Fabulous Fuel - or the secret of proper nutrition...

...and I don't mean cake for once!!

We received an invite to join the Chester Tri (Triathlon club) ladies evening at the bike factory, which was to be about nutrition for training.  We generally do not do much training, and as our speaker plans his meals and food around his training, so we plan our rides around the cakes.

Rob shows Nosheen how to fix a chain

Nevertheless, 6 of us gathered in the shop, and mingled, trying on shoes, having a go on the bike on rollers, and helping ourselves to the nibbles and snacks we are becoming accustomed to.

We had a presentation from Ben Amer (works at the BF, and for Warrington Rugby Club, and currently studying sports nutrition at Masters level) - and he was really good.  I just wish I could follow his logic, and understand the nutritional benefits that even just a good diet would give me.  I am so very bad, and generally eat what I fancy.  I know what I should do, but the most important message I need to take away is to drink more water!!

The talk also centred on supplements (although there are supplements for before the ride, in training; for during a big ride, and also straight after.  I should have taken notes!)

However, the good news is that there is a handy sheet he has put together, so as soon as I can get a copy he has agreed that I can post it on one of the blog pages, so we can all refer to it - especially as we have the Spring 50 approaching, and if anyone plans to join me for the 100 in June (if not there is another 50) - not to mention the audaxes in September and October!




Much jollity was had, and much useful information, a few freebies, and a talk though on how to change a tube.  Again!

The best way to spend your birthday...

In the Groves

...is with a few friends, on the bikes, in the sun.

An extra unofficial ride was advertised, to come and join me bright and early in the centre of Chester, for a spin down to Holt, to see Hildegard, have a coffee and a cake (maybe sing to me!) and then come back.  The usual, really!

The road from Eccleston

An early text from Vicky sent me flying to the window, but no, Chester does not get snow.  Instead we had what was probably the best day of the year so far, blue skies and sunshine.  We set off through town - wonderfully quiet at 9:30 on a Sunday morning, and down to the river.  Over into Handbridge, out to Eccleston and through Pulford to turn off in Lavister. 

By now we were really warm, so we had to make minor adjustments to our layers, before following the back lanes of Darland and Parkside, before hitting Holt for the big time!

I dragged Hildegard away from her baking to say hello, before we settled to a variety of refreshments, and the bottomless pots of tea and coffee.  Just as we were leaving, Hildegard came out and stopped us/ me with a very fresh scone, adorned with a single hearty candle!

After sharing the scone (there were actually two!) we set off back, down the hill and over the river back into England, and along the B road, unless we could take the back lanes by Churton and Aldford.  Across to Bruera and Saighton, where we posed for a quick photo, then back into Chester through Huntington.

View from Saighton, across the Dukes estate to the Welsh hills with their snow

25 not unusual but highly pleasant miles!

February gloom

It really was a dismal cold and dreary February morning, although much of the ice from the previous week was not apparent, and of course Chester so rarely has snow that that was not a consideration either!  But certainly not as nice weather as last month!

A colouful start to a gloomy day

I lost count of potential attendees, but it felt like it would be small turnout, which it was with 8 of us making it to the start.  Vicky lost a battle with her bike carrier, another lady decided it was really too cold after all, Welna was on training in Birmingham, Jo was I think on Olympic volunteer training and another lady has just become a fabulous granny so had gone to coo over the small one.  Very busy!

After a quick pic we set off up the road, and into the lanes.  Liz left us before we got to the zoo, and just before I had a close encounter with a squirrel!  daft thing ran out nearly into my wheel, before scarpering back from whence it came.  Much to the amusement of the ladies!

We certainly brightened up the day!

We whizzed down Butter hill, and took the small back lane to Croughton, which did have patches of ice across the lane, all thankfully safely negotiated.  The trick with ice is to hold your nerve and glide straight over it - any deviation or braking is probably the worst thing you can do.

Ellesmere Canal with Stanlow in the distance

Then we picked up the canal, and followed the bumpy rutted towpath all the way to the boat museum.  It is a wonderfully easy route to do, and quite pleasant.  Usually there is a swan nesting, and a heron frequents this stretch, and can often be seen on summer evening rides.

untieing the bikes for the ride home

At the museum cafe, as we were chatting, supping and munching, another large group of 13 cyclists came in.  I did recognise one, they were a semi organised Sustrans led group from South Liverpool, heading to Kingsway cafe.

© Copyright David Quinn
and licensed for reuse
under this
Creative Commons Licence

We let them go, then we took an interesting route through the industrial estate, alongside the motorway, before picking up the road that runs along the Oil refinery.  I know how to show the ladies a good time!  But then, you see, we turned right, off the main road and away from all the chimneys and towers of Shell, and into Thornton Le Moors, with its very Cheshire sandstone church,and into the lanes once again.

18 miles.

When I got back to the cafe I met up with the Liverpool cyclists again, so I joined them for a coffee - always like to make new friends!

Excellent start to the New Year

counting wheels and
quick information session

It most certainly was, with blue skies and sunshine, 14 riders, and 25 miles to the Chocolate shop in Tarporley and back.  What more can I say!

It was a very cold start to the day - well, actually it stayed about freezing all day.  some new faces, again and some people who had not been out for ages. 

We set off through Littleton, and in Christleton took a little side leg to shake off a men's cycling group who had attached themselves to the back of our group. We then picked up the canal to Waverton, carried on to Old Waverton, and on out to Huxley.  At this point there were many many horse boxes - but I have no idea what was on.  no horse events were listed on the t'internet when I looked later, and I even contacted the North West Cheshire horsey people and they did not know.

Re-group at Waverton

The lanes were also unusually busy - I am guessing it is still the sales and people getting back into the swing after the Christmas and New Year break.

last hill before coffee!

Invasion by the Ladies!

I called ahead to the Chocolate Shop - good job I did as Tarporley is a particularly busy little village! even they the three tables were not enough and I sat with an older lady who looked a little displeased at all these people....I turned on the charm and chatted to her, she was actually quite interested, and was asking questions about pedals - no, really!

  

We headed back initially along the A51, it is a downhill swoop and short lived before we can turn left onto Corkscrew lane.  aaaand....breathe!

We passed two more cafe's on our way back to Waverton (50p shop and Walk Mill) and then back.

I had an interesting conversation in Waverton - the whole 'fabulous' name was brought into question.  I regailed a few with the rationale behing the name for the Chester Ladies, and realised not everyne knows.  So, I have added a 'history' page to the blog now - all will be revealed!

25 Miles.

Happy New Year!

Each New Year Chester and North Wales CTC have two meets on New Years Day.  The best excuse to get the bike out and start the New Year with a bike ride, meal and gathering of bikes.  One group meet in McLeans in Shotton, and the Chester/ Wrexham/ Mold groups meet at Tilston, in the Carden Arms for food, drinks and conviviality.  The ladies are of course invited, and this year three of the Chester Fabulous Ladies descended among the many other cyclists.  I think it is interesting to note that only 1/4 of the whole gathering were women, and only 5 (I think) cycled out.  Still very low numbers for a gathering of 36 or so cyclists.

Anyway, it was a pleasant enough ride out (as the group I was in missed the huge downpour and only got slightly wet) - even the large flood at Chowley Oaks did not totally soak my feet!  And the ride home was dry with a band of blue sky tantalizingly hovering to our left.

Welna, Moira and Sue lead the Chester group home

30 miles.

Boxing Day Bash 2011

I will admit it is quite hard to drag yourself out of bed on Boxing Day, especially at 8am in order to catch the best of the day and be back early enough!  But that is indeed what a few ladies (and Tim and Dave mostly of Wednesday evening rides fame) did!

We have not managed the Boxing Day bash for a few years, due to snow and ice.  So, it was lovely to revive the tradition.  Four of us set off from Hoole down the Greenway, picking up Jo on the way.  We use a very straightforward route direct to the Railway Bridge where it croses the Dee, where we stopped for a photo and to soak up some of the warm but watery sun.



Boxing Day at Shotton Railway Bridge



Waves up the river



We then head back up the riverside path to Chester.  We had sun, but it was also very windy. however, we were fortunate to not be plagued by too much of a headwind, although we had a wonderful tailwind on the final approach into Chester - also causing huge waves along the river!



Blue Moon Cafe



Our ways parted by the Old Dee Bridge, but the ladies took the opportunity for a final coffee stop at the Blue Moon Cafe, before heading home to get the families up and moving!

18 miles.

Pilgrimage and puncture!



A sea of yellow!

 Despite some tremendous winds and rain and hail for most of the week, Saturday morning again dawned with blue skies and sunshine.  It was not warm, .9 degrees Jo informed us as we gathered at the cafe.

8 of us rallyed round and set off up the Greenway - but we only got as far as the bridge when Lesley informed us that her tyre was flat.  "I don't know what to do" - so we all took a job and helped her change her tube in no time (with a running commentry!).

looking more like a wrestling match than fixing a puncture!

After that we were in the sunshine and into the lanes round Guilden Sutton to cross the A51.  Straightforward route to Walk Mill, where we were welcomed as always by Caroline, serving scones, cakes and toast.  After further purchases of flour and bread (Linda brought her saddlebag especially so that she could get a loaf!), we headed back towards Waverton.

Walk Mill

A little parting of the ways meant that 5 of us left Waverton, and crossed the A41 to go to Saighton and in Huntington, much to the annoyance of a bus driver, who told us we should not be two abreast.  (I have news for him and have been in touch with the council!).

A sunny 16 miles.

Slippy Leaves and Sloppy Mud!



Leaving the cafe



Aaah, the challenge of finding a title for each blog entry!

November already!  After a night of torrential rain, the morning of the November ladies ride dawned with blue skies and sunshine.  Leaves are dwindling as autumn tumbles into winter, the days shorten and the sun sinks lower in the sky.

However, the ladies turn outs are not dwindling, which is great news.  I was expecting two newcomers, but only one turned up, and with twelve more sets of wheels and a hasty photo (nearly forgot!), we set off up Mannings lane to cross the lights with the A41 and into the lanes.

What wonderful weather, no wind and warm sun.  As we passed the zoo I regailed anyone who was listening with the fact that a week ago on my way to work I was watching a couple of Orang Utans, catching the early morning sun.  Not a claim many can make on their daily commute.  (I saw Santa's reindeer last week!).  Part of the route is my evening return from work, so it was nice to see it in the daylight for a change (trying to memorise where the potholes are!).

After a couple of small climbs, we negotiated the gated track from Mollington to Dunkirk; then around to Capenhurst past the Pinfold.  A few more lanes saw us on the main A540 into Chester, a necessary evil in order to reach Eureka Cafe.  We were fortunate that we had a lull in the traffic, as the other main roads appeared to be quite busy, early Christmas shoppers no doubt.

We were welcomed as ever and planted ourselves outside to catch the November sun, still quite warm if you were not in the shade.



Mud, glorious mud!



Our return route took us back down the A540, to Woodbank, where we turned right back into the lanes, and over the relatively new Lodge Lane crossing.  At this point we turned right, to pick up the track to take us to the Greenway near Sealand.  And this was where we encoutered the extemely sloppy looking mud.  All negotiated it gracefully, and we were able to continue through.

By the time we got to the greenway, people were able to drop off home so that I was left with two ladies back near Kingsway shops.

14 ladies, 18 miles.

(more photos to follow!)

Big night at the Bike factory with Chris Boardman

Indeed! a few ladies joined many other Chester cyclists and CTC members for a big night of stuff.

Mike Cross, from our Chester & North Wales CTC presented a certificate of merit, marking the longstanding relationship and support from Dave and the bike factory over the past 70 or so years, with previous managers and incarnations of the shop.  (Originally Masons I understand, I remember it as Davies Bros in Cuppin Street - in fact I briefly worked there for a summer season!).

Then Chris told us a few tales from his cycling achievments, which was enjoyable and entertaining, and his colleague told us about his new bike range.

Then it was networking and chatting and photos and signing, I did manage to pull together all the CTC ladies I could muster - if you look really carefully you will see Chris in among us!

Then a few of us retired to the Spital Vaults behing the shop - and who should come in after 10 mins but the entire Bike factory entourage and Chris (again!).  Sprung!

(photos will follow!)

Six ride to Bala...

...but only from Corwen!


It seemed like a good idea at first, and a few weeks ago it was turning into a Grand Day Out as six of us tried to communicate with email and facebook to co-ordinate cars and lifts to Corwen.  But with a 9am start, this meant getting up around 6am and congregating at my house for a 7:40 set off!  At least it was light by then!


Six fabulous ladies at the start



 The first quest was to find the cafe and parking, and the second was to navigate to the loos!  The cafe and craft shops are housed in the old workhouse in Corwen - which I never knew existed.  We had a quick cuppa before venturing out of Corwen and up the first hill of the day.  It was a nippy start, with promise of no rain, and even some sunshine. 









The route was simple - follow the river up to it's source at Bala Lake (Llyn Tegid); go around the lake, then back along the valley.  Simples.  What can go wrong?

Vicky and Krissy deep in conversation
- and not a route sheet between them!


The first thing that happened (after Vicky and Krissy sailed off into the distance) was another lady we befriended had a small exploding incident with her rear mech (the two wheel coggy thing by the back wheel that changes gear).  Once she had retrieved the parts form the road, we realised it was totally unridable (Sarah - "what do we do when a bike cannot be ridden?", "Hmmm, good question!").  We contacted the organiser, and negotiated a pick up.  Then carried on!



Photos on-the-go!





 

Random pointing with Bala below

Quick photo stop

After a photo stop or two later and small mistake with the route (50 yds) we arrived at the control at Llanuwchllyn, and after debating prescription cycling glasses we charged to Bala along the main road (mercifully quiet).

Sarah passing Lake Bala (and me!)

Cafe and Control in Bala, then continue to the B road after Bala, and side lanes to follow the valley.  Now on much quieter lanes, narrow and full of pheasants who leaped out at me (usually in front) with much clacking and flapping, sometimes just running along the road in a bit of a quandary before appearing to remember that they have wings!  Not to mention the added sudden appearance of a landrover - not a lot of space to pass, especially as I had just been taking photos, and we were gliding downhill!

Then Raina had a puncture - courtesy of local farmers/ landowners not clearing up very well after mashing the hedges.  We helped by taking photos of each other, pumping up tubes, admiring the view....at least she unglued the tyre from the rim (thanks to a certain cycle shop!). 

We were soon on our way to rendezvous with Vicky and Krissy (sat in Corwen for past few hours...).  Super route, fabulous scenery, great company, good day out all round.



First sighting of Bala Lake



Bridge over River Dee near Llandderfel

Sue

[it has to be said, after all that, we managed to lose Nosheen between the cafe and car park when heading home.  This is the car park across the road.  I still do not know how she does it!]

37 miles, 42 Pheasants, 1 puncture, -1rear mech.