Approximately 15 turned up at
Alison’s today, which included the tandem team, just as we were getting ready
to leave!
I
had a clear intention and route that would allow us to get back to Alison’s for
lunch, due to the forecasted heavy rain and strong winds that were due around
1pm.
This
meant a short one of 31 miles ( circular route south, via Malpas) This route is
a favourite of mine that I use after heavy rains, as there aren’t usually any
floods, apart from Rocky Lane, which for today, I knew was clear ( that changed
after the afternoon rain by the way - Lol).
Anyway,
it didn’t take long for the usual Mod+ suspects to agree to follow me, which
meant a group of 7 ( that included Elec John, who was just riding a few miles
with us and then heading home)
DH
decided his group would also do something similar. So it was that everybody was
going to get back to Alison’s for lunch, even Clive and his group of 1. Everybody else
was just there for coffee and heading straight home.
I
set off with Al, Steve Hu, Steve T, Shane, Rapha Ray & Elec John.
Left
out of the cafe and down through Rocky Lane when we meet a hedge trimmer, just
as we crossed the A41 ( not even 2 miles completed- Lol)
Fortunately
there were no punctures and I decided to bypass Hollywell Lane, turning right
toward Clutton, through the old disused railway line.
I
knew of a big flood on the bend to Manorwood Cafe, so we turn left at the
junction in Aldersey, which enabled us to ride through Carden Park, which is
fairly common for me when on my own ( I like to pay homage to my other great
pastime of golf and my club- Lol)
However,
only a few hundred metres inside Carden Park and just as I was about to say to
Al “keep your eyes peeled for kingfishers”, can you believe, one popped out of the reeds on the left and flew
across the road, right in front of us, which made our day - Lol.
Before
we knew it we were in Tilston and turning left heading toward Bickerton and our
2nd crossing of the A41, which was only 2 miles before our 3rd crossing at the
‘Forts of India’ curry house.
After
a few more miles and a couple of little hills we hit Malpas and swiftly passed
the Fire Station Cafe and then turn right for one of my favourite downhill
stretches, that is surprisingly long, taking us all the way to the right turn into
Saughans Lane leading us up to Shocklach.
By now we were getting some pace on and rapidly boosting our average speed, which, as Steve Hu pointed out, a few miles earlier, was very poor. I did say at the start that the first half would be sluggish, mostly uphill and into to the light southerly, until we turned north after Malpas.
We
now had a 10 mile stretch of pan flat tailwind, so it wasn’t long before we
were beyond Farndon and whipping along past the Grosvenor pub. We turned right
over the bridge of Aldford Brook, heading for Platt’s Lane and our 4th crossing
of the A41- Lol.
After
a brief regroup and a few gasps from the group, I think I asked if anybody was
complaining about the slow pace -Lol. Steve T
definitely wasn’t, he was hanging in there well!
Steve
Hu then piped up about our average speed having gone from 13.8 to 14.9 mph over
that last 10 miles - Lol.
We crossed over the A41 into Gatesheath Road and I pulled in to visit another tree and suggest to the group that if then wanted to crack 15 mph AS then they better get a grip as a team, because we now had a crosswind for the last few miles into Tattenhall. My legs were ok, but not up for pushing the pace on any more. Shane stepped up and I jumped on his wheel, but the rest didn’t it seems.
After
a mile or so, I suggested to Shane that we eased up to try and get the group
together, and guess what happened, the ‘mugger’ struck again. Al steams past,
leaving us in his wake and trying to regroup. Steve Hu then rallied us into a
pursuit, leaving Steve T happy to bring up the rear with just a mile to go.
We
rounded the corner and past the school, when I looked down to see 15 mph
average, which I pointed out to Steve Hu, so we could knock our efforts off,
having not caught the ‘Mugger’. I looked behind to see Steve T just coming
around the corner.
We
pulled into Alisons at 12:45 after 29 miles, only to find Clive already there -
Lol.
Just
as we got seated, light rain started, so I got straight back up, made my
apologies and headed for home, preferring to get there before the heavy stuff
arrived from the heavens.
I
only had a mile to go and couldn’t bear the thought of heavy rain after lunch
with cafe legs; hence, my apologies and quickly off.
I
arrived home just as I
was in need of a wet jacket - perfect- Lol.
What
turned out to be a slow start became one of our quickest rides for a long time-
Lol, Lol
A
good day in the end and to think I nearly didn’t bother- Lol
PS,
didn’t it chuck it down about an hour later!?
Till
next time,
Neil.
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