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!