22nd December 2016: Gobowen (brisk)

This week’s blog is like a Christmas cracker - full of surprises! First off, it starts from the Old Dee Bridge and via Alyn and Gobowen, ends up back at the bridge. Ray and I had surmised that it would probably be just us two at Alyn cafe as we set off via Dodleston and Marford Hill for the 14 mile ride. I reckoned that Steve H would have either ridden over from Kelsall, or car-assisted to Alyn. Arriving into the park by the back door, we see Steve just about to saddle up. He warns us of an icy path report from a local. Testing the path rather gingerly, I quickly end up inspecting it rather too closely; so we three decide to walk the path to the cafe. The next surprise is that Andy B, Macca and Paul R are already there. Macca unfortunately had come off on the same icy path, and decided he would just ride homewards bound - nothing broken, but now nursing a sore elbow and thigh.

The next surprise really isn’t a surprise as no-one has a route planned. Steve decides he will drive elsewhere to find  non-iced up lanes, while I ponder a route out through Wrexham and then "Somewhere". So we four (Ray, Andy B, Paul R and myself) set off into Wrexham bound for "Somewhere". Inspiration comes as we skirt the hospital, then take the Foxwood Drive transfer to end up on the lane to Erdigg. The lanes are filthy and Ray is beginning to rue the choice of “mudguard-less” Titanium model today. We stop after Erdigg and I offer a choice of venues - mistake really - just do a "Harry Watson" and get them to follow you. So I announce we are off to Derwen College at Gobowen for lunch. 

The route is straightforward now through Ruabon, down and up the Dee Valley passing Cefn Mawr, and then the back way into Chirk via the marina, golf course and Chirk Castle. I elect to take the aqueduct, but the boys prefer the road, so with clear instructions to ride to Weston Rhyn, I find I am alone on the road! The boys took the canal path, so after a phone call, they enjoy the reverse route back to me. We are out now down my favourite, if very muddy, lane towards Gobowen. The next surprise has been that it’s been raining on and off since we left Wrexham, very much contrary to Carol Kirkwood’s sunny forecast using the new £99 million Met Office computer - no wonder the Met Office has lost the BBC Weather contract!

Another surprise is that neither Andy or Paul have been to Derwen College restaurant before. This time we are in early after just 20 muddy miles, so we get a table easily. The food comes to the table in five minutes flat after ordering, and we are all thankful for some hot fare. So 30 mins later, we are back on our bikes and in sunshine at last. I plot a narrow lane route back to Chester so we take NCN455 towards Threapwood since none of us needs to get back to Alyn. The tiny lane is absolutely filthy as we pass Hindford by. I decided a route upgrade is needed, and suggest we take the main roads back to Overton and thence to Bangor-on-Dee. “Yes, Please!” is the response, so exiting the lanes at Dudleston Heath, and on “clean” roads,  and we sail passed Gadlas Hall turning left towards Overton. Andy’s bike is making strange noises so he elects to carry on to Wrexham and home to Mold. 

We three take the Bangor road passing the race course at some speed, which has a meet on. Here, I recall that the road to Holt via Shocklach is very, very dirty due to farm vehicles, so suggest we go around Wrexham Industrial Estate and take the Borras road. Paul decides he wants to return via Holt, so he peels off, and Ray and I return much the way we came out down via Borras, Marford Hill and Dodleston. We arrive back with 65 very muddy miles ridden. 

The final surprise is that neither Ray nor I intended to ride so far today - it was just meant to be a ride out and back. So for my final ride of the year I managed 74 miles with nearly 1000m of climbs, and then spent 15 mins cleaning my bike when I got home - it must have been at least 500gm lighter after the wash! 

So Happy Christmas to all CER riders and I hope Father Christmas brings you all those presents that you have been hinting at all year. See you in January 2017!

CA

7th July 2016: Holt to Gobowen (Moderate)

Would it be a dry ride - well almost! I fancied a Moderate ride today so, as we saddled up outside Cleopatra’s, there were the Three Graces (aka Liz P, Kate and Jane) and the Dis-Gracefuls (aka Steve H, Keith B, Charlie, Petar, Dave H, Dave P, and myself). The route I’d pre-planned was to take a circuit around to Gobowen. Jane had asked if we could go to Whittington since she was leading a ride out that way soon and wanted to recce the area. So this was factored in and a few steep hills removed.

Off and out around the Industrial Estate bypass. We end up all together in Bangor on Dee taking the Overton Road out and up. At the top of the first “hill” just past the racecourse, I’m told the tandem is “going to Malpas”. We wander through lovely Overton and out on the Oswestry Road. Here we take the eponymously named Pant Lane as we climb up the valley. A right down and left up, finds us wandering past the lone Dudleston church and the awaiting mourners of today’s funeral. We entered Gaia Lane. Apparently Gaia was one of the four primeval Greek Deities. It surely would have been happy down this mud-strewn lane — thankfully all dry today. One to miss after a period of rain! We take Church Lane around the back of St Martins and on down across the A483 and into Weston Rhyn. Taking one of my favourite lanes south, we trundle down parallel to the A483 and into Gobowen.

It starts to rain, so we opt for Derwen College for lunch. It’s busy as per usual, but they find room to accommodate us. My phone rings - it’s Tandem Dave who is now at the Olde Boot in Whittington - so much for Malpas then! We ride the back way to the pub, where the group promptly disintegrates into Dave H (who is going to stay with the tandem) and Jane and Charlie who will make their own way back. 

We Happy Five now take the well-loved cycleway 455 for a while and then split off bound for Elson. On the way to Penley, I remember Sandy Lane, so we dive off down here bound for Worthenbury, thence to Shocklach and the cafe. Just as we get to Farndon it rains just hard enough to decide to don wet weather gear. All safely back after 50 miles, we find two-thirds of the Brisk Group (Steve T and Ken) inside.  After cake and coffee it is back to Chester hoping it won’t rain for a third time, and it doesn’t!

CA

30th April 2015: Gobowen (brisk)

I’d set out about 15 minutes earlier than planned on my way to Hildegard’s and it was soon obvious that I should have waited at home in the dry for those 15 minutes. By the time I reached the café, I had been well and truly soaked! Hildegard was mopping the floor as I arrived, as cheerful as ever. We chatted about her impending up-sticks back to Germany (in early June perhaps). I reminded her that, after years of looking after other people, it was meet and right that she should now be looking after herself. John arrives next and gradually a load more arrive. 

Where's John - gone for a swim?

Photograph by Clive Albany

I’d fancied a ride to Whittington, as I hadn’t been there since 2011. There were no takers except John, so we set off bound for Wrexham. I’d planned a wiggle through the centre of Wrexham and then up in the hills around Johnstown, thence to Whittington. We did our Wrexham wiggle, finding cut-throughs to the lane to Erdigg. The weather was rainy, windy and cold and so, with John’s approval, I cut out the hills and re-routed on the hoof as we headed for the Llangollen canal aqueduct cycle path then Chirk, and a bit of canal again towards Weston Rhyn. Here there is a wonderful, nearly straight lane going through Hengoed to the Gobowen Hospital. Derwen College café was busy and we were lucky to get a window table. As ever it is a pleasure to be here, with prompt and efficient service matched with home-cooked food. 

The sun is well out now and it is a real pleasure to be out in the Shropshire countryside. The route back was via the quiet lanes of Hindford and Dudleston Heath. Somewhere here I pick up a rear wheel slow, and with an audience of inquisitive bullocks, effect a repair. Through Lightwood Green and Cloy, we then take the main road back to Cross Lanes, through the industrial estate to the top of Borras Road (which looks like its at last going to be resurfaced) and then the 3 mile run down to Holt again. A mere 48 miles, with 70+ from Chester.

CA

9th October 2014: Gobowen (mod)

For a forecasted showery day, there were a lot of us at Hildegard’s cafe. A brisk group had coalesced and set off for Queens Head, and the rest of us (Dave & Liz P, Dave H, Jim, Trevor, the two Steves and myself) slowly assembled for a ride to Derwen College at Gobowen. Taking the back lane to the head of Wrexham Industrial Estate, we trail through smart and run down areas, mainly because I missed the cycleway turn into Red Wither Lane. Anyway, at Cross Lanes we were back on track, taking the repaired lanes around the back of Erdigg and Sontly bound for Ruabon. 

The Dennis brickworks looked more decrepit than ever, but still sells heather brown quarry tiles, for a price. Then we all enjoy the long hill out of Cefn Mawr towards Chirk. Taking the back lane, we pass the Marina and Golf Club, and the entrance to Chirk Castle before descending into Chirk proper. The canal path east brings us out at Chirk Bank on the main drag up to the A5 roundabout. A few hundred yards up the St Martins road, the right into Henlle lane guides us parallel to the A5 and into Gobowen town. 

The college is off the Whittington Road, and turning into it, we take a grand tour eventually finding the Orangery restaurant. As ever it’s busy, and the students are “off” today. The manager opens up a small dining room just for us eight. Within 10 minutes, we have chosen the main course and having it delivered to our table in double quick time. The hot puddings are even more quickly delivered. At under a fiver for two course and coffee, and of excellent quality, the college doesn’t ever disappoint. 

The sun is out briefly and we take a delightful lane off the 455 route circling back towards the big hill into St Martins. Onwards to Overton, there is a bit of rain as we meet up by the cafe crossroads. Steve H and I decide to take the run back to Farndon via Cloy, Hollybank and Worthenbury; whereas the others take the main road to Bangor. At the Shocklach turn, a "Road Closed" sign informs us that a bridge is being repaired at some place we can’t find on the OS map. The others then appear, and we set off assuming we will be able to get through. The bridge is just around the corner and we were able to walk the bikes over half of a new bridge. It’s due to be finished in three weeks: so they had better get a move on! I decide I need to get back to Chester, so I motor on leaving the seven Easy Riders to find their own way back to Hildegard’s cafe. 

A round trip of 46m at the start of Autumn with rain in the air, wet leaves on the ground and flailed hedges. It’s 65m from Chester, and it’s clear that the weather has turned and warmer clothes and lights, are now required.

CA

21st March 2013: Gobowen

Cold and windy it was and little did we know what the following morn would bring - so on balance, the cold (0°C with wind chill), windy, and thankfully dry day was to be enjoyed. I had cycled out from Chester using the same route that Ivan, Ray and I had taken on that fateful 31st January. As I turned into Pentre Lane, I carefully took "Davenport corner" before the slog up the steep hill into Llay. I found a back way into the Alyn country park and as I crested the Alyn valley again, there was George in his car looking perplexed for a non-existent car park. He was near but so far from where he should have been. There were only five brave souls out today: Petar, Dave H, Jim, George and myself. Jim and I each had sort of prepared a route but given the cold and strong E wind a non-mountainous ride was decided upon with the lunch destination of Derwen College at Gobowen. 

There is no easy way to miss Wrexham, so the route was via Maelor Hospital and Bersham before finding the aptly named Corkscrew Lane and along into Ruabon. Out towards Cefn Mawr, I had suggested we access the canal via the aqueduct to negate the slog up towards Chirk. 

Photograph by Clive Albany

We continued canal side walking one dark tunnel before avoiding the 400 yard one in Chirk. Out past Chirk Bank I wondered if the canal path was passable further on to miss the A5 roundabout. A group of walkers confirmed it was muddy as evidenced by their boots. So up the incline to the A5 roundabout and a short section of the St Martin's road found us riding parallel to the A5 and soon into Gobowen. The Derwen College café was busy and as usual, the service was friendly, fast and fulfilling. The return route was on the little lanes via Hindford then NE to Overton. Rolling fast down the main road out of Overton and over the Dee, we take the back way to Sontley and wend our way back through central Wrexham to the Alyn. A round trip of 41m, but for me, the very pleasant day out was marred by a rear wheel puncture at the bottom of Marford Hill on my way back to Chester.

CA

10th May 2012: Gobowen (brisk)

Eleven met at Hildegard’s, but Andy & Bryan were only there for the coffee. (Hope you find your feet soon Bryan).  Clive kindly had a route programmed heading south into the wind, all the way to Gobowen.  The run to lunch was punctuated twice (punctured is more apt) as we passed through Sutton Green to Bangor, where the first of a series of pics was taken by yours truly. (PIC 1)

Bangor on Dee

First puncture

First puncture was at Hindford, where Brian’s new mini foot-pump impressed the natives with its efficiency. (PIC 2)  Lunch was unusually taken, NOT in a pub but at the VERY efficient Derwen College on the southern outskirts of Gobowen.  Main courses were ordered from the waitress and arrived in less than 2 minutes.  A new CER record for speed: well done the students.

Photographs by Brian MacDonald

After lunch, we headed north along the towpath of the very sunny and pleasant Llangollen canal, over The Chirk Aqueduct.  (PIC 3) 

Chirk Aqueduct

We then achieved another CER first by attempting to by-pass the town by cycling through the 412 yard long Chirk Tunnel.   We cycled about 5 yards into the tunnel before deciding that we were grown men and should be sensible and walk.  Exiting the tunnel we had a fast run north as far as the very smelly Rubbish Dump at Jonestown. (PIC 4) Here George had to have a puncture and show us his patented rain proof seat cover, an upmarket carrier bag.  I must point out that all the punctures were fixed in record time by the expert re-tyreing of Ray. (Is there such a word?)  Well done Ray.

With all the stopping and starting, it was decided that afternoon tea should be taken at the very lovely Erddig Hall, voted the UK’s “Favourite Historic House” in 2007.  Suitably refreshed, we all set off for Chester and when we reached Wrexham Rugby Club, Trevor deviated off to Farndon.  A very pleasant CER 50 miles, with 3 punctures and two new records set.

BMac