Not the cafe I’d planned to go to but the nearest one which could handle the numbers!
Once again a fantastic turnout of 28 riders at the Legion which allowed us to split into two decent sized groups. One group for the long hilly ride and one for a shorter flatter route, this arrangement works well when we have these sort of numbers and we try to ride out together for the first 15 to 20 miles to allow a bit of socialising amongst the ranks before we go our separate ways.
Alan Silver took the short route and I think he planned to go to Congleton Garden Centre (let me know Alan) via a roundabout route.
The long group followed me (you should know better by now!) as we addressed a cocktail of hills including Mow Cop and Biddulph Moor on the way to Meerbrook. As the planned cafe only had seating for 12 and there were 15 of us a rapid recalculation of the route was needed to avoid disappointment. On exiting Meerbrook cafe another recalculation was necessary as the rain had set in and I detected a reluctance to venture further into the Staffordshire hills, so we headed straight for home. Only one thing stood in our way, GUN HILL! Everyone made it without too much trouble then we only had another hill before we got down onto the flat lands of Cheshire for the breeze home to Northwich.
Well done everyone especially those without triple chainrings!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My lawyers have been kept fully occupied since last week’s post which included potentially defamatory intimations that 3 of our riders were consuming more than tea…so I’ll try and avoid any further controversy this week.
But it’s impossible I’m afraid.
On my comment about the well kept dahlias in one garden that we rode past, Gary D decided to look back 180 degrees at said dahlias, taking with him the wing mirror and some paint off a parked Peugeot. Given that the car/house owner had installed a CCTV camera with great foresight, Gary might be regretting those recently acquired identifying monograms on his shirt and bike!
And as for Ewart (Desperate Dan) choosing to ride in the middle of the road through Congleton, greeting every protesting car driver (and there were a few) with a broad Welsh smile and the remark that this was after all a public highway (would you argue with Ewart? I wouldn’t and they didn’t either!)
And it’s amazing what you find out during protacted puncture stops, in this case near Swettenham. Next time you meet Lou ask him where he keeps his rubber bands, and as for Richard’s predilection for olive oil, well…
Another wonderful meandering sociable Richard ride and I’m proud of myself for managing the hills OK. I gather young Andy was giving Nick, Chris and Kevan a run for their money at the front -definitely one to watch, I’ve already negotiated my sponsorship rights with him for the 2016 Olympics. And at the back Lou and Max were clearly showing the signs of not yet being back to full fitness by the fact that they were keeping me company, it won’t last, unfortunately for me and fortunately for them. And good to see some new riders too!
Sorry messed up again with the log in, tempted though I am to preserve my anonymity, I’d better come clean,that last comment was from me, Eleanor.
Eleanor could you here the laughing from Calveley?
Great comment, glad you enjoyed the day and love you observations, there is definately more to it than the bike!
By the way hear is spelt hear, just so you all know I can skell it was just a wine induced typo in the last comment!
Thanks for a great route Richard. I don’t think I’ve ridden many of those lanes before. Some interesting climbs and even more interesting descents – especially in the wet on road tyres – give me my mountain bike anyday on those lanes. Enjoyed it so much I might even manage more than the usual two club runs this year!
I’m leaving another comment to not be anonymous, despite not trying to be!
As I tend to struggle with the riding part of club runs, I’ll keep my comments to my own areas of expertise.
The club sandwich at the garden centre was excellent, as was the large fruit scone with butter and red jam. The coffee was also nice. I was disapointed that I had to fill my bottle from the tap in the toilet as it set off an episode of OCD (I prefer to call it CDO as the letters are in alphabetical order). If we go there again can someone please have a word with the owners about the painted concrete ramps in the shop area, they are not navigable in cycling shoes.
Nice selection of conifers on display along with some carrots with soil still attached. Must take a basket next time and pick some up.
that car did jump out on me