To 'e' or not to 'e'

That is very often the question.  In relation to cycling, there has been quite a growth in 'e' assist bikes, meaning your pedaling is assisted, not that the battery pushes you along.  We have a few riders who have an 'e'bike, and Chester & North Wales also allow 'e' bikes on events.

The reason I mention this is because a couple of days before today's ride, one of our group messages me to ask if her friend could come along on an e-bike.  I replied that she was of course welcome.  In addition, a new lady called to Kingsway Cafe to say hi, and again to ask about getting a new bike.  Her current bike (a shopper) is quite old, heavy and not very reliable.  She is looking for a new bike, and we talked a little about options - I suggested popping to Bren as a second hand bike may be enough for now to see if she enjoys riding with us and to get her out, whilst she considers a new bike, and she was thinking 'e'.  Please see more about e-bikes at the end of this post.

As we have a few ladies with e-bike, she had the opportunity to ask questions and have a look at a couple, whilst the rest of us finished our coffees/ tea's.

All signed in to the three groups, I managed to get everyone out for the photo, (taken by an unsuspecting passer by!) before sending each group off ahead of ours, whilst I phoned the cafe to let them know there were about 18 of us.  

Many wanted to go in the 'slow' group, but no-one gets left behind.  A few even said they may want to turn back a little earlier, maybe feeling daunted by the distance?  In the end everyone came all the way to the cafe and back.  

We set off along the canal

Bishop Bennet's Way

We paused by a pull in, which Sheila noticed had a sign for the Bishop Bennet Way, and asked me what that is.  I know the route vaguely, and have ridden some sections but it can involve stiles,fields, and tracks.

My research for the blog tells me William Bennett was born in London, became Bishop in Cork, and was particularly interested in tracing old Roman Roads, of which we have a few locally, so it is named after him.  It is 34 miles, but not a circular route.

Peckforton in the haze

Today was dry, sometimes a little sunny, warm and maybe a little muggy.  Weather forecasts (and again, I never look at these) suggested rain or thunder later today (but we had none of that).  It was quite hazy though.

Thatch cottages and cow parsley

It is May, and I have said before how I love the flowers in May - hawthorn, cow parsley, lilac trees, and fabulous azalea's in Bunbury

The Sheds cafe is relatively new (certainly new to us), I had spotted it on another ride earlier in the year.  It is an alternative to Tilly's a usual favourite in Bunbury, but the staff were very pleased to have us visit, and were lovely.  They were very grateful that we had been so patient with the longer wait for food (but I highlighted once people are chatting, they have no concept of time, or (usually) where they are!)

See, there are some shadows

The cafe also sells a few little items, including t'shirts and stickers by I guess a local artist (or linked to the cafe) - this dude made me think of the groups of young people (Duke of Edinburgh?) we had passed around Beeston, some with matching green rucksacks.

As we crossed the canal at Wharton's Lock (by the Shady Oak) I noted a barge

(not a narrow boat) chugging along, quite an unusual sight.

We had a couple of mechanical/ technical issues in my group - some tetchy gears that may or may not change, a soft tyre (pumped up at the cafe, with the help of
several pumps), and finally a bolt on a mudguard, which spontaneously and suddenly decided to work loose.  This took a few of us, mostly pointing and offering advice!

'e' chats - I asked the 'e' ladies about their bikes:

Gabrielle - has had hers for five years, it is heavy and old, but does the job.  Rowena has had her e-bike for two years, a Specialized 'Vado', she says she loves it!  Mary decided to get one in her 70th year, she has had it a few years now, it means she can keep up and can keep coming out; she is pleased to be an active rider in the group.  Jane has an e-bike but came out under her own steam today, she was pleased she could manage without.  But it is there for her trips away, such as a recent one to Ingleborough (they have some good hills in Yorkshire!).  Cycling UK have a good article on choosing an e-bike - read it here.  But rest assured, you do not need an e-bike to keep up with us, and if you do have an 'e', you are most welcome to come along too!

Handing over the reigns

No, I am not leaving or giving up the Fab Ladies, but sometimes I am also away.  This means I can't really write about what went on, who was out, what we got up to - or photos.  But I can sometimes relay some of the behind the scene's chat, and what I get to hear about instead.

Last year I created a Chester Cycling Community on Whatsapp, to try to have one place for all chats and conversations with ladies leaders, Fab ladies, Wednesday evening Rides, and Sundays.  

Postcard from Tresco

I notified the leaders I was not available - it was a cousin's (My mum's cousin) 100th birthday earlier in the week, and I wanted to visit, which we combined with a
short trip to the Scilly Isles.

Sarah was collecting chickens, Sue was supposed to be at a wedding, but she was not sure if it was going ahead or not (that doesn't sound good!); but Collette managed to change her appointment and Rowena was also free.

They decided on a cafe, and checked both Kingsway and Ginger & Pickles in Tarporley were open (see February for cafe closure!), and Linda plotted a route.  

Collette added on Whatsapp "My only photo from today was the choice of cakes 🍰 🤣 Great ride even with the change in weather throughout the morning/afternoon"

Nicky posted "Loved it today ladies.. even with the bit of wind and rain.. thank you".

It doesn't look windy or rainy in the photos?!

"Lovely cafe even if our second group had to wait a while for our order to be delivered but it was delicious"

That hot chocolate looks fantastic!

Jean said "Thank you fab ladies for a great ride and only one April shower"; Karen noted her thighs were still aching!

Collette messaged me "Hope you’re having a lovely time Sue. You’ll be pleased to know that I led my first CFL ride & didn’t lose anybody or get lost with thanks to Mary back marking & using Linda’s route"; Mary added she was brilliant 'as you would expect'. 

Closed roads

Fabulous blue skies and sunshine for March

March brought another very sunny day, with a plan to head to Cleopatra's in Holt.  A standard ride, we headed out through Handbridge and Eccleston, allowing us the closed road of Rake Lane down to the Old Wrexham Road.  

The barriers led to some funky shadows on the road

How marvellous to be able to sit outside in March!

An alternative cafe

 I was still not really up to riding my bike by the February ride, and the forecast was going to be cold and freezing again.  Undeterred, I offered to meet anyone who wanted to join me at Kingsway cafe, for coffee and a chat.

But when I arrived Kingsway cafe was shut!  I had even notified them earlier in the week that we were calling in, but had not heard back; the ladies in the Kingsway charity shop had the number for the manager so I called her, and she apologised that they were short of volunteers this week.

On my arrival Elaine was outside waiting. We chatted for a while, as we decided what to do - it was such a lovely sunny day!

Then Anna walked up, we explained that the cafe was shut, and we were pondering what to do.  I was considering all going back to my house, but Anna had her doggy with her.

We updated Anna with our conversation so far.

Then Mary arrived; she had said she may drive over to meet us.  We explained that the cafe was shut today, and relayed some of our chat again to Mary.

Quite a little group now.

Then Sarah arrived.  We all explained that the cafe was shut, and what we had been chatting about - Sarah suggested we walk over to Okells in Hoole, and we agreed we may as well have a little walk and chat over coffee, it was a lovely sunny morning after all!

Beware of Ice

 I have been cycling for may years, and in all weathers.  I have ridden in frosty weather, snowy weather, and only once come off on ice.  I had cycled to school, I was in sixth form across town and use to park my bike at my friend's house (safely tucked away in her parents garage).  My home road and all the roads in between were not slippy, due to traffic, but her road was very quiet and so a little icy.  I turned the corner but my bike did not.  I was not hurt, and sheepishly got up hoping no-one saw me, and cycled the last bit down her road.

However, last week I was not so lucky.  On the Sunday ride we had met in Chester, and despite the forecast for snow later in the day, we headed out on the river.  It was cold and started to snow lightly as we set off, but it was wet fresh snow and a flat route, and we endured the cold wet onslaught, laughing at the absurdity.

Nets was closed so we had gone to Ness gardens instead, and after enjoying refreshments agreed to call it a day and head home.  By now the sun had come out and it looked beautiful.  But the temperature had also dropped and, although the mainish road by Ness gardens was clear, the side road dropping back down to the marshes was not, and I came a cropper, slamming down on my right side.

Long story short nothing was broken but I was too sore to ride this month; with very low temperatures forecast again the leaders also cancelled this month's ride altogether.

I decided to walk Chester Parkrun (Parkwalk) instead, and that was quite slippy too, with temperatures dropping even after 9am.  So certainly the right choice!

There are always photos

As for Septembers post, I'm afraid I am writing this in May 2026, just before our next ride.  So memories, chats, comments and experiences are lost in my memory, but I do have photos!  And clearly in an order my computer has decided to post them!

Coffee and cake at Walk Mill.

Wet lanes but blue skies

most importantly, no ice!

Could this be our Christmas card next year?!

 

Autumn Confetti

I have often thought November is the best month for autumn colour, and this year has been exceptional!  Even on gloomy days the view is lit up by the variety and bright colours we have had, and even now enough leaves are hanging on to give a fabulous display.  But not for long, and our routes today with just a gentle wisp of breeze was enough to bring some leaves fluttering down like confetti.  Magic!

We split into two equal groups, and after the photo (the kind charity shop lady obliged again!) we sent of Linda and Sarah's group, followed shortly by ourselves.

I decided this morning, for a change, to go straight through town, we often avoid
this but it was quite quiet and we were a small group, and I just wanted to see some of our sights, for a change.  So around the amphitheater we went, and dropped all the way down Lower Bridge Street, where we saw the other group as they came from the Groves to cross the Old Dee Bridge.

Heading out to Eccleston, and then the Old Wrexham road, we were again in sight of the first group.  But they, like us, stayed in twos and in a neat group; it was
very clear that although there were a couple of cars caught behind them, when they did pass they were indicating, and passing wider and slower, as they were also for us.  It can feel very daunting, our instinct as cyclists is to 'get out of the way' and we expect cars to be getting fed up and impatient; but this did not seem to be the case today.

After diverting off the main road we passed the other group in Rossett, where I stayed on the main route through before turning onto the most delightful little
lanes around Hoseley; the other group looped around Darland and back to Rossett which meant they climbed the steep B road hill up to the cafe, but did also get them there a good half an hour before us!  We instead had a little climb to a wonderful road contouring the back of Marford and Gresford, with superb views across Cheshire, with Beeston and Peckforton hills taking the limelight.

At this point Mary shared that there is a geographical feature near to us, the only place locally where there was a glacier.  Who knew!  Gresford Glacier!  No, really it was a thing.  I had to Google this, and the following sites are really worth a read (if you are interested!) - Maes-Y-Pant country park site has some history, which explains why there are large coal deposits locally (Gresford Quarry) and the sand and gravel pits (left by glaciers); an assessment report of Gresford Lake by Ymddiriedolaeth Dyfrdwy Cymru (The Welsh Dee Trust) for the local council (some interesting ecological data); information about a Kettle Hole (it gets better) from Scottish Geology Trust, and specifically Vicarage Moss (as behind us in the picture)

The trees towards the right are down a steep drop, 
there is a lake, or flash, in there, and is noted on the 
map image below...

...the little green circle indicates where we were 
for the photo; you can see the lake ('Kettle Hole')
and note the contours swooping away
to the right, below the text 'Hoseley Bank Farm'

Well, that was a diversion from writing the blog!  Back to it....

We came into Gresford near The Plough, and crossed over to skirt Gresford Flash, the church, and to drop down the steep hill and under the railway.  Then just a short climb to a road around a quarry, bringing us to the top of the hill (Mary has a name for it, but I can't repeat it here.  Suffice to say it sort of rhymes with  'bucketty', but starting with an 'f'!)

We finally arrived at Rackery Cafe and Farm Shop, a new cafe for us, and we sat inside as the only table outside in the sun was populated by the first group.  Lovely food, a nice natter, and we set off after the others had left, with a speedy 40mph descent back down Croeshowell Road (no chance of a turn towards Burton!) and then just followed the B road home.

A nice round 30 miles, back home by 2pm in time to cut the grass and a little gardening.  Fireworks tonight!