Just like all the caravans and motor homes seem to come out onto the roads when the sun shines, so it was today as two thirds of the club were at Rose Farm cafe with their bikes. Some riders were still in bib tights, but a few of us were sporting our bib shorts – probably for the first time this year!
I’d curated a brisk ride to Sandbach to my favourite pub–The George. Ken and Nick were also up for it, as was Young Chris who joined us as well. We set off ahead of the herded cats on a standard route to Eaton. I missed the planned turn, but took the next which took us down a better surfaced road. We head south to Barbridge then east to join the Wettenhall to Nantwich road.
Crossing into Welshman’s Lane, I had espied a smooth short cut through the Kingsbourne housing estate which worked well. We wiggle through Nantwich but a shout from behind informs me that my rear mudguard is rattling and very loose. I’ve had this problem before with my Specialized Creo. The bracket that supports the mudguard on the rear stays has snapped off. So this is my replacement bracket that has snapped since I bought the bike in October 2025– not impressed with the quality of the design. Help is offered as a cat’s cradle of colour-matched cable ties hoists the mudguard just clear of the tyre. But, will it hold for the next 30 miles! I resolve to acquire some more ties in Sandbach as I’m now out-of-stock – just in case!
We are now on an eastern trek via Shavington to Weston where we head north to Haslington, Winterley (with its pool), Wheelock Heath, Wheelock, and into Sandbach. Down the High Street we rock up at The George and bag an outside table. The pub is always busy but our food is served up quickly. Ken and I use the time to try to find a cable-tie shop locally. There is B&M and Handy Household shops locally. As the Handy is on the way out, we stop and I enter into an Aladdin’s Cave with a magnificent display of cable ties – mudguard insurance sorted!
We now head north west along the long Bradwell Road into the edge of Middlewich. As the next checkpoint is Winsford, the route is a familiar one. We access the Whitegate Way where the next 3 miles are actually uphill all the way to the Station cafe. The bikes know the route back as we head for Oulton Park where Nick peals off for home. We three arrive back close to Rose Farm where, after about 60 miles already ridden today, Chris decides to ride off into the sunset while he can so heads for Kelsall and beyond– after all he’s on holiday this week.
Ken is parked up in Waverton so we head back together. I then head for the Specialized shop in Boughton where I bought I bought the bike from. The service is superb – no issues arise as the bike is on the stand and a different, and hopefully sturdier, bracket is fitted there and then.
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| Shiny new bracket - let's see how long this lasts |
So many thanks to Ken, Nick and Chris for their help and company today. The route round is 47 miles but was 76 miles for me and much more for Chris.
CA
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