Deeside & Wirral Coastal Ride
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Join us for this relaxed Any One Any Bike coastal ride from Chester to Liverpool via the Chester Millennium Greenway and Wirral Circular Trails giving views ranging from the rugged Welsh coastline across the Dee Estuary, to the beaches of New Brighton and the evolving landscape of the Liverpool skyline.
Whilst we'll cycle to Woodside Pier in Birkenhead (home to the Bikenhead Tramway & transport museum), we'll have the option to complete the journey with a sightseeing cruise on the Mersey Ferry and complete the ride in either Birkenhead or Liverpool.
This ride will be at a leisurely pace along canals, former railway trackbed, quiet urban roads or dedicated cycleways and so is aimed at riders with all levels of experience and any roadworthy bike.
Note that this is a linear ride from Chester to Liverpool so you may need to use the Mersyrail service to return to Chester if required.
While the majority of the trail is paved or hard packed, sections may be slightly muddy in the wet and there is always a risk of sand crossing the trail near New Brighton. As such, I'd advise against very slick 23c tyres for this ride but all-season tyres on a road bike should be fine.
What to bring
Bike: any bike you like but not ultra-slick (23c) tyres on road bikes
Helmet: OutdoorLads requires you to wear one
Clothing: lightweight and layered, shorts are great even in rain as they allow free movement of your legs. Avoid jeans, which are uncomfortable when wet, and baggy tracksuit bottoms, which can snag in the chain. Colourful and/or reflective clothing will make you more visible to other road users
Footwear: grippy soles if your bike has standard pedals
Gloves: cycle gloves help avoid blisters, and are good in the cold
Punctures: spare inner tube, bike tyre pump and tyre levers
Tools: any special tools that your bike needs
Small snacks: such as chocolate or energy bars
Plenty of water: in bottle/s on your bike or in a daysack/bladder
Medicines: if you have hay fever, diabetes, minor ailments etc.
Eye protection: avoid getting grit or insects in your eyes, sunglasses are OK if they are not made of glass and not too shaded
Sun cream: take care, even on overcast days
Bike lights: be seen and safe
Storage: small day-sack or a bag on your bike
Mobile Phone: keep it in a waterproof bag for use in emergencies
Food & drink
Ideally bring a packed lunch with you to give us flexibility as to where we stop. There will be shops in West Kirby or Hoylake if needed, though few opportunities before then to buy food.
Please ensure you have plenty of water and snacks to keep your energy levels up along the way. Although the route is pretty much flat, if it is sunny you're likely to consume more food and water.