Advice please: Manchester to Shropshire

[400bhp]

Seriously-it's not that bad.

 

[middleagecyclist]

Tis fine on 23's boss through the water park-I do it almost every day.

Great.

I've looked at the alternative route through south Manc. If you can be arsed to change it slightly you can miss out the awful roundabout in Timperley (bottom of Brooklands Rd) by using the cut through over the brook on Wood Rd, then onto woodhouse lane east and re-join your route via Park road.

I've been arsed. Thanks.

There is a nasty gradient on a section through Acton Bridge - really nasty...so this is a local knowledge thing

I did note the gradient at Acton but thought 'hey hills have to be tackled sometimes'. I've now rerouted as per your suggestion. Thanks.

PS - if you spot a female cyclist on a red triban 3 along that section.. it will probably be me! I usually cycle the A49 between Cuddington & M56 on a Tuesday and Friday, otherwise you would be welcome for a water refill.

I'll keep my eyes peeled!

These are just the kind of tips and local knowledge I was after. Many, many thanks to all. Here is the revised route once more.

 

[400bhp]

Just a warning - i notice that some of your route is drawn and you have a garmin 705 i think? I'm sure you're aware but sometimes the garmin doesn't give turnings at points where the route is drawn so it's always a good idea to try and memorise the unusual bits of the ride and also leave the garmin on map view most of the time.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Seriously-it's not that bad.

life can be easier and with the distance vrs daylight and not knowing how often the OP cycles those distances etc, it may just help to avoid it when there is a much easier route around it adding only a little bit more and saving energy for later on in the route when he starts to get colder (if the weather forecast is still the same). Colder weather = more energy required etc.

 

[middleagecyclist]

Just a warning - i notice that some of your route is drawn and you have a garmin 705 i think? I'm sure you're aware but sometimes the garmin doesn't give turnings at points where the route is drawn so it's always a good idea to try and memorise the unusual bits of the ride and also leave the garmin on map view most of the time.

Yes I have a 705. Just getting used to navigating with it. I tend to use RWGPS to plot my route, open the saved file in Bikehike then save it as a GPXX file before loading onto the Garmin. It seems to work just fine so far with both road plotted and drawn routes but I will certainly bear what you said in mind, particularly for the section avoiding the Timperely RAB as I don't know this area at all.

 

[middleagecyclist]

life can be easier and with the distance vrs daylight and not knowing how often the OP cycles those distances etc, it may just help to avoid it when there is a much easier route around it adding only a little bit more and saving energy for later on in the route when he starts to get colder (if the weather forecast is still the same). Colder weather = more energy required etc.

Thanks for the consideration. The distance is fine for me though. I'm a (very) new Audax rider so happy with 100-150 miles in a day at a reasonable pace. I also do a bit of fully loaded touring (in the UK only so far) and consider ascending hills as the price to pay for:

• a good/great view
• a decent workout
• a fun descent

as well as the reason I have a Rohloff on my tourer and a compact on the road bike and will also definitely be getting a triple on the yet to be bought Audax bike.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Thanks for the consideration. The distance is fine for me though. I'm a (very) new Audax rider so happy with 100-150 miles in a day at a reasonable pace. I also do a bit of fully loaded touring (in the UK only so far) and consider ascending hills as the price to pay for:

• a good/great view
• a decent workout
• a fun decent

as well as the reason I have a Rohloff on my tourer and a compact on the road bike and will also definitely be getting a triple on the yet to be bought Audax bike.

Whilst I'm not an Audax cyclist (never will be), I just cycle as a means of transport each and everyday and have toured a touch as well (having sold everything I own to go off cycling around the world on a rohloff equiped expedition bike). max I have done in a day is 93miles with 3,000-4,000m of climbing (you can't measure climbs in tunnels and one of them descended to 212m below sea level before you ask and we spent 15km in tunnels that day).
PS there is no descent at the top of that climb, just another climb... and when you get to the downhill bit the road surface has issues in places.

 

[400bhp]

oh, one other thing...set the garmin to "prompt" when off route rather than the default "auto route" or whatever they call it. It's a right PITA when it automatically recalculates. These days i never recalculate a route.

 

[al-fresco]

I happen to live 3 miles from Gobowen and I've ridden to Manchester a couple of times - the bad news for you is that there are absolutely NO significant hills in between! The route I've used is about 70 miles and, thinking it through in reverse, it would go - Moss Side, through Alexandra Park, Sale, Altrincham, Hale, then Ashley Road to Tatton Park, cut through Tatton Park, Knutsford. Back lane, Hulme lane, Common lane, Crowder's lane and Davenham road to Davenham. Out of Davenham on London road through Moulton and pick up the Weaver tow path to Winsford. Darnhall, Bunbury and on to Malpas. Then Cuddington, Overton, St Martin's and Gobowen. This route uses unclassified roads for the most part but is perfectly rideable on 700x23c tyres.

 

[SportMonkey]

What time are you leaving? I may be able to join you for a good few miles.

 

[middleagecyclist]

What time are you leaving? I may be able to join you for a good few miles.

That would be nice but at the moment I am not quite sure what is happening. My mates have just informed me their pipes have burst and there is no heating at all in the house. If they can't get it sorted today they will have to move out. The trip is currently on hold.

 

[SportMonkey]

That would be nice but at the moment I am not quite sure what is happening. My mates have just informed me their pipes have burst and there is no heating at all in the house. If they can't get it sorted today they will have to move out. The trip is currently on hold.

Boo! Well let me know if you're plan on it in the future, my work hours are pretty flexible. Or if you plan on doing a few miles anyway tomorrow if you're off and at a loose end.

 

[middleagecyclist]

Trip postponed for few weeks (but will get to cycle there soon so all help with the route has still been very useful). Also, no cycling today as going to work on the new house and then have the night with family in a nice hotel for a treat.

 

[pubrunner]

In a previous existence (in the pub ), I lived just two miles from Gobowen and I live only 6 or 7 miles away now.

If you feel in need of sustenance, there is a good cafe at the Derwen College in Gobowen. Prices are very reasonable and all the stuff is home-made.

http://www.derwen.ac.uk/visitors/bettys.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/shropshire/features/2002/10/teashop.shtml

If you can face cycling on another 6 miles, there is a brilliant cafe in Maesbury, right by the canal in very pleasant surroundings.

http://www.canalcentral.co.uk/ - it is very popular with cyclists and deservedly so . . . though it is closed on a Monday & Tuesday.

I presume that you are catching a train home from Gobowen ?