Routes around south manchester

[David Martin]

I'm off to a meeting in mid October in sunny Manchestr, or to be more
precies somewhere in autogeddon between junctions 4 and 5 on the M60
(Didsbury).

I'd like to get about a bit so am sorely tempted to take the bike. Any
recommendations on good routes? I should have a morning free so up to
40-50 miles should be possible if I get up early.
Traffic is not much of a bother, prefer free flowing routes (not
Sustrans gate-a-mile stuff) and scenery. Hills more than welcome.

...d

 

[David Martin]

David Martin wrote:
> I'm off to a meeting in mid October in sunny Manchestr, or to be more
> precies somewhere in autogeddon between junctions 4 and 5 on the M60
> (Didsbury).
>
> I'd like to get about a bit so am sorely tempted to take the bike. Any
> recommendations on good routes? I should have a morning free so up to
> 40-50 miles should be possible if I get up early.
> Traffic is not much of a bother, prefer free flowing routes (not
> Sustrans gate-a-mile stuff) and scenery. Hills more than welcome.

Looking at the map, what are the thoughts on being able to do Snake
pass and back from Didsbury in a morning (start as early as required)?

...d

 

[Richard]

David Martin wrote:
>
> Looking at the map, what are the thoughts on being able to do Snake
> pass and back from Didsbury in a morning (start as early as required)?

I'd love to know the best way of doing this on a bike, too.

R.

 

[audrey]

On 6 Sep 2005 07:00:11 -0700, "David Martin"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>
>Looking at the map, what are the thoughts on being able to do Snake
>pass and back from Didsbury in a morning (start as early as required)?
>
>..d

Hills. Pass. But Sth Mancs STC trip planner might come in handy
http://www.smctc.org.uk/

 

[Steph Peters]

"David Martin" <[email protected]> of http://groups.google.com
wrote:
>I'm off to a meeting in mid October in sunny Manchestr, or to be more
>precies somewhere in autogeddon between junctions 4 and 5 on the M60
>(Didsbury).
>
>I'd like to get about a bit so am sorely tempted to take the bike. Any
>recommendations on good routes? I should have a morning free so up to
>40-50 miles should be possible if I get up early.
>Traffic is not much of a bother, prefer free flowing routes (not
>Sustrans gate-a-mile stuff) and scenery. Hills more than welcome.

Bring a bike, and a damned good lock. Or two. Manchester in general,
including my home suburb of Didsbury, suffers from gridlock, so bike is the
quickest method of transport.

Rides from South Manchester are either Cheshire Plains - flat, or to the
west Derbyshire/Yorkshire - hilly. Top of the Snake Pass and back might be
about 50 miles; early start will be required so you are past Glossop before
rush hour. I do vaguely remember once doing a circuit of Snake Pass, Edale,
Castleton and back into Manchester along the A6 in midsummer once; memories
are hazy because it's the hardest ride I ever did although far from the
longest.

Alternatives include using the path along the Mersey in the Warrington
direction to get into the Cheshire countryside. If you like hills Alderley
Edge is good.

I'd offer my services as guide, but 40-50 is my idea of a full day out, not
a morning, so we're not well matched. How about a short evening ride to a
country pub for a pint and a natter over the OS maps so I can give you some
suggestions?
--
Judge: A law student who marks his own papers.
Henry Louis Mencken
Steph Peters delete invalid from [email protected]lid
Tatting, lace & stitching page <http://www.sandbenders.demon.co.uk/index.htm>

 

[David Martin]

Steph Peters wrote:
> Bring a bike, and a damned good lock. Or two. Manchester in general,
> including my home suburb of Didsbury, suffers from gridlock, so bike is the
> quickest method of transport.

I'm staying in a posh country house hotel so biek security shouldn't be
a problem.

> Rides from South Manchester are either Cheshire Plains - flat, or to the
> west Derbyshire/Yorkshire - hilly. Top of the Snake Pass and back might be
> about 50 miles; early start will be required so you are past Glossop before
> rush hour. I do vaguely remember once doing a circuit of Snake Pass, Edale,
> Castleton and back into Manchester along the A6 in midsummer once; memories
> are hazy because it's the hardest ride I ever did although far from the
> longest.

I'd be heading off in time to be back, showered and in full conference
mode (propping eyes open with a cup of coffee) by midday. That would
probably be a 6ish start so I'll bring my lights..
I had thought that if I could get to the top of Snake Pass before 9
that I could then do the circuit through Edale and up Winnatts, but
that would be a bit too far.


> I'd offer my services as guide, but 40-50 is my idea of a full day out, not
> a morning, so we're not well matched. How about a short evening ride to a
> country pub for a pint and a natter over the OS maps so I can give you some
> suggestions?

Sounds like a very good idea. If all goes to plan I'll have the evening
before the meeting to fill.

...d

 

[Steph Peters]

"David Martin" <[email protected]> of http://groups.google.com
wrote:
>Steph Peters wrote:
>> Bring a bike, and a damned good lock. Or two. Manchester in general,
>> including my home suburb of Didsbury, suffers from gridlock, so bike is the
>> quickest method of transport.
>
>I'm staying in a posh country house hotel so biek security shouldn't be
>a problem.
Check where they will let you store the bike. Cycle security is a problem
round here. And if you are staying in Didsbury, 'country house' is a total
misdescription, there's another 10 miles of towns to get to any real
countryside .

>> I'd offer my services as guide, but 40-50 is my idea of a full day out, not
>> a morning, so we're not well matched. How about a short evening ride to a
>> country pub for a pint and a natter over the OS maps so I can give you some
>> suggestions?
>
>Sounds like a very good idea. If all goes to plan I'll have the evening
>before the meeting to fill.
Send an email nearer the time and we'll sort something out.
--
Judge: A law student who marks his own papers.
Henry Louis Mencken
Steph Peters delete invalid from [email protected]lid
Tatting, lace & stitching page <http://www.sandbenders.demon.co.uk/index.htm>

 

[audrey]

On Tue, 06 Sep 2005 22:54:29 +0100, Steph Peters
<[email protected]> wrote:

>>
>>Sounds like a very good idea. If all goes to plan I'll have the evening
>>before the meeting to fill.
>Send an email nearer the time and we'll sort something out.

I'll tag along too if free.

 

[Mark Thompson]

> I had thought that if I could get to the top of Snake Pass before 9
> that I could then do the circuit through Edale and up Winnatts, but
> that would be a bit too far.

You could take the train to Glossop. That'll allow you the maximum time in
the hills. The train from East Didsbury to Glossop[1] wouldn't be more
than one and a quarter hours, including the change at Manchester
Piccadilly. Not sure if they'll allow the bike onto the Piccadilly bound
train but cycling there instead should be around 40 minutes-ish.

 

[David Martin]

Mark Thompson wrote:
> > I had thought that if I could get to the top of Snake Pass before 9
> > that I could then do the circuit through Edale and up Winnatts, but
> > that would be a bit too far.
>
> You could take the train to Glossop. That'll allow you the maximum time in
> the hills. The train from East Didsbury to Glossop[1] wouldn't be more
> than one and a quarter hours, including the change at Manchester
> Piccadilly. Not sure if they'll allow the bike onto the Piccadilly bound
> train but cycling there instead should be around 40 minutes-ish.

There is your answer. Why waste half an hour of sleeping time when it
is cheaper and quicker to head out on the bike?

Definitely talking myself into this one..

...d

 

[Steph Peters]

"David Martin" <[email protected]> of http://groups.google.com
wrote:
>Mark Thompson wrote:
>> > I had thought that if I could get to the top of Snake Pass before 9
>> > that I could then do the circuit through Edale and up Winnatts, but
>> > that would be a bit too far.
>>
>> You could take the train to Glossop. That'll allow you the maximum time in
>> the hills. The train from East Didsbury to Glossop[1] wouldn't be more
>> than one and a quarter hours, including the change at Manchester
>> Piccadilly. Not sure if they'll allow the bike onto the Piccadilly bound
>> train but cycling there instead should be around 40 minutes-ish.
No-one at either East Didsbury or the next station up the line to stop you
putting a bike onto the train, they aren't manned before 8am. It's a GMT
area train so bikes are free. However it may be physically impossible. No
guards vans, no bike spaces, only small vestibules where the doors open,
which are full of bulky luggage as this is the line from Manchester Airport
to central Manchester.

>There is your answer. Why waste half an hour of sleeping time when it
>is cheaper and quicker to head out on the bike?
>
>Definitely talking myself into this one..
I think you may have misunderstood Mark. It's 40 minutes cycling from
Didsbury to Piccadilly to get the train to Glossop, not 40 minutes cycling
to Glossop. First train of the day from East Didsbury is at 6:39 which
would put you on a train to arrive in Glossop at about 7:45. If you get up
earlier, cycle to central Manchester, then the first train to Glossop is at
6:17 arriving at 6:49, giving you almost an hour extra to get back in time
for your meeting.
--
Judge: A law student who marks his own papers.
Henry Louis Mencken
Steph Peters delete invalid from [email protected]lid
Tatting, lace & stitching page <http://www.sandbenders.demon.co.uk/index.htm>

 

[Mark Thompson]

> There is your answer. Why waste half an hour of sleeping time when it
> is cheaper and quicker to head out on the bike?

Yer right, looking at the map, it's only 15 miles to Glossop from the
centre of Didsbury, so cycling and train'll probably take the same amount
of time[1], or quicker if you're a roadie. B'ah, so much for the local
knowledge



[1] Assuming average of 12mph in built up areas and 15mph away from traffic
lights and junctions.

 

[David Martin]

Mark Thompson wrote:
> > There is your answer. Why waste half an hour of sleeping time when it
> > is cheaper and quicker to head out on the bike?
>
> Yer right, looking at the map, it's only 15 miles to Glossop from the
> centre of Didsbury, so cycling and train'll probably take the same amount
> of time[1], or quicker if you're a roadie. B'ah, so much for the local
> knowledge

I chated and looked at the map first. That's why I thought 40 mins
sounded like a reasonable (but fastish) time. If it takes an hour and a
quarter or so to Glossop and an hour to climb the pass, then there is
an outside chance of doing the full round (>Edale>Winnats and back)
before lunch if I am up early. I have driven up Winnatts before about
twelve years ago but not been back since.

> [1] Assuming average of 12mph in built up areas and 15mph away from traffic
> lights and junctions.

Seems easily attainable.

...d