Via mobberley seems a long way round. I was considering suggestnig up the middlewood way and then the canal but that's even further

cyclestreets.nwet suggests prestbury and handforth

https://cyclestreets.net/journey/55963991/#balanced

That is a decent commute. What's it going to end up being realistically, 30 miles maybe?

I have not done it this year at all (for various reasons) but I have regularly undertaken a 100km commute about three times a week in the past. My advice would be to find a route you really like, as far as possible on quiet but fast roads until you have no choice but to join the traffic but even then, it's worth taking a slightly longer route if the traffic is less stressful.

The stress of traffic is what will get you down and what will make the commute feel more tiring. It drains you, having to ride with so much concentration.

By comparisson, a longer but quieter route allows you to just ride on and get into the zone. Obviously you're still concentrating and you need to be focused when you're aware of cars passing you, but in between it's much less stressful.

I would say that doing that every single day is going to be massively tiring. You'll be seriously fit, but be aware that there will be days you're just not going to want to do it.

One thing to consider is driving part of the way in with the bike on the roof of your car, parking up and then shortening the ride. Having that as an option will keep you motivated.

Obviously go to town on makign the bike suitable for the job. Mudguards might not be fashionable but you'd be crazy not to have them on a bike that was doing serious commuting miles. And obviously light yourself up like a Christmas tree.

One thing I used to do was strap a red dome light onto the outside edge of the drops on my handlebars. This gives motorists a good idea of how wide you are.

Overall sounds a good route, Artists lane is in pretty poor condition at the moment with a lot of potholes & water damage. Also middle section regularly has a huge puddle across it.
An alternative is to to straight down in to the village then cross the railway line, or go north via mottram ( a mile or so longer, but flatter and quieter)

Out of interest try putting the start and finish postcodes into Google maps and asking it for a cycling route; you might be surprised.

That's a fair commute and not one I'd like to undertake as the roads are pretty busy, no matter which route you choose.

Shortest route I reckon would be Macc, Prestbury Train Station, Adlington, Dean Row, Handforth, Heald Green, Wythenshawe, Brooklands and finish off on the A56

Most scenic and prob quietest - Macc, Over Alderley, Alderley Edge, Lindow End via Foden lane, Mobberley, Ashley, Timperley, Sale and again the final bit on the A56

My 2p

Carlos

Cheers guys. Plan is to try and do it twice per week to start, with return on the second day tied into a local club ride so i'll get a tow for the second half of the ride home.

I'm riding the Mobberly - Astley road on a regular basis at the moment and i've not found it too bad. I'm tempted to skip Artists on the way home thoug 😆

I'll take a look at Google Maps.

The other thought i had was to ride across to Wilmslow then cut through Styal to Gatley then across towards Sale and jump on the canal.

Random, but related. If you fancy being shown around Macc Forest and surrounding area for MTB routes give me a shout. I've not been out much in the last two years, so it may be a bimble.

@funkmasterp, i might hold you to that. We won't be moving for a few more weeks and assume i'll be on paint and fire duty for a little bit, but hopefully by Spring i'll have some free time 🙂

I do Bollington to MSP/Deansgate.
You can Middlewood way to Poynton and follow this route (the fuel depot at Handforth cut through doesnt work on google maps).

http://bit.ly/2fIMkKy

You can Middlewood way to Poynton

What's it like these days? In my time there's no way you'd want to ride it unless it was a long hot summer. Riding 25+ miles on an unsurfaced bridleway would get me down. You're rolling so much slower than the energy you're putting in but it does have the big advantage of being quiet.

geetee1972 - Member
You can Middlewood way to Poynton
What's it like these days?

From Macc to The Viaduct in Bollington its a proper surfaced path, then from the Viaduct pretty much right up to Rose Hill Station in Marple its just hardpack.

The filthiest I've ever been on a ride was doing the Middlewood way from Macc to Poynton in winter. I'd definitely want full guards for winter commuting on there.

OP - contact me through the email in my profile should you want to go for a ride in spring. Some of the little known sections that cut through the forest are great when it's dry. You'll be able to watch me fall off multiple times through lack of riding too 🙂

Might have been covered already but maybe something like: Macc - Stockport via Middlewood/Poynton way then take the Mersey path from somewhere like Parrswood to Chorlton and then to wherever you need to get in Salford.

OR maybe cycle Macc to a tram stop in Didsbury for example.

http://tfgm.pindarcreative.co.uk/default.asp

Just mapped a potential route out. Its a tad further than i thought but i reckon it could be fettled to make it a bit more direct 😯

https://www.strava.com/routes/7118878