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Are there any Mancunian residents here who can recommend an evening ride accessible from Manchester city centre? I'm going to be working down there in a few weeks' time and am thinking of taking the bike down to get out. Would probably not be leaving 'til gone 6 so short journey time (by train) and a shortish loop probably best.
There are a few routes in this month's MBR but the best one looks a bit far in both respects given time constraints. Is Leigh Quarry doable?
Train to Marple or New Mills and ride over towards Hayfield (dunno how long train takes though)
Marple is only about half an hour from Picadilly, and there's a bunch that goes out on Thursday nights sometimes. Most of them have been on Peaks Pootles, I think recognise the name? NBT is the ring leader of that rowdy bunch. 😉
Train from Manc is about 30-35 mins to New Mills. 3 miles to Hayfield. Or just go up Chinley Churn or round Rowarth.
For a shortish ride I get the train out to New Mills then up onto the moor to Mellor cross and down to Marple. Back in along the canal and river goyt to val rougerie (filthy route back with the recent rain though). 1.5 - 2 hours this depending where in Manc you're staying.
A longer ride is to take the train to Chinley or Furness Vale and get up the churn, our kid. New allotments, peep o day and then there's good stuff into Hayfield. Then over Mellor moor via your choice of route and in as before - ca. 3 hrs.
Because I live in S Manchester I always tend to cycle back on the week-nights - about an hour of off-road but not really mtbing in the main. You'll get more quality trail miles in if you prefer to get the train there and back, and this might be better anyhow if you're staying central.
Something like New Mills - Birch Vale - Peep o Day - Mt Famine - South Heid - Royce - Rushup edge to Mam nick then over to the Cavedale descent (v tricky) into Castleton - road to Hope station would be a great A-B evening ride. 2 - 2.5 hrs maybe? Need to be spot on with the trains though as I'd fancy the Hope stopping service into Manc being every hour or something like that. Couple of pints in Castleton would be no hardship if you had to wait like (if the pubs there ever empty out of tourists that is).
You can get the train to horwich then ride over rivi, up winter hill, down the san marino descent, and then pick up the witton weavers way over Darwen moor. then the train back from Darwen. Or the other way round. Some cracking riding out there. I'm just in from there now!
We're out every Thursday. You're welcome to join us