North Manchester Local Knowledge Required

[Katherine]

Those are some serious hilly routes @Nomadski!

 

[nickyboy]

Ended up coming up with a route, but after doing it, is at the very top end of my limited capabilities! Might do a few rides before attempting this one.

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/11121846

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That's a nice route. I'll be doing the Holme Moss/Saddleworth Moor bit today. If you're wanting to do rides like this let me know as I can tweak the route ever so slightly to get you on the best roads

 

[shouldbeinbed]

Late to the party NE Manchester. No new recommendations really. Welcome to Manchester.

If you prefer flat go south. From Crumpsall, Bury & Rochdale are your most direct gateways to lumpy nice bits. Oldham & Ashton U Lyne also let you out into lovely scenery eventually. Oldham both via Greenfield/Uppermill and over the hills towards Littleborough (top end of Cragg Vale and into ColinJ country) and Huddersfield or Barnsley over the tops. Quite bleak and rugged generally.

I personally don't like the scenic roads from Glossop/Ashton - Woodhead or Snake Passes, they're very busy to get to and both have their own problems with vehicles Woodhead-non motorway shortest route Mcr-Sheffield full of trucks. Snake, beautiful but narrow and bendy not a lot of room for manoeuvre in an emergency.

I know you've said you're a roadie and round here gives you plenty of scope but the canal network is quite expansive and flat & worth a little explore if you did invest in a more rugged machine. Lots of bits are nice riding but it is sporadic and do'able on a roadie but cobbles and gravelly bits can be a bit hairy or jarring. Portland Basin in the Centre of Ashton is a gateway to various canals & Oldham I think now have improved the Oldham to Rochdale section of towpath though the Om - MCR bit is still rideable but random surface type

I'm not in a position to do big rides or proper hills anymore , I'm quite a solitary git on bikes anyhow as I tend to just head out and follow my nose rather than plan and have binned the roadie, but I do hope you enjoy your rides out and living here Just remember if you do move to Chorlton, you have to grow a bushy beard and ride a lime green fixie to the artisan avocado shop ;-)

Beware the Metrolink too, its V good for getting you about but it does not like your full size bike at all.

 

[400bhp]

With a lot of help from this thread have plotted a route out to Rivington and back mostly via the NCN6 and @400bhp suggestions, then back via the A6 and A6044 which might well be busy, but seems uncomplicated for now.

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/11133124

The advice, and tools suggested have been a great help.

@Siclo I might well look at going further north sometime to that road, looks a tasty little climb, and picturesque! Just a little worried about the state of those roads as no streetview available for many of the adjoining roads - must get a CX bike sometime.

On the way back, when you get to Wardley, turn left and cut through the estate (Mossfield Rd, Queensway Rake Lane, Lumms Lane) to miss out a bit of rubbishy roads.

 

[BEHMOTH66]

Manchester Social Cycling have a good bunch of guys if your looking for a group of easy going people

 

[nickyboy]

Don't be put off by comments about the Peak District roads being busy. Your route is fine with a little tweak to mininmise Woodhead Pass* (which isn't great tbh). Snake Pass is great. I've ridden it nearly 100 times and never had any problem at all.

The reality is that urban roads are much more dangerous as you probably know. The main danger in the hills is sheep in the road!

* The tweak is to go into Hadfield instead of heading directly out on the Woodhead Road. You can pick up a nice back road that joins the Woodhead about 1/2 mile before the turn off for Holme Moss. Nearly all local cyclists use this

 

[SteCenturion]

Go west young man ! an hours drive and you're in Wales , cycling heaven ! Not telling you where , you need to find the places yourself !!!!

It'll take him half an hour to get to the Motorway.

But yes, Wales would be lovely if you have that kind of free time available.

 

[ColinJ]

@ColinJ I may well take you up on that offer, although as I work shifts my 'weekends' are not always Saturday and Sunday (big reason I never joined a cycling club) so will contact you prior to when they come about, I don't mind driving out.

That's ok - I'm generally flexible about time.

Not so flexible with the weather though! Most of my hilly routes go up to over 1,200 ft above sea level so they can be a bit grim in bad weather. These days I tend not to ride if very strong winds and/or heavy precipitation are forecast. Ice is a real no-no.

@Littgull and I are planning to ride together on either 23rd or 24th of November, subject to the weather being ok. If you happen to be free, you'd be welcome to join us.

 

[Katherine]

Manchester Social Cycling have a good bunch of guys if your looking for a group of easy going people

Yes, they're on fb and although they usually go out on a Sunday morning from the Velodrome, people often post during the week that they're doing a ride and does anyone want to join them.

 

[Nomadski]

On the way back, when you get to Wardley, turn left and cut through the estate (Mossfield Rd, Queensway Rake Lane, Lumms Lane) to miss out a bit of rubbishy roads.

Thanks for letting me know. Edited - http://ridewithgps.com/routes/11138947

Don't be put off by comments about the Peak District roads being busy. Your route is fine with a little tweak to mininmise Woodhead Pass* (which isn't great tbh). Snake Pass is great. I've ridden it nearly 100 times and never had any problem at all.

The reality is that urban roads are much more dangerous as you probably know. The main danger in the hills is sheep in the road!

* The tweak is to go into Hadfield instead of heading directly out on the Woodhead Road. You can pick up a nice back road that joins the Woodhead about 1/2 mile before the turn off for Holme Moss. Nearly all local cyclists use this

Appreciate the effort there, will that work just as good coming the other way? My initial route had me doing Holme Moss from the north heading south so that section west of the dale is on the inbound (return) section, rather than outbound.

That's ok - I'm generally flexible about time.

Not so flexible with the weather though! Most of my hilly routes go up to over 1,200 ft above sea level so they can be a bit grim in bad weather. These days I tend not to ride if very strong winds and/or heavy precipitation are forecast. Ice is a real no-no.

@Littgull and I are planning to ride together on either 23rd or 24th of November, subject to the weather being ok. If you happen to be free, you'd be welcome to join us.

I am off work on the 23rd so would be on for that, weather permitting! 24th am back at work.

Yes, they're on fb and although they usually go out on a Sunday morning from the Velodrome, people often post during the week that they're doing a ride and does anyone want to join them.

I will have a look for them. Such a shame about my shift work that stops me from being able to regularly meet up for Sunday rides.

 

[nickyboy]

Appreciate the effort there, will that work just as good coming the other way? My initial route had me doing Holme Moss from the north heading south so that section west of the dale is on the inbound (return) section, rather than outbound.
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Yes, works exactly the same in reverse. In truth, Woodhead downhill isn't bad as you're going quite a bit quicker. However, I'd still take my diversion as the roads are very pleasant indeed

I find Holme Moss a tough climb. As such I usually do it in whichever direction the wind is helping. I've done it into a strong headwind and it isn't much fun

 

[rourkey34]

If you fancy a ride in a group, I ride in a group which meet in Radcliffe (6-7 miles from Crumpsall) every Sunday morning and could give you a tour of a few routes.

We are a friendly bunch, no pressure to ride at a silly speed, more of a social ride.

If you are interested, feel free to contact me directly and I can give you some more details.

Thanks,
Andy

 

[MossCommuter]

To get into Cheshire :

A6044, A6, then go down Old Clough Lane to get to the East Lancs cycle path , then head through Glazebury, then B212 to take you to the Cadishead Way which has a cycle path nearly all the way to the Warburton Bridge over the ship canal. If you don't want to use the East Lancs cycle path then stay on the A6 and go down Mort Lane( can get flooded) then A572 Manchester Rd and left into Warrington Rd at Leigh, and cross the East Lancs using the roundabout and straight into Glazebury.

Be aware that there is no cycle path from the end of the B5212 to Warburton Bridge along the A57. The end of the B5212 is where you leave Salford for the badlands of Cheshire and the cycle path ends.
You can use the old road, parallel to the A57, for some of the way though.
If you turn left at the end of the B5212 there is a cycle path all the way to Eccles (or you can cross the canal into Flixton by crossing Irlam Locks)

 

[bigjim]

I live up the road from you in Prestwich. I do a regular 25 mile weekday circuit from home, going through Heaton Park and climbing up to Bowlee towards Heywood. You are within 2 miles of country lanes, also with some hard climbs if you want them. Further afield just go out with Bury CTC or Middleton cycling club who will show you some great routes. Spolit for choice around Manchester for clubs and rides without having to step into your car.

 

[Nomadski]

Got plenty of ideas of places to go to and how to get there now, just need to get rid of this manflu which has timed itself to perfection with my holiday week off!

I live up the road from you in Prestwich. I do a regular 25 mile weekday circuit from home, going through Heaton Park and climbing up to Bowlee towards Heywood. You are within 2 miles of country lanes, also with some hard climbs if you want them. Further afield just go out with Bury CTC or Middleton cycling club who will show you some great routes. Spolit for choice around Manchester for clubs and rides without having to step into your car.

I made a little loop using a few A roads to the reservoir at Ashworth Moor, but probably wont do it tomorrow due to the cold and my manflu!

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/11225295

(The mad squiggly bit is me planning a little reccy of Heaton park!)