Richard A Thackeray
Legendary Member
Just to work & back today, but it was rather frosty at 04:45
I went out today, after 5 miles i nearly turned around as the wind chill was bitter and my hands and feet were like ice .That's was slightly unpleasant . Plans for an Imperial ton were shelved due to the forecast . Plan was to get up early do a 50km and try and beat the rain .Up not as early as I'd like being lazy so out the door at 0830 .Anstey ,Cropston ,Rothley ,Quorn onto Loughborough to tackle Forest rd climb a near continuous 6 mile climb . On the climb which was into a headwind making it tougher . Just as I start to climb it's starts to rain so quick pause to put the rain jacket on . Ground my way to the top at Copt Oak turned right heading up again towards St Bernards Abbey .Another right turn and the steep ramp to the highest point of the ride . Lovely quick descent follows dead straight so can let the bike go . Quick glance at the GPS and 38mph is displayed . I spot a tractor struggling up the hill and as I approach a nose of a Merc pokes out . Please stay there but no he goes for the overtake I'm on the brakes but at one point I heading straight for a 3 pointed star . The stone wall next to the foot wide verge didn't look inviting .Somehow we manage to avoid one another by inches . It happened so fast didn't even have time to think got to the bottom and had to stop to compose myself that was way up close for comfort .Back on the bike after a couple of minutes and the weather is getting properly bad now cold rain and windy . Could head directly home and do 20 odd miles but a half century is to tempting . Along Charley Rd right at beacon crossroads down past the golf course into Swithland quick wave at sister as she fed her horse didn't stop as was getting cold now . Rothley ,Cropston and home 31.2 miles so just a 50km .Properly wet and cold when I got home couldn't have faced an Imperial ton today . Trying not to let the near miss play on my mind but it was really close
It was by far the best weather day of the week, so not to be wasted. I had a great full day on the bike riding from Littleborough to Wigan via Bury, Bolton, Lostock and Horwich and returning by a different route through Leigh, Tyldesley, Atherton, Salford, Prestwich, Heywood and Rochdale. The return leg included a lot of off road cycle path trails including about 4 miles on the Leeds – Liverpool canal and then subsequently 13 miles (as part of NCN 55) on the Leigh to Salford very wide and good surfaced cycle track that runs adjacent to the impressive new Busway for the first 4.5 miles from Leigh. I knew there would be some very muddy bits so, as with my rides earlier in the week, I rode my MTB.
If you’ve ever wondered where Heinz baked beans come from - it’s Wigan! See pic of their main factory which was near to the furthest point of my route. Thee pic of the Leeds – Liverpool canal towpath has Wigan Athletic FC stadium in the top r/h corner of the photo. I’ve also included a couple of pics of the cyclepath adjacent to the Leigh Busway and also the track further on through woodland towards Salford.
Darkness descended by the time I was in between Prestwich and Heywood so my lights came into operation.
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Arrived home mud splattered and pleasantly tired with 75 miles in the bag. My biggest daily mileage of the year so far and 140 for the week.