- Location
- Shrewsbury, Shropshire
I joined Gav and Doug to do their longest training ride before we go and do the BHF Worcestershire ride at the end of the month. Gav plotted the route and came over to meet Doug and I at about 10.30 this morning. We were heading out Condover, Ryton and Longnor before climbing Folly Bank to Cardington. From there it was a scenic route taking in Plaish, Kenley, Cound Moor, Cressage, Wroxeter and Upton Magna before heading into Shrewsbury and home.
When Gav arrived he told us about the traffic woes in the town due to a serious crash this morning (more about that later) and I set up his new 'phone mount on the handlebars. While doing this I heard a creak and a crash from behind me - my Raleigh had decided to throw itself on the floor, breaking my helmet (which was hung on the bars) and the left bar end.
A bit of running round while I swapped to the knockabout bike and changed over equipment and we were finally ready to go.
Leaving the village there was less traffic than usual on the A49 (probably all stuck in the queues) before we headed off onto quieter roads. Further down the road I met a couple of tractors - one not too big and the other pretty big and taking up the whole lane. We got past each other okay but not without him leaving behind an impressive skid mark and a stink of burnt rubber.
After the climb to Folly Bank we had a bite to eat and dropped down into Cardington for a break and a nice pint (Butty Bach
).
Plaish was next - there is some very pretty countryside round here and quite a fun descent onto the road to Kenley where we were onto some lanes I don't ride very often. Some need revisiting, others need resurfacing.
After Cound Moor we noticed the lane seemed unusually busy. We thought that the problems from the accident must have been cleared up ages ago but when we got to Cressage and saw how busy the road to Wroxeter was it was clear that there were still issues. We went through Eaton Constantine to avoid part of the main road but the lane to Wroxeter was also busy so there were plenty of stops to let people by.
We had a drink stop by the Viroconium visitor centre then carried on across the old A5 which was pretty much stationary (another crash at Atcham apparently). A couple of cars jumped out of the queue with a squeal of tyres and headed along the lane we were taking to Upton Forge - I speculated that they were following their sat-nav and sure enough when we got to the end of the lane where it turns into a bridleway the two vehicles were coming back out with the drivers looking sheepish.
On the way to Upton Magna we cross the new A5 - by this time one lane had been reopened at Emstrey so the little traffic on it was flowing smoothly. We were headed for Uffington next and into Shrewsbury but once again there was more traffic on the lane than expected and as we got to Downton it was possible to see that the Uffington to Atcham road was at a standstill. We had to filter past about half a mile of gridlock before turning off onto the cycleway towards Sundorne where there was more of the same but fortunately not in the direction we were headed.
After leaving Gav at his house, Doug and I completed the loop back to home. My speedo shows 44.1 miles (small detour to get it up to a round figure
) and 11.1 mph average.
Following the roman road south.
Gav (in orange) and Doug winding their way up the Folly Bank climb - it rises 328' in about 1.5 miles.
Lunch stop at the top.
Followed by a pint at the Royal Oak in Cardington.
Plaish Hall - I always half expect to see a group in period dress playing croquet on the lawn.
Just round the corner from the hall; lovely rolling countryside.
The oaken arch en-route to Kenley.
On our diversion through Eaton Constantine. The Wrekin in the background.
Crossing the old A5. Glad we're not trying to drive anywhere today.
A similar story at Uffington. I've never seen a traffic queue back to here before
, they'll be waiting a while.
When Gav arrived he told us about the traffic woes in the town due to a serious crash this morning (more about that later) and I set up his new 'phone mount on the handlebars. While doing this I heard a creak and a crash from behind me - my Raleigh had decided to throw itself on the floor, breaking my helmet (which was hung on the bars) and the left bar end.
A bit of running round while I swapped to the knockabout bike and changed over equipment and we were finally ready to go.Leaving the village there was less traffic than usual on the A49 (probably all stuck in the queues) before we headed off onto quieter roads. Further down the road I met a couple of tractors - one not too big and the other pretty big and taking up the whole lane. We got past each other okay but not without him leaving behind an impressive skid mark and a stink of burnt rubber.
After the climb to Folly Bank we had a bite to eat and dropped down into Cardington for a break and a nice pint (Butty Bach
).Plaish was next - there is some very pretty countryside round here and quite a fun descent onto the road to Kenley where we were onto some lanes I don't ride very often. Some need revisiting, others need resurfacing.
After Cound Moor we noticed the lane seemed unusually busy. We thought that the problems from the accident must have been cleared up ages ago but when we got to Cressage and saw how busy the road to Wroxeter was it was clear that there were still issues. We went through Eaton Constantine to avoid part of the main road but the lane to Wroxeter was also busy so there were plenty of stops to let people by.
We had a drink stop by the Viroconium visitor centre then carried on across the old A5 which was pretty much stationary (another crash at Atcham apparently). A couple of cars jumped out of the queue with a squeal of tyres and headed along the lane we were taking to Upton Forge - I speculated that they were following their sat-nav and sure enough when we got to the end of the lane where it turns into a bridleway the two vehicles were coming back out with the drivers looking sheepish.
On the way to Upton Magna we cross the new A5 - by this time one lane had been reopened at Emstrey so the little traffic on it was flowing smoothly. We were headed for Uffington next and into Shrewsbury but once again there was more traffic on the lane than expected and as we got to Downton it was possible to see that the Uffington to Atcham road was at a standstill. We had to filter past about half a mile of gridlock before turning off onto the cycleway towards Sundorne where there was more of the same but fortunately not in the direction we were headed.
After leaving Gav at his house, Doug and I completed the loop back to home. My speedo shows 44.1 miles (small detour to get it up to a round figure
) and 11.1 mph average.Following the roman road south.
Gav (in orange) and Doug winding their way up the Folly Bank climb - it rises 328' in about 1.5 miles.
Lunch stop at the top.
Followed by a pint at the Royal Oak in Cardington.
Plaish Hall - I always half expect to see a group in period dress playing croquet on the lawn.
Just round the corner from the hall; lovely rolling countryside.
The oaken arch en-route to Kenley.
On our diversion through Eaton Constantine. The Wrekin in the background.
Crossing the old A5. Glad we're not trying to drive anywhere today.
A similar story at Uffington. I've never seen a traffic queue back to here before
, they'll be waiting a while.
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my destination in the far distance.
and I'd happily recommend it.
