Manchester to Blackpool 2014...

[TissoT]

All the better to set off early .....

 

[ColinJ]

I didn't see any of that going on

Well, you must have set off early and beat the mad riders then! That is exactly what it was like when I rode the event about 10 years ago.

Oh, my link above was faulty - *this ride*.

 

[Kestevan]

I'm doing this with Mrs Kes.... 7.30 start for us too.
It's her first decent ride since she mangled her leg 2yrs ago whilst preparing for that years Manchester to Blackpool.


https://www.justgiving.com/Anita-Johnson3/

 

[ColinJ]

I'm doing this with Mrs Kes.... 7.30 start for us too.
It's her first decent ride since she mangled her leg 2yrs ago whilst preparing for that years Manchester to Blackpool.


https://www.justgiving.com/Anita-Johnson3/

I hope you both enjoy it, but that early start is a must! My 09:00 start was really not a good idea ...

I'm not sure what organisers can do to make these rides safer, but something needs to be done. Some of the things I saw riders doing were unbelievable and it is only a matter of time before people get killed or seriously injured! (For eaxample - riding through red lights which they hadn't noticed because they were nattering on their phones, suddenly stopping dead in the middle of a group of riders to take a sandwich out and eat it in the middle of the road, sprinting through a group of wobbly cyclists and weaving round them causing panic ...)

 

[Gez73]

I've done the day ride once and the Night Ride three times now. Would highly recommend both but the day ride is very busy and has a lot of casual riders some of whom clearly didn't cycle on the roads much. If you want a free flowing event the Night Ride is better. Some horrendous 'failure to give way on roundabouts' and a whole lot of RLJ'ing on the day ride but the weather was great and the vibe at the finish was excellent too. Worth doing but just the once or very early.

 

[I like Skol]

...... day ride is very busy and has a lot of casual riders some of whom clearly didn't cycle on the roads much......

It won't be a problem, I'm used to being surrounded by random, incompetent nobbers that don't know what they are doing, you should see who I work with

 

[turbopercy]

I am doing this event this will be my first charity ride i am setting off at 7 am i always try and cycle early in the morning to avoid as much traffic as possible

 

[dr_1986]

I'm doing this with my club there is in excess of 20 of us, all road riders... we are setting off at 07:30 also and a majority, including myself, are riding back also.

 

[clid61]

Cant remember which year it was, but set off early one morning to be met by total gridlock some 10 to 15 miles in.. Good old GMP were escorting what must have been a 20 foot diameter storm drain on a loooong low loader , through the back streets on the route of the ride, oh what fun!

 

[potsy]

It won't be a problem, I'm used to being surrounded by random, incompetent nobbers that don't know what they are doing, you should see who I work with

 

[davdandy]

Quick question folks,for those who live around the Manc areas,or like me in Lowton,how do you get back.I am not quite up to the fitness of doing a round trip,getting there is fine but getting back home needs thought?

 

[YahudaMoon]

...who's in?

Not me, dont think Im fit enough :/

Just got back from helping some friends out and spent the evening with a lovely gent called James from Burma aged 81yrs old who did the event two years ago, then cycled back, though only managed Delamere Forest on the return leg on his sit 'up n' beg push bike

 

[fossyant]

Quick question folks,for those who live around the Manc areas,or like me in Lowton,how do you get back.I am not quite up to the fitness of doing a round trip,getting there is fine but getting back home needs thought?

Ah, you need to think of that before you set off. Usually folk get collected. Other option is Train from Blackpool but it will be rammed, and I guess you need to pre-book. Other option is to RIDE back.

 

[Kestevan]

NW trains in their infinite wisdom have decided not to allow ANY bikes on trains between Blackpool and Manchester on that day........

The origanisers do lay on several coach returns (with vans for the bike), throughout the afternnoon for the princely sum of £25 each, this needs to be booked in advance through their website.

 

[clid61]

Quick question folks,for those who live around the Manc areas,or like me in Lowton,how do you get back.I am not quite up to the fitness of doing a round trip,getting there is fine but getting back home needs thought?

I stay the night then trundle back into Wigan with a sore head Monday afternoon !