CHESTER 100 SMILERS

CHANGE OF FORMAT

2010-05-29T14:25:00.000-07:00

Owing to lack of interest and support for 100 mile rides I will not be posting any intentions on this blog. The 100s will continue but I will arrange them directly.

Eureka

2010-05-23T13:31:00.000-07:00

Due to family celebrations all day Saturday there was insufficient time to post a notification. Continuing celebrations on Sunday meant a Smiler ride was out and therefore we started from the Eureka at 10am and took an early finish for 66 miles.

Eureka Ride

2010-05-16T18:00:00.000-07:00

Two of us are out but one is recovering from food poisoning and a late night so the 100m is put on hold and we meet at the Eureka to join Tony and Don J. A pleasant ride to Alpraham where we find the cafe closed so we repair to the Lock Gate. Back through Delamere and a call at Elvis' for tea and cakes - closed two hours ago but couldn't refuse the charm. Back home with 70 miles up.

Loppington 103m

2010-04-18T20:00:00.000-07:00

It's cool at 8am - about 5 deg C - but there's bright sunshine, little breeze and it should be dry for the ride, and 14 deg C is forecast. Down to Plas Newton Lane to find my luck's in with three windshields lined up - luxury. Phil and Gary were expected but Neil's entered on the line. As last week's ride went so well we hope to emulate the success by taking the same approach - start slowly, let the pace build and finish strongly.
Out into the lanes in through and off formation with each doing a 2.5 miles stint on the front. It's going like clockwork with the pace soon at 16mph average. We're all feeling relaxed so the pace builds a little to our first break at Overton when we're at 17.0 mph after 32 miles. A bit of B road to Ellesmere gets us into the lanes again through Lee and on to Cockshutt where we cross the A road for the lanes to our most southerly point at Loppington, and on via Dobsons Bridge to land at Prees and the Raven cafe with 17.2 mph showing. Now, how much fuel do you need on a ride? Phil has egg on toast, I have egg, beans and chips, Neil has the mini breakfast with toast. but Gary has the cafe's Gutbuster breakfast PLUS toast; and he was first to finish. He deserves a medal.
Out of the Raven my Garmin goes funny, so that's why Gary's link is below. We're turning north, no apparent headwind and the pace builds (those breakfasts work). Ightfield and Audlem are fleeting images, as are Ravensmoor, Bunbury and Beeston. It's obvious that Phil has his mind on a quick average and we don't know if our legs can stand it. A diversion: how about a cuppa at the Ice Cream Farm? YES, unanimous. Here we can recover and get some carbs in - scone and a lot of jam, with enough tea to put a wavy line across the eyeballs. We check the average before we depart, 17.3 mph.
More pace as the scones burn through Hargrave, Tarvin and Barrow until the 100 miles comes up at Morley Bridge. Final concensus for the average is 17.4 mph. This is the fastest Smiler ride to date and the fastest 100 for all of us. We arrive back at the County Officers in good shape so something is working.
See the route by clicking the link below.

Smilers 110 miler. by kmaoudis at Garmin Connect - Details

Sound Heath 104m

2010-04-11T20:00:00.000-07:00

A sunny day is forecast, 15 deg C with a 10mph NE wind and an 8am start is planned. Phil's already there but I've got a leaking patch so we return to mine to repair before heading off.
Today we plan to take it easy and let the pace build through the day so that we finish strongly. The wind's interfering with pace as we head west for Churton and then east for Wettenhall - with a bench stop at Alpraham for fluid and carbs. As we hit Jax cafe in Bulkeley we've covered 63 miles at 15.7mph. Two North Enders provide the light entertainment and as they leave a lady stroller takes up their role.
Out of the cafe the pace only improves slightly due to the downhill section to Wrenbury but at Sound the world changes - we have a tail wind. The average builds steadily 'til at the hundred mark we're on 16.5mph and we return in a condition which is on plan i.e. able to walk without doing a crab impression.
See the route and details on the link below.

Sound Heath 104m

Chirk103

2010-04-04T18:00:00.000-07:00

Forecast is dry, sunny, 10 deg C and 15mph westerly wind. Twice as many out as last week so half the time on the front, and we have a 9am start to celebrate BST.
We start from the County Officers and Phil gets technical:" How about 2 miles on the front, this wind is pretty strong." "Suits me, and I might do a few." But we're not troubled too much by the wind; at 10 miles we're on 17.5 mph average. "We won't keep that up." - the boffin. At 20 miles we're on 17.6mph and at 25 miles it's 17.9 mph; then it's all downhill (performance-wise) as we head into the wind and the hills get more lumpy on the next 10 miles to Chirk and the cafe. "I'll have something small," - a chip bap at £1:60 and a tea, all for £2:10. But it's a bin lid bap and a plate of chips and Phil has to help out.
Out of the cafe we head for Pont Elan to cross the Ceiriog and luck leaves us; it's closed for repair, no traffic or pedestrians. Retrace through Chirk and get on route at Weston Rhyn then it's plain sailing. Sunny and an easing wind. We walk a patch of thorns but a few miles later Phil's rear succumbs - near Loppington. As we head north we feel the wind more and we're on 'through and off' again with our average down to 15.5mph, which we hold for the remainder of the ride. At Peckforton Phil's rear goes again; no thorn or glass. We have 18 miles remaining so it's fairly direct via Beeston and Greenlooms to get back at 5:15 with 103 miles up.
See the route on the link below.

Link: Chirk103

Bulkeley 104

2010-03-28T20:00:00.000-07:00

It's a fine day, I'm out at 8am (bodyclock) - 9am BST- and down to the County Officers to pick up the ghost squad: "We're doing an east/west meander today on lane revision." "Lead on McDuff."
Into the local lanes to warm up before having a look at Delamere Forest - nice. Through Norley to Hartford and Whitegate, keeping away from the not so nice. It's far enough east so turn for Cotebrook and head for Churton against a stiffening breeze and the average dropping towards 15mph. Churton's the westerly point and the wind's on the tail through Chowley and Tattenhall on the way to Bunbury. Between Beeston and Bunbury there's lots of Cheshire Cat riders heading the other way to Malpas but we take in Spurstow and Peckforton before lunch at Jax in Bulkeley - only 35 miles to go.
Up hill to Brunty Bank and then gloriously downhill all the way to Wrenbury and the average creeps back up. A short detour into Sound Heath hits the most southerly point and then Nantwich, Wettenhall and Tiverton get us on to route one and home. 104.2 miles at 14.9mph - blast that westerley! View the details by clicking on the link below.

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Smilers: Bulkely 104

Ellesmere 108

2010-02-14T20:18:00.000-08:00

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

2010-02-07T22:41:00.000-08:00

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

Frodsham? Eureka! and Bangor-on-Dee

2010-01-24T20:45:00.000-08:00

The forecast was for broken cloud, and they're not often wrong but today we got a serious wetting; and the temperature was only around 4 deg C but at least there was hardly any breeze.
Out at 8am to the C.O. start where two Smilers are ready to go and I'm told that one, who hadn't yet got his chuckle muscles going, would be smiling when we pick him up at 9am. Phil, Neil and I set off down the lanes, to make the distance up to around 15 miles, for Frodsham where we'll pick up Carl (Neil's son). It starts to rain as we start and it keeps going but we make the pace with 14.6 miles in as we pick up Carl. He's practising the sax but he doesn't yet know 'When Your Smiling' - a bad omission, must do better. Off again and aiming at 30 miles by 10:10am at the Eureka cafe. We keep the lead changing at make the cafe with 34 miles up. We have a chat with the Road Club lads but we can't join them to the Ice Cream Farm as we can't stretch the miles. It's a sign of the poor weather that the cafe still isn't clear when we leave at 10:45.
Now we're heading for Bangor, by a devious route, and by Holt the roads are drying and we can enjoy sucking a wheel. 67 miles up by the Buck (pub) in Bangor and large meals seem to be the order of the day - Phil considers a pudding. Carl, the virgin Smiler, receives high praise for the way in which he has fallen into our routine and pulled his weight - he can come again. And although he wasn't acknowledged, Neil did most of the ride organisation and most of the work.
Leaving the Buck, with threatening skies, we meet the Mold CTC group on their way to Errdigg and spend a few chatty minutes before pressing on for the last 33 miles. The rain soon hits again and doesn't stop. We do a detour to Beeston to make the miles and head for base, and it's wet. A last stop in Hargrave for carbs (a shelter), where we all have the same thing in mind - get a warm bath and then flop in front of the telly. Then the last bit through Guilden Sutton to return to the C.O. with 102 miles up at 15.0 mph. It's no use asking if the ride was enjoyable as people with this kind of mental disability have no credence with normal people.

Market Drayton

2009-12-13T21:25:00.000-08:00

Sunday 13th December, 7am, dark:has it been 3 deg C overnight or was it a hard frost? One glimpse through the curtains and the bed looks a better option than the ride - frost everywhere. But I'm committed, so wrap up, put the lights on and hope nobody turns up. Gary, a virgin Smiler, is already at the start and with barely time to give him the welcoming funny handshake Phil is upon us. We are away at 8:10, delayed because Phil is still learning to tie his shoelaces, and we head straight for the lanes. Plenty of frost and icy puddles at the verges but no ice on the road, but we take it easy to make sure. As there is no wind we take 16 miles each on the front to get the first 50 miles over with. We watch the sunrise over the Peckfortons but there isn't much warmth in it: the temperatures for the day will be between zero and 5 deg C - making the going a little harder due to higher air density. We average 15mph for the first 50 miles and hit sustained ice on the road in the outskirts of Audlem. It improves a little as we turn for Market Drayton but the lane is filthy. Then after the Market it clears as we have a look at Norton-in-Hales before dropping into Audlem for lunch. Now, is it to be The Priest's House or the Coffee Lounge - Fiiigghhht! But no, Harry Hill is not deciding this one; the former is a sweat box and it takes all day to get served, we'll give the Coffee Lounge a bash. Gary is still with us: he should have stopped at Norton but he can't tear himself away - and it's his longest ride for eons. He's on the phone, and then he's with us " I'm leaving you now, Guys.. I've got to get to Loggerheads (no not that one) for 2pm. Thanks for the ride." We've done 65 miles, he's done 70 miles and he'll have 80 in before the day's out. He's been a great addition to the chain and we're sorry to see him go. Now for the scran. A full breakfast for Phil of the hollow legs and a baked potato for me-laddo. Good food, very relaxing and a good choice of cafe.
We're off for the final 35 miles at 2pm to find there's a light headwind. Aston, Wrenbury and Cholmondley take the sap out of our legs before Harthill takes the dregs and we have to call in to Tattenhall to replenish Phil's supplies as he's heavy on water. The stop refreshes us and we fly through Chowley and Churton to hit Chester in Boughton to find the cycleway as the 100 miles comes up: and we didn't need lights. Average computer speed 14.7 mph.

Route is via the link below:
Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Smilers to Market Drayton

Rhos-on-Sea

2009-11-10T13:31:00.000-08:00

Sunday 15th November and we're expecting showers and 13 deg C, with sun in the afternoon. Neil and Phil are on time so we are off at 8am to pick Martin up (a late addition using up his sole dispensation) at Hawarden Bridge. It's a lovely day as we start the climbing, first to Northop and then into the Halkyns where, at Calcoed, we encounter our first rain. Through Gorsedd, Whitford and Trelogan before dropping down to the coast road at Gwespyr where Neil has a flat tyre due to a lifting patch. The Bells of St Mary's isn't doing its £3:50 carvery on Sundays so we'll have to look elsewhere. But it's easy going with no rain, light headwind and a flat coastal cycleway for 16 miles. We turn at Penrhyn, just below the Little Orme and head back into Rhos where Nino's is open for our lunch - around 1pm with 55 miles up. Some get serious with ham and chips, another with a delicate pasty and scones while the sensible one selects a baguette.
Then we're off again to do another 51m with, unbelievably, a tail wind. 20mph is easy but the sand patches are treacherous so we're careful. Coast road or Halkyns? Halkyns - unanimous. these begin at Gronant and we climb forever, there seeming to be no let up until Rhosesmor where we can virtually descend to the cycleway to take us back to the start. The average speed has only been 13.5mph due to the 4800ft of climbing and the headwind out, so we have lights on, and down the cycleway we find cyclist coming at us with no lights and walkers appearing out of nowhere in the pitch dark. We get back at 5:15pm with 106 miles up.

View the route via the link:-

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Smilers to Rhos-on-Sea

Market Drayton

2009-10-29T14:16:00.000-07:00

Sunday 8th November and the forecasters are hedging their bets; it's either going to be wet or dry but the wind will be light and it'll be around 10 deg C.
So it's out at 8am, go past the County Officers to see where the windshields should be and then head for the lanes. The weather soon shows its hand with very light, misty rain appearing now and then, and I am keeping the pace down so as not to get wet from the inside. 30 miles up by 10am and 50 up at Audlem - and then the rain ups it a bit so on with the proofs. Clear by Market Drayton (it always works) so proofs off again and head into Audlem for lunch at 12:45. It took all day to get served last time at The Priest's House so this time I tried The Coffee Lounge - no seats but they brought stuff in from outside for me, and as I said I was chasing the light they served me quickly.
38 miles back through Wrenbury, Harthill, Tattenhall and Churton to get the 100 up bang on 4pm and nearly home. Final tally 106 miles and bags of light left - but only around 14.4 average.

Route is via the link below and the file is suitable for the Garmin (as a course) at 406 trackpoints:

www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?id=25439

Baschurch

2009-10-21T14:02:00.000-07:00

Sunday 25th October, British summertime ends but instead of having an extra hour in bed I meet Phil at the C.O. at 8am to make most use of the light. It's warm and dry but the wind is 20mph from the SW - which is the direction in which we're heading. Chirk, here we come! Both of us have Garmins and Phil has loaded the route from the Smiler blog; he's a quick learner. So we take it in turns on the front but it's hard going, we're not going to make last week's average speed. We make the cafe in Chirk by just after 10am having averaged 15.5mph. Breakfast baps and tea at the pit stop and then it's off through Weston Rhyn to get the wind on our right shoulders; whew, a bit of relief. We take to the lanes to round Gobowen and head past Queens Head to search out the mistake of the day - we hit the A5 for a couple of miles. It is worse than a fairground ride and we sigh with relief when the Ruyton-XI-Towns turnoff appears. With the wind on our backs we're touching 30mph for spells on the flat and by Myddle we've hit 50 miles - coincidentally half the planned distance.
Then after Preston Brockhurst the gremlins strike. Phil's on the front " I've lost the route, Ray." "Well, I haven't got it, let's retrace and see where you dropped it." A missed left turn. Then near Hopton we pass a left, " I came out of that left with Harry the Bike on a Shrewsbury ride." " I've lost the route again, Ray." It was the left. Then at Marchamley, " Phil, we go left then first right." Then " PPHHIIIIILLLL." And I wait at the right for a few minutes 'til he returns. He takes the lead again, " I've lost it again, Ray." This time it's a fork and I take permanent lead - is he just tired - but we can't afford the light.
We're making good progress again, take on a sandwich and drink at Prees, through Calverhall and into well known territory at Royals Green. Phil's out of juice - the Bhurtpore pub sees him OK before the last pit stop at Wrenbury. A variable cross wind sees us back to Chester where we opt for the Guilden Sutton route in order to sample the Millenium Greenway extension.
Back home it's 109 miles at 15.9mph average and 5000ft of climbing. And we're back on schedule and smiling as it's 4:10pm.
View the route at:-

www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?id=24159

AUDLEM

2009-10-12T13:52:00.000-07:00

Sunday 18th October, it's 5 deg C but sunny with no wind. Gerry, Neil and Phil are already at the County Officers. " Brave wearing shorts and mitts, Ray." " It'll warm up." And off we go, straight into the lanes with three taking a wheel each. As it's the inaugural ride for the Smilers today's plan is to find a pace which suits us for the 100 milers and to learn to work together effectively. We soon practice the latter as Neil punctures on passing a hedge cutter. But we're soon off again, doing our stints on the front and relaxing as the day warms a little. It's only the second ride I've done with Gerry this year; he's keeping his fitness and his cadence is still like a sewing machine - whereas mine is akin to the London Eye. We're soon rounding Beeston Castle, passing through Bunbury and Hilbre Bank in Alpraham before pulling up at the Boot and Slipper in Wettenhall. Here, Gerry has notched up 32 miles, takes the prompt and decides to give the ride the boot and us the slip with a " see you next week." Church Minshull is the furthest point east before setting the compass due south for Ravensmoor and Sound Heath to drop into Audlem via Coole Lane. We go round the back to take in Cox's Bank and Kinsey Heath before tying up at The Priest's House with 51 miles up and computer average of 16.6 mph.
We're ravenous and all decide on the all day breakfast. We realize later that it's so called because you have to wait all day for it - will we need lights? Stuffed to the gills (not a good idea) we're back in the saddles and retracing our steps. What little wind there is seems to be behind us as the going is particularly easy and there seems to be a chance of finishing the 100 in 6 hours riding time. The weather is ideal and the roads clean so progress is good. We add a loop or two so that we can avoid the thorns on the way back and we arrive back at the start point with 102 miles up in 5 hours 58 minutes. The average for the return is 17.4 mph to give an overall of 17.0 mph.
The consensus is that we will strengthen, so although there were signs of tiredness to differing degrees, 17 mph will be a reasonably motivating target for future, flatish rides.

You can view, and/or download the route,at www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?id=23604