RichMoss wrote:J Annie - to investigate the route, why not take the bike by car the day before or catch the train in and use the ride home to try it out? That way you don't have to worry about being late if you have a navigational blip (and then you can use the 'weekend ride' somewhere more scenic).
I quite often take my bike on the train to Birchwood through Urmston from Manchester in the morning, never had any trouble getting it on, but I normally get the early train if I'm cycling home.
I commute from Wilmslow to Birchwood whenever I can (average about once a week) on a road bike. Birchwood is a bit of a bugger to get in to as I'm sure you have worked out - what with various motorways & ship canal.
The only practical route for me is via Bowdon, Dunham, Warburton Bridge, Hollinfare, then over the M62 motorway to Culcheth & back down via Risley. I don't go via the farm track several people have suggested as it doesn't suit road bike, skinny tyres, cool image, etc, and you can keep a good pace up going via Culcheth anyway. It's about 22 miles each way and despite a short section of dual carriageway on the A57 it's an absolute joy.
One morning last week an Aston Martin was getting very angry at having to follow me through Bowdon. When he finally got a chance he overtook and "floored it" presumably for my benefit - beautiful deafening roar from the engine. But he had to pull up in traffic a couple of hundred yards further on. As I passed him again I gave him a friendly smile. You don't often see veins throb on a forehead like that! I find that the simple pleasures in life are the best.
Following the comments on routes between Altincham and Warrington. The section of the Trans Pennine Way through Trafford has now been resurfaced by the council (long over due). I traversed it this morning. Good summer and winter surface now.
Dennis wrote:Following the comments on routes between Altincham and Warrington. The section of the Trans Pennine Way through Trafford has now been resurfaced by the council (long over due). I traversed it this morning. Good summer and winter surface now.
Tried it out tonight - absolutly brill, floating through the fields in the dusk, surface better than a lot of roads, didn't see another soul
If it was you that I met this morning at the junction between Warburton Bridge Road and the A57 (you were on the green fixed Dave Yates) - hello again.
For anyone who rides past Dunham Massey where the road goes under the Bridgewater Canal, After complaining to Trafford Highways Dept, a few months back I was told back that this section will be closed in April for road resurfacing - and hopefully solve the perpetual puddles there.
