The joys of spring

May should be a time of sunny days, warming up as the flowers start to spring out - but it remains persistently cold.  The forecast for the ride was to be blue skies and sunshine, so I was a little disappointed at the number of clouds.  However, the rain stayed off and the flowers were appearing, so all was not too bad.

15 of us set off - not quite big enough to split into two groups, but still quite a few in number.  We headed for the canal, which we followed to Waverton (and despite some chap with his dog stating how 'ridiculous' it was.....most people were quite pleasant, as we passed by saying thanks as we do).

From Waverton we headed for Duddon, where we crossed the A51 at  not the greatest of spots, but did give us two new lanes, before we headed out to Willington.  We had a bit of a climb near Willington Hall, before turning right to climb up past the Sandstone Trail.  This was when I realised I had misplaced the cafe, and clearly pinpointed on the map where I thought it was, only to discover it was not there.

When I had rounded up all the ladies, I checked the map, and to save quite a long deviation, or worse going back down the hill we had just done and climb a steeper one, I noted a farm with white road to and from it.  We set off along this track, which initially is part of the Delamere Loop bridleway, but as the loop swung off to our right (down a very interesting looking track - for another days exploring!) we were faced with a few 'private road' signs.  We had a conflab, and the majority choice was to follow the slightly naughty road through the farm.  I laid down some rules - to be quiet, polite, and if we had to turn around and head back, so be it.  We tiptoed (interesting whilst on bikes) along the track, up a hill at the end, and made it safely and without incident to the other side, a mere 150 yards from the cafe.

Summertrees Cafe is placed actually on the Sandstone Trail, and the girls were very welcoming.  Some of us sat inside, whilst the rest of us braved the intermittent clouds and sat outside.  Much discussion and sharing of recipes accompanied the wonderful cakes, before we had to head back to the bikes. 

It was all downhill coming back!

(photos are still in my camera - to be downloaded very soon!)

A bit nippy around the knees...

The first ride with our new tops was mostly a success!  Many turned up proudly wearing the new club colours, and two were presented with theirs as they arrived at the cafe - but I still have 10 sat in a bag so come on and collect them! (I will email out to remind you!)

Sunshine on the Greenway

19 of us met and milled around at the cafe this morning - the weather had promised me sunshine which was what we mostly had but it was still quite chilly - I had shorts on (hence the title of the blog - my knees were a bit chilly but it was bearable!).  Despite sending out the route via face book in the days preceding the ride, no-one had downloaded it so I was struggling to find a second-in-command to lead the other half - we needed to split again into two smaller safer groups.  But with help of a smart phone and someone with good local knowledge of the lanes, we were able to divide up.


Jo called me- she had run over something sharp which had split her tyre - luckily she was right by the Eureka shop at Mollington, so was able to get emergency help.  She would meet us either on route or at the cafe.

Thin band of yellow is field of Rape:
there were many golden fields today!

Forgot to take my traditional photo at the start - it took a while to get everyone signed in and explain everything that I am sure we were late leaving - and we had to give Group 1 a head start - but Welna wanted us to follow on with same route rather than tracing second half backwards.  I think next time we split we all set off at the same time but go opposite ways (I know what I mean!)


After the greenway and just outside of Guilden Sutton my phone rang (again) - Moira was following the route but had gone the other direction (as originally planned) - we arranged for her to come across and meet us at Stamford Bridge.  We then met a delightful chap on the footpath along the A51 - now I appreciate we are riding on the footpath, but the A51 is a very busy road and he could see us (all) coming but no! he had to carry on - forcing a few ladies to not only stop but also step into the road - luckily the traffic was stationary at the lights.  I don't usually rant on the blog but come on!

Climbing Barrow hill - chuch just visible
through the trees on the right.

Moira sooned joined us and we climbed up into Great Barrow then out the back lanes to join the A54 (more footpath, less pedestrians!) and along to the cafe.  the first group were still queuing, but cafe had been prepared, and we managed to take over an entire room in The Elvis Cafe.

Inside the Elvis cafe.....

Wall to wall Elvis - literally!

A couple of the ladies then decided that hey wanted to head off for a few more miles; but I did not have my group photo.  So, now all were assembled, I chivvied people outside for a quick photo - but I ommitted to mention it to the cafe ladies who swooped in at the first opportunity and cleared the tables.  Some were unfortunate enough to lose their beverages - I just managed to grab mine.  My fault - I am so sorry ladies!

happy smiles and pink tops - before we realised our elevenses were being whipped away!

Group one were soon ready, so we waved them off and settled for a further 5 minutes, to give them another head start!  I think I may make everyone sit next time at the cafe and do a bulk '10 teas and 10 coffees please', it may be simpler! I am sure we can manage food like that too - when there are so many of us.

However, Moira had lost her cycle top - at some point since she phoned me.  So, ot only had she done more miles to join us, she now had to retrace her route - so we waved her off too!

Track between Oscroft and Tarvin

Group two were now ready to roll, back along the footpath and across the road to Oscroft.  We then followed a track - giving a lovely view across Tarvin and the church.  Through Tarvin to pick up another brief track across the A51 and the route was intended to turn left to Sheaf farm.  By now Welna's phone battery had died, so they instead followed down the Gowy bridges. 

As we crossed the A51 (again!!) at Littleton, Moira was spotted at the rear! She was able to join us for nearly a mile before going home.

21 ladies, two groups, 19 miles.  The route can be found on Map my Ride site. (you may need to create an account to see the route, but it is free).  Moira clocked 26 miles!

Fabulous Club Tops

Over the last year there have been several conversations about having a ladies cycling club top. We considered a certain budget supermarket chain who have twice yearly sales of cycle clothing, with some nice tops that some of us have invested in.  However, these are time limited, as are the sales from another sports shop.  I had spoken to our local bike shop, but they were not able to hold the stock for us.

It all started when I saw some photos from the Chichester Belles, who had spotty pink tops.  I asked where they got them, and they passed me the details of the company they used.  We could design just about anything we wanted and in any colour.

I requested samples from the company (Owayo) and some ladies had a go at designing a club top.  Then 7 of us gathered in my dining room in February, and had a very productive evening designing a top and colour scheme.

After several weeks of negotiation with the company and our local bike shop, The Bike Factory, we came up with a final design, and sponsorship.  Orders were taken, money collected, and the big day finally came in April when the tops had arrived!

We met in the bike factory oping to wow them all at forthcoming Chester and North Wales events!

Sunny Spring 50

An annual event, the Spring 50, or 'early season tourist trial', is held in the Spring, somewhere around Palm Sunday (I remember it being on mothers day, at least once).  It is intended to be a slight challenge, as you have to complete the course in 4 or 5 hours - and that is not just pure riding time, but includes any stops.

I rode it many years ago, but then was not fit enough; and in latter years I have happily marshaled, making my own way out and hanging around for all the riders to come past before tootling home again.

But this year I, and a small contingent of Fabulous Ladies, booked ourselves on, and prepared ourselves for the big day. 

After two weeks of beautiful sunshine, Friday and Saturday were grey and cold, so it was not with much hope that I opened the curtains early on Sunday morning - to be greeted by blue skies and sunshine!  It was however quite cold, scraping the light frost from the windscreen to drive out to meet the ladies.

We were soon off, heading up and up and out of Kinnerton, climbing up lower mountain, and then left on the B road to climb further to Llay.  This was the highest point, and we were rewarded with a super downhill to Rossett (I clocked 37mph, which was fun).

We rolled along, chatting but also keeping the pressure on the pedals, and made it to Overton Village hall where we were met with plates of sandwiches and cakes, soup and tea!  But we could not stop long, and after 20 minutes of chomping we were once again off into the lanes.

Arriving at the morning checkpoint

The two Garmin Girls checked the route out and back; although I am sure one had the Garmin upside down, as at several junctions she would say one way, then the other would sail past saying no, this way! 

Early Spring Sun

signing in at the end

We finally made it back to Kinnerton, after fighting a gentle headwind, and received our certificates.  then, after a quick photo, we all converged on the Red Lion at Dodleston for a sit in the chilly sun and a little light refreshments!

West Cheshire Alps

Cheshire is known to be flat - the Cheshire Plain.  Good for dairy farming, that was what I learnt in my geography lessons in school.  And I would agree - but it is not boring flat with boring straight roads (apart from the odd Roman road), and the lanes take glorious twists and turns, and there are some undulations, especially if you go near the Sandstone Trail.
I planned a 40 mile route as a practice for next weeks Spring 50 - Tourist Trial.  This is not a race, but a timed 'relaiblity ride' (as they used to be called) 50 miles in 4 (argh) or 5 hours.  So, two ladies joined me on yet another sunny Saturday morning in March, and we pedalled out at a quicker rate than usual, to see how we would fare.  The ulterior motive was to visit one of the ladies' new cafe in Kelsall.

St John and the Holy Cross, Cotebrook

We set off through Christleton, Waverton, Hargrave and Huxley; and started to strip off near Tarporley.  After Tarporley we skirted the golf course at Portal, past the Mill Pond at Oulton Mill (yes, very near Oulton Park) and through Cotebrook.  Really, till here it was mostly flat, with a climb into Tarporley (averaging about 100ft above sea level). Then we climbed up to the Sandstone Ridge - covering nearly 300 ft in 1 1/2 miles!




After a spectacular drop down Boothsdale (of course!) we dillied along to Kelsall and The Greedy Pig, where we sat outside in the glorious sunshine (by now I was down to my shorts and cycle top!), and enjoyed panini's and coffees. 

We left Kelsall alongside the deli and picked up a wonderful contour road which, if it had not still been so hazy, would have given us views over the flat lands of West Cheshire. We then dipped into Delamere Forest, and followed the sandstone trail (bit of off road!) before heading towards Norley.





We enjoyed some lovely descents (among a few ups) around Crowton, and back to Kingsley; where we then had a bit more up - we did 5 miles of 'up' after Crowton to a heady 490ft above sea level! (Moel Famau, our nearest big 'hill' is 1818ft)

final descent from Manley

The final descent took us from Manley to Manley Mere, where we finally started to recognise where we were again (except me, I did know where I was most of the day!).






43 miles, with a riding time of 3 hours 40 mins (not including the stopping time for coffee, stripping, photos and GPS checks!).  Not, I hasten to add, a usual ladies ride!
You can see the route at Map my Ride

Sue

Spring is in the air!

With a weather forecast since Wednesday of increasing warmth, it was not a promising start when I took the dog out first thing in a fine mist.  But that soon lifted, and by the time I was ready (early for once - even had time to almost wash my bike!) the sun was starting to succeed with peeking out from behind the thinning clouds.

Pipers Ash

And so it came to pass that many ladies gathered at the cafe - our biggest group yet of 19!  Too many to manage in one group, Welna and Moira kindly agreed to take the second half; following on with a few minutes gap.  Probably did not need to wait, as one of their group had a puncture within 5 minutes! (we were coming around Christleton Pond at that time).

Waverton

We crossed the A41 to do a pointless but lovely lane round to Rowton Hall Hotel, crossing back to come into Waverton.  Then we had a fairly direct route out towards Huxley, and left to Duddon via Hoofield.  We passed the 50p shop as there were too many of us!

Horseshoe tower near Hoofield

Okells Garden centre and cafe very kindly cordoned off half the cafe for us, with exactly 19 seats (which we had to defend several times as hopeful customers wandered in!)  cake, beans and tea all round (not necessarily in that order!), and much chatting and socialising was to be had!


I tried to get a group photo but although most people were present, there were a few that got away - note to self - I really do have to get the photo at the start at the cafe!!!!!!

We mostly all came back together, as I picked a very quiet back lane (much to the surprise of the lady in the range rover!) and off road down the Roman pack horse bridges, which also helped to keep the head wind off us!  We started to part company after the Plough, and headed for the canal at Christleton, which saved negotiating the A51 with the 16 cyclists that I still had!

Should be 16 - someone is hiding?

One lady then had a puncture with less than a mile to go - so I waved the rest off home while a few of us helped her out.  Technically two puctures for the day, but they did not really hold us up - and some are getting very good at changing tubes now!  That is the benefit of riding in a group - help is at hand when it comes to flat tyres.  If nothing else, to chat and take photos!


19 riders and 19 miles!

Fabulous Fuel - or the secret of proper nutrition...

...and I don't mean cake for once!!

We received an invite to join the Chester Tri (Triathlon club) ladies evening at the bike factory, which was to be about nutrition for training.  We generally do not do much training, and as our speaker plans his meals and food around his training, so we plan our rides around the cakes.

Rob shows Nosheen how to fix a chain

Nevertheless, 6 of us gathered in the shop, and mingled, trying on shoes, having a go on the bike on rollers, and helping ourselves to the nibbles and snacks we are becoming accustomed to.

We had a presentation from Ben Amer (works at the BF, and for Warrington Rugby Club, and currently studying sports nutrition at Masters level) - and he was really good.  I just wish I could follow his logic, and understand the nutritional benefits that even just a good diet would give me.  I am so very bad, and generally eat what I fancy.  I know what I should do, but the most important message I need to take away is to drink more water!!

The talk also centred on supplements (although there are supplements for before the ride, in training; for during a big ride, and also straight after.  I should have taken notes!)

However, the good news is that there is a handy sheet he has put together, so as soon as I can get a copy he has agreed that I can post it on one of the blog pages, so we can all refer to it - especially as we have the Spring 50 approaching, and if anyone plans to join me for the 100 in June (if not there is another 50) - not to mention the audaxes in September and October!




Much jollity was had, and much useful information, a few freebies, and a talk though on how to change a tube.  Again!