I\’ll start off by saying there will a link to Google map at the end of the post that will show the route taken from the Eureka Cafe. If you click on it it should open up a new window.
This is still early days for me with this feature but is set to be a big part of the site.
All my rides start at Higher Bebington at the Travelers Rest Pub and head down Rest Hill, through Thorton Hough to the Eureka Cafe. Today,s ride to the Cafe was a fast one as I was trying to log a fast time for the route I am going to post to the MotionBased site.
Fast forward to the Eureka Cafe which was starting to fill up fast, I managed to order Franks Breakfast before the rush. I was sharing an empty table with Angela (who got one of the cards) and breakfast was soon over. Ray came in and we were soon discussing the Google map of last weeks ride to the Abbey Arms. The detail is amazing and available for all to see. We were that engrossed that we nearly missed the roll call that was outside.
There is no register this week as we were to split a bit further on. We headed off down the road to Woodbank down the lane heading out towards Sealand and the Welsh border.
Things were going OK untill we joined the path along the Dee and approached the Blue Bridge at Garden City. Here we were stopped by the long arm of the law at what resembled a scene from CSI, which as it turned out was what it was.
Here the group split, a bit further down the cyclepath was a pedestrian entrance with a locked gate. The bikes would have to be manhandled over the gate. Not a problem for Andy he was allready there, no problem for moi, the Toy only weighs 7.5 Kg and I was travelling light today. Next up it was Janet with a much lighter bike this week even with Marmalade sandwidches on board. Finally George passed his bike over and along with Ray we headed off down to the end of the road.
As we were waiting for the group to reform at where we assumed we would all meet up we had the chance to admire Rays latest handiwork. This was in the form of the Indian war paint you can only get from a chain and chainring when parting company from your steed. The cut knee looked far less impressive and thinking about it now it must have hurt. With no sign of the others we headed down to the Blue bridge where the copper the size of a brick outhouse was guarding the entrance to the CSI.
A
ndy led us out around the streets and paths of Queensferry to emerge by the new Makro then it was right at the lights at Mancot and up to the Wesh foothills.
After the climb out of Mancot up to the cemetory we took the road to Dobshill. There was a slight problem here as Ray and I pressed on at a good pace to the top at the roundabout. We should have turned off to a track about half way up, thats what happens when you get out of eye and earshot of the leader. Luckily Janet followed us up an redirected us back to the route. we rejoined the route just as George past, it was a short wait for Andy giving us some time to look for a rattle on Janets bike.
Then it was across the footbridge over the A55 and onto the Old Hope Road across the A5104 Mold Road and onto Lower Mtn Road where the pictures of Ray and Janet where taken on the move, which is a bit fiddly at times.
Around the Golly area we had a detour on to Shordley Road and on to Cobblers lane.It must have been a detour as we saw the main group saunter past the end of the lane. We were either marking time or they were taking the direct route (shortcut) either way we all ended up at the same place. Which was the Scout hut at Higher Kinnerton.
I’ll not dwell on the AGM as this site is not about publishing minutes of CTC AGMs
A small group re-assembled outside and we headed back to the Eureka Cafe. It was all downhill from Kinnerton as they say and we ended up at the footbridge at Saltney.
It was up through Blacon and then on to the A5117 crossing which was a real bind to cross this time, even though they have removed the barrier in the middle for the coming road improvements.
Now this is where it got interesting for me and it may be of interest to Ray. When I got back onto Woodbank Lane a chap on a racing bike goes past at about 17-19 mph and I set off in pursuit. I pass Bob and another further up the lane and then The Garmin Edge 305 bleeps and tells me to turn left at the top of the lane, I’m still in pursuit of this chap back along the Chester High Road and when it bleeps again and tells me I am at waypoint 2 at the Eureka cafe, absolutley fantastic.It works.
I took a couple of pictures or the returning riders and had a cup of tea in the Cafe.
Then I bumped into The Sicknote Club had a chat with them and rode home with them, the Garmin was bleeping away merrily all the way home signaling the turns.
As I rode up Rest Hill it gave one final bleep as it announced I was approaching the start of the route.
Another great day out, the weather was kind, I got to play with the new gadget, went off the front to give myself a bit of a workout and generally had a whale of a time.Thanks again everybody.
The route link:
Frank Kinlan's Blog 
I thought i’d sent a message, but it was quite long and i’m not sure it got sent. Firstly; Excellent site, found it by chance ‘aldi cycle clothing’ on google. Have a look now every week. Well done with the weight loss, but probably just as important well done with the increased exercise. My question is: What level of fitness were you at when you started the group rides with the CTC? I ask for my father, 62. He’s been riding for 2 years (Dawes Karakum heavily laden with carradice panniers). He rides alone at approx average 12mph for approx 40 miles with a tea break. We live on the edge of the pennines and he copes with a 1000ft/2mile climb when heading out to west-yorks. Our local CTC is Stockport and they post basic ride/time details, but i’ve found your ride info more detailed/interesting and useful than that on the S/Port or the CTC website. Regards, Richard.
Richard, Thanks for the comment. I was cycling alone for about 18 months before I even started on a group ride. My average was 13 mph and I would go around a hill rather than up it. There is a Wednesday section of the CTC that start from the Eureka Cafe that would suit your father. I started out with the Wednesday section around June and the only reason I won’t be riding with them tommorow is that I will be going in to work for a meeting in the afternoon. They are generally retired or pensioners and it is a relaxed ride. With age comes experience and the amount of knowledge you can pick up is vast. There isn’t a route or ride that these guys haven’t done.
I’m not trying to compete with the CTC sites I just want to write up the great times I have on a ride, post a picture or two and put the route on a page where it can be seen by the riders and maybe downloaded for a future ride.
Regards,
Frank.
Thankyou for the reply, i’ve joined the CTC on his behalf, nothing ventured as they say. Also i see you have already answered a similar question in September which i have only just seen. (It was in your weight loss diary category). Keep up the good work. Regards, Richard.
Thanks Richard,
your comment really made my day. I went to the Eureka Cafe this morning , turned down a ride because I had a meeting in work and think I’ll live to regret the missed opportunity. The comments are the only part of the site that I have no control of so to speak. If a reader chooses to post in lets say the “wrong” category or page there is very little I can do to correct it. I don’t regard it as the end of the world as I really do appreciate every comment.
The site had 633 hits last month with people looking for all sorts of stuff, “Aldi Cycle clothing ” gets me on the first page of Google.
There are others like “spinning calories burnt” is another Google first pager. I’m up against some really big names like WeightWatchers and MensHealth on a few of the searches and that has given me a big buzz to see the site on the first page of Google.
Weight loss wise I think I am bottoming out, the fitness level just keeps getting better but I think a 1000 foot climb would test me never mind your father. He sounds in fine shape. The CTC rides should be a stroll in the park to him, they are geared to the slowest rider in the group after all.
For some reason all the pictures have dissapeared on this post I’ll have to edit them again.
Again, thanks for the comment.
Regards,
Frank.