Day 5 Shrewsbury to Preston
Possibly the most unpleasant day. We set out in a light drizzle and mild but cold breeze which soon cleared to dull skies. I had to decide whether to wear rainwear or not as I don’t have the kind of lightweight rain coat that I can stuff in my pocket (but it is my birthday soon…), I decided against it because it always makes me hot, which turned out OK.
Yesterday knocked my confidence because I was so tired, but refreshed after a very good nights sleep (falling into the bed at the Mercure was like the scene from Trainspotting where Renton falls into the carpet) and an excellent breakfast I rode through today without problem. 137km of relatively straightforwards cycling but we when we hit Warrington we had pretty much 60km of urban riding through Warrington, Wigan and Preston and their suburbs, all of which were universally horrible (harsh but true – and we even cycled past my mother’s birthplace in Warrington: yesterday we passed nearby Bargoed in Wales where my father was born too). Aggressive drivers abounded, abuse from passers by (have they never seen cyclists up here?) and drunks on their way into Haydock Park for the races.
One guy in Whitchurch tried to run us off the road three or four times, cutting us up (in a cycle lane!) and braking hard to make us stop, before shouting abuse and roaring off. Today I think we’ve seen the worst of Britain. Cycle lanes generally I think are a bad thing. They are often well intended but ill conceived and encourage drivers to think of cyclists as not part of the road. I don’t understand why drivers feel so aggressive. Blimey, I have three cars (and four bikes), I pay enough road tax!
Oh, and we had our first puncture today, Werner picked up a thorn, so we got to play with John’s CO2 inflator gadget.
So, to the Ibis Preston. Functional, clean. Can’t say much more but Mark & Heidi, who we met in Cuba earlier this year are coming over from Liverpool to meet us for dinner, which will be nice.
Tomorrow is the longest day, 170km to Longtown in Scotland. We leave England behind.
Possibly the most unpleasant day. We set out in a light drizzle and mild but cold breeze which soon cleared to dull skies. I had to decide whether to wear rainwear or not as I don’t have the kind of lightweight rain coat that I can stuff in my pocket (but it is my birthday soon…), I decided against it because it always makes me hot, which turned out OK.
Yesterday knocked my confidence because I was so tired, but refreshed after a very good nights sleep (falling into the bed at the Mercure was like the scene from Trainspotting where Renton falls into the carpet) and an excellent breakfast I rode through today without problem. 137km of relatively straightforwards cycling but we when we hit Warrington we had pretty much 60km of urban riding through Warrington, Wigan and Preston and their suburbs, all of which were universally horrible (harsh but true – and we even cycled past my mother’s birthplace in Warrington: yesterday we passed nearby Bargoed in Wales where my father was born too). Aggressive drivers abounded, abuse from passers by (have they never seen cyclists up here?) and drunks on their way into Haydock Park for the races.
One guy in Whitchurch tried to run us off the road three or four times, cutting us up (in a cycle lane!) and braking hard to make us stop, before shouting abuse and roaring off. Today I think we’ve seen the worst of Britain. Cycle lanes generally I think are a bad thing. They are often well intended but ill conceived and encourage drivers to think of cyclists as not part of the road. I don’t understand why drivers feel so aggressive. Blimey, I have three cars (and four bikes), I pay enough road tax!
Oh, and we had our first puncture today, Werner picked up a thorn, so we got to play with John’s CO2 inflator gadget.
So, to the Ibis Preston. Functional, clean. Can’t say much more but Mark & Heidi, who we met in Cuba earlier this year are coming over from Liverpool to meet us for dinner, which will be nice.
Tomorrow is the longest day, 170km to Longtown in Scotland. We leave England behind.
5 comments:
I broke down on the motorway Friday, and was hoping you were peddling past so you could give me a tow with all this new found energy of yours. Scotland will be a lovely ride, you'll leave the towns behind and see some of the most beautiful countryside in the world. You're don’t a great job Guv. Keep pushing. Ross
hey craig, did my own 100km today around NYC and read your blog at 5:00am this morning for inspiration (it worked) whilst munching my breakfast. My hat goes off to you mate - not sure I'd want to get back on my bike tomorrow. Gay hello to Bonny Scotland
Whoops - meant to say "say hello to Scotland" not "gay hello to Scotland" !!
who is that small child in the picture? Not Imogen obviously, but the waif like boy on the end.....no wonder he flies up the hills
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