Friday: This was the day that looked best for my challenge ride, the forecast being dry with very light winds. I knew that I hadn't done nearly enough miles during July to keep my fitness up so planned to take things very easy and just try and get the distance regardless of how long it took.
I had the Raleigh out and was ready to go just after seven into a dull and slightly drizzly morning. I thought that having my lights on for the main road section at the start might be a good idea, but was disappointed when my front light failed less than two miles in - one of the rechargable batteries has apparently come to the end of its life.
Thankfully at this time of year that is just a minor niggle and the ride went pretty well as I headed through Condover on the way to Ryton, Gonsall, Stapleton and Exford's Green. The morning traffic picked up a bit through Plealey, Pontesbury and Minsterley but didn't really cause me any issues apart from the one guy who clearly wasn't looking ahead and went for an overtake just as the traffic in front was coming to a halt for temporary lights.
Horsebridge road has been surface dressed since I was last here which was annoying as the surface defects I usually try to ride around are now hidden. On the other hand, the hazardous potholes on the way to Westbury have been patched, which made that section better to ride. Traffic was quiet through Coedwy and Crew Green then I had a break for my first snack of the day in a gateway just after Melverley. So far, so good - I wasn't fast but felt like I could manage this pace all day.
When I restarted, a couple of cyclists who had passed in the opposite direction earlier were coming back up behind me. I expected them to come past me pretty quickly but they seemed to be going at a chatting pace so never did.
Before Maesbrook I took a left and along the lanes past Llwyntidmon Hall then through Redwith and Waen Wen on the way to Morton and Ball. I could see another rider ahead on the road to Oswestry but managed to resist the temptation to try and catch up. After crossing the A483 I took a left and headed through the village of Weston to get into the centre of Oswestry. It's only fairly recently I've tried going this way and I wish I'd done it ages ago as it's a much nicer route into town than through the industrial estate and busy arterial roads. Heading out past the ancient hill fort I thought the lane seemed very quiet and found the reason for that at Cross Lanes where the road was closed with no access for pedestrians or cyclists. Pah! With this being the signed NCN route to Gobowen I thought it very poor that there was no advanced warning. I had the choice of going back into Oswestry then round another way (about six or seven miles out of my way at a guess) or taking a shorter diversion that would mean having to use a very busy roundabout to cross the A5. I chose the latter and even though the traffic was as heavy as feared they did all at least treat me like I had a right to be there.
I could have cut a couple of miles out of my route here if I'd taken the next exit off the roundabout and gone past the hospital - I didn't think about it at the time and it's probably just as well I didn't as it would have messed up my mileage.
From Gobowen I took the NCN route to Ellesmere. This was a little busier than usual which I suspect was due to the Whittington to Ellesmere road being closed for surfacing. It didn't cause much of an issue here though. I didn't stop in Ellesmere but carried on towards Coptiviney with a pause on the way for another snack stop. I didn't fancy going past Stocks Farm (Stocks Lane has a really rotten surface) so dropped into the dip by Hampton Wood and climbed up to Breaden Heath (or is it Breadon Heath? - I saw both spellings while riding through) and headed for Bettisfield.
Reaching Northwood I turned to go through Dobson's Bridge on the way to Coton and Prees. Although this is pretty flat and there wasn't much wind I wasn't making very quick progress but didn't try pushing to go faster. I had a bit of a moment at the turning for Prees railway station; as I started my turn across the traffic a car came fast round the corner - it had been hidden by the hedge so I couldn't see it until the last moment. Thankfully I was able to abort the turn. I could really do without that kind of excitement.
Having been doing a bit of a plodding pace on the flat I was a little worried about the climb through Prees but it was quite manageable in a lowish gear. As usual I bounced my way along Moreton Street on the way out of town. This has to be a contender for the worst maintained street in Shropshire as it's almost all patches on top of patches on top of patches. Thankfully it gets smoother once past all the houses and offers a nice descent.
I needed to cross the A41 on my way to Ightfield and found that this is another major road that is closed for resurfacing work at the moment, causing much confusion among motorists looking for a way round. At Ightfield I paused at the bus stop to eat my lunch and have a welcome rest then carried on towards Calverhall. Usually I take a left here but this time decided to carry on towards Moreton Say - possibly not the best idea this time as this road also had a lot of vehicles on it trying to get round the closure. Many were going a teeny bit quick for these narrow roads but they didn't cause me any actual issues. I was glad though when things quietened down again as I headed for Longford then into Market Drayton.
I knew I had some distance in hand so could take a shorter route through the outskirts of Market Drayton. Passing a playground a group of young lads challenged me to pull a wheelie.
I didn't oblige. Leaving town a slightly older lad in a Fiesta came round a corner a bit quick near the golf course - take it easy mate, it's not a video game.
With my pace having been a bit plodding so far it was nice to find myself cruising at a fairly respectable 15 or 16 mph past the airfield at Tern Hill and onwards to Stoke on Tern, Ollerton and Eaton upon Tern. I was still struggling a bit on the hills but was enjoying the flat bits apart from the fact the saddle was feeling a bit firm this time out.
After crossing the A442 the route is a bit more undulating but I got a second wind and was feeling a lot better than expected for this point in the ride. Another snack stop shortly after High Ercall helped keep this momentum up for a few more miles to Rodington Heath, Withington, Upton Magna, Atcham and Cross Houses then I opened up the wine gums near Berrington which gave a nice bit of energy to get to Condover and the direct way home along the A49. I was pleased with most of the drivers here, who were very respectful, with the exception of one who came up behind me revving their engine and left about 18 inches gap.
102.1 miles at 13 mph moving average. 9 hours and 25 minutes total including all the stops which I'm pretty happy with under the circumstances and it keeps me in the Imperial Century Challenge.
Near Stapleton early in the ride and the scenery is showing the transition to late summer.
Minsterley.
Heading into Oswestry via the scenic route. This is much nicer to look at than the industrial estate I usually ride through.
The Wilfred Owen memorial in Cae Glas Park, Oswestry.
Crossing the canal near Bettisfield.
Prees.
From my lunch stop at Ightfield.
Calverhall.
Moreton Say.
Ollerton.
