Women on wheels - autumn and winter 2010

Cycle Shrewsbury's Emma Bullard tells us all about the monthly women on wheels rides which have taken place over the past few months...

September 2010

at_shrewsbury_station There were two rides for the price of one on the first weekend in September.

We chose the Saturday for our train and bike ride, and seven of us took our bikes on the Wrexham and Shropshire train to Wellington, where we met up with one more and followed Route 81 back to Shrewsbury.

Highlights of this ride included the Chinese supermarket in Wellington, for Martha to stock up; the old bridge at Walcot on Tern; and tea at Marian's house in Upton Magna. Most of us had not cycled the lanes near Wellington before; we had great views of the Wrekin and Haughmond Hill, a nice bonus as most of the ride is fairly flat.

wellington_chinese_supermarket walcot_on_tern

The following day we had the regular Sunday ride, with 9 riders including 3 who had been out on the Saturday. We started on Route 81 to Uffington and Upton Magna, then went to Rodington and came back via Haughmond Hill and the very popular little cafe in the Forestry Commission car park. (Another visit is needed soon as I hear it has been moved indoors as part of the improvements up there). I helped Christine to mend a puncture and was very pleased that I had tightened her wheel properly, as she immediately launched herself downhill at top speed!

October 2010

Anyone who remembers 3 October will know that “wet” didn’t begin to describe the weather that day!

A bit of rain might not put us off; but when the roads turn to rivers it gets too hazardous. The leaders turned up at the start point but sensibly no-one else did!

November 2010

The first Sunday was a lovely day for cycling, sunny and clear with bright autumn colours. The route chosen was one with no cafe stops, so we bought supplies at the Spar in Coleham and then cycled down the Sutton railway path (new to some of us who were very impressed). We headed south-west, braved the floods on the road at Boreton but wimped out of cycling through the ford on the Cound Brook; we were grateful for the footbridge!

shopping_in_coleham

After a snack at Condover we carried on to Stapleton and while Bev took a group for tea at her house nearby the rest of us cycled straight back to Shrewsbury in deteriorating weather and a strengthening head wind.

December 2010

The first weekend in December was the start of the big freeze, so no cycling this month.

January 2011

new_paths_greenfields Happy New Year! Three of us met on 2 January which was fine but very cold. For a change we stayed in town and toured some of the route improvements in the north part of town - Ellesmere Grange, Greenfields and Cartmel Drive. We also went along the old canal in Ditherington and various other bits which are awaiting improvement. We thawed out at Morrisons café - like most of the supermarkets Morrisons' cycle parking is pretty crummy - another job for 2011!