Minor Mechanical Matters

 It is very important to ensure your bike is roadworthy, functioning, and safe before you set out on a ride, but sometimes events cause your faithful steed to rebel, leaving you with a puzzle to try and rectify before you can continue on your way.  We have had mechanical evenings with our local bike shop in the past, but nothing can prepare you for the two problems today!  Read on...

Ten of us met at Kingsway, which felt odd after a couple of months away from our monthly rides.  Everyone had been before, and in my 'talky bit' I noted that since
our last ride in May I had been to Mull, completed the Vets 100, we had had the Welsh Festival, summer evening rides were nearly over, and i had new (rather jazzy) handlebar tape.  I nearly forgot to take our photo, but just in the nick of time I borrowed a gentleman who had been talking to a few ladies but had since bobbed into the new Kingsway charity shop to take a photo.

Several riders had requested to go 'in the slow group', but with only ten we were able to stay together, and I just kept an eye on how far back people were, waiting from time to time to re-group or give instructions about the next stretch of road.  I had warned there would be hills and a rough track in Alyn Waters, and everyone managed very well.  There was some walking, which is absolutely fine.

Passing through Marford, or the bottom of Marford hill to pick up the little lane alongside the A483 (a little secret lane!) we saw some of the very cute and distinctive buildings, which were originally built for the estate workers of Trevalyn Hall and noted for their architectural 'Gothic Revival' curves. 

Springfield Lane, 1 1/2 miles of quiet lane

Crossing the A483,
before our first climb of the day

At Alyn Waters, from the Llay side, I recruited Mary to help me navigate the tracks
through.  A little more local knowledge goes a long way!

On our approach to the cafe I noted one lady struggling but in quite a high gear, I suggested she change down but she replied she could not; it transpired that her gear changer on the handlebars had come loose - in fact come off!  We had a little look at the cafe, but there did not seem to be any way to re-attach it.  We managed to hold it on the change her to a lower gear, which if nothing else would be kinder to her knees and make it easier to get home.

Pocket Allen Key,
essential part of your toolkit

On leaving the cafe another lady managed to jam her chain between the front cogs (chainrings), and it was very firmly lodged.  We all tried to help, each person noting 'it is stuck just there'!  After much heaving, jiggling, and poking (with a 'pokey stick' - aka allen key!), and a call to someone's husband who offered to come and pick her up, we managed to free the offending chain, and after wiping our oily hands were able to resume.  There was a comment that it was a bit extreme to do this to avoid the next climb up the hill!

Cycling UK have useful forums to ask questions, or see if anyone else has had a similar issue and how to fix it - this was one subject from three years ago, but still relevant today

We headed back to the B road from Llay to the Holly Bush down a delightful lane I do not think I have ridden before! on the B road I think I spied ANOTHER new cafe I had not seen before, I will need to check that one out  (I did, and yes!  Watch out for the Cabin Caff in next year's runs list!)

After a scoot along the main road, we turned right in Hope to climb to Caer Estyn, not as bad as it first appears - but after this we had lovely views across Cheshire and lots of downhills to lower Kinnerton.  We had started to split up now, people heading on more direct routes home, leaving just three to return along the river (significantly wind assisted!) to Kingsway.

30 miles

Link to Komoot route