Well on Tuesday we said we would start the ride @ 5.30am from Birkenhead and ride till we were tired and take the road route back.
Bikes were all set for 12am, chain cleaned, forks lubed and tyres checked.
As a joke my mate said "how good would it be to do a night ride?"
I said yeah, would be good, we have 2 x 4cell lights and a 2 cell as a back up. Both Hope R4's.
Set off from Birkenhead, see a few ale heads wobbling through Birkenvegas (usual sight). Hit the tunnel enterance and made our way through.
Hard graft getting out of the tunnel when your legs arn't warm!
Found the way to the Canal and set off, usual walk path with small stones.
Not even 3 miles in and I got that "bike fells loose at rear moment"
ARSE!! Go a bloddy puncture! 1.15am in Liverpool and already fixing a bloody flat tyre!
Turns out it was a stone that pierced the tyre
Fixed that and we were on our way, tried to keep a 13/14mph average but it was to risky in parts. Once we were inbetween Magull and Lydiate we stopped for a butty and saw this sign
The trail was beginning to get more of a 4-5ft wide path with a rut in the grass to walk on, in the dry this would of been on to ride but as it was wet there was a task of tring not to fall in!
25miles in and I got another puncture, which was bad as it was bloody freezing!
Had to dunk the bikes a few times due to mud, each time we were thinking "don't fall in soft lad"
We made our way to Wigan for around 7am, covered in mud. Had a coffee in McDonalds then made our way to Liverpool Centre.
Got there for around 10.30am after we stopped for another coffee as the tiredness set in.
Jumped the train to Hamilton Square then to my mates, charged my phone as it went dead mid trip (really should buy a Garmin!). Then I had a nice 8mile ride back home.
We totally underestimated the canal route at this time of year thinking the route would be ok to ride, we will be trying a larger route come April.
Total ride miles from Birkenhead to Wigan and back was 63, rode alot further than that yet this drained me the most. Not sure if it was the lack of sleep or the fact you have to be alert much more when night riding.
Thanks for reading.
Phil