SROC social bike ride 2013 – Sunday 9th June

 ‘PETIT le TOUR de FYLDE’

10am start from Kirkham public car park (GR SD 425 322). Enter approach road to Morrison’s supermarket and follow road uphill into the car park. There is no charge.  (Do not park in Morrison’s car park)

This is a social ride, not a race ! We will keep together throughout by the usual method of stopping frequently at junctions to allow all to catch up.

Anyone wishing to go off on their own may do so but will need a route map (from me on the day) or risk getting lost.  The route is complex through many junctions.
Although the Fylde is relatively flat, there are a few short and not very steep hills.  Road bikes are best despite some short stretches of rough surface.  Do not bring your expensive racing wheels if you have such things.
We will be mostly on quiet country lanes.   The total distance is 30miles giving about 3hrs riding time but a total time out of about 4 to 5hrs allowing for a morning refreshment break, picnic lunch and many catch up stops.

The first leg is short, 50 min to the café. (Courtyard Café in Gt Eckleston, with bike parking at the rear and an upstairs room. Best remove cleated shoes on entry.) Say 30min there and the next leg to lunch is about an hour.  Bring your own picnic food and some drink.  You will be able to purchase hot drinks and cakes at the café and, thanks to Sue and Martyn, hot drinks will be available at the lunch stop, which is at St Michael’s Tennis Club.  In the morning after the café stop you will need 20p for the toll at Cartford  bridge.

The afternoon leg is a bit longer, circa 1 ¼ hrs but there is a slightly shorter return route (shown on the map) if required.  There are also opportunities to shorten the ride and rejoin the group after the morning café stop and before St Michael’s, so please do not be put off by the length.   I will have a few route maps, copies of OS 1:50,000, which you can use to modify/shorten your route to suit.  A short ride would be to the morning Café stop and return.

After we return to Kirkham car park it is a short drive to my place  (17 Westbourne Ave, Wrea Green)  for a hot drink and snack before you go home if you wish.

Let’s  hope for some summer weather, not the second winter stuff we have been having.

If you can, please let me know if you are coming, tel or email,  01772-683072   pgk36@fsmail.net  

Peter Knott