It was stone cold and icy when I picked up Steve Tan. The first test of whether the roads would be rideable was our careful drive to Rose Farm. All was fine until the uphill stretch of Utkinton Lane, when we encountered a hundred yards of total glacier. The Berlingo had no difficulty on a light throttle, but we wouldn’t be cycling over this down to Cotebrook later! It was great to see Keith out for the first time in two years and meet Steve Haywood who had managed to drive up for coffee. Steve is making progress after his operation, which ended his sciatica pain, but left him with a long journey towards a full recovery. We will all be very pleased if he can cycle with us again this summer, and also begin ticking off the last forty Monros on his list. Reliable Ray had arrived from the far west, and Dave Matthews turned up in civvies, as he is one of the sensible ones when it comes to ice (shades of Ray Hardman).
It was a struggle to consider any route from this venue and back that was likely to be a reasonable risk. In the past I’ve ridden with George from Cleopatra’s to Bangor-on-Dee or Overton in icy conditions, but we were able to stick to decent “B” roads and considerably reduce the jeopardy. I suspect that a few years back these roads were probably gritted, but from Utkinton today comparable roads out were not obvious and were unlikely to be gritted. If you were a cycle tour leader, a p.e. teacher or inviting a neighbour out for a ride, then the only decision would be to cancel. As it is, there were three of us that were old enough and experienced enough to make our own independent decision to enjoy the challenge (or perhaps we were the three with the lowest I.Qs in the club!) Steve Tan is an intrepid character but considering that he is still not fully recovered from his recent fall on ice from this venue, had to let his head rule his heart; he managed to ride back safely to Runcorn via Tarporley. I think he was more concerned with leaving Lesley with all the funeral arrangements, rather than fearing the risk.
So, Ray, Keith and myself headed straight to Tarporley, before turning up past the high school and on to Eaton, from there it was a familiar route to Wettenhall. I stopped to make a lunch reservation at 18 The Park, but otherwise we started to make reasonable progress, despite our necessary caution in the conditions. The air was still, the sky a brilliant blue and the rural scenes a photographer’s feast. The lethal iced curves past Cholmondeston Bridge (where Steve Tan had fallen) were negotiated especially carefully. The road surface here forms more than a steep camber, it is really a dangerous drop through subsidence, and would present a hazard even for a car to straddle. A corner- cut on the thin lane to Poolehill was ruled out today, so we took to the A51 at Reaseheath, missing the Welshman’s Lane link to Nantwich, which was also likely to be rough and icy. At Burford it was a relief to exit the main road and then reach Acton, turning right at the church into Monk’s Lane. The quiet Raven’s Lane was a nightmare in the ice last time, so we took a chance on the “Road Closed” sign and used Swanley Lane to reach Ravensmoor. We then thrummed along to Wrenbury, with Keith cracking the whip. The staff at 18 The Park were friendly, and we were able to have a laugh with them. The food was excellent and well- presented. Keith treated himself to steak, and then kindly insisted on paying for my meal. Jim Ratcliffe must pay his staff generously!
Our bikes were left in the winter sun at lunchtime, but there was ice rattling around in my water bottle as we set off for Bunbury via Chorley, Burland and Haughton. The north-west breeze was light but chilling. I can’t wait for my replacement merino wool base layer to be delivered! Vigilance would be required to the end if we were to stay upright. As a club we have experience of ”giving it a go” in adverse conditions. Who remembers climbing over a fallen tree on this route before Chorley bank, after we had already climbed over one in Tilston? For that matter who remembers riding to our Christmas lunch at Parkgate in a storm at high tide? Mike Gilbert will never forget his ride back to Rhos on Sea after lunch with the trains cancelled! Anyway, at Larden Green, out of expediency, we took to the sort of hazardous little lanes we had sensibly ruled out all day. There was a flooded section circled by ice, but we managed to reach the A534 without mishap. It was plain sailing to Bunbury, more so for Ray with his silent power assistance, his upright cruising reminding me of the stately progress of 1952 Lanchester Fourteen. Now to execute the plan to avoid the inevitable sun starved icy tarmac on the north side of Beeston Castle, and an unintended slalom down to “The Shady”. After passing the primary school in Bunbury we cycled north on the A49, plunging down under the railway bridge and over the canal, before climbing to the attractive little village of Tiverton. It is always an uphill finish to Rose Farm, but it was a pleasant change to approach Tarporley via Tiverton Hall and Pudding Lane. A beautiful day with easy company. It was as if Keith had never been away. Tanny would have loved it! About forty miles covered.
DH
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