20th June 2019: Special long ride to Stone (brisk & mod)

Brisk Ride

The skies were ominously dark as we all set off from Waverton at 0800. There was a brisk ride led by yours truly, and a moderate ride led by Steve H. However, as there was no rush to get to Cafe Bon Sol in Whitchurch, we all set off together towards Tattenhall. It became clear at the back road to Bolesworth Castle that we should formally split up. The Brisk Group consisted of Ivan, Ray, Ken, Steve T, Nick, and myself. Mike G decided to joins us as well just as John W appeared (he had not turned up at the start due to bike issues). So up and over the various hills with very black skies, we duck and dive our way to Bon Sol just before the rain starts. The cafe had opened up a little early to accommodate us and bacon baps were very much in evidence. 

As we are ready to leave, the Mods arrive ready for their protein top up. Mike G decides to swap teams as we head out to Ightfield and on to Market Drayton. Nick gets a rear wheel puncture as it starts to rain, but tyre fixed, we seem to outrun the rain. There is then a long run down quiet lanes to Eccleshall. Out through pretty Eccleshall, it is now a long loop north passing HMP YOI Drake and Swynnerton Training camp (a WW2 former munition factory, now Army training camp) via Cold Meece and Yarnfield (where we have ridden to in April 2016). It’s really downhill now into the suburbs of Stone at 51 miles, 1230 and The Poste, a Wetherspoons pub. 

As ever Wetherspoons doesn’t disappoint and we are soon fed and watered and preparing to leave as the Mods arrive. The weather hasn’t warmed up and rain threatens as Ivan leads us onto Barlaston and the start of 12 miles of canal side riding. Both Ivan and I notice that there has been a lot of housing and offices built where derelict factories once were. We had both been on the June 2011 Long Ride to Stone (with Mike G) and really noticed the difference. We pose for a few photos along the way, ending up at the Harecastle Tunnels - one now working, the other closed but both 1.5 miles long.

Photos by Nick and Ken

It's a long pull up to the busy A34 roundabout at Talke, at 669 ft the highest point of the ride surprisingly. Downhill into Alsager, we are soon out and crossing the railway at Oakhanger, eschewing the White Lion at Barthomley, on our way into Nantwich. An unconventional approach via St Mary’s churchyard finds us at Costa Coffee ready at 81 miles for a top up. We are all ready for the final familiar leg of 21 miles back to Waverton. Steve T, who threatened to jump ship at lunch, is still riding confidently as 101 miles comes up at nearly 1800. Surprisingly, there were 4500 ft of climbs! The Mods are 90 minutes behind us and just leaving Nantwich, and, as Steve has Dave H’s car keys, he joins Ken, Ivan and me for a pint in the Ring o Bells in Christleton. 

So a great day out, and my thanks to an enthusiastic riding group who took turns on the front right to the end. We managed to dodge heavy showers (as had been in Chester apparently) and only picked up a little rain - it could have been warmer, but hey almost the Summer solstice so why would we expect it to be sunny and warm!

See route map and/or gpx file download

CA

Mod Ride

The mods rode the same ride as described above, so I add here only a few incidents that demonstrate the slick professionalism of our mod outings. Both groups were to cycle as one to the first stop at Whitchurch.  Unfortunately heading up to Brown Knowl, Dave H's front mech slipped sideways and necessitated a quick fix, but delayed 5 of us arriving at the cafe.

The rest of the morning was uneventful and we enjoyed the lanes to our lunch stop.  There was good value fare at Wetherspoons and after we took the long canalside ride, though I think we joined it a little earlier than the prescribed route. 

Photos by Mike G

Everything was uneventful until we left the cafe in Nantwich. But somewhere before Swanley bridge, Mike at the front and me as the last man lost touch with Keith, George and Dave. After waiting and some phone calls, Mike, Andy and I continued on the planned route, eventually arriving at our start point to find the rest of our group already there.  They had taken the more direct A41 for part of their return.

I think we all enjoyed the diversity of the route, the well-planned stops and our luck with the weather.  Many thanks to Clive for his planning and organisation.

SH

2nd June 2011: Stone 110 ride (long)

An early start today for our annual ‘long’ 100 plus ride!  Ivan was busy fuelling up when I arrived at Chester Station café just after 07:30.  Within a few minutes Clive, Dave Hill and Mike G had joined us, leaving only Dave P unaccounted for.  Leaving it until the last moment Dave P and his son Dominic (planning to ride with us for the first hour) arrived just before 08:00.  With everyone accounted for there was just time for a photo before Clive led out down City Road.

Photographs by Bryan Wade

The weather forecast predicted ideal cycling weather: a warm but cloudy morning followed by a sunny afternoon with temperatures in the low 20’s and best of all no wind.  Clive’s planned route bore no resemblance to a normal CER ride apparently including some 12 miles of urban riding through the centre of the Potteries from Barlaston in the south to Kidsgrove in the north.  It says something about CER members to accept Clive’s assurances that we were in for a great day out: but that’s for later.  To start, we headed out of Chester along the canal towpath to Waverton where, with only a few miles done, my SatMap handlebar mount sheared off releasing the GPS to bounce at an alarming rate back down the road.  Unlike Clive’s experience a few weeks earlier the SatMap did not survive its ordeal.  A fractured screen amongst other damage signalled the end.
Back on the road we were soon going through Tattenhall, passing Bolesworth Castle, where Dominic left us, and on towards No Mans Heath where we turned left with Clive ensuring that we had one decent hill, over Wirswall, before entering Whitchurch for our morning stop.  Clive had chosen Jones Coffee House and with its impeccable and speedy service (from baked beans to toasted tea cakes) it was easy to see why.  An excellent choice.
The next leg was to take us along beautiful lanes, most of us had never ridden before, to Market Drayton and on to the upmarket village of Eccleshall.  From here the route took us past Drake Hall prison over the M6 and into Stone to complete a wonderful two hours of cycling from Whitchurch.  In Stone we headed for Wetherspoons for lunch just as the sun started to break through.  With some 50 plus miles done I couldn’t resist a pint of the ‘Stone the Crows’ ale from the local Lymestone Brewery to go with the steak and kidney pudding, chips and mushy peas.  Service could have been friendlier but was certainly quick and the meals substantial: just what was needed for a long day in the saddle.

By 14:00 it was time to leave and we set off heading through the lanes to Barlaston where we joined NCN route 5 to follow the Trent and Mersey Canal towpath north.  What followed was 12 miles of truly enjoyable leisure cycling through the heart of the Potteries, ducking under the ridiculously low bridges and squeezing through the anti-motorcycle ‘gates’.  It all took time as we cruised at a sight seeing pace taking in the familiar names, Wedgwood, Etruria, Stoke City ground, and then on to Middleport and Longport where the remains of the old mills lining the canal (Oliver’s Mill, Middleport Mill and Port Vale Mill) suggest how different things were in the heydays of the early 1800’s when they were built.  Further on the Westport Lake Country Park was full of families enjoying the sun as we rode by on the last mile to the start of the Harecastle tunnels where we left the canal to continue along the lanes.

After such an interesting section of the route one might be forgiven for thinking that it would be ‘downhill’ from now on, but no Clive had a number of other surprises in store for us as we continued to Alsager before getting on to more familiar lanes to Barthomley, Wybunbury and Nantwich.  Our afternoon tea stop was now overdue but Ivan had arranged a special treat for us, so rather than a stop in the town centre we headed to his sisters house on the edge of town to be greeted with plates of sandwiches and cakes and a choice of beverages: absolutely wonderful, many thanks indeed.
“It’s all downhill from here” says Clive with a smile “Acton, Brindley, Spurstow and home” he says.  I remind him of a slight undulation he has forgotten to mention.  “It’s at least two chevrons,” I say.  “There are none on the map” he replies.  “That’s because it hardly qualifies as a track let alone a road.  In any event its virtually unrideable” I protest.  With that Ivan looks up with a gleam in his eye and you know he’s up for it.
We follow the route back but by now I’m slowing down on every hill, dropping back and catching up on the flat.  Time is going on and just outside Bunbury, and despite the offer of a free birthday pint, Dave Hill and Mike G decide to take the direct route back via Beeston.  In the circumstances I decide to join them rather than face a struggle over the Peckforton Hills.  The three of us make good time past the Ice Cream Farm, Gatesheath and Bruera.  By Saighton we are caught up in a time trial and our insignificant 16 mph speed counts for nothing as the constant ‘whooooo se’ of passing time trialists testifies.  Not far now though and 20:00 sees us safely back in Chester with just over 110 miles clocked.
The remaining three of Clive, Ivan and Dave P continue on the original route through Spurstow and Peckforton before taking the track over the Peckforton Hills.  Here Ivan attempts the track, the top part of which is surfaced with setts the size of loaves of bread, only to fall off muttering about not getting out of the cleats quickly enough!  At The Pheasant the three take a pint while watching the sun go down over the Cheshire Plain.  “A fitting finale to the days ride” says Clive.
What a great ride!  Who would have believed it was possible to cycle the full length of the Potteries on such a fabulous route.  There were also lots of surprises all the way along.  A ride to remember: well done Clive.

BW