Crew: Billy no mates Stunt
Route: Riverside park, Prestbury, Chelford Road, Findlow Hill Lane, Bradford Lane, Hocker Lane, Birtles Lane, Chelford Road, Prestbury, Riverside, Tythy.
Conditions: Wet!
After 50mm of rain overnight (on top of another 100mm in the previous week) and more arriving across TNR time, the excuses not to ride reached epidemic proportions!
With no one to cramp my style I headed out c4pm to attempt to get out and back to Alderley Park via the back lanes before the worst of the weather.
The riverside fields had clearly been flooded overnight with little drifts of fine sandy silt atop the mud, and debris scattered about a long way “inland”. Grip was sparse once the double track ended, but progress was possible with a bit of extra effort. Hiking the bike over the gate towards Prestbury the proper surface was welcome, but even here there were sections where mud was laid atop after the deluge.
Coming into the village there was not a light to be seen – a big power outage right up to the Roundabout and beyond, Co-op closed, but Chelford Road houses on the other side were definitely “on” .
Light rain now falling, and glasses steaming up on the climb. Plenty of running water on the road, and a big puddle across half the road by the entrance to Hare Hill Gardens. This was just play compared to the flood as you approached School lane before the RH turn past Arthur Burns. Full width of the road and c30 m long, it turned out to be over half a metre deep, and not quite over the top of my tyres, before shallowing out. Boots full of water, I advised a lady in her Audi TT that a U turn might be wise!
Rain getting heavier, Bradford lane running as a stream, Hocker full of deep puddles, but a good way to come back and avoid a second immersion to the knees!
Managed to stay warm as the dampness seeped up my legs, and the cold rain chilled from the top down.
On the positive side my new waterproof gloves had held up pretty well!
Back for tea and medals by 5:15 (Leffe’s in the fridge for later)