Manchester - Llandudno Saturday 18 May 2019

[I like Skol]

A bad bit is that climb out of Radcliffe to the A56. Or you can do what I do and go round the back of Asda through Drinki Park to Littleton Road. Then flat or downhill to Piccadilly.

I laugh at what some of you guys call 'hills'

 

[StuAff]

I did the hillier route last time- yes, there are some nasty climbs, but in overall climbing I usually have considerably more on my 100 milers. 5800ft on Thursday, 4300 last year...

 

[nickyboy]

I did the hillier route last time- yes, there are some nasty climbs, but in overall climbing I usually have considerably more on my 100 milers. 5800ft on Thursday, 4300 last year...

I think it's fair to describe it thus...

Miles 0-30, flat
Miles 30-40 rolling (Delamere forest etc)
Miles 40-60 flat
Miles 60-75 hilly if you do the hilly route, flat otherwise
Miles 75-100 flat with one climb into Llandudno

If you do the flat route, it really is a flat ride

 

[StuAff]

If you do the flat route, it really is a flat ride

Well, apart from those nasty little ramps on the cycle path round Colwyn Bay. I ended up walking some of those!

 

[Domus]

When I said get to the start I meant finding my way there. Every time I ride to Chorlton Water Park the roads through the city centre have changed. Last time a diverted route had a diversion.

 

[nickyboy]

When I said get to the start I meant finding my way there. Every time I ride to Chorlton Water Park the roads through the city centre have changed. Last time a diverted route had a diversion.

We have an official pickup point in Altrincham (well Broadheath to be precise) if that would suit you better. Just need to be mindful of total miles if you're targeting a century ride. Usually a few start from.there

 

[Domus]

Piccadilly will be fine.

 

[bigjim]

I laugh at what some of you guys call 'hills'

You wouldn't be saying that when you are rolling up it at the end of a 100 mile ride on a Sunday Evening. It's not a hard hill but one of those that is not pleasant. All the club dislike it. Anyway it's not a contest on who is the better hill climber.

 

[I like Skol]

Anyway it's not a contest on who is the better hill climber.

I'm no great hill climber, but have grown up with the Pennines on my doorstep. Faced with the alternative, which is to turn the other way and ride into Manchester, I have mostly pointed my bicycle at the hills and got on with it. You do get used to them and they stop registering after a couple of times.

 

[bigjim]

As I ride out towards Bury and beyond on almost every ride. Up into the Lancashire hills/Yorkshire Dales/Ribble valley, etc I am always climbing. I never get used to them. At almost 15 stone, 6'2", therefore on an XL heavy bike, I'll never be an easy climber.

 

[Domus]

I think it was Greg Lemond who said about climbing, "It never gets easier, you just get faster"

He's a liar.

 

[ColinJ]

At almost 15 stone, 6'2", therefore on an XL heavy bike, I'll never be an easy climber.

At 13 stone, 6' 2", on an XL lightweight bike though, you could be a lot better...

I'm 6' 1", and was 17+ stone. It is a hell of a lot easier going up these Pennine climbs now at 13-and-a-bit stone!

 

[bigjim]

At 13 stone, 6' 2", on an XL lightweight bike though, you could be a lot better...

I'm 6' 1", and was 17+ stone. It is a hell of a lot easier going up these Pennine climbs now at 13-and-a-bit stone!

True, but not possible for me. I'm not fat, not overweight. I carry a lot of chest/arm muscle plus big legs and of course a bit of belly fat. Fighting genetics won't work for me and my wife says the Froome look would lead to divorce. I'm happy enough with my size. I'm pretty fast downhill and on the flats though.
Cycling is not all of me. I spend as much time in the gym or in this weather swimming.

 

[ColinJ]

True, but not possible for me. I'm not fat, not overweight. I carry a lot of chest/arm muscle plus big legs and of course a bit of belly fat. Fighting genetics won't work for me and my wife says the Froome look would lead to divorce. I'm happy enough with my size. I'm pretty fast downhill and on the flats though.
Cycling is not all of me. I spend as much time in the gym or in this weather swimming.

Ah, yes - I don't have a lot of muscle. I could get down to a Froome-like size (I weighed 10 stone 10 lbs when I was 30) but it wasn't a good look even then when I still had youthful skin. Now I would look incredibly haggard at that weight, with bloodhound-sized jowls!

 

[bigjim]

Ah, yes - I don't have a lot of muscle. I could get down to a Froome-like size (I weighed 10 stone 10 lbs when I was 30) but it wasn't a good look even then when I still had youthful skin. Now I would look incredibly haggard at that weight, with bloodhound-sized jowls!

I weighed 13.5 stone in my 30s and I was addicted to running including marathons so that was, I guess, as low as my body would go and stay healthy. No chest in those days and skinny arms.