15th May 2025 : Runcorn (brisk)

It was going to be another very sunny day as I set off for the 14 mile ride out to Delamere Station cafe. I decided to ride into the Delamere parkland via the Yeld and the 2 mile forest track in preference to riding through the forest to Hatchmere crossroads. As I was ordering coffee Ivan arrived so we sat outside in the sunshine.

Very soon Dave M arrived along with Mike D. Both Ivan and I had overtaken Mike along the way into Delamere and not fully realised it. Apologies Mike! As we waited for more Easy Riders to arrive, Ivan recounted his near-death experience in Spain and how the NHS is now closely looking after him upon his return. Dave M and Ivan then compared their cardiac monitoring hardware and the scars that they now have where the kit was inserted into their chest walls!

Standard departure time of 1030 came and went, and it became clear that no other riders were going to arrive today.  Dave mentioned riding to Whitegate, maybe with Mike, as Ivan and I saddled up bound for Runcorn the long way round. I'd planned this route a while ago as I wanted to ride around Runcorn as close to the water as possible and this we did.

It was a classic route out to the edge of Northwich with the mega-surprise that part of the road up to Hatchmere crossroads was now baby's bottom smooth! Not so the rest of the Bag Lane or Hodge Lane. Just at the traffic lights at the bridge over the West Coast Line, I noticed that Ivans's rear tubeless tyre had sprung a leak and his dark bike frame was speckled with white tyre sealant. The puncture was found and judged to be self-sealed so we motored on via Winnington and Anderton to Combermere. Skirting Great Budworth we now head towards High Legh.

The next three miles was ideal cycling down lanes anew as we head through the countryside towards Sworton Heath to access Swineyard Lane. It's now a fast burn to Appleton Thorn on smooth roads which was just as well as more white spots appeared on the back stays of Ivans' bike i.e. the tyre hasn't remained sealed. Running parallel with M56, we enter Daresbury village to cross the A56 Chester road. There are mega-road works here all due to the enormous area of house building known as “Daresbury Garden Village”. Crossing the roadworks, narrow Delph lane runs downhill into the back of the Sandymoor edge of Runcorn. 

I had now plotted a course to keep as close to the Manchester Ship canal as possible as we access cycle lanes and poorly surfaced roads into the Astmoor Industrial area. Ivan snaps the old Runcorn Bridge from The Decks area where there were several old locks enumerated from Lock 3-8. We arrive at the Spoons “Ferry Boat” pub with punters spilling out onto the pavement in continental fashion. A pint of refreshing lager (one with and one without ethanol) slakes our thirsts after 30 miles from Delamere. 

To prove we went!

Time to go, as we now hug the shoreline sliding under the road and rail bridges way above our heads. Riding up to Higher Runcorn is a cinch for Ivan these days but not so for me! We pass Beacon Hill and slide around Weston picking up the cycleways to get us down to  the Sutton Weaver swing bridge. As I didn't fancy the two inclines into Frodsham, we hang a right over the river and take the NCR5 to pop out by the Bear's Paw pub. The Thursday market is still just alive with a plethora of white vans as we eschew the route back to Delamere and motor on back to Chester. 

The route back to Delamere is straight forwards at about 7 miles but it's preceded by a two mile slog towards Kingsley. All round the route would be 44 mls. Ivan and I had either 60 or 65 miles on the clock. It was remarkable that his rear tyre had kept sealed (and re-sealed itself) and it didn't affect his riding speed at all!

So a truly enjoyable day's ride with no hiccups. I knew that most of the Brisk group were otherwise engaged today but we were all somewhat surprised that other regulars were absent on such a fine cycling day

PS: As I took a shower at home, I noticed white spots on my legs and arms - Ivan's tyre sealant!

See route map and/or gpx file download

CA

17th July 2018 : Southport (brisk)

None of the brisk riders could make Thursday, but the two Johns W and M readily agreed to accept Ivan’s offering of a Tuesday ride with the novelty of taking a train to Southport and riding home. 

Having left Chester not long after 8 a.m., we were soon transported by Mersey Rail to our seaside departure point. However, we were already in need of sustenance so Ivan treated John and I to a full English at the conveniently situated Wetherspoons. Appetites satisfied we were soon cruising along the promenade stopping to admire the starting point of the Trans Pennine Trail (photo). 

After initially heading north with views of the Morecambe Bay and the distant Blackpool Tower we soon turned inland, passing through the distinctive, rural flatlands of Hesketh Bank, Tarleton, Bretherton and eventually reached Moss Side. Turning south along the B5250 and near Eccleston came upon a most unfortunate cyclist who we managed to rescue. (photo). 

Good deed done, we motored on for a a few more miles before arriving at our planned lunch destination in Up Holland which is not as attractive as its name may suggest! Having gone to a lot of trouble to secure our bikes, we entered the pub only to find lunch was not being served and there weren’t any alternatives close by. So we continued on our way and having got some advice from a passing cyclist were soon entering the Colliers Arms in King’s Moss. It was fairly busy which was a good sign and we enjoyed substantial steak baguettes and decent beer.

We were soon back in the saddle pressing on south, bisecting Grange Park Golf Club via a trail. Reaching Rainhill, Ivan reminded us of its historic links with the railway. It was the site for the 1829 Rainhill Trials of locomotives to decide a suitable design for use on the new Liverpool Manchester Railway. The winner, of course, was the Rocket, designed by George Stephenson.

Soon we approaching the industrial and suburban sprawl of Widnes and Ivan guided us unerringly to the approach road to the old bridge to Runcorn which we all assumed would be open to us, even though currently closed to cars. However, the road was blocked and guarded by a worker who resolutely insisted we would not be able to pass until 4:30, an hour or so away. Ivan and John began planning a most unwelcome diversion via Warrington while I tried to coax a bit of cooperation from the guard who eventually went off to phone his boss. Before his return, I spotted a queue of local people up the road and enquired how the pedestrians and cyclists of Widnes and Runcorn crossed the Mersey while the old bridge was undergoing refurbishment only to be told that they were waiting for the shuttle bus that would transport us and our bikes over the new Mersey Gateway Bridge. Minutes later we boarded said bus and were whisked free of charge across the river to be deposited bang back on route on the other side! 

Ivan had no problem navigating through Runcorn and we were soon passing Sutton Weaver and on to Frodsham were we stopped for cake and coffee before completing the ride back to Chester. An enjoyable day out by train, bus and bike! The bike bit was 64 miles

See route map and/or gpx file download

JM

Photos JM  and JW

1st April 2010: Mersey Estuary Ride

The first special (or as Brian and Dave prefer “novelty”) ride of 2010 just has to be on April Fools day.  Despite that and an early 9.30am meet in Frodsham combined with a poor weather forecast, ten members make it to the Cottage Tea Shop where we take over the back room conservatory.  Thanks to the friendly staff we are soon quaffing tea and toasted teacakes in preparation for the day ahead.  It’s a good mix today including some faces we haven’t seen for a while: Brian, Dave H, Mike, Glennys, Clive, Ivan, Jim, Liz, Martin and Bryan.
Dave announces that he has researched three different routes through Runcorn and that we will be taking the scenic one: and so it turns out to be.  After the initial maze of flyovers and underpasses we emerge to skirt Runcorn Hill with fine views all the way down the Mersey to Liverpool and Wirral.  What a grand way to start the ride.  From here it’s across the Runcorn/Widnes Bridge and down to join the Trans Pennine Trail.  In many ways this is the best part of the route (pity about the steps though) and we take in the scenery before heading inland to Hale to see the carved statue and grave of John Middleton the 9ft 3in Childe of Hale.  Bryan has come up with a new route this year bypassing Speke and the glass-strewn path by the motor works in favour of the lanes.  We leave the Trans Pennine Trail and take to the lanes before joining the old railway track at Halewood heading for Gateacre.
At Gateacre we leave the cycle trail and join the traffic to climb up to the ridge overlooking the Mersey before descending past Calderstones Park to the Red Bull at the eastern end of the Mersey promenade.  We’re doing well for time but Martin is thinking ahead and wondering where we will stop for lunch.  Brian recommends the Brewery Tap at Cairn’s Brewery near Liverpool Cathedral.  The suggestion is taken up with enthusiasm and without a further word we are off along the promenade into the wind.  The brewery is reached well before 1.00pm where we are directed to the empty brewery bike shed at the far corner of the car park.
Inside there is one other customer!  The full range of Cairn’s beers proves to be a daunting choice for some, as we don’t have time to sample more than a few: but no one goes away disappointed.  The food on the other hand is a different matter.  Soup and sandwich is off, as indeed is most of the menu but we can have a sandwich and chips (did someone say we had to wait for the bread to defrost?).  The last two orders emerged from the kitchen just before 2.00pm.  So for the second year running we have missed the ferry!
Brian leads us to James Street Station where we say goodbye to Glennys who takes a train back to Chester while the rest of us go one stop to Hamilton Square.  Here Bryan with bike almost topples backwards down the up escalator saved only by a quick thinking Mike.  With the exciting bit out of the way Brian leads us back through Birkenhead Park to Brimstage Craft Centre for a relaxing afternoon tea.  Brian leaves us here as we start the well-used route back to Chester through Thornton Hough, Willaston and Capenhurst dropping off riders along the way.  By the time we reach the canal at Backford there are only three of us left.

Photographs by Brian MacDonald

Distance from Chester and back just over 60 miles.

BW

16th July 2009: Mersey Estuary Ride

Photographs by Glennys Hammond

We had discussed today’s ride a number of times over the last year so I was thinking about how it would go as I cycled to the Cottage Café in Frodsham for an early 9.45am meet. I joined Jim sitting outside in the sun with tea and teacake before being joined by Glennys, Mike, Dave and Peter Williams (joining us for the first time). Once we had discussed the route it was time for the off with Dave leading us through Runcorn to the Runcorn Widnes bridge over the Mersey. Thank goodness we had Dave’s local knowledge to navigate us along the cycle paths through this bewildering landscape of flyovers and underpasses before being able to enjoy the views from the bridge. Once on the Trans Pennine Trial below the bridge Bryan took the lead before Glennys led us to Hale village church to see the grave bearing the inscription "Here lyeth the bodie of John Middleton the Childe of Hale. Nine feet three." After a photo opportunity by the carved giant it was time to continue through Speke before passing alongside the Jaguar Land Rover plant. How we avoided punctures on these glass littered cycle paths I don’t know but it was with a certain amount of relief that we joined the old railway line at Halewood Country Park for the ride up to Gateacre.
Leaving the Trans Pennine Trail Bryan led us uphill through Gateacre Village with the promise of a viewpoint in Calderstones Park which, I have to admit, seemed less and less likely as we got closer. Confidence in Bryan’s map reading skills then suffered a dramatic collapse as it turned out the “viewpoint” was in fact the OS symbol for a “garden”! Luckily the diversion gave us the opportunity to view the original Calder stones before we remounted, donned waterproofs, and set off in the rain down hill to the red bull on the Mersey Estuary embankment.
Once on the embankment, taking in the views across the Mersey, it seemed only a matter of minutes before we were relaxing in a café in the Albert Dock having a much needed lunch in the dry. Although a little behind schedule we took our time only to discover, on arriving at Pier Head, that we had just missed the Ferry and the next one wasn’t due for an hour and a quarter! A short diversion to James Street station was called for, where we took the next train to Hamilton Square negotiating both escalators and lift to get back to street level. Peter offered to lead us on the scenic route through Birkenhead pulling in Birkenhead Park and Bidston Hill before we joined the NCR 56 to Brimstage Craft Centre for afternoon tea and cake. Leaving the Craft Centre as the tearooms closed we headed back to Chester with Peter peeling off in Willaston and Bryan in Capenhurst.
What an interesting day this had turned out to be: a completely different ride to the usual exploring new territory and with four leaders covering different stages. Even the rain and missed ferry didn’t spoil the enjoyment of a great day out. Distance from Chester and back 66 miles.
BW

21st August 2008: Norton Priory

The options available for rides starting from the Manley Mere Windsurfing Centre are heavily constrained by the River Mersey and the Weaver Navigation to the north. Choosing a destination is only half of the problem the other is finding an interesting and attractive route to get there. The chosen destination was Norton Priory in Runcorn: the challenge was to find an interesting and attractive route. Rather than using the well cycled route to Acton Bridge the decision was made to climb up to Riley Bank and then down through Frodsham to cross the Weaver Navigation by the swing bridge. Being something of an exploratory ride, with a small number of riders, a shortcut along a BOAT on the edge of Frodsham was tried only to find that it degenerated into an overgrown footpath ending in a flight of steps: not the best of routes for road bikes! It was then over the swing bridge and up to Aston before entering Runcorn by the YKK factory. Although the challenge to find an interesting and attractive route to Runcorn was only partially met, we did manage to find two good routes through the town to and from Norton Priory with the path along the Bridgewater Canal being particularly attractive. Lunch was taken in the Priory café and after exploring the gardens the return journey was made via Acton Bridge back to Manley Mere and thence to Chester.
Distance from Chester and back 48 miles with 728 metres of ascent.
BW