Iwasgoodonce
Old School Grand Master
Yesterday I had to go to Minsterly in Shropshire to sort a little business. I was in two minds what to take with me. The Hardy? My favourite trout stillwater is a little further down the road, I haven't been for ages and the hawthorn flies are just starting to hatch. In the end I decided it was too bright so I took my road bike instead. I parked the car, changed and headed towards Stiperstones. The road went up and then up some more. Then it started to get steep and then steeper. I haven't had to use first at all lately not even for that brute of a hill out of Bridgenorth. Here I was grovelling up a hill barely able to get the cranks around and not even 5 miles in! What goes up then has to go down. The blocks got so hot and shiney the brakes were starting to fade by the time I got to the bottom. Then the road went straight back up again. This pattern repeated itself for the next 15 miles. My daughter loves animals so I stopped to take a couple of pictures (1.3MP camera phone) which are below. Eventually I ended up at Bishop's Castle. The blast back along the A488 was epic. Through a village called Hope, I kept a car behind me for 4 miles. I was keeping in but was going so fast he couldn't get past me on the winding road. I averaged 26-35mph all the way along. When I finally pulled in there were only two cars 'stuck' behind me.
Up the last nasty climb and back to the car with a tongue like a stick of rhubarb and so dehydrated I was a fire hazard.
Really enjoyed it though. It reminded me more of my home county of Devon just with different rocks. At The Bog visitor centre I picked up a leaflet. Have any of you Shropshire chaps ridden Eastridge Woods or Hopton Wood? I could be convinced to join you if you fancy it. I will bring something with a gear lower than 42x23 though.
Up the last nasty climb and back to the car with a tongue like a stick of rhubarb and so dehydrated I was a fire hazard.
Really enjoyed it though. It reminded me more of my home county of Devon just with different rocks. At The Bog visitor centre I picked up a leaflet. Have any of you Shropshire chaps ridden Eastridge Woods or Hopton Wood? I could be convinced to join you if you fancy it. I will bring something with a gear lower than 42x23 though.