The Inbetweeners ( longer ride Pedal Pushers) had a great 24 mile circuit out to Ainsdale today. Starting out for Robins Island we took the country roads through Lydiate and Aughton before heading out across the moss to Plex Lane and on to the Coastal road. Stopping off at Mecycle bike workshop for a coffee. We retraced the route back across the moss as far as the Ship Inn, then cycled through Haskayne, cut across country past Farmer Teds, and back into Lydiate. A couple of us broke off here and came back along the Cheshire Lines, whilst the others carried on to Bells Lane and home at that end of Maghull. A lovely ride led by Trevor, without the usual fierce headwind and some sunshine for a change. Coastal ride planned for next week, when we are pleased to welcome a new U3A member to our group.

Three of us from the Inbetweeners  (aka Pedal Pushers longer riders ) decided to have a quick ride around Aughton today as the forecast was poor. Setting off from Maghull we did a rural circuit through to Aughton then on to Town Green from where we had planned to cycle back to Maghull. However the weather was still fair, we had out cycled the black clouds, so we decided to add a little more on…then a little more before we pitched up at Halsall, stopping off at the Village Bakehouse for a very acceptable coffee. However this meant that we needed to retrace our route back to avoid all the canal bridges, where we met the inevitable headwind which blew at us all the way back through to Lydiate. Two hours after starting and with a nice 17 mile ride accomplished we just beat the rain! Thanks Ken for a good ride. see you next week.

The longer riders of  the Pedal Pushers group had a good ride today starting from Maghull, circuiting Rainford and returning home via Aughton, a distance of just under 25 miles. Riding via Spurriers lane we came across a council lorry collecting several mattresses which had been fly tipped in the lovely countryside. It beggars belief that people would do this!. Riding on we stopped at the recently re-named Cherry Orchard tea rooms ( formerly the Lavender Farm) where enjoyed a lovely coffee at one of the many outside benches. Suitably refreshed we continued via the bypass  towards golf driving range to access the Rainford Linear Cycle path to Rainford junction station. Using country lanes we cycled on through Bickerstaffe and Aughton, where the inevitable headwind made the going considerably harder! Circuiting through Aughton we returned to Maghull just under 3 hours since we left, having enjoyed a great ride through some lovely scenery.

The group have temporarily split to allow those who have not been cycling during lockdown to build up their stamina again. Today Bill led those people on a ride through Aughton, whilst the others of us completed a 20 mile circuit through Aughton, Halsall and Shirdley Hill. It was good to see some of the usual watering holes had reopened with additional outside seating, but today we stopped at Halsall park for our own coffee and cakes. The village was bedecked with scarecrows for their usual festival which made an amusing sight. We tackled a good few hills today which tested our legs, and completed our ride in just over 2 1/2 hours. Hopefully the group can join forces again in the not too distant future.