Both my kids are trying their new bikes next weekend. Normally we do this sort of thing at Burrs (Bury) or Queen’s Park (Heywood) as they aren’t technical, have good lines of sight and we can buy chips and a warm drink. I thought we might try somewhere different though this time for a maiden flight. Any suggestions?

It has to be:
Flat.
An open space (so I can see them).
Have chips.
Not too far from North Manchester.

Hollingworth Lake.

Old Trafford?

Queen’s Park

we can buy chips and a warm drink.

Not at the moment you can’t; the cafe’s closed down and I haven’t seen the burger van for a while.

Hollingworth Lake a good option as it’s flat and there’s a cafe half way round, but unless it’s dry you’ll need the jet wash.

What about Tod Park (though don’t know about cafe options) or Towneley Park (which is deffo cafe +ve and is meant to have a cycling loop)? Or even Nuttall Park?

Not at the moment you can’t; the cafe’s closed down

AWWW SHIT!!! Has it gone for good or is it a temporary measure?

It has to have chips for refueling my daughter.

Don’t quite know. Apparently the council put the rent up and the existing incumbent couldn’t afford to stay; they were looking for a new tenant but whether they’ve found one…

I’m quite frankly amazed no-one has been along yet to challenge your parenting skills in allowing them to eat chips.

Probably too busy ringing social services…

Apparently the council put the rent up and the existing incumbent couldn’t afford to stay

Groan 🙄

I’m quite frankly amazed no-one has been along yet to challenge your parenting skills in allowing them to eat chips.

She needs them for medical reasons. Only about 6 of them, but she needs them.

I was being sarcastic btw 😉

I know.

All parks should have a sit in café where you can get chips. I don’t want a ciabatta with olives and dips, soup of the day or goat’s cheese and sun blushed tomato panini… I WANT CHIPS.

Heaton Park used to sell chips. Now it is all poncy, so we don’t go any more.

Jamaican me hungry! 😆

If you fancy a jaunt a little further afield, then Greenhead park in Huddersfield is ace for kids and riding. All surfaced paths (traffic free roads basically) with plenty of space – NOT flat though, but it’s only a gentle slope. My 2 can make it back up the hill without moaning anyway! There’s not 1, but 2 cafes and they definitely sell chips 🙂

Decent play area(s), little steam train, skate park etc etc. Easy to get to off the M62 as well.

i’ll bring some chips to heaton park for you then.

All parks should have a sit in café where you can get chips. I don’t want a ciabatta with olives and dips, soup of the day or goat’s cheese and sun blushed tomato panini… I WANT CHIPS.

Now there’s something I can relate to 😀

the Hidden Gem cafe at Heaton Park sells chips. The one at the garden centre.

white coppice?

Purpose built flat track from cricket ground to a park in Brinscall with swings and ducks – chippy near by and a cafe at WHite coppice

you know me though chances are neither is open

Its about 6 ish miles round trip.

Flat, good sight-lines, near Manchester, easy availability of chips?

Only one answer…Blackpool Prom!

Longford Park in Stretford. Flat as a very flat thing and there’s a cafe bungalow wotsit. Great place for beginner cyclists.

http://friendsoflongfordpark.org.uk/?cat=98

Townley Park?

Blackpool prom

the prom from fleetwood to thornton is actually really good for kids.

as is the old railway line from caton to lancaster/morecambe, but that might be too long.

duplicate

Fallowfield Loop? Traffic free, flat as, not too many dopey dog walkers usually. It’s not actually a loop though, it’s an out and back. I’ve parked up in Fairfield a few times and ridden along to Fallowfield with the boy, it’s a good couple of hours round trip all in. Just off the line in Fallowfield itself there’s a Costa/Starbucks type thing and a Sainsburys which has a cafe, that’ll do chips. Not sure what it’s like on the other side of Fallowfield but I hear it’s similar.

Blackpool Prom!

The standard of Rapha models has gone down somewhat.

Moss Bank Park in Bolton fits the criteria.
1,Flattish, although there are some gentle slopes.
2,Sells chips and warm drinks in the nice newly built Café.

How about Witton Park in Blackburn? That ticks all your boxes it’s mahoosive and rather lovely, and there’s definitely chips. If they’re feeling a bit more adventurous, they’ve put some trails in too

The kebab van is back in Queens Park.