Oakenclough

At 9 'o' clock on Sunday morning a quintet of FCG riders met outside Ponkies with anticipation for a dry, sunny ride. After a short discussion re our route Peter, Andy, Frank, Mick and myself concurred that the hills of Bleasdale were far more appealing that the flats of South Ribble to Southport. Our route took us out through Salwick, Lower Bartle and Woodplumpton crossing the A6 at Broughton traffic lights. En route we encountered at least a couple of hundred cyclists riding in the opposite direction participating in an event for a charity associated with the young Preston rider who was tragically killed recently. I digress, we then headed under the motorway bridge to Inglewhite and Beacon Fell. Giving the country park a miss on this occasion we proceeded through Middle and Higher Lickhurst turning left down Wickens Lane and onwards to Jack Anderton Bridge, left up Delph Lane and the steep climb passing Delph Wood and Oakenclough. Negotiating the cattle grids a fast pace was set past Harrisend Fell before dropping down to the Bay Horse and flatter terrain. Between Broughton and here we had encountered numerous climbs, some fast downhills and several interesting water splashes. Good job I wasn't on the Pinerello, I would have had to get off and carry it through these. Getting my feet wet being preferrential to exposing my treasured new machine to muck and water. I digress again. There's only one place to go from the Bay Horse these days before heading for home and thats Wallings Farm cafe stop at Cockerham. Peter and I have been there so many times of late people must think we have shares in the place. This is a top stop with good food and service. Cockerham Marsh, Pilling, Out Rawcliffe and Cartford Bridge at Little Eccleston seemed to be a blurr thanks to Franks exilerating pace (Peter and I think we need to have a word with Michelle as to how best to handicapp this guy - he's a machine). I jest we like the punishment really. Great Eccie, Elswick, Roseacre, Wharles, Kirkham with the obligatory Dowbridge provided the standard route home and of course the Kirkham Road sprint. As now seems to be the case I was lead out man for FCG's very own Cavendish, Frank that machine of a man to flash past me like I was stopped. He's not the Manx Missile he's the Freckleton Flyer. Super days cycling, great company and guess what - on the day we swopped the Southport Smoothie for the Bleasdale Blast we got lots of sunshine. Technical details we covered 55miles at a 16mph average. Roll on the next one.

DEREK