A RIDE - MIDDLEWICH

SUNDAY 6 MARCH 2011

Not many takers for the Middlewich ride on a very cold and very grey start to the day. Fortunately I had decided to dress for the cold having been in the throws of an infection since the week before. Of late we have been having some nice sunny weather, and usually it has been in the afternoon, so it was today as well. Ken Crompton had dressed for the promised weather and turned out with just a pair of mits on, well a bit more than that, but by the time we had flown down Firs Brow his hands were well and truly frozen.

The advantage of riding with a saddlebag now came to light as a pleading Ken asked if I was carrying a spare pair of gloves, I was. The cold wind persisted so I opted for a direct course to Middlewich via Northwich and the dead straight King Street, not the ideal route but all things considered it was for the best. On reaching Middlewich we found the cafes in the town closed, a bitter blow, after nearly forty miles we were more than ready for a break. Another café about three miles down the road toward Nantwich provided us with much needed sustenance, a good decision really, a pleasant café and just renovated, perfect.

The only downside to coming here is the main road, very busy and apparently an accident prone area, big signs proclaiming 'Thirteen Deaths in Three Years' do little to inspire cycling on here. Well fed we set off back for home, the main road back to Middlewich seemingly much better and shorter, due mainly to the fact that we had a bit of a tail wind. By now the sun was out in all its glory, just what all cyclists love, the sun and the wind on their backs. Out of Middlewich we sought the famous quiet lanes of Cheshire heading through Byley and Plumley, here the true pleasure of cycling is obvious, the colour of the emerald green fields, enhanced by the afternoon sun against a deep blue sky is quite moving, this is what we live for.

Out of Knutsford we are heading down well travelled familiar lanes toward the equally familiar Warburton Bridge. As we turn onto Broomedge a familiar face appears, Brian Timms, a very big surprise as we expected to see earlier in the day. It seems Brian had been at Four Lane Ends but he had missed us, he puzzled a bit then wondered if he had the right day, he then went home to consult his runs list, found he had the right day then set out to find us, but all in vain. A brief stop while Ian Tipping sorted out his puncture after hitting one of the many potholes we had been dodging all day, then another at Hollins Green to fill up bottles and we were ready for the final leg up the long Holcroft Lane. Along Holcroft Lane Ian Tipping stopped to photograph the llamas and emus, well I think they were emus, 'I'll catch you up' he apparently said, he didn't. Well he did catch up as I neared Daisy Hill, meandering and wondering where he had gone, I never heard the call he had stopped.

An excellent days riding, the late arrival of the sun making it even better, and next time we are down in that direction we now know of a superb café. Report by Tony Bowles