Thursday 31 October 2024 - The Fallowfield Loopline - A Bike Ride

Despite it being a damp morning, a record number of eight people turned up for this bike ride, which I've done at least four times before (see here), though not recently. That's my excuse for being a bit vague about the route at times. Only a couple of photos were taken on the outward leg as we pressed on through Fallowfield, across the A6 and into Reddish, where a convenient bench marked an opportunity for a coffee break. Sadly only Sue and I had brought such refreshments, but we were able to hand out a few chocolate digestives.

By the time we reached Audenshaw, on the outskirts of Ashton-Under-Lyne, we had left the loopline and hit the cobbles of the Ashton Canal. More photos could now be taken, as the cobbled areas next to the locks weren't really suited to those with skinny tyres.

We eventually made it for a long coffee break/chat at the Velodrome's café. All very civilised.

So we had plenty of energy for the ride home. Here I'm with Sue and Jenny, waiting for others to negotiate a steep descent in the background.

Soon after this, we came to a place where the towpath was closed, and we had to use roads to get through Piccadilly (where the towpath is good fun when open), and soon after we had regained the towpath another closed section sent us down Whitworth Street. Anyway, we made our way to the Castlefield Basin and crossed the distinctive bridge that leads to our route home.

I just managed to catch some of the laggards as they crossed over the bridge.

A clear run saw us regrouping at the Throstle Nest Bridge, from where the others can be seen on the towpath as I look back towards town.

Jenny took a picture of us on the top.

Further on, we all reached the bridge at Waters Meet without incident.

 

We regrouped, and I took my final picture of the day.

We then headed on to various points at which we left the towpath to arrive at our various homes. Richard and Jenny would be first to peel off, but they got stranded at Waters Meet thanks to a thorn in Richard's tyre. Never mind, they got home, like the rest of us, in time for a slightly late lunch.

I recorded 42km, with about 150 metres ascent, in around 4 hours, quite a bit of which was spent in the velodrome café.

A lovely outing despite a bit of damp in the air. Thanks everyone for your company. The next ride is on Thursday 14 November - Laureen's Ride - a convoluted route in Cheshire of up to 60km, starting from Timperley Bridge at 9.30am or the centre of Hale at 9.45. Café en route. We will probably do just about 30km. 

There's a walk up Shutlingsloe on Tuesday (5 November). Details here.