England : Greater Manchester Chocolate Cafe/East Lanc Railway ride Saturday 30th September.

[Andrew Br]

I'm running this ride again.
This year we're starting from outside the Megastore on Sir Matt Busby Way at Old Trafford football ground at 09.15.

Info from previous years:-

It's largely off-road although eminently rideable on skinny tyred road bikes and pretty flat (one longish drag from Tottington to Holcombe Brook and a short, sharp rise near Haslingden Golf Club).
Lunch is at the Chocolate Cafe in Ramsbottom and we return from Rawtenstall to Bury via the East Lancs Railway.
Bury back to MCR is along the A56 unless we decide to drop onto NCN6 again.

Old Trafford to Rawtenstall is 27 miles, Bury to OT is 14 miles.

I tend to crack the whip a little before lunch since I want us to get to the cafe as near to 12.00 as possible but after that we have loads of time to get to Rawtenstall for the 15.15 train.
While we're waiting for the train we can pass the time in the real ale pub on the platform.

Assuming no delays, I would expect to get back to MCR at around 17.00.

You'll need lights and, if you're a faster rider, it's probably worth bringing an extra layer 'cos there can be a bit of waiting around at the re-groups.

You'll notice that I haven't crow-barred my "Upper Ramsbottom" joke in there.

Peter's write-up of a previous year's ride is here:- https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=78520.0

A previous year's "advertisement":- https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=76600.0 (contains pictures, the route and the aforementioned joke.)

This is how it can go wrong:- https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=82756.0

 

[Domus]

Never ridden in a group before, I don't want to hold anyone up so apologies in early for my lack of speed/fitness. It will be 10 miles or so to get to the start point, so may bale out on the return leg as I live in Sunny Radcliffe. Need to fit my new wheels, (if the tyres turn up) fingers crossed.

 

[Andrew Br]

If it helps Domus, we come through Radcliffe on the way out so we could meet you there.
PM me if it's of interest and let me have a phone number; I can call you when we're about 10 minutes away.

Don't worry about the group riding thing. The terrain is such that we won't be in a tight bunch and we'll not be going all that quickly.

 

[Domus]

New tyres arrived and fitted to new wheels. Thumbs very sore.
Test ride in the morning so hopefully OK for Saturday.

Excuse my numptyness, how do I send a private message? Is it "Start a new conversation"?

Peter

 

[Andrew Br]

Excuse my numptyness, how do I send a private message? Is it "Start a new conversation"?

Peter

Sorry, yes, that's what you do.
My mistake, I was usng the terminology from another forum.

I'll send you my mobile number.

 

[Domus]

Looking forward to my first forum ride. First of many I hope.

 

[Katherine]

 

[Domus]

First of many I hope. Very nice people riding at a good pace.
Even I could keep up (mostly)

Thanks Andrew for your leadership. One request for next time. Less mud please.

 

[Andrew Br]

You're very welcome Domus, glad you enjoyed it.
You'll be asking me for less rain as well won't you ........... ?

The next ride that I'll be leading is a Chorlton Wander (https://chorltonwanderers.wordpress.com/) in November.
All the Wanders start in Chorlton and, usually, head either south into Cheshire or East towards Astley(ish).
My Wander is actually heading to Heaton Park along some of the route that we took to Radcliffe yesterday.
The October Wander is going to Alderley Edge and you'd be welcome to turn up.
One regular rider comes up from Bury to join us.

If you send me me your e-mail address I can get you signed up to receive the e-mails about the rides.

In other news, my front wheel will hardly go round. I think the pads are shot and the pistons won't retract.
That might explain why the ride back was so difficult.*

*Yes, yes, cyclist excuse #44.

 

[Domus]

Washed the bike this morning, then had to wash the drive there was that much mud.

Email in private message.

Peter