#1. Canal to Brooklands - Brooklands Rd, head towards the airport round Clay Lane/Thorley Lane. End up on Styal Rd, down through Stanneylands
#2. Canal to Timperley (you can use the steps to get on Park Rd). Park Rd, then head towards the airport as above.
#1 need a bike that has 25mm tyres as a minimum.
#3 Edge Lane/High Lane. Hardy Lane to Sale Water Park. Sale Rd, then follow Longley Lane towards Styal, then Stanneylands. Note, careful through Stanneylands as the road narrows over a bridge at the bottom of a brow, and some cars take chances.
#4 As #3, but don't go through Sale Water Park, go along Barlow Moor Rd, then Palatine Rd, jumping onto Longley Lane etc.
I don't really know Didsbury too well as you could stay on Barlow Moor Rd and head through there.