13th April 2013 : Special Ride : Ellerdine Heath (brisk)

The April Special Ride to Ellerdine Heath was a re-visit of that of October 2021; however on that occasion only Matt and John W joined me on a longer version of Dave M’s route. This time out I had extended the route to lanes anew along with old faithfuls to make a 65 miler. 

So six Briskets arrived at Audlem public car park just in time to park up their cars.  I came with Ken, Ray came with John M, and Richard and Nick arrived separately (and just in time for a last parking space). Ken and I did a brisk 5 mile warm-up to assess wind conditions before going to the cafe to meet up with the others.

The route was designed to take advantage of the brisk westerly wind at the start, then head southerly for many miles before turning into the wind to run along into Oakgate Nursery cafe for lunch. So we head east via Bunkers Hill and Madeley Heath to slide through Keele by the university. Back over the M6 and passing the Keele services, it was a fast run down to Chapel Chorlton.

Here we enter the long one and half miles of Butthouse Lane - a very muddied lane of agricultural usage (even with a tractor half way down it). At the grateful end of it at Standon Mill, we use a very large puddle to wash the wheels down. Onwards we wiggle to Croxton where I recall another long agricultural lane known as Ginger Lane. I remarked when we three in 2021 rode it that it would not be necessary for anyone else to do so again. This honour now is also bestowed on Butthouse Lane!

We work our way south westwards via Adbaston and Sambrook where the threatening sky deluges us with rain and hail. At Howle we phone the cafe as per instructions. The next 7 miles are a head-down ride into a strengthening westerley wind. We arrive at the cafe after 41 miles to see the Mods nearly finishing their lunch, and ours almost ready to bring to table. The cafe did us proud in not wasting time when we could refuel with the favourite of the day i.e. toasted paninis.

Suitably refreshed and carbohydrated, we set off about 15 mins after the Mods. We are now following the same route towards  Marchamley and its steep hill. We see them ahead but ignore their hilly route to continue onto to Hodnet. Up and out via Wollerton and Darliston, the rain threatens again as we cross the A41 bound for Ightfield.

It's now “downhill” all the way back into Audlem with 65 miles ridden and a well earned rest. After loading up the bikes, Ken and I drive out towards Whitchurch on the way headlight flashing several members of the Mod Group who are on their way into Audlem to finish their ride.

Overall a very satisfying ride with no “events” to speak of except for that muddy Butthouse Lane. Riding through this beautiful spring countryside was a joy, especially with great company of the brisk riding set who took it turns to punch ahead into the wind or lead on the hills.

See route map and/or gpx file download

CA

13th April 2023: Special Ride: Audlem to Ellerdine Heath (mod)

Wednesday's weather was so soaking, that I wasn't sure who would take a long drive to risk more of the same on the Thursday. I was pleasantly surprised by the support, as both the brisk group and the moderate riders arrived in force at our staggered start. The new hosts at the Old Priest House cafe in Audlem were friendly and efficient. A few stalwarts were unavailable for various understandable reasons, but with Steve Hughes managing to join us, we were at full strength with regard to our lunch booking. Alan showed me a picture of Roy's post-crash purple leg. The leg and a broken thumb were why Roy was not with us. The images did not put Alan off scoffing a hearty breakfast! I believe that our attractive route was created by Dave Matthews in his hayday (circa 1965). We had ridden it before, about nineteen months ago, on a warm, sunny day. The moderates set out as St.James's church struck ten o'clock. The group consisted of Steve Haywood, Alan, Steve Hughes, Dave Pipe, Dave Matthews, Andy Barber, Battery-less Baird and myself. Ray had left his battery for his e-bike at home, a million miles away in Moreton, but was still game to have a go on his heavy machine.

Andy Whitgreave had sent me a copy of Dave M's previous route, so I had marked it on my paper maps in the hope of providing some helpful assistance. So it was, that Dave M led us out on the undulating lanes to Norton in Hales and on to Loggerheads. Andy's route map had an interesting looking back road featured at Mucklestone, which I must try if around here again. After Loggerheads, Dave took a turn that led us further down into a pretty hidden valley following the River Sow with Bishop's Wood to our right. The road was closed beyond Adbaston, so we had no alternative but to follow the road through Knighton, over the Shropshire Union Canal, and hope that the Roman Road at the end was viable. It all worked out well as we passed through Sambrook, and crossed the A41 to Howle. 

It was at this point that we decided, with a headwind, but just two relatively straight stretches ahead, to ring Oakgate Garden Centre cafe to tell them we would arrive in thirty-five minutes. Then things unravelled! The apparently straight route to Great Bolas had a sort of 'disguised'(!), right turn in it, which we didn't take, so we ended up in the village of Tibberton instead. Dave M got splinters from scratching his head, and we had to navigate a hummocky three miles or so, which included crossing the River Meese and  the River Tern in order to get back on route. It was reassuring to have Steve Hughes' Garmin-led intelligence at this point. ( I was just hoping to run into Tonto, and was intent on keeping the sun to my left). Our e.t.a. was now out of the window, and I had to inform the Garden Centre to put our lunch back in the oven. This was also a real twist of the knife for Ray, who had to pedal even more miles on his unpowered tank in order to reach our lunch stop. 

Traversing the A442 was a bit dodgy, and it was a relief to get out of the headwind, and finally sit down for our grub. The Oakgate cafe was very busy, but there were two reserved tables for our club. Service was instant, and the staff put themselves out to take and deliver drink orders, rather than have us queuing at the busy counter.  The food was 'lite bite', pre-ordered quiche and Panini fare, but some of us had ordered extra chips. Andy 'seven bellies' Barber was still hungry though, and resorted to vacuuming any leftovers. Dave 'no carbs' Pipe had not touched his new potatoes, and Andy found these particularly enticing. I suppose he has to be a calorie loading machine to have the energy for all those long Audax rides. The Fast Lads arrived a bit wet and muddy, as Clive's longer route, and their timing, meant they had just been a bit unlucky with the precipitation.

Photo by Steve Hu

We returned via Stanton upon Hine Heath, and then headed north with the strong wind mainly helping us all the way back. The notoriously steep Marchamley Hill had some of us walking. Just before that the Fast Lads had been sighted behind, but they were headed for Hodnet. We had also passed the West Midlands Shooting Ground which disturbed a very peaceful, scenic area. On hitting the A442 my route map showed a brief downhill section, then a right turn on a tight bend into quiet lanes, but we had no sign of the lead riders. There followed a number of phone calls, and hopes of intercepting them on a  route through Fauls and Darliston. So, the three lagging musketeers were Dave Pipe, Steve Hughes and myself. Dave and Steve stopped for waterproofs at Millenheath and then stopped at Ightfield to take them off again. The threatening heavy shower was short, so didn't really soak us us. We were quite happy making our own way, but we didn't want the lead group wasting time trying to find out what had happened to us. Steve eventually managed some communication, which meant we all knew our respective locations, and could relax. 

We chose to hit the A525 into Audlem near Rookery Farm, and then had a speedy, wind-assisted last lap back to the start. Dave Pipe and myself had fancied a coffee, but the Old Priest House was, unsurprisingly, closed. We were the last ones to return. I apologise for my part in the ride leadership being a bit flawed, it was not the closely synchronised model of Paul Daniels and Debbie McGee, with clearly defined roles, and a bit of magic to ensure no mistakes. However, we are very grateful to Dave Matthews for constructing such an enjoyable route, and the weather was loads better than expected.  Congratulations to Ray for a sterling effort. Many thanks for your company and support, and I hoped you liked the ride, if not a lot, you still liked it!

See route map and/or gpx file download

DH

7th October 2021: Special ride: Audlem to Ellerdine Heath (mod)

Because of the restrictions and uncertainty caused by the pandemic, we have not had a Special Ride since October 2019, so it was a real delight when Dave Matthews offered to lead a Special Ride from Audlem to Ellerdine Heath. Jane at The Priest House Café had opened early to accommodate the CER riders who gathered for the ride. The ‘mods’ consisted of Daves M & H, Steves T & Hu, George and it was a real pleasure to also see Andy Whitgreave, who was making his first sortie with CER since the start of the pandemic.

After coffee, tea and refreshments, we set off at about 10 o’clock on the Woore Road out of Audlem heading up hill for Norton in Hales and Loggerheads. From there, Dave took us down to Knighton and Newport, where we started heading west for Great Bolas and eventually arrived at Ellerdine Heath at about 1 pm, having covered 32 miles.

Following some excellent refreshments at the Oakgate Nursery and Café and having fiddled unsuccessfully to cure a strange noise that my bike was making, we struck out for home. The route took us via Stanton to the fearful hill at Marchamley. To make things even more ‘interesting’, the road surface on the hill was badly broken up and wet, so the only person to successfully ride all the way up it was ‘super – Steve’ Hughes. The rest of us got off and pushed!

Having recovered our breath and calmed the hearts, we followed the route through Ash Magna and Wilkesley entering Audlem from the east on the A525, arriving as the church clock struck four.

An interesting and entertaining day out on delightful lanes, many of which were new to us on a day when the early autumn weather was kind. Thanks are due to Dave M for devising the route and to the rest of the mods for great company.

Photo by SHu

See route map and/or gpx file download

ST

7th October 2021 : Audlem to Ellerdine Heath Special (brisk)

There were about 10 riders at the Old Priest House cafe in Audlem - about a third of CER membership - a pity more didn’t come and support Dave M’s Autumn Special Ride from Audlem to Ellerdine Heath. Well those who did enjoyed a glorious day out down lanes anew in warm dry autumn weather.

I decided to fashion a slightly longer brisk ride based around Dave’s excellent route. The brisk three, Matt, John W and myself, set off in the opposite direction to the Mods to avoid the slow slog up to Norton-in-Hales before the even longer slog up to Loggerheads. In fact the first 9 miles were all uphill. The other side of Loggerheads we split off left now down many lanes anew. The autoroute function on Plotaroute tried to send us down an unmade lane so we backtracked a little to divert via Croxton. We take Ginger Lane out of Croxton and you’ll be pleased to know that, as we have now very slowly cycled this once-metalled deep-lying lane,  you don’t need to unless you are on a gravel bike!

We'll be alright -it's only one mile downhill 

Bishop’s Offley and Tunstall come and go as we now rejoin Dave’s route just after Shebdon. We now slavishly follow his route across the flat land via Sambrook and Great Bolas arriving at the Oakgate nursery by 1230 after 33 miles.

We are shown to our reserved table and our ordered food arrives promptly and is of excellent quality. After discussing veganism at some length, Matt and John move onto the intracacies of saddle design vs Audex length vs comfort levels. I chill out in the sunshine.

Just as we are about to start to depart, the Mods turn up mumbling something about “getting lost” or perhaps I misheard what was said. Anyway, we set off as per Dave’s route towards Stanton and onwards towards Marchamley Hill. 

I had already decided to go around this hill towards Hodnet and then to Wollerton to rejoin Dave’s route at Fauls. We continue to follow the official line to the other side of Ightfield where Matt succumbs to a puncture - a very nasty thorn is the culprit. We divert off piste now to enter Audlem via Coxbank and Kinsey Heath i.e. the way the Mods left Audlem.

Audlem's staircase locks

Overall, an extremely enjoyable day's 58 miles cycling down largely dry lanes in ideal autumnal weather with like-minded cyclists. You should have made the effort!

See route map and/or gpx file download 

CA

Photos JW