23rd November 2023 : Holt (brisk)

As others have reported, quite few riders gathered at the Pursuit Cafe in Hawarden and, after a convivial discussion, rides were chosen from the various offerings.

 

Richard and I had elected to ride to Hawarden to test our legs and conditions. I had a niggling calf strain and Richard hadn’t been on his bike for weeks.  The ride out to Hawarden against the strong westerly wind convinced us that maybe a day in the Welsh hills was not for us. So thinking the mod+ ride to Caerwys was a bit brave in the windy conditions, we settled on a loop that would bring us back to Chester along some pretty but low level lanes, as far as possible, avoiding a headwind. 

 

After waving to Dave M who had just arrived, we headed south and uphill to Bilberry woods then we crossed the bridge over the North Wales Expressway. From here we had a mainly downhill ride along lower mountain road in the direction of Llay. We avoided the steep climb to Gresford by sneaking  off road along Springfield Lane, parallel to the A483. Emerging near the start of Marford Hill we were soon turning down Hoselely Lane and then being turbo assisted by the wind along Borras to what was, until recently, “Cleopatras”.  We arrived to find a new establishment has emerged from the ashes in the form of ”Satriale’s” which we were told had opened for business a couple of days earlier.  

Re-born Cleopatra's 

Our plan had been to stop for refreshments at “Alisons” in Tattenhall but instead took the opportunity to give the new place a whirl.  It's had a complete refresh decoratively and the staff tried very hard to make us welcome. As we were leaving we met Dave M (photo) who it turned out had earlier parked his car at Holt and ridden a circular route in the opposite direction to ours!

 

Richard and I rode a further 20 miles back to Chester or so on along familiar lanes taking in the likes of  Tattenhall, Weitreins Lane, Cardon and Waverton experiencing a strengthening head wind and cloudier skies. Our total mileage out and back from Chester was 47 miles. We succeeded in our objective to avoid the worst of the wind although felt a bit guilty that didn’t join our braver comrades for their hilly Welsh sortie. However having now read the report of that ride I think we may have made the right decision! 

JM

23rd November 2023: Caerwys (mod)

There were three groups in the Pursuit cafe at Hawarden on this a windy but surprisingly dry Thursday in Nov. Dave H, Jim and Trevor had ridden in from Mickle Trafford. Briskers, Ken, Richard & John M were looking at a route back to Chester with Ken wanting to maybe divert through Llay. Lastly and the subjects of this blog were the daft group of mod plus riders who fancied the hills: Shane, Steve T, Alan and Steve Hu. What did Brian Wade say? “We go to Wales for the hills” , well we certainly cycled them today all 3800ft of them. 

This was a hybrid route of Steve Hu out and Alan’s return. The group set off through Hawarden then climbing towards Drury and Buckley. It was at this point the wind started to make its presence felt. A quick plunge through Alltami and we were on the quiet lanes through Soughton. As we left Soughton the quality of the roads deteriorated. A local farmer was digging out a ditch which prior to seeing him we had been riding up what felt like a stream. At the junction of Green Lane and Cefn Eurgain Lane, Steve Hu made a leadership decision to tackle the Col du Green lane in favour of its clean tarmac. This was met with a mix of incredulity and resignation from Alan and Steve T. Shane was blissfully unaware of the calf burning section to come. 

The downhill into Wen y Gaer was memorable as Steve T commented “how often do you have to pedal just to go downhill” such was the wind! As we crested the hill at Moel Y Crio we knew we would have been better ditching the bikes and flying a kite. 

Using Alan’s local knowledge we navigated tractors cutting hedges and were soon safely ensconced at On The Corner Cafe at Caerwys. The service was as usual excellent, marred only by Steve Hu & Shane trying to send the table mats back thinking they were menus, as Neil would say LOL. 

Speaking of Neil Tanner, Neil had promised a route for today, the trouble was his route went from Meadow Lea, where he patiently sat wondering where the CER contingent were. Neil has form for going to the wrong venue, so we shouldn’t be surprised. It was agreed a laminated list of 2024 dates and starting venues zip tied to his handlebars may help. 

Alan's return route was as always well planned and with a tailwind over in a short time. A pernicious thorn in Shanes front tyre and Steve T’s rear mudguard making a bid for freedom were the distractions from an otherwise wind assisted ride. Alan peeled off at Northop leaving the three musketeers to roll into Hawarden. Thanks to Alan for the route a very challenging 43 miles with plenty of climbing thrown in. 

Photo by Steve Hu

See route map and/or gpx file download

Steve Hu  

17th August 2023: Overton (mod)

The Gallery is now called ‘Pursuit Café and Kitchen’ and is being run by a cycling enthusiast, so that bodes well for us. 

The turnout was good, with Dave M and Ray S doing their own thing. That left Dave H, Every Ready Ray, Andy, Neil, George, Trevor, Jim and yours truly for the mod ride for the day. The plan was to ride down to The Two Doves café in Overton using the route pioneered by Alan last October.

We set off down the hill past the car park and up Tinkersdale climb, bearing left to take the steep road/track up to the A55 bridge. Trevor and Jim were at the rear and, going into the track, Trevor had a problem with his gears and came off, bringing Jim down with him. It all happened in a flash at almost no miles and hour, so no major damage was done to man nor bike.

Once over the A55, were set off along Old Hope Road then zoomed down Lower Mountain Road, crossing Kinnerton Road and soon found ourselves in Golly. The lanes around here and down to Rossett were quiet and smooth, but the railway crossing at Rossett was bumpy enough dislodge my rear mudguard, forcing a short stop to put it back on.

We only climbed part way up Marford Hill, before turning left down Hoseley Lane, where Andy complained that there were no apples to scrump this year. Again, the lanes were lovely and quiet down to Borras as were the lanes that skirt Wrexham Industrial Estate. It was here that we missed Trevor and Jim. After waiting five or more minutes, Andy set off back to look for them. After about another 10 minutes, Dave H returned to the junction where Neil, Andy, George and I had been waiting (he’d gone on ahead with Ray), to tell us that Jim and Trevor had told him that they had decided to bail out and go to Holt. A text later from Trevor confirmed that this was because he was feeling the after effects of his tumble earlier.

So, the six of us continued on via Cross Lanes to Bangor-on-Dee, where we took the group photo on the bridge. From here it was only a couple of miles before we reached Overton.

Photo by Steve T

As usual the offerings and service at the Two Doves was excellent and an eye opener for Neil, who had passed the place numerous times, but had never been inside. Suitable fed and watered, we were soon back on the bikes for the return journey. This took us back to Bangor and then up Creamery Road and along a series of lovely lanes to Holt.

From here, we headed for Lavister, but part way along Rossett Road, Ray suffered a flat rear tyre. He was confident that the ‘gloop’ that he’d already put in his tyres would solve the problem and that all he needed was to pump it up a bit. How wrong this turned out to be! After another stop near Trevalyn, where Neil, used a gas cylinder to pump up the tyre, another stop was needed as Ray approached Dodleston.

This turned out to be a very prolonged affair. The idea was to put in a new inner tube, but removing the rear wheel from Ray’s ‘leccy’ bike turned out to be a nightmare and it was over half an hour before we were moving once more. The loss of this time meant that we were unable to indulge DH’s desire for a cake stop in Kinnerton, so we headed directly back to Hawarden via Rough Piece Wood and the roundabouts at Dobshill, before plunging down Tinkersdale back to the car park.

46 miles covered on a day which had started cool, but which had turned out sunny and very warm. A ride not without incident and challenges, but one with great company and some superb lanes. Thanks again to Alan for planning such great route.

See route map and/or gpx file download 

ST