ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
@skudupnorth couldn't make the July version of the ride so @Littgull and I promised that we would try to squeeze another Cheshire forum ride in this year. The 3 of us have 31st August free, so we have chosen that day for it.
Based on interest in the other ride... Paging @GuyBoden, @Katherine, @Pennine-Paul, @Domus, @Pumpkin the robot, @Vantage, @Pale Rider?
Anybody else who fancies it is welcome to joins us. Browse through the thread for the July ride to get an idea of what to expect.
We will go out and back via the A57 this time (Roe Green Loopline, short stretch of Bridgewater canal towpath, Port Salford Greenway, A57 cycle path, Irlam locks, then road to Dunham). I have attached a GPX file showing that from Dunham to Walkden station. (Follow it in reverse for the outward leg.)
I have also attached a GPX file for the main loop (Dunham marina Dunham). Since we want to go to the Venetian Marina cafe again and don't want to ride through too many town centres, our options are fairly limited without going back to doing 200+ kms. I did toy with going out through Tatton Park but there are roadworks in the area on Saturday so I settled for pretty much the loop we did first time round, except for going through Mobberley rather than under the airport runway.
The main loop Dunham-Marina-Dunham is 124 km (77 miles) and the ride from Walkden to Dunham is 22 km (14 miles) so Walkden-Walkden will be 168 km (105 miles).
We will be starting early from Walkden to avoid the Park Run on the Roe Green Loopline. Littgull and I will be due to arrive by train at Walkden station at 08:15 so if you are meeting us there, aim to be ready waiting by just after 08:10. We will ride at a steady pace out to Dunham, aiming to get to 'the big tree' by 09:30. If you are meeting us there, aim to arrive by 09:25.
We will ride to the Venetian marina cafe on the Shropshire Union canal near Colmondeston for lunch, 77/55 km (48/35 miles) into the ride. That should be at around 13:00, so carry enough food and drink to get you there from Walkden or Dunham.
After lunch we will head back via Beeston Castle and Delamere Forest. If you'd like another stop, we could do a detour into Weaverham before Acton Bridge. I have attached a GPX file for the short detour.
I have also attached GPX files for 2 shortcuts, just in case the weather turns evil on us. Both of them bypass the marina, leaving Weaverham as the only stop.
A word about speed ... As far as I'm concerned it will be fine for us to take our time and enjoy the ride, but I really hope to get back to Walkden before sunset, which is at 20:01 on Saturday. That gives us 11.75 hours to do our 168 km (105 miles), meaning that we have to average 14.3 kph (9 mph) overall, or about 17 kph (10.5 mph) moving average. There are undulations on the route but it isn't really hilly so those speeds should be achievable.
So... If you are someone who likes to race about, this ride will be too slow for you. If you like to really take your time and enjoy sightseeing, it could be too fast! We will be between those 2 extremes. It's your call.
Based on interest in the other ride... Paging @GuyBoden, @Katherine, @Pennine-Paul, @Domus, @Pumpkin the robot, @Vantage, @Pale Rider?
Anybody else who fancies it is welcome to joins us. Browse through the thread for the July ride to get an idea of what to expect.
We will go out and back via the A57 this time (Roe Green Loopline, short stretch of Bridgewater canal towpath, Port Salford Greenway, A57 cycle path, Irlam locks, then road to Dunham). I have attached a GPX file showing that from Dunham to Walkden station. (Follow it in reverse for the outward leg.)
I have also attached a GPX file for the main loop (Dunham marina Dunham). Since we want to go to the Venetian Marina cafe again and don't want to ride through too many town centres, our options are fairly limited without going back to doing 200+ kms. I did toy with going out through Tatton Park but there are roadworks in the area on Saturday so I settled for pretty much the loop we did first time round, except for going through Mobberley rather than under the airport runway.
The main loop Dunham-Marina-Dunham is 124 km (77 miles) and the ride from Walkden to Dunham is 22 km (14 miles) so Walkden-Walkden will be 168 km (105 miles).
We will be starting early from Walkden to avoid the Park Run on the Roe Green Loopline. Littgull and I will be due to arrive by train at Walkden station at 08:15 so if you are meeting us there, aim to be ready waiting by just after 08:10. We will ride at a steady pace out to Dunham, aiming to get to 'the big tree' by 09:30. If you are meeting us there, aim to arrive by 09:25.
We will ride to the Venetian marina cafe on the Shropshire Union canal near Colmondeston for lunch, 77/55 km (48/35 miles) into the ride. That should be at around 13:00, so carry enough food and drink to get you there from Walkden or Dunham.
After lunch we will head back via Beeston Castle and Delamere Forest. If you'd like another stop, we could do a detour into Weaverham before Acton Bridge. I have attached a GPX file for the short detour.
I have also attached GPX files for 2 shortcuts, just in case the weather turns evil on us. Both of them bypass the marina, leaving Weaverham as the only stop.
A word about speed ... As far as I'm concerned it will be fine for us to take our time and enjoy the ride, but I really hope to get back to Walkden before sunset, which is at 20:01 on Saturday. That gives us 11.75 hours to do our 168 km (105 miles), meaning that we have to average 14.3 kph (9 mph) overall, or about 17 kph (10.5 mph) moving average. There are undulations on the route but it isn't really hilly so those speeds should be achievable.
So... If you are someone who likes to race about, this ride will be too slow for you. If you like to really take your time and enjoy sightseeing, it could be too fast! We will be between those 2 extremes. It's your call.
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