sandstone Ridge only to come straight back down again via Tirley Lane, for a fast descent into Rose Farm for lunch.
As usual the
conversation was flowing well and the food came quickly, if a little
disappointing for both Nick and I. Our ‘eggs royal’ had the smallest portions
of salmon I have ever seen. We both had four 1” squares of smoked salmon (cut
out with scissors can you believe) It wasn’t as if it was cheap at £12.50.
Anyway, just as we were finished bitching about our salmon and Chris stopped laughing about the missing corner of his brownie-Lol, what he did next was even more amusing, firstly because he was half way through eating his brownie and secondly because he suddenly lifted his rucksack and pulled out a spare saddle and then proceeded to go and swap said saddle for the one on his bike. I mean, who carries a spare saddle-Lol. This caused many looks of disbelief, ironically not from Alan, who as we have come to know, doesn’t believe most things-Lol. Saddle now replaced and lunch finished we left with at least me stating that we wouldn’t return for lunch there again, as we turned right down the hill towards Oscroft.
Within 2 miles we turned left, opposite Chapel Hill and both Nick and I decided to wind it up, pretty much all the way to Dave Mathews house, where we part company with Nick and Alan, who were returning to Delamere for their cars via Nicks extended route. Shane, Steve and I all rode up to Delamere, so my route never included returning, especially as Shane and Steve were on one of their 100 milers again and none of us wanted to repeat any of our route. As for Chris ,who knows, what he was going to do, as we later discovered - Lol. So, it was cheerio to them two, which gave Steve’s chance to consume his 34th energy bar – Lol.
We headed off past DM’s place, with a passing nod of reverence to the home of one of the regions cycling demigods. We were soon crossing the A49 and within a few hundred mtrs we turned left towards Okells garden centre and then on past the 50p shop and Huxley beyond. We were heading for Beeston, adding another lovely meander. We turned down to the ‘The Shady’ pub and I made my usual acceleration towards the hump back bridge over the canal, when Chris suddenly shot past me. How he got round the bridge was eye popping. I thought I took it fast, but he left me standing and romped up the hill towards Beeston, never to be seen again, despite a short regroup near the right turn to the ice cream farm, where I parted company with Shane and Steve, who I had advised to miss out Tattenhall, due to the high street being resurfaced for 5 days and therefore shut. I obviously swung around the south side to avoid it as well.
As for Chris, who didn’t turn up at the end of Bird’s Lane, where I stopped for 2 minutes, I later found out that he suddenly decided to try and beat a mates strava time hence, he flashed by me. The trouble was, his dash was to the gates of Beeston castle, which was left at the top and not right where we went. Of course, he failed to mention anything to us about his plans-Lol.
I got home with
55 miles on the clock and a very sedate AS of 14.5mph - must have been all
those energy bar stops-LOL, although we did do a few small hills.
Cracking day
again with great company and some very amusing moments, some at my expense and
more than a bit of banter-Lol,Lol,Lol
Till next time
ladies
Neil.
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