Tell me about the Manchester 100

Me and a couple of mates are considering doing this in September.

What’s it like and what’s an average time to complete?

Ta.

Does nobody know anything?

Where’s this Manchester place? And why is it 100? I think I’ve heard it mentioned

That’s the route out through Chesire right? There are 100km and 100mi versions…

Have thought about doing it but usually look out for the weather at the time. If it’s raining I’d prefer to be on the mtb rather than road…

*drowns in information*

It’s a very flat road route. It goes out to Delamere from Wythenshawe Park via little villages that I can’t remember the name of. Heads over to Nantwich way and then back to Wythernshawe Park. You can do the 100 mile route or the 100k route. Costs about £15. The halfway (well just over half way on the 100 miler) is at a school where the food is lovely and very cheap.
It’s a nice ride. Have a search on Bikely for the route.
It should really be called the Cheshire 100 because it’s only actually in the boundary of Manchester for about 6 miles in total.
edit: that’s the one amplebrew.
They’re also doing a Manchester to Blackpool night ride this year. St Anns Hospice are doing a 100 mile or 100k night ride as well. I’m involved in organising the hospice event.

Is this a ride organised through Bike Events?

I did a Manchester to Blackpool with them a long time ago and really enjoyed it.

Really good craic along the way with other riders and Bike Events provided a tent mid way full of food and drink.

It was a very chilled out day, so didn’t rush. I spent around 7 hours (ish) doing it on the mtb.

Not done it before but a maybe with the BIL this yr. Christies is a good cause, they ask for sponsorship and the entry fee, Looks a very flat and nice route through the Cheshire countryside.

On a road bike I’d say 6-7hrs depending on fitness, stops etc..

Looks a laugh and it virtually goes past my house, so I amy well go along for the laugh.

Sorry Derek, I’ve only just seen your question regarding times. I’ve done it 5 times and have yet to go much over 6 hours at worse. They insist that you stop for the lunch break going as far as waving and sheperding you in off the road as you approach it but it’s easy enough to wing it and go straight back out if you’re in a rush. Because it’s flat and well marshalled, the junctions are usually blocked to cars as there are so many riders coming through at the same time (not because marshalls have any authority to hold the traffic up), total average speeds of late teens are well achievable. Even more by some way if you can blag a chain gang and lots of those are formed on this event for some reason.

Sounds like a goer. Thanks for the info and experiences.

i’ve done it once, goes through some really nice villages. No hills to speak of. My pedal broke when i did it so ended up pedalling 75 miles with one pedal and one axle!!

Did the 100 mile route a couple of years ago with a mate who hadn’t ridden much and we did it in 8 hours

Pretty flat, remember it’s a charity ride and not a sportive so you have to buy your food at the stops. Nice gentle route through some nice areas. Parking at the start is just mental though, luckily my mate lives nearby so we rode there.

Last year we only did the 60 mile route as I had a duff knee – can’t remember the time but it wasn’t memorable.

It’s a good ride to say that you have ridden a century without it being too hard and hilly

mmmm, I’ve ridden this about 5 times and I’m not sure, to the uninitiated, that I would say it’s “flat”. The last 25 miles are certainly flat but I would say the route from Northwich all the way to Nantwich (so something like the 30 mile mark to the 60 mile mark) is very “rolling”. A few years ago, on a really hot day, I managed to cramp in both legs simultaneously just on the 70 mile mark – not nice! Not enough energy drink inside me!

Really good ride though – and remember, if you do it on your MTB, stick some road tyres on or you’ll be in trouble!

Derek, if you can do hTn then you’ll be able to do the Mcr 100 – there are a few snap climbs around the back of northwich, and at the end there is a bit where you go through a steep cut on the way back through Wythenshawe but nothing is more than a couple of hundred yards of 7%

if you do it on a mountain bike then slicks would be a good idea… 7 hours would give you time for stops and mechanicals

car parking is a nightmare in Withy park so get there early or park nearby and ride in/out

I think chaingangs is overstating it a bit, people sometimes form groups and share turns on the front because it can be windy especially round by nantwich where it’s flat and lots of cropfields

Did it last year in 5 hours and a bit, flat is a good description, not a stressful ride in any way.

If you want a safe environment for your first 100 miles or kms it’s fine. Next time round you will go and spend a bit less on an OS map and work out your own route then do it with some mates. That way you will avoid the crowds, the unpleasant conflict with pissed off drivers, the tacks deliberately thrown on the road and the mediocre food at the halfway stop.

Oh and don’t imagine that your entry fee goes partly to charity. It goes into the pockets of the organisers and whatever you collect in sponsorship goes to charity.