North West riders ... Who are ya ...

Jon_1976

hostman wrote:

Live in Atherton, near Westhoughton.

Cycle around Rivington, Chorely, Horwich, Culceth, up and over Winter Hill. Took advantage of the nice afternoon sun (albeit windy) and rode up to the top of Winter Hill today:



Although next time I'll make sure my bike is in the pic, as it looks like I've driven up there lol

Theres a familiar sight. Been up there quite a few times. First time, I followed a Strava segment that started off on Chorley Old Road and finished on Winter Hill via Foxholes Road & Marklands Road (that part was brutal).

Not been up there since July last year :oops:

jimmocrates

bikemanspen wrote:

I'm new too road riding and in Urmston I've only been doing a couple of short rides a week (20 miles) and struggling for routes can anyone reccomend me any?

Did you find places to ride? I live in Flixton and bought a Garmin to plot some routes:
30miles => out via Partington to Lymm/High Leigh back via Little Bolington (cross the stream by the swan with 2 necks) and back to Urmston via Dunham Massey... OR out via Dunham, across to Tatton =>Mobberley=>Ashley=>Hale=>Dunham=>Flixton

40-50miles => Lymm=>Antrobus/Gt Budworth=>Hatton=>Comberbach=>Pickmere=>Tatton then back
60miles => Tatton =>Plumley=>Goostrey=>Swettenham/Joddrell Bank=>Redesmere=>Mottram St Andrews=>Alderley Edge =>Mobberley=>Ashley=>Home
60miles => Chorlton/Didsbury => Gatley =>Cheadle => Poynton => Pott Shrigley/Brickworks => Bolington => Adlington => Alderley Edge => Home as above
60miles => Eccles => Worsley => Walkden => Bradley Fold => Ainsworth => Affetside => Edgeworth => Rivi/Winter Hill => Haigh/Hindley/Leigh => Culcheth => Irlam/Warburton => Home
60miles => Out as above to Wilmslow => Follow cheshire cycleay around macclesfield => Home via Prestbury.

I'm from RIbble Valley originally so didn't know the roads round here and had been spoilt. Its penned in by the Ship Canal/Trafford Centre/M60+Carrington Spur so my first impressions riding here weren't great, but my Garmin was one of my best buys as it helped me go off in different directions down quiet roads without getting lost.

bowdy1987

Wigan.

Do loads of riding thru St Helens, Widnes, Warrington, Lymm

CHRISNOIR

This thread's been going on so long I need to change my first answer...

Now based in Prestwich and have currently been doing -

Prestwich -> Edenfield -> Helmshore -> Grane Road -> Guide -> Edgeworth -> Bradshaw -> Ainsworth -> Radcliffe

There's some bloody short, sharp climbs between Guide and home...

drummer_boy

Daily Commute is from Bamber Bridge to Blackburn.

Over the top of Hoghton Tower and then the Leeds/Liverpool canal, around 11 miles for me, each way.

Scenic route home in summer is back via Cuerdan valley as well (15 miles or so).

Did 31.5 miles up the Rochdale canal (Manchester>Sowerby Bridge) this past weekend, marshaling for an Ultra Marathon.

8.5hrs in the saddle ..... ouch!!

Jon_1976

CHRISNOIR wrote:

This thread's been going on so long I need to change my first answer...

Now based in Prestwich and have currently been doing -

Prestwich -> Edenfield -> Helmshore -> Grane Road -> Guide -> Edgeworth -> Bradshaw -> Ainsworth -> Radcliffe

There's some bloody short, sharp climbs between Guide and home...

I bet we've crossed paths at some point. They are (Helmshore and grane road not so much) my regular stomping grounds. Next time you're in Edenfield, I can recommend the rake in Ramsbottom for something short, and most definitely, sharp.

Graham K

Jon_1976 wrote:

CHRISNOIR wrote:

This thread's been going on so long I need to change my first answer...

Now based in Prestwich and have currently been doing -

Prestwich -> Edenfield -> Helmshore -> Grane Road -> Guide -> Edgeworth -> Bradshaw -> Ainsworth -> Radcliffe

There's some bloody short, sharp climbs between Guide and home...

I bet we've crossed paths at some point. They are (Helmshore and grane road not so much) my regular stomping grounds. Next time you're in Edenfield, I can recommend the rake in Ramsbottom for something short, and most definitely, sharp.

Hopefully be heading out towards Grane and Edgeworth this weekend.

Jon_1976

Last time I was up there (Grane Road) was in January. It started off as a nice afternoon but I have should have set off earlier. Ended up trudging up Grane Road into a monster headwind, the sun had almost set and went cold very quickly. There was me in shorts and jersey+arm warmers..god it was grim

Can honestly say its the scariest road (in terms of retarded drivers) I've been on.

Edgeworth is fantastic though, Proper rolling terrain.

CHRISNOIR

Graham K wrote:

Jon_1976 wrote:

CHRISNOIR wrote:

This thread's been going on so long I need to change my first answer...

Now based in Prestwich and have currently been doing -

Prestwich -> Edenfield -> Helmshore -> Grane Road -> Guide -> Edgeworth -> Bradshaw -> Ainsworth -> Radcliffe

There's some bloody short, sharp climbs between Guide and home...

I bet we've crossed paths at some point. They are (Helmshore and grane road not so much) my regular stomping grounds. Next time you're in Edenfield, I can recommend the rake in Ramsbottom for something short, and most definitely, sharp.

Hopefully be heading out towards Grane and Edgeworth this weekend.

Aye, if anyone spots a fat lad struggling up hills after spending the last twelve months deluding himself that some 30 mile runs over the flat terrain of South Manchester was 'keeping the fitness levels up' - it's me...

Graham K

CHRISNOIR wrote:

Graham K wrote:

Jon_1976 wrote:

CHRISNOIR wrote:

This thread's been going on so long I need to change my first answer...

Now based in Prestwich and have currently been doing -

Prestwich -> Edenfield -> Helmshore -> Grane Road -> Guide -> Edgeworth -> Bradshaw -> Ainsworth -> Radcliffe

There's some bloody short, sharp climbs between Guide and home...

I bet we've crossed paths at some point. They are (Helmshore and grane road not so much) my regular stomping grounds. Next time you're in Edenfield, I can recommend the rake in Ramsbottom for something short, and most definitely, sharp.

Hopefully be heading out towards Grane and Edgeworth this weekend.

Aye, if anyone spots a fat lad struggling up hills after spending the last twelve months deluding himself that some 30 mile runs over the flat terrain of South Manchester was 'keeping the fitness levels up' - it's me...

Thought you had seen me for a minute

homers_double

No. most deffinatly me!

Graham K

Hows everyone getting on?

I am managing to get out after work once or twice a week, generally head towards Saddleworth, them hill's dont get any better.
Went over Bury way today, saw a fair group ready for the off in Greenmount, anyone off here?

rickeverett

Thread sounds like Manchester and District riders than NW.
Nobody in Lancs or Cumbria ?

jscl

rickeverett wrote:

Thread sounds like Manchester and District riders than NW.
Nobody in Lancs or Cumbria ?

Very few people in Lancs or Cumbria have internet connections or mobile phones, so it is less likely you'll find them here

Graham K

JSCL wrote:

rickeverett wrote:

Thread sounds like Manchester and District riders than NW.
Nobody in Lancs or Cumbria ?

Very few people in Lancs or Cumbria have internet connections or mobile phones, so it is less likely you'll find them here

The carrier pigeon hasnt reached them parts to inform them of such technology ....

rickeverett

Haha

Well jokes on you as where I live in Lancashire people own half of Manchester and businesses there. Living out here in the beautiful rolling countryside.

jscl

rickeverett wrote:

Haha

Well jokes on you as where I live in Lancashire people own half of Manchester and businesses there. Living out here in the beautiful rolling countryside.

This cannot be true. Most successful people out of Manchester live in Cheshire... Obviously.

rickeverett

JSCL wrote:

rickeverett wrote:

Haha

Well jokes on you as where I live in Lancashire people own half of Manchester and businesses there. Living out here in the beautiful rolling countryside.

This cannot be true. Most successful people out of Manchester live in Cheshire... Obviously.

That is true for sure. Theres a few around my area and up to Bowland that have Manchester Businesses.

Anyway no, im just surprised theres not many from other parts of the north west commenting. Some of the riding terrain in awesome.

jscl

rickeverett wrote:

JSCL wrote:

rickeverett wrote:

Haha

Well jokes on you as where I live in Lancashire people own half of Manchester and businesses there. Living out here in the beautiful rolling countryside.

This cannot be true. Most successful people out of Manchester live in Cheshire... Obviously.

That is true for sure. Theres a few around my area and up to Bowland that have Manchester Businesses.

Anyway no, im just surprised theres not many from other parts of the north west commenting. Some of the riding terrain in awesome.

One must admit that I drive up to Clitheroe/Whalley way for some good riding away from the busier roads of Manchester. But I think in terms of population, age and interest in fitness - there's a larger population towards the larger city who cycle.

bjj.andy.w

Bit of a thread resurrection :oops: Anyway after 10+ years of getting dirty on my mtb around the bridalways of the northwest last year (after using a hybrid for commuting and strava attempts) I'd thought I'd better get a dedicated road bike. Since getting my sensa at the end of last August and racking up nearly 6000miles it's safe to say I've well and truly bitten the road bug Normally from setting off from where I live in Garstang I ride round the Bowland fells although I've done a few rides up in Cumbria, culminating in the Fred Whitton this year (done in 6:45) just love being out on my bike, be it road or mtb, on my own or with friends. After all, it's all biking isn't it

HiCadence

Wigan haha

Daily ride includes Shevington, Parbold, Dalton, Billinge (in a combined route) sometimes to Rivington some nice little hilly roads and the occasional ride to Formby beach

zippy483

Littleborough, Mainly loops over the edge Todmorden and HB Clockwise and AntiClockwise, Long Causeway, Whitworth, Rossendale Forest etc .

sirmol

Lancaster Easy access to the trough of bowland!

holiver

I am based in Liverpool at present and for the past few rides have headed South through Runcorn into Cheshire. I prefer the rolling hills to the flat plain, but on Saturday I rode down past Beeston and Peckforton Castles before looping back up. Was ~130km in total.

Will be looking to go over Winter Hill between Blackburn and Bolton next.

Mattsby123

Clitheroe here. Lately I've been heading over to Yorkshire for my rides, Malham Cove yesterday morning, Ribblehead Viaduct the day before. Awesome riding with access to many hills: Waddington Fell, Pendle Hill, Trough of Bowland, Bowland Knotts the list goes on.

blackpoolkev

The clue's in my name!

+1 for Forest of Bowland, it's not really a forest but it's usually deserted and always beautiful.

Lancstony

I'm in Rossendale and just riding locally at the moment as not fit enough to venture further afield but getting there!

Lance9109

Wirral here. Regular jaunts around Wirral, South Wirral, Chester, Cheshire, and into North Wales. Golf is my other sport and feel particularly blessed to be a North Westerner for both cycling and golf!

CHRISNOIR

blackpoolkev wrote:

+1 for Forest of Bowland, it's not really a forest but it's usually deserted and always beautiful.

When Mrs Noir was still living in Preston I'd quite often ride over to her place on Friday evening and then have a spin over Bowland as early as possible on Saturday morning. I always, always, got lost on the winding roads - but it didn't really matter as it was such a fantastic place to cycle.

homers_double

zippy483 wrote:

Littleborough, Mainly loops over the edge Todmorden and HB Clockwise and AntiClockwise, Long Causeway, Whitworth, Rossendale Forest etc .

Where/who/what are you? I live in littleborough up Shore Road near the King Bill.

I probably ride similar places to you, this morning I did sowerby bridge, up Tuel lane and back through Mytholmroyd and HB then back to base.

Taking a mate over cragg vale tonight I think.