Alan Stark on the Wheel of Fortune Preston
Yesterday's (25/11/12)Sunday run was a bit of a non event. I saw Spencer along the straight mile at Tarleton who informed me that there was no-one at Blackgate Lane end, but by the time i'd made a U-turn he was already through the lights - and I got held up by both sets. Even though I kept him in sight all the way through Walmer bridge, I made no impression on him -- and he probably decided that waiting for me was a waste of time anyway -- just as well as I was only out for the morning, so I decided to ride the Preston Guild Wheel route instead.
Points to watch particularly when its wet and greasy are changes of surface. Brick paviors and dimpled concrete by road crossings can be lethal with a covering of leaves, especially when road furniture forces you to make some sharp turns. I ended up on my backside at one point.
Anyway -- on with the route.
I started at the bridge at the bottom of Fishergate hill and rode in an anticlockwise direction. The first section was very pleasant following the river, and had an excellent surface. It's also the busiest bit with plenty of dog walkers and other recreational cyclists. It has a very good surface. After crossing the A6, the route is much quieter, but still well surfaced, though it can get a bit muddy where sections are shared with farm roads. After passing under the M6 you leave the smooth tarmac and skirt Brockholes nature reserve via a compacted but gritty track. If you fancy a bit of a detour, there is a visitor centre and cafe.
Leaving the Brockholes reserve, the track heads for the woods leading up to Red Scar industrial estate and the Longridge road. This section has no proper surface, and can be very slippery and muddy. You are advised to dismount before heading uphill ( 20%) - the combination of mud and fallen leaves meant riding was impossible on anything other than an MTB or Cyclocross machine. Beyond the top of the hill were a few short flooded sections.
The next section past the industrial estate is all on very good tarmac, though in places the signage ( or my powers of obsevation) is not too brilliant. Decent tracks then lead back across the M6 towards the A6 near Broughton. At this point you can either ride up the A6 towards the police house, or share the pavement with pedestrians. This is the only place where there is not a good traffic free route.
From Broughton the route then twists and turns (mostly on more gritty tracks) towards the Woodplumpton road. From there you swing down skirting the Preston Sports arena. You can miss out a confusing section through the housing estates by riding down Tom Benson Way to the Sports arena - but the object of the exercise was to avoid traffic where possible.
After passing through the outskirts of Lea, more dirty tracks lead th the bridge over the main Blackpool road, wehre a section of well surfaced tarmac (shared with footpath) leads past the Preston Motor Park, and down towards the river and the docks. a good mixed use cycleway leads back to the foot of Fishergate hill.
All in all a pleasant 21 miles - 20 miles of which are traffic free.
Alan Stark 26/11/12 |
