According to gps: odo 12.62 mov time 1h 26m max 26.7 moving avg 8.8 tot time 1h50m
We've had weeks and weeks of rain and flooding and Sheffield floating off towards the coast... that, combined with me being busy at work with tours and events has meant I've not fancied going out on my bike in the rain. It's something like the wettest summer since records began. However, the forecast for yesterday was sun/broken cloud all day until about 7pm, so I figured I'd risk it and go out for a ride.
So... ride 2 in my Haynes Book (see previous rides for info about the book...), "Heaton Park". It was down as 14 miles and 'medium' grade but I reckoned I could probably do it.
I started off parking in the car park at Heaton Park near Prestwich. The weather was actually quite nice as I rode up around the reservoir and past the pumping station; I missed a turn and came back for it and followed a bridleway down and round the perimeter of the park, which was really nice - slightly challenging and overgrown, a bit damp and muddy, and mostly gently downhill. Then I crossed the M60/M62 junction 18 via the worst kept underpasses and footbridges I think I've ever come across - there was broken glass all over the place and I was seriously worried that I would get a puncture. Fortunately I didn't by some miracle so I continued.
I rode up the road towards Bowlee which was a bit of a slog - it was a fairly long hill and although I was pleased I managed it (albeit with a couple of stops) I was glad when I reached the top! I stopped off at a car boot sale - or rather, the tail end of it as everyone was packing up - on that road, and from there we could all see the ominous big black cloud approaching over the valley. It was clearly coming towards us - I could hear the thunder - so I took the opportunity whilst I was there to don waterproofs and ensure my stuff in my (not especially waterproof) pannier was in plastic bags.
I continued up the road when the rain hit me. It was extremely heavy; I sheltered whilst the worst of it passed - it was truly torrential and frankly I didn't have much fun cycling in the rain. Cycling up past Birch services was mildly interesting and I might have stopped had I not been getting so wet. I then joined the Pilsworth Road - and a newish cycle path, the "Harry Hill cycleway", opened last year. It was a good route, but unfortunately the route the book then suggested taking didn't seem to exist (or I missed it) cutting across a large quarry! I continued down to junction 3 of the M66 where I found a large ASDA in which to dry out a little and have a bit of lunch. Hurrah.
It was still raining when I left ASDA but not quite so hard, thankfully. The last bit down towards the car park was OK - I used the OS map to get myself back on the route and although I didn't enjoy the cobbled, wet climb out of Pilsowrth cottages the rest of the route was generally OK.
I was glad when I got back to the car, sodden and weary. Glad I managed it, but I didn't really enjoy the ride after the rain started, which is a shame - but still, at least I got out again. Note to self - I need to look at the brakes on my bike again as they take a heck of a lot of effort to stop the bike. I don't know where the mechanical advantage has gone... darned old-style brakes.
The forecast is for more rain and more rain - which is disappointing. Ah well... here's hoping it'll clear up on a day off in the near future.