Today’s ride was from Rose Farm and Brisk riders were few. Paul and Steve T were up for a ride and Ray was joining for the start as had to depart early.
We set off and headed into Tarporley and met John W cruising on his new super Boardman bike. John joined us and we turned right at the pub taking the lane down to Brassey Green and round Beeston Castle where John bade us farewell so soon. Passing Tilley's at Bunbury. we were heading for the outskirts of Nantwich and on to Audlem.
This is the time of the year when inconsiderate farmers are again chopping down the hedges scattering clipping and thorns in our path. We were heading up Brindley Lea Lane when Paul got a thorn in his tyre.
It was here that Ray set off to head back to Chester and Paul got his tools to repair the flat. He didn’t change inner tube but used the very efficient Park tool patch to repair and within 10 minutes we were pedalling again. It must be noted that Paul’s bike is so clean he completed the task with clean hands at the finish!
We arrived Audlem at 11:50 but this was not our destination although the Mod’s were considering a similar route here. Dropping into the town, we turn right into Mill Lane and out towards Kinsey Heath.The Brisk group were in this area a couple of weeks ago with lunch at Norton in Hales. Our ride continued on to Bearstone, Knighton and our lunch destination at the Chetwode Arms at Pipe Gate.
The ride had been pretty fast and flat with the exception of a Strava segment of route which was after Norton and two riders were spotted doing the same Strava route. The three of us gave chase for two miles up hill at 19.5 mph. We passed one and nearly caught the other, and yet we were still way off the KOM slot! And, they were a lot younger than two thirds of us.
After lunch, we had an unplanned diversion to my route. We had spoken to a lady who advised that the continuation of a road we were on was rough and not tarmac. We reverse the route ending up on the main A51 with the wind behind us. We took a right turn after a few miles and back on track and heading towards Wybunbury. The route was then through Shavington, Wistaston, Wybunbury and Bradfield Green taking the left turn at the lights for Minshull Vernon. Today we have seen two of our past hostelry stops knocked down to make way for houses. The first at Betley and the other Boot and Slipper at Wettenhall. Gone! “Use or lose” as these were two nice pubs.
We called in at the Old Fire Station in Tarporley for afternoon tea and cake and met the Mods who were just leaving to head back to Rose Farm. Steve decided to join them as he was having a lift with Dave H back home so Paul and I enjoyed a quick coffee and headed back to Chester via Brassey Green and Huxley.
It was a booked round trip of 57 miles from the café although with a couple of diversions we clocked 65 miles and the additional out and back from Chester gave Paul 90 and myself 84 miles ridden for the day. Another excellent day out in sunshine, wearing shorts and sunglasses. How much longer can this summer last?
ID
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