Seven members gathered at Rose Farm café on a day which was
predicted to be wet or even very wet. As
usual, Dave M was only there for coffee, so that left Dave H, Ray B, Mike G,
Clive, Ray S (good to see you, Ray!) and myself as riders. After some
discussion it was agreed to run just one ride – a sort of ‘mod’ and ‘brisk’
group, but would it work? Too fast for some and too slow for others?
Just as we were donning wet weather gear and helmets (it was
raining a bit already), young Chris turned up, which broadened the already wide
range of abilities within the group. Nevertheless, we set out on a ride I’d
done a few years ago to Aston and The Bhurty (as it’s now called).
So we set
off at a good pace down Utkinton Lane to Cotebrook, round Oulton Park and on to
Wettenhall and Cholmondeston. Passing the Venetian Marina, I heard a call to
knock the pace back a little, so took it easy around Reaseheath College and in
to the outskirts of Nantwich.
Heading out to Ravensmoor, we took the direct route to
Wrenbury and the newly surface and now very smooth lane past the railway
station to Aston and ‘The Bhurty’. Or at least some of us did! Clive had
mentioned a preference for ‘Berries’ café in Wrenbury and when he, Ray S and
Chris didn’t show up in Aston, I guessed that he’d taken the ‘briskers’ there.
At least they’d get a fast ride back to Chester.
The
Bhurty was unusually empty, but the food was spot-on, my sea bass risotto was particularly
mouth-watering. Despite the grim rain forecast we had escaped a soaking so far,
but it began to lash down outside as we finished our meal. Almost miraculously, the rain stopped as we
stepped outside for our return. Our route back was a familiar one via Wrenbury,
Chorley Bank and Brindley. It soon became obvious that an enforced lack of
sleep and clapped -out hip was going to mean that I wouldn’t be able to match
our morning average of 13.9 m.p.h. We
navigated some flooding without difficulty as we headed for Brindley with the
interesting loop to Bath House Farm, which I have mentioned before as the historic
site of a spa. Tilly’s and the café at Beeston Castle were very tempting to
Mike, as well as myself, I guess, but Steve pressed on. The very sharp climb
over the canal by The Shady always presents a challenge; it is a risk to run at
it in a highish gear because of the preceding blind bend inhibiting your downhill
momentum. Approach this bridge in a low gear at reduced speed and with your Vingegaard
minus legs propelling nearly five stone more than Jonas you may fail. I mean, I
know it is a very short climb, but how would Jonas fancy it with a ten year-old
boy on his crossbar? Anyway, with all the determination of a wet lettuce, Big
Ray registered a refusal. On reaching Huxley Lane Steve discovered that he had
a thorn puncture. Mike and Steve sorted it with minor late assistance from me,
with Ray resting like a beached whale on the opposite grass bank. To be fair,
“too many cooks, etc…”! And
who would welcome Ray looming loudly into their kitchen to help them out?
Ray’s
cruising holiday, associated guzzling and lack of recent stage race exposure
had temporarily set back his impressive post- electric fitness gains. Ray and me
went ahead, as Steve and Mike apparently cocked up the final tyre seating and
inflation, so didn’t catch us up before Rose Farm after all. As always, it’s a
tough haul from Bate’s Mill Bridge to Utkinton, but we had enjoyed a fair bit
of sunshine on our return, and for a day that had looked a potential write-off
for leisure cycling, it had been well worth the effort. Many thanks to Steve
for leading and the usual relaxing friendship from the troops. About
thirty-nine miles covered. P.S. Steve did “a Dave Pipe” losing his wallet in
Rose Farm car park but retrieved it eventually. Perhaps fortunately, also like
Dave, there was not much in it to panic about
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