Manchester to Blackpool Night Ride 29-30th September 2012

[Pumpkin the robot]

Good time. Are you going to join the CC bunch next year?

I hope so. I might be somewhere near fit by then.
I dug out my old Battaglin road bike tonight and have started the renovation of that, got to be a bit quicker than my hybrid.

 

[middleagecyclist]

Blackpool, at night, In Sept?...It will be BLOODY cold mate

Well Gaz. It was very pleasant getting into Blackpool on the night.

Cycling home wasn't so nice or dry though!

 

[SportMonkey]

Well Gaz. It was very pleasant getting into Blackpool on the night.

Cycling home wasn't so nice or dry though!

I did most of the way back without a water proof, just did it in my Craft thermal, Ronhills, Decathlon shorts and jersey.

 

[Ryan Alexander]

I may aswell of done it naked. Bib shorts. Jersey. Arm and leg warmers and that's it no base layers. I was asking for the flu

 

[SquareDaff]

Does anybody know what the total climb was over the official route? Endomondo says 3507ft ,but seems a lot to me.

My Garmin says 1148ft elevation gain.

 

[AndyBaker]

My Garmin says 1148ft elevation gain.

That sounds more like it. Google Earth loaded with the GPX file from the BHF site, says an elevation gain of 485m, so 1591 ft.

 

[middleagecyclist]

I really enjoyed the ride and glad I opted for the full out and back (despite the return weather). One of the aspects I liked most was night riding. I wouldn't mind doing a similar distance again at night. A round trip from Manchester to somewhere on the coast along nice, quiet roads beckons. Anyone fancy joining me?

 

[SportMonkey]

I really enjoyed the ride and glad I opted for the full out and back (despite the return weather). One of the aspects I liked most was night riding. I wouldn't mind doing a similar distance again at night. A round trip from Manchester to somewhere on the coast along nice, quiet roads beckons. Anyone fancy joining me?

Yeah, a bit flatter though, so North Wales?

 

[middleagecyclist]

Yeah, a bit flatter though, so North Wales?

Flatter? Really? You having me on SportMonkey?

I was thinking of heading from Manchester to Southport via Haslingden and Blackburn and back to Manchester via Formby and Wigan. 100 odd miles, hills done first. Ridden as a group as we did coming back from Blackpool. No one left behind. A bit like a FNRttC. All have a big breakfast in Manchester on return. Here's the Google route.

Open to other suggestions though.

 

[craven2354]

That route goes down the canal?

 

[middleagecyclist]

That route goes down the canal?

Not any more!

Thanks for pointing this out Craven. It's now remedied. T'was just a quick routing for those unfamiliar with the places mentioned. There will be no night time tow path riding! I'll be plotting a proper route and some written directions if there's enough interest.

To that end i'll be starting a new thread about the ride later today.

Cheers

[Edit] Here's the new thread

 

[middleagecyclist]

Have any of you seen the Flickr page that is up with photos from the ride? None of us but this one caught my eye. Flared jeans and not even any bicycle clips. He must be mad!

 

[SquareDaff]

Blocked at work - will have a look at home tonight.

 

[SportMonkey]

Flatter? Really? You having me on SportMonkey?

I was thinking of heading from Manchester to Southport via Haslingden and Blackburn and back to Manchester via Formby and Wigan. 100 odd miles, hills done first. Ridden as a group as we did coming back from Blackpool. No one left behind. A bit like a FNRttC. All have a big breakfast in Manchester on return. Here's the Google route.

Open to other suggestions though.

The route to North Wales from Manc is pancake flat, will create an idea for a route.

 

[middleagecyclist]

The route to North Wales from Manc is pancake flat, will create an idea for a route.

Look forward to your idea but what is wrong with a few hills?