A trip up to Manchester for eleven nights was planned so it was a good opportunity for ‘The Colonel’ to come along. Most mornings I was free till 12 and had two free days on the Monday and Tuesday. Staying in Prestwich just off the New Bury Road made access to the outlying areas quite easy and only a few miles away. Arrived Friday evening, checked in and spent Saturday morning finding my bearings ie too lazy to go cycling so made up an excuse.
Sunday 9 April. Pre breakfast ride Manchester. As this was my first ride this was the eye opener of what was to come. Awesome area. Obviously when plotting a route online according to distance I did not take into account elevation. Out north through Bury towards Ramsbottom and back through Radcliffe. Back in time for breakfast…
Map, ride and route details: Prebreakfast ride Manchester
Monday 10 April. Day off. Manchester Century. Again the beauty of this ride was the route was plotted online and loaded on to the garmin. No idea where I was going or what was coming. Just follow the sat nav. This time out west south of Bolton, Rivington, over Rivington reservoir, almost to Liverpool, along the River Mersey, Widnes, then back through Sale. Some of the route was along the Trans Pennine Trail, Route 62 which was a great alternative to the busy roads.
Map, ride and route details: Manchester Century
Below a slide show of some of the days snaps…
Tuesday 11 April. Another day off so full days riding, Hilly 100 North of Manchester followed by an evening ride with Oscar’s Dad from the YACF. The comment I made on the day after the hilly 100 was: “hardest ride I’ve done this year…not only a few inclines, I was reduced to 2.5miles/hour, a horrendous head wind causing a max of 10mi/hr on the flat. all good for the training…”. A stunning ride especially along Widdop road past the reservoirs, however a bit bleak up there. What was supposed to be a quick morning ride ended up taking over 6 and a half hours with a moving average of 17.6km/hr and I still had an evening ride to come…
Map, ride and route details: Hilly 100 North of Manchester
Below some of the days snaps…
After recovering from the hilly horror of the day I went for an evening ride which I described on the day as: “Ride with a man met off the internet followed by beers and steak. Good night, nice guy…” Oscar’s Dad- what a character and extremely enjoyable company. Very funny and his love for the bike and encouraging others to partake in cycling and beer drinking is indeed infectious.
Map, ride and route details: Evening circuit with Oscar’s Dad
Friday 14 April. Smallish prebreakfast 60km ride out west through Atherton, up to Horwich, round the top of Bolton then back to the hotel via Ainsworth and Radcliffe.
Map, ride and route details(two links as garmin turned off during ride): Manchester prebreakfast part 1 and Manchester prebreakfast part 2
Saturday 15 April. More time today. This ride was inspired by Oscar’s Dad who told me about his plans to ride up to the Cat and Fiddle, allegedly the highest pub in England. After speaking to some of the locals I was told the harder(steeper) way up was through Macclesfield and then a long down hill the other side with a few lumps through Buxton, Whaley Bridge, Denton back to base. Some of the views on the way up were quite amazing especially the tarmac lifting up in front of me.
It was quite surprising when on the way up I saw a sign for the Peak National Park. Once again the joys of discovery when putting a route in the garmin and following the blue line.
At the top the Cat and Fiddle was a welcoming sight however it was closed and there was a mobile roadside refreshment van opposite. PITY…a drink in the highest pub would of been most welcome.
Quick refreshment then back to Manchester.
Map, ride and route details: Marks Allez Cat and Fiddle up from Macclesfield
Monday 17 April. Last ride today as going home tomorrow. Shortish 40 miler planned. North through the park, up to Heywood, then Ramsbottom, via Bury, climb to Holcombe, then loop back. Just before Ramsbottom stopped to admire the view for the last time…
then down and up was the plan. I was climbing out of the town around the corner thinking it was the end and there it was….affectionately known as The Rake
Return journey after that was relatively easier. Home straight and two miles from the hotel(in fact last two miles of the Manchester trip) the garmin played up and back wheel puncture.
Map, ride and route details: Last Manchester Ride
All in all a good break…and fantatsic cycling in the Greater Manchester area.
From Zim to AUK and Beyond... 