well no prizes for guessing pub and beer of the day. Old Tom on bar stillage at the Fox in Brookbottom. Wonderful

Off to Buxton with the bike fitting perfectly into the allotted bike spaces 🙄. Northern train to Stockport to start the ride.

Buxton away tomorrow so going to pedal from Stockport station again. Got an inventory pub on the list too. Always a good drinking trip over there, must remember to pick up my usual Buxton Pudding.

Another little jolly round Frodsham tonight. Two winners for me, the Red Lion (no cask) and Number 13 (v good Weetwood). Latter deducted points for having a Christmas tree in early November

Loved this episode. Quite emotional near the end too. What a true legend, Jones the Voice www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

Little gem to finish, the National Inventory Blue Ball in Grantchester. Friendly vibe, love the two small rooms and the unusual pub game (look it up). Top beer on too.

Cambridge away in the Cup. Massive underdogs 2 leagues below so anything is a bonus today

Time for a quick National Inventory tick in Cambridge centre. Champion of the Thames a lovely pub, friendly and great JHB too

Queens Head near Cambridge. 3* National Inventory and one of the 5 in every Good Beer Guide edition. Brilliant.

Brunch in Cambridge. C an't beat a good farm shop

Cambridge away in the cup today. Cant do this one by bike but I've got the opportunity for a couple of National Inventory pubs instead. One of the Famous Five as well - been in every edition of the Good Beer Guide 🍻

Really enjoying my selection of green hop beers. The one closest to what I'd expect is @ramsgatebrewery.bsky.social . No fuss, just lets those fresh Kent hops do their job. Splendid 🍻

These arrived today for my Green Hop tastings 👍🍻

3rd lot of green hopped beer has arrived, including an offering from @burningskybeer.bsky.social . Might do a taste off at the weekend, really looking forward to trying them all.

been at the back of my mind for a few weeks now but I've finally cracked...several green hopped beers are on the way 🍻. Brings back memories of a great Kent trip that coincided with the hop harvests.

I love watching the National Hill Climb videos each year. One time I'll have to sort myself out and go and watch. Forget riding the course though at my size! Bank Road in Matlock looked brutal this year m.youtube.com/watch?v=nOs_...

First night out in Frodsham since before Covid hit. Markedly fewer people out in the pubs now sadly. Bear's Paw and Queen's Head good starters. London Pride a rare find up here and bargain price

first attempt at making a hot sauce from my Scoth Bonnets. Wow, it is fantastic. Can't believe I've made something that good. Rest goes in the freezer for later use. Spicy and fruity!

just need to find a good sauce recipe now for these freshly picked Scotch Bonnets 🌶🌶🌶

Shite, I have to cycle to Cambridge now! #FACupbybike Seals 2 Shrimps 0 🤪

love this challenge, how great for the fans to see him whizz by. Hope GCN were filming Mr Feather!

Breakfast with the disgustingsons at the hotel. At least the food was nice. Nearly ready for a creaky start to Day 2. Come on the Seals! #FACupbybike

#FACupbybike 1/4 way there over the old Runcorn-Widnes bridge. Spike Island next for you 90s ravers

ok 3rd FA Cup game of the season by bike 🚲. @morecambefc.bsky.social v @chesterfc.bsky.social . Preston the destination today. over 1000 fellow Seals making the trip to the seaside this weekend, should be fun

thanks to the latest Alan Partridge series I'm now fascinated by crinkle crankle walls. Why have I never heard of these before? And where is the nearest one to me I wonder? 🤔.

I just noticed my stats on the new Camra website. Yikes 😲🍺. No idea I'd visited and scored that many!

Had a flashback to 1976 as the utility room started filling with ladybirds today. Loads of em 🐞

Little breezy out today then, hope everyone is keeping safe. Will need to dig out the rain legs for cycling to the match. Might look soft but it beats sitting with soaked thighs for 2 hours. Route is 95% off road, hopefully no trees down on the greenway

oh just heard Jorgen Leth has died. Sunday in Hell and Stars and Watercarriers two of his standout films on cycling. Plus we've lost 'Mickey Pearce' from Only Fools. Only recently watched him as a kid in The Firm.

Game on for a third FA Cup round by bike this season. Day off work and accommodation booked for a 2 day adventure. Potentially 3 or 4 National Inventory pubs to visit. Oh and a footy match too 🚲🍺⚽️. Just got a wary eye on the weather, train is plan B.

Morecambe away in the FA Cup draw. If I want to keep up my record of pedalling to each round this season that would have to be a 2 day ride. One to mull over

different view from the opposite side today. Good FA Cup win 5-1 over a team in our league gets us in the hat. Will I be able to cycle to the next round game I wonder?

shortened ride so stuck to normal route. Good happy beers at the Sandstone. Rushed again so sadly no time for the stout

short hop to the White Horse in Churton. No Rat sadly but still good ales

Bad legs or the headwind? Seems new brakes needing tweaking in the end. Lost time doing that so cutting the ride shorter. Bonus stop at the Grosvenor in Aldford and bang on @timothytaylors.bsky.social Boltmaker. Great start to the day

just picked my first Scotch Bonnet chilli. Need to find a good sauce recipe for them now as a few are nearly ready. It was tasty and spicy!

The Groves and the weir looking lovely in the late afternoon. Now what on earth should I do after my appointment while I'm in town? 🤔

Really pleased that I planted an Oleaster hedge last year. I keep getting the lovely scent when walking nearby. Late nectar for insects plus berries in the spring adds to the variety of interest for wildlife through the year. More native spring bulbs are going in soon but winter is still lacking.

@friebos.bsky.social @lionelbirnie.bsky.social @grahamwillgoss.bsky.social I've just found this screenshot when clearing out old pics from the phone. The answer is Dylan van Baarle, am I too late for a prize? 😆

Bluestone in Boughton. Long time since I've had a Lagonda. Superb. Plus two dogs to fuss outside.

This is the third local pub in about as many weeks that I thought would never reopen @rogerprotz.bsky.social . First visit to the Jolly Gardeners in Chester in I can't remember how many years. Beers very good and the interior is still superb. Nice new sun trap beer garden too

yet again the gear cable came out of the dodgy s700 lever yesterday. Did the last part of the ride into Staly stuck on the 15 cog 😒. Can't find a replacement and upgrades are silly money. Bikes used to be cheap and simple

See if I can keep this Stalybridge cycle in one thread. First up the Weaver at Fridsham

It looks like I can't use the weather as an excuse tomorrow. Guess I'm cycling to Stalybridge then for another cycle ground tick. Possibly two Inventory pubs on the list as well. FA Cup run starts (and probably finishes 🙄) #ChesterFC #FACup #cycling #idiottakethetraininstead

Excited to have my first Scotch Bonnet ripening. Lovely colours

"When you hear the air attack warning, you and your family must take cover". #twotribes

In Wales, cows have the right of way

nice to do some long stretches at over 20 mph. God bless a strong tailwind! Back to Chester for some more great beers and 80's music at the Sandstone. Happy Days 🙂. Match next, will be cutting it fine as usual

A little something for the weekend @realalecyclist.bsky.social @stephenslack.bsky.social

Over the historic Farndon-Holt bridge over the Dee for a brief excursion into Wales before heading back towards Chester