Training to 18th March - flat tyres and Harris tweed

Another week closer to my ride and the heat is on. Last week was quite tough. I got myself a new app for my phone that measures speed, average speed, distance, altitude etc as well as giving me my location and storing my routes and best times. I spent all week trying to beat my best time to and from work. Its quite addictive...and a bit frustrating when traffic lights are against you. We've got some major roadworks going on in New Mills at the moment and even though I do a bit of weaving through the queuing cars, it can slow you right down. My best time to work was 16.27mins for the 5.7miles and 19.03 home (its up hill all the way back). I'm going to try and beat that this week.

I arranged another long ride for Sunday with Neil Coverley. It was Mothers day and I'd invited our Parents round for dinner, so I had a time limit of 2.00pm to be home by or I would be toast.

We set off nice and early around 8.45am. The forecast was for sunshine all day so I put my cycling shades on. However there was no sign of the sun when we set off and the air was pretty chilly as we headed off towards Marple. As we climbed up Union Road, Neil said he had a good route planned, through Stockport and into Cheshire, then back through Manchester. I've not done any serious riding through town at all and Neil decided it was time for some traffic conditioning. So we headed towards Offerton and cut down Nangreave road to the A6. Then headed out through Davenport and Adswood, then Cheadle Hulme and out towards Manchester Airport via Wilmslow. Neil then asked if I knew the way round the back of the airport to the runway tunnels. I haven't been around the airport perimeter for years and only remembered that it was down through Styal and past the Ship Inn. Hmm the Ship Inn? Ooh that brings back memories......

Where most of my college days were spent

Ok! laugh away,  but perms were sort of cool back in the 80s - that's Simba btw

I will alway remember the Ship Inn at Styal. Years ago I was refused a drink there for being a 'motorcyclist' 'How damn insolent of me' I thought. I was there with a college buddy of mine. Andy Freedman and I were understandably, a tad dis-chuffed not to be served on the grounds of our particular choice of transport. Ok, so we were maybe a little scruffy with our long hair and ripped jeans look (it was the 80's and girls liked Bon Jovi back then) I used to think Andy was from quite a posh background. He lived in a big house in Bramhall and his Dad owned a mens tailors and outfitters in Stockport as well as being a Justice of the Peace.

Andy wasn't for letting this personal slight lie and came up with an idea. If we were smartly dressed, how could they refuse us? So we rode over to his Dads shop, where Andy duly disappeared into the back room. I couldn't believe it when he came out dressed in Harris Tweeds. He looked a complete plonker with his tweed jacket and trousers. I thought he was just having a laugh but no, he was up for riding back to the Ship Inn so attired. There was no way I was putting Harris Tweeds on full stop. So off we rode looking like a cross between the 'Hairy Bikers' and 'To the Manor Born'. Anyway to cut a long story short Andy got a few strange looks as he swaggered into the bar like some sort of Bohemian game keeper. Well low and behold he got served too.

Where was I? Oh yes the back of the Airport. We carried on past the Ship Inn towards what we thought was the route to Ashley via the Airport tunnel. However neither of us had realised that since 9/11 security at the airport has changed dramatically and the road came to a dead end with big signs saying 'No unauthorised access'. There were huge chain link fences everywhere with scary signs saying keep out. There seemed to be a stoney bridleway around the edge of the fencing. It didn't look too road bike friendly to me, but Neil decided it was fine. So we trundled off not knowing where it was taking us.

Rosemary says this is Neil and I

Just a short stretch along, we came across a pair of gentlemen walking the same way. As a cyclist you make a coughing noise or squeak your brakes to get someone's attention. I have tried a bell in the past but people get grumpy with you when you sound it for some reason (and they are very un-cool). Anyway these two were having none of it. Actually I just don't think they could hear us. They were quite elderly and reminded me of Stadler and Waldorf from the Muppets. One had a deer stalker hat and the other had Harris tweeds on (spooky). Neil shouted "excuse me" but on they carried, with not a care in the world. It was quite amusing really but we needed to get past. So Neil being Neil cycled right up behind and shouted "What Ho old chaps", "I say spiffing day an' all, but one really must be on our way". "Would you mind terribly popping to one side whilst we shimmy on through. Thanks awfully" They seemed to take it in the right spirit and I had to giggle, but I did wonder if they'd taken offence? So I thanked them for stepping aside as I rode by.

About half a mile further on I got a puncture. Typical! I knew the surface was bad. So what did Neil do? Take the mickey whilst I was hurriedly tried to change the inner tube and pump it up before Stadler and Waldorf found us. No luck, up they came and first thing they said was "serves you right for shouting at us" I thought hmmm how come it was me that got the puncture and not Neil then? as I pumped away. They saw the funny side of it however and we had a good chat. We asked if there was a way through to the airport tunnel and they told us to ride down a tarmaced section and over a large security fence. It looked a bit dodgy to me and I did wonder if they were getting their own back as we headed off through the barrier. I kept noticing signs saying  'restricted area' and that we would be set upon by huge attack dogs (ok I might have made that bit up ) but I did feel a bit uneasy.

Good practice

 HMMM!

"Private Authorised Vehicle Access only" That's us then

               

Ever since meeting Neil, Monty insists on wearing a red hat. I think he looks daft...Monty thinks so too.

Thankfully we eventually got to an imposing gate as the old chaps had described. We scaled it and came to the main road that goes under the two runways at Manchester Airport. There is a fantastic cycle tunnel under the runways designed to keep bikes and pedestrians away for the high speed traffic in the main tunnels. You can get some speed up as there is no wind. From there we turned left towards Ashley and on to Tatton park. We picked up some speed to make up for the tyre change delay as we veered right heading for the A56 near Mere. The A56 link between the M56 and M6 has to be one of the busiest roads in Europe. It is just crazy and took some courage to get across I can tell you. It was like a game of Frogger.

The Swan with two nicks at Little Bollington

The roads around Dunham Massey

Once across we rode down some lovely back lanes through Little Bollington and under the M56 to Lymm. At which point we met a chap who was cycling from Walkden to Knutsford back to Walkden.  I think he was called Stan but could have been Dennis or Frank.... anyway He showed us the back way through Dunham Massey and on to Partington and Carrington.

Stretford Mall - not Stretfords finest hour

We cycled past Manchester Utds training ground and some other mickey mouse local club that play in light blue. Then on into Urmston where we seemed to lose Bert or was it Fred. I think he got fed up trying to stay with Neil's pace...or was it being called the wrong name? Anyway, pedalling through Urmston, Neil had an idea of calling on his good friends Roberto and Rachael who live in Stretford. All I can say is what a delightful couple they are. It was a pleasure to meet them and be shown the beautiful Victorian house that they are busy renovating.

Didsbury - is quite posh

After the brief but pleasant stop we headed off through the hustle and bustle of Stretford, across the A56 and on towards Southern Cemetery and Didsbury. Riding in heavy traffic is a completely different experience to back lanes. You have to have your wits about you constantly. It's very easy to get caught by traffic turning left and held up in queues. To be honest, it was actually ok. I am used to riding motorbikes through traffic and have a reasonable sense of danger (hopefully) so I didn't feel intimidated at all. I think you have to be decisive when in traffic or you get swallowed up. Cars just don't realise how vulnerable cyclists are and how difficult it is to start and stop at lights or in queues.

We rode through Didsbury and on to Cheadle where we cut through the back streets to Adswood and then on to Davenport again. We then turned right and down Bramhall lane south, where we bore left  up Jacksons lane all the way to Hazel Grove. It was getting quite hard as we picked up the A6 heading for Disley. My legs were very tired by this point and its a real long slow slog up the A6. Neil had done most of the front riding all day so i took the front and buried myself until we got to Lyme Park where I was shot. Neil just sailed by. He's too fit for his own good that lad. I literally crawled up Church road through New Mills and with home in site I checked our mileage. We had done 64 mile in 4 hours25mins. I was really chuffed....but really tired.

That afternoon Mum, Dad an rosemary's Dad John enjoyed Mothers day with us and I had a quiet feeling of satisfaction that things are going to plan. My legs were very tired but had sixty odd miles in them. Another couple of hours riding a day and we would be up to the 80 or so miles needed for LEJOG.

Next week we plan to do an A to B ride of about 80-100 miles. Rosemary wants to drive the Camper and meet us on route again. Stay tuned for the next instalment.