Ellesmere 108

Sunday 14th February: OK so it's Valentine's Day, but there's a good ride on. 8am and zero deg C, misty but no wind and I meet up with Phil at the C.O. I'm greeted with 'I'm in 'expletive deleted' trouble today, you're on your summer bike.' True enough, I'm on my carbon to stave off knackeredness. Off we go through the lanes and we're soon into fog but we find the poor visibility is due to our breath freezing on our goggles. And so it continues through Kelsall, Huxley and Tiverton but as we circle Beeston Castle the sun is on us and the icing abates. We circle Bunbury to take Peckforton Lane and Mill Lane and take our first stop at Jax cafe, after 35 miles, which has only been opened for a fortnight - lovely food.
We're now in the sunshine of a spring day as we head for Wrenbury, Morton Say, Calverhall and finally Prees Heath at 67 miles. We have picked the pace up from 14.8mph and we now stand at 15.3 as we tuck into an unhealthy plateful. Phil must be feeling the pace as he reflects on 'That b***** TREK.' But he's in fine fettle and we're both enjoying it.
We set off at a pace which aids digestion, heading for Ellesmere. The lanes are dry, the pace builds and the clouds gather. By Ellesmere it is spitting for rain but it never gets any worse - only 28 miles to go. We take the lanes again, heading for Penley. It's hilly terrain, a little mucky in places - offset by the lack of traffic and the fine scenery. Exiting the lanes at Worthenbury it's a straight dash for home. we arrive in good shape ( the best paced ride of the year) with 108 miles up at 15.4mph average.

View route on link:
Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Ellesmere 108

Prees Heath

Sunday 7th Feb and the day is dry. 8am at the County Officers and Neil is already there " It's been 2deg C all the way here in the car." "Oh, the forecast's right then." And it is to be 5deg C all day. Phil turns up within the minute and were off on the second Smiler of the year. We're taking it easy; we don't want to be knackered at the 100 mile stage. So it's through and off every four miles with the sun trying to break through the mist. Out through Tattenhall and Bunbury to a slight hiccup at Alpraham where Phil's Garmin freezes and he goes straight past a right; "Phiiiillllll - rrrriggghhhhtt!" A reboot sees him OK and we're back in formation. Then a ten minute break for a drink and some carbs puts us right for the next leg to Prees. We go through Sound and Audlem before it gets a bit hilly through Wilkesley and Calverhall and then we drop down to Prees at 12:15.
The Raven cafe is a cyclist's dream: Cheap, fast service and big servings. We get stuffed for under a fiver and we're off again, still heading south as far as Edstaston where we point west for Loppington and finally Cockshut. Now it's north for Ellesmere and home. We have a pleasant stop in the Boathouse cafe, overlooking the mere, in Ellesmere and then off again for the final leg. We're back at the County Officers for 16:20 with 104 miles up at 15.1mph average. We aren't all that fresh but we're pleasantly tired - where's that hot bath?

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Smilers to Prees Heath