Wednesday evening and I’m off to bed early filled with excitement for the following day, even with the alarm set for 4.15am. After the initial struggle to get to sleep the alarm sounded all to soon. I tiptoed down the creaky staircase, trying not to wake the family, and into the kitchen to find breakfast. After 2 cups off coffee and a bowl of cereal it was time to slip into my lycra and make the final preparations to leave. After more faffing about than was reasonable, I was ready to leave at 4.55am. Out the door, swing my leg over the bike, clip in and off with the first peal stroke of the day.
It was only a short distance to Awesome Walls Liverpool, less than 6 miles, and I’ve never seen the streets of Liverpool so quiet. In my head I was telling myself, “Slowly does it, you’ve got a long way to go!”, as I travelled down the familiar streets from my commute to work. I must admit it did feel a bit weird standing outside Awesome Walls at 5.30am making a short video to post on my social media.
Time for the official start, I’d only gone a few hundred meters when, under the shadow of Everton’s new stadium, I turned left onto the dock road and straight into a head wind! I thought to myself, “This will be fun, I’ve got to head in this direction most of the way to Stoke-on-Trent!”. After a few minutes as I passed the iconic Liverpool waterfront, and the world-famous Liver Building, I reached the Mersey, and the headwind increased. I struggled onwards and was almost relieved to reach the Liverpool Yacht Club and find that the bridge was up to allow a boat out into the Mersey. As I waited for the bridge to close, the 10 minutes seemed to feel forever but eventually the boat passed, the bridge closed and I was off again following the Mersey, past Liverpool John Lennon Airport and eventually out of Liverpool. The wind was still doing it’s best to slow me down, but I pushed on towards Widnes and the Runcorn Bridge.
BANG went the front tyre on the debris strewn roads of Widnes, followed by a loud hisssssssssss. Puncture! I must admit that I swore a bit! Fortunately, I had everything that I needed and was quickly back on the bike and continuing onwards over the Runcorn Bridge and into Cheshire. It was up Frodsham Hill, the first proper hill of the (but a mere mole hill in comparison to what would come later!), and into Delamere Forest to meet up with Mr Awesome Walls, Dave Douglas, who had very generously offered to give up his day and follow me around all day.
The trees of Delamere Forest gave some shelter from the wind for a bit but all to soon I was pushing on across the Cheshire Plain and back in the wind. I came around a bend as was greeted to the site of Dave standing on humpback bridge over the canal cheering me on, I knew that meant I’d done just over 40 miles since Awesome Walls Liverpool and had just over 20 more to Awesome Walls Stoke. I didn’t stop and pushed onwards through the beautiful lanes of Cheshire. Next, I had to traverse Nantwich at rush hour which made for slow going but eventually I was back out into the country lanes. It didn’t feel like long until I met up with Dave in a pub car park to refill my water bottles and take on some snacks. Only 11 miles to Stoke, back on the road the light drizzle that I’d had on and off since Frodsham became a heavy and persistent drizzle as the rode gradually climbed up past Keele University and I stared to regret taking off my gilet when I’d stopped and leaving it in Dave’s van. Soon I was back on urban roads with traffic lights, roundabouts, roadworks and lots of vehicles all doing their best to slow me down as I skirted around the southern edge of Stoke-on-Trent. I arrived at Awesome Walls Stoke to find a cup of coffee and a cake waiting for me.
As I left Stoke I knew that I’d no longer be travelling south and that meant that I’d no longer have the headwind that I’d be battling for the last 60 plus miles. However, it also meant that the hills were about to start as I headed to the Peak District. Once out of the urban area the lanes were undulating to start with but then the road descended into small place called Froghall, I took a left turn and the road reared up. It was steep to start with, over 15% gradient according to my bike computer, but then the gradient eased but the climb felt like it went on forever (it wasn’t forever more like 3 miles but my legs that had been pushing through a headwind for 60 miles weren’t very happy!) I was very happy to see Dave at the top of the climb and to be able to get more water and snacks from the van. After this climb the road was undulating through the Peak District. Unfortunately, the cloud was down so the beautiful views were obscured. I made a quick stop at a pub in Hartington to use the facilities and enjoy a pint of lemonade. After this it was one of the highlights of the ride as I rode through a beautiful steep sided valley. A quick stop with Dave for more water before descending to Bakewell before hitting familiar territory with Calver, Froggatt, the long climb to The Fox House before a fast descent into Sheffield where the urban roads slow you down once more. After a traverse of Sheffield, I was pleased to reach Awesome Walls Sheffield (has Garter Street always been that steep?) and was greeted with a pizza.
After pizza and a chat, it was time to head off on the final leg of the journey. There was a slight delay as a Garter Street pothole made my chain come off. My legs were starting to feel tired and from the centre of Sheffield it is pretty much uphill all of the way to Stanage Edge. I knew that the hardest climb of the day was still to come so opted for and easy gear and a gentle pace. Eventually, I was past the last few houses and out of the city heading up towards moorland. It was on this section of the journey that I discovered the most depressing bit of tarmac that I have ever ridden on, Ringinglow Road. Why is it depressing I hear you ask well it goes on at a constant gradient that is steep enough to slow you down but not steep enough to be fun (you cyclists know what I mean), it is along drag and arrow straight so you can see where you’re going and how slowly you’re getting there and then when you do get t to the top of each rise the gradient eases briefly before going up again.
Eventually the gradient eased as Higger Tor came into sight and then there was the fun descent into Hathersage and the sight of Dave and his van. After Hathersage, the road had been resurfaced with loose chippings and the passing traffic pebble dashed my legs as they hurried by. As I followed the Hope Valley towards Castleton the nerves were building, I was getting close to Winnats Pass, a climb that most cyclist fear with it’s 20% gradient. This would be challenging with fresh legs but with over 140 miles travelled it was going to be very tough. I stopped in Castleton to give myself a stern talking to and then set off towards the climb. To make matters worse, the weather had was finally improving and it was starting to get warm.
As I got to the foot of the climb and the road started to ramp up I was already in my easiest gear and the smell of burnt clutch hung in the air. I crossed the cattle grid and the climb started properly. To start with the scenery was amazing (I half expected Gandalf to come riding down the road) but the further up the climb I got the steeper the gradient and soon I wasn’t looking at the scenery and was instead staring at the next few meters of tarmac. Eventually, gasping for breath I decided to stop and have a quick drink. As I took sips of water around large gulps of air while trying to figure out how I’d get started again, another cyclist came into sight. I waited as he passed and then somehow managed to get the bike moving, get clipped in and follow him. I was gaining on him when all of a sudden he stopped and then toppled over onto the grass verge. I got level with him, “Are you OK?”, I asked, his reply was, “I’m done!”. I pushed on as the road curved to the left and the gradient and there was Dave filming my suffering as slowly approached him. I collapsed against my handlebars gasping for air. But please that it was nearly all down hill from here to Stockport.
After a long descent I was treated to an amazing smell from the chippy in Whaley Bridge before taking on the busy A6 with all it’s trucks. The final obstacle was some gravel paths that I’d managed to route myself down but then out of some trees appeared the chimney of Pear Mill and I knew Awesome Walls Stockport was near. 166 miles covered, 9938 feet climbed in 11 hours and 54 minutes.
A massive thanks to Dave for following me around all day and giving me a lift home at the end. I’d also like to thank all of you who sent me messages of encouragement and letting me know that you were following my tracker and social media posts. Finally, I’d like to thank everyone who has donated. At the time of writing £1700 has been raised. If you haven’t already donated and you are able to please go to https://givealittle.co/c/tourdeawesome . As Tesco say, “Every little helps!”.
