Leading from behind

It is true that to lead a group, to be followed, means that you are usually up front, ahead of the riders.  And that is where I have been, for every ride in the last five years.  And that is fine, I know where we are going, and what the road ahead is like.  So it was a very pleasant change when we only had enough riders for two groups this Saturday, and I was able to follow Jo-anne with her planned route.

Moira leading a small select social group

Blossom and black clouds

With a forecast of rain and more rain, wind, and temperatures dropping below the previous sunny bank holiday weekend, it was delightful to have 16 riders.  I set off with the faster group, wearing my new waterproof.  However, with the wind behind us it can feel a bit warmer so off came the waterproof.  We could see rain clouds over Delamere (glad we changed the destination!)





Our destination was Manley Mere - it felt like a good distance with short bob home afterwards.  So we followed a route round the lanes between Barrow, Ashton and Manley, before dropping down the steep Manley bank to the cafe - just catching up with the other group as we arrived.

Sandstone cutting at Manley

Riding at the back of the group enabled me to see everyone and to see if there were any gaps. Hopefully Jo was reassured when she saw me that we were all up, no-one was left behind.  That is why I have usually appointed a 'back marker' in any group I lead, and although I have six named leaders, there are other riders who,over the years, have also taken up this back position.  Very important - and thank you to you all!

Anyway, back to the cafe.  The preferred table (ie the one around the fire) was slightly taken, so some ladies started to take other tables - till there was a whisper that the table was now free - so most of us re-located to the big table (and I secured the big silver chair!).  I passed my camera round - too many pics to post them all - but they are all on the facebook group page (apologies if you are not on facebook - so here are a few)

There they go.....

In the end, the time had come to head back out into the wind.  We managed to pick a dry spell, but no-one fancied a long route home (quit while you are ahead), so we set off down the driveway, to the lanes.  We sent the first half ahead - but the rain was starting so we left too...

...and into a big wet cold windy shower!  Not good in shorts!





Believe it or not, the sun was back out before we got to Mickle Trafford, as evidenced in the final photo of Kath on the Greenway (before another big black cloud - hail this time!)

April but no showers

March winds, April showers; as the saying goes.  Well, the previous two rides were wet enough, and April was quite a windy day.  It also started off quite sunny!

We had enough riders to split into three groups, which then makes the start photo quite tricky, so we have three!

Faster Further - or shall we call them the Express Group?!

Jo-Anne's group

My  Group

We all set off one group after the other, down the Greenway.  My group were the last ones to leave, and we headed down the A51 to Barrow.

Great Barrow

As we were making slightly slower progress, we carried on to Little Barrow,and turned right after the Foxcote In (now a cafe - one we still have not been to, although it is a little close).  I used the breadcrumb method (leaving one person at a junction so that the one off the back is not left behind) along the back lanes so we did not lose too much time, and we were able to regroup before arriving at Dunham on the Hill.

From here we dropped down and were caught up by the further faster girls.  Shortly after this we were all arriving at the cafe.



The return journey was quite direct (I had to be home as I was going away that afternoon) but was into a headwind, so that slowed us down - and made the group go very quiet!



23 riders, 19 miles (more FF miles)

Sneaky March

...as in: it was very suddenly March and I had little time to plan or email out to everyone!  I did have a lot of replies to my monthly email, but it turned out to be quite a wet day (again - 2013 does not have a good track record so far!) and was colder than it has been; so 13 faces were a welcome sight!

We slowly filled up Kingsway cafe, signing sign-in sheets, sharing weather reports from where each rider had come from - although basically it was raining more everywhere else, and especially around Hawarden, where we were heading.

We exited  the cafe, and while Jane did the talky thing, I phoned ahead to the cafe. I had planned to visit Gladstones Library, and very nice cafe within a super sandstone building - but on calling they had a large group already booked in - so plan B: Gallery tea room across the road.

Crossing Hawarden Bridge

After a quick call there, and yes they could accommodate 15 cyclists, I set off with the further faster group - forgetting my start up photo again!  It is not easy when it is wet, people understandably not happy to stand around and pose.

We set off up the Greenway, which was a little quieter than usual, probably due to the rain.  All the way to the railway bridge,where we crossed and headed left.  We bumped into Sheila, who was heading to Connah's Quay - and we were able to quickly catch up on some ladies weekend details while the group re-convened - and also some discussion about booking on trains.

Onto the main road through Shotton, we turned right at a set of lights, into Shotton Lane.  I know the lane, but have not ridden it in years.  It climbs from the main road, through a housing estate and into countryside, within a couple of miles.  We passed a very nice leather dining chair, with a missing leg, sadly abandoned on the roadside - then two more.  Finally around the next corner was the fourth - just got to find the table now for a full dining set.  That is a sad thing about cycling, you do come across the fly tipping sometimes.

At the top of the hill, waiting to re-group.

At the very top, pretty much Ewloe, we skirted the roundabout for the first left, and round to nearly the dual carriageway again - where there is a little cut through I knew near Aston - which now has a few steps. A few of the ladies tried to go around (not easy descending steps wearing cleats in the rain!).  Then they found a subway - and took some persuading that OK, there may be a subway to cross the main road - but we are not going that way!

Instead we dropped down through the housing estate and over the bridge, before twisting round to Hawarden, for the final attack on the steep part of Hawarden Hill - and the cafe!



After slightly taking over the cafe for a while, the regular group were finished and made to depart; we were a bit behind because the cafe forgot a couple of our drinks.  A few people went straight home from the cafe, as they lived very near by.  The rest of us made a chilly descent down the main road, and then picked up the little lane (steep!) that skirts Hawarden woods and brings you to the top of the Warren.  We had a small mishap here - one lady who had been plagued by cramp in the morning and had been unable to clip back in - fell on her slow ascent, unfortunately causing the rear mech to become entangled in the wheel.  After some discussion and re-assurance, I pointed out on the map where we were, and left her in the capable hands of her friend, and three of us continued down the Warren and home.

Jane writes:
"We set off down the greenway then cut off towards  the VW garage to pick up the track down the river. We had only gone a short distance to the bend when we realised the path was closed at this point. This was very recent as one of the ladies cycled down here last Wednesday and it was open then. [the path was actually open, as discovered by Kinnerton Kath the following Tuesday] I quickly came up with plan B and we retraced our steps went down to Bumpers Lane past the football stadium and headed down to the river to cross the Saltney ferry footbridge. We then followed the road to Sandycroft and headed up the hill through Mancot to the cafe arriving just before the faster further group. 

When we left the cafe and headed out of Hawarden  on the route agreed with Sue I managed to miss the turn off left and ended up at the roundabout by the A55, luckily Gill who was on her first ride with the ladies but lives in this area was able to get me back on the right route!! We got back on the track to the Old Warren then made our way back to Chester. We were all soaked to the skin on the way back but my 5 ladies were still smiling and in good spirits not letting the weather get to them. We kept a steady 12mph pace throughout the ride and had completed 25 miles when we got back to Kingsway.

Helen kindly went as back person for me."

25 Miles, (26FF miles), 14 riders, meeting one at the cafe.
Thanks to Helen S for a couple of cafe pics and the bikes at the start.
Also thanks to Jane T forleading, and to Linda S and Helen S who were our backmarkers.

Damp

Really starting to run out of ideas for blog post titles now!!!

Further faster group, led by Jane and Joanne

Without wishing to be too predictable - the weather was drizzley and miserable for the second ladies ride of 2013 - Drizzerable, in fact!  It had been pouring at 7, so I suppose it was an improvement. Several ladies had braved the weather and ridden all the way - which meant they were pretty damp to start off with.

We gathered inside the cafe, a definite improvement to early days when I made everyone stay outside. People signed in to each ride, not as many further faster this month, but three new faces (technically four if you include the young man in the child seat!).






The plan was to have a shorter ride and be back from 11am onwards as I had invited the community police/crime reduction bobbies to come and postcode security mark our bikes for free, and give any advice needed about bike security.  There had been an article in the paper,and also I was aware of bike crime being on the increase.

Mighty Muddy!

So I led the group out through the streets and to the back of the Zoo. It was extraordinarily muddy down there, and we re-grouped with added mud to our backs and ankles at the end of the track,as a group of Birkenhead North Enders sailed past.  "Do not worry" I reassured the ladies (as we were somewhat spread across the track) "They would not come down here!"

Gray skies, damp weather, February ride.

We headed up the hill and round towards Stanney.  I was a little concerned as the road had been in the process of being re-surfaced earlier this week, and I was not sure how far they had got.  We soon found out, as we sailed along a beautiful new road surface - super!

Near Cheshire Oaks we skirted on the footpath, before diving back into the lanes, and following along through Stoak, to the end of the road at Mickle Trafford.  We were then able to pick up the Greenway, which gave me a chance to chat to one newcomer about gears,and how to use them.

I think when you have been riding for some time there are some things you forget can be quite hard for someone to understand.  Using gears, for example, can and will become second nature: you rarely even think about it (which lever to press at what point).  And you go up the gears by going down in size - unless you change the front cogs,and then the small ones are the low gears...!  It is all down to practice.

There was much activity on returning to the cafe, with bikes being upturned, and envelopes of information being distributed, deposits being passed to me for the ladies weekend, and coffee!  I even managed to get a photo with the police and some ladies before everyone disappeared.

16 riders; 12 miles; 26 FF mile; 4 police/ community officers.

Here's to another year...

January already, Christmas and new year quickly behind us (that was last weekend!) and thoughts turn to plans for the coming months.  The dates are plotted, and ready to go; and Thursday saw a meeting of the selected volunteer leaders for the ladies.  Numbers have grown since we started, and we clearly need to split into more groups - whether they are 'further faster' or the usual social pace.

It has been rain rain and rain for what feels like months now, and the weather watchers among us noted the thick fog we had locally late in the week preceding the first ladies ride of 2013.  But Saturday dawned at least dry, not foggy, not icy, and not windy - about all you could ask for really from a January morning.

But it was still very cold.

The ladies piled into the warm cafe from 9:45, and signed in to the rides.  I had to bring a third sheet out.  I have made new sheets for 2013, and only 8 people can sign in on each sheet.  At that point that makes one full group, and with up to two leaders it is plenty for one group.

Then I got a bit muddled and confused.  It is 10 O'clock - time to make tracks. I mentioned the leaders met on the Thursday, but we had not clearly defined who was doing what specifically, so it took us a few moments to clarify routes and groups - then I had a few moments literally juggling ladies and bikes (please stand over there!) - but soon we were underway and heading out across town via canal and river to Lache Lane, and on into the countryside.  The chaos meant no time for start up pics.

View from Borras Head towards Beeston

I was leading the further faster group; we went via Dodleston to Rossett, back road at Rossett to return to the B road, then halfway up Marford Hill.  We circled Marford/ Gresford, to the top at Borras Head, then it was downhill all the way to the cafe.

The sky was marvellous - it can be such a blanket grey in the winter, but today there were banks of peachy orange, and specs of blue, among the white and grey wisps.  Not really sunny, and a biting wind that could drive people to tears!



The other group was not quite so lucky.  The third group, a small gathering of just 6, suffered with a couple of punctures, meaning one had to even go home (she was so close it was not too bad, although very disappointed to be missing the cafe, cake and goss!)

22 ladies made it to Bellis's at Holt; a bigger establishment to hold us all.  Took my photos in between chatting, supping my coffee and devouring a quite nice bacon brie and mango chutney panini.

'Rossett Girls' and new starter - welcome (she is at least still smiling!)

Group the third - puncture experts already

Three leaders and new thumb

final FF group - before we headed back out

As we were about to leave another unfortunate puncture had to be rectified; and two groups headed back to Chester via Churton, Aldford, Bruera and up the hill to Saighton.  Then home via the bike factory for a stock up of inner tubes!

Not far now! at Saighton.

Many thanks to the leaders!

23 riders, (30 FF miles)

Annual Walk Mill Wander

I was quite late sending my monthly email out this month, but it is also a very busy time of the year, so a turn out of a dozen ladies on what was actually quite a sunny and not-too-cold morning, for the last official ladies ride of 2012, was pretty good.

look at that blue sky!

We assembled inside the cafe, which is far more sociable I think this time of year.  Although I was so early Tina had not yet got the coffee on!  It was all festive and fairy lights - a bit like my bike after Kath brought me two sets from the £1 shop.  It will bring a bit more cheer to the informal Wednesday evening circuit, headed by the guys who lead the Summer evening rides.  That is another story (and maybe another blog!).

We set off towards Mickle Trafford, but not on the Greenway in case of patches of ice, and then round to Guilden Sutton, A51 and skirting Christleton to pass through Waverton.

arriving at Walk Mill - I always think it has such big skies here.

Walk Mill is our usual Christmas/early Dec venue, as it is not too far out, and often people are so busy they cannot afford the time for themselves this time of year.

We settled down to our coffees, teas and cakes; chat and social bit, before heading back out to the bikes.

I have previously taken a pic of the ladies by the door of the mill, as they usually have a festive wreath on the door.  but with no wreath, and similar pictures in past years, this time I tried something different.  It took a bit of doing, trying to entice the ladies onto the bridge to pose in front of the water wheel, and to coerce Caroline out too (baby due Dec 24th!).  See if you can spot her!

(I can barely see her and I know where to look!)

We headed back to Chester via the canal - because it was such a nice day and it is so lovely along the canal!

The nice new tarmac drive leading to Walk Mill,
with Beeston and Peckforton  in the distance.

12 riders, and 14 miles.  lots of smiles!  Click here for the route out.

Chester CTC Christmas Lunch

Chester Fabulous Ladies are part of the wider Chester CTC, and so are encouraged to come out on the regular Sunday rides throughout the year.  There is the odd one that I arrange/ lead; and for the past few years I have taken charge of the Christmas Lunch ride, held on the first Sunday in December.  It is usually a bit early for pubs to have really got into the swing, but most are usually decorated, and all we ask for is Turkey and crackers (and a vegetarian option!).

This year I booked The Rising Sun in Tarporley, and we met at Christleton Pond at the usual 10am.  The Sunday before I had ridden out with the deposit, and had to pass through four floods, due to heavy rain at the end of November.  The weather in the previous week had been so changeable, with Saturday being a bit frosty and clear; Sunday had rained but although there was no frost there was ice along many of the lanes.

Dave took Bob and Kinnerton Kath on a slightly longer and a bit faster ride, calling to Rose Farm for elevenses; the rest of us took a leisurely pace to the 50p shop, and Christine's tea shop.

It was trying to rain as we left the 50p shop, and we headed to Huxley and Tiverton, before doubling back to Tarporley, arriving in perfect time as the door was opening!

A pleasant lunch, and they looked after us well!

People did various things heading home - although everyone set off with me to Utkinton, and dropped down Wood Lane to Duddon, where we crossed the A41 before heading to Walk Mill for afternoonsies.  Several people split here, and seven of us partook of coffees and cakes, before lighting up and returning to Chester (arriving home before dark at about 4ish).

27 Miles ( about 31 FF)