I had been doing some cycling graphics for sotabeams this week so naturally my mind turned to doing a bike activation. I set off from home at 0730 to cycle to Stockport Railway Station. This took rather less time than anticipated so I had time to chat to a few people in the waiting room before the train arrived.
About an hour on the train got me to Chester where I started the real cycle ride. I was using my new Garmin Edge Touring cycle satnav which planned a nice route for me avoiding most main roads. Along the way I stopped to chat with a couple of chaps flying a hawk of some sort. It had caught three rabbits and they were well pleased.
Up into the hills I crossed Halkyn Mountain before the final approach to NW076. A text from Roger MW0IDX suggested that riding the bike up the track might not be a good idea but as I was on a road bike I pushed it anyway. Stopping in a nice clearing just shy of the top, I paused for lunch.
As the carrying capacity of the bike is very limited I had opted for activating using a Rockmite (200mW) and an end fed half-wave system (kindly supplied by a local ham radio company…). The whole system fits in a tiny soft bag - ideal for cycling. I managed to throw the wire over a branch (second attempt) and was soon on the air. I didn’t self-spot but the RBN did its usual great job and within minutes the faithful chasers found me.
10 QSOs made it was time for the ride back. The return journey was even harder than the outward leg with a strong headwind. This was especially annoying as I cycled alongside River Dee. I paused this time to chat to a chap with one leg dragging two car tyres. He was training for a man-hauling expedition across Greenland, nice.
I just missed a train so I nipped into Chester for fish and chips. My wife kindly met me at Knutsford station saving a further 10 mile cycle ride in the dark.
64 miles cycled. 3,573ft (1,089m) ascent … that’s just slightly more than the altitude of the summit of Snowdon! No wonder I’m having a rest today.
A memorable day out.
Photos: Redirecting...
73 Richard G3CWI