Well, I needed motivation to ride today, last chance before I start my night shifts tonight. Despite the awful weather I braved the frequent hailstone showers that battered my beautiful face and headed over to Gatley to check out these routes. My curiosity had been piqued when researching the routes and I wanted to see the point where I was suggesting crossing the River Bollin just by Style prison and also was keen to see what Rotherwood Road was like.
To be honest, I didn't need too much encouragement, it's a nice part of Greater Manchester to ride in, some lovely properties if you want to see how the other half live!
I headed over to Gatley and thought it would be best to use the direct 1st route I proposed for the outbound ride. I think it is best done this way because you ride down the drop to the Bollin crossing on the narrow road by Styal prison. The bridge over the river is a proper stone bridge with a smooth tarmac surface and this path continues for a couple of 100 yards until the left turn into Carrwood Road. Carrwood road starts off really rough with a bumpy, irregular stone surface so be warned! This soon settles down and the rest of the streets used to get across to Altrincham Road in Wilmslow are very pleasant, quiet and easy going. Once through Wilmslow it is a case of head down and a fairly monotonous grind along the Alderley Edge bypass. This seems to go on forever and is no fun with a head wind......
The cycle path runs on both sides of the bypass so you can take your pick, but I wouldn't recommend trying to swap sides once you have started because it is basically a motorway.
After a short break at the southern end of the bypass I started back on route 2 which comes off the bypass part way along. Once off Knutsford road it is really a very pleasant route through Morley Green and across to the Honey Bee pub near the airport. The Rotherwood road is completely closed to traffic, just a bridleway by the looks of it. The surface is covered with a very thin layer of mud and directly under this is a hard stony surface. There is a definite defined used line along here and even on almost slick tyres it was no problem, despite last nights downpours and the hail/sleet today. I suggest mudguards are a good idea though
The short stretch of the A538 from the Honey Bee down to the roundabout at the bottom of the runway tunnels seemed to have a cycle path along its length so that should be fine and the road around the airport perimeter fence is easy if you avoid the big puddles that probably never dry out.
Both routes seem to work well and using one out and the other back avoids the worst stretch of styal road at that awkward corner/climb. I enjoyed the ride and exploring some new routes and the ride ended with the mother of all hail storms just in the last half mile before I got home which whited out the roads!
Good luck with your commute
@Gatley lass , I hope you don't mind me checking out your commute route
