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 used 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 adventurously headed out along 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 hard 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

Like 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!

Elephants and Castles

 

A small select group met at Kingsway, with just me as leader.  To ensure numbers were manageable I set up a 'Book When' booking, so this is why a small number of riders.

We enjoyed a dry, colourful ride out to Bunbury, to Tilly's.

On the way back I showed the ladies (if they had not already seen it) our own 'Elephant and Castle', created by the stoneworker to the Peckforton estate in 1859.  It is unknown why he carved it, but the mason also was 'foremason' for Grosvenor Bridge in Chester, and some favourite Stone Lions I always look out for in Tattenhall.

Elephant and Castle sandstone carving

After this, the sun came out!

Looming black clouds

 I'm a little behind writing this post I'm afraid (May 2026!) but trying to have a catch up.

I lost my mum in the September, just as I was away for a week; but I was back for the ladies ride.  We met, we chatted, we set off with every intention of heading to Nets cafe; but as we headed up the river there were the blackest of black clouds lurking and heading for exactly where we were heading.

So I caught up to Rick at the front, and we debated and agreed to get ourselves to the Chapel Cafe at Saltney Ferry before the downpour, which we managed just in time!  A gentleman came in shortly after us; he was wet through and wanted to know how we were so dry.

I did manage some photos, but headed home after the cafe.

THAT is going to be wet, very wet!

How are you all so dry?

Quite a different day afterwards!

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