27th August 2026: Tilston

 Today’s ride for me started a Mickle Trafford, so I started in the rain and finished in the heavy rain, I rode out the 11 miles to Holt. The road soon became a awash with debris from the surrounding fields and to cap it all there was a road closure just outside Farndon 😂. Anyway, once at the new meet this week I met Dave M who is starting to ride more often and further; then Ray S arrived, so we sat and laughed at ourselves for being so daft for riding in the rain when Ken arrived but didn’t stay, as he’d been out early; then Toby and Chris arrived. 

I had a plan to do a little loop from Holt, so Ray Chris Toby all said that seems a good as plan as any so we said farewell to Dave who was just doing his own bimble. 

We shot back over the Dee to Farndon, heading towards Shocklach and as I was the stupid fool in front, went down a little lane. Then Ray caught me up and said in all the years of cycling in this area he had never been down this lane - as you guessed it was totally the wrong way . It obviously was my nerves - nah it was because I’m an idiot . 

So we got back on track towards Shocklach then turned just after the run down pub where we were stopped by a local out walking who informed us that the road we needed was closed and not passable but gave us a alternative route via Churton Lane which turned out to be a brilliant move as the route we took went over to Coddington then over to Manor Wood caravan park heading towards Tilston then Stretton.  At the Carden Arms pub we had a team huddle and all decided to go back with me to MickleTrafford, then head their own way off on the Greenway. 

So off we set heading back towards Churton, as we knew the road was open there,  but getting there we went down a farm road that Ray and Chris had used a few weeks previous (which was a new one to me), then down the inter link to Churton getting back on the usual route to Waverton then Mickle Trafford.

The ride and company was fantastic in warm but very wet conditions. Thanks to Ray for his local knowledge and then Chris and Toby who also took turns out front .We ended doing 26 miles continuous from Holt at a reasonable pace. Obviously, all 4 of us had completed many more miles but I did around 44 miles. As I left the 'Chester 3', I decided I’d just nip around the Barrowmore Estate to clock up some extra and also because I thought I’m drenched and it’s a shame to go home early. 

So to all those who decided to stay indoors wearing your fluffy slippers and housecoats because you where sensible and looked at the weather , I’m sat at home thinking yep that was daft but fun .

KB

20th August 2026: Aston

Given that we’re in the middle of the holiday season, it wasn’t a great surprise that only seven members showed up at Rose Farm on a day that promised to be, at some stage, wet. Do you remember riding in the rain? The last time I remember was when Steve Hughes and I aquaplaned around Delamere and district some ten weeks ago.

Dave M was in civvies, but he’s continuing to extend his rides from home. For the rest, we had Dave H, Keith, Chris, Toby and guest Al. The plan was to ride to The Bhurty at Aston using an anti-clockwise route which would avoid the slog up from Tarporley at the end of the day.

As we set off, it had started to rain a little, so we donned our rain jackets. We were soon threading our way through the mayhem that is Tarporley High Street before heading towards Brassey Green and The Shady pub. By the time we got to Beeston Castle, it had stopped raining and at Bunbury the sun had come out, so we stopped to take off our rain stuff. Brindley and Chorley soon came and went, our progress being helped by the stiff northerly tail wind and we arrived at The Bhurty in Aston soon after 12pm. As we went inside, there were dark clouds gathering from the north.

 The pub was quiet and we were soon seated with food and drinks ordered. When it came the quality was excellent as we’ve come to expect from here, but it’s striking how expensive eating out has become. We used to order a curry and beer here and pay just over £10. These days it will cost you at least twice as much. It rained heavily as we ate, but it had passed and the sun was shining again as we set off back.

As Chris, Toby and Al all wanted to go to Chester, they decided to find their way directly from Aston, as my route would take them away from Chester on a more easterly direction. So we said goodbye to them in Wrenbury as Dave H, Keith and I headed off towards Ravensmoor and Nantwich. As we would now be riding mostly into the northerly wind, Dave told Keith and I to go on ahead and he would follow at his own pace.

We tracked through Nantwich, Cholmondelston and Wettenhall with the skies becoming more overcast as we did so. Just as we got to Oulton Park it started to rain, so we stopped to don our rain gear once more. For 10 – 15 minutes there was a real downpour which had us sheltering under a tree for a few minutes until it eased off a bit. By the time we got to Cotebrook, the rain had stopped. Keith had cycled in from home, so he headed off and I took Utkinton Lane to return to Rose Farm. Dave arrived a few minutes after me.

38 miles covered on a day with mixed weather, but an enjoyable ride with our ‘brisk’ friends who we don’t often get to spend time with.

ST

See route map and/or gpx file download

13th August 2026: Talacre

 Well the brisk / mod+ riders certainly “eclipsed” the mod riders today, as just like the sun hiding behind the moon, the mod lads were all hiding from the heat and the hills of Wales.

With probably the lowest turnout at the Gallery Cafe, the true athletes of Kevin, Chris, Toby, Alan and Steve H set out on Alan’s cunning route to stay low and stay cool. With temperatures a good four degrees cooler at the coast Alan devised a route to shadow the Dee path then pick up the Coastal Path to Bagillt and then using a bit of major roads to Greenfield Valley.

The tree lined climb up to Holywell was a real pleasure as we ascended one of the steepest railway climbs in the country according to Alan. As we left Holywell we paused for a hydration top up, with Alan playing the role of Aquarius. Whitford soon zoomed past and we began the day’s single earnest climb to Llanasa. Once there it was a quick plunge down to Talacre and the bakery.

Here we were regaled with stories of protesting animal rights, the differential speed of a 40mph greyhound and a person out for a beach stroll!  Both Steve and Chris manned up and bought an “Oggie”. Imagine the largest Cornish pastie you have ever seen, then double it and you get the idea.

The breeze was pleasant at the coast but the heat was relentless; however Kevin stepped into the role of Aquarius and we were all replete with cold water except Chris who like a camel stores all his water on his back.

The climbing done we followed Alan’s route past the former Point of Ayr gas sweetening site which is now being prepared for the Hynet Carbon Capture project. Gravel, slippy wet bridges and lovely sea views accompanied our route back to the Fun Ship by Abakan. Here Alan showed his local knowledge and took us on another gravel spectacular eventually joining the A road just up from Greenfield.

A quick diversion to Flint Castell split the group with Alan returning to his car, which he uses like a ski lift to “get me up the hill”. Toby and Kevin struck out for the Dee Path and Millennium Way and Chris battered me up Paper Mill Lane resulting in me achieving numerous fastest ever sections.

A big thanks must go to Alan for leading a really interesting and varied route. Everyone’s mileage and climbing will vary, but I covered 47 miles and just over 2000 ft of climbing. Sorry no gpx as everyone started or ended anywhere except the Cafe!

Steve Hu 

6th August 2026: Market Drayton Special Ride (mod)

 The plan was to meet at Sainsbury’s café in Whitchurch and to set out from there at 10.30. But that’s not what happened. It turns out that Sainsbury’s has closed the cafes in all its supermarkets and if I’d consulted with Mrs T we would have found out well beforehand. Fortunately, our great leader and Keith had decided to do a recce on Monday (when the temperature had got up to 29°C) and discovered the fact that the café was no longer there. For DH, finding an alternative was no problem – he just turned on his ‘Costa detector’ and found one suitable in the High Street. Consequently, sixteen CER members collected at Costa Coffee and soon-ish after 10.30 spilled out onto the pavement, split into two groups (Mod and Brisk) and headed out for Market Drayton.

The Mod group comprised of Dave H, Keith, Fiona, Elwyn, Mike G, Andy B, Ray and yours truly. Threading our way out of town, we were soon in Alkington, heading to Tilstock, Hollinwood and Prees Green where we ran a short distance along the A49 crossing it again at Weston-under-Redcastle.. The roads were very quiet and, for the most part, smooth with few potholes – just what we’ve come to expect and like about the lanes of Shropshire. Apart from a climb near Marchamley Hill, much of the journey seemed to be downhill and the NW wind behind us helped to make very good progress, arriving in Hodnet about 12.15.

It had been suggested that we might need a break here and/or something to eat, but no-one seemed to need either and we stopped only to call the Joules pub in Market Drayton (the Red Lion) to make sure they could handle a group of eight. Crossing the A41 at Wistanswick, we started a second climb into Cheswardine. Fiona started asking ‘how far is it to lunch?’ as we ran down the hill towards Market Drayton. Dave and Keith’s recce had taken them to the Joules pub, so finding it was no problem and we arrived there about 1.15pm.

The staff there welcomed us in and quickly (well, quite quickly) took our orders for food and drinks. That came pretty quickly and the sandwiches, fish and chip and various other dishes were found to be first class. The Red Lion is definitely worthy of another visit.

The return 13-mile journey to Whitchurch would be in a north-westerly direction and therefore into the wind. However, apart from some short stretches, this didn’t really affect us too much as the wind seemed to have died down. It was noticeably cooler as we made our way back, although it did brighten up a bit near Whitchurch. As we passed through Calverhall and Ightfield we did find some rough roads and we actually diverted from the prescribed route, taking Ash Road at Ash Magna rather than Ash Lane at Ash Parva since Dave and Keith had found the latter to be very sandy and gravelly and potentially quite dangerous.

We threaded our way back into Whitchurch and Costa Coffee where a restoring drink was taken. It had been an excellent excursion around rural Shropshire along lanes that many had never seen before.  Our thanks go to Clive for producing a superb route which all the group found really enjoyable.

ST

See route map and/or gpx filedownload

6th August 2026: Market Drayton Special ride (brisk)

The second Special Ride of the year features a sidle around the Shropshire countryside with more than dozen Easy Riders riding to Market Drayton from Whitchurch either via a moderate 42 miler or a 52 brisk miler. We met up in Costa’s cafe as Sainsbury’s had shut the cafe we usually used. The weather was slightly chilly and improved a little during the day but the wind increased and the temperature dropped in the late afternoon BUT no rain!

The Brisk group consisted of Ivan, Nick, Shane, and Toby all of whom had ridden from home to Whitchurch! Kevin, Steve H and I had driven to Whitchurch. So the Magnificent Seven saddled up.

As per usual “ herding cats” syndrome was evident on the off but the brisk group shot up Alkington Road to distance ourselves from the melee. On the run to Tilstock, Steve H was stung by a wasp but a Piriton was quickly washed down to help dampen the sting effect. The road from Tilstock south via Hollinwood and Quina Brook was new to most of us and lightly trafficked.We hit the A49 at Prees Heath to cross it again a few miles south. Once again with light traffic and a good surface (for a welcome change).

The first bit of real climbing finds us in Weston-under-Redcastle with the aptly named Elysian Hill. The road bisects the 440 acres of the Hawkstone Estate with its big hotel and golf course etc. This is a beautiful area new to most of us I would suspect. The ridge runs along to Marchamley Hill which all have “endured” many times in the past.

At this point the Brisk and Mod routings have been identical, but now the Mod ride continues along the hillside into Hodnet and beyond, as the Brisk ride turns south towards Stanton upon Hine Heath. Not every rider agreed with the right turn that I had now dived down. We have been down this road many many times in the past but perhaps it was only Nick who could recall it. Eventually, I was able to persuade the group sans one, that as I had curated the ride, I might actually be correct in the direction we were now taking! So as Ivan had ridden ahead towards Hodnet, he missed the correct routing down the hillside passing the West Midlands Shooting ground and the famous Hawkstone Motocross circuit.

Hawkstone Park Motocross circuit has an illustrious history since starting up in1938. Famously, Roy Orbison was allowed to ride a lap on a motorcycle around it back in 1965 at the 500cc British Grand Prix meet. Unfortunately he crashed and broke his ankle. So he appeared on stage at the Palladium later that week with his ankle in plaster and a crutch - what a trooper!

The route turns eastwards then north east through Ellerdine Heath (where we have twice had special Ride lunch venue at the Oakgate garden centre cafe in 2021 and 2013). There now is long list of hamlets to ride through culminating in crossing the A41 at Hinstock after 31 miles  for a stop at the village store for drinks. The lane out was cut deep into the sandstone as we head for Cheswardine where Steve takes the photo. It’s an interesting ride now down the 3 mile long “Elephant Grass” valley. The grass was 6 ft high despite the lack of rain. 

Cheswardine Church 

We get to The Hippodrome after 39 miles and a short detour around the town. I’ve been here before a few times and like the speedy service and the range of decent beers at “affordable” prices. It’s a Wetherspoons' establishment but hey its two thirds full and good value at this re-purposed cinema. Ivan messaged me to say that he’s been and gone on his way back to Chester via Nantwich - so a 105 miler for him!

We move off promptly for the 13 miles back to base. It’s a 5 mile slight uphill slog to the Olde Jack pub in Calverhall where we overhaul the Mods who had been at the Red Lion pub in MD for lunch but had ridden a 10 miles shorter route than us. The route is amended on the fly at Ash Magna as Dave H warned me at coffee that the planned drop off at Ash Parva is largely gravel. So we wander through Brown Moss with a sadly depleted lake to enter Whitchurch and back to our cars or for some riders to ride further on and back to their homes.

I drive out to Grindley Brook and manage to get into the always very busy petrol station there with petrol at £1.45 a litre  (20p cheaper than most) so I fill the car to the brim. I then get a shout from a certain Steve H who has had the same idea!

So a satisfying excursion around rural Shropshire on a ride around new and familiar with riders old and new. Thanks to my group who did a sterling job of keeping the pace up  at 15mph average (as I was on my e-bike!).

See route map and/or gpx file download

CA