7/4/25
Recumbent Ride
A Trio of Wayside Markers. First Ride on the Rans Stratus.
A fine sunny day so I decided to go on the Rans to pick up a parcel then do a few miles to see how it coped with some of my local routes. I took the seat back bag off the Spirit and put it on the Stratus. It was a good fit. A bit heavy once I’d put my tools, a pump and a lock in there though.
Out through the back gate, across the road and facing right by the kerb. I got on and made a few adjustments, then set off. It felt a little odd at first, but once I relaxed back into the seat and loosened my grip on the bars it felt much like the Linear, save for those extravagant handlebars.
I continued on to Swanlow Lane and got through the uphill lights. I found that the bike responded quickly to downhill slopes and was soon doing a decent lick towards the A54 roundabout. An effect of skinny tyres and 559 wheels, I imagine. Some traffic about, a queue for the roundabout, then stopped on red. Eventually I turned right downhill on the dual carriageway towards the town centre. Pedalling gently downhill then freewheeling through the town centre lights, to turn right at the next set. Right at the next two roundabouts to lock up at a supermarket car park barrier. I collected my parcel, unlocked and set off across the car park. Left at the next two roundabouts, straight on at the next lights then sharp left on to a cycle path alongside the dual carriageway.
In at the deep end, following a narrow, slightly winding cycle path on an extra long, unfamiliar recumbent. It was actually easier than anticipated, and I was soon at the junction for Grange Lane where I turned right along the pavement before crossing over to the other side of the road and continuing. Soon I reached the point where Grange Lane turned to the right through a small estate and headed out into the countryside.
Some easy pedalling and freewheeling brought me to the beginning of a dip so I changed down ready for the climb up the other side and was surprised at how far up the other side I got before I had to change down again. I soon came to the barrier leading to the up ramp to the Whitegate way. I changed down in readiness and surprised myself again by being able to ride slowly through and line up for the climb without stopping. I just carried on up the ramp. I could have done with a slightly lower gear but the bike climbs so easily I just carried on to the top.
It didn’t take me long to get used to the 3 X 9 derailleur set up after the Linear’s hybrid hub and derailleur arrangement, but I was aware that I had to make sure I was in a low enough gear before tackling a climb, whereas with the Linear it is possible to change down on the hub gear even if you come to a stop on a slope. Having to limit myself to a mere 27 gears compared with the Linear’s 42 wasn’t such a chore. The range of gears, particularly the low ones, was fine. I did have concerns that there was some chain rub in certain gears on the underseat rack I’d fitted but there was more noise from the front derailleur cage, which I soon got into the habit of trimming despite the SRAM grip shifter having positive clicks rather than just friction.
I’d been tormented by an earworm since last Saturday when I heard Lori Lieberman singing “Killing me softly” from 1972. Seems she co authored the song after attending a Don Maclean gig and was blown away by his performance of “Empty chairs”. Anyway, her gentle, heartfelt yet emphatic performance blew me away too. It never became a hit as it had done for the likes of Roberta Flack, whose version seems positively raucous in comparison.
So along with the birdsong in the bud -burgeoning trees I was accompanied by this song as I rolled along on the gently climbing rail trail. It was very dry underwheel today, with only one notable puddle.
I reached Whitegate Station car park and stopped for the usual mandatory leak.
As I came out a couple on mountain bikes were taking an interest in the bike. “It’s one of those semi recumbent bikes”, the man said. “I’m still getting used to it”, I replied.
Through the car park, over the many small but vicious speed bumps until I reached the short uphill to Clay Lane. I left it a bit late in changing down here and managed to unship the chain at the front. I got it back on with no difficulty. I will have to watch out for that in future.
Left on to Clay lane, mostly downhill to Shay’s Lane Brook where I was overtaken by a tractor and trailer, raising a cloud of dust as he went past. Another one came the other way, no trailer. I got some speed up ready to turn right into Shay’s Lane and get up the steep hill there. As I turned in I saw the back of the trailer disappearing round a bend. At least that ought to hold any traffic back while I got up this steep narrow hill, I thought. The dust lingered in the air between the hedge banks. Last time I’d come this way it was very muddy, but it had dried out into a fine sandy soil.
I didn’t come across any other vehicles until I’d cleared the narrow stretch, and the tractor and trailer were either well ahead or had turned off somewhere.
I was quite pleased by the way the Stratus climbs. It feels at least as good as the Linear or Spirit.
There was a less steep climb to the low summit, then it was more level to the junction with Longstone Lane. I went right then posed the bike in front of the Long Stone, which gives the lane its name.
The Long Stone is actually the base of an ancient wayside cross which was one of a series which guided travellers to Vale Royal Abbey which is nearby. I rode on to the next one which is about 400 yards away. This is variously known as the Headless Cross or Plague Stone, as in times of plague local residents may have carried out transactions here rather than meet in a crowded market place.
I pressed on a little further to the Junction with the A49. The traffic was fierce here. Less than a mile away to the left there are traffic lights on the A54, and a couple of miles to the right there are traffic lights on the A446. I don’t think they are coordinated, so what happens is that there is a burst of traffic from one direction or the other, then a lull. I took advantage of one of these quiet spells to turn left and pedal furiously a hundred yards or so to the entrance to the Hollies farm shop on the left. Here I leaned the bike against a wall.
I’d worked out from the map that there was another marker stone approximately opposite this entrance. I hadn’t visited it yet. The sun was intense, with a lot of contrast between sunlight and shade. By scanning carefully from the other side of the road I could see a dark shape in the hedge opposite.
Fortunately the hedge wasn’t in full leaf yet, otherwise I probably wouldn’t have found it. With the intensity of the traffic there was no chance that I could park the bike on the other side, so I waited for a gap, nipped across, and took a few photographs. It seemed to be the same sort of red sandstone base with a recess in the top to locate further stones or a cross as I’ve seen elsewhere, mostly obscured by shrubbery.
I nipped back to the bike and waited for a gap in the traffic. None came, so I rode along a narrow gravelly pavement back to the junction where I’d previously come out. A blue car poked its nose out but pulled back a bit to let me get by as I turned back into Shays Lane. I lifted my hand in acknowledgement then stopped down the road in a shady spot to decide my route home.
After considering the traffic levels, I decided to go back the way I’d come. There were a few vehicles on Longstone Lane, but once on to Shays Lane it was quieter. The steep narrow sandy bit had the bike’s wheels moving about once speed got up downhill but generally in the right direction.
I don’t think this bike tolerates the weight high up behind the seat so well as the Linear or Spirit though they do have wider, treaded tyres at the front to damp down any oscillation on looser surfaces. Perhaps the rack bag formerly attached to the steel tourer might be more appropriate here, when I don’t actually use a pannier.
Left out on to Clay Lane, gradually uphill to the entrance to the Whitegate way car park, through the car park to stop at the sign for a photo stop.
As I got going again a woman returning to her car called out. “like your bike!” “thank you” I replied wondering if the consequence of that might be me falling off as I crossed one of the speed humps at an awkward angle, but the bike swallowed that up OK. I continued, to stop at a handy picnic bench.
As I sat there having a drink and listening to the birds I wished I’d brought some mini binoculars so that I could identify them. Several walkers and runners went by, then a man on a mountain bike towing a trailer followed by a woman on a similar bike. The man was talking loudly so I heard them before I saw them. I wondered if there was a child in the trailer or if he had brought his dog along. It was hard to see with the hood up.
I gathered my stuff together and headed for the conveniences, dropped off my litter at a bin then tried the door. Hmm. Looked like they locked up at 4pm. Not to worry. I got back on and rode through the car park to where it meets a barrier, straight through and on to the rail trail.
I thought I’d practice riding really slowly on the way back, as it is mostly downhill to where the rail trail meets Grange Lane. This is how I’d learnt how to manage the Linear at low speed. I’ve been able to do almost trackstands in traffic on it for so long now that I just take it for granted.
I’ve read a lot about the apparent tendency of the front wheel on the Rans Stratus XP to flop to one side or the other at low speed, particularly on slow climbs, due to a combination of the unfeasible looking fork angle and the weight of the front wheel ahead of the spindle responding to gravity. It does look somewhat akin to a 1960s chopper. On the short sharp climbs I’ve done today I haven’t been aware of it, but I wasn’t looking at the speed at the time. It could just be an exaggerated form of what happens to any LWB bike when it suddenly loses steering ability below about 4 mph, or maybe a bit less. My feeling on experiencing the climbs was how well it got up them.
My main concern has been when turning tightly off road how far the bars move in the opposite direction particularly compared with under seat steering. Like everything else, I expect it’s just a matter of practice.
I don’t think that the Rans is particularly extreme. It certainly doesn’t feel difficult when riding it.
Anyway, I was just pootling along wondering how slow I could go before I had to put a foot down when I heard someone clapping. I looked up and saw some kids on a bank beside the trail where a footpath runs parallel to it. Someone said, “Phwoar!” Were they clapping for me? Maybe one of them had just climbed a tree, if kids do that sort of thing these days. It’s a new one on me. I trundled on. It’s actually not so easy to ride slowly on this bike, not for fear of falling off, but it just responds so well to a few turns of the pedals.
Soon I was at the steep ramp down to the road. It was a bit gravelly, but I wasn’t able to provoke a skid even by pulling quite hard on the brakes. I knew they were quite sharp, but the bike is quite sure footed too.
Once on the road, I rushed the dip and got up the other side with no issues. I turned right after a small estate, towards the sports complex. I followed the path between the playing fields to the exit A frame barrier. Here I got into difficulties as the bars are quite wide and I deranged my mirrors getting through. I must measure this barrier, as the bars are very adjustable and it’s nice to get through these things without fuss.
I got going again and climbed the steep lane easily. Right into an estate road, left on to Delamere St.
A good run across the A54 roundabout to Swanlow Lane, straight through to the Church Minshull road then a right turn into the lanes to stretch the mileage a little before I rolled up at my back gate.
A very pleasant ride today in the sunshine.
Mileage 17.08. Max Speed 23.6. Average 8.1 mph According to Garmin.
Ascent 434 ft. According to Bikehike.
