Manchester to Ashton under Lyne

[Danny]

My son who is at Uni in Manchester has just got a job in Ashton and is trying to figure out a good route to cycle from the Oxford Road areas to his work location near Ashton station.

Google Maps suggests following the A635, which he thought looked very busy. The transportdirect website proposes what looks like a a route that basically parallels the A635 but looks quite convoluted (not sure if the link I posted will work for other).

Can anyone suggest a better way of doing this journey?

 

[YahudaMoon]

Hi Danny

I live just of Oxford Rd, Uni District and use the A635 all the time with no problems as I work in Stalybridge, of what is just a little further than Ashton U Lyne

I take Ardwick (O2 Apollo), Higher Ardwick, Midland St then A635,

Here


https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/B...29ab51e77ba!2m2!1d-2.0682457!2d53.4828751!3e1

 

[YahudaMoon]

Hi Danny

Not sure you'd have any other better option Danny to be honest, other than the Ashton U Lyne canal tow path that would take an age due to it being a canal tow path ha

Its pretty quiet out of Manchester in the mornings on the A635, all traffic is going the other way, into Manchester and its the same back home, with a steady downhill

The new tram system is pretty good I believe though I have never used it

 

[dan_bo]

I'm guessing it's the ikea? Tram stops over the road.

 

[I like Skol]

I'll throw my tu'ppence worth in with a few alternatives to consider.

1st of all though, how competent a cyclist is your son Danny? Is he happy riding in traffic on main roads and what kind of bike will he be using?

As Yahuda has said, the direct route is the A635 and if commuting at 9 & 5 he will be going the opposite direction to the worst of the traffic. This gives about 6.5 miles each way but the roads are pretty awful dual lane affairs that cyclists are most vulnerable on as there isn't often the space for cars to pass without moving out a lane so they often don't bother!!!

If it is a direct road journey you are looking for then I would recommend this alternative along the A662 through Droylesden and then the A6140 across the Ashton Moss which has a cyclepath for most of it's length if needed. The A662 is shared with the trams so you have to be careful of the tracks but as it is only single lane in either direction it is much more spacious and forgiving for a cyclist to have some space. Distance is a fraction more at about 6.8 miles

I would also consider the canal. It is direct and off-road and quite quick as well (well, it is for me ) but the down side is that once you get out past the MCFC and Velodrome it gets a bit mucky and is usually quite muddy around the Audenshaw/Guide Bridge areas.

My favoured option for someone not used to road riding would be THIS as it is largely off-road but still should be quite clean in most circumstances as much of it has a hard well drained surface that will be solid throughout the year. It is a bit further at 8.3 miles but a more enjoyable ride altogether IMO.

Best idea I can suggest is for him to try them all and then make a choice or use a mixture of all the suggested routes perhaps the clean one on the way to work and the mucky canal blast on the way home afterwards. Just another thought, some of the off-road routes are most likely unlit so might be problematic during the winter months?

If I can be any further help just ask, I might even be able to do a practice run with him if it would help

 

[Danny]

I'm guessing it's the ikea? Tram stops over the road.

Now his place of work is by the large Sainsburys.

 

[Danny]

I'll throw my tu'ppence worth in with a few alternatives to consider.

1st of all though, how competent a cyclist is your son Danny? Is he happy riding in traffic on main roads and what kind of bike will he be using?

As Yahuda has said, the direct route is the A635 and if commuting at 9 & 5 he will be going the opposite direction to the worst of the traffic. This gives about 6.5 miles each way but the roads are pretty awful dual lane affairs that cyclists are most vulnerable on as there isn't often the space for cars to pass without moving out a lane so they often don't bother!!!

If it is a direct road journey you are looking for then I would recommend this alternative along the A662 through Droylesden and then the A6140 across the Ashton Moss which has a cyclepath for most of it's length if needed. The A662 is shared with the trams so you have to be careful of the tracks but as it is only single lane in either direction it is much more spacious and forgiving for a cyclist to have some space. Distance is a fraction more at about 6.8 miles

I would also consider the canal. It is direct and off-road and quite quick as well (well, it is for me ) but the down side is that once you get out past the MCFC and Velodrome it gets a bit mucky and is usually quite muddy around the Audenshaw/Guide Bridge areas.

My favoured option for someone not used to road riding would be THIS as it is largely off-road but still should be quite clean in most circumstances as much of it has a hard well drained surface that will be solid throughout the year. It is a bit further at 8.3 miles but a more enjoyable ride altogether IMO.

Best idea I can suggest is for him to try them all and then make a choice or use a mixture of all the suggested routes perhaps the clean one on the way to work and the mucky canal blast on the way home afterwards. Just another thought, some of the off-road routes are most likely unlit so might be problematic during the winter months?

If I can be any further help just ask, I might even be able to do a practice run with him if it would help

Thanks for the comprehensive reply. I'll pass on the info - and your potential offer of a practice run!

Unfortunately his work starts late afternoon so he would be going with the rush hour traffic out of Manchester. My son is an experienced and competent cyclist who has ridden around York for years, though probably not on routes as busy as the A635. I think he is not so much nervous about riding on the A635, as concerned that it will not be pleasant riding that distance in heavy traffic.

 

[wintergreen]

My favoured option for someone not used to road riding would be THIS as it is largely off-road but still should be quite clean in most circumstances as much of it has a hard well drained surface that will be solid throughout the year. It is a bit further at 8.3 miles but a more enjoyable ride altogether IMO.

That mostly off road route is one I ride quite often because I can let my dog run for most of it (I tend to continue on to Park Bridge from Manchester). The only thing I would say about that route is the section of road between Clayton Vale and Daisy Nook, - Green Lane/Medlock Road can be quite daunting at busy times. It gets used as a shortcut and in a couple of places the road is very narrow but traffic doesn't slow down so you need to be careful on a few of the bends. Other than that its a nice ride.

 

[dan_bo]

Now his place of work is by the large Sainsburys.

Funnily enough there's a tram stop over the road there as well

 

[YahudaMoon]

My favoured option for someone not used to road riding would be THIS as it is largely off-road but still should be quite clean in most circumstances as much of it has a hard well drained surface that will be solid throughout the year. It is a bit further at 8.3 miles but a more enjoyable ride altogether IMO.

Crime Lake looks interesting never heard of it before

Im not familiar with north Manchester and haven't been down that area, so I'll give it a go some time

 

[I like Skol]

......The only thing I would say about that route is the section of road between Clayton Vale and Daisy Nook, - Green Lane/Medlock Road can be quite daunting at busy times.......

I know it's not great but on balance probably no worse than the alternatives and only a short part of the overall journey.

For an off-road alternative you can hop over the Medlock after the sewage works and then travel across Littlemoss along the old canal and into Daisy Nook that way.

Crime Lake looks interesting never heard of it before

Im not familiar with north Manchester and haven't been down that area, so I'll give it a go some time

We did this route on the 2013 New Years Day run so you have ridden parts of it already