One of my best commutes

Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.

400bhp

Guru
Felt compelled to post:


Well, I was a little bored at work earlier in the week so decided to see if I could plot a new route into work. I'd sometimes commute down the Bridgwater canal to Stretford on my Carrera Subway workhorse, but never ventured further as I'd always assumed it wasn't suitable for bikes.

Had a bit of a nosey on Opencyclemaps.org and Bikeroutetoaster's "cycle" map layout and noticed that it suggested I could take the canal a little futher into Trafford Park. I also noticed there seemed to be a cycle path alongside the river Irwell - this would mean I would have to negotiate some back streets around Old Trafford to make the 2 routes join. Furthermore the Irwell path appeared to stop short of the city centre which meant I would have to join a busy road for the last mile and a half or so. Although, on closer inspection using Google street view looking over the tops of some road bridges onto the river below, it looked like it might be possible to cycle into Castlefield (muddy track).

Gave it a go this morning - 3 bonuses.

1. Sir Matt Busby way outside Old Traffrord is now closed to through traffic (bollards in place). Therefore, the route adjoining the canal and the river (perhaps 1.5 miles) was even more traffic free

2. The river route was really pleasant. Very quiet with a lovely view over the river and into Manchester city centre.

3. I decided to ignore the Garmin shouting at me as I approached the bit where I thought I would have to jump off the river path and onto main roads and continued. Lo and behold they appear to have tarmaced the path, far enough that it joins up with Castlefield. Even better is that they have closed off a road bridge that passes over the river and made it into a shared path :thumbsup:.

Therefore I now have a route into Manchester that is 9.5 miles long with virtually no busy roads and around 7 miles off road. With the weather this morning and with me pottering along, saving energy for this Sunday's Cheshire Cat, this was perhaps the most pleasant commute I can remember.

:bicycle:
 

VamP

Banned
Location
Cambs
Sweet.
 

BrumJim

Forum Stalwart (won't take the hint and leave...)
I'm an incurable speed merchant, but would prefer a quiet water-side ride without cars to a faster one on main roads any day. Good on you for finding a better commute.
 

small fish

Well-Known Member
Location
Manchester
hi - whereabouts do you get off the Bridgewater Canal before going up Sir Matt Busby way?
I commute from Chorlton to Salford Quays - and a detour via Stretford and along the canal is quite appealing now the weather is getting warmer!
 

potsy

Rambler
Location
My Armchair
I am enjoying my commute even more since discovering an off road route.
Really pleasant to get away from the traffic and have a nice steady ride with only ducks, geese and joggers for company, oh and them pesky dog walkers :whistle:
Have come this way home every day this week, with the sun making the odd appearance it has been even better :sun:
 

headcoat

Über Member
Location
Wirral
Glad you found a route....do you past the Irwell campus, I dropped my son off there last week and drove right to the back of it, on the way out there were some people just outside the fence pushing a pram along what looked like a dirt track, just wondered if this was part of your route :smile:
 
OP
OP
400bhp

400bhp

Guru
hi - whereabouts do you get off the Bridgewater Canal before going up Sir Matt Busby way?
I commute from Chorlton to Salford Quays - and a detour via Stretford and along the canal is quite appealing now the weather is getting warmer!

I've mapped the route into town for you boss. View it in cycle view.

http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=367976

You come off at Stretford Marina, on Marland Way. In fact, if you are heading towards the BBC end of Salford Quays you can carry on a little further and get back on the road.
 

fossyant

Ride It Like You Stole It!
Location
South Manchester
Will be a big bonus in icy weather, or when fed up with the road route.

I use the tPT like Potsy but my use is winter usually, when icy. I've used it in the summer, and it's lovely and I can put a big extension onto my commute.

Makes a huge change if you get fed up.a few days plugging off road, then makes you want the road again.
 

small fish

Well-Known Member
Location
Manchester
I've mapped the route into town for you boss. View it in cycle view.

http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=367976

You come off at Stretford Marina, on Marland Way. In fact, if you are heading towards the BBC end of Salford Quays you can carry on a little further and get back on the road.

Thanks feller - gave it a go this morning - I'm definitely going to do more exploring up that way - I reckon there must be a totally waterside route to the quays - but google maps makes it look like the path is blocked by a large factory type building between old trafford and Pomona and it doesn't look like there are ways to get up to the road before Pomona.
 
OP
OP
400bhp

400bhp

Guru
Thanks feller - gave it a go this morning - I'm definitely going to do more exploring up that way - I reckon there must be a totally waterside route to the quays - but google maps makes it look like the path is blocked by a large factory type building between old trafford and Pomona and it doesn't look like there are ways to get up to the road before Pomona.

What time were you down there? I took the route again this morning around 8ish. Was a slow potter (2nd slowest commute IIRC) - I recall 2 cyclists passing me and I passed one.

You can get all the way into manc via the canals but last time I went there (around 4 years ago when running) it was a dirt track and not really suitable for commuting.

I came back the same way tonight - didn't realise there was a game on. Had to pick my way through Man U supporters. I haven't really figured the best way back yet, as I have to traverse the pavement on Traffod road over the old swing bridge which I'm not convinced is shared use. However there doesn't appear to be an alternative convenient point to get off the river and cross over to the Trafford side. I could join the road at Clippers Quay but I'm not joining the racetrack that is Trafford Road for all of 500 yards where it becomes 5 lanes or so.
 
Top Bottom