Riding near Manches...
 

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Riding near Manchester worth a detour?

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I'm doing some work in Stockport for the day on Wednesday and will likely finish around 3pm, then will be driving back to Newcastle.

Is there anything nearby worth taking my MTB with me for an hour or two before I drive home?


 
Posted : 07/08/2023 9:39 am
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No.

Unless you want a dull half hour riding along the TPT section that goes past Stockport?


 
Posted : 07/08/2023 9:44 am
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If you jumped in the car you could be in Marple in 15 mins or Hayfield in 30 mins plenty of riding around there and then head home via the Woodhead.


 
Posted : 07/08/2023 9:52 am
ebennett, IHN and spacey reacted
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Depends where you are in Stockport but traffic permitting 30mins to Hayfield for some peak district delights. Would be worth it for me. If that sounds interesting sure we can post you some route suggestions.


 
Posted : 07/08/2023 9:53 am
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Could drive Woodhead to Langsett Barn and then do Cut Gate to the summit and back (or all the way to Slippery Stones if you have time). Kind of on route home (well can jump on the M1 easy enough from there).


 
Posted : 07/08/2023 10:01 am
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Hop off the M62 for a play in the Calder Valley? Some cheeky steeps in Elland Woods which is really close to the motorway.


 
Posted : 07/08/2023 10:05 am
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Farmer Johns is also a good shout for bike park shenanagins, Marple way as well.


 
Posted : 07/08/2023 10:08 am
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Could drive Woodhead to Langsett Barn and then do Cut Gate to the summit and back (or all the way to Slippery Stones if you have time

This might be the easiest to find and navigate, and it's great on a trail bike (bit tame for an enduro bike). I'd definitely try to go all the way over and back rather than just do half of it. Might take 2.5hrs if memory serves.

Or maybe someone will offer to meet you for a spin somewhere more en route.


 
Posted : 07/08/2023 10:11 am
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So in fact; ride anywhere else that reasonably accessible by car that's not actually Stockport?

Could drive Woodhead to Langsett Barn

That's an hour away - if the traffic's in your favour and the CP there isn't rammed when you get there...


 
Posted : 07/08/2023 10:11 am
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Drive to Hayfield and do Chinley Churn and maybe Twenty Trees loop before heading home via Glossop > Woodhead > motorway?

Depending on the exact route you do that could be a couple of reasonably straightforward hours, there's nothing there that'd get you lost.

Not sure what the conditions are up there at the moment, it's been pretty wet recently.


 
Posted : 07/08/2023 10:11 am
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Not sure what the conditions are up there at the moment, it’s been pretty wet recently.

It was pretty sodden round there a couple of weeks ago. Probably worse now?


 
Posted : 07/08/2023 10:13 am
 IHN
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If you jumped in the car you could be in Marple in 15 mins or Hayfield in 30 mins plenty of riding around there and then head home via the Woodhead.

Yup, park up at Roman Lakes in Marple and an enjoyable couple of hours on the bike is easily doable. I could probably knock up a GPX.


 
Posted : 07/08/2023 10:13 am
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Thanks all, sounds like it'll be a bit of a drive to anything worth doing then and potentially sodden conditions. Elland Wood looks like it's pretty much on route so could be worth a look in, i will look into it a bit further.


 
Posted : 07/08/2023 10:28 am
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Wild bank hill above stalybrige for all your enduro lap needs


 
Posted : 07/08/2023 10:29 am
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Curve ball; but you could stop in at Leeds Urban Bike Park on your way past J28 on the M62; it's only 10 mins off the motorway and worth an hour or two if you've never been before.

*Edit*

It's got the advantage of being surfaced and copes reasonably well in the wet bar the odd boggy puddle


 
Posted : 07/08/2023 10:31 am
crazy-legs reacted
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Ooh yes, that'd be my choice too!
Leeds Urban Bike Park, good call!

Just watch the traffic around Leeds / Bradford at the time you'll be arriving there...


 
Posted : 07/08/2023 10:41 am
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Leeds urban bike park is a good shout actually given the hard surfacing, and I've never been there so it'll be fresh to me. Think that could be the one.


 
Posted : 07/08/2023 10:55 am
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That’s an hour away – if the traffic’s in your favour and the CP there isn’t rammed when you get there…

There’s another car park here which should be ok for a midweek afternoon too.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/1Sq3mCZcbwz4Fhnw5?g_st=ic

OP was after some riding on the way home. This is not too much off route and is a memorable route if not done before. I’d recommend waiting to see what the weather is doing nearer the time and deciding then, no point doing Cut Gate in low cloud and drizzle.


 
Posted : 07/08/2023 11:08 am
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Do you have a road bike - decent hours loop out to Woodford, back via Adlington - off to do that on my lunch break !


 
Posted : 07/08/2023 11:13 am

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