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Disbury to Ashton & Back - Yuck! [LONG]
Hello all,
The following is a rambling ride report, concerning online retailers, bike paths, shocking driving and my findings w.r.t. Continental's Sport Contact tyres... My better half ordered some stuff from Amazon. As is the way with such things, the couriers (DHL) attempted to deliver it twice, but seeing as we both at work there was nobody present to sign for the delivery. They told her that unlesss it was collected within 48 hours it would be punted back to Amazon. Ho hum. Seeing as some of the delivery was a prezzie for people who would be flying out to Australia in the next 24 hours, we were a bit hacked off with Amazon/DHL to say the least. To keep the peace, I said I'd bike it out to the DHL depot at Ashton & collect the parcel. 20 mile round trip. All went swimmingly as I cycled down Withington road, right onto Dickenson road (quick nod to the "Bicycle Doctor" as I pass), and then onto the A57 to Denton/Hyde. The earlier part of the A57 is ok, but as you leave Manchester and enter Hyde it's a nightmare. The bit where you cross over the motorway (M62?) is diabolical! This A-road likes to pretend it's a motorway, with shocking, vile bike paths at the roundabout where it crosses the real motorway. The paths of which I speak are definitely the work of stan: Illogically placed, full of glass and pebbles - it's like no-one has passed there in decades. Got through Denton and onto the estate where the DHL depot lurks. Although it was a full-on industrial estate where the majority of traffic was HGV's, they all gave me plenty of room and useful directions to the depot which I sought. Bliss! Picked up the parcel, and took on some fuel at the local jiffy-van before setting off home. AFAIK, there's one on every trading estate in the land .It's amazing what a can of Vimto (sugar), a large coffee with 2 sugars (more sugar) and a bap/barm with bacon, egg, and sausage (grease, starch & burnt crunchy bits) can do for your morale! It's also lot easier cycling when you're not worried about getting lost or running out of time. Was trundelling home downhill behind a guy on a FS mountain bike. Suddenly I hear the sound of rubber scraping on tarmac, as the FS guy reminds the driver who just nearly left-hooked him that he's a twunt. I comiserated with FS guy as I passed, but soon realised that I was doing 30+mph downhill without any pedalling, while FS guy was way behind. More power to the 700cx37mm Continental Sport Contact (nearly) slicks! After that it's all gravy: Got home nicely, and presented the missus with her parcel, and she appreciated the effort. Lessons learnt: 1) Those online routefinder things don't have any contour lines on them. Ouch! 2) HGV drivers can be very helpful when we get the opportunity to converse with 'em as human beings. 3) A can of glug + a big sarnie tastes *fantastic* when you've earned it. 4) The left hook can happen *anywhere*. 5) Continental Sport Contacts are ace! Best, Tim. |
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