25th October 2012: Ellesmere

Brian Mac, Mike G, Ray, Tony, Dave H, Dave M, Liz and Martin were on parade today at the Expresso Cafe who gave us their usual warm welcome.  There were sighs of relief when Martin suggested spurning the N Wales hills and taking a flat route to Ellesmere.  One drawback of heading in this direction is that there is an initial ride through Wrexham which is rather busy and tedious.  Eventually we emerged into the countryside and followed extremely muddy lanes towards Overton, Dudleston and then into Ellesmere.  Dave M left an early stage for an appointment in Malpas.  Lunch was taken at the Black Lion pub which proved perfectly satisfactory.  The return route was to Penley, Bangor on Dee and Erdigg where a visit to the cafe there was suggested.  We entered through the back gate only to be later chastised (politely, no racial abuse) by a NT official for not using the official entrance and paying the entrance fee or showing a membership card.  We than rode through the heavy school pickup traffic of Wrexham to Gwersyllt where Ray and Tony continued to Chester, Mike G having left earlier to return to the railway station.  About 40 miles round trip from the cafe.
MD


Great pictures from Brian MacDonald.

6th September 2012: Sun Inn, Trevor

The Expresso Cafe, Gwersyllt is not the most popular of CER starting points.  Possibly the café itself, the distance from Chester, the hilly environs or a combination of the three.  So on a lovely late summer day only Ivan, Ray, Bryan, Colin, Martin & Lizzie and Liz & Dave P turned up at the café.  We were then joined by three Wrexham Cafe Hoppers - Bruce, David and Mike.  However the numbers were soon whittled down as Bryan was in less than good form and decided to do his own thing, the tandem arrived punctured and Dave & Liz decided to meet us at the lunch stop and the three Wrexham boys retired early on the initial climb up to Minera preferring a less hilly route.

Photograph by Ivan Davenport

The five remaining riders continued on with the winding climb through Minera towards Llandegla, past the MTB centre, briefly onto the A565 and then along the gated lane that emerges on the road halfway up to the top of the Horseshoe Pass.  We soon reached the Ponderosa Cafe and started down the steep Old Horseshoe Pass Road and the right to the bottom of Worlds End and up to the Panorama route.  This must be the most picturesque ride in our area and the road surface is now good but it is littered with rocks and debris that have been washed down from the steep slopes above.  Perhaps as a result, it is a frequent puncture site and true to form Ivan had done so by the time he had reached the Sun, Trevor.  The repair was a protracted procedure requiring 3 inner tubes taking place during lunch eaten outside in the sun with a lovely view over the Vale of Llangollen.  Dave and Liz then arrived after cycling over Worlds End - pretty impressive on the tandem.

The return was along the canal path to Acefair, Johnstown, Bersham, Wrexham and Gwersyllt. Ivan and Ray then continued back to Chester, Martin to Hawarden and Colin and Lizzie took their cars home.

A beautiful hilly ride of only 33 miles but 1,160 metres of climbing taken at a slow pace. The return journey to and from Chester adds a further 28 miles.

MD

31st May 2012: Ellesmere

Well the “raining all day” weather forecast was 95% wrong today – there was a little rain on my ride out via Hope to the Expresso café, a few spots throughout the day and a little as we arrived back at the café.  Brian Mac, Dave M, Ray and I bid Liz and Martin a farewell at the café.  Not so fast however, since Dave M’s Abus lock failed to unlock and it was locking Dave’s and my bike together!  Pliers from the local auto repair along the parade easily cut through the cable, so we were off at last bound for Wrexham down the main road.  Out past the hospital and onwards towards Bersham we ride through Rhosllanerchrugog bound for Acrefair and the aqueduct.

Photographs by Brian MacDonald

Down and over the Dee, we take the towpath towards Chirk.  Here we decide to carry on along the well surfaced towpath past the marina and through the first 173 yd tunnel to exit at the back of Chirk just before the 400 yd + tunnel that we walked three weeks ago.  Over the aqueduct and now upwards through Weston Rhyn, we cross the A5 and out through Gobowen taking NCN 31 all the way into Ellesmere to our favourite pub, the Red Lion.
Rain is threatening, and sure enough it pours down as we tuck into the two-courser.  A strategic post lunch coffee sees the rain off as we head out of town now bound for Sandy Lane.  Holly Bush and Worthenbury see us sprinting our way past Shocklach and into Hildegard’s where Dave M samples cake with port yogurt dressing.  Ray heads Chester bound as the three of us head out of Holt towards Borras back to Expresso via Pandy with exactly 50 miles on the clock.  I cycle back home via Hope and Kinnerton with 80 miles up. So all of you who saw the forecast and thought “I‘ll stay at home in the dry” you missed a pretty flat and essentially dry ride through some very green countryside.

CA

12th April 2012: Worlds End & Panorama Walk

A perfect spring day – cool, bright, sunny and no showers as Dave & Liz P, Martin & Liz D, Mike M, Alan, Ray, Ivan, Tony, Bryan and I set off from Expresso with Bryan leading out his prepared route to the Sun Trevor by the “over the top” route.  The way out from Expresso was ever upwards with several new lanes appearing.  

The ford above Nant Mill

Photograph by Bryan Wade

A brief photo call at a ford upstream from Nant Mill caught most of us out for the steep grind up the other side of the valley.  Here we emerged in New Brighton and the start of the long slog up and over Esclusham Mountain towards World’s End.  Bryan waved us goodbye as he savoured the long descent down the Minera Steps back to Chester for an afternoon appointment.  We were now slogging up over the moors up to 1,400+ ft with magnificent views over Liverpool Bay. The tandem has some technical issues going up so we agreed to meet them later at the Sun Trevor.  The Panorama lived up its name as grand views of the Berwyns and Dinas Bran came into view.  

Reaching the final descent down to the pub, Ray and I set off believing the pack to be behind us. Having ordered a drink and lunch, they still had not appeared. A phone call revealed that Alan had had one puncture quickly followed by another and was walking down the lane.  Whilst the pack lunched (and very good it was), Ray and I helped Alan with his front wheel puncture issues.  It appeared to be due to a brake pad rubbing the tyre wall right through.  Dave P lent Alan a spare tyre and Alan was mobile again. As we all, bar two, sunned ourselves outside whilst waiting for a certain couple to finish their two course lunch, I decided upon an unauthorised deviation from Bryan’s route i.e. we take the tow path rather than the lanes to the aqueduct. Cutting back down the valley we appear the other side of the aqueduct taking the towpath back towards Cefn Mawr.  We follow the usual route back to Wrexham dodging along by the A 483.  A second unauthorised diversion finds us taking tea at Erdigg House before wending our way through Wrexham and back to Expresso Café.  Only 33 miles today but a lot of hills.  We four out from Chester sped back down Marford Hill and Eccleston with 60 miles on the clock.

CA

23rd February 2012: Erbistock (mod)

With a glorious day in prospect it shouldn’t have been surprising that ten of us met up at the Expresso Café in Gwersyllt.  A good turnout, I would say, for Gwersyllt where almost every ride goes uphill.  After the usual chat we split into two groups with Brian Mac, Dave H, Dave & Liz P and I opting for the moderate 30 mile ride to Erbistock.  Get the hills in early was the plan, so off we set winding ever higher towards Southsea and Coedpoeth before descending down to Nant Mill.  Eschewing the ford we took the pedestrian bridge across the stream and then climbed up to the Bersham road for a lovely winding descent down into Bersham.  With the hills out of the way the rest of the morning was spent on the back lanes in true CER style: the Sontley’s, Gyfelia, Crabtree Green and on towards Erbistock.  Even the remains of earlier hedge trimming couldn’t spoil such a marvellous day and the most wonderful cycling weather.  It was 12 noon with 2 miles left to Erbistock when Dave punctured but with skilled help the thorn was removed and we were back on the road within 15 minutes heading for lunch.

It’s a few years since we were last at The Boat in Erbistock.  With temperatures of 17˚C this was a day for being outside and there is no finer setting than the banks of the Dee with a pint of ale and good food perfectly cooked.

Photograph by Bryan Wade

All to soon it was time to leave heading for Overton Bridge and on to Bangor on Dee where we joined the A525 to Cross Lanes.  Skirting the Wrexham Industrial Estate we were soon on the outskirts of Wrexham where Brian Mac left us for Rossett while the rest of us made for the Pandy footbridge and a coffee back at the Expresso.
A wonderful day with 30 miles done.

BW

23rd February 2012: Ellesmere (brisk)

Was it the first day of spring?  It certainly looked and felt like it as we five (Tony H, Ivan, Andy, Dave M and I) set off from the Expresso bound for Ellesmere.  The ride out from Chester had put 15 miles on the clock so Ivan, Tony and I were well warmed up as we set off for Wrexham and the route south that meanders around the A483.  Although the wind was against us, we made good progress down through Ruabon and onwards to Chirk.  Here I should have remembered the towpath route as we slogged up to the big roundabout.  Heading for St Martins, we soon turned off right for the lanes to Hindford and then NW towards Elson and the B road down into Ellesmere.  

The Red Lion did us proud for the second time.  Dave M had decided to add a few extra miles, so he set off in a long loop back to the Expresso as the four of us re-traced our route back towards Dudleston with the wind behind us.  A few more twisty miles of lanes brought us out into Overton.  It was then a straight run on the main road to Wrexham until turning right for Bangor.  With smooth roads and a wind assist, we were spinning along at 25+.  A quick left up a short lane brought us out on the Cross Lanes road and the outskirts of Wrexham.  There is no easy way round the town so skirting around Borras, we end up walking over the A483 footbridge at Pandy.  Here Andy leaves us for the final solo mile back to the Expresso, and the three of us head for Gresford and the back lanes down to Marford.  Tony breaks off to go to Farndon, as Ivan leads a blistering pace back to Chester and I hang on to his back mudguards.  For Andy going back to the start it’s 44 miles, for us going back to Chester 70+.

CA

5th January 2012: Overton

The weather was foul, with very high winds and threatening rain.  Anyway we are CER riders, so I met up with Ivan at the Old Dee Bridge for the 12 mile ride out to the Expresso Café via Marford and Llay.  Battered by the wind and the rain, we arrive an hour later like drowned rats. Tony H (a potential new rider) was waiting for us as we ordered at the Expresso Café.  Martin turned up a few minutes later and we discussed a route I had planned.  We agreed to curtail the 42 miler due to the adverse conditions, so a 35 mile loop to Overton for lunch was settled on.  Leaving under rain threatening skies, we were soon battered by cold rain as we took the back lanes down to the Sainsbury roundabout.  Turning right, the wind suddenly became very severe and I decided to get shelter in the nearby shed city.  Correct decision as we allowed the squall to pass by.  Martin had had enough so decided to call it a day.  We three ploughed on via the hospital and towards Bersham.  The idea was to zigzag the A483 down to Ruabon then Newbridge and onto Chirk.  Taking Colliery Lane in Chirk gave us access to the lower Ceiriog Valley as here the river joins the Dee.  The rain had gone but the wind was as strong as ever. We climbed out of the valley via the double chevroned lane to emerge on the B5069 a few miles south of Overton.

The White Horse Inn turned out to be a Joule’s Brewery pub (ex Market Drayton) and was nicely appointed with good food and a warm welcome.  Suitably warmed, we set off in sunshine to Bangor and the Wrexham Industrial Estate ring road.  Taking the golf course lane, we ran parallel to the main road joining it at the five way roundabout.  Right down through Borras, we end up walking over the A483 pedestrian bridge to emerge a half a mile from the start point with 35 miles under our tyres.  Tony is in car assist mode, so Ivan and I return to Chester via the Gresford lanes and Eccleston.  We now had completed 65 exhausting miles at 13.2mph – not bad for the windiest ride I have ever been on.  Crazy to go out- maybe a bit- but it was all worth it!

CA

17th November 2011: Llangollen

The new venue, the Expresso Café in Gwersyllt, was busy as Ivan and I arrived a little late from Chester.  Dave H was already there and Dave S, a Café Hopper rider, had just turned up.  Brian Mac arrived a bit later having cycled from Neston and, because of problems on the trains, explained that Janet would not be coming, and he was not out for the whole today either.  So where to go!  I had come prepared with a 44m ride to the Wild Pheasant just outside Llangollen.  All the hills would be before lunch with a nice flat 10 miles after lunch.  All agreed and we set off to navigate our way out of largely unfamiliar territory bound ever upwards for Coedpoeth via Southsea (however did it get that name!).  Dave H picked up a puncture here so, a bit delayed, we set off for the Llandegla forest and the roundabout to the Ponderosa on the A5104.  The lane off the roundabout runs parallel to the A5014 and affords magnificent views to the left and right of the Vale of Clwyd and the sea, and the Berwyns the other way.  With good visibility and the weather that we had today, this is a perfect place to view some stunning countryside.

Photographs by Ivan Davenport

Dave S knew the route well and just turning down to the A5104 at Carrog, we stop at a boundary monument erected in 1400 to recognise a short-lived land “agreement” between Owain Glyndŵr and Henry IV which lead to the razing of Ruthin and  the Welsh Revolt of 1400-1415 – amazing what you come across in the countryside.  Running down to Carrog, we take the Old Coach Road for a pleasant if not surprisingly hilly run along the north side of the Dee until the Chain Bridge Hotel at Berwyn.  A quick left down the A5 found us at the Wild Pheasant.  Here Dave S pressed for home, whilst we three were ready for a late lunch after 28 very hilly miles.  Good fare at reasonable prices – but tough if you want salad today – they had run out.  Setting off well after 14:00, I promised us a flat 10 miles to the Pontcysyllte aqueduct along the recently resurfaced canal towpath.  We had an extremely pleasurable fast and level cycling with few walkers and time to digest our repast to boot.  The mostly familiar way back was via Cefn Mawr, Ruabon and the Sainsbury’s roundabout at Wrexham that found us going along Summerhill Road and back to café arriving at 16:00 with 44 miles on the clock.  Dave was in car assist mode whilst Ivan and I, in the gathering gloom, wended our way back via Llay and Kinnerton to Chester.  For two lone souls with headlights ablaze down the Dee cycle path, we had nearly 80 miles on the clock and had experienced what a well known octogenarian rider would have exclaimed to be “Magic”.

CA