Mike and Ian Easing Lockdown
/For various reasons I have spent most of lockdown riding a turbo trainer, apart from a few outings to the local shops. Two events happened recently allowing some progress in the direction of “normality”. Firstly came the advice from CUK that cycling with a friend was now ok, social distancing included. The second was he receipt of an email forwarded by the Secretary Len inviting me to join another member who would be heading through Penwortham, not far from my home.
So it was that Ian Holland and I met at the Fleece pub on Liverpool Road, Penwortham at 9 on 17th May with a view to completing a relatively normal Sunday ride. It was good to be out again. It being quiet, we headed via the A59 to Sollom near Rufford. We turned right here to follow NCN Route 91 in a big loop around Ormskirk as far as Lathom, then via suitable roads north to Rufford and back to Sollom. From here we headed for Bretherton, Much Hoole and Longton to return to Penwortham.
The roads were fairly quiet with more cyclists and walkers than usual. The route was flat but rural and peaceful. By the time I had returned home I had completed about 59 miles (a little more for Ian) and thoroughly enjoyed the day, looking forward to a further ride the following week.
On 24th, we met at the same place, but headed south east on route 55, which runs south from the Tram Bridge in Preston. This took us through Cuerden Valley Park, before the first hill of the day took us to Whittle le Woods, thence via a few more hills past the Top Lock pub to Wheelton and White Coppice to meet the road from Rivington to Belmont. Bypassing Rivington village, we took a break on the outskirts of Belmont before heading for Tockholes via the minor road past Darwen Tower. We bypassed Blackburn using the roads to Feniscowles and Pleasington and continued our undulating route through Revidge to Top o’ Ramsgreave. We descended to Copster Green before crossing the Ribble at Ribchester Bridge.
More familiar roads returned us to Preston via Longridge and Ribbleton. Only 55 miles for me this week but an excellent ride through the edge of the West Pennine Moors laden with good views and fairly quiet roads. Ian tells me we climbed in the region of 4000 feet – my legs had no reason to doubt this as we had been reminded what low gears were for! One of the most interesting sights was the view of Pleasington Priory at the side of the road – a most interesting building.
The latest in our series of rides was 31st May, suggested by me. Ian and I met on Leyland Road not far from my home in Penwortham and again headed down route 55 through Cuerden Valley. This time however, we headed east on route 91, the South Lancashire Cycleway, through Brindle, Hoghton, Nab Head, Mellor and Wilpshire (crossing last week’s route at Top o’ Ramsgreave), before having a break in Whalley. We then continued along route 91 via Pendleton and Worston to take a sandwich lunch in Downham. An absolutely delightful route.
The return leg was via Chatburn, picking up route 90 from Grindleton to Waddington, and then heading by back roads to Cowark, Longridge and Haighton Green to reach Preston. It had been a very hot day, enough to melt the tarmac in places, but a very satisfying one. 61 miles for me and probably a similar amount of climbing to last week.
These rides have been like a breath of fresh air after the last ten weeks and I am pleased to have been able to complete them. Next week – we are meeting on the Guild Wheel on Haighton Green Lane – destination, the Ribble Valley!
Stay safe, everyone. Mike Bridges